RISSC Hdr

February 2006
Setanta Cup week two...28/02/2006
The second series of Setanta Cup fixtures commenced on Monday. In Group A, Cork City climbed to the top with a 2-0 home victory over Drogheda United. In the other Group A fixture, Dungannon Swifts drew 1-1 with Irish League rivals Portadown. Both games in the Group B fixtures resulted in a draw.
U17s lose opener to France…25/02/2006
Sean McCaffrey’s Under 17 team was defeated by a goal, conceded in the first half to highly rated France, in the Algarve this afternoon. Ireland is participating in the Algarve Tournament as part of the preparation for the Elite Group stage of the European Championships to be played in Dublin at the end of March 2006. The competition continues on Sunday afternoon, when Ireland face hosts Portugal, who recovered from a 2 nil half-time deficit to record a 2-2 draw with Holland in the other opening fixture.
Drogheda and Shelbourne start with wins…20/02/2006
Eircom League representatives Drogheda United and Shelbourne both had home victories in the opening series of the Setanta Cup. The County Louth side gained a 1-0 victory over Dungannon Swifts with a Mark Leech goal on the stroke of half time. Two goals from Glenn Crowe and a Bobby Ryan cracker gave Shelbourne a comfortable 3-0 success over Glentoran. The matches between Linfield and Derry City in Windsor Park and the Shamrock Park encounter between Portadown and Cork City both ended in 1-1 draws.
Joxer on way to Stuttgart again…20/02/2006
For those who were there (all 100,000), for those who remember and for those who were just out of nappies and barely remember the summer of 1988, The German Football Association has very kindly organised a reunion party which will be held in the Neckarstadion on Saturday 2 September 2006. Germany will host a football match as part of the EURO 2008 qualifying Group 4 and have invited Ireland to be their special guests of honour.
Setanta Cup kicks off this evening…20/02/2006
The 2006 Setanta Sports Cup springs into life tonight with all eight participants in action. In Group A, Drogheda United take on Dungannon Swifts at United Park while Portadown host Cork City in Shamrock Park. In Group B, Shelbourne welcomes Glentoran to Tolka Park and holders Linfield face Derry City in Windsor Park, Belfast. Setanta Sports will provide live coverage of Derry City’s visit to Linfield which will kick off at 8.00pm. The other ties all commence at 7.45pm.
Ireland triumph in Madeira Tournament…17/02/2006
The Republic of Ireland Under 21 side, managed by Don Givens, repeated their success of 2004 when they defeated Portugal by 2 goals to 1 in the deciding group fixture this afternoon. Goals, after three minutes from Waterford United’s Stephen Grant and two minutes before half time by Stephen Ward of Bohemians created the platform for victory. Ireland defended with aplomb throughout the second half and Portugal gained their consolation goal in the eighty ninth minute…More>
Staunton selects his first squad…16/02/2006
Manager Stephen Staunton today announced his first international squad for the friendly fixture with Sweden in Lansdowne Road on Wednesday 1 March 2006. Staunton introduces five new faces to the senior ranks in addition to the uncapped Kevin Doyle who was a member of Brian Kerr’s final squad. The newcomers are Wayne Henderson, Stephen Kelly and Joey O’Brien who were members of last year’s U21 squad, together with nineteen year old Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland and Liam Lawrence who has been performing well in a beleaguered Sunderland side...More>
Ireland defeat Finland in Madeira…15/02/2006
Goals from Eircom League players, Stephen Ward and Gary Dicker, enabled a young Republic of Ireland Under 21 team to score a 2-1 victory over Finland this afternoon. Madeira Cup favourites Portugal, were held to a 0-0 draw by the hosts, setting up an exciting finale to the tournament when Ireland face Portugal in Funchal on Friday morning. With Portugal having a superior goal difference, Ireland must win the match to retain the Trophy they won in 2004.
Quigley stars in opening draw…14/02/2006
UCD goalkeeper Darren Quigley played a starring role for the Republic of Ireland Under 21 team which came from behind to earn a well merited 1-1 draw with the hosts in the Madeira Cup this afternoon…More>
Madeira Squad decimated by withdrawals…14/02/2006
Only eight of the original twenty man squad, selected by Don Givens to defend the Madeira U21 Trophy, boarded the plane at Dublin Airport on Monday morning. Three of the subsequent replacements also withdrew, leaving Givens with little choice but to select an extremely young and inexperienced squad for the Tournament. Among the late additions are Under 19 players, Jonathan Hayes, Diarmuid O’Carroll, Darren O’Dea and seventeen year old Anthony Stokes. Eircom League players, Christopher Deans and Stephen Grant of Waterford and Drogheda’s Derek Tyrell will also join the squad. Ireland meet hosts Madeira in the opening fixture on Tuesday afternoon.
St Kevins Boys continue cup cruise…14/02/2006
The RISSC (London) sponsored St Kevins Under 13 team progressed to the round of 16 in the national Troy Cup with a comfortable three nil victory over Home Farm on Saturday last. St Kevins have been drawn away to meet Greenwood United for a place in the quarter finals
Eircom League opening fixtures…14/02/2006
The executive committee of the Eircom League has published the provisional fixture list for season 2006. Premier Champions Cork City will commence their defence of the title on Friday 10 March 2006 with a home fixture against newly promoted Dublin City. On the same evening, Derry City who challenged for last year’s title to the very last match, entertain UCD at the Brandywell. Division One Champions Sligo Rovers will travel to Longford Town on Saturday 11 March 2006 for their opening Premier Division match. In Division One, relegated teams Finn Harps and Shamrock Rovers will face Athlone Town and Dundalk in Finn Park and Tolka Park respectively.
RISSC survive as door opens…13/02/2006
Two goals from Mick Coffey and further strikes from Mauricio Carillo and Tim Nagle helped RISSC (London) to garner all three points in a hard fought 4-3 victory over Manchester City SC at Sudbury on Sunday afternoon. With third placed Hull City SC holding leaders Manchester United SC to a 2-2 draw, a golden opportunity to win the League Championship is now available to RISSC… More>
EURO 2008 fixture dates confirmed…09/02/2006
Stephen Staunton’s Ireland team will open their European Championship qualifying campaign by visiting Germany on the 2nd September 2006. Ireland will also pay a return trip to Cyprus on 7 October 2006 before entertaining the Czech Republic and San Marino in Lansdowne Road during October and November 2006. It seems very likely that Wales will be the first visitors to Croke Park on Saturday the 24th March 2007…More>
McCaffrey delighted with U18 success…08/02/2006
The Republic of Ireland U18 team scored a fine 3-0 success over an older Malta side in the second fixture of their visit to Valetta this evening. Goals from Stoke City pair, John Quigley and Adam Rooney either side of a strike from Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Mark Salmon secured the victory. Manager Sean McCaffrey expressed his delight with the performance of his players over both games and stated that the trip was invaluable in providing an opportunity for players outside the European Championship squad to stake their claim.
Victory in Valetta for Under 18s…06/02/2006
Sean McCaffrey’s Republic of Ireland, Under 18 side earned an opening 1-0 success over hosts Malta at the National Training Complex in Valetta today. A strike from Stoke City starlet Adam Rooney on 30 minutes was sufficient to provide victory for this development team. Manager McCaffrey was pleased with the performance of his charges and will seek to provide an opportunity for the remaining squad members when the two sides meet again on Wednesday afternoon.
St Kevin’s Boys cruise through in Cup…06/02/2006
The boys of the St Kevin’s Under 13 team scored a crushing nine nil victory over St Francis FC in the national Troy Cup on Saturday afternoon and will now meet the fabled Home Farm in the next round. The boys also maintained their lead at the top of the DDSL Premier League with a comfortable four nil success over St Joseph’s Boys on the previous weekend.
EURO 2008 fixtures meeting in Frankfurt…06/02/2006
Amid mounting anticipation and excitement, the Irish delegation headed by Chief Executive John Delaney and Team Manager Stephen Staunton will convene with representatives of the other six Group D rivals in Frankfurt on Thursday next the 9th February 2006 to agree the schedule of fixtures for the qualifying process leading to the European Championship Finals which will take place in Austria and Switzerland during June 2008.
Staunton challenge grows more complex…06/02/2006
The magnitude of the task facing Stephen Staunton as manager of the Republic of Ireland soccer team is brought more into focus as each passing day seems to herald another setback to his preparations for the announcement of his first squad to face Sweden on the 1st March 2006. The name of Matt Holland can now be added to the international retirement list of Cunningham, Keane and Carr. The weekend injury suffered by Damian Duff could well mean that he will join Andy Reid, John O’Shea and Aidan McGeady on the sidelines. Staunton will announce his first squad at a press conference to be held on Thursday the 16th February 2006.