All the nominees for the FAI Awards as Robbie Brady features in two categories
Robbie Brady has landed two nominations ahead of the 35th FAI International Awards.
The 33-year-old Preston North End defender is up for both the Senior Men's International Player of the Year prize and the International Goal of the Year, for his winner away to Finland.
The winners will be presented with their trophies in the Aviva Stadium ahead of the friendly between Ireland and Senegal on Friday June 6.
The inductees to the FAI Hall of Fame and the Special Merit recipient will be announced prior to the event, along with the nominees for the Amateur Player of the Year.
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The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Heimir Hallgrimsson promises not to ‘hang or execute anyone' for ‘boring' performance against Luxembourg
HEIMIR Hallgrimsson insists he is a lover not a slater as he spared his players an ear-bashing. The Ireland boss was hugely disappointed with his side's performance in Advertisement 2 The 58 year-old's side failed to score against Luxembourg 2 Robbie Brady was forced off due to injury in the first half But 'Whatever I would shout now would probably be gone by the next time we meet up.' He also said: 'I cannot lie, we are obviously 'It felt like steps were taken and, yeah, I think we took maybe not a step backwards but we didn't take the next step. Advertisement Read more on Irish football 'But I'm not going to hang or execute anyone for this performance. 'We were really disappointed with the first half. 'It was actually just boring, there was nothing happening in the first half.' Although Ireland hit the woodwork in both halves, they struggled to break their lowly opponents down and gave up chances at the other end. Advertisement Most read in Football Live Blog Exclusive The draw extended Ireland's unbeaten run to four games — but it was a poor way for most of the players to sign off before their summer break. Yet Hallgrimsson reckoned there was no point in reading the riot act to them at half-time or full-time because they know themselves better will be required in the World Cup qualifying campaign in the autumn. Heimir Hallgrimsson surprised with birthday gift from Ireland fans during warm-ups for Luxembourg friendly He added: 'We talked at half-time. It's not about tactics. It's not about formations. 'It was more about attitude — are you willing to do the work that's necessary? The basics that are necessary in a football game. Advertisement 'No matter who you play, no matter whether it's a competitive or a friendly game, you need to do the basics. 'You need to deliver all the work that's necessary. That was just missing, the basics. 'Credit to the players, that changed in the second half, there was more momentum, more power, more energy — still we were not happy but we didn't lose at least. 'I'm not a shouter and we didn't because everybody — and after the game as well — knew that this was not a good performance.' Advertisement Hallgrimsson should have more options to choose from in September, when the qualifiers begin with a home match against Hungary on September 6 followed by an away fixture in Armenia three days later. Veteran Séamus Coleman and Ipswich Town pair Sammie Szmodics and Chiedozie Ogbene will hope to have recovered from injuries by then. And he will also be able to call upon regulars such as Josh Cullen, Finn Azaz and Mikey Johnston who were rested on this occasion because of the long gap since the end of the Championship season. Robbie Brady was the only player from the English second tier not involved in the play-offs in the squad before Bosun Lawal's addition. Advertisement The 33-year-old limped off in Tuesday's first half but his calf injury is not thought to be serious.
Irish Examiner
4 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Nine big questions ahead of a blockbuster weekend of Sam Maguire Series drama
There are eight seismic fixtures taking place in the final round of the Sam Maguire group stages. It also signals the end of this current system. The group phase will be abolished after this year with a new qualifier-style format in place next year. Several intercounty managers have criticised this move, which was voted on at Congress last February. Was it the right call? This is just one of many big questions ahead of a blockbuster weekend. Should we get rid of this format? All-Ireland winning manager Kieran McGeeney is adamant that the GAA made the wrong move. Galway boss Pádraic Joyce and Wicklow's Oisín McConville have said similar. 'It is great this year,' agreed former Mayo manager James Horan on the Irish Examiner's Gaelic football podcast. 'Everything seems to be working right this year, with rules and everything else. It is all combining and working out ok. Should we get rid of it? If you take this year on its own, you would say no but what were we saying this time last year or the year before that? Too many games etc. Overall, the sample size of one year isn't enough to make a decision. Changing it might be the right play.' Next year, the last 16 will play in a Round 1 with provincial finals and league positions still determining placings. They will then be divided into Round 2A and 2B. Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney feels the GAA made the wrong move with the current format. File picture: Ryan Byrne/Inpho The eight Round 1 winners will comprise Round 2A with the victors advancing to the All-Ireland quarter-finals. The losers will meet the winners of the losers' stage in Round 2B to fill the remain four places in the last eight. 'I would get rid of it,' agreed Paul Rouse on the Examiner podcast. 'I think it's worth trying the new one.' How will Cork defend? Roscommon's front six against Meath was frightening. Dylan Ruane, Ciaráin Murtagh, Enda Smith, Diarmuid Murtagh, Daire Cregg and Ben O'Carroll all started and scored. Cork must combat that threat. Enda Smith didn't have a shot in his previous two games against Galway or Kerry but he caught fire in Dr Hyde Park, kicking three two-pointers from four attempts. Ben O'Carroll is their leading assister in championship as well as scoring 1-10 from play. They are the priority. 'Traditionally I was man-on-man everywhere; it evolved over time,' said Horan. Cork will take on Roscommon in Round 3 of the All-Ireland SFC. File picture: Tom Beary/Sportsfile 'I haven't coached with the new rules yet but in games in the past we had very good man-markers to go specific on an influential player for the opposition. But players are so smart now, they go ahead of the ball, get their marker and pull him out past the ball to create little zones for players to run through. 'If I'm centre-half back and Ben O'Carroll is there, running out away from the ball where you know he isn't really a shooting risk even if he gets the play, I am not moving away from the direction of the ball. On those occasions, you let him go and hold strong.' Do Kerry need to chase two-pointers? After a league lacking in orange flags, Kerry kicked seven two-pointers last time out. Plenty of that was due to officiating and two-point frees. From play, they converted three of six attempts. Meath consistently shoot from outside the arc, converting five against Roscommon. Don't expect Kerry to go chasing them, but they will create opportunities for David Clifford and Sean O'Shea. Who is the leading contender for Player of the Year? The current favourite remains David Clifford or his brother, Paudie. Michael Murphy is nearby. That says as much about their All-Ireland ambitions as it does their form. Right now, as we begin to move towards knockout football, who else has impressed? 'Conor Glass for the sheer majesty of his performance against Galway,' said Rouse. Once again, Kingdom talisman David Clifford is one of the hot favourites to be crowned the Player of the Year. File picture: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile James Horan went for Armagh's Oisin Conaty: 'When did he get to this level? I think he has been absolutely amazing. That left footed point the last day, took the ball running away from goal and ran around a few, that is a serious level this guy is operating at now consistently.' Galway's Matthew Thompson is the current runaway favourite for Young Footballer of the Year. Can a player survive in the new rules without pace? 'They will struggle,' according to Galway boss Joyce. 'That has been the case at intercounty over the last few years. Unless you have pace, you will struggle. Probably more so now. 'You are going away from the traditional positions on the pitch. It is three back, eight workhorses in the middle and three up top. When the ball goes up, you need your wing-backs and wing-forwards coming at pace up the pitch and being able to control the ball at high speed.' Do you need height? In a late blitz, Mayo made widespread late changes. Sean Morahan came in at full-back. Even without Donnacha McHugh, David McBrien was able to operate further out the pitch and let Morahan take Mark Bradley, with Jack Coyne on Darragh Canavan and Enda Hession on Darren McCurry. Cathal McShane's departure has left Tyrone struggling for height in attack. File picture: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile Tyrone's lack of height inside made it easier to defend against them. The news last month that Cathal McShane had stepped away from the panel has left a void. Can Clare throw a spanner in the works? Eight games without a win. Clare's history in this version of the All-Ireland SFC is not good. However, they now face Leinster champions Louth, who lost their last two since a historic outing in Croke Park. Are Down the kickout innovators? Ronan Burns has been in sensational form for Down. He made two point blank saves from Daire Ó Baoill and Aaron Doherty against Donegal. The 20-year-old has remarkable variety with his kickouts, getting a whole host of them off short despite the new limitation on the ball having to travel outside the arc. 'They are getting away a high percentage of kickouts for sure but the way I look at it, the press that was put on for some of those was watery at best,' said Horan. 'It would spur you on as an opposition. Maybe set a trap, let them have a few and go in for the smash. The kickouts, I don't think that much has happened yet. It is bog standard, an overload here and a run there. We are at the early stages.' Can Mayo get after Donegal in the middle? Colm Reape went long with every kickout against Tyrone. Donegal have shown a huge reliance on Michael Murphy for restarts and Shaun Patton's fitness is a live concern. Personnel will dictate so much on Sunday. Patton, Jason McGee, Donnacha McHugh and Diarmuid O'Connor are required for their respective teams.
Irish Examiner
5 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Delaney and Laois eager to pick up pieces and go again
For Laois and Padraig Delaney, this is a bid to bounce back. The quick turnaround from the devastation of the Joe McDonagh Cup final defeat to a preliminary quarter-final may be a 'joke', but the challenge is deadly serious. Manager Tommy Fitzgerald was critical of the six-day gap when speaking in Croke Park after their loss to Kildare, while stressing they want to represent the jersey properly. For Delaney, that is the primary ambition in welcoming Tipperary this weekend. "It can be tricky. It's a quick turnaround, especially after losing,' he said, speaking at the launch of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship this week. 'It can be a lot easier after a win and you have momentum behind you. But at the end of the day, it's a Championship game and you're putting on the Laois jersey. You want to do yourself proud as well. We don't get too many years to do it so it's another Championship game where we'd like to put in a good performance." Laois looked primed for a promotion push in 2025. They reached the 2024 decider, Delaney made the Team of the Year, the county board made a shrewd appointment in Darren Gleeson last August. Gleeson subsequently had to step down in order to undergo cancer treatment. 'Tommy came in at late notice, but he brought in a savage backroom team as well. Tommy is one of our own. He's a brilliant manager. 'We couldn't have asked for anyone better in that situation. What happened to Darren Gleeson was unfortunate. We would have loved to have him down. But we couldn't have asked for a better man than Tommy.' Despite delegates voting against a proposal to abolish the preliminary quarter-finals in 2023, there have been renewed calls to scrap the system. Laois secured a shock win in 2019 but since then there have been numerous one-sided games. That move could create space to stretch out the Joe McDonagh Cup and play the final before one of the All-Ireland semi-finals, with the victors still progressing to the Leinster championship the following year. When asked whether he'd favour such a move, Delaney was reflective. 'I suppose. But it's nice to get the opportunity to play the top teams as well. Back in 2019 we beat Dublin so there is scope there to win games and have a real cut off bigger teams. It's definitely a lot easier when you win the final but we'll pick ourselves back up again and go again on Saturday."
