Patrick McClean on wishing he never left Sligo Rovers, return from short-lived retirement and stepping on toes
Sligo Champion
Today at 16:02
Defender Patrick McClean says he's always regretted leaving Sligo Rovers in 2019, as the Derry native returns to The Showgrounds for a second stint.
McClean joins the Bit O'Red on an 18-month deal after being placed on the transfer list by Glentoran.
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Irish Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Derry City return looking less likely following latest James McClean development
James McClean has committed his future to Wrexham until beyond his 38th birthday. The former Ireland winger has signed a brand new contract with the Championship side, tying him to the Welsh club until the end of the 2026/27 season. The development is a blow to fans of his hometown club, who were hoping to see him pull on the red and white of Derry City again before his retirement. McClean came off the bench in Wrexham's opening day defeat to Southampton in the Championship on Saturday, for his 90th appearance for the back-to-back promotion winning outfit. The 36-year-old captained Wrexham to their return to the Championship last season. After signing his new deal, he said: 'I'm delighted to be extending my contract with the Club. It's no secret that I've enjoyed my time here and I want to help continue the success we've had so far. 'My family love it here, I love it here and we're excited for the future.' Click this link or scan the QR code to receive the latest League of Ireland news and top stories from the Irish Mirror. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . Capped 103 times for Ireland, he has played in the League of Ireland Premier and First Divisions, the Premier League with Sunderland and West Brom, the Championship with Wigan and Stoke, League One (Wigan and Wrexham), and League Two (Wrexham). His appearance at the weekend was his 222nd in English football's second tier, while he has notched 158 games in the Premier League. Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson hailed McClean's new deal, saying: 'We're pleased to secure an extension to Jimmy's contract. He's an important player and character in the dressing room as we prepare for a historic season.' As for a possible Derry City return, McClean has spoken in the past of possible playing and non-playing opportunities at his former club. Speaking last year, he said: 'I've never hidden the fact that I want to finish my career at Derry City.' McClean added: 'Maybe there might be a role there for me. I got on quite well with the board and will be dropping a few hints to Sean (Barrett) and Phil (O'Doherty) to say what role is available after hanging up my boots.' Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email .
The Irish Sun
17 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Mason Melia double inspires St Patrick's Athletic to win as Sligo Rovers fury over red card
Mason Melia struck twice as St Patrick's Athletic cruised past ten-man Sligo Rovers, who were left fuming at Patrick McClean's first-half red card in Inchicore SPURRED ON Mason Melia double inspires St Patrick's Athletic to win as Sligo Rovers fury over red card Mason Melia scored a striker's brace inside five minutes as St Pat's put their European disappointment firmly behind them. While the 17-year-old Tottenham Hotspur-bound striker was central to most of the game's highlights. Advertisement 2 Mason Melia bagged a brace for the Saints in the win over Sligo on Sunday 2 Patrick McClean was shown a controversial red card in the defeat Sligo were rightly livid at the sending off of Patrick McClean just before half-time which ruined what had been a competitive game. All but out of Europe ahead of the second leg following their 4-1 home defeat to Turkish giants Besiktas last Thursday, St Pat's got their quest for European qualification next year back on track here. Stephen Kenny's side remain sixth in the table but there are now just five points separating them from second-placed Bohemians. Back-to-back defeats for Sligo sees them remain in trouble second bottom of the table. Advertisement The chief talking point of a pretty uninspiring first half arrived on 42 minutes when Sligo were astonished in being reduced to 10 men. Centre-back McClean, who was having a very solid game, certainly tripped Melia as the teenager tried to skip by him. But despite there being obvious cover there from Sebastian Quirk, referee Damien MacGraith incensed Sligo by brandishing a straight red card to McClean for a last-man challenge in what looked an horrendous decision. A call that flabbergasted Sligo manager John Russell. Advertisement He said: 'I think everyone in the ground, bar the man in the middle, could see it was never a red card. There was a covering defender. "That changes the game, there is no doubt about it. Moment Leicester fans applaud protesting Sheffield Wednesday supporters amid crisis club's financial woes "It ruined it. It's very frustrating, we've come up here to try and get a result. "We are fighting for our lives and it has changed the game, and we have ended up coming down the road with a 3-0 defeat." Advertisement Russell did speak to MacGraith afterwards. He said: 'I did, just briefly, at the very end of the game and he said, 'I'll have to have a look back, but for me it was a red'.' Having successfully done so in regard to Sam Sargeant recently, Sligo will appeal the decision. Russell said: 'Yes, we have to. Thankfully we did get one overturned last week. Advertisement "But it's hard as a manager because you don't want to be complaining all the time about decisions. "You want the game to be played in the right manner, and we want to play the right way and Pat's want to play the right way. "But the game was spoiled by the decision. "You are coming up here this time last year we conceded a penalty in the 97th minute, and it was never a penalty and we ended up losing the game 4-3. Advertisement "It was a year to this day or something. But you are coming up today thinking, hopefully it will turn for us and we might get decisions, and then this happens. It's hugely frustrating.' Sargeant would rescue Sligo from Brandon Kavanagh's resultant free kick with a stunning save to tip the effort onto the crossbar. But the night got worse for Sligo within four minutes of the restart when St Pat's took the lead. Sargeant was guilty of racing too far off his line from a Chris Forrester ball over the top. Advertisement The keeper never got there ahead of Jake Mulraney who walked the ball into the net as Sergeant collided with his captain Will Fitzgerald for a really soft goal. Sligo were then at sixes-and-sevens as they somehow survived conceding a second goal on the double. First Sargeant saved well from Melia who had nicked the ball a little too easily off Sean Stewart. Simon Power looked set to score from the rebound but for a terrific goal-line clearance by Ollie Denham. Advertisement But there was no such reprieve a minute later when St Pat's did extend their lead from another soft goal. Kavanagh's floated corner was met by the totally unmarked Melia who found the bottom corner with a downward header. Murlaney shot wide when he should have found the net before Melia scored a brilliant solo goal. Sligo lost the ball cheaply with Kavanagh threading it through for Melia. Advertisement Accelerating past Denham, the teen sensation nonchalantly rolled the ball with his studded beyond Sargeant before casually side-footing to the net for his ninth league goal of the season. ST PAT'S 3 - 0 SLIGO ROVERS SUN STAR MAN: Mason Melia (St Pat's). St Patrick's Athletic: Anang 7; Sjoberg 7, Redmond 7, Turner 7, McClelland 7; Lennon 6 (Baggley, h-t, 6), Forrester 7 (Robinson, 79); Mulraney 7 (Leavy, 79, 6), Kavanagh 7, Power 7 (Garrick, 71, 6); Melia 9 (Carty, 71, 6). Sligo Rovers: Sargeant 6; Quirk 6, Denham 6, McClean 6, Stewart 6; Harkin 6 (Wolfe, 65, 6), McManus 6; Fitzgerald 6 Elding 6 (Manning, 80, 6), O'Kane 6; Waweru 6 (Kavanagh, h-t, 6). Advertisement Referee: Damien MacGraith (Mayo) 4. Attendance: 3,190.
Irish Independent
17 hours ago
- Irish Independent
‘Everyone bar the man in the middle could see it was never a red card' – Sligo boss fumes as Mason Melia fires double
While the 17-year-old Tottenham Hotspur-bound striker was central to most of the game's highlights, Sligo were rightly livid at the sending off of Patrick McClean just before half-time which ruined what had been a competitive game. All but out of Europe ahead of the second leg following their 4-1 home defeat to Turkish giants Besiktas, St Pat's got their quest for European qualification next year back on track here. Stephen Kenny's side remain sixth in the table but there are now just five points separating them from second-placed Bohemians. Back-to-back defeats for Sligo sees them remain in trouble, second bottom of the table. The chief talking point of a pretty uninspiring first half arrived on 42 minutes when Sligo were left fuming after being reduced to 10 men. Centre-back McClean, who was having a very solid game, certainly tripped Melia as the teenager tried to skip by him. But despite there being obvious cover there from Sebastian Quirk, referee Damien MacGraith incensed Sligo by brandishing a straight red card to McClean for what he deemed a last-man challenge. It was a call that left Sligo manager John Russell flabbergasted. 'I think everyone in the ground, bar the man in the middle, could see it was never a red card. There was a covering defender,' he said. 'That changes the game, there is no doubt about it. It ruined it. It's very frustrating, we've come up here to try and get a result. 'We are fighting for our lives and it has changed the game, and we have ended up coming down the road with a 3-0 defeat.' Having successfully done so in regard to Sam Sargeant recently, Sligo will appeal the decision. Russell said: 'Yes, we have to. Thankfully we did get one overturned last week. But it's hard as a manager because you don't want to be complaining all the time about decisions. 'You want the game to be played in the right manner, and we want to play the right way and Pat's want to play the right way. But the game was spoiled by the decision.' Sam Sargeant rescued Sligo from Jake Mulraney's resultant free-kick with a stunning save, tipping the effort onto the crossbar. But a mistake by the goalkeeper would gift St Pat's the lead four minutes after the restart. Sargeant misjudged Chris Forrester's ball over the top allowing Mulraney to nip in to walk the ball to the net as the keeper collided with his captain Will Fitzgerald. Sligo were then at sixes-and-sevens as they somehow survived conceding a second goal on the double on 55. First Sargeant saved well from Melia who had nicked the ball a little too easily off Seán Stewart. Simon Power looked set to score from the rebound but for a terrific goal-line clearance by Ollie Denham. But there was no such reprieve a minute later when St Pat's did extend their lead with another soft goal. Brandon Kavanagh's floated corner was met by the totally unmarked Melia who found the bottom corner with a downward header. Melia then showed his brilliance with a real poacher's goal on the hour. Sligo lost the ball cheaply with Kavanagh threading it through with the young striker accelerating past Denham, before nonchalantly rolling the ball with his studd by Sargeant before side-footing to the net for his ninth league goal of the season. St Patrick's Athletic: Anang; Sjoberg, Redmond, Turner, McClelland; Lennon (Baggley, ht), Forrester (Robinson, 79); Mulraney (Leavy, 79), Kavanagh, Power (Garrick, 71); Melia (Carty, 71). Sligo Rovers: Sargeant; Quirk, Denham, McClean, Stewart; Harkin (Wolfe, 65), McManus; Fitzgerald, Elding (Manning, 80), O'Kane; Waweru (Kavanagh, ht).
