Senior Republic of Ireland Internationals, Niall Quinn, Jason McAteer and Kevin Kilbane can sleep a little easier tonight. For a draw at the Stadium of Light today gave the wear-side boys a breath of relief, as top flight football will continue next season for Sunderland next season in the Premiership. If the Black Cats had lost to Derby today, then Ipswich needed to beat Liverpool for Sunderland to be relegated to Div I. But this was not the case. Tommy Butler (Republic of Ireland U21s) again started, and played the full 90 minutes for Sunderland. Sunderland drew 1-1 with Derby at the Stadium of Light and the Tractor Boys (Ipswich) were beaten by a staggering 5-0, by Liverpool.
Mattie Holland, Republic of Ireland midfielder will now painstakingly have to play his football in Div I next season with Ipswich.
Elsewhere in the Premiership Manchester United and Charlton had a 0-0 draw. And no Mark Kinsella for the Addicks! Still no news from Charlton as to why, so hopefully Mick McCarthy wont have anything to worry about. Denis Irwin was handed the captain’s armband for his final game as a United player. Irwin was not offered a renewed contract at Old Trafford.
Elsewhere today in the Premiership
The Duffer, player-of-the-season at Ewood Park, will not stop scoring Goals for Blackburn. Duff scored the second of three in Rovers final game of the season, a 3-0 hammering of Fulham at Ewood park.
Lee Carsley’s scored the first of three of Evertons goals at Highbury, however that game finished 4-3 in Arsenals favour. This will surely clarify Carsleys fitness in Mick McCarthys mind.
And Finally
Charlton's player of the year Dean Kiely believes the Republic can make a real impression during next month's World Cup finals. The Republic of Ireland Internarional keeper has been named in Mick McCarthy's final 23, along with team-mate Mark Kinsella, and commented:
"People will always hark back to the exploits in 1990 and 1994. Back then we had some very good players, but not the strength in depth. "We now have strength and cover in every department, and whoever is called upon can do a job. "It was nice to see the confirmation that I was going, because you can never take anything for granted. But Shay Given has got the shirt at the moment and possession is nine tenths of the law."
Tomorrows Div I playoff between Birmingham City and Norwich City at Cardiff: If Birmingham win, our very own "Jeff Kenna" will come back to top-flight football. WHERE THE CLUB CAPTAIN BELONGS.
Back to current news page Home
