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Diarmuid O’Carroll is Motherwell’s new Under 18s manager.

The 32-year-old replaces Darren O’Dea, who left for Celtic earlier this month.

As a player, O’Carroll started life at Celtic, but despite a loan to Ross County in 2007 and an Under 21 cap for the Republic of Ireland, he never made the breakthrough in the east end of Glasgow.

He spent a year at Morecambe and another at Airdrie, before signing a short-term deal with Valur in Iceland.

He returned to the UK in 2011 and spent the next seven years of his career in Northern Ireland, turning out for the likes of Glenavon, Cliftonville and Crusaders.

At almost all his clubs, Diarmuid has been involved in some element of coaching and it was whilst in Northern Ireland that he started his coaching education with the IFA, where he is now waiting to start his UEFA Pro Licence course.

Most recently, as well as been a UEFA B licence coach educator, O’Carroll has been working in Las Vegas.

“I’m really happy to be at Motherwell,” O’Carroll said: “I’m joining a great coaching staff and I’m looking forward to the challenge.

“Once the opportunity arose, I knew it was one I wanted to take. This club has an exceptional pedigree of developing young talent, and I hope to play my part in helping the next generation come through.”

Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson added: “Diarmuid is an excellent addition and we are very much looking forward to working with him.

“We conducted a robust process with the appointment, which included a practical session on the park with our players, and we are excited by what he can bring to the group.”

Jamie Semple netted a double as Motherwell defeated Dunfermline Athletic 2-0 in the SPFL Reserve League Cup.

The midfielder grabbed a goal in either half, as the Steelmen dominated the game at Broadwood Stadium to claim their second win in the group stage.

Maurice Ross again called upon a number of first team players. Trevor Carson, Bevis Mugabi, Barry Maguire, Casper Sloth and Mark O’Hara all featured, while Christy Manzinga also featured in attack.

After both sides traded possession in the opening exchanges, the hosts started to gain momentum halfway through the first half and took the lead with 10 minutes remaining.

Ross MacIver’s cross from the right was met by Semple in the box, bundling home to open the scoring.

Semple headed against the crossbar early on in the second half, with O’Hara and Manzinga also having chances to extend the lead.

Then, with five minutes remaining, the game was put to bed. Semple found space on the edge of the box and fired in, although the visiting keeper will feel aggrieved to have not kept it out.

Motherwell: Carson, Cornelius, Hussain, Mugabi, Brown, Maguire, O’Hara, Sloth, MacIver, Semple, Manzinga.

Subs: Connolly, Starrs, Williamson, Muir, Kettings.

Allan Campbell, Barry Maguire and James Scott have been called into the Scotland Under 21 squad for their forthcoming double header.

The Motherwell trio, who all featured for their country in the last international break, are in Scot Gemmill’s selection for the matches with Lithuania and Czech Republic.

Scotland sit joint top of their 2021 UEFA European Under 21 qualifying group, having won their opening two matches against San Marino and Croatia.

They host Lithuania at Tynecastle Park on 10 October, before travelling to Uherske Hradiste to take on Czech Republic four days later.

A first trip to Perth in the 2019/20 season comes on Saturday, as Motherwell travel to face St Johnstone.

Stephen Robinson’s men are looking to bounce back from a disappointing end to a three-game winning run on Saturday, and go to a notoriously difficult venue to take on Tommy Wright’s side.

Kick off at McDiarmid Park on Saturday is at 3pm.

Tale of the tape

Motherwell’s 2-1 defeat to Ross County ended a three-game run of wins, which had come against Hamilton, Hibernian and Hearts.

Despite defeat, the Steelmen sit fourth in the Ladbrokes Premiership table with six games played, having won three, drawn one and lost two.

St Johnstone’s 4-0 loss to Rangers on Sunday, paired with results elsewhere, means they are the league’s bottom club going into the weekend.

The Saints have drawn three and lost three of their six league games so far, scoring five and conceding 17.

They also endured a difficult League Cup campaign, losing to Montrose, Ross County and Forfar Athletic. A sole victory came against Brechin City, as they were eliminated at the group stage.

Head to head

Motherwell and St Johnstone met twice at McDiarmid Park in the 2018/19 campaign, with both sides claiming a win apiece.

The Saints won the most recent encounter back in May, with Scott Tanser and Murray Davidson netting in a 2-0 win.

Previously, Tom Aldred and Danny Johnson’s early double did the damage in a 2-1 victory for Motherwell in December.

Ticket information

Tickets are available online directly from St Johnstone, from our Motherwell ticket website or from the Fir Park ticket office. You can also pay at the gate.

Supporters will be in the north end of the west stand.

*Tickets are free of charge with any full paying adult or over 65 ticket, restricted to a maximum of two per adult/senior ticket.

Fans who require ambulant or wheelchair access should contact Andy Sim on 07428 225254 or email tickets@mfcdsa.com.

Can’t make it? Watch or listen live

If you’re outside the UK/Ireland, you can watch St Johnstone v Motherwell and the majority of our Ladbrokes Premiership games this season on our live streaming service.

Priced at £12 a month, just head to tv.motherwellfc.co.uk to subscribe.

Wherever you are, there’s also live audio commentary available on our streaming service for £5.99 a month.

Motherwell take on Dunfermline Athletic on Monday afternoon in the SPFL Reserve League Cup.

Maurice Ross’ side already have a victory in the competition this season, winning their first group match 4-1 against Greenock Morton.

Kick off at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld is at 2pm.

Brian Graham and Ross Stewart scored as Ross County came from behind, cancelling out Allan Campbell’s goal, to beat Motherwell 2-1.

“We should have won. Make no mistake. We just didn’t manage the game well enough.”

Stephen Robinson speaks after the 2-1 loss to Ross County.

Motherwell gave up a one-goal advantage to lose out 2-1 at home to Ross County.

The Steelmen had the chance to go second in the Premiership and looked to be in control, after Allan Campbell’s goal on the hour mark put them ahead.

But goals from Brian Graham and Ross Stewart, sandwiched by Jake Carroll’s dismissal for two bookings in quick succession near the end, sent the Staggies back home with all three points.

Motherwell named an unchanged starting team from the side which won at Tynecastle last weekend, as they went in search of a fourth successive win.

A first half of chances for both teams, but largely controlled by the hosts, was notable only for a controversially-disallowed headed goal from Declan Gallagher.

Referee Alan Muir ruled that the defender had knocked his marker off the ball in challenging in the air, and blew the whistle as the ball made the way into the net.

Motherwell flew out the traps in the second half and deservedly took the lead with 15 minutes of the match played.

Devante Cole’s ingenuity led to a passage of play which saw the ball laid off to Campbell on the edge of the area. The midfielder saw the opening, and placed the ball brilliantly into the bottom left corner of the net.

Motherwell went in for the kill, with James Scott and Sherwin Seedorf having opportunities but failing to double the advantage.

The introduction of Brian Graham in the 72nd minute suddenly swung the match. Within three minutes, Michael Gardyne’s reverse pass found the substitute in acres of space on the left, and time to place the ball past Gillespie and into the net.

Minutes later, defender Carroll’s two yellow cards in two minutes suddenly made the job for Motherwell to get back in it all the more difficult, and the visitors made their numerical advantage count in the dying minutes.

Richard Foster’s cross from the left eluded everyone bar Stewart at the far post, who headed the ball into the ground and into the net.

Kerry Montgomery’s late penalty gave Motherwell a deserved 1-0 win at Forfar Farmington on Friday night.

The captain’s spot kick, after substitute Lori Gardner was felled in the box, came in a match controlled in large part by the women of steel.

Victory lifts Donald Jennow’s side to fourth in SWPL1, leapfrogging Spartans and Rangers at least temporarily until Sunday’s fixtures.

Knowing the win could lift them up the league, Motherwell had plenty possession at Station Park and had chances to take home a more convincing scoreline.

Nevertheless, the assured performance marked the fifth straight win for the team in claret and amber, who are now also unbeaten in all six games since returning from the summer break.

“Forfar were organised and made us work for it,” head coach Donald Jennow said.

“We were a bit wasteful when we got chances near their goal, but we were still worth the win.

“We will continue to make sure we work hard and continue to improve. It’s great to be in fourth spot, and our main priority is staying above the two teams below us now.”

Motherwell: Hunter, Knox, Callaghan, Rolph, Rafferty, Rice, Montgomery, Doran-Barr, McEachran, Adams, Cairney.

Subs: Vincenti, Gardner, Crooks, Roberts, Arbuckle. Otto, Munro.

PJ Morrison has been loaned to Cowdenbeath for one week on an emergency loan.

The goalkeeper will join the League Two side after injuries in the Blue Brazil’s current squad.

Cowdenbeath, who have won three on the bounce, travel to face Queen’s Park on Saturday.