Latest news with #Brandywell
Belfast Telegraph
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Institute Chairman says new ground essential as ‘financial implications' of Brandywell groundshare are holding club back
Institute Chairman Bill Anderson has reiterated his belief that the financial implications of playing at Derry City's Brandywell are holding the Championship club back. Since 2017 the County Londonderry side have been one of Northern Ireland's homeless clubs, as a result of severe flooding at their Riverside home in Drumahoe which forced them out of their ground after the growth of Japanese knotweed.
Irish Times
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Shamrock Rovers show their mettle, Duff's gamble pays off – what we learned from Friday night's League of Ireland action
Shamrock Rovers do what champions do With 25 minutes to go at the Brandywell, Danny Mullen put it up to Shamrock Rovers. Swept in behind by Carl Winchester, the Derry striker dinked a lovely finish over Ed McGinty, pointedly testing the mettle of the league leaders. After swatting St Pat's aside in a formidable 4-0 win on Monday, this was a different challenge for Rovers, and one they duly embraced. Just minutes after falling behind, Pico Lopes sensed an opportunity from distance. His sprayed lob was tipped on to the crossbar by Brian Maher, but the save proved little more than a backboard alley-oop for Michael Noonan, who was unmarked as he headed the rebound into the corner. Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley celebrates after their win over Derry City. Photograph: Lorcan Doherty/Inpho A point would have been a fine result on the road in Derry, but Rovers are in no mood to settle these days. It was a returning son, Aaron McEneff, that pinched a late winner , slotting a Danny Grant cutback under the feet of Maher. McEneff cupped his ears and goaded the home support – perhaps a sign of the ruthless streak that is once more revealing itself at the heart of the Rovers machine. Five wins on the bounce and a six point gap now at the top of the table. Mason Melia is a special talent As if it needed saying. Having passed his driving test earlier in the day, Mason Melia underlined his precocious talent once more as St Pat's laboured to a 2-2 draw at home to Waterford. READ MORE A five-minute spell at Richmond Park on Friday evening was evidence enough for why Tottenham Hotspur are happy to pay close to €2 million for Melia. At 17, he looks faster, sharper and smarter than most of the players around him. His goals were devastating, both zipped into the bottom left corner past a helpless Stephen McMullan after the striker had pounced on the defensive uncertainty his presence instils. Mason Melia on his way to scoring his St Pat's second goal. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/INpho In a Pat's side blessed with some of the best and most experienced footballers in the League of Ireland, Melia looks like a talisman. This was another poor display from Stephen Kenny's men overall. Far from a motivated, wounded beast after their Monday night drubbing in Tallaght, the home side looked downtrodden and lacklustre. Waterford were fully deserving of a point and will accept it given Conan Noonan's well taken equaliser came with just 10 minutes left to play, but John Coleman will feel his side could have taken more. Shels find scoring touch Having watched his side toil towards two goals in their last five games, Damien Duff changed tack on Friday night at Tolka Park, bringing in John Martin to lead Shelbourne's line. He'd have taken a goal in return, but Martin rewarded him with three. The Kilkenny native had Evan Caffrey to thank for his first-half brace – his two inswinging crosses from the left flank were pacy and inviting. Martin's finishing was neat on both occasions, a level of composure that Duff has been desperate for in recent weeks. Shelbourne's John Martin celebrates scoring a hat-trick. Photograph: James Lawlor/Inpho Neat can't describe the hat-trick goal, which broke from a cluttered bundle of legs in the six-yard box. Martin emerged from the pile long enough to persuade the ball to trickle past Sam Sargeant and make it 3-1. It was a moment so disorderly that just a minute later, the game was rewarded with a goal of the season contender. Owen Elding, finding a pocket of space 30 yards out, unleashed a left-footed blast that the Tolka Park camera could barely keep up with. Lorcan Healy certainly couldn't, despite diving admirably after the ball. Unfortunately for Sligo, they couldn't build on it enough to take something from the game. An admirable effort, but they and Cork are well adrift of the pack. Stalwarts bring Galway reprieve When things aren't going well, it can help to turn to those you trust. Conor McCormack and Stephen Walsh were two of Galway United's heroes on the 2023 promotion trail, but through injury and rotation, both have watched much of this season from the sidelines. It was an unlikely double act that combined off the bench for a vital winner at Eamonn Deacy Park, ending Galway's run of four defeats on the spin. The home side looked low on confidence throughout the first half and could easily have found themselves behind. Clubs in England are reported to be circling Cork's Cathal O'Sullivan, and the young winger will be hoping none were watching on the cusp of half time. A defensive mix-up between Garry Buckley and Evan Watts afforded O'Sullivan a wide-open goal but, under some pressure from Greg Cunningham, he fired glaringly wide. Cork City manager Gerard Nash dejected after their 2-1 defeat to Galway United. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho In a tight game, the opener arrived at the start of the second period. It was Moses Dyer's handiwork, the striker jinking neatly to the byline and attempting a cutback. Deflected, the ball looped over Tein Troost and somehow trickled in – arbiters of dubious goals may ultimately deny the league's top scorer, but Dyer's effort was decisive. Galway's lead lasted just moments. Jeannot Esua was harshly adjudged to have handled the ball just inside the penalty area, and Djenairo Daniels converted. Cork looked decent value for a point, but John Caulfield found inspiration in his old guard. With five minutes to go, an onrushing McCormack was 40 yards further forward than usually permitted. Walsh, with his back to goal, hid his surprise at the sight of his team-mate and teed him up for an emphatic finish. McCormack leapt into Caulfield's arms in celebration, marking an embrace between two former Cork City men, as Galway moved up to seventh. Elsewhere, in a close fought game at Sullivan & Lambe Park, Drogheda United edged out Bohemians by a goal to nil.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Derry City and Shamrock Rovers chasing opener
Update: Date: 20:59 BST Title: Post Content: Derry City 0-0 Shamrock Rovers Jack Byrne sends a Shamrock Rovers corner from the right into the area but Michael Duffy clears for Derry. Update: Date: 20:54 BST Title: Post Content: Derry City 0-0 Shamrock Rovers Michael Duffy wins a corner for Derry City which Shane Ferguson swings into the area but Aaron Greene heads clear. Update: Date: 20:50 BST Title: Back underway Content: Derry City 0-0 Shamrock Rovers Jack Byrne gets the ball rolling and the second half is underway. Update: Date: 20:40 BST Title: Look who's back! Content: Derry City 0-0 Shamrock Rovers (HT) There's a big crowd packed in the Brandywell tonight for this top-two clash, including one of their former players. James McClean, a title winner with his home club Derry City in 2010, is back to see this one after helping Wrexham win promotion in the the EFL Championship next season. Update: Date: 20:34 BST Title: HALF-TIME Content: Derry City 0-0 Shamrock Rovers A scrappy but competitive half of football between the league's two top sides. Derry will feel they shaded the exchanges with the only real chance that one that fell to Liam Boyce. Here's hoping for goals in the second half!! Update: Date: 20:32 BST Title: Post Content: Derry City 0-0 Shamrock Rovers There will be one minute of additional time at the end of this first half. Update: Date: 20:29 BST Title: Post Content: Derry City 0-0 Shamrock Rovers Derry City win a free around 40 yards from goal and just a little left of centre. Shane Ferguson swings it into the area and over the heads of everyone. Goal-kick for Shamrock Rovers. Update: Date: 20:20 BST Title: Post Content: Derry City 0-0 Shamrock Rovers Shamrock Rovers are having their best spell of the match so far. Graham Burke tries a shot but it's down the throat of Brian Maher who easily gathers. Update: Date: 20:18 BST Title: Derry's last home league win over Shamrock Rovers Content: Derry City 0-0 Shamrock Rovers Derry City have failed to claim a league win over Shamrock Rovers in their last eight attempts. Their last win coming on the 25th of February 2022 thanks to a 93rd minute winner from then Candystripe striker Jamie McGonigle. The Derry boss on that night was Ruaidhri Higgins who like the matchwinner that night McGonigle plies his trade at Irish Premiership side Coleraine. Jamie McGonigle celebrates scoring Derry City's winner against Shamrock Rovers in their last win over the Dublin club at Brandywell. Update: Date: 20:15 BST Title: Post Content: Derry City 0-0 Shamrock Rovers Liam Boyce goes down in the area and the home fans want a penalty but referee Marc Lynch quickly waves away any protests on the pitch. Update: Date: 20:13 BST Title: CLOSE! Content: Derry City 0-0 Shamrock Rovers Gavin Whyte drives at the heart of the Shamrock Rovers defence and enters the box before squaring to Liam Boyce who in a tangle of bodies has his effort send away for a corner. It was a bit like Brennan Johnson's effort in the Europa League final but it went to the wrong side of the post for Derry on this occasion. The resulting corner falls to Shane Ferguson but his left footed effort goes to the right and wide. Update: Date: 20:08 BST Title: Post Content: Derry City 0-0 Shamrock Rovers Derry City win their third corner of the night as Michael Duffy's driven cross is headed behind Daniel Cleary. Ferguson swings in the corner and once again Clearly, well, clears. I suppose it's in the name... Update: Date: 20:06 BST Title: SUBSTITUTION Content: Derry City 0-0 Shamrock Rovers Shamrock Rovers make the first change of the night after just 18 minutes as Josh Honohan replaces Cory O'Sullivan. O'Sullivan had already been booked and committed a foul since that yellow card so maybe a wise call from Stephen Bradley. Update: Date: 20:01 BST Title: YELLOW CARD Content: Derry City 0-0 Shamrock Rovers Derry City striker Liam Boyce is shown a yellow card for a foul on Roberto Lopes. Update: Date: 19:59 BST Title: Post Content: Derry City 0-0 Shamrock Rovers Cory O'Sullivan stops a Derry break with another foul on Gavin Whyte. The home crowd want a second yellow card for the Rovers defender. Update: Date: 19:57 BST Title: Post Content: Derry City 0-0 Shamrock Rovers Shamrock Rovers win their first corner of the game thanks to good work from former Celtic defender Adam Matthews. Jack Byrne swings it into the area but Daniel Cleary fires well over the crossbar. Update: Date: 19:54 BST Title: YELLOW CARD Content: Derry City 0-0 Shamrock Rovers Cory O'Sullivan, the Shamrock Rovers left-back, goes into the book for a foul on Gavin Whyte. Whyte has beaten him three times already! Update: Date: 19:50 BST Title: Post Content: Derry City 0-0 Shamrock Rovers Gavin Whyte wins another corner for the home team down the right hand side. Shane Ferguson swings it deep into the area but it is cleared by Rovers who appeared to have a real break on before Adam O'Reilly foiled the attack. Update: Date: 19:48 BST Title: Post Content: Derry City 0-0 Shamrock Rovers Gavin Whyte wins an early corner for Derry which Shane Ferguson swings into the area. Michael Duffy tries an acrobatic effort but Rovers scramble and clear their lines. Update: Date: 19:46 BST Title: KICK-OFF Content: Derry City 0-0 Shamrock Rovers Derry City get us underway through Carl Winchester.
Belfast Telegraph
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Super-sub Dom Thomas earns Derry City deserved draw at Drogheda United
Trailing at the break to Elicha Ahul's header, the Scotsman's deflected strike meant the Brandywell men ended their poor run of results against the Drogs. A share of the spoils combined by Shamrock Rovers' impress win at Waterford, means City sit three points behind the Tallaght men, but Thomas' late strike felt like a big goal for Tiernan Lynch's side. The Brandywell men made two changes from their side that won at Cork City last week, with Ciaron Harkin and Robert Benson coming in for the injured Ronan Boyce and suspended Carl Winchester. As for the home side they also made a couple of changes with James Bolger and Thomas Oluwa coming in for Frank Cooper, who dropped to the bench, and Shane Farrell, who was also serving a one match ban. The big news prior to kick-off was the news that Drogs boss Kevin Doherty signed a new contract to remain as manager until at least the end of the 2027 campaign. At a sun-soaked Sullivan & Lambe Park, it was the visitors who missed a great chance on 36 minutes as Gavin Whyte was too selfish when he should have played in Michael Duffy when they found themselves in a two versus one situation, but instead he tried to go it alone and Conor Kane did well to get back and cut out the danger. United took the lead on 41 minutes in super fashion as centre-back Ahul rose well to powerfully head home Owen Lambe's right wing corner at the near post. Behind at the break Lynch brought on striker Daniel Mullen for Harkin and the change made Derry switched to a 4-4-2 system, as they looked to try and get back into the contest. Mullen went close on 59 minutes, but his snap-shot from the edge of the box failed to test United goalkeeper Luke Dennison. The home side should have netted a second just after the hour mark when Ahul broke clear down the right getting away from Duffy and Kevin Holt, before picking out Thomas Oluwa, but his close range effort was diverted wide by Mark Connolly. Soon after United went even close to doubling their lead as Conor Kane's delightful left wing cross found Oluwa, but the striker's close range header was superbly tipped over by Brian Maher. The visitors continued to freshen things with Dom Thomas, Paul McMullan and Pat Hoban all coming off the bench for Whyte, Duffy and Liam Boyce. The ex-Dundalk man missed a great chance to level things with virtually his first touch but Hoban's mis-hit effort from 10 yards was easily gathered by Dennison. Oluwa should have wrapped the points up on 80 minutes when he had time and space inside the City box, but with Maher to beat, he blasted over from 10 yards. The Candystripes grabbed a leveller on 90 minutes as Thomas' 20-yard strike took a massive deflection off Scott Brady on its way past Dennison. Drogheda United: Dennison, Ahul, Keeley, Bolger; Lambe, Brennan, Heeney, Kane; Oluwa; James-Taylor (Brady 75), Davis (Bosakani 89). Derry City: Maher, Cann, Connolly, Holt; Harkin (Mullen 45), O'Reilly, Benson, Todd; Whyte (McMullan 68), Boyce (Hoban 72), Duffy (Thomas 68). Match rating: 6/10
