Derry City overcome Cork to climb into second place
Derry City are up to second place in the Premier Division thanks to a 2-1 win over Cork City at Turners Cross.
The away side broke the deadlock when Liam Boyce fired home after Gavin Whyte had capitalised on a defensive mistake on 24 minutes.
Cork levelled the match through Djenairo Daniels, but Derry retook the lead with just over ten minutes to go thanks to Kevin Holt.
The result means that Tiernan Lynch's men are now unbeaten in three while Cork are without a win in four games.
Cork stopper Tein Troost was called into action just three minutes into the game and made a crucial save to stop Boyce's close-range header from giving Derry an early lead.
The host's first chance fell to Darragh Crowley with his strong shot deflected out of play and Cathal O'Sullivan's effort from the resulting corner well over the crossbar.
The away side couldn't take advantage of their first corner either with Carl Winchester also firing well off target.
Derry did take the lead shortly after though when Troost rushed off his line to try and gather a long delivery but Gavin Whyte was able to control the ball and lob the stopper before finding the onrushing Boyce, who made no mistake from point blank range.
It looked like the Candystripes were going to double their lead just before the break when Sam Todd headed Michael Duffy's right-footed corner towards goal. However, Daniels headed the ball to safety.
Just after the restart Ronan Boyce nodded Michael Duffy's looping cross into the back of the net, but Boyce had strayed offside so the effort didn't stand.
Milan Mbeng then sent a shot off target before Troost was called into action to gather Whyte's cross which was heading for Duffy.
Brian Maher, who had a quiet first half, then thwarted Cathal O'Sullivan's shot from a tight angle after some good work from the winger.
Cork's persistence paid off and they levelled the game in the 62nd minute after a quick throw-in released them down the left wing with the alert Daniels able to convert Kitt Nelson's cross.
The home side looked to complete the comeback but Rio Shipston's free-kick was headed wide of the left-hand post by Charlie Lyons.
At the other end, the busy Troost palmed Duffy's free-kick away before Todd's header from the resulting corner was cleared off the line by Shipston.
There would be another goal before the full-time whistle and it came for the away side on 78 minutes when substitute Holt nodded a corner home for his first goal in a red and white shirt.
Despite 10 minutes of additional time Cork couldn't find a second leveller.
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Forbes
04-06-2025
- Forbes
How Sokito Built The Most Sustainable Soccer Cleat
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Winning both the Unisport and BootWizard 2024 Boot of the Year is a testament to the Sokito's ability to develop sustainable footwear while maintaining elite product quality. Despite the accolades, founder Jake Hardy says that often people's immediate response to being told about a sustainable soccer cleat line is to ask 'is it crap then?' Former Angel City FC defender Jasmyne Spencer is a big advocate for sustainability and a Sokito ... More investor. Still, there is a core group of believers in Sokito's mission. In just three years, the start-up has drawn investment from over 60 professional players, from both the men's and women's sides of the game. The first to invest was English journeyman John Bostock. Bostock then convinced Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong to invest. Sokito's investor list now includes Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha, former Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley, Nottingham Forest players Ola Aina and Harry Toffolo, and female stars Jasmyne Spencer, Sofie Junge Pedersen, and Didi Haracic. Speaking about her investment in Sokito, Spencer said, 'We need more brands like Sokito to drive the conversation around sustainability in sport. I'm honored to join this growing community of athletes bringing the climate change conversation into the mainstream.' Like basketball shoes, soccer cleats are no longer a mere tool of the craft. They have transformed into a fashion statement and a definition of playing style, and even values. Sokito offers players and consumers the chance to tie themselves to an elite product that strives for 'maximum impact on the pitch, not the planet.' Ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Sokito worked with Troost-Ekong to design and launch an exclusive Nigerian green Scudetta model. Troost-Ekong admits, 'Sustainability wasn't really something I was aware of before Sokito.' He recalls his cleats attracting curiosity at the tournament, with fans and fellow players expressing interest in the brand, the design, and the messaging. Nigeria lost the final to Côte d'Ivoire, but Troost-Ekong says, 'It was special to wear Sokito boots in the AFCON final. It was more meaningful than just playing well; it was a chance for me to leave a lasting impact, and it was a big kickstart for Sokito.' The cleat clearly resonated with fans, selling out in just days. Since getting involved with Sokito, Troost-Ekong has furthered his climate change awareness. He recognizes the role soccer can play in amplifying awareness, noting, 'I think the biggest impact we can have is on the fanbase; using our stage to educate other people who might be on the same journey.' In recognition of his work to use the power of soccer to raise awareness about climate change and specifically land degradation, drought, and desertification, in late May, Troost-Ekong was named the Sport4Land Champion of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. Sokito is the brainchild of British entrepreneur Jake Hardy. Like many English kids, Hardy fell in love with soccer at an early age. He played semi-professionally, but admits he had 'a massive, verging on weird, interest in shoes and football boots.' At age 16, Hardy launched a small business selling vintage soccer cleats. He maintained it as he finished school and played semi-professionally. This was a time during which he recalls wearing a different pair of cleats to every game and cutting them apart to look at how they were made. It wasn't until a trip to Vietnam that Hardy realized how his passion intersected with an industry issue. 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The adhesives and plastics currently used in cleats can take thousands of years to break down, but Sokito is changing that one boot at a time.
New York Times
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Mamardashvili v Alisson: Could there really be a battle to be Liverpool's No 1?
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New York Times
03-06-2025
- New York Times
Caoimhin Kelleher to Brentford
Caoimhin Kelleher has joined Brentford from Liverpool for an initial fee of £12.5m that could rise to £18million ($24.3m). The 26-year-old goalkeeper has signed a five-year deal with an option of a further year. As part of this summer's transfer coverage on The Athletic, in addition to breaking news, tactical analysis and in-depth reads, our Transfers TLDR series (you can read them all here) will bring you a quick guide to each of the key deals. Cork-born Kelleher was signed by Liverpool from local club Ringmahon Rangers and relocated from the Republic of Ireland to England at 16. He worked his way up through the age groups to become a goalkeeper Jurgen Klopp described as the best No 2 in the world. No goalkeeper in Liverpool history has won more penalty shootouts (four), and he even scored in the 11-10 shootout win against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup in 2022. Kelleher played 67 times for Liverpool and won one Premier League title (he failed to make an appearance in the successful 2019-20 Premier League season), one Champions League, one FA Cup, one Super Cup and two League Cups. Caoimhe O'Neill Kelleher was built in the image of Alisson by former Liverpool goalkeeping coach John Achterberg. Expect a similar goalkeeper to the Brazil No 1. The Irishman was a striker until he was 13 and may not look as imposing as bulkier goalkeepers, but his bendy frame will pull off saves that look out of reach. Advertisement There may be the occasional blooper, but with penalties, look out for his 'smooth criminal' penalty-saving, where he falls towards the taker. Caoimhe O'Neill Kelleher is a capable shot stopper, with a 71 per cent save rate last season, marginally behind Flekken's 74 per cent. His distribution was solid, too, and he often went short from open play, as Flekken did. The key difference is their long passing. Flekken attempted 21.3 Opta-defined long passes (covering 32+ meters or 35+ yards) and completed 41 per cent. In contrast, Kelleher attempted 12.5 and completed 26 per cent. This could be due to Brentford's tactical approach, which embraces directness in comparison to Liverpool. With more minutes, Kelleher's numbers across the board are likely to improve. Anantaajith Raghuraman Kelleher's most recent injury saw him receive stitches in his knee in October 2023, though this did not lead to a lengthy layoff. He suffered a groin injury in June 2022 that sidelined him for three months and an abdominal tear in February 2021 that ruled him out for a month. Anantaajith Raghuraman 'Caoimh is cool as ice,' Achterberg told The Athletic in March 2024. 'He can play left foot, right foot; his speed reactions are crazy and he reads the game so well.' 'He was unbelievable,' his former Ringmahon team-mate Keelyn Cotter told The Athletic in 2020. 'We had a few goalkeepers in our league who were getting trials in England. The competition was fierce, but within a couple of years, he'd flown past them all. It also helped that he understood what a good striker might do because he was one himself.' Caoimhe O'Neill Kelleher has signed a five-year contract with an option for a further 12 months. He has cost Brentford £12.5million initially, potentially rising to £18m. Through joining in early June, just under a month's worth of the fee will hit Brentford's 2024-25 financials, as will four weeks of Kelleher's wages. Liverpool's most recent financial year ended on May 31, so this deal has no impact on their 2024-25 accounts. Advertisement In terms of those wages, Kelleher's new deal is unknown, though as ever, the cost of the deal will go beyond just the transfer fee and any agent costs. For Liverpool, Kelleher's departure won't make a sizeable dent in their staff costs, with the backup goalkeeper one of the lower earners in a well-paid squad. Chris Weatherspoon After adding on agent fees, assumed at 10 per cent, Kelleher's signing adds £200,000 to Brentford's transfer fee amortisation charge in 2024-25, with a further £2.7m per year then charged until the end of the 2029-30 season. The sale of Mark Flekken to Bayer Leverkusen for £8.4m generated a profit on sale of around £2.8m immediately in the club's books, more than offsetting the £200,000 amortisation added by signing Kelleher. From Liverpool's perspective, there could be a situation where they would not enjoy the full £12.5m fee. Reports in Ireland suggest Ringmahon, the club Kelleher joined Liverpool from as a 16-year-old, may be due 20 per cent of Liverpool's profit on any sale, which would mean Ringmahon would bank around £2.5m of the £12.5m fee. The Athletic has not been able to verify those reports, but if that were the case, it would leave £10m in profit booked into Liverpool's 2025-26 accounts, with the possibility of a further £4.4m in add-ons. Chris Weatherspoon
