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RTÉ News
4 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Conor Keeley's late Drogheda equaliser denies Waterford victory
Conor Keeley rescued an unlikely share of the spoils for Drogheda United as Waterford FC's inability to defend set-pieces came back to haunt them deep into second-half injury-time in their SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division clash at the RSC. After Blues skipper Padraig Amond thought that he had won the game with an 81st-minute finish, the visitors had the final laugh in added time when the central defender hammered home from close-range when he was left unmarked at the back post to meet a Darragh Markey corner-kick. The Waterford front three combined for the breakthrough goal on 19 minutes. Conan Noonan slipped the ball into the feet of Amond, who in turn played the perfectly weighted pass for Tommy Lonergan, who beat keeper Luke Dennison with a deflected effort off Elicha Ahui from 14 yards. Drogheda were level from a set-piece at the other end four minutes later. Shane Farrell sent in a left-wing corner-kick into the centre of the penalty area and Warren Davis powered a simple close-range header to the far corner past a helpless Stephen McMullan. Davis was twice denied in a bid to give his side the lead on 40 minutes when Shane Farrell whipped in another dangerous left-wing corner that saw Keeley send the ball back into the six-yard box for the striker, but after Rowan McDonald blocked his initial effort, he hooked the rebound just over. John Coleman's side got their noses in front on 81 minutes when Grant Horton sent over a right-wing cross that saw Ahui clear to Dean McMenamy, who saw his goal-bound effort touched home by Amond past Dennison. The leveller came three minutes into added time from another set piece. Darragh Markey swung over a right-wing corner-kick to the back post, where the unchallenge Keeley blasted high to the roof of the net from close-range before Ahui was sent off late on for a second yellow card. Waterford FC: McMullan; Horton, McDonald, Leahy, Burke; Olayinka (McMenamy 77), Glenfield (McCormack 85), White; Lonergan (Pouwels 88), Amond, Noonan.
RTÉ News
10-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Shelbourne show their grit in thrilling win over Galway
Shelbourne emerged victorious in a thrilling battle of two heavyweight contenders in an end-to-end SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division clash at a sun-soaked Tolka Park. Goals from player of the match Rebecca Cooke and Galway United's Rola Olusola had the game finely balanced at the break, before Cooke got her second just after the break to earn a huge three points. The visitors, who looked to continue the form displayed in the second half of last week's first defeat of the season to champions Athlone Town, knew that defeat would open a less than favourable gap to their title rivals and potentially kick off a two-horse race - although Phil Trill's charges do have a game in hand. And it was Galway who tried to land the first blow with Emily Fitzgerald going close with a back post header that narrowly missed the bottom corner. Eoin Wearen's side overcame a tricky Treaty trip seven days previous and looked determined to retake top spot - for a few hours at least - and responded with a free flowing move down the right ending with a drilled low cross by the energetic Aoibheann Clancy that was well held by Jayne Merren. And just after the quarter of an hour mark the hosts got their noses in front following a move of the highest quality. Cooke picked up a loose ball just outside the box slightly to the right and reversed the ball to Alex Kavanagh. And the Finglas native, who was included in Carla Ward's most recent squad, played an exquisite return ball in behind to the in-form Cooke who finished brilliantly into the far post to open the scoring, just as she did last week. Undeterred, the powerful away side levelled just 10 minutes later when Emma Doherty broke the offside trap down the left. The pacey forward showed great composure to cut back inside, past Keeva Keenan and unleash a stinging effort that was too hot to handle for Amanda McQuillan, with the ball falling straight at the feet of Olusola, who tapped home. Despite the heat, both sides continued at relentless pace and just as United finished celebrating, they could have found themselves behind again. Cooke was looking unstoppable and delivered another dangerous low cross picked up by Pearl Slattery, who had stayed up from an earlier setpiece. But the Shels skipper was denied by a sharp low save by Merren to keep it level. On the stroke of half-time Galway were dealt a major blow when they lost Jayne Merren to injury. A long ball over the top held up in the corridor of uncertainty thanks to the dry surface and both Kate Mooney and Merren collided, with the former Wexford stopper coming off worse and she needed to be carried off. Following a well-earned 15-minute break both Mackenzie Anthony and Amanda Smith spurned good chances after the restart, before Cooke put her side back in front, racing on to yet another incredible through ball, this time by Rachel Graham, and finished coolly past substitute Nicole Nix. Shels' strength off the bench looked to keep them in the ascendancy with the likes of Roma McLoughlin and Noelle Murray being introduced as they looked to get a third and kill the game off. It didn't quite arrive as they hoped and with just the one goal in it entering the dying embers, a nervy finish was incoming and the home fans had their hearts in their mouths when Olusola raced onto a long ball and almost found an equaliser, but just over ran the ball giving herself no angle to strike back across goal. But The Reds' experience just saw them over the line to open up a five point gap on their title rivals. Shelbourne: Amanda McQuillan; Lucy O'Rourke (Jess Gargan, 69'), Keeva Keenan, Pearl Slattery, Leah Doyle; Rebecca Cooke, Alex Kavanagh (Gabriella Del Pico, 76'), Rachel Graham (Noelle Murray, 62'), Aoibheann Clancy; Mackenzie Anthony, Kate Mooney (Roma McLoughlin, 69') Subs not used: Nia Hannon, Aoife Sheridan, Maeve Wollmer Galway United: Jayne Merren (Nicole Nix, 45+3); Therese Kinnevey, Eve Dossen, Lucy Grant, Aoibheann Costello; Kate Thompson, Isabella Beletic, Amanda Smith (Niamh Farrelly, 74'); Rola Olusola, Emily Fitzgerald (Ava Mullins, 62'), Emma Doherty Earlier, close by in Phibsborough, Bohemians recorded a 3-1 win over DLR Waves at Dalymount Park. Shauna Carroll got the hosts off the mark in the 36th minute after Abbie Brophy had given the visitors the lead after 18 minutes. Katie McCarn put the Gypsies in front just before the break but it wasn't until the 88th minute that substitute Hannah Healy put the result beyond doubt for Bohs.
Irish Times
04-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
The Irish Times view on Ireland's wind energy: opportunity must not slip past
The issue of energy security has moved up the EU agenda since the Russian invasion of Ukraine cut off one of the bloc's main sources of oil and gas supplies. It was further underlined by the recent blackouts across Spain and Portugal , although the exact reasons for this unprecedented grid failure have yet to be established. Ireland, like most other countries, faces challenges in decarbonisation and energy security, yet also opportunities. The State has abundant access to coastal waters ideal for offshore wind – and as well as meeting domestic need has the possibility of becoming an energy exporter, even if a recent report from the National Economic and Social Council raised serious questions about this. The policy objective is to generate 37 gigawatts of electricity through offshore wind by 2050. To put this in context, it would be six times the current level of peak demand, which means that not only would Ireland become self-sufficient, it could also become an important source of green energy to the rest of the EU. Furthermore, if Ireland were to reach this target, it would be in compliance with its EU-mandated obligations to reduce its CO2 emissions. Failure to meet these targets will result in significant fine which could have major implications for the public finances. READ MORE But the consensus is that whatever about generating 37GW of offshore wind by 2050, Ireland is highly unlikely to reach the much more modest target of 5GW of offshore renewable energy by 2030. Progress is slow and, as the NESC has pointed out, there is no clarity on how it might be speeded up. This should not be the case. Ireland's only existing offshore wind energy project, the Arklow Bank Wind Park, will be dismantled over the coming months. It was developed by Airtricity 21 years ago. One of the reasons often cited at an official level for Ireland's overwhelming reliance on foreign direct investment is that the country lacked indigenous resources. This is not true of wind energy and when Airtricity, founded in Ireland, became a world leader in the development of the sector, it looked as if Ireland was on the cusp of a major breakthrough. However, there has been lamentable progress since Airtricity was sold in 2008 and that largely reflects policy failures at government level, despite lofty rhetoric. There is a great opportunity for Ireland. But for that to happen, a lot of issues, such as planning, infrastructure bottlenecks and investment must be addressed. The Government faces many challenges, not least a housing crisis. But it must also treat the issue of decarbonisation and energy security as a central goal. And come up with a plan to show that this is achievable and can deliver both for businesses and consumers.
