David Kelly: When three Irish women ruled European football with Arsenal
History is never forgotten as long as there are witnesses. Last summer, Ciara Grant was with her two children at Folly Farm Adventure Park in Wales when she inadvertently met one of them.
The cheery 'I know you' presaging a desperate prompt for Grant to wonder first why, then who, for they were miles and miles from home. Another parent from the school gates? Or was she Neighbourhood Watch back in Barry?
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Irish Daily Mirror
41 minutes ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
What time and TV channel is Celtic v Kairat Almaty on today?
Celtic are back in the Champions League this evening as they take on Kazakhstani outfit Kairat Almaty. Brendan Rodgers will be hoping for a straightforward night in Glasgow, but the Champions League usually doesn't offer up 'straightforward'. Celtic have a mixed history with this stage of the competition, and a first-leg victory seems like a must-win given the lengthy travel to Kazakhstan for the second game. Here is everything you need to know about the game. Where is the game on? The game takes place at Celtic Park in Glasgow. What time is kick-off? The game kicks off at 8 pm. What TV channel is it on and can I stream it? RTE Two will show the game live and it can be streamed on the RTE Player. TNT Sports 1 will have live coverage of the game and it can be streamed through their app or NOW TV. Premier Sports 1 will also show the game live. Quotes Corner Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is confident his squad is strong enough to qualify for the Champions League – but he knows they would need to strengthen if they got there. Rodgers was then asked if he would get the additions he was looking for when the board discover whether they have Champions League income. 'I don't know,' he said. 'I don't know. We just play the game and we'll see where we're at at the end of the window.' The 52-year-old has been keen to play down transfer talk in recent weeks after making his feelings clear earlier in the summer. 'I'm not going to get into a situation where I look frustrated or am frustrated because that transfers on to the players that I have, and those guys have been brilliant. 'If we get somebody in, great. If not, then we'll go with what we've got. We'll do everything we can to try and ensure all the details are right for the game and see if we can take Celtic back into the Champions League again. 'I've had no injuries and I believe that the quality of our game and the intensity that we want to work at can hopefully be enough to see us through. But these games will always be tough games.' Betting Odds Celtic 1/12 Draw 15/2 Kairat 14/1
The 42
7 hours ago
- The 42
Rangers facing Champions League exit after early collapse, Real Madrid scrape to La Liga opener win
RANGERS' HORRENDOUS START to their Champions League play-off against Club Brugge left them with a bruising 3-1 defeat at Ibrox and staring at the exit door. In a nightmare beginning to the first leg, Gers defender Nasser Djiga inexplicably allowed a long ball past him in the third minute and grateful visiting striker Romeo Vermant coolly lofted the ball over stranded goalkeeper Jack Butland. And further strikes from Jorne Spileers and Brandon Mechele had the visitors 3-0 up after just 20 minutes. Brazilian striker Danilo pulled a goal back four minutes after the break and the home side rallied, but the Belgian outfit stood firm. The return game against Nicky Hayen's men in Belgium next Wednesday will require a huge turnaround, albeit the Govan club are assured Europa League group phase football at least. Wins over Panathinaikos and Viktoria Plzen in previous qualifiers revealed flaws in Russell Martin's new-look Gers side and raised concerns in the stands, as did back-to-back draws to start the William Hill Premiership campaign. And once again the former Southampton boss incurred the ire of the Light Blue legions, having made 10 changes for Saturday's 4-2 Premier Sports Cup victory over Alloa and seven for the visit of the Belgian outfit. Advertisement Mbappe spot on for Real Madrid. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Elsewhere, Kylian Mbappe struck from the penalty spot as Real Madrid beat a dogged Osasuna 1-0 to make a winning start in La Liga under new coach Xabi Alonso. The France striker, last season's European Golden Boot winner, scored early in the second half after he was fouled in the area by Osasuna defender Juan Cruz. It was enough to seal the points in Alonso's first game in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Madrid now unbeaten in their opening fixture of a league campaign since 2008. Trent Alexander-Arnold made his La Liga debut after his move from Liverpool, with former Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen and left-back Alvaro Carreras other summer arrivals included in the starting line-up. Madrid though were without England midfielder Jude Bellingham, who is expected to be sidelined until October as he recovers from a operation to solve a recurrent shoulder issue. Madrid are looking to turn the page on a disappointing end to the Carlo Ancelotti era after relinquishing both their domestic and European crowns last season. Alonso's side had to show patience against an Osasuna team that finished ninth last term. And in the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division tonight, Peamount United came from behind to beat Bohemians 2-1. Ellen Dolan was Peamount's goalscoring hero. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO Peas secured their first league victory since May at Dalymount Park, and ended the hosts' nine-game unbeaten run. Aoibhe Brennan broke the deadlock just before half-time, before Ellen Dolan stepped up as Peamount's two-goal hero. The Ireland U19 international had a rollercoaster seven minutes: she saw a 49th-minute penalty saved by Rachael Kelly, before making amends with a looping header two minutes later. She then added another, bagging a five-minute brace and completing a crucial turnaround win for Emma Donohue and Gary Seery's side. - With reporting from – © AFP 2025 and Emma Duffy
The 42
8 hours ago
- The 42
Mohamed Salah and Mariona Caldentey named PFA Players of Year
LIVERPOOL STAR MOHAMED Salah has won a record third Professional Footballers' Association Men's Player of the Year award, with Arsenal's Mariona Caldentey collecting the women's accolade. The 33-year-old Egypt international scored 29 goals and provided 18 assists as Arne Slot's Reds stormed to last season's Premier League title. Salah's stunning form in 2024/25 saw him dominate the voting by the PFA's membership and enter the history books as the first three-time Player of the Year winner. The PFA crown complements the record-equalling third Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year award picked up earlier in the year. PFA Women's Player of the Year Caldentey, 29, moved to Arsenal last summer and scored 19 goals in all competitions, including eight on the Gunners' way to lifting the Champions League with a victory in the final against her former club Barcelona. Advertisement Mariona Caldentey of Arsenal. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Olivia Smith recently joined Caldentey at Arsenal in a world-record deal and has been named PFA Women's Young Player of the Year following her superb season at Liverpool. Morgan Rogers has scooped the PFA Men's Young Player of the Year award following a brilliant campaign that saw the Aston Villa attacking midfielder make his England breakthrough. Salah is joined in the 2024/25 PFA Premier League Team of the Year by Liverpool team-mates Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister. Milos Kerkez, who moved to Anfield from Bournemouth in the summer, is also selected, as are the Arsenal trio of William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Declan Rice. Matz Sels and Chris Wood are recognised for their fine campaigns at Nottingham Forest, while unsettled striker Alexander Isak has been included in recognition of his excellent form at Newcastle last term. Chelsea's Cole Palmer and Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes missed out on the XI despite being shortlisted for the Player of the Year award. Mohamed Salah is the PFA Players' Player of Year. 🏆#PFAawards — PFA (@PFA) August 19, 2025 The PFA Women's Super League Team of the Year side includes two players from champions Chelsea, Erin Cuthbert and Millie Bright. Arsenal quartet Caldentey, Alessia Russo, Emily Fox and Kim Little are selected, as are Manchester City pair Yui Hasegawa and Mary Fowler and the Manchester United trio of Phallon Tullis-Joyce, Maya Le Tissier and Jayde Riviere. James Trafford, now of Manchester City, has become the first goalkeeper to be named Championship Player of the Year following his brilliant performances between the sticks during Burnley's promotion campaign. Richard Kone's 21-goal haul for Wycombe in his first full season at professional level saw the 22-year-old, who last week signed for QPR, named League One Player of the Year. Bromley striker Michael Cheek's impressive first season in the EFL, in which he scored 25 league goals for the promoted side, saw him awarded the League Two Player of the Year trophy.
