eircom league stories - July 2000

Derry chairman dies in road accident - July 28, 2000
Shock news filtered through last night of the death of Derry City chairman Kevin Friel. The 48-year-old was killed in a road accident in Co. Donegal. He leaves behind a wife and five children.
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Shels go down fighting - July 27, 2000
Shelbourne 1 Rosenborg 3
The history books will say that Shelbourne lost 3-1 at home in the second qualifying round of the Champions League against crack Norwegian outfit Rosenborg but they wont be able to tell the whole story because even though they lost they still restored pride in National League football.
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Geoghegan fit for Rosenborg clash - July 26, 2000
There was good news for Shelbourne manager Dermot Keely ahead of his team's showdown against Rosenborg tonight in the second qualifying round of the Champions League. Striker Stephen Geoghegan passed a fitness test and will be available for the game.
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Conor could make it big in Scotland - July 26, 2000
Republic of Ireland u21 international Conor O'Grady is off to Scotland for a trial with Premier Division Dundee. The Sligo Rovers midfielder will have one week with Dundee to prove what he can do.
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Cash windfall for Dublin clubs - July 26, 2000
Shelbourne are quickly becoming the moneybags of the Eircom League. With the revenue that their Champions League run will generate and a just-announced £250,000 government for ground improvements at Tolka Park, things could not be sweeter in Dublin 3.
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More pre-season blues - July 26, 2000
Things have not gone that well for Irish clubs against their English counterparts in pre-season so far and last night was no different. None of the four Eircom League teams in action against English Nationwide teams managed a win.
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Doolin out of Rosenborg match - July 25, 2000
Veteran Shelbourne midfielder Paul Doolin has been ruled out of tomorrow night's Champions League second-round match against Rosenborg at Tolka Park.
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City all Wright on the night - July 25, 2000
Manchester City emerged victorious over Drogehda last night, in a pre-season friendly at United Park. The only goal came from Shaun Wright Phillips, the adopted son of former Gunner, Ian Wright.
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Pat's not Hammered by West Ham - July 24, 2000
St. Patrick's Athletic lost 1-0 against English Premiership side West Ham United yesterday at Richmond Park but came out of the game with a lot of credit.
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Des Byrne becomes a Don - July 24, 2000
Wimbledon manager Terry Burton has swooped to sign St. Patrick's Athletic full-back Des Byrne for an undisclosed fee which is thought to be an Irish record.
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Supersaints sign Paul Byrne - July 21, 2000
As expected Paul Byrne has moved from Bohemians to Dublin rivals St. Patrick's Athletic. The former Celtic star signed for Pat Dolan's team on Wednesday night and should be available to play in St. Pat's friendly against West Ham on Sunday.
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Shels qualify despite late scare - July 20, 2000
Shelbourne 1 Sloga Jogomagnat 1 (Shels win 2-1 on aggregate)
Eircom League champions Shelbourne reached the second qualifying round of the Champions League after earning a 1-1 draw against Sloga Jugomagnat of Macedonia at Tolka Park last night. But only for a last-gasp clearance off the line from Owen Heary their dream would have been shattered.
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Mountfield sees Cork hold Wolves - July 20, 2000
Derek Mountfield was on the sideline for the first time as Cork manager last night - and in a twist of fate his new club was playing a club at which Mountfield spent many years as a player.
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O'Halloran linked with a move to Swansea - July 20, 2000
Irish u21 international Greg O'Halloran could well be plying his trade in England by the start of the new campaign. O'Halloran is being linked with a move to Swansea City, which would see him teaming up with fellow Irish u21 star Ryan Casey.
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Scully returns for Sloga showdown - July 19, 2000
The most disappointed man in the Shelbourne travelling party to Macedonia to face Sloga Jugomagnat last week was captain Pat Scully.
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Mountfield the man for Leesiders - July 19, 2000
Cork City last night announced the surprise appointment of Derek Mountfield as their manager. Cork were thrown in chaos a fortnight ago when newly appointed manager Colin Murphy took up a job offer with Leicester City which left the club high and dry.
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Kilkenny looking to sign Bohs veterans - July 18, 2000
Newly promoted Kilkenny City have made tentative enquiries about the availability of three of Bohemians' senior citizens. Bohs manager Roddy Collins has released Maurice O'Driscoll, Derek Swan and Eoin Mullen and the Cats have emerged as favourites to grab all three.
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No pre-season luck for Irish clubs - July 18, 2000
Last night was one to forget for Eircom League clubs. Four went into pre-season friendlies against English opposition and only one, Bray Wanderers, came out with any sort of positive result. Wanderers faced Northampton Town at the Carlisle Grounds and earned a 0-0 draw.
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Galway sign Crossley - July 17, 2000
Galway United have swooped to snap up the signature of Irish u21 international Ger Crossley.
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Bohs finally get their man - July 14, 2000
All speculation can now end on whether Trevor Molloy is going to join Bohemians or not. The former Irish u21 international put pen to paper at Dalymount Park this afternoon to become the most expensive player in National League history.
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Shels Euro bonanza - July 14, 2000
Shelbourne look set to receive a £100,000-plus bonanza should they qualify for the second round of the UFEA Champions League.
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Dundalk goalkeeper joins league newcomers - July 14, 2000
Dundalk goalkeeper Brendan Murphy is going to try his luck in England for the second time in his career. The 24-year-old Wexford-born shot stopper has signed a two-year deal with League newcomers Kidderminster.
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Bray come unstuck against Dundee - July 14, 2000
After Bray Wanderers' brave show against Celtic at the weekend it was expected that they would follow in Bohemians footsteps and beat Dundee United when they met at the Carlisle Ground last night. But Pat Devlin's men never raised their game to the required heights, finally losing 2-0 to the Scottish Premier outfit.
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Shels earn historic win - July 13, 2000
Sloga Jugomagnat 0 Shelbourne 1
Last night Shelbourne bridged an 18-year gap when they became the first League of Ireland team to win away in Europe since Shamrock Rovers beat Romania's Uni Craiova 3-0 in the UEFA Cup in 1982.
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Bohemians impress against Dundee United - July 12, 2000
Bohemians pre-season preparations were given a shot in the arm last night as they overcame Scottish Premier Division outfit Dundee United with two unanswered goals.
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Scully fails to make it
- July 11, 2000
Shelbourne were already facing a difficult Champions League task against Macedonian champions Sloga Jugomagnat in Skopje tomorrow - and it just got tougher.
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Harps set to swoop
- July 11, 2000
Finn Harps manager Gavin Dykes is set for a cross-channel swoop to boost his squad.
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Whelan wants one more year
- July 11, 2000
Eircom League veteran Paul Whelan is a free agent - and looking for a club for at least one last season.
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Kerr defends stadium - July 10, 2000
Brian Kerr has leapt to the defence of the FAI's controversial Eircom Park project - and he has lashed out at the "men in suits" who are orchestrating the opposition.
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Keely opts for safety first - July 10, 2000
Shelbourne manager Dermot Keely has revealed that the Eircom League champions will adopt a 'safety first' policy in Wednesday's Champions League clash against Macedonian champions Sloga Jugomagnat.
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O'Neill's Bhoys beat Bray - July 10, 2000
As far as first games go, new Celtic boss Martin O' Neill, got the start he wanted. But, although Chris Sutton is the big news and signing, and the prize for fan favourite still goes to Henrik Larson, perhaps the biggest surprise of the match came in the form of a triple treat of goals from Tommy Johnson.
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Shelbourne sign central defender - July 7, 2000
League Champions Shelbourne have move quickly to shore up their defence before they enter the Champions League next week against Macedonia's Sloga Jugomagnat, by signing Arbroath defender Robert Raeside on a free transfer.
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Seamus Kelly linked with St. Pat's - July 7, 2000
Cardiff City goalkeeper Seamus Kelly has been linked with a move back to Ireland to join St. Patrick's Athletic. The former UCD goalkeeper has failed to hold down a first-team place at Ninian Park in his two seasons at the club.
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FAI fallout gathers momentum - July 7, 2000
The vote not to enter into talks with the Government over their proposed National Stadium has sent the FAI into a mini-crisis. The FAI Board of Management voted 9-8 not to enter talks with the Government during a heated meeting on Wednesday night and the decision has prompted Galway United director John Byrne to tender his resignation.
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Cork City want Houghton - July 6, 2000
Cork City have identified Ray Houghton as the man they want to succeed Colin Murphy as manager, following the latter's shock resignation.
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Bray announce NTL deal - July 5, 2000
Sacked Celtic supremo Kenny Dalglish was in Bray this morning to help his mate Pat Devlin, manager of Bray Wanderers, unveil a significant new sponsorship deal.
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Cork could lose their manager - July 4, 2000
It is looking likely that Cork City could lose their manager even before he leads them in their first league game. Colin Murphy took over from the legendary Dave Barry at the end of last season but it looks as if he is set to leave the club already - moving to Leicester as assistant manager to his friend Peter Taylor.
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Folan hands-off warning for Galway - July 3, 2000
Galway United's bid to bring Brentford's Tony Folan to Terryland Park has not been met favourably at Griffin Park. Galway have been told in no uncertain terms that Folan is going nowhere as he is a part of Ron Noades' plans for the new season.
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UCD are Superchamps - July 3, 2000
UCD won the first trophy of the National League season yesterday when they beat Bohemians on penalties in the Supercup final at Tolka Park.
UCD 2 Bohemians 2
(UCD win 5-4 on penalties)
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