Home Blog Page 263

Ireland back-rower Edel McMahon Ready For Scotland Showdown

Ireland back-rower Edel McMahon is confident heading into the final round of fixtures of the Rugby World Cup 2021 Europe Qualifier.

The national side beat Italy by eight points on Sunday to keep their qualification hopes alive after a shock loss to Spain in the opening round.

McMahon has confidence in the game plan that Griggs and co. have worked with them after the side were able to deal with the pressure on them following the defeat to Spain, who qualified for the tournament through their 2019-20 Rugby Europe Championship win.

“We knew what pressure was on us last week, it’s part of elite sport, international rugby,” McMahon said. “I thought everybody dealt with the pressure well, we challenged it and used it as a catalyst to make us better.”

Ireland produced a much-improved performance against hosts Italy than they did against the Spaniards and reaped the rewards for their work in the week in between the two fixtures.

Defence coach Kieran Hallett helped the side to fix the issues that were evident in their first fixture and Ireland were able to keep Italy scoreless when 15 women in green were on the pitch.

The Wasps star felt that the team dealt with the pressure well and overcame it by using it to fuel themselves.

“We didn’t go into our shells or hide from it and that’s what will help us this weekend.

“We’ve held our hands up when the game-plan didn’t work or we made errors, and though it wasn’t perfect against Italy, we saw we got a reward for our effort.

Their opponents this weekend, Scotland, made sure that everyone had something to play for in the final round after a 27-22 win over Spain.

Spain, who were physically dominant against Ireland, were matched by the Scots and ultimately beaten via a driving maul that led to the winning try.

In attack, Ireland have shown glimpses of their attacking quality, with winger Beibhinn Parsons shining the brightest in the two games so far but the side is yet to get up to speed, with only three tries to their name in two games.

“Like us, Scotland didn’t reflect what they could do against Italy and you saw how they came out of the blocks against Spain and it’s all to play for both of us this weekend.

“They want this as much as we do and they will be just as physical in defence. We just need to get our clinical edge in attack spot on and if we do that can take us over the line.”

Dundalk v Finn Harps – Preview, Lineups, Where To Watch

Dundalk and Finn Harps will meet for the second time in a week on Tuesday night for a replay of the FAI Cup quarter-final following an eventful 3-3 draw at Finn Park.

A spot in the last four of the competition is at stake – Dundalk are keen to retain their crown and return to Europe next season while Harps are hoping to reach their first semi-final in seven years.

The reigning champions were 3-1 up against Ollie Horgan’s men before a comeback granted the Donegal side a second chance.

Sean Boyd rescued the Ballybofey side from the jaws of defeat with two late goals sealing a rematch and sending the fans at Finn Park into overdrive.

His late, late equaliser came 11 minutes after he lowered the deficit between the sides to one goal.

Harps fan favourite Tunde Owolabi had opened the scoring before Jordan Mustoe was controversially given his marching orders after deeming that the ball had struck the 30-year-old defender’s arm.

Dundalk striker Patrick Hoban levelled proceedings and the Louth side took control of the tie after Sean Murray’s deflected strike.

The holders extended their lead when their two goalscorers combined to give them a two-goal cushion, with Hoban finishing, and seemingly sink the Ballybofey side, who were impressive before the red card.

Yet, that was not to be as substitute Sean Boyd saved the day with a brace to leave the result of this tie in the balance until Tuesday night.

Harps will miss Mustoe and goalkeeper Mark Anthony McGinley through suspension and Will Seymore, Tunde Owolabi and Shane McEleney are fitness doubts.

Dundalk will be without several players due to a Covid outbreak within the squad.

One player had missed Friday’s clash between the sides due to Covid-related issues and it is understood that four further players may miss the replay.

FAI rules state that teams must be able to name at least 14 players for a matchday squad or they will be forced to forfeit.

Lineups

Dundalk (4-2-3-1): Cherrie; Dummigan, Animasashun, Leahy, Jurkovskis; Sloggett, Murray; Ben Amar, Patching, Duffy; Hoban.

Subs: Yates, Kwelele, O’Kane, Hanratty, Kavanagh, Douglas, Keyes, Nwodo.

Finn Harps (4-4-2): Doherty; Boyle, Sadiki, Webster, McEleney; O’Sullivan, Coyle, McNamee, Rainey; Boyd, Owolabi.

Subs: McGarvey, Dunleavy, Timlin, Connolly, Logue, S Doherty, Hawkins, Foley, Rudden.

Where To Watch

The match will be held at Oriel Park and will kick-off at 7:45 pm. The game will be available to watch on LOI TV.

Meath’s Vikki Wall announced as PwC GPA Women’s Player of the Month

Meath’s Vikki Wall has been announced as the PwC GPA Women’s Player of the Month in Football for September 2021.

The 2020 intermediate Player of the Year was influential in Meath’s monumental All-Ireland senior success earlier this month against five-in-a-row chasing Dublin.

Vikki was the player of the match for the Royals in the All-Ireland final in Croke Park on the 5th of September.

With her powerful frame, aerial prowess and strong runs, shrugging off many Dublin tackles with ease was the catalyst for much of Meath’s good play as her side defeated hotly favoured Dublin with a scoreline of 1-11 to 0-12 points.

This is the third month in a row where the women’s footballer of the month award has been won by a Meath footballer. With Wall winning it for the second month, retaining her crown from August, while forward Emma Duggan pick up the accolade in July.

Meath’s Vikki Wall has been announced as the PwC GPA Women’s Player of the Month in Football for September 2021.

Wall’s Reaction to AFL Speculation

Vikki’s performance this season has attracted interest from many AFL teams, whose attributes would make her a valuable addition to any team, she has admitted she is happy with Meath for the time being.

“It’s something I wouldn’t rule out in the future but at the moment I’m happy, I’m going back to do my Masters in DCU, starting this week,” said the 23-year-old. “I’ll be here for this year and committing to Meath this year and really hoping to do well again next year.”

Meath’s ladies team did not have any players abroad in Australia for the past year and Wall admitted it may have led to their success in 2021.

“Yeah, I think you can look at it in that way,” she said. “I think for us as well, people might have had the thought of going travelling or doing J1s this year but obviously that wasn’t a possibility.

“So for us, county has really been our club this year. Last weekend was the first match I’ve played with my club since last October.

“I think that definitely helped us that we got to fully commit to county. We weren’t going to and from the club. I’d definitely be in favour of a split season.

“I think it really helps you to be able to focus on one thing at a time. I know it probably didn’t help Dunboyne, my own club, the fact that we had five on the Meath team, they probably didn’t have us for the league so that probably didn’t help them but, on the other side of it, it really did help the county this year with the fact that we got to fully commit to it.”

For more News and Stories on all things GAA, click here.

Steve Cooper Appointed Nottingham Forest Manager

Steve Cooper has been appointed Nottingham Forest manager on a two-year contract, the club has announced.

The former Swansea manager led the Welsh outfit to back-to-back Championship play-off finals from 2019 to 2021 before leaving the club in July by mutual consent.

Cooper will be Nottingham Forest’s 11th manager in seven years after being appointed manager.

He will now take over from recently sacked Chris Hughton after his departure last week, following their bad run of form, being bottom of the table.

The Welshman was Liverpool’s academy manager before taking charge of some of the England underage teams.

The 41-year-old Welsh native took over the England U16 team from 2014 to 2015, before spending four years in charge of the England U17 from 2015 to 2019.

He was very successful in that time frame, winning the 2017 FIFA U17 World Cup and placing as Runners-up in the 2017 European Championships.

Steve Cooper has been appointed Nottingham Forest manager on a two-year contract, the club has announced.

Nottingham Forest Chief Executive, Dane Murphy gave his thoughts on the appointment;

 “Steve was our first choice as head coach and we are delighted to have secured his services. His record of developing young talent is exceptional.

“Steve knows what is required to be successful in the Championship and has a proven track record with Swansea.

“We have reduced the age of our squad over the summer and Steve is the ideal coach to blend a team to start moving us up the table.

“On behalf of the owner and the Board, we welcome Steve to the club and look forward to providing every support he needs to be a success at Nottingham Forest.”

Cooper took training on Tuesday and will be joined by Steve Rands and Alan Tate as part of his backroom staff, who both worked with Cooper at Swansea.

His first match in charge of Forest will be against Millwall on Saturday at 3:00 pm after their first win of the season in a 0-2 away win against Huddersfield last weekend.

For more News and Stories on all things Football, click here.

Marcos Alonso to stop taking the knee after admitting it is ”losing strength”

Marcos Alonso to stop taking the knee after admitting it is ”losing strength”

Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso had admitted that he will no longer take a knee before matches as he believes the anti-racism gesture is ”losing strength”.

The left-back says he will instead point to the Premier League ‘No Room For Racism’ badge on the Chelsea jersey while team-mates and opponents kneel prior to kick-off.

After the long break in the summer of 2020 after the coronavirus lockdown. Players, management and officials all agreed to take a knee before kick-off to reinforce racial equality after the death of George Floyd in America.

Alonso spoke about his stance after his team’s 0-3 away win to rivals Tottenham on Sunday;

“I am fully against racism and I’m against every type of discrimination, and I just prefer to put my finger to the badge where it says no to racism like they do in some other sports and football in other countries”.

“I prefer to do it this way and, of course, to say very clearly that I am against racism and I respect everybody.” 

When asked rather or not his decision was a political one, Alonso said;

“I don’t know, I just prefer to do it this way. It’s my way to do it, I think it’s another way.

 

Manchester City v Wycombe – Preview, Lineups, Odds, Where To Watch

Manchester City kick-off their quest to reach a tenth final in the EFL Cup and win their ninth when they face off against League One side Wycombe Wanderers.

City have started the season strongly, even with a few hiccups, and sit three points off the top of the Premier League table.

Wycombe Wanderers come into the third round off the back of two wins via penalties against League Two opposition and face an uphill battle to beat Pep Guardiola’s men.

City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan picked up an injury in his side’s goalless draw against Southampton at the weekend and joins the long list of injury concerns for the club this season.

Rodri, Aymeric Laporte, John Stones and Oleksandr Zinchenko have all been sidelined in recent weeks.

Manchester City will have been expected to rotate regardless of injuries but young players may be given a chance as a result of the squad’s current fitness.

Liam Delap and Cole Palmer could earn starts for the cup holders as they mount their challenge for five-in-a-row.

Zack Steffen, Fernandinho and Phil Foden are among the stars set to play against a side that includes veteran striker Adebayo Akinfenwa.

Wycombe, a side who haven’t won a game in 90 minutes in the league cup since 2006, are the side tasked with dislodging the grip of a side who have not lost in the competition in five years.

The Wanderers are focused on the league this season after suffering relegation back to the third tier of English football in the last campaign.

According to the club site, the team is expected to be rotated before an important clash with MK Dons on Saturday.

However, Republic of Ireland international Daryl Horgan could make an appearance against the Premier League champions.

Lineups

Man City (4-3-3): Steffen; Egan-Riley, Burns, Mbete, Wilson-Esbrand; Lavia, De Bruyne, Foden; Sterling, Torres, Mahrez.

Subs: Carson, Dias, Jesus, Bernardo, Cancelo, Palmer, McAtee.

Wycombe Wanderers: Stockdale; McCarthy, Stewart, Tafazolli, Jacobson; Gape; Wheeler, Obita, Kaikai; Akinfenwa, Hanlan.

Subs: Grimmer, Thompson, Vokes, McCleary, Horgan, Scowen, Przybek.

Odds

Man City 1/14

Draw 10/1

Wycombe Wanderers 18/1

Where To Watch

Manchester City – Wycombe will kick-off at 7:45 pm. The match will not be shown live on TV. You can follow minute-by-minute updates on ManCity.com and the Man City App through the Matchday Centre, or over on Twitter: @ManCity. Wycombe’s twitter will also provide updates.

Norwich v Liverpool – Preview, Lineups, Odds, Where To Watch

Liverpool travel to Carrow Road for the second time this season to take on Norwich City in the third round of the 2021/22 Carabao Cup.

The match is Liverpool’s first domestic cup game of the season and a rotated side is expected to play against the Canaries.

Norwich, on the other hand, thrashed Bournemouth 6-0 in the second round to earn a date with the Reds – their only win of the season so far.

Cork man Caoimhin Kelleher and Curtis Jones will start for Jurgen Klopp’s side in the clash as the Liverpool coaching ticket has expressed the importance of the competition for young players.

“It’s gold for young players, proper gold because we like this competition to introduce new players – and that’s why I have to say that Curtis, he’s going to start tomorrow and it’s his 50th game for Liverpool. That all started with this cup,” assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders said on Monday at the pre-match press conference.

Thiago Alcantara will miss both of this week’s games for Liverpool through injury after hobbling off the pitch in the 3-0 win over Crystal Palace with a calf injury.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Roberto Firmino and Neco Williams are also all unavailable for the tie.

Norwich winger Todd Cantwell will be unavailable due to personal reasons while Christopher Zimmerman and Przemyslaw Placheta remain sidelined.

Head coach Daniel Farke is also expected to rotate his side for the cup clash, as he said in his pre-match press conference: “Once you have to play against the best teams in the world, and we do this on league level and now we do this against Liverpool in the cup, we have to do this with full intensity.

“For that, I trust my whole squad. We have three games in seven days and it is important to bring some recovered players on the pitch, but not to rest other players.

“It is more to have players who can go with this intensity against the ball in order to be competitive.”

Lineups

Norwich City (3-5-2): Gunn; Omobamidele, Hanley (C), Gibson; Mumba, Gilmour, Rupp, Lees-Melou, Giannoulis; Idah, Tzolis.

Subs: Krul, Dowell, Kabak, Rashica, Sorensen, Williams, Pukki.

Liverpool (4-3-3): Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, Gomez, Tsimikas; Keita, Jones, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Gordon, Minamino, Origi.

Subs: Adrian, Henderson, Jota, Robertson, Phillips, Morton, Balagizi.

Odds

Norwich City 9/2

Draw 14/5

Liverpool 4/7

Where To Watch

Norwich – Liverpool will kick-off at 7:45 pm. The game will be available to watch on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football with coverage from 7 pm.

Arsenal v Wimbledon – Preview, Team News, Betting

The focus of the midweek games will be round three of the EFL Cup, Wimbledon will travel to Arsenal looking to cause an upset

The match will kick off at 19:45 on Wednesday, 22nd of September in the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal seems to have turned their season around. Two wins on the bounce against Norwich and Burnley have given the side new energy. Those two victories now put Arsenal in 13th place in the league, only four points off the top five.

They reached this stage of the competition after they sauntered past a West Brom youth team 6-0 last month.

Wimbledon have had a tough start to their bid for promotion this season. After eight games, they have won three and drawn three leaving them in seventh place. Their recent matches were going well until a poor 1-0 defeat at home to Plymouth Argyle on Saturday.

Wimbledon played well in their Round Two match against Northhampton, winning by a singular goal to earn their right to face Arsenal.

These two clubs have not faced each other in recent history with Wimbledon currently sitting two leagues below the Gunners in League One. As the sides are split by around 45 places in the English league system, it is clear that Arsenal will be out-and-out favorites.

Predicted Starting Teams

Arsenal

Formation

4-2-3-1

Starting 11

Leno (GK), Tavares, Kolasinac, Holding, Chambers, Maitland-Niles, Xhaka, Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli, Lacazette

Injuries / Suspensions

Smith-Rowe (Knock), Tierney (Muscle cramps), Elneny (Muscle injury)

Wimbledon

Formation

4-2-3-1

Starting 11

Tzanev (GK), Guinness-Walker, Henaghan, Nightingale, Lawrence, Woodyard, Hartigan, Mebude, McCormick, Assal, Pressley

Injuries / Suspensions

N/A

Betting

Arsenal 1/12

Draw 8/1

Wimbledon 22/1

 

Score Prediction

Although everyone loves cup fixtures because it gives smaller clubs a chance to kill the giants but that only happens once in a blue moon. Arsenal are now playing well and winning games and that will not change tomorrow.

Expect this game to end 2-0 to Arsenal, winning comfortably and easing off the peddle.

Chelsea v Aston Villa – Preview, Team News, Betting

The EFL Cup third round takes up this midweek set of fixtures, tomorrow Aston Villa will travel to Chelsea hoping to exact revenge

The match will kick off at 19:45 on Wednesday 22nd September in Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea could not be in better form, having scored seven goals in three wins on the bounce. After beating Spurs 3-0 at the weekend, the Blues are now 11 matches unbeaten.

This will be the club’s first EFL Cup game of the season due to their success last year but they have had plenty of match experience in recent weeks.

Aston Villa has had a decent time coping with the loss of their talisman Jack Grealish to Man City. They have picked up two wins and a draw in their opening five league matches including an impressive 3-0 drubbing of Everton where newcomer Leon Bailey wowed the fans.

Villa polished off League Two side Barrow 6-0 to reach this stage of the competition with Cameron Archer as the star of the show.

It has not been long since the last time these two clubs faced each other, less than two weeks ago Chelsea managed to beat Villa 3-0 playing poorly, with Lukaku netting a brace. The Clarets do not like this fixture, having only won three of their last 18 meetings.

Predicted Starting Teams

Chelsea

Formation

3-4-2-1

Starting 11

Arrizabalaga (GK), Chalobah, Christensen, Sarr, Hudson-Odoi, Saul, Kanté, Chilwell, Havertz, Mount, Werner

Injuries / Suspensions

Pulisic (Ankle), Mendy (Ankle)

Aston Villa

Formation

5-3-2

Starting 11

Steer (GK), Targett, Mings, Tuanzebe, Hause, Young, Ramsey, Hourihane, Nakamba, Watkins, Archer

Injuries / Suspensions

Chukwuemeka (Knock), Philogene-Bidace (Knock), McGinn (Head), Davis (Knee), Bailey (Thigh), Trezeguet (Knee), Cash (Knock)

Betting

Chelsea 2/5

Draw 7/2

Aston Villa 13/2

 

Score Prediction

Tuchel seems to be on fire with his selection choices and with the squad depth he has it is hard for him to go wrong. Villa’s injury concerns will have a major impact on the result of this tie as their rotation players struggle to contain Champions League stars.

Expect this game to end 3-0 (again) to Chelsea.

Ulster boss Dan McFarland: “We wanted it to be an influential back-rower.”

Ulster head coach cited Duane Vermuelen’s influence on his teammates as one of the main reasons he was brought to Ravenhill ahead of the inaugural United Rugby Championship season.

The province’s patience reaped a fine reward as the 35-year-old World Cup winner became the second player to join the Irish outfit this summer after fellow 35-year-old Mick Kearney, who returned to Ireland two years in the Italian sun.

Vermuelen has signed a contract with the side until 2023 and will join the squad following the completion of his commitments with South Africa for the year.

“It didn’t have to be in any particular aspect,” McFarland said. “We wanted it to be a back-rower, but we wanted it to be an influential back-rower.

“When we first looked at the names of the list, they were really good players, don’t get me wrong, but we’ve got really good players here, so we held our breath and kept our powder dry.”

The high-profile move comes several months after the collapsed move involving former European Player of the Year Leone Nakarawa, who failed his medical.

The side were so certain of the previous deal that they posted a video showcasing highlights of the Fijian lock titled ‘Welcome to Ulster Rugby Leone Nakarawa’.

However, after the Nakarawa transfer did not work out, McFarland and co. did not panic in their search for a replacement for Marcell Coetzee, who the Ulster boss called a “difference-making player.”

“…One day Bryn [Cunningham, Ulster’s Head of Operations and Recruitment] stuck his head into my office and said what about Duane Vermeulen? I said ‘Yes, please!’ and Bryn took it from there.”

Vermuelen joins as a Springbok half-centurion who is one of the most influential figures in Jacques Nienaber’s side – a defensive captain that knows how to translate a game plan into action.

His new club Ulster kick-off their 2021/22 season when they welcome McFarland’s old employers Glasgow Warriors to the Kingspan Stadium under the lights on Friday, September 24 at 7:35 pm.

1...262263264...585Page 263 of 585

EDITOR PICKS

POPULAR POSTS

POPULAR CATEGORY

ABOUT US

SportsNewsIreland is an Irish website launched in 2009 to offer sports fans in Ireland an alternative and independent source to keep them up to date with all the news from around the country. Every week we bring you live score updates from all levels of GAA, rugby, soccer, racing and athletics. Contact

Contact us: Email: info@sportsnewsireland.com

FOLLOW US

Design by SportsMediaIreland.ie