Why fit-again Josh Thomas is chomping at the bit for Drogheda United season finale
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Irish Examiner
29 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Roma confirm season-long loan signing of Evan Ferguson
Roma have confirmed the signing of Evan Ferguson on a season-long loan from Brighton. The deal includes an option for the Serie A side to buy the Ireland international. Good luck to Evan Ferguson who has joined Serie A side Roma on a season-long loan. 🤝 The 20-year-old is the first Irish player to join Roma. He will wear the number 11 jersey. 'Evan had a challenging period across the past season and a half, and it has been one disrupted by niggling injury issues which hasn't allowed him a run of games," said Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler. 'He is over those injuries and has come back in great shape. Now he really wants to play regularly. This is an exciting opportunity in a strong league and with the prospect of European football. 'We wish Evan well for the season ahead and will be watching his progress closely throughout the season.' Ferguson spent the latter half of last season on loan at West Ham, making eight appearances in a disappointing spell. In 80 appearances for Brighton, he has scored 17 goals.
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
‘She has something special' – Sarina Wiegman praises Michelle Agyemang as England deny Italy
Agyemang has scored three times in her first four appearances for the defending champions, who were initially stunned in their 2-1 last-four comeback victory over Italy when Barbara Bonansea opened the scoring for the underdogs 33 minutes into the Geneva semi-final. But just as she did in their quarter-final against Sweden, the youngest Lioness in Switzerland came off the bench and levelled late in the second-half. clipping the crossbar in extra-time before fellow replacement Chloe Kelly emphatically buried the rebound from her own saved penalty late in the second period. "She has something special," Wiegman said of Agyemang, who levelled with less than two minutes remaining in second-half stoppage time. "She's only 19-years-old, she's very mature, she knows exactly what she has to do. "When you talk about little things that she picks up straight away, because she's not only in the 18-yard box very dangerous but when we have to go to her as a target player, she keeps the ball really well too. "Even when you saw her shot hit the crossbar, that was not just a shot, she was aiming for it. If she continues like this she has a very bright future." Despite her tremendous trajectory, Wiegman does not feel pressure to give the major tournament debutant, who scored 41 seconds into her England debut in April, more minutes than she has so far. "She's not forcing me," insisted Wiegman, who has now guided teams to three consecutive European finals, and will aim to make it a hat-trick of three trophies - one with the Netherlands and two with England - with victory in Sunday's Basel final. "I think she is very grateful she gets minutes, and she's really ready for it. I think her growth and her development went so quickly, from not starting at Brighton, being on loan, to getting lots more minutes and showing how good she is and coming into our team. "I think how these things go, (they've gone) pretty smoothly for her, and I think she feels very good about that. ADVERTISEMENT England await their opponents for Sunday's final - either World Cup holders Spain or Germany, who England beat 2-1 in the final of their home Euros to lift their first major trophy in 2022 after Kelly scored in extra time. Agyemang, who returned to parent club Arsenal at the conclusion of the last campaign, drew high praise from Gunners team-mate and England captain Williamson - the woman she replaced with five minutes remaining in normal time. "She feels inevitable right now," said Williamson. "I think she's quality. I think what she brings, she's a nightmare to play against. I'm glad she's my teammate at club and country. "She deserves her flowers. I hope she gets them. I hope she enjoys tonight, and then I hope she's ready to go at the weekend." Fellow Gunner Kelly, who signed a permanent agreement with Arsenal earlier this month, said she felt like she was in a "fantasy" and was feeling "so proud to be English" after writing more history for her country. Agyemang, she said, "made something happen for the team, got us back in the game, and built so much momentum for us. "Especially that one where she hits the crossbar, I think that gave us a new lease of energy. She was unbelievable tonight. She gave us a lot of confidence, and when your forward is doing that, it's special."
Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
England substitutes click again as Lionesses reach Euro 2025 final
Super-sub Chloe Kelly fired England into the Euro 2025 final in extra time as the defending champions completed another spectacular comeback to beat Italy 2-1 in Geneva. Barbara Bonansea stunned the England support into silence when she opened the scoring in the 33rd minute for the underdog Italians, who had reached their first European semi-final in 28 years. The Lionesses, in their sixth straight major tournament final four appearance, were on the brink of elimination when 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang once again came off the bench and rescued Sarina Wiegman's side with a second-half stoppage-time equaliser. England's Michelle Agyemang, right, celebrates her equaliser (Nick Potts/PA) England were gifted a penalty late in the second period of extra time and, though Kelly's initial attempt was saved, the Arsenal forward made no mistake with her second opportunity when she emphatically buried the rebound. Wiegman made just one change from the Sweden victory, handing Esme Morgan her first start of the tournament in place of Jess Carter. The England boss, speaking before kick-off, said the change was purely tactical and not related to the racist abuse Carter revealed she received during this tournament. The Lionesses, in solidarity with Carter – who was warmly received when she came on as a late extra-time substitute – had elected against taking the knee before this contest, instead standing, arms linked. England stood in solidarity with Jess Carter, centre (Nick Potts/PA) England got out to a bright start, dominating possession, but neither goalkeeper tasted action until just after the 10th minute when Lauren James poked Lauren Hemp's cross straight at Italy's Laura Giuliani. Alessia Russo then had a chance to fire England out in front, bringing down a ball that Italy had let bounce in their 18-yard box, but flashed wide. It was an opportunity England would rue when Bonansea netted the opener. The underdogs took advantage when Arianna Caruso got the better of Alex Greenwood then Morgan on the right flank, allowing Martina Lenzini and Sofia Cantore to play a one-two. Cantore then sent in a cross, which evaded an outstretched Italian boot and looked to graze the thigh of Lucy Bronze before reaching Bonansea, who took her time picking out a spot over the helpless Hampton's left shoulder. Barbara Bonansea, right, scores Italy's opener (Nick Potts/PA) James, picked out by Hemp, looked for an immediate reply but Giuliani palmed away the effort. James was replaced at half-time by Beth Mead and was later spotted icing her foot. Hampton was called into action to deny Cantore and though a frustrated England applied more pressure in the second half, they still lacked the clinical edge they needed to find the back of the net. Kelly arrived on the scene in the 77th minute before Bronze had a header cleared off the line, and, with five minutes remaining, Wiegman turned to her young guns, replacing Leah Williamson and Russo with Agyemang and Aggie Beever-Jones. It paid off in the sixth of seven minutes of stoppage time when – just as it looked like the 'kitchen sink' approach could not possibly pay off again – Agyemang drew the sides level. Giuliani had just palmed away a cross and the loose ball landed in the perfect position for the alert Agyemang to take a loose first touch but then smash home and force extra time. England were knocking on the door when Agyemang hit the bar with a deft lob from a difficult angle in the second period of added time. Another shoot-out was beginning to feel inevitable but England were gifted a chance to close out the contest with a single penalty when Beth Mead was tugged down by Emma Severini. Up stepped Kelly, who memorably scored the extra-time winner in the Wembley final three summers ago. Giuliani made the initial stop but the Arsenal forward would not be denied a second chance to write more history for her never-say-die side, burying the rebound and booking England a trip to Sunday's final in Basel.
