Archive for the ‘ Football ’ Category

O’Connor Enjoying Life In Orlando

Many footballers see America as a lucrative move to see out their career but not Dublin born Orlando City star James ‘Connor.

James has enjoyed an impressive career to date since leaving Ireland at the tender age of 16 playing for clubs such as Stoke City, West Brom, Burnley and Sheffield Wednesday before opting to head stateside.

32 year old James recalls his debut with fondness “As a 16 yr old to leave home  it was tough, but it made me grow up fast. I was really excited to get going and looking forward to it. I made my first appearance as a sub and I was really pleased to get onto the pitch.” Read more

About these ads
2013
05/16
CATEGORY
Football
Sport
Leave a comment

Shelbourne 2-0 UCD

It was a game that had been circled by both sets of supporters for several weeks as the dreaded “relegation six pointer”. UCD were in confident mood coming off the back of an impressive 2-0 victory over Shamrock Rovers. That game had also marked their first clean sheet of the season but from early on it looked like this might not be the case at Tolka Park. Read more

2013
05/04
CATEGORY
Football
League of Ireland
Leave a comment

LOI: Pats Battle Derry As Sligo Aim To Bounce Back

Another top night of action is bound to encapsulate League of Ireland fans as some of the country’s top teams get set to battle once more. All eyes will be on Richmond Park yet again as the Supersaints look to fend off the challenge of the high flying Candystripes in what could be a make or break fixture for both. Elsewhere things are hotting up at the bottom end of the table despite the league being in its infancy. Bohemians battle Bray in what already looks like a six pointer while winless UCD and Shelbourne have the unenviable task of trying to take three points from Shamrock Rovers and Limerick respectively. Read more

2013
04/26
CATEGORY
Football
League of Ireland
Sport
Leave a comment

German Football Announces Itself With A Bang

File:Heineken UEFA champions league tapestry.jpg

What have they been putting in the water in Germany this week, and where can we get our hands on some of that clearly magical substance?

It’s been another funny old week in European football. During Bayern Munich’s 4-0 humbling of Barcelona on Tuesday night, one of the commentators on TV3 said something to the effect that of all those who would be delighted with the Catalan’s rude awakening, chief amongst them would surely be Real Madrid. Fast forward 24 hours and Los Blancos and their supporters are undoubtedly a little quieter, having been on the receiving end of a 4-1 hiding of their own. It’s hard to believe that the two defeated Spanish sides are home to the top two players in the world.

Read more

2013
04/25
CATEGORY
Football
Sport
Leave a comment

Bale Fighting To Face Manchester City

File:Gareth Bale Brighton v Spurs Amex Opening 30711.jpg

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas will certainly be considering playing Welsh winger Gareth Bale in Sunday’s big face off against Manchester City.

Bale has been out of the team since he was injured 15 days ago playing against Basle in the Europa League. Though initially feared he could have to sit out the rest of the season sitting on the sideline, the 23-year old has been back training with the first team for the past few days and could be fit again for the game on Sunday. “I am pretty confident [that Bale will be fit],” said AVB. “He’s made good progress from the beginning of the week to be training with the team so I think he will [be] definitely up for selection.”

Read more

2013
04/19
CATEGORY
Football
Sport
Leave a comment

Fenlon Praises Trap’s World Cup Strategy

pat_fenlon_11_web
Pat Fenlon believes that blooding youngsters is the way ahead for international teams, and cites Ireland under Giovanni Trapattoni as an example for Scotland to follow.

As Scotland suffered the shame of being the first country to be eliminated from the World Cup, Ireland are still fighting it out with Sweden and Austria for a play-off spot.

Although he concedes that the Scots had the tougher group, Germany apart, Fenlon insists that introducing the youngsters into the squad at the right time is the reason why they are still challenging for a place in Rio next year. Read more

2013
03/29
CATEGORY
About
Football
Hibernian
Sport
Leave a comment

Doyle Dropped By Text Message

kdIreland striker Kevin Doyle has expressed his disappointment at the manner in which he was dropped from the Ireland squad after Giovanni Trapattoni and the FAI acknowledged his omission by text message.

Doyle, an ever present in the Ireland squad for the last seven years, was placed on standby for the crunch World Cup qualifier double header with Sweden and Austria.

The Wolves striker, who scored in Saturday’s crucial 2-1 win over Bristol City revealed that he found out he had been dropped via text message and he feels let down that the powers that be hadn’t the decency to phone him. Read more

2013
03/20
CATEGORY
Football
Sport
Leave a comment

A League Of Its Own – A Tribute to English Football’s Second Tier…

bdLet’s face it, the Premier League title race is over. There will be no Manchester United collapse. There will be no squeaky bum time. There will be no Agueroooooooooo. The crown sits squarely on Sir Alex’s crusty head, and we’re yet to breach the vernal equinox.

But fear not, there is still entertainment to be had watching Sky Sports desperately trying to inject excitement into the proceedings. Flailing like a wounded goliath, they insist that Chelsea and Spurs are locked in a death battle for 3rd place. Hmm. That would be a battle to avoid a couple of extra games in the Champions League next August then. Tense stuff. Read more

2013
03/16
CATEGORY
Football
Sport
Leave a comment

Redknapp Plots Great Escape After QPR Steal Three Points

hrThe miracle is still on. QPR have picked up a precious away win at relegation rivals Southampton, to move four points away from safety. Harry Redknapp has done some questionable things since taking over from Mark Hughes at the end of November. They have still had some very poor results, especially in recent weeks. But he is keeping QPR hanging on in there. Read more

2013
03/03
CATEGORY
Football
Sport
Leave a comment

Salvation For Domestic Celtic Nation Football In League Unification

celticnationsMark Pitman offers a Welsh football perspective to the potential of a Celtic nation amalgamation.

This month the Champions League once again dominated the football headlines as the knock-out stage of UEFA’s flagship competition matched the biggest, best and richest of the European game against each other. Such is the attention and interest demanded by what is now considered football’s leading competition, the Champions League has grown from strength to strength since ditching its European Cup title for a new image and format, while maintaining the silverware traditions of past glorious with what Jose Mourinho refers to as ‘the cup with the big ears’. The escalating profile and riches now associated with the Champions League justify its revamp, but its new-found status was created out of necessity in order to prevent the creation of the European Super League and the breakaway of Europe’s leading clubs. The idea has since been muted, but it remains an underlying threat to the current establishment, and raises its head whenever there is unrest between UEFA and its clubs.  Read more

2013
02/22
CATEGORY
Football
Sport
1 comment

Facebook

IrishNews Review

Create Your Badge
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 1,636 other followers