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RTÉ News
01-08-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
LOI preview: Drogheda United make return after month off as Galway United look to sink Cork City further towards relegation
Drogheda United make a long-awaited return to league action tonight as they look to stop Bohemians closing on the top of the Premier Division, while Galway United visit a beleaguered Cork City at Turner's Cross. With an absence due to a European campaign which never materialised, Drogheda have only played a single match in the last month, disposing of Crumlin United in the FAI Cup. The pain from losing out on Europe may ebb away over time and is likely to be used as a motivation for Kevin Doherty's side to try to repeat their achievements of last year. They face a tough ask in the Cup with a trip to Derry in a final rematch in the league. But perhaps they can use the league to reach European competition on this occasion. United had a mid-season training camp in Spain to help pass some of the time on the sidelines. They occupy fourth place at the moment, with the likes of Shelbourne and St Patrick's Athletic distracted by upcoming Europa and Conference League ties upcoming. It leaves Drogs still well-placed if they can return on-song and with a good record against the Gypsies, Kevin Doherty is hoping it can be the case. He told the Drogheda Independent: "We've beaten them the last three times and they will be fired up and will want to put that right. "We will have to be on top of our game, but any time we have a proper lead-in to a game I have every confidence we will put in a performance and hopefully it leads to a result." Bohs took a creditable point from Derry last week, with the only disappointment that their title hopes may be waning. It was always going to be a big ask for Alan Reynolds' side and second place or an extended run in the Cup is their realistic target. Their record at Dalymount has gone from embarrassing to imperious, with 22 points from a possible 27. Manager Alan Reynolds wants to right the wrongs of their form against the Boynesiders. He explained: "Drogheda are the only team we haven't taken any points off this season so we know how big a game this is going to be. It's a huge game. "I think some people disrespect Drogheda but I certainly don't. They are one of the best organised teams in the league so this is going to be a battle, so we need to roll up our sleeves and be ready for it. "We have found it difficult against them this season for a reason so we need everyone at their very best, and we can't give Drogheda an inch. "We were kicking ourselves the last time we played Drogheda so we don't want to be in that position. We don't want to leave anything behind us." What could go wrong for Cork City this year has done. Last week's dramatic loss to Sligo may have brought and end of their hopes of avoiding the drop, slumping 11 points from safety with the same number of matches remaining. An unpopular rise in ticket prices, managerial and player upheaval, as well as injury woe, are just some of the painful moments on Leeside in 2025. Cathal O'Sullivan was the latest player to be hit with a serious injury this week, with the talented teenager set for months on the sideline. A move cross-channel had looked inevitable in the coming months in what was a cruel blow to the player and a club bound for the quickest possible return to the First Division. Milan Mbeng left for Shelbourne prior to news of O'Sullivan's injury while Malik Dijksteel departed for St Mirren after a protracted exit. It hasn't been the happiest time for Galway United, particularly away from road, as they go look for a first away victory since mid-April. Last week's home defeat to Waterford has certainly put United in the relegation mix thanks to Sligo Rovers' dramatic turnaround. Three points in Cork would certainly alleviate some of the fears as John Caulfield visits the ground in which he had so many great nights. Three more matches will take place over the weekend. In-form Sligo Rovers host a Shelbourne side recovering from their trip to Azerbaijan and preparing for Croatia next week. Waterford FC take on St Patrick's Athletic on Sunday, with Stephen Kenny's men trying to factor in the daunting task of meeting Besiktas next week. The game of the weekend comes in Tallaght Stadium later in the evening with Shamrock Rovers look to end Derry City's hopes of winning the league and take a giant leap towards securing the title.
The Irish Sun
11-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Ross Tierney impressed by Bohemians' recent performances and says unique pre-season training is reason
ROSS Tierney reckons that Bohemians should draw comfort from their recent run. The Gypsies host Advertisement 2 The 24-year-old returned to Bohs last year after a two year spell with Motherwell 2 Alan Reynolds' side have only lost just one of their last six league games But what made their 1-1 result against Sligo Rovers and It has been boom or bust, with Bohs winning 12 and losing nine of the opening 21 games. But Tierney reckons that the draws show progress. He said: 'The last two games . . . it's been frustrating. We've come off in both feeling disappointed, which is probably the standard we've set ourselves. 'We're a bit annoyed we didn't win both games. But it also shows how far we've come in a short space of time. Advertisement Read more on League of Ireland 'The last time we were in Inchicore, we The fact that Bohemians are now picking up results where they were not earlier in the campaign bodes well for the run-in, with Alan Reynolds' side currently third in the table. They are 11 points off top dogs But Tierney cautions against lofty expectations as he recalls last year when he joined a third-from-bottom Bohs side that could have gone fourth had they won their games in hand. Advertisement Most read in Football Live Blog Live Blog Gossip Instead, three months later, after playing those outstanding games, they were still third from bottom. This time however, the former Motherwell midfielder believes Bohs have benefited from the hard work done in pre-season and their recent habit of scoring late goals. League of Ireland mascots compete in charity race in Naas Tierney and Co may not be not be the league's most prolific scorers, but no other team has netted later than the Phibsborough outfit — including winners against Shamrock Rovers, St Pat's, Galway, Cork and Sligo. The 24-year-old added: 'It's not by luck, we go right to the death, it's one of the reasons why we work so hard in pre-season. Advertisement 'We were back in on December 3 and we were giving out saying we shouldn't be running around when all the rest of the teams were on holidays. 'But it was drilled into us that it would get us an edge on the rest of the league. 'We saw the benefits straight away in pre-season games. But it took a while for it to show in league results. We started well, but then the results weren't as good as the performances. 'Even the last two, I felt we were going to win them because it was us creating chances in the last 15 or 20 minutes.' Advertisement Bohs have the same squad as last week with Alex Lacey (hamstring) and Archie Meekison (hamstring) the only absentees. Galway hope that Patrick Hickey can recover from a foot injury, while new signing Aaron Bolger could start. ODDS: Bohemians 8-13, Galway 4-1, Draw 27-10.
Irish Examiner
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Ger Nash seeking response from 'hurt' Cork City
Come 10pm last Saturday night, Cork City found themselves in the lonely position of 10th in the Premier Division table. City's defeat to Bohemians on Friday night, coupled with Sligo Rovers one-nil win over Waterford the following day ensured exactly that. The momentum built from a positive performance against Shelbourne prior to the mid-season break - albeit without the much-needed three points - was taken away in that loss to Alan Reynolds' Bohs, as City boss Ger Nash illustrated on Thursday. "I think we were hurt by Friday night, that's important to say," Nash said. "We felt we had built a little bit of momentum after the performance against Shels. I think it's probably the first time I've seen that confidence be affected, and that's something we had to address, we had to talk about." Stephen Bradley's Shamrock Rovers are next up on Friday night, with the visit of high-flying Drogheda and St Pat's to come next week. "I'm looking for a response on Friday night, we've spent a lot of time with the players this week - on the grass, off the grass - and I went to watch Drogheda and Shamrock Rovers on Monday, so we're prepared as well as we can be, and it's time for us to put in a performance now over the next week. It's imperative." A response is what is wanted by Nash and assistant David Meyler, and a response is what they so badly need. That response, for Nash, needs to consist of being defensively resolute, and having the bravery to play football as they did against Shels and during parts of the defeats to St Pat's and Galway United. "We have to be confident in who we are and what we are about," the 38-year-old said. "That's maybe something we didn't do in the Bohemians game in the first half-hour, where I think we were rocked a little bit. "As much as we are up against a really difficult opponent (in Shamrock Rovers), I think we really need to focus on us, and be the best version of us and give the fans the best version of us. "I think we showed that against Shelbourne in some aspects, and we need to get back to that level of performance, but importantly, we need to put a huge emphasis on getting points on the board over the next eight days, with three games to play." He added: "We need to stand tall, puff our chests out and represent this great club. As much as we're going to play a tough team, it has to be about us and what we are going to do to get ourselves out of the situation that we are in." Dutch winger Malik Dijksteel - who has been working his way back to full fitness after a lengthy injury absence - may feature more prominently on Friday after a number of appearances off the bench. Midfielder Rio Shipston will not make the clash with the table toppers, nor will Matty Kiernan, who is sitting his Leaving Cert. "Malik is one who has stepped up... he's in a better place than he was two weeks ago, so he's one that will be able to have more football."
Irish Independent
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
‘We're the architects of our own downfall' – Sligo Rovers boss John Russell rues concession of another preventable goal
Lys Mousset's first goal for Bohemians saw Alan Reynolds' side keep up their winning run Sligo Champion Today at 09:30 John Russell has urged his side to stay positive despite their continued struggles at the bottom of the Premier Division table after a 'devastating' defeat to Bohemians on Saturday evening at The Showgrounds, in which the Bit O'Red conceded another preventable goal. Former Premier League player Lys Mousset scored his first goal for Alan Reynolds' side in the 89th minute as the home side came away with nothing, despite an impressive defensive performance, until that moment.
RTÉ News
10-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
LOI preview: Bohemians seek consistency at struggling Sligo Rovers
This SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division season has made fools of all of us. And if there's a club that thus far has personified the unpredictable nature of the campaign, it has to be Bohemians. Alan Reynolds' side have been seemingly allergic to draws with seven wins and seven defeats the main takeaways from their report card. Most notably though, prior to this weekend's round of games, Bohs have scored more goals (4) after the 90-minute mark than any other club this season, highlighting their never-say-die attitude. And even though tonight's opponents Sligo Rovers may sit rock bottom of the standings, the Bit o' Red are also a side that have tended to finish more strongly than they start games. While five of Sligo's 19 goals have come before the half-hour mark, double that amount have been scored after the 60-minute mark, with half of those in the final 15 minutes. So one might expect tonight at the Showgrounds to be one which sees both sides grow into the game the longer it goes on. While Sligo did not find the net against Shamrock Rovers in their 2-0 defeat at Tallaght Stadium on Monday, the second half display did provide crumbs of comfort for manager John Russell. "In the second half, we could have had two or three goals and we were very impressive going forward," he said. "Again, we must improve defensively, everyone knows that and the players are working hard every day in training on that. We'll be without our two starting centre halves for Bohs but we've known that since Monday so we've been able to prepare to deal with that." Captain and centre-back John Mahon is suspended for tonight after incurring ten yellow cards, while defender Ollie Denham and winger Oskar van Hattum are out after picking up knocks. However, former Hibernian midfielder Jake Doyle-Hayes is back from a one-match ban but whether there is a recall for Connor Malley, who Russell dropped for the Shamrock Rovers match, will be interesting to see, with the manager having told the Irish Independent that "it's up to him to try and get back in the team". Meanwhile, for Bohs, the challenge will be to find consistency at a time when their results have been pretty good. The Sean Grehan-inspired comeback victory at Galway United on Monday had followed a loss by the same scoreline at home to a then-struggling Waterford three days earlier when they had been hoping to build on morale-boosting late wins over St Patrick's Athletic, Shamrock Rovers and Cork City. "I've said before that there will be bumps on the road - Waterford was one of those - but the lads are giving absolutely everything of themselves to keep pushing standards on, to keep getting points on the board, and there is a belief there in what we are trying to do," said manager Reynolds. Bohs will go to The Showgrounds without Leigh Kavanagh (hamstring) and Alex Lacey (hamstring), while Connor Parsons (hamstring) and Liam Smith (groin) are significant doubts for the 7.45pm kick-off.
