Category: Seniors 1st Team

Dylan Ireland
by Jonathan Purvis

Ireland U21 Squad Named

Ireland’s under 21s will take on Slovenia and Serbia next week and we were delighted to See Dylan named on the Squad again.  We will be all cheering you best of luck from us all.

Full FAI Press release below

 

King names U21 squad for Slovenia & Serbia Qualifiers

REPUBLIC of Ireland U21 Head Coach Noel King has named his squad for next month’s UEFA U21 Championships Qualifying Round fixtures against Slovenia and Serbia.

The Irish host Slovenia at Waterford RSC on Friday, September 2 (7.30pm), then travel to Novi Sad for the first of back to back meetings with Serbia on Tuesday, September 6 (5.00pm Irish).

King has been unable to choose from a full complement of options due to injuries to Conor Wilkinson, Niall Keown, Brian Lenihan, Sam Byrne and Ian Lawlor, while Jack Connors is suspended and Callum O’Dowda has been drafted into the senior international squad.

Sean Kavanagh and Darragh Lenihan will miss the Slovenia encounter through suspension but will be available for the encounter in Serbia.

“We’ve a tough period ahead with these two games and then the visit of Serbia in October. Slovenia are ranked ahead of us and showed over there that they are a good team but what was disappointing from our point of view was the fact that we conceded three goals from set pieces in that game,” said King.

“We have to look at that. We will look to correct it and will try to win this game on Friday. There is a lot of emotion around the game with us returning to Waterford for the first time without Milo Corcoran with us following his sad death earlier this week.

“We’ll all try to do the best we can for him. He was a man of high standards and will be a huge loss around the staff table and amongst the players, where he was very highly respected.”

With qualification no longer in their sights, King and his staff are looking to balance out the transition between seeing out this campaign before turning their eye to the next campaign.

“We’re without a number of players but we’ve brought in some of the players born in 1996 and 1997 such as Olamide Shodipo and Jake Mulraney. We’ve also added Courtney Duffus from Everton as it’s important that we keep an eye on the present and the future at the same time,” said King.

The Irish boss is pleased to see the return of defender Tommie Hoban, who has joined Blackburn in a loan move, while the progress of O’Dowda to the senior squad has been another positive.

“We’re glad to see Callum go up. Every player here wants to go up to the seniors, it is a part of the job without taking away from every player going out against Slovenia looking to win the game,” said the Irish boss.

“Martin O’Neill has been to the games and he hasn’t been afraid to include these players. That’s one aspect of it.

“Tommie Hoban started his career really well with Watford and has been plagued with various injuries in recent times but he’s a terrific character – hopefully he’ll get back into top form and stay injury free now. Eoghan O’Connell also comes in after a good spell with Celtic.”

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND U21 SQUAD:

Daniel Rogers (Aberdeen – on loan at Falkirk)

Liam Bossin (RSC Anderlecht)

Thomas Hoban (Watford – on loan at Blackburn)

Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers)

Kevin Toner (Aston Villa – on loan at Walsall)

Sean Hoare (St Patrick’s Athletic)

Glen Rea (Luton Town)

Eoghan O’Connell (Celtic)

Sean Kavanagh (Fulham)

Joshua Cullen (West Ham – on loan at Bradford)

Alan Browne (Preston North End)

Connor Dimaio (Chesterfield)

Kevin O’Connor (Cork City)

Jack Byrne (Man City – on loan at Blackburn)

Harry Charsley (Everton)

Sean Maguire (Cork City)

Courtney Duffus (Everton)

Dylan Connolly (Bray Wanderers)

Reece Grego-Cox (QPR)

Olamide Shodipo (QPR)

Jake Mulraney (Inverness Caley Thistle)

 

FIXTURES

 

UEFA U21 Championships Qualifying Round Group 2

Friday, September 2

Republic of Ireland v Slovenia, Regional Sports Centre, Waterford (7.30pm)

 

Tuesday, September 6

Serbia  v Republic of Ireland, Karadjordje, Novi Sad (5.00pm Irish).

Seniors First Team 15-16
by Julian Lee

Johnstown Edge Out Square

Johnstown 4

Square Utd 3

It was a case of 3rd time lucky as Johnstown finally got their first win of the 2016/17 season when they edged out Square United in an epic 7 goal thriller in the O’Neill’s Sportswear Division 1 on Thursday night at the MDL.

The hosts took the lead early on when Mark Grumley swung a trademark left footed free kick into the Square United box following a foul on Wayne Cahill. Such was the quality of the delivery, it was no surprise to those watching that when attempting to clear the danger, the Square defender could only head into his own net giving Johnstown the lead with less than 4 minutes played.

Despite playing most of the opening quarter without the ball, it was the men from Ardee who were sharper in the final third. A goal direct from a free 20 yards out saw them draw level, before on 21 minutes, they capitalised on some hesitant defending, finishing high over Mangan in Johnstown’s net.

Just before halftime, Johnstown had a chance to draw level. A fine move down the right, started by Mangan, saw a neat interchange between the front 2 before Ger Lynch crossed for Kacper Zeberek to shoot bringing a tremendous save from the Square net minder.

Mid way through the 2nd half, it was Johnstown’s turn to profit from some lax defending as Ger Lynch pounced on a loose ball in their area and fired his side back on level terms. Thus began a spell of 3 goals in 6 minutes.

Sean Challenger, more than living up to his name, robbed a Square defender on the edge of the area. He drove into the area before shooting high across the goal. Despite the keeper’s best efforts, he could not keep it out and Johnstown were back in front.

Within 2 minutes, the Louth side were level again. Awarded a corner, the referee spotted some pushing the area and pointed to the spot. Although he dived the right way, Mangan could not keep it out. Worse still, he picked up an injury, becoming the 3rd home player having to withdraw through injury after another lengthy stoppage.

With the match entered injury time, the host’s laid siege on the Square end. It is in the 12th of the allotted 14 minutes of injury time, that Kacper Zeberek got the finishing touch to another Grumley free kick, sending his teammates and supporters on the side line into raptures.

After the game, manager Iain Sheridan praised his team’s character, commitment, and never give up attitude that saw them over the finish line, taking the 3 points as full reward that their play deserved.

Johnstown FC Team: K. Mangan, J. Colton, J. Connolly, D. McQuillan (c), M. Grumley, P. Challenger,  S. Conroy, W. Cahill, S. Challenger, G. Lynch, K. Zeberek
Subs: V. Murphy for P. Challenger, D. Bolland for Murphy, D. Byrne for Manga

by Jonathan Purvis

Website Makeover

During the summer we have given our website a makeover and with eight days until our first senior game we are pleased that phase one is now ready.

 

All the senior sections are ready for the new NEFL season and we can now work on the NECSL sections as their new season will start in September. So follow the link and have a look, we hope you like it.

 

by Julian Lee

5 Star Johnstown Rout Boca Rovers

Johnstown 5  – Boca Rovers 0

A polished display by Johnstown saw them rout Boca Rovers 5-0 at the MDL on Sunday morning, thanks largely to 5 goals from top scorer Arnold Ruksenas.

The home side were eager to put defeat to Muirhavnamor in their last outing 3 weeks ago behind them and went at the visitors right from the off. Inside the first minute, both Pierce Challanger and Wayne Cahill had opportunities to opening scoring but Boca managed to scramble the ball away.

Johnstown’s quick movement and slick passing soon led to the breakthrough. Cahill took possession in midfield and went on mazy dribble which resulted in him being taken down in the box by the last man when through on goal. A penalty was awarded but the expected red card did not materialise and Boca escaped with their full compliment still on the field. With 4 minutes on the clock, Arnold Ruksenas opened the scoring with a firmly struck penalty beyond the keeper’s reach.

Further chances fell to Adam Ivers and Pierce Challenger throughout the first half but Johnstown had to wait until the 42nd minute before they could make their dominance count.

Again Wayne Cahill’s pace and quick feet were instrumental in the creation of the chance. In possession on the left, Cahill ran into the area, dibbling past a number of defenders. When he reached the goal line he pulled the ball back to the closely marked Ruksenas. Using his strength to hold off his marker, Ruksenas turned and fired in his 30th goal of the season.

2 goals in a minute, on the hour mark, put this game beyond the visitors. Both goals were virtually identical. A deep pass out from the back, set Ruksenas free. His pace left the defenders standing. On both occasions, he was through 1 on 1 and just picked his spot, beating the keeper and stretching Johnstown’s lead.

Just 8 minutes later, Johnstown were awarded a free out wide on the their right. Sean Challenger’s perfect delivery was met by the head of Ruksenas who steered it into the net, completing the rout with his 13th goal in the last 5 games and his 33rd goal of the season, reaching the target he set himself in August, with 4 games to spare.

While the front men have grabbed the spotlight, a word of praise is deserved for the defensive unit today. They worked tirelessly, and handled a very dangerous Boca attack with relative ease and merited their hard earned clean sheet today, their first since October.

Johnstown FC Team: G. Baltinas, J. Colton, J. Connolly, D. McQuillan (c), M. Grumley, A. Ivers, S. Challenger,  J. Flynn, P.Challenger, W. Cahill, A. Ruksenas

Subs:P. Dempsey for Flynn, J. Forde for Colton, D. Grumley for S. Challenger.

 

by Jonathan Purvis

Valentine’s Day Tables

Please see below table given to us by the NEFL for the week ending the 14th February 2016

 

O Neills

PosClubPWDLFAPts
1142514447316283197
214662341924
3532014211
442111267
54211857
6614111117
72200836
83201536
9420210126
10720515216
1142026156
123120535
135050225
145050005
15612312245

justin

PosClubPWDLFAPts
1142514447316283197
214662341924
3532014211
442111267
54211857
6614111117
72200836
83201536
9420210126
10720515216
1142026156
123120535
135050225
145050005
15612312245

Bradys

PosClubPWDLFAPts
1142514447316283197
214662341924
3532014211
442111267
54211857
6614111117
72200836
83201536
9420210126
10720515216
1142026156
123120535
135050225
145050005
15612312245

And League tables for the NECSL can be found here.

Under 12

http://www.necsl.ie/table/12-premier-league-table/

Under 13

http://www.necsl.ie/table/13-division-1-league-table/

Under 14

http://www.necsl.ie/table/14-division-1-league-table/

Under 15

http://www.necsl.ie/table/15-division-1/

Under 17

http://www.necsl.ie/table/17-premier-league-table/