Joel Cooper faces stiff competition for NIFWA Player of the Year gong
The Coleraine-bound winger has been nominated for the Irish League's most prestigious individual award along side Dungannon Swifts midfielder Gael Bigirimana and Cliftonville legend Joe Gormley.
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Belfast Telegraph
a day ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Northern Ireland striker's debut delight after switching from Republic: ‘I'm hungry for more now'
Leaving Windsor Park on Tuesday, the sense was that the Ross County striker deserved to stay in the panel for the crunch double header away to Luxembourg and Germany. The 26-year-old was unlucky to hit the woodwork in the first half of the friendly and could have done better in the second period when bearing down on the goalkeeper having been alive to a poor back pass but what should please him and manager Michael O'Neill is that he found himself in those positions. If he continues to do that goals will come. Just ask Cliftonville and County fans. Another positive was in a dire opening to the contest, Hale showed hunger to try and impact the game and it was his shrewd pass to Isaac Price just after the half hour mark that led to Conor Bradley's shot being blocked lifting the home fans and in turn the team. Price would net the only goal of the game five minutes later. Having gone through a protracted process last year to complete a FIFA international transfer from the Republic of Ireland, Hale relished starting at Windsor where in 2024 he won the Irish Cup final for Cliftonville against Linfield with two memorable goals. He would hit 18 for Ross County in the season just finished following last summer's move from Solitude. 'Obviously the transfer was a long process that went on from last summer but I was really happy to finally get it done and then on Tuesday get on the pitch and make my debut,' said Hale. 'Walking out before the game was brilliant. It was quite loud and obviously it was something I'd been looking forward to for quite a long time. 'I'm hungry for more now. It's one that I can build on. I've done what I can and hopefully it's enough to keep me in the squad for the World Cup games though it's down to club form as well. I need to be performing every week because there's a tough pool of strikers that are all competing to be included. 'There's people playing in the League One and the Championship and we're all fighting for that number nine spot. It's healthy competition. All the boys are brilliant with each other. 'They're all driving each other on. It's all about someone grabbing the shirt.' On going close twice to scoring on his first appearance for Northern Ireland, Hale said: 'For the first one, I think I hit it too well. Obviously if you trickle it in it might go under the goalkeeper or whatever. Then the second one, I've just tried to take it around him and the touch isn't there. 'I would be annoyed at myself if I wasn't having those chances.' As for the difference between the club and international football, he added: 'I think it's a lot different at international level. You don't get as many chances as you would at club level. It's all about staying patient. 'I feel it was obviously a higher tempo compared to club level but I thought I did myself justice.' Coming into the squad in March, Hale didn't play against Switzerland or Sweden and missed out again at the weekend in Denmark. 'It's obviously frustrating when you're watching other people play in front of you and you just want to be on that pitch,' admitted the striker. The last 13 months have been quite something for Hale from winning the Irish Cup to being a hit in his first season with Ross County and now becoming a senior international. 'It's mad to think a season ago I was playing for the Reds and had a special day at the Irish Cup final. To go on and make my debut a year later for the international set up is a great feeling,' he said. With County relegated from the Premiership, a number of clubs in Scotland and England are now chasing Hale's signature. 'I'm just going to take it as it comes,' states the Belfast man. 'I'm a Ross County player and I'm contracted to them but things can change. It's just about seeing what the future holds for me and the best decision to keep me playing at the highest level I can.' The manager's verdict? 'I thought the first part of the game was tricky for him, but he grew into the game,' said O'Neill. 'Certainly he had some good passages of link up, he had a nice little chance where he nicked one off the goalkeeper and he was a little bit unlucky. 'I thought he showed up well. It's always difficult for the striker in the early part of the game if the team's not playing particularly well. But I was pleased for him and he obviously has given himself a chance going forward."
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Hale 'hungry' for more opportunities with NI
Ross County striker Ronan Hale felt he did himself "justice" when making his international debut in Northern Ireland's 1-0 win over Iceland on Tuesday night. The 26-year-old was the subject of a protracted international transfer having represented the Republic of Ireland at youth level then, after being granted clearance, was an unused substitute for NI's previous three fixtures. The former Cliftonville man started in the friendly win over Iceland and almost marked his international bow with a goal as he struck the bar in added time at the end of the first half."It's obviously a great feeling, a long time coming with the process of the transfer and stuff, so I'm just really happy I finally got it done and got on the pitch, but I'm hungry for more now," he said."I feel that there was obviously a higher tempo compared to club level. The ball is straight in, so it's about finding that extra gear of fitness, but I thought I did myself justice and hopefully I can build on it."It's a great feeling but it's one that I want more of now." Northern Ireland were poor for the opening half hour of the game, while their period in the ascendancy after Isaac Price's first-half goal was cut short by Brodie Spencer's red card in the 57th was replaced while the 10 men dug in to protect their lead but manager Michael O'Neill felt his latest debutant "grew into the game" while he was on the pitch.O'Neill added: "He had some nice link-up play and he had a chance when he nicked one off the goalkeeper and was a little unlucky."It's always difficult for the striker in the early part of the game if the team isn't playing particularly well. "I was pleased for him, I think he showed up well and he has given himself a chance going forward".After his long wait for a first cap, Hale is now targeting involvement in Northern Ireland's 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign that will begin with trips to Luxembourg and Germany in September."It's obviously frustrating when you're watching other people play in front of you and you just want to be on that pitch, he said. "You're going to get your chance and it's about taking it. Hopefully I've done enough to keep myself in and around it." 'Things can change' Before then, however, his club future will be the subject of some interest. In his first season since moving from the Irish Premiership, Hale scored 18 goals in all competitions but his Ross County side were relegated from the Scottish Premiership after losing in the play-off to Livingston. "I'm just going to take it as it comes," he said of transfer speculation. "I'm a Ross County player and I'm contracted to them, but things can change. "It's just about seeing what the future holds for me and the best decision to keep me playing at the highest level I can."
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Scotsman
Scotland squad announced as Hibs hitman gets shock call, teens keep place plus notable Hearts and Celtic omissions
Clarke selects group for friendlies against Iceland and Liechtenstein Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Hibs striker Kieron Bowie has been called into the Scotland squad for the first time after national team head coach Steve Clarke picked 25 players for next month's friendlies against Iceland and Liechtenstein. Clarke was at Easter Road to watch Bowie score for Hibs against Rangers and was no doubt impressed by the 22-year-old, who has previously been a mainstay for the under-21 squad. The former Raith and Fulham hitman joined Hibs last summer and despite suffering a serious hamstring issue, has helped the Easter Road side finish third in the Premiership. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Bowie is one of five forwards named in the squad alongside Torino's Che Adams, Middlesbrough hitman Tommy Conway, Ipswich's George Hirst and Hearts teenager James Wilson, who won his first cap for Scotland back in March. Scotland manager Steve Clarke has named his latest Scotland squad. | SNS Group Wilson's club teammate Craig Gordon misses out, however, with the 42-year-old having been sidelined by injury for Hearts' last three leagues matches. Angus Gunn, who is a free agent after leaving Norwich this summer, Kilmarnock's Robby McCrorie and Ipswich's Cieran Slicker are the three goalkeepers in the squad. Uncapped left-sided defender Josh Doig returns to set-up after helping Sassuolo wing Serie B, while Everton's Nathan Patterson is back after more than a year's absence due to hamstring issues. Grant Hanley (Birmingham), Jack Hendry (Al-Ettifaq), Max Johnston (Sturm Graz), Scott McKenna (Las Palmas), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), captain Andy Robertson (Liverpool), John Souttar (Rangers) and Celtic-bound Kieran Tierney make up the defenders. Miller keeps his place Teenager Lennon Miller, fresh from winning the young player of the year awards, keeps his place after a stellar season with Motherwell in midfield. Rangers' Connor Barron is included alongside regular call-ups Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay (both Napoli), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna) and John McGinn (Aston Villa). Ryan Christie of Bournemouth and Kenny McLean of Norwich are both injured. West Ham's Andy Irving keeps his spot in the midfield ranks. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Other notable omissions include Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland and Aberdeen hitman Kevin Nisbet, while Birmingham's Lyndon Dykes and Brentford right-back Aaron Hickey remain short of match fitness. Celtic left-back Greg Taylor has also been left out. Scotland welcome Iceland to Hampden on Friday, June 6 before heading to Vaduz to face Liechtenstein on Monday, June 9. The two friendlies are Scotland's last warm-up matches before World Cup qualifying begins later this year. Scotland squad in full Goalkeepers: Angus Gunn (Norwich), Robby McCrorie (Kilmarnock), Cieran Slicker (Ipswich). Defenders: Josh Doig (Sassuolo), Grant Hanley (Birmingham), Jack Hendry (Al Etiffaq), Max Johnston (Sturm Graz), Scott McKenna (Las Palmas), Nathan Patterson (Everton), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), John Souttar (Rangers), Kieran Tierney (Arsenal). Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Midfielders: Connor Barron (Rangers), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), Andy Irving (West Ham), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Scott McTominay (Napoli), Lennon Miller (Motherwell).
