‘It was strangely nerve-racking watching it back' – Dubliner Oscar Despard on University Challenge triumph
Dubliner Oscar Despard has said it was nerve-racking watching back the final of University Challenge, despite knowing the outcome, after he and his Christ's College Cambridge teammates edged out Warwick in a dramatic victory.
The 22-year-old from Portobello captained his team to a nail-biting 175-170 win in a match that went right down to the wire, ending with a final-minute comeback and a winning buzz from teammate Brendan Bethlehem.
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Irish Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Robbie Brady has teammates in stitches with reaction to FAI Senior Player award
Robbie Brady was handed the FAI Senior Player of the Year award at the Ireland squad's Castleknock Hotel HQ on Wednesday morning - and his reaction to winning the prize for the second time in his career drew laughs from his teammates. Brady, who last won the award in 2016 after his heroics at that summer's European Championships, was presented with the trophy by Heimir Hallgrímsson and John O'Shea. The Preston defender made a big impact in 2024, scoring the winner in the Nations League game away to Finland. It was his 10th goal for the Boys in Green, while he won eight caps last year, having not featured at all in 2023. Brady is once again a mainstay in the team, having played both legs of the Nations League promotion/relegation play-off against Bulgaria in March. And he is set to add to his 70 caps to date when Ireland take on Senegal on Friday at the Aviva Stadium and Luxembourg next Tuesday. In a far cry from the days when the FAI hosted their international awards at a gala banquet in Citywest Hotel, Brady was given his prize on Wednesday in front of his teammates as they went through video analysis of Senegal. Assistant coach O'Shea said: 'We had Caoimhin (Kelleher), Nathan (Collins) and Robbie Brady nominated for the Senior Men's Player of the Year, and the winner, deservedly so… Mr Robbie Brady.' As Hallgrímsson made the presentation, Brady's teammates called for a speech. The Dubliner said: 'Listen lads, this is brilliant, I didn't expect to win it, so it shows how sh*t youse have all been if I'm winning this! 'No, listen, obviously I was out of the camp for quite a while. I'm delighted to get myself back in and I'm buzzing for this, so thanks for everything, and helping me pick this up. Fair play you youse.' Brady last week signed a new contract with Preston, ending any doubt about where his club future would like beyond the summer.
Irish Examiner
12 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Ireland's Jason Knight 'relaxed' about prospect of Premier League football
Jason Knight has already been on holiday. The midfielder will squeeze in another once this week's international window closes and yet football could well force itself back into the conversation again before the English club season returns. Still only 24, the Dubliner played 150 times for Derby County before moving to Bristol City two years ago. Already captain at Ashton Gate, he could hardly have done more during a season just gone that produced 51 appearances, three goals, as many assists and ten yellow cards. Named player of the year by his club, his teammates and by the supporters, he opted for humility when describing the campaign merely as a 'progression', but Ireland assistant John O'Shea got it right when suggesting that other clubs must be taking notice. The man himself is playing it cool. 'I've had a good season, I'm enjoying myself at Bristol, but you are right: I want to be ambitious. I want to play in the top division, but I'm relaxed. If it's now or in the future, that will be. I've just got to keep performing well to get to that point.' One of the few Championship players in the Ireland squad this week due to Heimir Hallgrimsson's decision to rest players subject to that league's heavy workload, Knight has already played 279 games of senior football between the club and international games. It's nearly six years since his first run with Derby. John Egan spoke on the 'Second Captains' podcast recently about his regret at having played through the pain barrier to the extent he did, and of the consequences arising from that. Knight played in every game for his club last season, from mid-August through to mid-May. This is the job. It does beg the question as to how much football is too much football in an era where more and more is being asked of professional players. And there may be no league more brutal in its incessant demands than the twice-a-week every week second tier in England. Knocks and niggles are par for the course in that sort of environment but if there is a line that shouldn't be crossed when it comes to playing through injury then what might Knight's be? 'If the leg isn't off, I suppose.' A vocal presence on the field and in the dressing-room, he was one among that batch of youngsters promoted to senior international football in one go, or close enough, by Stephen Kenny and he has long since gone about stepping up to a type of leadership role with Ireland. Hallgrimsson has already spoken about the benefit that he can reap from this wholesale injection of youth, and Knight agrees that there is a sense of training wheels having been relegated to the shed ahead of a new World Cup qualifying campaign in the autumn. 'There's probably eight, nine, ten of us that have come in at the same time and now we have 20-plus caps [each] so that is only going to be the to the benefit of the team and the country. The performances have to back that up as well, and the results. 'That's what we are going to have to try and do coming in to September.'
RTÉ News
20 hours ago
- RTÉ News
'Old school, new school' – Knight leading by example for Ireland
It was almost the perfect season for Ireland midfielder Jason Knight, as the Dubliner captained Bristol City all the way to the Championship play-offs, only to fall at the Premier League's penultimate hurdle. An ever-present in the Robins' side that finished sixth in the table, Knight's club season came to a close when losing out to Sheffield United in the play-off semi-finals in early May. On a positive note, Knight completed the clean sweep of in-house accolades, as he was named fans, players, former players, and senior Reds' player of the year, following a commanding season leading his side from the heart of the midfield. Knight has taken a short stint away to lick his wounds, enjoy some sunshine, and report back for international duty ahead of two final fixtures, against Senegal on Friday night, followed by an away trip to Luxembourg. "We've had a really good campaign, we fell short towards the end, but a really progressive campaign for the club and for myself as well," said Knight, speaking at Tuesday's press conference. "The first season at Bristol was good, I played a lot of games and then obviously progressed this season, scored a few goals, got assists, and played a lot of games as well. "Probably went into more of a leadership kind of role, being captain. So I've enjoyed it." And Knight said that he is comfortable taking leadership whether at club or country, and feels that it has come naturally to him, as he has always looked to take responsibility on the pitch. "I've tried to do that since I've come in [to Ireland squad]," he said. "I've been a loud character as well, I try and lead on the pitch. So it wouldn't really change for me. "I've been around a little bit now in the Irish set-up, so it is time for everyone to step up, and that means senior players, and players who have played a lot as well, to help the lads who have come in as well sort of get into the group and normalise around the place as well. So that's what we have to do as well. "I've had a couple of weeks off, got the feet up and got some sun so I'm ready to go. I've got a few games now and I can have another couple of weeks off after that." Missing out on promotion this season, Knight's performances will certainly have gained attention from top-flight clubs, however, while the ambition remains to play Premier League football, he is not looking to force the issue at this stage of his career. "I've obviously had a good season, I'm enjoying myself at Bristol," said Knight. "I want to be ambitious. I want to play in the top division. "But I'm relaxed, if it's now or in the future, that will be. I've just got to keep performing well to get to that point." "Not that I've heard anyway," he added, when asked had there been any interest. "It's been a bit quiet for the last couple of weeks, just with the season ending. It's been a long season, so nothing so far." Sitting next to Knight at the press conference was Ireland assistant coach, John O'Shea, and the former Manchester United and Sunderland defender spoke highly of the midfielder and has been particularly impressed with the consistency that has come with playing every game of the season at club level. And he also spoke about the quality and leadership that comes as part of the package when Knight is involved with the national team. "There is consistency in the numbers," said O'Shea, regarding Knight. "He mentions the games that he has played and it is a case of he is naturally leading now, vocally but also performance and intensity-wise. "If we are doing a drill in training, you know if Knighty is involved in it then it is going to take care of itself and that is brilliant for a coaching staff, to have that and to see that reliability. "It's also a trust to know what he is going to produce for the team as well. He has grown into the role for club and country. "I'm sure there's lots of people looking at him and I'm sure Bristol City are very happy with him too. There's always that element of him being new school and old school, but it is a good school that he is from. Hopefully it continues." As for Knight, there is no place that he would rather be that embedded in the Ireland camp, despite the fact that he is missing out on valuable time away from the hectic schedule of the English Championship. "I could be in Albufeira, you're right," he laughed. "No, look, there's always time for holidays. I know I'm young, but I know these caps and these opportunities are gold dust and I'm trying to grab them as much as I can. "This is the dream, this is where I want to be and I'm excited to be here for these two games and hopefully many more."
