May 2006
St Kevins are DDSL Premier Champions…31/05/2006
Congratulations go to St Kevins Boys U13 team who followed their Troy Cup success of last weekend by securing the point needed to crown them League Champions. The boys played out an entertaining 2-2 draw with nearest rivals Cherry Orchard at Shanowen Road on Wednesday evening to confirm their status of double winners.
Ireland amateurs defeat Northern rivals…30/05/2006
Gerry Smith's Republic of Ireland Amateur Team scored a 2 nil victory over Northern Ireland in Bellurgan, on Saturday afternoon. Ireland led through a Gary Crowley goal at half-time. St Michael's defender, James Walsh, added a further goal to his growing international collection in the second-half. Ireland will next face Spain on Saturday 3 June 2006.
All Ireland Cup success for St Kevins…27/05/2006
St Kevin’s Boys today lifted the national Troy Cup with a splendid 2 nil victory over Shelbourne. A fine all round performance was embellished by second half goals from midfielders Conor Carberry and Gary Smith. RISSC (London) extends warmest congratulations to the boys and their management team of Paul Boyle and John Moore...More>
Four Nations disappointment for Ireland…27/05/2006
Ireland was represented in the Four Nations Semi-Professional Tournament held in Sussex this week by a squad comprised of Under 21 players from the Eircom League. The team played with great courage and no little skill in all three matches but was unable to match their more experienced opponents. Ireland lost 2-0 to England, 2-1 to Scotland and 3-0 to Wales...More>
RISSC take Castlebar by storm…27/05/2006
APFSCIL Second Division champions RISSC (London) travelled to Mayo to face Castlebar team Snugboro United in a challenge match today. The team, under the guidance of manager Paul Franklin, took time to settle and went in at the interval one goal down. A second half revival, with goals from Mick Coffey and Liam Kelly together with a Jon Carey penalty and a thumping free kick from Karl McGee, gave RISSC a resounding 4-1 victory.
Chile too hot for Ireland…24/05/2006
A technically gifted Chile taught Ireland a salutary lesson in passing and movement at a sun-drenched Lansdowne Road this evening. The visitors were worthy 1-nil winners and might well have won by more. Kevin Kilbane, at both left back in the first and centre back in the second half, was excellent for Ireland. Others to uphold their reputations were Shay Given and Kevin Doyle
U19s slump to third defeat…23/05/06
Irish defensive frailties were again exposed in Senec this morning. Georgia, who suffered heavy defeats to Slovakia and Turkey, beat Ireland 3-2. Ireland conceded two poor goals in the first twelve minutes and never really recovered. A goal from John Paul Kelly gave brief hope which faded swiftly. Midway through the second half, Ireland conceded a soft third goal. Adam Rooney's fine headed goal in added time, was mere consolation.
European sadness for U19s…21/05/06
The Irish U19 team lost 3-1 to a very talented Turkey side this morning and are out of the European Championships. Ireland more than matched their opponents for 60 minutes and created several chances, but only had one superbly executed goal from Adam Rooney, to show for their efforts. Ireland was very tired in the closing stages and a very polished Turkey were deserved winners in the end.
U19s sink to sorry defeat…19/05/06
The fancied Irish U19 side fell to an opening game defeat to hosts Slovakia, in the Elite Group stage of the European Championships. This 3-2 loss, in a poor defensive performance, deals a severe blow to Irish hopes of reaching the finals in Poland.
St Kevin's in Troy Cup Final...18/05/06
St Kevin's gained revenge for the Brady Cup defeat, with a 2-nil extra time victory over Cherry Orchard, in the semi-final of the national Troy Cup on Wednesday evening. The boys will now meet Shelbourne in the final to be played on Saturday 27 May 2006.
Butler’s Boys lose in Tenerife…13/05/2006
The Republic of Ireland Under 15 team suffered defeats by 1 nil to hosts Canary Islands and 3 nil to Spain in the Tenerife International Tournament. Playing against opposition which was a year older, Vincent Butler’s charges acquitted themselves well, and the manager remains optimistic for the future development of this squad of players.
St Kevin’s edge closer to title…13/05/2006
Under the watchful gaze of Club Secretary Dec Finnegan, the boys of St Kevin’s played out a scoreless draw with Confey, midweek conquerors of Cherry Orchard, at Shanowen Road on Saturday morning. Although unlucky not to secure maximum points, the draw puts the team within one point of the league title, with three games remaining.
Irish women magnificent in defeat…11/05/2006
The Republic of Ireland senior women’s team put in an excellent performance when they travelled to Cottbus and contained world champions Germany to a 1 nil score line in their World Cup qualifying game. Despite conceding a goal after two minutes the Irish team was not overawed and can be considered very unfortunate not to have garnered at least a point from the match. This effort will give renewed confidence and vigour to the ladies as they battle to retain their position in the top echelon of women’s football.
St Kevin’s in sight of title…11/05/2006
A hard fought 1 nil victory over Home Farm last night, coupled with the second defeat in ten days for closest challengers Cherry Orchard, put the DDSL U13 Premier League within the grasp of St Kevin’s Boys. The team is now four points clear with two games in hand. St Kevin’s have four and Cherry Orchard two games remaining. The two clubs meet on Wednesday next 17 May 2006 in the semi-final of the National Troy Cup when St Kevin’s will be seeking revenge for their Brady Cup semi-final defeat by Cherry Orchard.
First leg lead for Under 21s…11/05/2006
The Republic of Ireland U21 side recovered from conceding a goal 26 minutes into the game to secure a 2-1 first leg European Championship Qualifying lead over Azerbaijan in Baku this afternoon. Hero of the hour was Scunthorpe United striker Andy Keogh who scored twice in the second half, the winner arriving on 88 minutes. Ireland survived the final minutes of the game with ten men following the dismissal of goalkeeper Darren Quigley. The second leg takes place next Thursday, 18 May 2006 in Buckley Park, Kilkenny at 7.30pm.
Staunton selects sixteen year old Dixon...08/05/2006
Stephen Staunton sprang a major surprise with the inclusion of sixteen year old Tottenham Hotspur player Terry Dixon in his extended squad for the upcoming friendly with Chile and the four day training camp in Portugal. The 29 man squad also includes Shelbourne striker Jason Byrne and sees the return of Ipswich Town's Alan Lee...More>
Irish Women slip to defeat…08/05/2006
The Republic of Ireland Senior Women’s team were disappointingly beaten 2-0 by Scotland in their World Cup Qualifying fixture at the weekend. In the match, played at Richmond Park, Ireland failed to build on their fine performance against Switzerland and Scotland deserved their success. Ireland now travel to meet world champions Germany in Cottbus on Wednesday afternoon as complete outsiders but manager Noel King will be seeking an improved performance from his charges.
Butler’s Boys bound for Tenerife…08/05/2006
Manager Vincent Butler will take an Ireland U15 squad to Tenerife to compete in the Villa de Santiago Teide International Tournament this week. Ireland will face hosts the Canary Islands on Friday evening and then play Spain on Saturday afternoon. Following their return to Dublin on Sunday, the squad will prepare for fixtures against Turkey on the evenings of Tuesday 16 and Thursday 18 May 2006.
Marvellous draw for minnows…03/05/2006
The draw for the second round of the FAI Carlsberg Senior Challenge Cup took place in Drogheda this afternoon. FAI President David Blood and International Team Manager Stephen Staunton produced some exciting fixtures, particularly for the Intermediate and Junior non-league clubs...More>
Sean McCaffrey faces striker dilemma…03/05/2006
Republic of Ireland U19 manager Sean McCaffrey faces a daunting task in selecting his strike force for the forthcoming European Championship Elite Group stage in Slovakia. In an overall eighteen man squad, it has been usual to select four strikers and during the qualifying phase in Cork last October those selected were Billy Clarke, James O’Brien, Diarmuid O’Carroll and Anthony Stokes…More>
League Cup success for Shamrock Rovers…02/05/2006
Late goals from Ian Ryan and David Cassidy gave First Division leaders Shamrock Rovers an Eircom League Cup second round victory over St Patricks Athletic on Tuesday night. In the Pool D match played in Richmond Park, the visitors Shamrock Rovers were deserved winners and now proceed to the quarter finals.
Cruel Gibson blow for U19s…02/05/2006
Eighteen year old Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson, will enter hospital next week for a hernia operation. The surgery, ordered by his club, will prevent the Derry born player from joining Sean McCaffrey’s U19 squad for the European Championship Elite Group stage in Slovakia later this month.