GOALS FROM DWIGHT Gayle and Marouane Chamakh gave Crystal Palace a 2-0 win at West Bromwich Albion while Fulham drew 1-1 at Norwich City in the FA Cup this afternoon.
Southampton edged Burnley 4-3 in an entertaining game at St Mary’s, Hull City won 2-0 at Middlesbrough and Stoke City defeated Championship leaders Leicester City 2-1.
Wigan’s trophy defence began in uncertain fashion as they were held to a 3-3 draw by third-tier Milton Keynes Dons.
Goals from Roger Espinoza and Jordi Gomez put Wigan 2-0 up, but Ben Reeves struck twice in two minutes to draw MK Dons level and, after Callum McManaman restored the hosts’ lead, Patrick Bamford scrambled home a late equaliser.
Bolton Wanderers belatedly exacted revenge for their 4-3 loss to Blackpool in the 1953 final by beating their Championship rivals 2-1, while Leeds United fell to a shock 2-0 defeat at Rochdale.
Meanwhile, the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, non-league Macclesfield Town, claimed a 1-1 draw at home to second-tier Sheffield Wednesday thanks to a 72nd-minute equaliser from Steve Williams.
See a full list of today’s FA Cup scores here
McCloskey, Hanrahan and McGrath. Particularly pleased to see those three names in the line-up.
Depth of Irish squad is something to behold. Really interesting group of players – possibly even a few bolters for the RWC squad in there? Reid, Ruddock, McCloskey perhaps? Surprised to see Duncan Casey not selected though – he’s been in very good form of late. Similarly Collie O’Shea or Garry Ringrose, just to see how they’d fare?
Gary Ringrose will be playing at the under 20 World Cup. Ronan O Mahoney deserved a place on this squad, along with Duncan casey. Don’t see the point in bringing billy holland, who has had a really good season but he’s in his 30s using he?
So, I guess it’s something like:
1s: Cronin, Buckley, Warwick
2s: Herring, Heffernan
3s: Archer, Bealham
locks: Holland, Marshall, Stevenson
back-row: Ruddock, Masterson, McKeon, Leavy, Taggart
9s: Cooney, McGrath
10s: Hanrahan, Scannell
centres: McCloskey, Reid, Griffin
back three: Healy, Conway, O’Halloran, Nelson, Kelleher
I wonder why John Ryan, Duncan Casey, Tadhg Furlong, Jack O’Donoghue, Jack Conan and Ronan O’Mahony weren’t selected
Can only assume the Furlong and Casey are in the running to be part of the main training squad. O’Mahony and Conan exclusion seems daft considering how far they have come on this season and while I know O Donoghue is only well started everything he does screams future international….
No Duncan Casey?
Archer and Holland???? Holland is too old and Archer can’t scrummage.
If there was a better player than Holland available then he wouldn’t be going.
Could have picked a much stronger squad imo. From a Munster perspective, I would much rather see JOD, Casey and ROM in there than Holland and Archer. Conan should be there too as well as Furlong. Still, it’s good to see talent like McCloskey, McGrath and JJ being recognised.
Delighted to see lots of young talents being given the chance to improve and put their hands up for the future.Griffen has being doing well at Irish and playing abroad should not be punished. As a Connacht fan after Ireland I am so pleased Matt Healy is being given a chance, he has a great kick and chase game and seems to be able to get through the eye off the needle a lot. And Denis Buckely is just unbelievable, solid at scrummage and so tenacious at turn over ball, remember the game in Thomond with was it 7 turn overs ? Quinlan couldn’t stop talking him. Best of luck too all involved maybe even a few RWC wild cards in there!!
Great to see Kelleher getting recognition for a great season