SM
Man Utd vs. PAOK: 3 hrs 17 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
SN
Euro Champ Qualifying | Playoff Semi-Finals Route B
Oct 8, 2020 at 7.45pm UK
Národný Futbalový Štadión
RO

Slovakia
0 - 0
Rep. Ireland

Slovakia win 4-2 on penalties

Duda (101'), Hamsik (114')
FT
(aet)

Hourihane (20'), McClean (48'), Duffy (68')

Stephen Kenny "really felt" for unavailable duo Aaron Connolly, Adam Idah

:Headline: Stephen Kenny 'really felt' for unavailable duo Aaron Connolly, Adam Idah: ID:417963: from db_amp
The pair had been sitting too close to a member of staff who later tested positive for coronavirus on the flight to Bratislava.

Boss Stephen Kenny expressed sorrow for Aaron Connolly and Adam Idah after they were forced to miss the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2020 showdown with Slovakia.

Brighton striker Connolly, 20, was due to start Thursday night's game in Bratislava while 19-year-old Norwich striker Idah was ready to come off the bench before they were ruled out because they had been sitting too close to a member of staff who later tested positive for coronavirus on the flight over.

Kenny, who was forced into a reshuffle hours before kick-off, said: "I really felt for the two players, Aaron and Adam. They've come through the Under-15s with Ireland all the way up to the Under-21s.

"They can still play for the Under-21s and they're playing in a match to get their team to the European Championships and it's derailed on the afternoon of it.

"They are perfectly fine. Under UK law, they are fine to continue playing with distances and so forth. It's just obviously different medical rules in Ireland over distances, and that's something that's hard to believe, really.

"But it's just something that we're going to have to accept."

However, Kenny refused to criticise the arrangements which meant the two players came into contact with the infected non-playing member of staff.

He said: "Listen, we have a lot of great staff here, there are a lot of good people here and I think this is a situation that is unprecedented, for sure. It's something that we just have to contend with.

"Without doubt, everyone can learn, but it's an unfortunate situation and one that we have to live with."

Ireland, who face Wales in the Nations League at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday, ultimately lost 4-2 on penalties after a 0-0 draw at the Narodny Stadium, with Alan Browne one of two men to miss from the spot.

The Preston midfielder, who had hit a post during extra time, was targeted by social media trolls in the immediate aftermath, but took the abuse on the chin.

Browne said: "When things like that happen, you obviously have the weight of the nation on your shoulders, so people are going to be upset, they are going to say things in the heat of the moment that maybe they don't mean, maybe they do.

"But either way, I won't let it bother me. One week you're a hero, the next you're the villain. That's just the way the game is."

amp_article__417963 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2020-10-10 23:02:34:
html db last update - 2020-10-10 23:02:34 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Stephen Kenny

Click here for more stories about Slovakia

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .