IRISH DEFENDER Eoghan O’Connell registered a goal and a clean sheet as Charlton beat Portsmouth 3-0 in League One tonight.
Their seventh successive home win left the Addicks 10th in the table, two points off the playoff places, while Portsmouth remain fifth, albeit with two games in hand on all the teams above them.
O’Connell, a cousin of the former Irish international rugby star Paul, capped a fine night with the third on 67 minutes, heading home Scott Fraser’s free-kick, after first-half goals Ryan Inniss and Corey Blackett-Taylor had given the hosts a commanding lead.
For Pompey, Irish-eligible defender Sean Raggett started and former Derry City winger Ronan Curtis came off the bench.
But the visitors’ hopes of a comeback all but ended when Marlon Pack was dismissed after receiving a second booking just before O’Connell found the net.
Elsewhere tonight, in the Women’s Championship, it was a disappointing evening for Birmingham’s Irish contingent.
Louise Quinn, Jamie Finn, Harriet Scott and Lucy Quinn all started, while Eleanor Ryan-Doyle was an unused sub, as they suffered a 1-0 defeat against Southampton.
A closely fought encounter was settled in the 84th minute when 18-year-old midfielder Lucia Kendall scored the winning goal for the hosts.
Absolute huge news for munster.
@Patrick O’Sullivan: isn’t it a shame as we get 2 vital players back, we lose another 2 – Daly, Oli Jager to probable season ending injury.
The revolving door continues, hope poor Jeremy has healed, he looked baet up before his stint on the bench. Great to have an attacking threat back at 12, Rory in fairness has been really solid but ball carrying freak like Nankavilli is needed, if Jack is going to be twiddling his thumbs would rather have him back for Edinburgh, unlikely. Also Coombs or Gleeson need to start. It’s a must win with a bonus point game if we want top 4. Hopefully Campbell comes into the fold too.
Is nankivell eligible for Ireland.. and if so when ?!
@Gary Galligan: 2027
@Gary Galligan: He’s not and wouldnt get a look in even if he was. We have plenty world class centres in Aki, Ringrose, Henshaw and Osborne with a few serious young talented lads coming through in Gavin, Forde and Postlewaithe who are considerably younger than Nankivell. And the same goes for Tom Farrell.
@Harry O’ Callaghan: mister Boyle says 2 years time. Bundee Robbie Gary going on 30 …. Nankivell is better than all the younger boys
@Gary Galligan: So by he’ll be 30/31 with absolutely no international experience
@Gary Galligan: huge gavin is promising
@Gary Galligan: He’s definitely not better than the younger lads who’ll be playing for Ireland very soon. Nankivell is good but he’s no world beater. We have some young prospects who have the potential to be world beaters. We have to develop our own and build for the future. That’s how it works
@Gary Galligan: no point even thinking about it as knowing munster luck when he does his 5 years and is eligible, the all blacks will have a slew of injuries at centre and end up capping him against Italy in some random summer tour
@Gary Galligan: Osborne will end up a 12 I reckon.
@scott casey: NZ don’t cap players not playing in NZ. And knowing Munster’s luck? What because something similar happened with Frisch and he decided to leave ye then? It’s always ‘poor me’ from the Moansters.
@Patrick Breen: are you alright?. It was fairly late at night to be going on a rant about a joke comment
@Seanie: Wood and Kareem too.
@Gary Galligan: he’s not better than Jamie Osborne and Hugh Gavin could easily have a higher ceiling too