Latest news with #AirtricityMen'sPremierDivision
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Wilson Waweru strike gives Bit O'Red morale-boosting victory
Wilson Waweru scored a crucial goal on his first start of the season for Sligo Rovers as they picked up a big three points in their bid for survival in the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division with a 1-0 win over Waterford FC at the Showgrounds. The centre-forward struck for the only goal on 20 minutes as the home side defended resolutely to get the better for the Blues for a second time in a row after winning 4-0 in the RSC before the break. This latest victory lifts John Russell's side off the foot of the table. Padraig Amond did have the ball in the back of the Sligo net inside two minutes after a clearance broke into his path, but after referee Oliver Moran initially awarded the goal, the flag of assistant referee Wayne McDonnell was then raised for offside. The Blues had another good chance on ten minutes when Conan Noonan set up James Olayinka, but defender John Mahon got in a vital block before Amond flashed a left-footed effort from the top of the area sixty seconds later. Waweru nearly scored a stunning opener for the hosts on 15 minutes. Will Fitzgerald and Reece Hutchinson combined down the left before the latter crossed for the attacker, but his spectacular overhead kick flashed wide of the far post. Sligo were celebrating the lead goal five minutes later when Hutchinson sent the ball into the area for Jad Hakiki and after keeper Stephen McMullan diverted the ball into Waweru, he swept a left-footed close-range effort to the back of an empty net. Noonan had a first-time volley blocked by the Sligo defence on 27 minutes before Olayinka burst into the penalty area a minute later only for his low shot to be saved by Sam Sargeant. Tommy Lonergan had a free-kick on 35 minutes comfortably saved by the former Blues netminder eight minutes later. After a tentative opening to the second-half with both teams giving away possession of the ball, there was a big chance for the Blues on 65 minutes. Conan Noonan laid the ball off into the feet of James Olayinka just outside the area, but keeper Sam Sargeant parried the ball away inside a crowded area. A brilliant Waterford move yielded a chance for Tommy Lonergan six minutes when he spread the ball out to the left for Kyle White to put the ball back into the centre, but the header from the centre forward was well held by Sargeant as the Blues pressed for an equaliser. Waterford had a strong penalty appeal turned down when referee Oliver Moran judged that John Mahon didn't handle a Ryan Burke cross with replays suggesting that the centre half was very lucky to get away with the decision from the Dublin official. A quick move down the left from the Blues on 82 minutes when Jesse Dempsey's throw sent Ben McCormack in the clear down the left before he set up Conan Noonan, but he blazed over Sargeant's crossbar. Sligo Rovers: Sargeant; Reynolds (McDonagh 58), Mahon, Hutchinson; Hakiki (Mallon 58), Fitzgerald, Manning (Patton 6), McElroy, Doyle-Hayes; Elding, Waweru (Lomboto 79).
The 42
17-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Waterford 'disappointed' after alleged racism towards Shamrock Rovers player
WATERFORD FC HAVE condemned 'an allegation of racism towards a Shamrock Rovers player' during last night's SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division game at the RSC. The Blues issued a statement this morning sharing their disappointment at the alleged incident, and confirming that they are 'fully co-operating with the authorities on the matter'. Advertisement 'Waterford Football Club are disappointed to be made aware of an allegation of racism towards a Shamrock Rovers player during our SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division game on Friday 16th May,' the statement reads. 'We are a community-based football club who pride ourselves on our inclusion and are proud to welcome all to the RSC. 'The club take all reports of discrimination incredibly seriously and are fully co-operating with the authorities on the matter. 'We stand side by side with the League of Ireland and our supporters in taking a zero-tolerance approach to tackling racism within the game. 'Waterford Football Club would encourage anyone who witnesses such behaviour to report in confidence via our direct number 051-271160 or via email to office@ Shamrock Rovers won last night's game 3-1.
RTÉ News
09-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Shamrock Rovers go top after knocking Drogheda United off the summit
Aaron Greene scored his second sublimely-taken goal of the week as Shamrock Rovers finally wore down Drogheda United at Tallaght Stadium to leapfrog them to the top of the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division table. Central defender Lee Grace provided the assist for Greene's opener before heading a second himself in a dynamic three-minute spell early in the second half which effectively sealed the points. Substitute Rory Gaffney added a third goal in stoppage time following a defensive blunder. A second win over Drogheda this year, and a seventh of the campaign, thus sees Rovers back at the summit, on goal difference ahead of in-form Derry City, for the first time since winning their four-in-a-row titles at the end of the 2023 season. With Josh Honohan returning at left-wing back the only change from Monday's win over Sligo Rovers, Hoops enjoyed plenty of possession throughout a first half of utter frustration for Stephen Bradley's side. With a solid shape and focus, Drogheda came to spoil with goalkeeper Luke Dennison spoken to for time wasting as early as the 10th minute. Nonetheless, it was Kevin Doherty's side who had the game's first real opening two minutes later when Shane Farrell curled a free kick not far wide. As was the case in Monday's win over Sligo, Rovers had to show patience in moving the ball to find openings, finally cutting Drogheda open when going direct on 25 minutes. Jack Byrne's long ball over the top found the run of Greene in behind. He worked it back to Matt Healy who fed Graham Burke to drive straight at Dennison. Rovers' patience looked to have finally paid off six minutes later following incisive approach play by Danny Grant, Burke and Byrne which resulted in Owen Lambe tripping Honohan to concede a penalty. Burke had opened the scoring emphatically from the spot against Sligo on Monday. But it wasn't to be on this occasion. The penalty lacked conviction as it arrowed wide off the base of a post. Rovers upped the tempo from the restart, tenaciously pinning Drogheda inside their area. And whatever may have been said at half-time worked as they were 2-0 up inside eight minutes. The opening goal in the 50th minute caught Drogheda's back line flat footed as Grace dinked a telling pass in behind. Greene controlled the dropping ball superbly on his chest before turning and calmly lobbing it over Dennison for a delightful fourth goal of the campaign. Three minutes later, Dennison pushed a shot from Healy out for a corner. Byrne's delivery was on the money as Grace rose highest to get his head to the ball and find the net for his second goal of the season. Gaffney then capped Rovers' dominant evening three minutes into added time. Dennison merely succeeded in heading an attempted clearance from outside his area against Michael Noonan with the ball rebounding to Gaffney who walked it into the net. Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty; Lee Grace, Roberto Lopes, Cory O'Sullivan; Danny Grant (John O'Sullivan 84), Darragh Nugent (Victor Ozhianvuna 84), Matt Healy, Jack Byrne (Cian Barrett 84), Josh Honohan; Graham Burke (Rory Gaffney 73); Aaron Greene (Michael Noonan 73). Drogheda United: Luke Dennison; Elicha Ahui, Conor Keeley, George Cooper (Thomas Oluwa 59); Owen Lambe, Shane Farrell (Kieran Cruise 72), Ryan Brennan (James Bolger 63), Luke Heeney, Conor Kane; Warren Davis, James Dougla-Taylor. Attendance: 6,101.
Irish Examiner
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Anderson ensures Cork City claim valuable point as Shamrock Rovers falter
SSE Airtricity Premier Division: Cork City 1 (Anderson 74') Shamrock Rovers 1 (Gaffney 17') Freddie Anderson rescued a valuable draw for Cork City as Shamrock Rovers were left to regret more dropped points in the title race. With Roy Keane among the 3,619 crowd at a sunny Turner's Cross, the Hoops looked the likely winners after Rory Gaffney hit the net early on. But City stayed in the fight long enough for Stoke City loanee Anderson, son of two-time European Cup winner Viv, to drill home his first goal for the Leesiders in the 74th minute. Despite their winless streak extending to four games, the point was enough for Rovers to move above Galway United into third. City stay ninth. Tim Clancy's injury crisis worsened with full-backs Milan Mbeng and Benny Couto ruled out on top of Josh Fitzpatrick's three-game suspension. The 18-year-old pair of Anderson and Matthew Kiernan came into the defence, with Rio Shipston added in midfield. Rovers made four changes, with two enforced due to Dan Cleary and Dylan Watts' injuries. Stephen Bradley handed starts to Cory O'Sullivan, on his 19th birthday, John O'Sullivan, Aaron Greene, and Gaffney. Rovers had scored six times in their last three games but hadn't won any. Facing a City side yet to keep a clean sheet, the omens looked positive for goals. The hosts were seeking to rectify their worst performance of the season, a 4-1 Tallaght thumping, and Clancy decided upon a more conservative approach. Rory Gaffney of Shamrock Rovers celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Cork City and Shamrock Rovers. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Rovers owned the ball from the start as Jack Byrne dropped deep to orchestrate the attack. Their probing build-up play created the first chance before long. Byrne and Rory Gaffney's passing exchange opened a lane for ex-City player Josh Honohan to cross. He found Danny Grant wide open at the back post but Tein Troost got down well to save. The Hoops got the breakthrough in the 17th minute. Matt Healy's cross was only half cleared to John O'Sullivan, who caught Troost unawares to strike the post. Meanwhile, Evan McLaughlin was down with a knock, inadvertently playing the alert Gaffney onside. The veteran striker produced an excellent instinctive finish for his second goal of the season. A comedy of errors almost gifted Gaffney another. Anderson's miskick flew to the wide-open goal poacher but he volleyed high into the Shed End. Gaffney was left all alone again for the next opening but John O'Sullivan couldn't find him with the pass. Wingers Cathal O'Sullivan and Kitt Nelson battled hard as City were limited to set pieces for their scarce opportunities. Anderson got off a header and McLaughlin a long-range blast. Neither troubled Ed McGinty. Long before the half-time break, the crowd had fallen flat. The trend continued as Rovers went in search of the killer blow. Honohan came close with a free header from Byrne's floated free-kick. Charlie Lyons was in the right position on the line but his miskick had to be saved by Troost to prevent an own goal. Byrne was playing just off the frontmen now and he burst into the box to test Troost with a left-footed effort. Healy won possession and raced forward to get on the end of the net chance but his scuffed shot was saved. The crowd began to lift as a corner routine teed up Seán Murray outside the box and his dangerous shot deflected wide off the hand of Roberto Lopes. Play was brought back for a free-kick, which Cathal O'Sullivan guided around the wall but also around the post. They found the leveller in the 74th minute. Harry Nevin kept the play alive from a deflected free, Djenairo Daniels laid the ball back for Anderson on the edge of the box, and the centre-back drilled a low finish into the far corner. Rovers' rising star Victor Ozhianvuna made an immediate impact on his introduction. The 16-year-old crossed for Graham Burke, whose shot was saved by the feet of Troost. The Dutch keeper had plenty of work in the closing stages to deny Healy, Michael Noonan, and Ozhianvuna, while Grant drove wide. CORK CITY: Troost; Crowley, Anderson, Lyons, Kiernan; S Murray, Shipston (Nevin 63), McLaughlin; Nelson, Daniels (Nolan 84), O'Sullivan. SHAMROCK ROVERS: McGinty; Grace, Lopes, C O'Sullivan; Grant, Byrne, Healy, J O'Sullivan, Honohan (Ozhianvuna 82); Greene (Burke 73), Gaffney (Noonan 73). Referee: M Houlihan (Dublin).
