Ireland

The Irish Enigma; Why wasn’t this team more successful? Irish fans south of the border had to wait until 1988 for their first ever appearance at a major international tournament, whereas their neighbours had enjoyed days out in Sweden 1950 and memorably Spain 1982 and Mexico 1986. Arguably, the Republic had the better talent. In […]

Can they stay or can they can go, that is the question for the players of Bray Wanderers at the moment. Having been told they were free to negotiate deals with other clubs, the club rowed back on this during the week with Bray Chairman Denis O’Connor stating that they had now secured the necessary […]

Going into their Premier Division clash with Dundalk on Friday night all seemed to be going well for Bray Wanderers. They were third in the league and on course to qualify for Europe which was their aim for the campaign. Maybe the first warning sign of what was to come came during the week when […]

After the incredible success of Dundalk in Europe last season, it was mainly a disappointing few days for clubs from both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland as many sides got off to the worst possible start in their respective Champions League and Europa League qualifying campaigns. Irish Premiership Champions Linfield did however get […]

Sligo Rovers remained mired in the relegation battle in the Premier Division of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division as they were beaten 2-0 by Bohemian FC in Dalymount Park. As has become the case in recent times they were struck by the curse of the former player with Keith Ward and Dinny Corcoran both […]

Action resumed in both the Premier and First Divisions over the weekend in the SSE Airtricity League but script remains the same. Cork City won and continue to lead the Premier, Waterford won and lead the First and much to my frustration Sligo Rovers drew another crunch relegation game – again! Starting with Rovers because […]

There were no games this weekend in the SSE Airtricity League with the mid-season break in effect. This was introduced when the League switched from Winter to Summer football at the behest of PFAI who wanted to allow their players a chance to holiday during the Summer. Clubs have mixed feelings about and indeed generally […]

It was all about Cork City’s Seanie Maguire last weekend in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division. During the week there were calls for him to be called up for the Irish National Squad and then under the watchful eyes of both Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane he scored a hat-trick in the top of […]

Finn Harps enjoyed a harmonious week in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division, as they followed up their win against St. Patrick’s Athletic last Monday, with a 3-2 win against Limerick on Friday night at Finn Park. Ciaran O’Connor, Danny Morrissey and Caolan McAteer scored for Harps with Lee Lynch and Paul O’Conor scoring for […]

Cork City 2-1 Sligo Rovers There was a full round of games played in the Premier Division of the SSE Airtricity League spread over Monday and Tuesday night and once again it was Cork City who came out the happiest. They faced a tricky away game against Sligo Rovers and actually trailed 1-0 at half-time […]

After dropping their first points last week when they drew 1-1 with Galway United, Cork City responded in emphatic fashion as they were 5-0 winners against Drogheda United. Sean Maguire and Karl Sheppard got two apiece with Jimmy Keohane getting the other. There are strong rumours that Maguire will sign with Preston North End come […]

Galway United proved that runaway Premier Division leaders Cork City are only human after all as they came from behind to draw 1-1 in Eamon Deacy Park. Conor McCormack had given his side the lead but it lasted only two minutes with Stephen Folan equalising. Cork are still twelve points clear at the top but […]

It was a week bookended by off the field news of contrasting nature in the SSE Airtricity League. The week started with a press release from the FAI stating that attendances were up by an average of 17% after the first round of games, it ended with a press release from the FAI stating that […]

This week saw the quarter-finals of the EA Sports Cup being played with three on the Bank Holiday Monday and one on Tuesday evening. The EA Sports Cup is the SSE Airtricity League equivalent of the League Cup. Again, it was Cork City making all the headlines as their dominant form continued as they beat […]

Galway United recorded their first win in this season’s SSE Airtricity League Premier Division as they defeated reigning champions Dundalk 2-1 at Eamon Deasy Park. Goals from Vinny Faherty and Gary Shanahan either side of a strike from David McMillan gave them the win with Shanahan’s winner coming in the 93rd minute. That defeat means […]

Another week in the SSE Airtricity League and another Premier Division win for Cork City who have now won their opening ten league games. This week they won 3-0 away against St. Patrick’s Athletic with their goals coming from Ryan Delaney, Karl Sheppard and Garry Buckley. Dundalk won 2-0 at home to Bohemian FC to […]

Cork City are now nine points clear at the top of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division after won 2-0 away to Bohemian F.C. Karl Sheppard and Garry Buckley got their goals making it nine league wins out of nine so far this season. Dundalk remain second but they were beaten 3-1 at home by […]

It was a week of long knives in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division as there were two managerial departures. The first to go was Limerick’s Martin Russell. He had led the club to the First Division last season but became a victim to their growing ambition. Then, on Wednesday, Sligo Rovers parted company with Dave […]

Cork City continue to lead the way in the Premier Division. On Friday night they took on their Munster rivals Limerick in Markets Field and came away with a 3-0 win to maintain their 100% start to the season. Sean Maguire, Garry Buckley and Gearoid Morrissey got their goals. Second place and reigning champions Dundalk […]

The game of the weekend’s action in the SSE Airtricity League came in the Premier Division as leaders Cork City welcomed the reigning champions Dundalk to Turner’s Cross. Dundalk were looking for their fourth title in a row, Cork have been runners-up in each of those seasons. The game was played earlier than usual in […]