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News Round-Up
Brilliant Byrne inspires UEFA Cup win - 29 April 2007
Emma Byrne, who had also excelled in the first leg of the final, kept a clean sheet for the second time against Swedish champions Umea. As champions of Sweden, one of the world's strongest exponents of women's football, Umea were very strong favourites to lift the UEFA Cup, but the Arsenal goal, scored in the last minute of the first leg in Sweden two weeks ago, was enough to lift the Trophy on a 1-0 aggregate score.
Leixlip native Byrne received magnificent magnificent defensive support, in the Arsenal Ladies success, from Waterford's Ciara Grant, who ia also captain of the Republic of Ireland Women's International team. Yvonne Treacy from Limerick, who has just recovered from a serious cruciate ligament injury, was on the substitute's bench and should be fit to join Emma and Ciara in the Irish squad for the European Championship qualifier against Italy at Richmond Park on Wednesday 30 May 2007.
Ballymena International Tournament - Final - 27 April 2007
The Republic of Ireland U16 team, managed by Vincent Butler, won the prestigious Ballymena International Tournament with a resounding 3-0 success over hosts Northern Ireland in the Ballymena Showgrounds tonight.
The first half was a cautious affair with both sides showing a certain degree of tension before a large attendance predominantly supporting the home side. The nervousness displayed by both sides was understandable given the importance of the occasion.
Vincent Butler's half-time address had an immediate impact following the resumption. After forty seconds of the second-half, a free kick was flicked on by Ballybofey United centre-back John Dunleavy and a diving header from Everton midfielder Gerard Kinsella put Butler's Boys in front.
Buoyed by their breakthrough, the boys grew in confidence and began to take control of the game. Their enterprise was further rewarded eight minutes later, when from a corner, Jay Wallace, another member of the Everton Academy, powered home another header for goal number two.
Butler's Boys now assumed complete command and fifteen minutes later, Shelbourne striker Karl Sheppard arrived late at the back post to cooly finish a corner delivered by Blackburn Rovers midfielder Aaron Doran for the third and final goal.
This success was a fitting finale to a long 17 game season for this squad. The players will now move up to the U17 age group under the stewardship of Sean McCaffey and will compete in the first qualifying stage of the 2008 UEFA European U17 Championships during September 2007.
Ireland will host the four team Group 5 mini-tournament and the fixture schedule is as follows:-
Friday 14 September 2007
Denmark v Slovenia; Republic of Ireland v Ukraine
Sunday 16 September 2007
Republic of Ireland v Denmark; Slovenia v Ukraine
Wednesday 19 September 2007
Denmark v Ukraine; Republic of Ireland v Slovenia
2007 Ballymena International Tournament - 26 April 2007
The eight running of the Ballymena International Tournament is currently taking place in the County Antrim towns of Ballymena and Larne. The invitation Tournament, which is for players born on or after 1 January 1991, was officially launched by Lawrie Sanchez and comprises eight countries. The teams are divided into two groups of four, with the group winners meeting in the final for the David Cairns Memorial Trophy. The Republic of Ireland, managed by Vincent Butler, has previously participated in 2000, when they finished as runners-up to Israel, and in 2003.
2007 Tournament Results and Tables:
Group 'A'
| Switzerland | 2-2 |
Israel |
| Finland | 3-1 |
Northern Ireland |
| Northern Ireland | 2-1 |
Israel |
| Finland | 0-0
|
Switzerland |
| Northern Ireland | 1-0 |
Switzerland |
| Finland | 0-2 |
Israe |
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Northern Ireland | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| Israel | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Finland | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Switzerland | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
Group 'B'
Czech
Republic 1-2 Republic of Ireland
Scotland 1-1 USA
Republic of Ireland 1-1 Scotland
USA 3-2 Czech Republic
Czech Republic 1-1 Scotland
Republic of Ireland 2-1 USA
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Republic Ireland | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 7 |
| USA | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Scotland | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Czech Republic | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 1 |
The final of the Tournament, between hosts Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, will take place on Friday evening, 27 April 2007, in the Ballymena Showgrounds with a 7.30pm kick-off.
Previous Tournament Winners:
1999
Switzerland
2000 Israel
2002 Israel
2003 Scotland
2004 Switzerland
2005 Czech Republic
2006 Czech Republic
Hectic schedule for St Kevin's Boys - 24 April 2007
The boys of St Kevin's Premier U14 squad face a daunting fixture schedule in the final weeks of the 2006/2007 season. The continued success of the team, which sees them involved at the business end of all three competitions which they are eligible for, provides the boys with a major challenge to maintain that success. In addition to their domestic commitments, seven of the squad have, in recent weeks, been involved at both Inter-League and International level.
On Wednesday evening, 25 April 2007, the boys travel to meet the stern challenge of Confey FC in the quarter-final of the DDSL Thunder Cup. They follow that encounter with a trip to face Monaghan United in the semi-final of the SFAI Goodson Cup on Sunday afternoon, 29 April 2007. Success in the Thunder Cup quarter-final will create a semi-final match, with the final of the competition scheduled for Saturday 12 May 2007. Victory over Monaghan United in the Goodson Cup semi-final will set up a final, fixed for Saturday 19 May 2007, against the winners of the other semi-final between Salthill Devon from Galway and Arklow Town from Wicklow.
In the midst of the above cup endeavours, the boys have seven remaining fixtures to fulfill in their quest for the League Championship.
Eircom League of Ireland - 20 April 2007
Drogheda United collected another three Premier Division points in a 2-1 win over Shamrock Rovers in Tolka Park tonight. Drogheda are now three points clear from St Patricks Athletic who meet Sligo Rovers in the Showgrounds tomorrow afternoon. Derry City's poor start continued with a 1-0 home defeat by UCD. Longford Town scored their first league win of the season with a 1-0 win over fellow strugglers Waterford United. The matches between Bohemian FC and Galway United, and the Carlisle Grounds meeting of Bray Wanderers and Cork City both finished as one all draws.
Dundalk continued their good start to the First Division season with a 1-0 success over their closest challengers Limerick 37 while Athlone Town collected three points from their visit to Monaghan United with a 2-0 success. The remaining First Division fixtures see Cobh Ramblers and Kildare County entertain Shelbourne and Finn Harps respectively on Saturday evening while on Sunday afternoon, Wexford Youths welcome Kilkenny City.
Group 1 Setanta Deciders - 16 April 2007
The final pair of qualifying matches to confirm the semi-finalists from Group 1 of the Setanta Sports Cup take place on Tuesday evening 17 April 2007. The already qualified Linfield, travel to the Oval to face local rivals Glentoran and determine whether they top the Group or finish runners-up.
Much interest will focus on United Park, where in-form Drogheda United entertain the out of sorts Derry City. The 'Candystripes' must win by two goals in order to leapfrog Drogheda and secure runners-up spot in the Group.
Fagan v Ryan in FA Youth Cup Final - 15 April 2007
Irish interest in the two-legged FA Youth Cup Final between holders Liverpool and Manchester United will focus on Christy Fagan and Jimmy Ryan.
Manchester United striker Fagan was a member of Sean McCaffrey's U17 squad last season and is likely to feature in next year's U19 squad. Fagan has been very unlucky with injuries but appears to be back to full fitness and scored a fine goal in the semi-final victory over Arsenal.
Midfielder Ryan was also a semi-final scorer with a trademark rasping drive from distance in Liverpool's triumph over Newcastle United. Ryan who has represented Ireland at U16, U17, U18 level was withdrawn by his club from Ireland's U19 squad in the recent Oporto Tournament. He was also a member of Liverpool's winning squad in last year's FA Youth Cup.
Three members of Ireland's U17 squad at the recent European Championship Qualifiers in Germany are also part of the Liverpool Academy and may be in contention for squad places. Striker Michael Collins who is still only sixteen years old hails from Dublin. The tall centre back Laurence Gaughan, who turned seventeen in February 2007, was born in Sheffield while Corkman Shane O'Connor, a left sided midfielder was seventeen yesterday.
Conor McCormack from Dundalk was also a vital member of the Ireland midfield in Germany and he is included in the Manchester United squad for the first leg of the Final.
Sky Sports will cover both legs of the Final with the first leg scheduled for Anfield at 7.45pm on Monday 16 April 2007 and the return leg at Old Trafford on Thursday 26 April 2007.
RISSC (London) Football Team - 15 April 2007
A severly depleted RISSC (London) team went down to a 4-2 defeat by Exeter City SC on Sunday afternoon. RISSC, without a recognised goalkeeper and missing five of their regular starting eleven, were outplayed by Exeter and despite goals from Johnny Flynn and Jon Carey were well beaten.
Subject to ratification from the League, the Club is scheduled to play a double-header against Manchester United SC on Sunday next 21 April 2007.
Eircom League of Ireland First Division - 15 April 2007
Dundalk and Cobh Ramblers played out a scoreless draw in Oriel Park on Sunday afternoon 15 April 2007. The result means both sides retain their current Eircom League of Ireland First Division positions of first and third respectively.
FAIS Women - 14 April 2007
The Women's team of the Football Association of Ireland Schools (FAIS), lifted the inaugural Bob Doherty Cup in North Wales this weekend. In the Triangular Tournament, Ireland defeated defending champions Scotland by one goal to nil. The winner was scored four minutes from time by half-time substitute Rebecca Kearney of St Angela's, Cork.
Ireland followed up their opening success with a three nil victory over host country Wales. A goal after four minutes from Alexandra College's Deirdre Duke set Ireland on their way. Ireland went two up on twenty minutes when Becky Walsh of St Paul's Oughterard followed up a shot from St Mary's, Baldoyle student Laura Chambers, which was blocked by the goalkeeper, for a simple tap in.
The third and final goal came seconds from the end, when a Walsh shot rebounded from the crossbar and Rebecca Kearney scored her second goal of the Tournament with a neat header.
U14 - Jim Allen Cup - April 2007
The Jim Allen Cup is contested on an annual basis by the Dublin & District Schoolboys League (DDSL) and North Wales Schools at Under 14 level.
The 16 player DDSL squad, for the fixture played last week, contained seven members of the RISSC (London) sponsored St Kevins's Boys team. The starting eleven included Conor Carberry at left back, a midfield trio of Robert Brady, Jeff Hendrick and Sean Stewart while the strike duo was comprised of Anthony Bolger and Conor Murphy. Goalkeeper Ryan Kinsella started on the bench, but made his entry in the second half.
While conditions were difficult, the Irish boys played well and deserved their 3-1 victory. The Irish goals were scored by St Kevin's trio, Bolger, Murphy and Stewart, who was also named DDSL player of the match by kit sponsors O'Neills.
