My articles cover everything association football-related – from match predictions and previews to match reports. Many of my articles refer to the European Championships 2020, which was held during the Coronavirus Lockdowns.
European Championships Previews:
European Championship 2020. Semi Final Previews.
The quarter finals of the European Championship 2020, were mostly good matches of a high standard. Italy beat Belgium 2-1 in the quarter final in a great match of football. Italy scored two fantastic first half goals from Nicoló Barella and Lorenzo Insigne. Belgium managed to find a way back into it, through a penalty…
European Championship 2020 Quarter Finals. Previews.
First of all, what a week of knockout soccer it was. Monday 28th June 2021 has to go down as the greatest single day in the history of knockout soccer. Two epic matches of exciting attacking play, drama and tension, with a shock as well. Switzerland, who are in their own right, a very good…
England 2 Germany 0. Round of 16. European Championship 2020.
England beat Germany 2-0 in the Round of 16 of the European Championship 2020, today at Wembley Stadium. The first half was a tight affair, with England shading it. Germany had a earlier chance when Timo Werner missed a one on one with England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. England should have led on the verge of…
Euro 2020 Predictions for 23rd June 2021.
Group E. Spain versus Slovakia. La Cartuja, Sevilla. 5:00 pm. Spain have had a lot of possession so far this European Championship, but it has mainly been slow possession. Spain had a lot of control of the ball in their opening two matches against Sweden and Poland creating enough chances to win the games, but…
Euro 2020 Predictions for June 22nd 2021
England versus Czech Republic Group D. Wembley Stadium, London. 8:00 pm. England have flattered to deceive so far, doing just enough to reach the last sixteen of the European Championship. England looked steady if unspectacular against Croatia, but England were poor against an energetic and hard working Scotland and could have lost that match. England,…
Euro 2020 Predictions for 21st June 2021.
Netherlands versus North Macedonia. Group C. Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam. 5:00 pm. The Netherlands have had a good tournament so far, beating both Ukraine and Austria. The Netherlands have played an open attacking game using wing backs to stretch the defences of the opposition. Denzel Drumfries has being the best attacking wing back of the…
Euro 2020. Predictions for 20th June 2021.
Italy versus Wales. Stadio Olimpico, Rome. 5:00 pm. Italy have been among the most impressive teams in the tournament, with a great style of football with everyone passing and moving quickly off the ball. Italy have stuffed both Turkey and Switzerland in their opening matches. Italy have looked excellent so far, but there must be…
Euro 2020. Predictions for 18th June 2021.
Sweden versus Slovakia. Krestovsky Stadium, St. Petersburg. 2:00 pm. Sweden gave a decent account of themselves against Spain, in an organised, and disciplined performance where they could stolen the game, if Berg hadn’t missed a sitter after a set-up from Isak. Sweden will have to show more on the ball against Slovakia today and I…
Denmark 1 Belgium 2. Group C. 17th June 2021
Belgium beat Denmark 2-1 at the Parken Stadium, Copenhagen today in the European Championship 2020 match. Denmark scored after two minutes from a well taken finish from Yussuf Poulsen. Denmark took the game to Belgium with a very good first half full of pace and intensity, restricting Belgium to no shots on goal in the…
Euro 2020. Predictions for 17th June 2021.
Ukraine versus North Macedonia. Group C Arena Nationala, Bucharest. 2:00 pm. Ukraine, while beaten by the Netherlands still scored two goals and still looked like a team that will probably make the second round of this tournament. Their defence did not look good against the Netherlands, and it should have been a more comfortable victory…
Euro 2020. Predictions for 16th June 2021.
Russia versus Finland Group B Krestovsky Stadium, St. Petersburg. 2:00 pm. Russia were very poor against Belgium last Saturday, barely asserting themselves on the ball, and conceding two soft goals in the first half. Russia even with two home games, won’t get out of the group in my opinion. Finland won their first match ever…
Euro 2020. Predictions for June 15th 2021.
Hungary versus Portugal. Group F Puskas Arena, Budapest. 5:00 pm. Reigning Champions of Europe, Portugal are one of the favourites for the competition with possibly a stronger squad on paper(matches are still not won on paper), then the team that won the competition in 2016. Portugal have excellent players in almost every position on the…
Euro 2020. Predictions for 14th June 2021.
Scotland versus Czech Republic Group D Hampden Park, Glasgow. 2:00 pm. I fancy Scotland this year to get out of their group (either 2nd or a good 3rd place) with home advantage, and a useful team with good players such as Andy Robertson, Kieran Tierney and Scott McTominay. Verdict. Home advantage to swing for Scotland.…
Italy versus Turkey. Euro 2020
Group A. The European Championship 2020 kicks off tonight with the match between Italy and Turkey at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome tonight at 8:00 pm. Italy and Turkey are battling in Group A of the European Championships. For my predictions on Group A go to European Championship 2020 Group Predictions. Italy have been unbeaten…
International Matches
Hungary 0 Republic of Ireland 0
A creditable performance and result from the Republic of Ireland soccer team tonight against Hungary. The first half was a solid defensive performance from Ireland, but Ireland were still lacking a bit of a threat upfront. Ireland hit the woodwork early from a Shane Duffy header from a set-piece. Hungary had a header from Adam…
Hungary Versus Republic of Ireland. International Friendly.
Ireland are playing away to Hungary in the Szusza Ferenc Stadium in Budapest, tonight at 8:00 pm. Ireland have had a poor 2020s so far. Hungary have been drawn in the Group F or Group of Death being drawn against France, Portugal and Germany, three teams the could win the Euro 2020 tournament. It is…
Andorra 1 versus Republic of Ireland 4. Match Report
The Republic of Ireland have won their first soccer match in the 2020s with a 4-1 win against Andorra yesterday. The first half was a bit of a non-event with a very slow and lethargic performance from Ireland, with the ultimate indicator of this fact was no-one had a shot of target. Ireland, however created…
Champions League/Europa League
Europa League Final 2021.
Villarreal 1 Manchester United 1 (11-10 on penalties). Villarreal have won their first European trophy and major honour last night in the Europa League final 2021 after a penalty shootout win against Manchester United in Gdansk. The first half was…
Europa League Final Preview. Manchester United versus Villarreal.
Manchester United Route to final. Manchester were knocked out of the Champions League in a disappointing fashion, this season, putting themselves in a great position, after winning their opening three group matches. Manchester United subsequently lost their last three matches,…
Local Football Blogs
Pairc Ui Rinn: a Local “Field of Dreams” on the Boreenamanna Road.
Pairc Ui Rinn, a Local Field of Dreams on the Boreenamanna Road. The first competitive soccer game on the famous Flower Lodge ground was in 1957, when AOH Football Club played Sligo in the FAI Cup. According to Plunkett Carter…
Ringmahon Rangers Photograph from 1958, the Start of their Golden Era.
This photo from 1958, was taken on the old pitches at Church Road, where the Willow Bank estate is now built. The Ringmahon Rangers club began as a school boys team in 1951. It was founded at Dunlocha Cottages. In…
Blackrock Soccer Team, Munster Cup Final in 1945.
The Blackrock Soccer team, which drew with Cork United B, in the Munster Cup Final at the Mardyke in 1945. Blackrock Soccer Club supplied four full international players to the Irish team at various times. These internationals were goalkeepers Mick…
Ringmahon Rangers: A Band of Brothers
This is a photo of the Ringmahon Rangers team of 1968/69, winners of the Munster Senior League, Senior Shield, and Keller Cup. Back L to R : Christy Ahern, Johnny O’Leary RIP., Ned Barry, John Lynch, Pat Fitzgerald, Paddy Ahern.Front:…
Dunlops Factory, It Made Golf and Tennis Balls.
Dunlops Factory operated in Cork on the Centre Park Road from 1935 to 1983. At one stage, almost 2,000 people worked in the Dunlops complex, many hundreds from this area. While the factory mainly produced tyres, the workers also made…
Blackrock Soccer Team 1950.
An interesting photo from 1950 of the Blackrock Soccer Team which includes some of the young soccer players of the era. Pictured (front from left). T. Aherne, D. Aherne, T. Twomey, B. Scannell, J. Olden: (back). C. Hannigan, T. Hassett,…
North End Soccer Team.
A question for soccer experts? This photograph was found in the papers of Con Hannigan. Can you identify the club team and if the individuals are as listed at the rear of the photograph? (also shown!) Previous Post. Are you…
Albert Rovers, A Cork Soccer Club.
Albert Rovers FC was founded in 1946, and the club was originally based in the Albert Road and the Marina area. The club became successful, later becoming members of the Munster Senior League. It won the league in 1953-54, 1954-55…
Ferdia O' Mahony 