Wexford Under-23 camogie side off to excellent start with comfortable success against Limerick
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
22 minutes ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
What time and channel is Shelbourne v Linfield on today? TV and stream info, start time and more for the Europa Conference League playoff
Shelbourne are going back to the very start in their pursuit of an historic - and lucrative - European Shels and Linfield met in the first round of the Champions League last month, it was a hyped, novel pairing that naturally sparked All-Island commentary. There was plenty riding on it, with the 2-1 aggregate win allowing Shels to open the door to the 'champions path' and tap into the various parachute options it ventured to Azerbaijan and then, in the Europa League, to Croatia only to find themselves back where it all started with a winner-takes-all clash against the Blues. After losing to Shels, Linfield dropped straight into this Europa Conference League and have seen off competition from Lithuania and Faroe Islands to reach this point. The difference now for Shelbourne is there are no more safety nets as they look to make history over these two legs and reach the group/league stage for the first time. Doing so would also swell the coffers by an impressive €3.8 million and extend their season until the week before Christmas, at the very least. Click this link or scan the QR code to receive the latest League of Ireland news and top stories from the Irish Mirror. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . So while there's a strong smack of familiarity going into tonight's first-leg it's a position Reds boss Joey O'Brien would have taken at the start of summer.'At the very start, when the balls were taken out of the pots, if you had been offered a chance to qualify for group stages, you'd have taken the hand off you,' he said. 'We're two games away, four halves of football. What's gone along in the past doesn't really matter. It's about this. But I'm sure it's a great opportunity for Linfield too. They will see it the same way as we do. I think it's going to be a great couple of games.'Now that he's the manager, O'Brien is tasked with trying to keep players in check and block the outside noise from his dressing room as much as possible. That's easier said than done, considering what's on offer. And it was certainly an easier task in his own playing days when it was only his own ears and mind he had to worry about, not an entire squad now under his while O'Brien doesn't need to be told that €3.8 million goes a long way, he insists the financial gains cannot be his or his team's focus or motivation tonight.'You can't look at football like that,' he said at Tolka Park last night. 'I was lucky enough to play across the way and you don't think about that sort of thing. I know people will think you have to, but you don't. You can't. I'm focused on the lads and reminding them it's about your own performance.'There's obviously outside noise as people are wishing you the best of luck and stuff like that. It can get in, so you have to use it as a motivation and a privilege that we're in this position and it's not a pressure. It's about going out and making sure you enjoy the moment. If you start thinking of the outside stuff and what might happen if I do this and that, you don't enjoy the moment.'When you stay in the moment and stay in the present, you're able to perform at your best and that's what I've been banging onto the lads about. You'll have no regrets then.'As a former Irish international and a defender who enjoyed European nights with West Ham, Bolton and Shamrock Rovers, O'Brien knows what he's talking about.'Here, these words roll off kind of cheesy about control and stuff but ultimately all you can control is your own performance,' he said.'You control your own preparation by making sure that you're ready and attacking the game, and that you're enjoying it and not gripping the bat too tight. Sometimes if you want something too much it can have a negative effect on your performance.'This is a skill based game we're playing in - you have to be clear in your mind and clear in your technique and it's that repetition of over and over again. When you get these moments you take them.'Having already faced each other competitively, Shelbourne's approach against Linfield will be interesting tonight but both sides have strengthened with new Blues were early in their pre-season on the last visit to Tolka Park and O'Brien has no doubt the European run will stand to the Belfast outfit. "There's always a feeling out of each other, even though we're familiar with them and they are with us,' he said. "We want to attack the game with a high tempo and get on the front foot, try and impose ourselves on the game. I'm sure they have their own game plan. There wasn't a lot in it, tight games, the scoreline - their lad getting sent off. I think it will be very similar."But considering everything that's on the line, this has to be one of the biggest games in Shelbourne's history, right?O'Brien smiled as that pesky 'outside noise' tried to infiltrate Shelbourne ranks again, but said: 'I suppose it is when you step away and think about what's at stake.'But as manager and players, you don't wake up every minute of the day thinking, 'Jesus, this is the biggest game we've ever played!'You wouldn't be able to play. That's not what it's about. It's about focusing on your performance, focusing on what has got us to where we are. Our performance in Europe has been really, really good. It's about implementing that tonight and having no regrets after the game.' WHERE IS THE GAME BEING PLAYED? Tolka Park is the venue for this Europa Conference League playoff round, first-leg. The second-leg will take place at Windsor Park in Belfast next Thursday, August 28. WHAT TIME IS KICK-OFF? The game at Tolka Park will kickoff at 7.45pm IS THE GAME ON TELEVISION? Yes, RTE are showing live coverage of the game and their programme starts on RTE2 at 7.30pm. BBC Sport NI is to livestream the first-leg, with coverage on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website beginning at 7.40pm. ARE SHELBOURNE AT FULL STRENGTH? No, as first-choice goalkeeper Conor Kearns suffered a setback on his return to action after the hamstring injury he sustained in the second-leg of the Champions League clash with tonight's opponents Linfield last month. He limped off during Sunday's FAI Cup defeat to St Pat's and has been rued out. But striker Sean Boyd should make the bench at least after missing the Reds' last three games with a calf issue. AND WHAT ARE THE ODDS FOR THE FIRST-LEG Shelbourne 4/5, Linfield 16/5, Draw 9/4 Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.
The 42
3 hours ago
- The 42
All-Ireland semi-finalists Waterford to ratify Boland again as manager for 2026
MICHAEL BOLAND IS set to continue as manager of Waterford camogie for 2026. A statement released today reads that the Déise is to seek ratification of his appointment after Boland guided the county to an All-Ireland semi-final this season where they were defeated by Cork. They also reached a Munster final but that fixture against Cork was cancelled due to the skort controversy. Boland, a Cork native, was first appointed to the position on an interim basis in April having previously served as coach and selector. He took over from Jerry Wallace at the end of the Déise's league campaign. Boland also managed Cork side Courcey Rovers to their first-ever senior county camogie title in 2020. Advertisement Today's statement from Waterford reads: 'Waterford camogie to seek ratification of Michael Boland to continue as Waterford senior camogie manager. 'Waterford camogie executive, following the conclusion of a comprehensive review of the 2025 senior campaign, will be seeking ratification of Michael Boland to continue as Waterford senior camogie manager at the next scheduled meeting of the Waterford camogie board. 'Since being appointed to replace the retiring Jerry Wallace, Michael and his backroom team have continued the good work and have qualified Waterford for a senior Munster final and an All-Ireland semi-final while establishing Waterford in the top tier of senior camogie. 'Michael's backroom team will be announced in due course. 'Waterford camogie look forward to Michael's ratification and to continuing the exciting senior camogie journey that the county is on.'
The 42
4 hours ago
- The 42
RTÉ to show two FAI Cup quarter-finals live
RTÉ WILL BROADCAST two of the 2025 Sports Direct Men's FAI Cup quarter-finals live. Both all-Premier Division ties will be shown by the national broadcaster, after the draw was made yesterday. Defending champions Drogheda United host Shamrock Rovers on Friday, 12 September, at 7.30pm, while St Patrick's Athletic and Galway United face off on Sunday, 14 September, at 6pm. The other last-eight clashes take place on the Friday night at 8pm, with Kerry welcoming Sligo Rovers to Mounthawk Park and Cork City travelling to Finn Harps. LOI TV will cover those games. Several League of Ireland fixtures have been rescheduled as a result, as listed below. Advertisement 2025 Sports Direct Men's FAI Cup quarter-finals Friday 12 September Drogheda United v Shamrock Rovers, Sullivan and Lambe Park – 7.30pm, RTÉ 2 and RTÉ Player Finn Harps v Cork City, Finn Park – 7.45pm, LOI TV Kerry v Sligo Rovers, Mounthawk Park - 7.45pm, LOI TV Sunday 14 September St Patrick's Athletic v Galway United – 6pm, RTÉ 2 and RTÉ Player Rescheduled LOI fixtures SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division Drogheda United v Shelbourne, Sullivan and Lambe Park, originally scheduled for Friday, 12 September, will now be played on Monday, 22 September at 7.45pm Galway United v Sligo Rovers, Eamonn Deacy Park, originally scheduled for Friday, 12 September, will now be played on Monday, 22 September at 7.45pm St Patrick's Athletic v Cork City, Richmond Park, originally scheduled for Friday, 12 September 2025, will now be played on Monday, 22 September at 7.45pm Waterford v Shamrock Rovers, The RSC, originally scheduled for Friday, 12 September 2025, will now be played on Monday, 22 September at 7.45pm Sligo Rovers v Drogheda United, The Showgrounds, originally scheduled for Saturday, 20 September 2025, will now be played on Friday, 19 September at 7.45pm SSE Airtricity Men's First Division Athlone Town v Kerry, Athlone Town Stadium, originally scheduled for Friday, 12 September 2025, will now be played on Monday, 22 September at 7.45pm Finn Harps v Wexford, Finn Park, originally scheduled for Friday, 12 September 2025, will now be played on Monday, 22 September at 7.45pm.
