logo
Bangor players 'emptied the tank' in cup win

Bangor players 'emptied the tank' in cup win

Yahoo01-03-2025

Bangor manager Lee Feeney praised his players for "emptying the tank" in their shock 3-1 Irish Cup quarter-final win over Glentoran at Clandeboye Park on Friday night.
Ben Arthurs, Ben Cushnie and captain Lewis Harrison were on target as the Championship leaders established a 3-0 lead by the interval.
Despite Charlie Lindsay's second-half consolation goal for the Glens, the north Down side went on to secure a memorable victory over their Premiership opponents.
"I'm delighted for the players. They emptied the tank and that had to happen for us to win that game," said Feeney after the match.
"Everyone on the pitch gave everything they had, you couldn't ask for much more. When you play those full-time teams, you have to be in and around the ball and not give them space.
"That's why we tried to crowd the midfield and not sit off them and let them knock the ball about. It took hard work for that to happen."
Feeney was preparing to give his half-time team talk to reflect a two-goal half-time advantage when his side added their third goal one minute before the interval.
"We got a very important goal before half-time which changed things as we were thinking more defensively and instead of being on the front foot again, we said we'll try and hold onto our three-goal lead.
"But they started to get the upper hand we felt we had to sit off a bit and there was nothing wrong with that.
"It was a horrible goal to give away, but it says a lot for us that after a game like that we were disappointed to concede in the manner that we did."
The Bangor boss said his side were deserved winners.
"We were super and deserved it. Our aim was to come here and compete.
"There were people here who have maybe never been here to watch the team before and were maybe thinking, 'I'll give this a go', and then going 'you know what I enjoyed that'."
The Seasiders are eight points clear at the top of the Championship as they chase promotion to the top flight.
"Winning the league is my priority. It will be a far bigger achievement than this," Feeney emphasised.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Bath boss plays down Finn Russell injury fears after semi-final win over Bristol
Bath boss plays down Finn Russell injury fears after semi-final win over Bristol

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Bath boss plays down Finn Russell injury fears after semi-final win over Bristol

Bath boss Johann van Graan has played down injury fears over Finn Russell, insisting that the fly half was just dealing with cramp when he limped off late in the Premiership semi-final win over Bristol. The hosts battled back after a fast and furious first half from Bristol to book their place in the Premiership final for a second straight year, with Russell typically influential in a 34-20 win. Advertisement The Scotland fly half, set to tour Australia with the British and Irish Lions this summer, helped turn the tide in combination with half-back partner Ben Spencer as Bath powered clear to set up a meeting with either Leicester or Sale next Saturday. The 32-year-old appeared to give Van Graan, and perhaps Lions coach Andy Farrell, reason to fret as he departed before the end of the game sporting a large bruise on his left leg, with the Scot in apparent discomfort even while exchanging verbals with the Bristol team and smiling. But Van Graan has moved to allay worries of an injury, stressing that he expects Russell to be fit as Bath look to end a 29-year wait for a top-flight title. 'Multiple parts of his body are cramping," Van Graan said as his side took a step closer to a possible treble. "He put in some effort, I thought. His goalkicking was phenomenal, the chases that he put in too. He was still cramping in the changing room but there's no reason to suppose he won't be fine. Advertisement "It was amazing how many guys on both sides went down with cramp. It just showed the effort that both teams put in. We worked incredibly hard to get into this position, to get back to Twickenham." Finn Russell (left) celebrated with Bath owner Bruce Craig after leading the side to the Premiership final (Getty Images) Bath were beaten finalists last year, pushing Northampton close at Twickenham despite Beno Obano's early sending off. Their depth was on full display as they rallied to beat their rivals on a raucous Friday night at The Rec, with back rows Guy Pepper, Miles Reid and Ted Hill all producing standout performances even in the absence of the suspended Sam Underhill. The impact of Springboks tighthead Thomas du Toit also proved key, with the South Africa international relieving a possible Lions starter in Will Stuart to further illustrate the options on offer to Van Graan. Johann van Graan has coached Bath into back-to-back Premiership finals (Steven Paston/PA Wire) "That's a Premiership semi-final for you,' the Bath coach explained. 'We knew this was going to be a tough game and we picked a 23 that we believe will get the job done. Advertisement "I thought at 34-13, we got some momentum but Bristol is a good team. They kept on attacking and it's never dead on 34-20. It was some game of rugby. We knew that we were going to be stretched but we actually defended pretty well. "At half-time we spoke about our game and composure. It shows that we are a team that is fluid and adaptable. We made one or two tactical changes and then our fitness came through, our hunger, our will to win.' Additional reporting by PA

'Hurt but proud' - retiring Youngs on final defeat
'Hurt but proud' - retiring Youngs on final defeat

Yahoo

time7 hours ago

  • Yahoo

'Hurt but proud' - retiring Youngs on final defeat

Ben Youngs won the last of his five Premiership titles in 2022 [Rex Features] "Proud. Emotional. Gutted." In three words, Leicester Tigers great Ben Youngs summed up what it meant to finish his illustrious rugby union career with a narrow Premiership Grand Final defeat by Bath. Advertisement England's most-capped male player of all time came off the bench to replace his Tigers and international scrum-half successor Jack van Poortvliet with 26 minutes remaining at Allianz Stadium Twickenham. The ingenuity and influence that has been the hallmark of nearly two decades of Youngs with Tigers was instrumental in getting them so close to glory. But ultimately, they were overcome 23-21 by a Bath side who lifted the trophy for the first time in 29 years. "It hurts, but I'm proud," Youngs told BBC Radio Leicester. "My emotions are all over the place right now. You have so much ambition to win today and you don't, and you have that to deal with as you try to take it in. It's a funny old feeling." Advertisement For fellow retiree and Tigers luminary Dan Cole, who is second only to Youngs for England caps, his last game will live in the memory for a moment he will regret. Less than six minutes after the prop was brought on, he was sin-binned for clattering into Finn Russell when attempting to charge down a kick in the 69th minute. It allowed Russell to tee up the kick that effectively sealed Bath's victory, even though a converted Emeka Ilione try soon after set up a tense finish. In a gruelling match on a draining, sun-soaked day, the late yellow card had Tigers down a man for a second time. Before the break, it was another departing player in captain Julian Montoya who spent 10 minutes in the sin-bin for a high tackle on Ted Hill. Advertisement Youngs said it took a "monumental" effort for Tigers to push Bath, a side who completed a trophy treble after winning the European Challenge Cup and Premiership Rugby Cup already this term. And while it was a loss that also marked the end of Michael Cheika's one-year reign at the helm of the East Midlands club, the decorated head coach could only reflect on what the loss meant to those Tigers greats on their way out. "I just feel disappointed and sorry that I didn't prepare the guys in a good enough way to get them what they deserved today," the Australian said. "I love this group of guys and love the club, and I'm so proud of the players for the way they stayed in it right to the end. Advertisement "We gave ourselves a chance to win it right at the end, but unfortunately it didn't go our way." Cheika also made every effort to avoid getting himself into "strife" when talking about decisions throughout the game - most pointedly Cole's sin-binning - and said he would take it up with the RFU's officiating chief Paul Hull as a "final bit of banter". With two-time World Cup-winning South African fly-half Handre Pollard also moving on in the summer, the decider was seen as the "last dance" for an all-star ensemble. Pollard's high-profile three years at Mattioli Woods Welford Road ended empty-handed but he said that lack of silverware paled in comparison to what Tigers failed to accomplish for two of the club's finest servants. Advertisement "It's very disappointing, and not so much about losing the game and the trophy but it's more about sending Ben Youngs and Dan Cole and those guys off with a loss in the final," Pollard said. "That's the one that gets you. "We'll have great memories with this team and I've enjoyed every minute." For Youngs, who spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live after the match with his children and other family crowded around him, missing out on a sixth Premiership title will not stop him cherishing one of English rugby's greatest careers. "The ink is dry, I'm proud of my contribution and I'll miss it," he said. Advertisement "But I'll forever be a Leicester fan now."

Hull City sign Moroccan midfielder Laalaoui
Hull City sign Moroccan midfielder Laalaoui

Yahoo

time7 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Hull City sign Moroccan midfielder Laalaoui

Hull City finished 21st in the Championship last season [Rex Features] Hull City have signed midfielder Reda Laalaoui from Moroccan side Fath Union Sport for an undisclosed fee on a four-year deal. The 20-year-old Morocco Under-20 international is the Championship side's first summer signing. Advertisement The Tigers appointed Bosnian Sergej Jakirovic as their new head coach on Wednesday. "I am really happy to join Hull City - it is a historic club in England and I am looking forward to helping the team and making the supporters happy," Laalaloui told the club website. The Tigers hold the option of extending Laalaoui's stay into a fifth year.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store