On the weekend that the FAI Ford Cup Final rounded off a stellar League of Ireland season in style, there was other Irish interest at the so-called business ends of campaigns in Europe and beyond.
Arguably the most crucial match involving an Exile abroad this weekend featured Republic of Ireland women’s international Shannon Smyth. Going into the final week of fixtures in Norway’s Toppserien, sitting second from bottom, her side Amazon Grimstad occupied a promotion/relegation playoff spot.
Three points off third from bottom Klepp, Smyth’s side faced their direct rivals on the league’s last day, knowing with their superior goal difference, a win would keep them up in the most dramatic fashion. Sadly, that win was not to come and with Smyth starting the match, Amazon went down 1-2 to condemn them to a two legged playoff.
Meanwhile, another Irish international was finishing up her season in Norway’s top flight. Balbriggan’s Diane Caldwell was also in action, in Avaldsnes 0-0 with Stabaek. In three weeks time, they meet again, this time in the NM-Cupen, Norway’s premier women’s cup competition. Caldwell, like Smyth and O’Sullivan featured on her return from helping Sue Ronan’s Republic of Ireland to a third straight WCQ win in midweek.
Staying in Scandinavia, but changing codes; within hours of securing his place in the final six of Swedish Idol, Kevin Walker was lining out for GIF Sundsvall hoping to help his side earn a place in a place in Sweden’s Allsvenskan this season. Roger Franzen’s side hit what could only be described as a last day bum note however, their 0-0 draw away to Landskrona confining them a relegation/promotion play off.
As it was, Sundsvall were relying on other results to jump into an automatic promotion spot and with Falkenbergs and Orebro both winning, their result was immaterial. So with a two legged tie to face next week, GIF also now have the issues of Walker’s continued involvement in Swedish Idol.
Despite squandering a series of chances himself, Robbie Keane helped LA Galaxy to a semi-final first leg win in the MLS Western Conference last four clash with Real Salt Lake on Sunday evening. The Republic of Ireland captain, who uncharacteristically passed up a number of opportunities, did cross for Sean Franklin, who fired home the winner for Galaxy.
Also in the MLS latter stages over the weekend, a 2-0 defeat was what awaited Colorado Rapids in their first of the games post MLS regular season, a match that would prove their last. Cork defender Shane O’Neill was present once more but could do little as Seattle Sounders ran out convincing winners. Jonny Steele lasted 68 minutes as New York Red Bulls conceded a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw in their semi-final first leg away to Houston Dynamo.
Liam Lawrence was back on the bench for league duty on Saturday after a 73 minute run out in the Greek Cup in midweek helped PAOK Salonika to a 1-0 second leg victory over Anagennisi on Wednesday night. That appearance was just his second start of the season, his inclusion in the Champions League qualifying first leg against Schalke his only other meaningful contribution this term.
There was a reprieve for Cillian Sheridan over the weekend, as the out of favour Republic of Ireland international striker was handed his first start under new APOEL Nicosia boss George Donis. His chance was a short one however, with the Cavan man hauled off at half time in a 0-2 away defeat to Apollon. Sheridan has yet to score for the Cyriot side, in domestic of European competition. The man who brought him to the club, the former Hearts boss Paulo Sergio, was sacked last month.
On Sunday morning, Republic of Ireland international striker Fiona O’Sullivan marked her return from international duty with a goal for club side SC Freiburg. But that was as good as it got for the American born forward and her teammates, as they went down to two second half goals from the wonderfully named and in-form Turbine Potsdam (that’s a team, not a player).
Another Irish striker amongst the scorers over the weekend was Kyle Lafferty, who marked his return to the Palermo starting XI with the opener in a 2-0 win over Avellino in Serie B. The start was Lafferty’s first in over three weeks, having struggled to maintain a place in the side since Gennaro Gattuso left the club earlier in the season. The 26th minute strike was the Northern Irish international’s fourth of the campaign.
Exiles in Brief
- FC Den Bosch and Barry Maguire followed up their 1-7 drubbing against Sparta Rotterdam last week with another heavy defeat this, going down 0-5 to FC Dordrecht in Holland’s Jupiler League. Maguire, who has been a regular in central midfield for the Dragons, impressed but couldn’t prevent another demoralising loss in a poor season.
- Billy Mehmet has yet to score a goal from open play this season, after another start for Dempo SC in their scoreless draw with Mohun Bagan on Friday. Mehmet lasted 90 mnutes as the home side tried in vain to break the deadlock and has just one goal to his name this term, a penalty in a 2-2 draw with Rangdajied United last month.
- Republic of Ireland Under 19 cap Paul Mahony followed up a late debut appearance last week with another on Saturday, his cameo coming late on as FC Torrevieja beat Cullera 1-0 to move into fourth in their section.
- Liam Miller was not involved whatsoever as Brisbane Roar defeated Melbourne Heart 3-0 in Australia’s A League.
- Darren O’Dea also didn’t feature for his club side this weekend, missing out completely as Metalurh Donetsk drew 1-1 with Dnipro in the Ukrainian Premier League.
- Sandnes Ulf go into the final day of the Tippeligaen season still unsure of the top flight status after a 3-1 over Brann on Sunday. The Republic of Ireland Under 21 goalkeeper Sean McDermott sat out the second successive match as Ulf aim to preserve their Eliteserien spot, and lie two points ahead of the promotion/relegation playoff spot, with one game remaining.
- There was a return to the starting XI for Aiden McGeady on Sunday afternoon as Spartak Moscow lost 1-3 at home to rivals Lokomotiv Moscow. It was a quiet return to an under par Spartak side for the winger, who was rested last weekend and for the cup tie in the week.
- Union Berlin and full back Patrick Kohlmann, who won five Under 21 caps for Don Givens’ Ireland side in 2004, play on Monday evening. Second placed Union take on Koln, who sit top of the Bundesliga 2.
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