Latest news with #BrianMaher
Irish Independent
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Michael Duffy produces exquisite finish to hand Derry City three points as champions Shelbourne remain off the pace
That's why Tiernan Lynch will take a lot of satisfaction from this win at the home of the champions, a first successful foray to the capital under his watch. Philip O'Doherty, Derry City's chairman and financial backer, spoke earlier this week about how Lynch had been given the biggest budget in the club's history. This important victory brings the Candystripes into the top half of the table, above a Shels side that might just need to spend a few quid when the window reopens if they are to make the most of their European campaign. On the first league Friday of February, the idea that Shels would be 15 points off the pace at this juncture would have been unthinkable for Damien Duff and his staff. They overperformed dramatically to win the title last year, but they are failing to meet expectations this term. Duff will say that the league is the bread and butter, but the Reds investors will know that the best way to salvage their season is to find a way past Linfield in the Champions League qualifiers. A defeat to a team from Derry is a blow. They'll need to be sharper than a Belfast opponent rolls into town on July 9. After an unremarkable first half, this game was decided in a dramatic 54th minute. As Shelbourne digested a near miss, when Sam Todd cleared an Evan Caffrey chip off the line with Brian Maher exposed, the Candystripes responded by going straight up the other end and scoring. Michael Duffy still had plenty to do when he breached a Shels offside trap to collect a pass from Carl Winchester, but Derry's leading local light showed his quality by dribbling infield and keeping Kameron Ledwidge at the right distance before producing a superb left footer into the top corner that gave Conor Kearns zero chance. It was a goal Derry deserved on the overall balance of play to that point. They came with a Shamrock Rovers style box midfield with Winchester and Sadou Diallo in front of the back three and Duffy and Gavin Whyte roaming behind lone striker Liam Boyce. It was Boyce who threatened early, with a speculative attempt from distance that dropped onto the net with Kearns followed by a much better opportunity when a neat passage culminated with the winter arrival from Hearts dinking the ball wide of the post. Duff was animated and frustrated. Yes, there were spells where they seemed happy for the guests to have the ball. In truth, they didn't create a huge amount else prior to the interval. But he was clearly vexed by the lack of tempo in some of Shelbourne's play when they had the ball. ADVERTISEMENT In saying that, they did have the best first half chance with John Martin unable to accurately anticipate a Sean Boyd flick when Brian Maher seemed to be in bother. Martin – who was on a yellow – didn't return for the second half and Kerr McInroy, who replaced Mark Coyle after the skipper was struck down in the warm-up, departed after a quiet contribution. But it was Derry that seized the lead, with Shels back chasing the game on home soil again. Scoring first and holding onto it was the hallmark of their title charge. Too often, it's been a different story. A reaction did follow with Duff going for movement off the bench with Ali Coote and Daniel Kelly tasked with supporting Mipo Odubeko. Coote was busy and the energy levels increased but the end product was poor as Derry trusted their experienced rearguard to see it out. They ran the clock and committed fouls when necessary, all the things you need to do to win ugly. On the sideline, Duff could have no complaints. Shelbourne: Kearns, Bone, Barrett, Ledwidge; Caffrey, Lunney, McInroy (Chapman 45), Norris (Coote 62); Wood (O'Sullivan 77); Boyd (Kelly 62), Martin (Odubeko 45). Derry City: Maher, Boyce, Cann, Connolly, Holt, Todd; Diallo (Benson 62), Winchester (Hoban 89); Whyte (McMullan 62), Duffy; Boyce (Mullen 62).
The Irish Sun
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘I hate missing games' reveals Brian Maher as Derry City star reacts to breaking long-standing League of Ireland record
BRIAN MAHER recently set a Derry City record for the most consecutive league appearances when making his 111th start on the spin against St Pat's. He has since taken that total to 113 and should make it 114 when the second-placed Candystripes host leaders 2 Brian Maher set the record for the most consecutive league starts for Derry City Credit: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile 2 Derry City goalkeeper Brian Maher and goalkeeping coach Michael Dougherty Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile It is a run stretching back almost to the day he signed back in 2022. The Brandywell No 1 told SunSport: 'I missed a Friday-Monday that first year. 'I had Covid. After missing the first game, I remember doing about 15 tests a day trying to get a negative result to play on the Monday. 'I hate missing games. I learnt that it is harder not to be involved when you are out for those games. Read More on League of Ireland 'You can't affect the result, so you want to do everything to be available every week. 'I was told maybe five games before that I was on course to beat the record . It was very cool when I did it.' Unsurprisingly, goalkeepers tend to dominate the consecutive appearance stakes with Maher surpassing Dermot O'Neill's record of 110. Form was obviously a factor — Maher was in the PFA Ireland Team of the Year in 2022 and named Soccer Writers Ireland Goalkeeper of the Year in 2023. Most read in Football But so was his fitness. He added: 'I suppose one of the things managers would say is the best ability is availability. Damien Duff mercilessly trolled by rival fans over bizarre attempt to go incognito while serving ban 'It's something I'm proud of. There are games where I was close to missing them or you missed training sessions to make sure you make games. 'There would have been games where it would have been close with scans during the week and just hope for the best. You need a bit of luck. 'I had an injury in pre-season so I missed most of it but I was back to start the season. 'Sometimes you play through things or you make sure you get a few days off after games.' PERMANENT FIXTURE Since April 2022 when he missed that weekend double-header against Shelbourne and Drogheda, Maher has been a permanent fixture in the side. And his constant presence has been key in this campaign, giving new boss Tiernan Lynch some consistency in his line-up early on when he had little of it outfield. Derry lost three of their first four games and won just three through the opening series of nine matches. But they have won five of their seven since then to move to second in the table, having been bottom after five games. Maher, 24, added: 'I'd say that the start to the season doesn't feel like it was only three months ago. 'It feels so much longer. It feels like we're a different team now. 'At the start of the year, we were getting used to a lot of a new regime. 'Some of us were coming back from injuries and there were boys signing in mid- season who probably needed a break to go again. 'It probably took us a while to gel. The manager demanded higher fitness levels so everyone had to reach those levels. 'The last two months I'd say we look like a team that is coming together. We're not near where we want to be or where the manager wants us to be and he tells us that a lot. 'But even in games at the start of the year, he was coming in and showing us the good things we were doing, even stats showing us we didn't deserve to lose. 'Stuff like expected goals, shots and touches in the box. 'There were games earlier in the year, especially at the Brandywell, where we should have had games won by half-time and ended up losing.' TITLE BID Now they face the in-form Hoops tomorrow looking for a win that would set them out as serious title challengers. But Maher insists that is not the thought process yet. He said: 'Just like the start of the season feels so long ago, November feels a long way away. 'Yes, you don't want to be giving 'But we can't think like that as this league is so hard. 'If you take your eye off what's in front of you, you could lose two or three in a row.'
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Derry hit late equaliser to draw in Drogheda
Dominic Thomas (right) snatched a precious point for Derry with his late deflected effort [Getty Images] Derry City grab a late equaliser to remain in second position in the League of Ireland Premier Division as they drew 1-1 with Drogheda at a sunny Sullivan and Lambe Park. The home side broke the deadlock in the 41st minute through Elicha Ahui's header. Advertisement Tiernan Lynch's side levelled the game on the 90th minute when substitute Dominic Thomas' strike from range took a deflection and found the back of the net. Derry are now unbeaten in their last four games and are two points behind leaders Shamrock Rovers. Drogheda take lead in slow first half It was the away side who had the first chance of the game six minutes in when Liam Boyce turned and found space before sending a looping effort just over the crossbar. A poor attempted clearance from Hayden Cann then gifted Drogheda a good goalscoring opportunity, but Douglas James-Taylor couldn't take advantage of the mistake. Advertisement Just after the 30-minute mark. Warren Davis' shot from range was wide of the left-hand post as chances remained at a premium. The Drogs opened the scoring when Owen Lambe's corner was met by a powerful Ahui header which sailed past Brian Maher. Drogheda looked set to take all three points before Derry's late equaliser [Getty Images] Shortly after the restart, half-time substitute Danny Mullen fired well off target as Derry continued to struggle to test home keeper Luke Dennison. Ahui nearly turned provider when the goalscorer did well to keep the ball in play on the right wing and found the onrushing Thomas Oluwa, but his shot was wide. Brian Maher was then forced to palm Oluwa's chance over the crossbar after he had nodded Conor Kane's cross towards goal. Advertisement In the final 15 minutes, Derry started to up the tempo with substitute Pat Hoban's first-time effort gathered by Dennison. The Candystripes persistence paid off and they equalised in the 90th minute when Thomas' deflected strike from range found the bottom right-hand corner.
BBC News
05-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Derry edge St Pat's to go third in Premier Division
Derry City moved up to third in the Premier Division as they secured a 1-0 win over St. Patrick's Athletic at the Brandywell visitors started the day top of the table but Daniel Mullen's goal early in the second half was enough to give City a huge three had the ball in the back of the net twice in a first period short of clear-cut chances but both goals were ruled out for Candystripes overtake the Dubliners in the table and are now just one point behind Drogheda at the summit ahead of a trip to Cork City this Friday a victory over champions Shelbourne on Friday night, Derry had the chance to claim back-to-back wins for just the second time this season against St. Pat' Candystripes had the lion's share of possession but did see the ball go past Brian Maher twice in the opening half hour. Jake Mulraney and Zach Elbouzedi were both denied by the linesman's began to apply pressure before the break with the industrious Adam O'Reilly going closest, firing at Joseph Anang on the travelled to Foyleside having lost on each of their last four previous visits and at the start of the second period they found themselves behind again.O'Reilly threaded a terrific ball through to Mullen, who rounded Anang and rolled the ball into the empty net to send Derry on their way to a third straight win at the Keena was a lively introduction for the Saints and his deflected shot from inside the area had Maher scampering across his line to scramble the ball around the the final whistle some of the St. Pat's staff became involved in an altercation with home fans behind their dugout and referee Damian McGraith dished out two red cards amid the ugly scenes.
CBS News
24-02-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
NYS corrections officers' prison guard strike enters new week. Both sides meeting with mediator today.
As the corrections officers strike continues at New York state prisons, both sides are set to meet with a mediator on Monday. For more than a week, corrections officers and sergeants have refused to report for duty at 36 of the state's 42 prisons. Others are working while walking the picket lines. Gov. Kathy Hochul deployed thousands of National Guard members to "help maintain general order and wellness" at impacted prisons. The state also canceled all visitations for personal and legal purposes. The strike is not authorized by the corrections officers' union and it is illegal under New York's Taylor Law, which can impose fines or sanctions. NY prison guard strike takes aim at HALT Act The striking guards say they are upset with forced overtime and working conditions they describe as "inhumane." They're also speaking out against the HALT Act, which reduces the use of solitary confinement for prisoners who are prone to violence. Since the HALT Act took effect, assaults on prison staff increased more than 40%. Assemblyman Brian Maher told CBS News New York it's hindering recruitment of new prison guards, while 50 officers quit or retire every two weeks. Meanwhile, supporters of the HALT Act say the law was intended to curb abuse, like putting incarcerated people in solitary for 23 hours a day for minor offenses. Last Thursday, Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III issued a memo offering two times the hourly rate for overtime, rescinding a controversial staffing directive and suspending certain provisions of the HALT Act. The state's offer will be at the center of Monday's mediation.
