This Week: Ireland

There’s been busy times since we last looked over the Irish Sea to see how the Englishmen have been getting on. Two rounds of league action and the round of the EA Sports Cup have meant a wealth of action for Les Rosbifs. Ian Foster and his Galway United side won through to the next round of the cup on Monday 4th May, thanks to a single goal victory at home to Derry City, in a match where Michael McGrath played the full ninety minutes for United. It was a disappointing night for Dan Murray at Cork City though. After scoring an own goal at home to Wexford Youths, Murray saw his side level late in the match, before a penalty shoot-out. Although Murray converted his spot-kick, his side went out to the Youths, causing one of the major upsets of the round. Things were a lot more relaxed for Sligo Rovers, with Paul Cooke’s men recording a convincing 4-1 win, despite going behind as early as the eighth minute.

Back to league action on Friday 8th and Ian Foster’s Galway United fell to a 1-0 loss on the road to Dundalk. Michael McGrath didn’t last the hour and was taken off before the hour was up, while for Dundalk there were slightly more notable successes in the match, if only for the reason that they were the winning team. With Harpal Singh suspended, Michael McGinley still didn’t get a start, while Darren Mansaram was brought off after an ineffective 66 minutes. If truth be told, nobdoy shined in a match was poor.

Dan Murray was again on the winning team as Cork City continued their table-topping form with a 3-0 win away to St Patrick’s Athletic, while Paul Cooke’s Sligo Rovers were hammered 3-0 at home to Shamrock Rovers. Although keeper Richard Brush did make some good saves, he went the wrong way on the third goal, a penalty, while Danny Ventre had a game he will be keen t forget in defence.

Over the last weekend, Dan Murray got on the score sheet with the winning goal for Cork in their 1-0 success over Derry City. Dundalk were held to a 1-1 draw in the Louth derby away to Drogheda. Darren Mansaram played as a lone striker for the whole fo the second half, following the sending off of a team-mate, but he was fighting a tough cause as the match petered out to a share of the points. There was a good win for Galway and Ian Foster, who recorded a 3-0 victory over Bray Wanderers. Michael McGrath had a fine game on the left wing, while Daryl Robson played the full match for Bray, who are now slipping closer to the bottom of the table. Paul Cooke and his Sligo Rovers travelled to St Patricks Athletic and came back with a point, following a 2-2 draw. Richard Brush was kept busy throughout in the Sligo goal, while Danny Ventrehad another game in defence.