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St Patrick's Athletic hit UCC for eight in FAI Cup clash as Longford strike late to sink Castlebar

St Patrick's Athletic hit UCC for eight in FAI Cup clash as Longford strike late to sink Castlebar

The Saints have been struggling in front of goal domestically of late, having scored just one in six games before yesterday's clash against the Cork outfit, but Stephen Kenny's men eased to an 8-0 victory at Richmond Park, where Chris Forrester was among the goalscorers with a brace.
It took St Pat's, who have lifted the FAI Cup twice in the last four years, just 19 minutes to find the breakthrough through an unfortunate Colm Murphy own-goal, before three strikes in five minutes from Forrester, Aidan Keena and Brandon Kavanagh just before the break firmly put the tie to bed.
Kenny's men raced out of the blocks at the restart with Jake Mulraney finding the net just two minutes after being introduced, while Al-Amin Kazeem and Conor Carty also struck past the men from the Rebel County.
Forrester bagged his second minutes after the hour mark as the Inchicore side eased their way into the third round, with the draw set for Tuesday afternoon.
It may have been one-way traffic at Richmond Park but it certainly wasn't in Mayo, as Longford Town needed three late goals to avoid a shock and book their place in the third round after being pushed hard by non-league Castlebar Celtic, the First Division side eventually emerging with a 6-3 win.
A remarkable first-half saw the sides each score three goals, with Longford's Daragh Murtagh netting a hat-trick while Mark Cunningham, Eoghan Hughes and ex-Sligo Rovers striker Jordan Loftus finding the net for the Connacht outfit.
The tie was heading for extra-time with the score remaining at 3-3 going into the final 15 minutes, but the visitors hit three late goals through a Dean George double either side of Francis Campbell's goal to ensure their name was in the hat for the next round.
Wayne Groves' side have won the FAI Cup just twice in their history, in 2003 and 2004, with their last final appearance coming in 2007.
The victories by St Pat's and Longford meant that every League of Ireland side progressed to the third round of the FAI Cup this weekend.
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Hated Sheffield Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri refusing to sell club for less than £100m in another huge blow
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The Irish Sun

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Hated Sheffield Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri refusing to sell club for less than £100m in another huge blow

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Why Jim McGuinness's impact in soccer was underrated
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The 42

time15 hours ago

  • The 42

Why Jim McGuinness's impact in soccer was underrated

IT MAY not have been an unqualified success, but Jim McGuinness left a big impression on many of those he worked with in the world of soccer. After ending a four-year stint in charge of his native county's GAA footballers in 2014 that included a 2012 All-Ireland triumph, McGuinness decided to devote more of his time to another passion. His association with Celtic began when a mutual friend and renowned golf star, Paul McGinley, mentioned McGuinness to Dermot Desmond, the club's largest individual shareholder. After accompanying Desmond to a couple of Champions League games, McGuinness was offered a job. He was consequently appointed as performance consultant for the Scottish club on a part-time basis in 2012, balancing this role with his GAA duties. After the Donegal departure, he became a youth coach at Celtic in 2015, subsequently graduating to assistant manager of the club's U20 team. McGuinness continued to move up the ranks. 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And then when he spoke about football, dressing rooms or culture, he made a lot of sense. 'Other people on the course, particularly the Irish lads, would know each other through the League of Ireland circles. Jim's not in that circle. But he mixed really well and was very popular with us.' Despite McGuinness being a relative outsider, Ryan says there was no sense of suspicion or resentment within the group of a man known primarily for his GAA feats. 'It wasn't mentioned at all, really. If anything, we would probe him and ask about the differences with the dressing room or driving training. 'There's similarity, as in, Jim would be big on setting the culture, setting the tone early, and making demands of people, and everybody is clearly defining the boundaries that it's black and white — what's acceptable, and what's not acceptable. He would apply that to the GAA dressing room as well as his work coaching in football. 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But the speed and intensity of that was off the charts. 'And I remember him saying that at the start, in his first night with Donegal, they did the drills for whatever, 30 seconds flat out, and they're on their hands and knees, and he's like: 'Now we're going to do that for 70 odd minutes.' 'And just the fact that I saw that video recently just reminded me that that's the only thing that increases: 'Can you do it quicker? Can you do it faster, more and more and more intentionally and then execute the skill at the same time?' And that's exactly what they were doing in that warm-up.' McGuinness even helped Higgins during some of the more difficult periods when he was managing Derry. In 2023, when the Candystripes were on a bad run domestically, Higgins invited McGuinness into camp to present a psychology workshop for the players. 'He had the room in the palm of his hand,' Higgins recalls. 'And I'm not saying it was that alone, but there was an upturn in our form very soon after it. 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Ex-St Pat's star basking in unplanned spell in America but jokes ‘I won't complain about bus back from Finn Harps again'
Ex-St Pat's star basking in unplanned spell in America but jokes ‘I won't complain about bus back from Finn Harps again'

The Irish Sun

time17 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

Ex-St Pat's star basking in unplanned spell in America but jokes ‘I won't complain about bus back from Finn Harps again'

LEE DESMOND has already done double the time and been to Folsom Prison. But he is not singing the blues nor pining for life back home — much. 3 Lee Desmond plays for Sacramento Republic in California 3 He previously won the FAI Cup with St Patrick's Athletic Credit: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile Dubliner Desmond swapped Premier Division St Pat's for USL outfit Sacramento Republic in But now in his fourth season and with the Republic having an option for a fifth, he has taken to life in the California state capital. So much so that the defender, who moved to the States with his girlfriend, acknowledged that he is not sure if or when he will be seen in the League of Desmond — who made 188 appearances for Saints between 2015 and 2021 — told SunSport: 'I knew you'd ask! But I don't know. Read More on St Pat's 'I change my mind quite often. Ideally, I'll finish up back home. All I can tell you is I'm very happy here. 'The plan was never to stay in America for four years, the plan was two and go back home. We are enjoying it. 'But it's tough with the eight-hour time difference and such a long flight and being home two months a year.' Sacramento Republic have taken to him too, as he has been co-captain since his first season at the club and has played a big part of their community work . Most read in Football And that includes regular visits to Folsom Prison — the jail made famous by the Johnny Cash song and the Man in Black's subsequent live show there in 1968. But Desmond admitted: 'I know the story but I wouldn't be his biggest fan. WAG Taylor Ward shares gender of second child with footballer Riyad Mahrez at stunning reveal in Dubai 'It started when the club went there to train last year — just to kick the ball around — and now we go once a month. 'The staff go in and play against the prisoners and we can go and watch and talk to the lads. 'So I've gone in four or five times and it's brilliant. 'It's full access, through the cells, where they shower, where they eat and then out into the courtyard where they have organised football . 'We don't go everywhere. I think there are four levels — level four being the most dangerous prisoners and we don't go to their area. 'It all becomes very real, I suppose, when you're there. 'You have to be careful what you say and we're told not to ask why they're in but sometimes the lads open up themselves. 'Some of the stories are really sad and humbling. It's an unbelievable experience and makes you grateful for your life, I suppose.' 'NO REGRETS' Desmond is also thankful for how things have worked out in Sacramento where he helped the club to the US Open Cup final — which they lost to He said: 'I have no regrets about coming here. I'm 30 and in the best physical condition I've ever been and the stats back it up. 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The offices downtown have 45 staff, which shows how big the club is, we get anything between 6,000 and 11,000 at games. 'San Jose are nearby in the MLS but they have nothing like the fanbase we have here. 'You do get recognised a bit — a little more than home, so not much! It's nice , it's awkward too but most just want a picture. 'Our new owners want to go to the MLS but it's not easy. It's not like you can go in any year and it's expensive. The focus is on a new stadium before going to the MLS. 'I know I probably won't be here when that happens but they're not taking their foot off the pedal that we're in the USL. It's win, win, win. That's it.' "I'm 30 and in the best physical condition I've ever been and the stats back it up." Lee Desmond After an indifferent start as gaffer, Collins put his stamp on the squad, the Republic have hit form and are well placed in the play-off spots. But Desmond knows there is more work to be done and even more travel . 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