News

The second legs in the preliminary round of the 2020 UEFA Europa League took place this Thursday afternoon and evening.

Our Airtricity League side Shamrock Rovers are through to the next round of the Europa League following their two one victory over Norwegian side Brann in Tallaght Stadium tonight for a four three aggregate success. Things looked ominous when the visitors took a 57th minute lead but goals from Jack Byrne on 76 minutes and Gary O’Neill after 87 minutes secured victory and a date with Cypriot side Apollon Limassol with the first leg set for  Tallaght Stadium at 8pm next Thursday evening.

Despite valiant performances in this evening’s second legs both  Cork City and St Patrick’s Athletic have exited the competition. Following their disappointing two nil home defeat by FC Progres Niederkorn of Luxembourg in Turner’s Cross last week, City scored early in both halves to level the tie but their hosts scored after sixty eight to end their hopes of progression. St Patrick’s Athletic also suffered a two nil home defeat last week against IFK Norrkoping of Sweden in Richmond Park and were unable to retrieve the situation with a two one defeat this evening. 

Also in Europa League action on Thursday evening were Ballymena United who suffered a crushing seven nil first leg defeat by Malmo in Sweden last week and a further four nil defeat tonight. Crusaders secured a two nil success against B36 Torshavn of the Faroe Islands in their home first leg last week and progressed to a 2nd qualifying round meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers with a three two victory this evening. Cliftonville, who suffered a one nil home defeat by FK Haugesund of Norway, went down to a disappointing five one defeat  in this evening’s second leg.

Welsh representatives Connah’s Quay Nomads went down to a two one home defeat by Scottish qualifiers Kilmarnock in the first leg and were not expected to progress from this evening’s second leg in Rugby Park but they stunned  their hosts with a two nil victory and a date with Partizan Belgrade of Serbia in the second qualifying round next week. Aberdeen secured a two one home victory over RoPS Rovaniemi of Finland at Pittodrie in their first leg and reprised that scoreline this evening in Lapland to set up a second round meeting with Chikhura Sachkhere of Georgia next week. The third Scottish representatives Glasgow Rangers secured a six nil victory over St Josephs of Gibraltar at Ibrox Stadium for a ten nil aggregate success and a date with Progres Niederkom of Luxembourg, conquerors of Cork City.  

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Our U19 side suffered bitter disappointment with the concession of an 83rd minute goal to Tournament favourites France in their second European Championship Finals Group B contest in Yerevan early this Thursday evening.

Ireland gave a valiant defensive performance against their much vaunted opponents with goalkeeper Brian Maher in excellent form. France, with several first team regulars in their side, dominated possession and had much the greater number of goal scoring chances but were unable to make the breakthrough against a resolute Ireland defence until that fateful 83rd minute.

Head Coach Tom Mohan made just one change to his starting eleven from the Norway match with sixteen year old Matt Everitt replacing Jack James on the left flank with Kameron Ledwidge reverting to his normal left back position.

The Irish back four stayed resolute in front of the outstanding Maher while sixteen year old Joe Hodge was again prominent in midfield. There was also another industrious performance from striker Jonathan Afolabi.

The result means France top the Group and are through to the semi-finals while Ireland together with the Czech Republic and Norway who played out a scoreless draw earlier this afternoon, all remain in contention for second position and a place in the semi-finals.

Ireland will face the Czech Republic in the FFA Academy Stadium at 5pm on Sunday afternoon with France and Norway in action at the same time.

                P  W  D  L  F  A  g/d  Pts
France          2  2  0  0  4  0   4    6
Norway          2  0  2  0  1  1   –    2
Ireland         2  0  1  1  1  2  -1    1
Czech Republic  2  0  1  1  0  3  -3    1

The second legs of the first qualifying round in the 2020 UEFA Champions League have been completed this week.

Airtricity League champions Dundalk are through to the second qualifying round of the 2020 Champions League following a dramatic penalty shoot-out success over Latvian champions FC Riga this afternoon. The sides played out a scoreless draw in the first leg played in Oriel Park last week and the same scoreline prevailed after extra-time in this Wednesday afternoon’s second leg in the Skonto Stadium. Dundalk progressed by five goals to four in the penalty shoot-out which saw five spot kicks missed. Dundalk will now face Azerbaijan champions Qarabag in the second qualifying round with the first leg set for Oriel Park next Wednesday evening.

Northern Ireland’s Premier League Champions Linfield exited the competition on a six nil aggregate scoreline following their four nil defeat by Norwegian champions Rosenborg in this afternoon’s second leg played in the Lerkendal Stadium, Trondheim.

Scottish champions Glasgow Celtic progressed to the next round on a  five two aggregate scoreline with a two one victory over Sarajevo of Bosnia & Herzegovina in Celtic Park this Wednesday evening. Jonny Hayes was an unused substitute but recent signing Luca Connell was not included in the matchday squad. The Scottish champions will next face Nomme Kalju, the Estonian champions, with the first leg set for Glasgow next Wednesday evening.  

Welsh champions The New Saints forfeited a two goal lead by conceding twice in the final three minutes of their first leg home tie against KF Feronikelt of Kosova and faced an uphill task in the second leg this Tuesday evening. They were equal to the task, with Dubliner Dean Ebbe, a 65th minute substitute, scoring the only goal two minutes after his introduction to send them through to the second qualifying round where they will face Danish champions FC Copenhagen with the home first leg set for next week.

Our U19 side played out a one all draw with Norway in their opening Group B fixture at the European Championship Finals in Armenia this Monday afternoon.

With so many players not released by their clubs, together with the suspension of Tyreik Wright and illness ruling out Ciaran Brennan and Festy Ebosele there was a somewhat strange look to the starting eleven named by Head Coach Tom Mohan.

The unfamiliarity may have been a factor in the concession of a goal after just eight minutes but the players did begin to settle and get to grips with the game. Problems prevailed down our left flank where Jack James and Kameron Ledwidge, playing in unfamiliar position, did rather struggle.

Towering centre backs Oisin McEntee and Mark McGuinness were solid in defence while, the still just sixteen, Joe Hodge of Manchester City oozed quality in midfield. Lone striker Jonathan Afolabi was another who worked tirelessly.

Norway, who eliminated Germany on route to these finals, provided stubborn resistance but were eventually breached on eighty minutes by a superb strike from the excellent Hodge.

Ireland will next face one of the Tournament favourites France, who commenced their challenge with a three nil victory over the Czech Republic early this evening, at 5pm on Thursday afternoon.

 

  

The 2019 World University Games concluded in Naples this weekend with both our female and male sides playing for their final position in the ranking table.

The ladies finished in 4th position following their play-off defeat by Russia this Friday afternoon. Ireland took a two nil lead with goals from Lauren Kelly and Eleanor Ryan-Doyle but were pegged back by Russia who scored twice in the 71st and 76th minutes to send the match into a penalty shoot-out. Ireland goalkeeper Amanda McQuillan again stepped up to the mark and converted the opening penalty but she was powerless to prevent Russia from scoring their four opening kicks while her counterpart saved twice in succession.

Our men finished in 8th position at the Games on Saturday afternoon as they also suffered a penalty shoot-out defeat against France. The contest had finished in a one all draw with Ireland losing out by four goals to three in the penalty shoot-out.

European commitments meant there was just one Airtricity League Premier Division contest on Friday evening with Derry City and visitors UCD playing out a scoreless draw in the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.

There was one further contest on Saturday evening with Sligo Rovers and Waterford also playing out a scoreless draw at the Showgrounds  in front of the live eirSport cameras.

The solo contests continued on Monday evening with UCD providing a huge shock with their one nil defeat of third place Bohemian at the Bowl. The winning goal came after just eight minutes and was scored by Yousef Mahdy. Postscript Following the realisation that Bohemian played a suspended player in this fixture, the match has been awarded to UCD on a three nil scoreline.

                            P   W  D  L   F   A   G/D  Pts
Dundalk                    24  17  5  2  46  13   33    56
Shamrock Rovers            24  15  3  6  35  15   20    48
Bohemian                   25  12  6  7  27  20    7    42
Derry City                 24   9 10  5  36  24   12    37
St Patrick’s Athletic      25  10  7  8  21  22   -1    37
Sligo Rovers               25   7 10  8  25  30   -5    31
Cork City                  24   6  8 10  18  28  -10    26
Waterford                  22   6  6 10  28  33   -5    24
UCD                        24   5  2 17  18  40  -22    17
Finn Harps                 25   3  5 17  21  50  -29    14 

There were three Airtricity League First Division contests played this Friday evening with current leaders Shelbourne held to a one all draw by Cabinteely in Tolka Park while Bray Wanderers scored the only goal to defeat Limerick in the Carlisle Grounds. The third fixture saw strugglers Wexford and Galway United play out a scoreless draw in Ferrycarrig Park.

On Saturday evening Cobh Ramblers defeated visitors Athlone Town by two goals to one in St Colman’s Park while Longford Town also secured a two one victory over their visitors Drogheda United in the City Calling Stadium.

                            P   W  D  L   F   A    G/D  Pts
Shelbourne                 20  14  2  4  31  14    17    44
Longford Town              20  12  3  5  26  15    11    39
Drogheda United            20  12  2  6  42  27    15    38
Cabinteely                 20  10  6  4  28  24     4    36
Limerick                   20   9  5  6  22  18     4    32
Bray Wanderers             20  10  1  9  25  18     7    31
Cobh Ramblers              20   6  4 10  26  32    -6    22
Athlone Town               20   5  3 12  25  43   -18    18
Galway United              20   4  2 14  19  29   -10    14
Wexford                    20   2  4 15  16  40   -24    10

Ireland U19 Head Coach Tom Mohan has finally been able to announce his 20 player squad for the European Championship Finals in Armenia. Because the Finals fall outside the international calendar schedule, clubs are not obliged to release players and this has had a huge impact on Ireland with approaching ten likely inclusions being withheld by their Clubs.
Ireland will contest Group B with the Czech Republic, France and Norway while Group A comprises the hosts Armenia, Italy, Portugal and Spain.

Group B fixtures:
Monday 15 July 2019
14.45 Republic of Ireland v Norway
17.00 Czech Republic v France
Thursday 18 July 2019
14.45 Czech Republic v Norway
17.00 Republic of Ireland v France
Sunday 21 July 2019
17.00 France v Norway
17.00 Republic of Ireland v Czech Republic

Group A fixtures:
Sunday 14 July 2019
14.45 Armenia v Spain
17.00 Italy v Portugal
Wednesday 17 July 2019
14.45 Portugal v Spain
17.00 Armenia v Italy
Saturday 20 July 2019
17.00 Portugal v Armenia
17.00 Spain v Italy

Ireland Squad

Goalkeepers: Brian Maher(St Patrick’s Athletic), George McMahon(Burnley)
Defenders: Ciaran Brennan(Sheffield Wednesday), Jack James(Unattached), Kameron Ledwidge(Southampton), Andy Lyons(Bohemian), Oisin McEntee(Newcastle United), Mark McGuinness(Arsenal), Andrew Omobamidele(Norwich City)
Midfielders: Barry Coffey(Glasgow Celtic), Conor Grant(Sheffield Wednesday), Joe Hodge(Manchester City), Brandon Kavanagh(Shamrock Rovers), Niall Morahan(Sligo Rovers), Lee O’Connor(Manchester United)
Forwards: Jonathan Afolabi(Unattached), Festy Ebosele(Derby County), Matt Everitt(Brighton & Hove Albion), Ali Reghba(Leicester City), Tyriek Wright(Aston Villa)