Fern Mc Costigan: 2020

Monday, August 24, 2020

Stephen Kenny Republic of Ireland squad ready for Bulgaria and Finland

The Stephen Kenny era is underway and with his first call ups for a couple of international matches in the upcoming UEFA Nations League with an away game against Bulgaria and returning home against Finland.

No surprise with Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Jayson Molumby and Adam Idah striker for recently relegated Norwich City getting their first call up to the Green Army senior squad. In addition of Crystal Palace’s midfielder James McCarthy, recently promoted Fulham’s Harry Arter, Southampton’s Shane Long and Blackburn Rovers defender Darragh Lenihan are back in the national team.

In addition of Three-time FAI Player of the Year for 2020, Sheffield United David McGoldrick if he is available coming out of a long-term foot injury and ready for the Finland game. For Kenny call ups majority of his players come from Premiership and Championship sides with no LOI players getting the call this time.

For all Republic of Ireland players will meet up on Sunday ahead of two-day training in the National Training Centre in Abbottstown before flying to the Bulgarian capital of Sophia on Tuesday afternoon. Both UEFA Nations League games will be played behind close doors.

Ireland squad v Bulgaria and Finland
Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (West Ham United), Mark Travers (Bournemouth), Kieran O’Hara (unattached)
Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Wolves), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United), Shane Duffy (Brighton and Hove Albion), John Egan (Sheffield United), Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers).

Midfielders: James McCarthy (Crystal Palace), Harry Arter (Fulham), Jeff Hendrick (Newcastle United), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Jayson Molumby (Brighton and Hove Albion), Robbie Brady (Burnley).

Forwards: Callum Robinson (Sheffield United), Callum O’Dowda (Bristol City), James McClean (Stoke City), Aaron Connolly (Brighton and Hove Albion), Adam Idah (Norwich City), Troy Parrott (Tottenham Hotspur – on loan at Millwall), Shane Long (Southampton).

Sunday, August 23, 2020

Bohemians making a case and in the LOI and within two points of the top

Suddenly, we are seeing a resurgent Keith Long Bohemians making an all-around statement in the LOI getting into its most competitive stages, after winning back to back matches and within striking distance of the league leaders Shamrock Rovers.

After the Hoops have surrender points in their last three games, so far this is becoming a race for the top with two Dublin teams. In other news around the league the Vinnie Perth era came to an end after the defending champions Dundalk have been delivering not so favorable results.

In other results the Finn Harps win gives them confidence after the Boys from Ballybofey delivered a win over the Blues, in Derry City win over decimated City and Sligo upsetting the Lilywhites.

Back in Tallaght the Shamrock Rovers and Shelburne FC shared the spoils in another Dublin Derby with a clean sheet for both sides, marking the second match Stephen Bradley Hoops end with a tie.

Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Shelbourne

Back in Brandywell Ryan McBride Stadium, the local Candystripes put on a three-goal show to deliver more misery to Neale Feann Rebel Army and put his team in last place and within relegation spots.

With scores from Derry’s Walter Figueira 50’, followed Adam Hamill 53’ and Oluwaseum Akintunde in the 90’, the Candystripes rally in the second half after City had the lead in the 3’ Joseph Olowu goal.

Derry City 3-1 Cork City

In the Dublin Derby played at Dalymont the local Bohemians took an important step in their race to the top held by the Hoops with a clean sheet and a convincing win over Liam Buckley Pats.

For the Gypsies, the first half became providential with scores of Anthony Breslin 16’ and Andre Wright 24’ to deliver a win at home and win this edition of the Dublin Derby.

Bohemians 2-0 Saint Patrick’s Athletic

In the Showgrounds the local Rovers delivered an important win over the defending champions Dundalk without a manager after Vinnie Perth being fired after the team poor results.

Sligo went up the scoreboard with Regan Donelon in the 12’ and coming in the second half with scores from Ryan de Vries 51’ and Chuckwemenka Uzokwe 62’, for the Town Stefan Colovic score in the 77’.

Sligo Rovers 3-1 Dundalk

On Sunday’s game at RSC we were witness to a goal fest between local Waterford and the Finn Harps, where the visitors came from behind in spite an OG against them but still rallied for the win.

The local Blues went up with an OG from Harps Shane McEleney 3’ and later John Martin 83’ but in the end this was the Harps game with scores from David Webster 82’, Alexander Kogler 87’ and Adrian Delpa score in the 90’.

Waterford 2-3 Finn Harps

Monday, August 10, 2020

The Shamrock Rovers winning streak extends with a win at Brandywell

Stephen Bradley side is looking amazing after defeating the Candystripes in Brandywell and leading the defending champions Dundalk with eight points. Contrary to the defending champions Dundalk with a slow start, somehow, it is not looking easy for manager Vinnie Perth.

With the Bohemians delivering an upset over Dundalk, these catapulted to second pale and within six points of their cross-town foes for the battle for first place, as manager Keith Long Gypsies are playing an amazing football lately.

In other results the Rebel Army and Blues shared spoils as for Sligo these are leveling their season and maybe these can see a peak in tier game and in the stands, very well kudos for the Pats winning over troubled Harps.

Still we have quite a ways to go for the LOI to end and if the Hoops continue with this positive streak, there’s no doubt that they can be called the champions of this shortened season in its end and seize an important European spot.

Back in Inchicore the local Pats continue their surge under manager Stephen O’ Donnell and got a valuable three points by defeating a troubled Ollie Horgan Harps, again looking like relegation candidates.

With George Kelly scoring a brace in the 14’ and 28’ all goals scored in the first half, and for keeper Brendan Clarke defensive gem earned him a valuable clean sheet in the end.

Saint Patrick’s Athletic 2-0 Finn Harps

Back in Dalymont the local Bohs delivered another loss to the defending champions Dundalk seeing a slump since the league start, something tells me that manager Perth is starting to become worried.

With the Bohs scores from Daniel Grant 7’ and Keith Buckley 15’, the Gypsies sealed their win in the first half, despite the rally from the Lilywhites that fell short with a lone goal from Michael Duffy 42’.

Bohemians 2-1 Dundalk

In Waterford’s Regional Sports Centre, the local Blues and Rebel Army of Cork City shared spoils in the end and with a scoreless game.

Waterford 0-0 Cork City

In the Showgrounds of Sligo, the local Rovers got a valuable win at home over Shelbourne, as manager Liam Buckley is starting to see his side finally playing a decent ball and aim for the top three spots.

Immediately the game started the Rovers went up the scoreboard with a goal from Jesse Devers in the 1’ and later David Cawley scoring the cushion goal in the 51’, Shels Gary Deegan scored in the 90’.

Sligo Rovers 2-1 Shelbourne

In Brandywell the local Candystripes became a tough foe for the Shamrock Rovers after going up the score with a goal from Walter Figueira in the 36’ minute, unfortunately the second half became disastrous for the home side.

As Derry City defender Colm Horgan Own Goal in the 78’ and later to seal the deal Hoops Roberto Lopes became the game hero with a late goal in the 82’ for the Dubliners winning streak.

Derry City 1-2 Shamrock Rovers

Wednesday, August 5, 2020

West Brom Albion back in Premiership and looking for a long stay

The Baggies are back in Premiership second joining Leeds United the EFL winner. With a 2-2 draw against Queens Park Rangers, as the Albion Boys securing second place and promotion to the big circuit.

For manager Slaven Bilic once again he is responsible of securing a promotion spot for another team after he did it with back with Fulham in that promotion season when the Cottagers were relegated.

Still the way these Baggies did it was thanks to a series of results that became the catalyst for their promotion with 83 points, after Fulham draw at 1-1 against Wigan and Barnsley defeating Brentford 2-1, these results were the icing the WBA needed.

However, the idea is to stay put and looking forward to a lengthy stay in the top level for many years.

As social media went zany with many Baggies followers posting their pleasure after seeing their team after two seasons down in relegation, now they are back and ready to rock all of EPL.

Once again for manager Slaven Bilic is back to business and ready to front another challenge and looking forward to patching up many of its areas of much need alongside reinforcing its offensive attack as well upgrade his defensive backfield.

This is one of the interrogative for many managers after their team getting promoted, the question will arise of how much budget the club will allow him to spend in the transfers market and what players can bring on to strengthen the team.

In the end for the Croatian expertise is becoming too valuable for many teams so far with Fulham and now West Brom the man somehow has the Midas touch, but for Bilic this time is payback time and looking forward of being the architect for West Brom long stay in top league.

Two years passed by the lads of WBA to stage a comeback to the topflight. Not looking bad for a team that had its troubles in the 2017-18 season when they went down, but its never too late to stage a comeback and these Baggies are ready to stage many memorable moments for its fans as well up in the ranks of Premiership.

The Baggies are back and ready to rock Premiership!

Welcome Back to Premiership Leeds United

The Peacocks of Leeds United are back in Premiership. Finally, after a 16-year hiatus and away from the top circuit, the Whites under manager Marcelo Bielsa will look for a lengthy stay for many years.

Still for a club that has written a lengthy and glorious history in the annals of Premiership, the challenges will be abundant for El Loco Bielsa and company, looking for a return to the top six spots but a stay in their year of promotion will do!

Yes, after their promotion for manager Bielsa his first order of business will be the amount of monies he will have to get the players needed to reinforce his club as well build up strong defensive game, considered the Whites Achilles Heel.

By winning the EFL Shield after finishing I first place and after the league resumed the Peacocks continued with the mastery of their foes in Championship, now the question will be if they can see a continuance of their game successes in Premiership.

As the Boys of West Yorkshire are ready to rock the league and see a return to their old glories and noise back to the colossus of Elland Road, this after last season when they came so close to promotion and left on the edge.

With the return of the old derbies against Chelsea and Manchester United, still they leave behind several rivalries against behind their bitter rivals Sheffield Wednesday, Huddersfield Town, Bradford and Millwall.

Somehow the Peacocks are to get ready and be alert in the transfers market in getting the ideal players to reinforce its offensive attacks but overall, the main area of attention will be in its defensive game.

With this achievement manager Marcelo Bielsa for sure will add another success for his Honours as manager and after many successes in the past as a national team manager for Chile and Argentina, El Loco or crazy as many called him for sure will have his hands full this upcoming season.

In the end one of England’s big clubs is back and hungry after 16years waiting to stand out in the crowd of elite teams dominated by Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal.

Welcome Back Peacocks to Premiership!