TOMORROW sees one of the most anticipated matches of the season as top of the table, Silkmen, take on second placed Country Bumpkins. The winner will be granted breathing space and will hold first place come round 14. The last time the two team's met the Bumpkins came out top, inflicting the Silkmen's first league defeat with a surprising 2-1 victory at The Fiddler's Green. However round 13 sees the under-strength Bumpkins travel to The Land of Irish Silk with a Herculean task ahead of them, The Silkmen go into the fixture full of confidence having beaten Kerry Lakers 2-0 on Saturday.
BUMPKINS' German sharp-shooter, Maximilian Brautigam, has seen himself suspended for two matches after he received a yellow card for a raw challenge today. The aggressive front-man, on loan from Romanian team Legio Carpatica, has already been suspended this season after receiving two yellow cards against Spartak Wicklow - both for knocking Wicklow defender Joshua Gannon to the ground on separate occasions.
 YESTERDAY was not the best start for the fledgling Irish teams but the results came as no surprise. The Keane Arena played host to Ireland's first international match against Norway. The Scandenavian team took the leader within the first two minutes from a freekick. Fully Loaded Satellites and Ireland defender Liam Kiernan then conceded a penalty which was put away by the taker. Norwegian striker Olav Nybraaten got his second of the game in the 32nd minute and the score at half-time was 3-0 to the visitors. Ulster Praetorians striker Ken Tisdall had Ireland's only shot on target, but the Norwegian 'keeper had no trouble with it and collected it easily. The Ireland defence was resolute until the last 12 minutes when the ball ended up in the Irish net four times. The emphatic scoreline was a harsh and perhaps undeserved start for the Ireland national side. Silkmen striker, Shane Moore, was Ireland's man of the match. |
 SHAMROCKS and Ireland Under 21 manager Ollie will be upset that his Ireland side lost by four goals yesterday at Shamrock Park. The Ireland outfit managed to hold group favourites Australia out for 18 minutes, but conceded the first goal of the match from a Kerry Veale corner converted by Jack Ainsworth. The first-half saw little more action and the Ireland defence kept the Australians out until the second-half. Aindreas Lambkin, Ulster Praetorians' creative midfielder, had a heaven and hell performance and was partially responsible for Australia's goals in the 60th and 62nd minute. However he created Ireland's two best chances of the match. The first was fellow Praetorian Ciaran O'Dooley's fine header from a Lambkin free-kick which was kept out by a great save from the Australian 'keeper. The second also came from a Lambkin set-piece, a corner whipped in found Shamrocks striker Jack Murphy who headed a powerful shot at goal which was also scraped away. An 88th minute header from Aussie striker Jack Ainsworth consigned Ireland Under 21s to a harsh result, but there were a few promising signs suchas Na Fianna's 18-year-old right-back Alistair Curreen who was Ireland Under 21's man of the match. |
 THE only real success of yesterday's international matches was a solid performance from Gillers' Under 19 side who held Estonia to a goal-less draw. The Estonians predictably enjoyed the majority of the possession but Irish youth side kept attacking. And their efforts almost paid off in the 50th minute when Estonian defender, Maarius Kivimurd, clattered Luke MacCann to the ground, injuring him in the process and earning himself a deserved red card. Daniel Loftus stood up to take the penalty but it was off-target to the dismay of the supporters. Bindindismenn and Ireland Under 19 midfielder, Niall Currie, had a good match and was Ireland's man of the match, though goal keeper Johnny Shaw of Spartak Wicklow made some great interventions. A draw was a great result when the skill of the squads are compared. The result could have been even better had the penalty been converted but the Under 19's will be confident as they go into their next match against fellow fledglings Canada in February. |
 NEARLY three-thousand fans turned out to watch Japan U17 thump Ireland U17 4-0 yesterday. The Japs scored in the 13th and 20th minutes and the Irish team went in at half-time with a disappointing deficit. A poor substitution saw defensive midfielder and captain, Sam Boyd, substituted for 13-year-old Keane Wolverines striker Benjamin O'Carroll. The young forward was unable to pull a goal back for Ireland but his introduction saw Ireland make several attacks, all of which were fruitless in the end. Frederick Tiernan took down an opposition player in the area and the subsequent penalty was put past 'keeper Joshua Dwyer. The home team scored in the 86th minute to compound the misery of Chugger's youth side. Ben Walsh was Ireland Under 17's best player by far. The young Satellites' right-back put in a decent performance and was probably the difference between a poor result and a terrible one. Keane winger Ivor Twomey also had a good game. |
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Ireland v Norway The senior Ireland team take on Norway on Wednesday and manager Silkman is determined to give a proud perfomance in the World Cup. In an exclusive interview with The Review he said: "Well as you may or may not be aware, Ireland begin one of the hardest tasks they have ever faced in the World Cup after only being brought into the Dugout World at the beginning of this season, the players haven't had a chance to develop into players capable of dominating the world, but they will over time! This tournament is bound to show us how difficult a journey we are going to undertake on the international scene in this game. Our first opponents are going to be Norway, and all you have to do is look at their squad, rating isnt everything i know, but it gives you an idea...And there are a lot of 20's and above on show in that squad! |
This doesn't exactly spread confidence through my sore body (football reasons!) but I have taken on a number of top teams in the Dugout world with my rather weak team(compared to my last team)and well, we got beat 1-0 in all those matches. It is an 'L' in the form column but it shows what can be done in a weak squad against the top in the world! And well to be honest with you all, that's about all I'm hoping for with this competition.
I'm gonna make sure the lads show what Ireland can do and scare the opposition as much as we can. This is only seen by me as a start on the road of development, what we do has no importance, just to keep some Irish pride! So come on lads, forget 'bout the results, let's show some what the Irish can do!" |
| Ireland under 21's manager Ollie was asked about his team's chances in the World Cup qualifying rounds. Ollie: "Well, to be realistic, the U21s chances of qualifying are slim. But with a bit of guile and determination, we can grab 2nd spot in our group.
Out of the 3 other teams in the group, I fear Australia the most, as from my scouting I believe they have the strongest team, and go into the the group as favorites. They will be looking to overpower their opponents from the first whistle, and our 2 games against them will be our toughest. We are playing them first, at home, and this will be the Ireland U21s first outing ever. It will be a tough test for my players, but I believe we can frustrate them, and maybe nick a goal towards the end of the game. If we can keep them at bay for the first half, and then come out with all guns blazing for 20 minutes in the 2nd half, we have a good chance of a positive result. Players to look out for in the squad include midfielder Aindreas Lambkin. He has played with authority and skill in the heart of the Praetorians midfield this season, and he has been made captain of the team for these matches. Another young talent is Alistair Curreen, a right back who has already impressed this season playing for Na Fianna. |
He is a very promising player for the future indeed. I am looking to his manager Robbie Bray to look after his best interests for the next few seasons, and that includes keeping his fitness at an acceptable level. In addition, you cannot ignore the striking force in the squad, Jack Murphy. Although he has rarely played for the Shamrocks this season, he already has 1 man of the match award to his name, and he will be the main threat to the opposition in the qualifiers.
The line up for the 1st game will include the 3 players mentioned above, and I am looking to use a 4-5-1 formation to good effect." Ireland International Matches (2007-01-31 - 18:00 GMT) Ireland v Norway Ireland U21 v Australia U21 Ireland U19 v Estonia U19 Japan U17 v Ireland U17 |
27 January 2007
| TONIGHT saw some of the most anticipated matches and the fans were not to be disappointed.
Spartak Wicklow lost out to The Irish Silkmen with a 79th minute goal from Marin Simniceanu. The game was well fought for and looked to be going towards a draw, but the Silkmen increased the pressure towards the end of the match and managed to scrape a vital away win. Fully Loaded Satellites were two nil winners against Shamrock Black Jacks. A powerful header from Darragh Keenan gave the Satellites the lead and Robert Mackowen made it two nil before the break. The second half saw little chances for either side with the ball rarely leaving the middle of the pitch. The Satellites have orbited to second in the table. Ulster Praetorians saw off bot-team Dunleary Meteors with two goals from left-winger Charlie Hayes and another from Ireland striker Ken Tisdall. The Praetorians are now up to third in the league, their highest position this season. |
Keane Wolverines edged out bot-team Killeek Mariners with an early goal from under-rated striker Cathal Coulter. The Irish striker's third goal of the season has taken the Wolverines to fifth in the league.
Na Fianna won against Nevitt Highlanders with first-half goals from Sean Annesley and Alistair Curreen. New boys Mini Men FC won two-nil against whipping boys Ardmore Juniors with two goals from veteran striker James Callanan. Attention now turns to the Irish national teams who play their first match in World Cup qualifying rounds on the 31st of January. The league resumes on the 3rd of February. Round 8 matches (2007-01-27 - 18:00 GMT) Fully Loaded Satellites 2 : 0 Shamrock Black Jacks F.C. Spartak Wicklow 0 : 1 The Irish Silkmen Nevitt Highlanders 0 : 2 Na Fianna Dunleary Meteors 0 : 3 Ulster Praetorians FC Killeek Mariners 0 : 1 Keane Wolverines Mini Men F.C 2 : 0 Ardmore Juniors |