‘I just collapsed. It was ecstasy': Rodney McAree on Dungannon's historic Irish Cup Final win
Dungannon Swifts have won the Irish Cup for the first time in their history and our man Steven Beacom has travelled to Stangmore Park for this very special edition of BelTel Football.
On Wednesday morning, Steven sat down with NIFWA Manager of the Year Rodney McAree and his assistant Dixie Robinson to discuss Dungannon's incredible win over Cliftonville at Windsor Park.
The two lifelong friends reflect on the cup final, the dramatic penalty shootout and the joyous celebrations on the streets of Tyrone.
Meanwhile back in the studio, host Keith Bailie and Swifts reporter Adrian Rutherford discuss Dungannon's journey from the B Division to Irish Cup glory.
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Belfast Telegraph
16 hours 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."
Belfast Telegraph
a day ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Isle of Man TT star among big names in the field for return of Tandragee 100
The popular Co Armagh meeting is a favourite for competitors, with the spectacular 5.3-mile course often referred to as the 'Mini TT'. Crucial resurfacing work has now been carried out, which had prevented the famous race from taking place in 2023 and 2024. Event co-ordinator and former Clerk of the Course Anne Forsythe said: 'After two long years of not being able to host the event due to a delay in getting resurfacing work carried out, we are thrilled to be celebrating 61 years of the Around A Pound Tandragee 100 Motorcycle Road Races. 'We would like to thank the then Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd, for committing the necessary funds in 2024/25 and all those councillors, MPs and MLAs who supported us in this venture. 'A special mention also to Ian Milne for assisting us over the three years it took to get this across the line.' Traditionally held in May, the event has been moved to a new June date, with practice and qualifying taking place on Friday, June 27 and the main race day on Saturday, June 28. Isle of Man TT star Conor Cummins is among the standout names on the entry list with Dungannon's Burrows Engineering/RK Racing Team. The Ramsey man claimed a best result of fifth in the second Superstock race at the TT last week with a fastest lap of 131.528mph on the BMW M1000RR, which was the quickest ever by a rider for John Burrows' team. Cummins raced at Tandragee once before, making his debut in 2007 on Yamaha machinery for the JMF Millsport Racing team. Another leading contender is fellow TT rider Shaun Anderson, who is a member of the organising North Armagh Club. Anderson was fortunate to escape injury after a crash in the Superbike TT race at Joey's, which left him with cuts and bruises. The Banbridge man – a Mountain Course winner in 2024 in the Senior Classic Manx Grand Prix race – will be a key protagonist at Tandragee. Skerries rider Michael Sweeney is not listed on the official press release but recently expressed a desire to return to Tandragee. The Republic of Ireland rider achieved a lifetime dream of finishing on the podium in May at the North West 200 on his Aprilia Supertwin machine and would be the rider to beat if he arrives in the paddock. The line-up also includes former Senior Manx Grand Prix winners Joe Yeardsley and Daniel Ingham, plus Ballymoney's Darryl Tweed – also a past MGP winner – and the Isle of Man's Marcus Simpson, who was the runner-up behind Yeardsley in the 2023 Senior race at the Manx. Newcomer Amalric Blanc from France adds international flavour to the grid and is fresh from an impressive 12th place in the opening Superstock race at the TT on his 1000cc Honda. Ballymena's Neil Kernohan and Ryan Whitehall from the Isle of Wight will be out to make their mark at Tandragee, while Andy Farrell, Liam and James Chawke are among a large contingent of competitors from the Republic of Ireland. Derek McGee, a double winner at the Cookstown 100 in April, is set to miss out through injury after he was caught up in a crash during the opening round of the International Road Racing Championship (IRRC) at Hengelo in the Netherlands in May. A total of 113 competitors and 50 newcomers have entered this year's race, which has an increased prize fund of £13,000. Roads will close on Friday, June 27 for practice from 11.00am-9.00pm and on Saturday, June 28 for racing from 9.30am-7.00pm.
The National
a day ago
- The National
Ex-Celtic winger Gary Mackay-Steven finds new club
The 34-year-old spent two and a half years at Parkhead, scoring 10 goals and assisting 11 across 62 appearances. He departed for Aberdeen in 2017 and has since enjoyed spells at New York City and Heart of Midlothian. Read more: Mackay-Steven was recently released by Kilmarnock after a brief stint at Rugby Park, and he has now returned to County, where he started his career before departing for Liverpool as a teenager. "Ross County FC are delighted to announce the signing of Gary Mackay-Steven on a one-year deal," a club statement read. "Gary is an experienced winger with over 400 career matches with teams such as Celtic, Aberdeen, New York City FC and most recently Kilmarnock. He is familiar with the club, having come through our youth ranks before joining Liverpool at the age of 17." County were recently relegated to the Scottish Championship after losing their survival play-off to Livingston. Manager Don Cowie expressed his delight at securing Mackay-Steven's services as his team bid to return to the top-flight at the first time of asking: "Gary is another great addition to the group as he makes his return to the club," he said. "He offers us good experience in the wide area of the pitch, and we are delighted he has chosen to head back up North for the next chapter of his career."
