IRELAND PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH REVIEW: GLENTORAN VS NEWRY CITY

On Saturday afternoon we welcome Newry City back to the Bet McLean Oval following their promotion back to the Danske Bank Premiership. Having started their first season back in the Premiership (after a 3-season absence) with three successive defeats, Newry City gained their first points of the season in fine style on Tuesday evening: routing Glenavon 5-1 at Mourneview Park.

Manager Darren Mullen retained all but two of last season’s Championship winning squad while also adding a number of new faces over the close season to provide the dept needed to compete at the higher level. Forwards Mo Boudaif and Ebuka Kwelele have moved north from the League of Ireland and former Crystal Palace Academy midfielder Emmanuel Omrore has moved to the Showgrounds as a free agent. Continue reading      IRELAND PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH REVIEW: GLENTORAN VS NEWRY CITY

NATIONS LEAGUE: IRELAND FACE ARMENIA, OTHERS

The Republic of Ireland will start their UEFA Nations League campaign with an away game against Armenia at the start of next month. The Irish team will take on home team Armeniaon Saturday, June 4. It is their first game in League B Group 1 of the 2022/23 UEFA Nations League. Apart from Armenia, the Republic of Ireland are in the same group alongside Ukraine and Scotland.


Ahead of the Armenia game, Ireland are unbeaten in their last seven games since the 2-1 comeback defeat at the hands of hosts Portugal in a FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifier from the European section. Manchester United talisman Cristiano Ronaldo scored two late goals to secure the win for his country during the game played on September 1, 2021. Since the Portugal game, Ireland have faced Azerbaijan on two occasions, Portugal, Serbia, Luxembourg, Belgium and Lithuania without suffering any defeat. Continue reading NATIONS LEAGUE: IRELAND FACE ARMENIA, OTHERS

            ROTHERHAM UNITED’S GEORGIE KELLY FACING UP TO FOUR WEEKS OUT

Rotherham United striker Georgie Kelly faces up to four weeks out with a calf injury. Kelly, 25, joined Rotherham United from Bohemians in January. The Irishman had a standout season in the Irish top division scoring 21 goals in 31 league outings but he’s yet to make his Millers debut.


And his wait for a Rotherham United appearance looks set to continue after Rotherham Advertiser’s Paul Davis revealed that manager Paul Warne believes that Kelly faces between two and four weeks out with a calf injury. Continue reading             ROTHERHAM UNITED’S GEORGIE KELLY FACING UP TO FOUR WEEKS OUT

DUFFY SET FOR BRIGHTON RETURN

Brighton and Hove Albion are set to welcome Republic of Ireland star Shane Duffy back to their squad for the home league clash with West London team Brentfordafter he served a one-man ban for accumulating five yellow cards. The Republic of Ireland centre back collected his fifth yellow card of the current Premier League season during the 1-1 draw with hosts Southampton earlier this month. Chelsea loanee Armando Brojagave the Saints a first half lead and the South Coast club were closing in on three points before French striker Neal Maupay scored for the Seagulls deep into stoppage time to ensure that the two teams shared the points. Albanian senior national team star Broja is on a season-long loan deal at Southampton from European champions Chelsea.

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Republic of Ireland player Duffy served his one-match suspension for the five yellow cards during the last league game for the Seagulls, a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Wolves. Utility defender RomainSaiss scored in the first half to secure all the three points for Wolves.
Continue reading DUFFY SET FOR BRIGHTON RETURN

IDAH MAKES THIRD NORWICH APPEARANCE

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Republic of Ireland international Adam Idah made his third appearance of the season for Norwich City in the Premier League during the 1-0 loss to Arsenal on Saturday. The Irish striker was on for the final ten minutes of the game in the place of German midfielder Lukas Rupp as Norwich City went in search of an equaliser so as to earn their first point of the new Premier League campaign.

Young Republic of Ireland striker Idah and Norwich City failed in their bid to salvage a point away to the Gunners last weekend as the North Londoners ran out 1-0 winners thanks to the second half striker from Pierre-EmerickAubameyang. The Gabonese international skipper scored the winning goal on 66 minutes to lead Arsenal to their first league win this season. Arsenal had several opportunities to add to the goal from their skipper in the final quarter of the game but they were unable to take the opportunities that came their way. Continue reading IDAH MAKES THIRD NORWICH APPEARANCE

LONG ON SOUTHAMPTON TRANSFER LIST

Republic of Ireland international Shane Long could leave Southampton this summer with the club keen to get his big salary off their wage bill. The Republic of Ireland striker is surplus to requirements at the St. Mary’s Stadium. The experienced player is back with the Saints this summer after spending the second half of last season in the English Championship.

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34-year-old Long has been made available for transfer at Southampton and a lot of Championship teams are interested in him.
Continue reading LONG ON SOUTHAMPTON TRANSFER LIST

DALLAS WINS PLAYER AWARD AT LEEDS

Leeds United utility player Stuart Dallas has been rewarded for a fantastic season after he won the players’ player of the season Award at his club earlier this week. The Northern Ireland player was the big winner at the end-of-the-season award ceremony at Leeds United.

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Northern Ireland international Dallas was a key player for Leeds United as they sealed a place in the top nine at the end of the just concluded Premier League campaign. Dallas was the only Leeds United player that started all the 38 league games this season. He played in many positions for his team over the course of the season.
Continue reading DALLAS WINS PLAYER AWARD AT LEEDS

DUNDALK VS DERRY: MATCH PREVIEW AND PREDICTIONS

The two teams who are struggling for form and consistency will face off in a league clash that they will both be looking to win. With Derry City plunged into deep club crises, Dundalk, on the other hand, have both surprisingly and shockingly not been able to secure three points in their opening six games of the new season. Jim Magiltion, Dundalk’s sporting director, and Stephen McDonnell, the club’s academy side manager, alongside Giuseppe Rossi, will lead the team out tonight after two members of their management team left the club.

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The game will kick off tonight between the two sides and Dundalk, in particular, will be hoping that they can use this fixture as the perfect opportunity to bright their season on track as they have a considerable favorable run of fixtures ahead of them.
Continue reading DUNDALK VS DERRY: MATCH PREVIEW AND PREDICTIONS

VILLA SIGN HOURIHANE REPLACEMENT

Aston Villa have moved to replace Republic of Ireland midfielder Conor Hourihane with the signing of Morgan Sanson from French giants Olympique Marseille. The 26-year-old has left Marseille to join Aston Villa in a £16m deal and he will compete with other midfielders like Douglas Luiz, Ross Barkley and John McGinn for a place in the Aston Villa midfielder.

Aston Villa made the move to sign Frenchman Morgan Sanson for a lot of money after Republic of Ireland international man ConorHourihane was allowed to join Premier League hopefuls Swansea City. Welsh club football giants Swansea City are in second place on the English Championship table and they are on course to pick one of the two automatic slots for Premier League promotion at the end of the season and Republic of Ireland midfielder Hourihane would be hoping to contribute his own quota to the Welsh club’s quest to secure a place in the Premier League. Continue reading VILLA SIGN HOURIHANE REPLACEMENT

EURO HOPES ENDED FOR IRELAND WOMEN

 

The Republic of Ireland won’t be represented at the 2022 UEFA Women’s European Championship in England after they failed to book a playoff spot from Group I of the qualifiers. Ahead of the final matchday (matchday eight) in the group, the Republic of Ireland were in a two-horse race for the playoff spot from Group I with leaders Germany already through to the tournament proper. The Republic of Ireland and Ukraine were the two nations battling for a place in the playoffs.


Ahead of matchday eight, the Republic of Ireland women were leading their Ukrainian counterparts by one point and they needed to better the result of Ukraine on the final matchday to secure their place in the playoffs. Hosts England have qualified automatically for the tournament, while the winners from the nine groups available will join the English team. Continue reading EURO HOPES ENDED FOR IRELAND WOMEN