‘It's just a sickener' – Alan Reynolds admits time is running out for Bohemians in title race
Leaders Shamrock Rovers were the big winners from the Friday/Saturday fixtures in the league, without kicking a ball, as the chasing pack of Bohs and Derry City both drew, as did Drogheda United. Bohs
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Irish Daily Mirror
5 minutes ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Stephen Bradley's Ireland message after another piece of Josh Honohan magic
Stephen Bradley is convinced that Josh Honohan deserves a place in Heimir Hallgrímsson's Ireland squad when it is named later this month for the September World Cup qualifiers. And he's not just saying that because Honohan, in front of Heimir Hallgrímsson on Thursday night, scored a screamer in Shamrock Rovers' 4-0 Europa Conference League win over Ballkani of Kosovo. It was thanks in a large part to his European performances last year that Honohan caught the eye of the Ireland boss. He wasn't capped in the June window, and was carrying a knock ahead of the Luxembourg game, but Bradley believes he deserves a regular spot in Hallgrímsson's plans. 'I've said from day one (that Honohan should be in the squad). It's not a reaction to the goal; over two legs he was our best player by a mile,' said the Rovers boss. 'I think tonight he shows why Josh can play at an elite level, I feel. There's no doubt in my mind. 'He's six foot, lightning quick, both footed, good quality off both sides, defensively good…I can keep going. Josh is an elite level player and tonight he was brilliant.' Ballkani did their best to stifle Honohan by overloading Rovers' left-hand-side - but that just meant there was more space for Rovers to attack them in other areas. 'They changed their whole system, their team to try and stop Josh,' said Bradley. 'They gave up their midfield and played three defenders… well, not out-and-out defenders, players that would have played there a lot, and all on Josh's side to try and combat that side. 'And we knew that. But what that did was unbalance them elsewhere. And then they freed him up in the second-half and he got joy out of that. 'But they definitely looked to stop Josh. Looking at last week, they would have said he was our threat, so they tried to stop him. But we were levels above and he was brilliant.' 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 . Up next for Rovers is a tie with Portuguese side Santa Clara - the side that finished fifth in the top-flight last season. 'We fancy our chances against anyone here (in Tallaght),' insisted Bradley, 'but the key is taking it here. 'We'll have to go over there, obviously and perform a lot better than we did last week (in Kosovo). We won't get away with that again. But if we take it back here, game on. 'We've seen throughout the years, especially last year in the campaign, we're a match for anybody here. When we get a right, and we get that energy off the crowd, it's very hard to beat us here.' Meanwhile, Shamrock Rovers' upcoming game against Shelbourne, scheduled for the weekend of August 22, has been postponed on account of both teams being involved in the play-offs. Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email .
Irish Independent
37 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Stephen Bradley reveals two-goal Rory Gaffney took pay cut to remain at Rovers as striker propels Hoops to play-offs
Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley has hailed Rory Gaffney after the striker's brace propelled the Hoops to the Conference League play-offs, revealing that the 35-year-old even took a pay cut to remain at the club this year.
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Don't poke the bear' – Stephen Bradley hails Rory Gaffney for clinical response to Ballkani star's taunts in Rovers win
Gaffney went to extreme lengths to stay at Shamrock Rovers GOAD LORD 'Don't poke the bear' – Stephen Bradley hails Rory Gaffney for clinical response to Ballkani star's taunts in Rovers win STEPHEN BRADLEY hailed Shamrock Rovers goal scorer Rory Gaffney warning Europe's defenders, 'Don't poke the bear.' Gaffney scored twice as Shamrock Rovers beat Kosovans 4-0 on the night and 4-1 on aggregate to set up a Conference League play-off tie with Portuguese side Santa Clara. 3 Rory Gaffney scored twice as Shamrock Rovers hammered Ballkani Credit: Ben McShane/Sportsfile 3 His brace came after he was taunted by Ballkani defender Arber Potoku Credit: Ben McShane/Sportsfile 3 Stephen Bradley hailed the veteran for his performance Credit: Ben McShane/Sportsfile But both his goals came in a 20 minute spell either side of half-time after Ballkani defender Arber Potoku had goaded him after blocking a shot. Potuku was then substituted just moments before Josh Honohan scored a stunning third and Graham Burke added a fourth. And Bradley admitted the Kosovan defender should know better than start a fight he cannot win. He joked: 'He's so cut throat Rory. If you know him, he's so matter of fact, Rory would be looking at him, and be 'You're in trouble now'. Don't poke the bear, and your man pokes him. 'Rory, when he's like that he's unplayable, you've all seen it, he's 6ft 1in, 6ft 2in loves a fight, can go both sides, can finish, when he's in that form, people don't know what to do with him.' And Gaffney is doing it in 2025 having missed most of the 2024 season with an ankle problem that meant he did not even sign back at Rovers until mid-February. Bradley - who revealed Gaffney also took a pay cut this season - said: 'When you think of the discussions we had last year, he had contract offers. 'And he said, 'No I want to come back in and show you I'm ready to play, I know I can do it.' And he comes back and this is what you get out of him.' Now the Hoops look to book a second successive appearance in the Conference League group stages as they face Santa Clara. The first leg is away next Thursday in the Azores, and Bradley warned that the Portuguese side, with 17 Brazilians in their squad, will be no pushovers. League of Ireland mascots compete in charity race in Naas He said: 'First leg away, take it back here, anything is possible. We'll fancy our chances against anyone here, the key is taking it here.'
