
'He is the best keeper in the league' – John Russell heaps praises on Sligo Rovers' penalty saving hero Sam Sargeant

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League of Ireland takeaways: Bohs look back in anger, Waterford worries and bottom two find cup joy
Here ae five talking points from last night's FAI Cup action. Out before Oasis. After a fraught opening third to the season, the vibes were good around Bohemians for the second third but the final third is going to be pressurised after a timid FAI Cup exit in the commemorative shirt that was sold as the uniform for a proposed run to the Aviva.


Irish Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Teenage FAI Cup hero wanted world-wide says manager after match-winning display
Sligo Rovers' in-demand Cup hero Owen Elding has generated transfer interest from "all over the world", says Sligo boss John Russell. Juventus, Norwich and Ferencváros are among the clubs that have been linked with a move for the 19-year-old, whose 53 minute goal at Dalymount Park put Rovers into the Sports Direct FAI Cup quarter-finals. Russell believes that Elding, who is expected to remain at the Showgrounds until the end of the season, added to his price tag with his match-winning display. "I think so, yeah, he just keeps getting better and better and he's a real leader," said the Bit O'Red supremo. "This was a tough draw for us, we had a tough one in the last round away to Dundalk - we've come up here to a team that's second in the League and I think we've dominated the game. "Owen led the line, he was incredible, he was unplayable at times and we all know there's huge interest in him and we'll just enjoy him while he's here. Sligo manager John Russell applauds the Rovers fans after the game (Image: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne) "There is huge interest in him from all over the world. That is no surprise given the talent he is and the numbers and stats he's produced. We're hopeful that we will have him for the remainder of the season. We'll enjoy him while he is here. "He is a kid who has come up through the academy. He loves playing for Sligo Rovers. He wants to help try to get us out of the position we are in in the league. "We also want to have a good cup run and Friday night was important. that we got to the next round." Russell describes Elding, who has scored eight times in the league for a side that is battling to stay up, as a "real leader" in the Rovers dressing-room, despite his age. "He's an outstanding talent," said the manager. "Week-in, week-out he produces the goods. His movement on Friday night was top drawer. It was elite. "Every time he won the ball in transitions, the way he pulled off the shoulder - the Bohs defenders could not deal with him when that sort of ball came to him. "He's coming short, he's running in behind. His touch is so clean. He showed why he's the best young talent in the country on Friday night." Sligo Rovers' Sam Sargeant (Image: ©INPHO/Evan Logan) Russell also paid tribute to Rovers keeper Sam Sargeant, who saved a penalty early in the second half and followed that up with a magnificent reaction tip-over from a deflected cross. Sargeant, who signed a new contract recently, admitted that he needed to improve at the start of the year when he was dropped from the side. "For me, Sam is the best," Russell said. "He has shown over the last couple of weeks he is the best keeper in the league. Not only does he make big saves but his distribution is unbelievable, whether it's short or long. And he has really grown over the last couple of weeks. "I'm just excited that he has committed his future to the club and in cup games you need your big player to stand up, big moments. When we gave away the penalty it was really disappointing, but what a save. An incredible performance he pulled off some incredible saves within the game to keep a clean sheet. "You are trying to build a core group going into the following season and trying to keep your best players and Sam has shown that. We have a big nine games to go in the league and we are into the next round of the cup."


Irish Independent
7 hours ago
- Irish Independent
'He is the best keeper in the league' – John Russell heaps praises on Sligo Rovers' penalty saving hero Sam Sargeant
John Russell believes Sligo Rovers goalkeeper Sam Sargeant is 'the best keeper in the league' after the Bit O'Red netminder continued his outstanding run of form to see his side through to the quarter-finals of the Sports Direct Men's FAI Cup after a 1-0 win over Bohemians at Dalymount Park on Friday night.