The countdown continues for tomorrow’s big clash between the Republic of Ireland and Armenia in their first Euro 2012 qualifier in Yerevan.

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has had a nightmare week with several key players pulling out of the squad through injury. There was optimism though with Trap when Robbie Keane took part in full training.

Sportspeak’s chief soccer reporter Dan “Pitchside” Pitcher reports.
 

Padraig Harrington has been included in Monty’s  European Ryder cup team as a wild card and may have fellow Irishman vice captains Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke to thank for that. The 3 time major champion has had a bad year so far and his chances have been written off by many. Harrington makes up a pack of 3 Irishmen in the team, as well as himself, there is Ulsters Greame McDowell and Rory McIlroy.

Harrington was the first wildcard Monty called out along with Luke Donald from England and Italy’s Edoardo Molinari.  The Italian who won his second European tour event today at the Jonny Walker Championship in Gleneagles and after his performance couldn’t be left out. He also joins his brother Francesco on the team

Europe’s captain also revealed that Spain’s Sergio Garcia as a fourth vice captain for golfs biggest event in October.

Europe’s full Ryder Cup 1010 team:

Padraig Harrington IRE (Wild Card)
Rory McIlroy NIR
Greame McDowell NIR
Lee Westwood ENG
Martin Kaymer GER
Ian Poulter ENG
Ross Fisher ENG
Frencesco Molinari ITA
Miguel Angel Jimenez ESP
Peter Hanson SWE
Luke Donald ENG (Wildcard)
Edoardo Molinari ITA (Wildcard)

This weekend, Blackpool go in search of their second Premier League victory following last weeks 4-0 opening day win over Wigan, but their task will be far tougher than last week as they travel to Emirates Stadium to meet Arsenal.

Elsewhere during the second round of matches for the new campaign, Spurs will aim for better form than their midweek European display when they head to Stoke City, champions Chelsea face already worrying Wigan Athletic while Fulham manager Mark Hughes locks horns with his former club Manchester United in the weekend’s final clash.

Sportspeak’s chief soccer reporter Dan “Pitchside” Pitcher has this report.
 

It was a very frustrating night for Ireland’s footballers last night. Giovanni Trapattoni’s men under temporary charge of Marco Tardelli slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Argentina in the first international match at the new Aviva Stadium. What looked like a controversial goal scored by Angel Di Maria on 20 minutes was the only thing that separated the sides after the game Sportspeak caught up with Richard Dunne, Paul Green, Cillian Sheridan & John O’Shea and Argentina’s Jonás Gutiérrez & Pablo Zabaleta.

Angel Di Maria scored which in fairness wont go down as goal of the season to give Argentina a 1-0 win over the Republic of Ireland this evening at the first international match in the new Aviva Stadium. The game will be remembered by many as possibly the worst football game the Republic have played in the last few years, and if it wasnt for myself and Bob McKenzie’s live coverage of the game we probably would have been bored into a coma.

After what was an awful first 20 minutes which failed to see anything positive from either team, the visitors went into what at first sight seemed like a controversial lead. Straight from an Argentinian goal kick the ball landed at the feet of Gonzalo Higuain who flicked it to De Maria who lobbed it over Shay Given. At first sight it looked like it was miles offside, but on the video replay Richard Dunne played Di Maria onside so the correct call was made by the referee and his assistant.

The Argies bossed the game from then on in terms of  possession and restricted Ireland to half chances the odd time they arrived on a night of pure frustration for not only captain Robbie Keane, who was winning his 100th cap, but for the 45,000 supporters who came to witness what everyone thought was going to be a masterclass display, despite the game being a friendly.

Because Irish Hospitals are still at stone age times, Ireland manager Giovanni Trappatoni, who will have been recovering from surgery earlier that afternoon could not watch the match live because there was no Sky Sports, Sportspeak offered to leave a computer by his bedside so he could listen to our live coverage but Trap would in the end have to settle for highlights on the terrestrial television, he wont have been too pleased to stay up to watch them.

Despite the loss and the awful footballing display there was an impressive debut for Keith Tracy who was involved in most of the desperate attempts to score late on but he did well against the best players in the world. Following a rousing pre-match reception, Keane endured a tough night on the pitch, but could have made up for it if he had not uncharacteristically spurned a late chance.

With Marco Tardelli replacing Trapattoni in charge, Ireland worked hard but could not provide the guile to match the endeavour. Messi gave the 45,200 fans a glimpse of his talents as early as the ninth minute when he skipped past John O’Shea, but his lob sailed over the bar.

Republic of Ireland: 1 Given; 2 McShane, 4 O’Shea, 5 Dunne, 3 Kilbane (20 Cunningham ’57); 7 Fahey (18 Treacy ’77), 6 Green, 8 Andrews (15 Gibson ’68), 11 Duff; 9 Sheridan (17 Keogh ’57), 10 Keane.

Subs not used: 16 Westwood, 12 Foley, 13 Kelly, 14 O’Dea, 19 Stokes, 23 Murphy.

Argentina: 1 Romero; 4 Burdisso (18 Zabableta h/t), 2 Demichelis, 13 Samuel (19 Coloccini ’84), 6 Heinze (3 Insua ’72); 15 Banega, 14 Mascherano, 8 Gago; 7 Di Maria (17 Gutierrez 75), 9 Higuain (22 Milito h/t), 10 Messi (21 Lavezzi ’58).

Subs not used: 12 Andujar, 5 Bolatti, 11 Tevez, 16 Aguero, 20 Rodriguez, 23 Pastore.

Booked: Heinze

Attendance: 45,200.

Listen to tonight’s show from the Aviva Stadium with Sportspeak comentators Bob McKenzie and Dan “Pitchside” Pitcher.
 

Shay Given may be forced to leave Manchester City if Joe Hart beats him to the number 1 jersey. Shay was speaking today after training in Gannon Park, Malahide for the Republic of Ireland’s friendly international with Argentina on Wednesday.

Shay is now fully fit after recovering from dislocating his shoulder very late last season, he missed the last 3 games with city and also missed Ireland’s two summer internationals against Paraguay and Algeria in the RDS.

There is a lot of speculation in the UK with journalists saying that during Given’s recovery period, Joe Hart was impressing Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini. If Shay doesn’t start he says he will be ready to sit down with management at the club to discuss his future and may leave the club on loan.

Sportspeak’s chief soccer reporter Dan “Pitchside” Pitcher has more on this story:
 

Aiden McGeady is out of the Republic of Ireland squad for Wednesday’s friendly international against Argentina, which will be the first soccer international to be played at the new Aviva Stadium.

Giovanni Trapattoni confirmed the news at a mini press conference after training in Malahide yesterday. McGeady’s withdrawal is likely because of speculation linking him with a move away from Celtic all the way to Moscow.

Trap also has one or two injury concerns for Wednesdays big game with Richard Dunne and Kevin Doyle carrying knocks

Sportspeak’s chief soccer reporter Dan “Pitchside” Pitcher has this report:
 

Shamrock Rovers 3- 0 Bohemians

The hoops had gone ahead on 23 minutes from a well taken goal from Dan Murray who was unmarked in the area after Tommy Stewart put a lovely ball in for him and they went into the break with a goal lead. 13 minutes into the second half Rovers were reduced to 10 men after Pat Flynn went through Garreth McGlynn for a shortcut, a straight red was the decision from referee Dave McKeon.

The home side didn’t let that bother them though, and kept pushing for a second and got it on 62 minutes. Gary Twig went sprinting onto a Aidan Price Ball and shot the ball past Barry Murphy to send the home fans into a frenzy, this his 9th goal of the season.

This ground has been a curse for the league champions, indeed they have yet to collect a single point here since this place opened

The introductions of Jason Byrne and Raffael Cretaro did very little for Pat Fenlon and so it proved with minutes to go Billy Dennehy stepped up and slotted home an easy goal and a great finish. Pat Fenlon could only watch on as minute by minute his hopes of retaining for a 3 in a row diminished infront of him.

Shamrock Rovers ended level on points with St Patricks Athletic but Pats have a far superior goal difference, they travel to take on Drogheda while Pat Fenlons men have a home tie with Galway United next Friday

Once again the Final score Shamrock Rovers 3 Bohemians 0.

Ireland's brand new soccer jersey will be on show for all to see on Wednesday against Argentina.

After yesterday’s announcement by Eircom to hang up their sponsorship deal with The Football Association of Ireland after more than 10 years, It was announced this afternoon that one of Ireland’s biggest high speed networks 3 would be the new sponsor for the FAI and all international squads.

The deal will be rolled out over the next 4 years and its estimated worth is €7.5 million. The deal not only sees 3 become the primary sponsor, but it will also be working with football at grass-roots level involving clubs and leagues up and down the country. The new sponsorship affords 3 premium branding rights to include training and playing kits and gear including ticket branding and high visibility pitch-side branding.

Listen to what Giovanni Trapattoni, John Delaney and Robert Finnegan had to say.
 

With over 450,000 participants, football is one of the largest sports in the country and last year 10 of the 20 most watched sports events in Ireland were football events, 9 of which were senior international matches.

Robert Finnegan from 3, John Delaney and Giovanni Trapattoni show off Irelands new soccer jersey in the Aviva stadium.

Robert Finnegan, CEO, 3 said “We are delighted to announce this major sponsorship, and see this as a strong strategic fit for our business to drive awareness of our brand amongst supporters of the number 1 sport in the country”

Many soccer fans will be a little annoyed by this announcement as only months ago the FAI revelled a brand new retro style jersey for 2010/2011, which many people have already bought. John Delaney said he is aware that people will be annoyed over having to fork out more money on a new jersey expected to be out in the Autumn, and has said he will bring in a scheme similar to what Dublin GAA brought in with the release of their new jersey, which allowed fans to trade in their jerseys for new ones.

Sporting Fingal left it very late to salvage a point in the Morton Stadium against Dublin rivals Shamrock Rovers, but if it wernt for the many mistakes from Fingal it could have been 3 points, but a cracking game none the less.

Sporting Fingal came into todays Dublin derby with Shamrock Rovers in need reigniting their league campaign following last weeks draw with St Patricks Athletic and the previous weeks loss to Drogheda United. Shamrock Rovers knew that 3 points were needed to stay up there with St Pats but needed to take it easy so Michael O Neill would have a fully fit squad heading to Italy for their Europa League second leg tie with Juventus.

The opening 10 minutes were very quiet from both sides. Fingal got the first chance after 2 Minutes when Gary O Neill had a shot going in but it was fingertiped over the bar by Alan Manus in the goal. Fingal were patient in those opening stages and that paid off on 11 minutes, when O Neill floated a nice ball to eamon Zayed who had no difficulty in putting it past Manus for the opening goal.

A minute or two later the Tallaght men had nearly leveled the score when James Chambers found himself with plenty of space on the halfway line and ran through to the box, Quigley had come out of his goal to the edge of the area, Chambers tried to curl it around him but it just went wide.

Rovers equalized on 34 minutes Craig Sives volleyed in from a James Chambers corner after Ger O'Brien was forced to concede the corner following a James Chambers free in. A great goal and just what what they needed too.
That goal seemed to calm down any nerves but in saying that it seemed to kill off the half aswel, there wasnt anything spectacular to report and very few chances either. Michael O Neill will have been happy with his teams attitude going into the break considering their bumper week which includes a home game with Bohemians next Sunday in Tallaght, after of course the second leg tie with Juventus.

Sporting Fingal started the second half very well, they were once again patient and wernt giving away the ball and on 50 minutes it once again paid off, Ronan Finn had a cracking shot saved by Manus, but the Hoops keeper stumbled it and Gary O'Neill got on the ball and lashed it into the back of the net to put fingal 2-1 up, massive mistake from Manus. O Neill was proving instrumental setting up chances aswel as the first Fingal goal. On 62 minutes after scoring his goal O Neill set up Zayed again but he hit it just wide of the post but defiantly had Manus beaten in the goal could have and really should have been 3-1.
Fingal will be asking questions about why their final touch wasnt working, especially on 76 minutes, as the rain was pouring down in Santry Conan Byrne found himself in trouble so he passed back to Shaun Williams, who couldn't control it. Gary Twigg robbed him of the ball and raced in for a cool finish to level the sides once more.

Despite it being a horrible day weather wise, it was turning out to be a great day for Rovers. Fingal on 80 minutes were badly punished for letting the hoops have too much procession, Rice with a great goal. He shot low from outside the box into the far left corner and Quigley couldn't reach it. 3-2 Rovers. This was nothing more than Rovers deserved and it looked like a Fingal comeback was unlikely.

Or was it… on 86 minutes Ronan Finn burst into the area and fired a shot past Manus in the goal, it appeared like Manus didnt know where the ball was, great goal but very sloppy goal keeping to help ensure atleast a point for Liam Buckleys men.

Sporting Fingal: D Quigley, G O'Brien, L Fitzgerald, S Williams, K Browne, E Zayed, C Byrne, R Finn, G O'Neill, A Kirby, S McFaul SUBS B Gannon, O Cahill,G Crowe, K Dawson, B Clarke

Shamrock Rovers: A Mannus, A Price, C Sives, D Murray, E Stevens, R Bayly, C Turner, P Kavanagh, G Twigg, T Stewart SUBS; D Murphy, B Dennehy, S Rice, S Bradley, P Jennings

Referee: Anthony Buttimer

Attendance 1433