
AGB management relieved to get championship off to winning start
Today at 12:30
Championship differs from League in that momentum counts for less. One good run of results in the League could make the difference. In Championship, you need to deliver a winning performance nearly every day at the start, and certainly every day at the finish. Past results count for less.
There are no prizes handed out on the first weekend of the Wicklow Senior Football Championship; it has always been thus. But even in the round-robin era, an opening-week win is still valuable. Arklow Geraldines Ballymoney (AGB) secured that on Saturday night, but they also delivered a very good performance, which not all of the weekend's winners will be able to say.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

The 42
6 hours ago
- The 42
Dane Murray celebrates contract with goal as Celtic smash Falkirk
DANE MURRAY CELEBRATED his new contract with his first Celtic goal as the holders beat Falkirk 4-1 in the Premier Sports Cup. The 22-year-old defender headed home Celtic's third goal of the second-round clash at Parkhead. Murray, who has already overcome two separate cruciate ligament injuries in his career, earlier signed a new deal that keeps him at the club until 2028. Daizen Maeda and Alistair Johnston were also on target and Falkirk defender Liam Henderson put through his own net before Keelan Adams scored an impressive consolation goal for the Premiership newcomers. Advertisement Centre-back Murray was one of six players coming into the Celtic line-up alongside goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo, Auston Trusty, Arne Engels and ex-Shamrock Rovers striker Johnny Kenny, who made a rare start for the Bhoys. The Hoops beat then Championship side Falkirk 5-2 on their way to winning last season's tournament and this was another open encounter with both sides creating chances in the first half. Kenny volleyed wide early on after James Forrest's lay-off and former Celtic goalkeeper Scott Bain saved long-range strikes from Callum McGregor and Kieran Tierney before scrambling to meet Henderson's wayward passback, which just went wide. Ross MacIver dragged a shot wide at the other end after a loose pass from Murray. The breakthrough came in the 26th minute after McGregor returned the ball into the box following a corner. Tierney ran on to meet the cross and nodded the ball down for Maeda to score with a diving header. There were further chances at each end before the break. Sinisalo saved brilliantly from Calvin Miller's 25-yard strike before denying Alfredo Agyeman and MacIver. Engels and Forrest missed close-range headers at the other end. Celtic were more dominant after the break and doubled their lead in the 54th minute after Falkirk lost possession from a throw-in. Johnston chased down Miller as the former Celtic player headed back towards his own goal and the right-back won the ball before curling into the far corner with his left foot. Murray got his big moment in the 61st minute when he headed home from an inswinging corner from Engels. Celtic went further ahead three minutes later as Yang Hyun-jun made an instant impact after coming on with home debutant Shin Yamada. The South Korean winger ran past two opponents after Celtic won the ball back deep in the Bairns half, and his low ball across the goalmouth was turned into his own net by Henderson. The noisy visiting fans got a chance to celebrate three minutes later when right-back Adams arrowed a shot into the top corner from 20 yards. That ended the flurry of goals as Celtic safely navigated their way into Saturday evening's quarter-final draw and avoided any injuries ahead of their Champions League play-off first leg against Kairat Almaty on Wednesday.


Irish Examiner
7 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Maeda helps much-changed Celts cruise past Falkirk into League Cup quarter-finals
Scottish League Cup: Celtic 4 Falkirk 1 Dane Murray celebrated his new contract with his first Celtic goal as the holders beat Falkirk 4-1 in the Premier Sports Cup. The 22-year-old defender headed home Celtic's third goal of the second-round clash at Parkhead. Murray, who has already overcome two separate cruciate ligament injuries in his career, earlier signed a new deal that keeps him at the club until 2028. Daizen Maeda and Alistair Johnston were also on target and Falkirk defender Liam Henderson put through his own net before Keelan Adams scored an impressive consolation goal for the Premiership newcomers. Centre-back Murray was one of six players coming into the Celtic line-up alongside goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo, Auston Trusty, Arne Engels and Johnny Kenny. The Hoops beat then Championship side Falkirk 5-2 on their way to winning last season's tournament and this was another open encounter with both sides creating chances in the first half. Kenny volleyed wide early on after James Forrest's lay-off and former Celtic goalkeeper Scott Bain saved long-range strikes from Callum McGregor and Kieran Tierney before scrambling to meet Henderson's wayward passback, which just went wide. Ross MacIver dragged a shot wide at the other end after a loose pass from Murray. The breakthrough came in the 26th minute after McGregor returned the ball into the box following a corner. Tierney ran on to meet the cross and nodded the ball down for Maeda to score with a diving header. There were further chances at each end before the break. Sinisalo saved brilliantly from Calvin Miller's 25-yard strike before denying Alfredo Agyeman and MacIver. Engels and Forrest missed close-range headers at the other end. Celtic were more dominant after the break and doubled their lead in the 54th minute after Falkirk lost possession from a throw-in. Johnston chased down Miller as the former Celtic player headed back towards his own goal and the right-back won the ball before curling into the far corner with his left foot. Murray got his big moment in the 61st minute when he headed home from an inswinging corner from Engels. Celtic went further ahead three minutes later as Yang Hyun-jun made an instant impact after coming on with home debutant Shin Yamada. The South Korean winger ran past two opponents after Celtic won the ball back deep in the Bairns half, and his low ball across the goalmouth was turned into his own net by Henderson. The noisy visiting fans got a chance to celebrate three minutes later when right-back Adams arrowed a shot into the top corner from 20 yards. That ended the flurry of goals as Celtic safely navigated their way into Saturday evening's quarter-final draw and avoided any injuries ahead of their Champions League play-off first leg against Kairat Almaty on Wednesday. Celtic: Sinisalo, Johnston, Murray, Trusty, Tierney (Scales 63), Forrest (Nygren 77), Engels (Bernardo 77), McGregor, McCowan, Maeda (Yang 63), Kenny (Yamada 63). Subs Not Used: Schmeichel, Idah, Hatate, Ralston. Falkirk: Bain, Adams, Neilson, Henderson, McCann, Miller (Arfield 66),Cartwright (Allan 54), Spencer, Tait (Oliver 78), Tait (Allan 78), Agyeman (Nesbitt 54), MacIver (Graham 66). Subs Not Used: Mackie, Hogarth, Walker, McCrone. Ref: Lloyd Wilson (Scotland). PA

The 42
12 hours ago
- The 42
Ireland lose out to Scotland after taking third-quarter lead
IRELAND SUFFERED A 3-2 loss to Scotland in their penultimate EuroHockey Championship outing. After taking the lead in the third quarter thanks to a Roisin Upton penalty stroke, Scotland drew level early in quarter four, also from the spot. Katie Mullan fired into the corner to restore Ireland's lead, but a fortuitous goal for Scotland, followed by a finish from a penalty corner saw them secure the points. Advertisement Roisín Upton of Ireland celebrates after scoring the team's first goal. EWOUT PAHUD DE MORTANGES EWOUT PAHUD DE MORTANGES Scotland set their press well after a goalless first half to pin Ireland back again in the second half. Ireland however, found ways through the press to better effect. After winning the ball high up the pitch, Ireland found Mullan free in the circle. The Coleraine native drew a foul as she wound up for a shot on goal, winning a penalty stroke which Upton dispatched to give Ireland the lead and their first goal of the Championship. Scotland responded, winning a penalty corner which Ireland defended well which resulted in a re-award. Sarah Torrans ran down the second effort for another re-award, with Ireland defending once again. The Scottish pressure continued into the final quarter, with Ireland forced to defend a player down due to an early green card for Emily Kealy. Ireland conceded a penalty stroke for a coming together in the circle, which Scotland converted to level the scoring with 11 minutes remaining. Ireland restored their lead less than two minutes later, with Mullan once again at the centre of things as she fired into the bottom corner. Scotland had a response, winning a penalty corner with eight minutes remaining, which Amy Costello struck into the net to bring Scotland level once again. A moment of luck for Scotland saw the ball cannon off the post from a long ball, rebound off Murphy and fall for Heather McEwan to tap in at the other post. Ireland substituted Elizabeth Murphy with five minutes remaining in favour of an extra outfield player as they looked to draw level. However, Scotland held firm to maintain their lead and secure the 3-2 win. Ireland will face England in their final outing in Monchengladbach on Sunday at 8:30am Irish Time. The game will be available to watch live on RTÉ News in the Republic of Ireland and on EuroHockeyTV in Northern Ireland.