Gardai called after ‘unacceptable' level of violence erupts in Munster Youth Cup final
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RTÉ News
20 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Analysis: Clash of styles to define Women's Premier Division title deciders
Although two-thirds of the season has been played and only two months remain, the battle for the 2025 Women's Premier Division has yet to really begin. That is because the paths of the league's two dominant sides, Athlone Town and Shelbourne, have yet to cross due to an earlier match postponement. All that will change this weekend when they meet in the Midlands. Last year's top two and FAI cup finalists have built up a three-point lead with a game in hand on nearest challengers Wexford, making a two-horse race appear likely. Over the last four seasons, Shels and Athlone have shown themselves to be head and shoulders above the rest, with 26 more points than any other team and just 13 of a difference between themselves. That's not to mention the fact that they have met in the three FAI Cup finals played in that time, with two wins going to Shelbourne and one to Athlone. Their head-to-head meetings were decisive in 2024's title chase, with Athlone's four points won being critical in Town taking the title by two points. Of particular importance were late goals, with a 93rd-minute equaliser in their first meeting and an 87th-minute winner in August's second encounter earning them three precious points. Both teams' seasons have gone on similar journeys to this point. They dropped points to Shamrock Rovers in the first two weeks of the season. Both then went on searing nine-game winning stretches to establish themselves as clear leaders. Those runs ended in mid-July with a loss for Shels against Bohemians and Athlone being held to three consecutive draws by Galway United, Treaty United and Bohemians. That has all led to them both entering this week perfectly poised with just a two-point lead for the Reds. But how they have earned their points has been a little different. Shelbourne have been a free-scoring side in 2025. That contrasts with Eoin Wearen's first season as manager when they struggled to find the net as much as they would like - their season total of 38 was only third-best in the division and 11 fewer than the previous year. They particularly struggled early and scored just 11 goals in the first 15 games. All of that changed with the mid-season addition of the magnificent Kate Mooney. She banged in nine in her eight league appearance. That was more than double what any other player had managed all season. Scoring depth has improved this season with MacKenzie Anthony just two off Mooney's current total of nine. They have helped Shelbourne in already reaching 47 goals. This is four more than any team managed in all of 2024 with just 14 games played to reach this. Their rate of 3.36 per game is a fraction behind 2021 Peamount (3.37) for the best that any team has managed since 2019. That was an era when the league's bottom sides allowed much more goals. No team has averaged at least three since 2021. Though it may be of concern for Shelbourne to note that only twice (2019 and 2020) in the last eight years have the league's top scorers become champions. Which may also be of interest to Athlone Town. Seven of the last nine league winners have ended the season with the best defensive record and that is where Athlone are succeeding. This is also a bit of a role reversal for Town. In the previous three seasons, their conceded total of 65 was 30 worse off than Shelbourne and only two fewer than Galway United and Peamount United. With the off-season losses of goalkeeper Katie Keane and Jesi Rossman, both in the 2025 league team of the year, there could have been concern about regression. Particularly having seen 12 put past them in their last four games in 2024. However, Athlone's numbers this season are on track to break records. Colin Fortune's team have so far conceded a remarkably frugal six goals in 14 matches. That puts them on a rate of 0.43 per game. The best record achieved in league history is at 0.45 from Shelbourne a year ago. The only other time a team allowed fewer than 0.5 per game was again by the Tolka Park club back in 2022. Such has been their dominance, their two keepers are around the top of the clean sheets list. Megan Plaschko has the joint-most with five while Maria Matthaiou is joint-third on four. Some of the individual battles could be key. The absence of Kate Mooney and the 11 goals to her name means much onus with be on MacKenzie Anthony to outperform Athlone's Kelly Brady who is at the top of the scoring charts on 12. Mooney's finishing has been exceptional, scoring 11 from a xG of just 7.39. Brady has also outperformed her xG but less so with it standing at 9.97. Mooney's efficiency is also shown by her taking just 34 shots to score her goals with Brady leading the league with 57. The other end of the pitch will be similarly tight. Although Shels have conceded the second-fewest goals, they are yet to keep a clean sheet against a team in the top seven and went on a run of six games without shutting out any side until beating Cork City 2-0 a fortnight ago. Athlone have hit a minor scoring blip in the last five games. They managed six in their last four at a rate of 1.5, having been at 2.8 up to that point. Both Athlone and Shelbourne have shown themselves to be still ahead of the chasing pack so far this season. But the question of who can get the better of their individual battles remain. Star players all over the pitch will be looking to make the decisive contribution. Saturday night's game is the classic unstoppable force vs unmovable object showdown. Well-balanced match ups at both ends of the pitch are set to decide this match and play a big part in determining the who holds the balance of power in the battle for the league title.
Sunday World
2 days ago
- Sunday World
Alan Shatter makes formal complaint to FAI about Bohs' Palestine shirt
The former Justice Minister said symbols included a map of a 'State of Palestine incorporating the entirety of the State of Israel' Alan Shatter has made a 'formal compliant' to the FAI about Bohemians FC whose football kit, he claims, features symbols 'promoting the destruction' of Israel. The former Justice Minister posted the contents of an email sent to the association regarding the Dublin football club on X. The complaint refers to the Sports Direct Men's FAI Cup third round match between Bohemians and Sligo Rovers at Dalymount Park in Dublin. 'I am registering a formal complaint that on Friday night last (August 15) on their kit/tops/jerseys during the above FAI cup match Bohemians FC players wore symbols promoting the destruction of the Israeli state,' Mr Shatter wrote. This, he said, included a map of a 'State of Palestine incorporating the entirety of the State of Israel'. Alan Shatter and (inset) the shirt Today's News in 90 Seconds - August 19th 'I am asking that this be investigated as contrary to the FAI's rules & regulations & also contrary to UEFA rules and regulations with which the FAI are required to comply,' he added, 'I would appreciate acknowledgment of receipt of this email.' With Oasis playing at Croke Park over weekend, Bohs wore their away strip of all blue, with the band's logo on the front of the shirts. The home side also wore t-shirts in the warm-up in tribute to the late Suleiman al-Obeid, 'the Palestinian Pelé', who was killed in Gaza. Bohemian Football Club is, meanwhile, hosting a 'space of solidarity with the people of Gaza' this Saturday in Dalymount Park. 'We're aiming to sell 30,000 cans of Gaza Cola — by the slab,' the club posted on X. 'Gaza Cola is not just a Palestinian-owned alternative to brands that are active in illegally occupied territories — every cent of profit goes directly to rebuilding Al Karama Hospital in Gaza. The day will also feature DJs & live music, face painting for kids and 'stalls from brilliant groups organising for Palestine in Ireland… and much more'. 'Come down, stand with Gaza,' the post adds. In December, Dublin's Bohemians FC launched a football shirt for Palestine aid in conjunction with Fontaines DC. The one-off jersey sold at Dalymount Park marked the band's two sold-out shows at the 3Arena in their home city. It followed Fontaines D.C and Bohs' collaborative away shirt, which was launched in 2021 to support a homelessness charity. The new design was aimed at raising funds for Medical Aid For Palestinians (MAP) amid the ongoing Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Earlier this year, Mr Shatter warned that the Occupied Territories Bill risks doing 'enormous damage' to the Irish economy if enacted. In June, the Government published a draft version of the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025. If enacted by the Oireachtas, it will ban the import of goods into Ireland from the Occupied West Bank or from East Jerusalem. Tánaiste Simon Harris argued the legislation would help 'contribute to long-term efforts to achieve a sustainable peace on the basis of the two-State solution.' However, his former party colleague Alan Shatter said the legislation could have unintended consequences. 'This particular bill, about which there's been much campaigning but very little critical examination, has become a consensus measure within the political bubble,' he told Newstalk Breakfast. 'I know from my past experience as a member of the Dáil for over 30 years, that when there's a political consensus across all parties, the difficulty is that critical faculties are suspended. 'Rather than this bill in any way remotely contributing to resolving the tragic, ongoing Israel-Gaza war, or to resolving ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 'It's really a Father Ted-like provision; of no relevance of any description for resolving conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. 'It does have the potential to do enormous damage to Ireland, to our economy, to our reputation.'
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Irish Independent
The best Irish player to play for each of this season's 20 Premier League clubs
The globalisation of the game, multi-national investment and the FAI's failure to create a fit-for-purpose environment to develop elite players have irrefutably diluted Ireland's impact on English football over the past two decades.
