Leaders Shamrock Rovers held to a scoreless draw by battling Galway United after penalty shout turned down
A sixth consecutive league win wasn't to be for Shamrock Rovers here, but their six-point lead at the top remains intact at the Premier Division's half-way mark.
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Irish Examiner
7 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
'I think we'll be fine' says Cork City's Seani Maguire before jetting off for mid-season break
The League of Ireland's mid-season break is upon us, and Shelbourne manager Damien Duff has again made clear how he feels about it. 'There's an air of the jolly boys out, they are meeting at the terminal tomorrow, they are meeting at the pub in the terminal. "It's a week on the gargle. That's not the football education I had in England,' stated Duff, who recently described this mid-season break as "amateurish." But it's fair to say some of the footballers feel a little differently about it. 'I'm going to Portugal with the family Sunday, for a couple of days, so it'll be a nice little break, just myself, my wife, the baby, and the grandparents,' admitted Seani Maguire, speaking minutes after Duff in the aftermath of Cork City's 1-1 draw with Shelbourne on Friday night. 'I've a couple of buddies over there as well. Yeah, look, I think the mid-season break, you can look at it two different ways, where you can go and just have a break totally away from football. 'But I think the message was clear from the manager in there, that we'll be back in the Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and throughout the week leading up to the Bohs game, because this is a big 18 games for us.' That result proved to be enough to edge City a point clear of bottom club Sligo Rovers at the halfway point in the Premier Division campaign, but it was the performance under newly appointed manager Gerard Nash that provides the club with reasons to be hopeful. 'I think we'll be fine. A couple of lads coming back fit, hopefully a couple more bodies through the door, and we'll see us win a lot more games than we lose' added Maguire, who was also keen to praise Cathal O'Sullivan following rumours linking him with a move to FA Cup winners Crystal Palace. Read More Colin Healy sees Kerry take care of Longford 'I think young Cathal will make his own decision. I think he can be whatever he wants. I think he's one of the best young fellas I've played with, and that includes England. 'Not just because of his talent, it's just his attitude towards everything, I think that's what teams in England will look for first, because you can just see it clear as day how good he is on the ball, he's a joy to play with. 'When he eventually goes to England, I'll be gutted not to play with him again, because of how good he is. 'But I'll be keeping tabs on his career, because I think he'll definitely play for Ireland, he's that good, and he'll definitely go and play at the highest level in football in England. 'His first touch is unbelievable, and it's not just his taking players on 1v1, just the basics of football, he does really well. 'He plays like a fella that's probably 10 years older than his age. He's brilliant, and as I said, his attitude is A1. 'He's so strong. Even in training there could be two or three lads hanging off him, and he just stands up. 'You see him in games there, he's getting kicked, he's getting lashes in the back, and he just keeps going and going and going. 'He'll go on to have an unbelievable career, I've no doubts about that.' Maguire also spoke highly of Djenairo Daniels, who he has struck up a promising partnership with in the absence of the injured Ruairí Keating. Cork City's Djenairo Daniels celebrates scoring a penalty with Sean Maguire. Pic: ©INPHO/Bryan Keane Daniels signed for City at the end of April with the club announcing at the time that it was a short-term deal until July. But it is understood the 23-year-old Dutch striker's deal will actually expire at the end of the season, although he could still sign for another club this summer with City entitled to a fee. 'DD, since he's come in, he's done really well,' continued Maguire. 'Obviously he didn't play in quite a while, and to come in and play so many games in a short space of time is a credit to him. 'He's a fit lad, he's a strong boy, he's quick, he has everything to be a top striker. He's scored goals there that are poacher's goals. 'You can see tonight the little, short and long passes, and the combination plays that we were doing, and I enjoyed playing with him tonight. 'I've only just come back in the team, and started to play with him, and I don't want to have that partnership with him, and to see him go. 'Hopefully the club get it sorted, and he'll be here for however long he wants to be.'
The Irish Sun
16 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘I'm under pressure' admits John Russell but Sligo Rovers manager insists they can turn it around after latest defeat
JOHN RUSSELL will not be taking days off during the summer break as he bids to keep Sligo Rovers in the Premier Division. 2 John Russell admitted he is under pressure Credit: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile 2 Sligo Rovers lost their 12th game of the season against St Patrick's Athletic Credit: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile Basement boys Sligo look in real danger of ending their 20-year stay in the Premier Division, even at the season's halfway point. Restricted by the top flight's smallest budget, boss Russell has had to rely on a mix of academy players and unproven signings from both here and the UK to make up his squad. Investment is required but the gaffer also believes that some of his players are not performing to the levels he requires. He groaned: 'It's been tough. Read More on League of Ireland 'We haven't won enough games and we've lost too many and the players know why. 'Maybe it's time now for some lads to get away and have a look at themselves. 'They need to reflect on how they think they've done in the first half of the season. 'We have a few lads who haven't done enough. I've told them that. Most read in Sport 'Are we lacking quality? Have we got young players who are making mistakes? 'Yes, they have but it's my job to help them learn and I'll continue. PSG crowned Champions League winners after smashing Inter Milan 5-0 'If we have 11 players at it, we'll get points. If we don't, then we won't.' And although his players will be making the most of their few days off, a tireless Russell revealed that he will work all the way through the break in an effort to rescue Rovers' season. Sligo are a point off Cork City in ninth with the Rebels a whopping ten points back from Munster rivals Waterford. Yet Russell is adamant his men can haul it back. He added: 'How can I take time off now when we're bottom of the league? 'I'm a hard-working manager so I'll continue to work hard to get results. 'If you're managing a team in the position we're in, of course I'm under pressure. 'But I look at everything I'm doing all the time and you have to do the right thing. 'Can we turn it around? Absolutely.'
The Irish Sun
17 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Kevin Doherty hails Drogheda Utd star as ‘best defender in League of Ireland' after late heroics against Waterford
KEVIN DOHERTY reckons Conor Keeley is the best defender in the League of Ireland right now. The 27-year-old's late, late goal rescued a point for the Drogs against summer break second in the Premier Division. 2 Conor Keeley scored Drogheda Utd's equaliser against Waterford Credit: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile 2 Kevin Doherty hailed him as one of the best defenders in the League of Ireland Credit: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile And Doherty believes the Meath man is a class apart on current form. The United boss said: 'There were proper questions asked of us and we've come away with a point. 'It would have been easy for us to lie down but Conor Keeley, who is the best defender in the league at the minute in my view, comes up with a big goal. 'It's the fifth goal for him from centre-back. We're a decent side in second place going into the mid-season break and I'm not sure many would have predicted that. I know that for sure. Read More on League of Ireland 'We're really happy and we'll look forward to getting some freshness back.' While Doherty says he has a 'decent side' on his hands, Blues gaffer John Coleman believes he has the best footballing team and is aiming for Europe . Hitmen Tommy Lonergan and Pádraig Amond twice put them in front only for Warren Davis and then Keeley to peg them back. Coleman added: 'Football is a funny game because we've drawn 2-2. It feels to us like a loss and to them like a win. Most read in Sport 'I've been on the end of that many times. I'm more disappointed for my players because of how well we played — and it was two completely styles of football . 'I've nothing against the way they play. I'm not one of these people who turn their noses up on styles of football. Whatever is effective is effective. They are really good at what they do, I respect it a lot. Cork City fans watch League of Ireland clash against Dundalk in cinema 'We play a different style. We dominated the game for long periods , kept our shape, but maybe overplayed it a little bit in the second half. We pinned them back so they couldn't lay a glove on us until injury-time. 'We've defended set-plays and corners really well since I've been here. It's a cheap header for the first one and it's a ridiculous goal for the second. He's put it in from a yard with his feet. That's the disappointing thing. 'We're probably the best footballing side in the league at the minute and we've told the lads that if they don't think they can make Europe then don't come back after the break.'
