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First Division: Finn Harps and Cobh Ramblers share the spoils
First Division: Finn Harps and Cobh Ramblers share the spoils

RTÉ News​

time25-07-2025

  • Sport
  • RTÉ News​

First Division: Finn Harps and Cobh Ramblers share the spoils

Barry Coffey scored twice and Cobh Ramblers led twice in Ballybofey but battling Finn Harps earned a share of the spoils. Cobh Ramblers are now six points behind leaders Dundalk at the top of the First Division after being held at Finn Park. Coffey took his goals tally for the season to 17 for the season, but it wasn't enough to take Mick McDermott's men to victory. Cobh took the lead in the 20th minute when Coffey stroked home from the penalty spot. Referee Aaron O'Dowd pointed to the spot when Gradi Lomboto barged over Bellis just inside the penalty area. Coffey made no mistake in tucking past Corey Sheridan, the Harps goalkeeper. Sheridan had to be at his best in the 34th minute to turn Cian Bargary's effort out for a corner. Sheridan, who had five clean sheets from his previous six outings, reached out to his right to make a fine stop. Harps drew level in the 38th minute as Mpongo seized on a loose ball before taking on Shane Griffin and firing off the crossbar to beat Timothy Martin. Mpongo, a recent recruit fromRijnvogels in the fourth tier in the Netherlands, netted a debut goal against UCD last week. After Idir Zerrouk helped win the ball, the 22-year-old Dutch hitman repeated the trick here with a superb goal. Harps' joy was short-lived as Cobh restored the lead within a minute. Bargary's inviting cross was met by Coffey and his header found the Town End net. On the stroke of half-time, Conor Tourish fired to the net for Harps, but an offside flag with the margins thin cut short the celebrations. However, Harps equalised a second time on 65 minutes when McNamee side-footed Idir Zerrouk's cut-back past Martin. The sides swapped chances soon after with Sheridan clawing off the line from Shane Griffin before Lomboto riffled wide from a good position for Harps. Teenager Gavin McAteer, who has attracted attention from Nottingham Forest and Celtic among others, came off the bench and might have won the game for Harps, but Martin saved from his attempt three minutes from the end. Cobh could have sneaked it with the last effort of the night, but Luka Le Bervet soared high over the crossbar. Finn Harps: Corey Sheridan; Josh Cullen, Conor Tourish, Joel Bradley-Walsh, Kieran Cooney; Max Hutchison, Oran Brogan (Gavin McAteer 82); Gradi Lomboto, Tony McNamee, Idir Zerrouk; Hans Mpongo. Cobh Ramblers: Timothy Martin; Jonas Hakkinen, Shane Griffin, Cian Coleman, Luka De Bervet. Niall O'Keefe; Cian Bargary, Barry Coffey, Shane Griffin (Rhys Gourdie 74), Samuel Bellis (Matthew Whelan 79); Cian Murphy.

Sonia O'Sullivan: People would always say there was something in the Cork water, maybe there still is
Sonia O'Sullivan: People would always say there was something in the Cork water, maybe there still is

Irish Times

time18-07-2025

  • Sport
  • Irish Times

Sonia O'Sullivan: People would always say there was something in the Cork water, maybe there still is

You'll hear a lot of talk this week about what it means to be from Cork . Especially if we do win the All-Ireland hurling final on Sunday. Only for me, there's always been a distinction between being from Cork and being from Cobh . I know people like me, who are from Cobh, will always say we're not exactly from Cork. Because we're definitely not from the city. We also have our own accent in Cobh. We talk differently to people from the city, like Rob Heffernan and Roy Keane. Growing up in Cobh, there were three different soccer teams. So that was our sporting thing, more than the GAA . I know the Cobh GAA club is quite strong right now, my cousin and my uncle were always hurling mad, and have the Cork flag flying high. My dad, who is from Dublin, came down to join the Navy in 1967-78, where he played hurling, football, soccer - a bit of everything. He also played hurling for a while with the Brian Dillons club, in Cork city. READ MORE Then when living in Cobh, he joined Cobh Ramblers, and was the goalkeeper for many years. That's also where Roy Keane got his senior start, and my dad was still there. In 1991, I had just won the World Student Games and was back home in Cobh for a Ramblers game. Roy was there, being a similar age, both setting out on the international stage, and there was the photo opportunity long before mobile phones. Then in 2005 we both got the Freedom of the City of Cork, and got another picture together in the paper. The red of Cork was always important growing up too, and effectively decided if you supported Manchester United or Liverpool. My dad is still a diehard Manchester United fan. My brother Tony and I were Liverpool fans. I remember he had a big Liverpool poster on his bedroom wall. Sonia O'Sullivan and Roy Keane were both awarded the Freedom of the City of Cork I also had one of those red satchel-like schoolbags, with a zip across the top, and mine had the Liverpool name and crest. It was always cool to have your team on your bag like that at the time. When I started competing in cross-country, the best runners in Cork were also the best in Munster, and in Ireland. People would always say there must be something in the water down in Cork, maybe there still is. I never played much GAA. When I trained around the field at Cobh Vocational School, the camogie team would be out training and I thought it might be nice to be a part of that. I did play one game - in Bandon, I think - but I was so afraid of getting hit in the shins with the hurley that I didn't get very involved, just ran a lot. My dad loaned me his old shin pads from his soccer days, and they were all making fun of me. But I always loved having a hurley. I still carry one with me when walking the dog in Melbourne, hitting the sliotar. It's always been a bit of a conversation starter, all over the world. For me, the Cork thing became even bigger when I moved away from Ireland, went on scholarship to the US. For some reason, most people would assume you were from Dublin. Or if they asked, was I from Cork? I'd say no, I'm actually from Cobh. And then they'd get the full explanation. It's that place where everyone left from on ships all those years ago. As I started competing on the world stage, I became more aware of Cork hurling and football, and the connection it gave to me. I always wanted to go to the hurling final, but back then, it was early September, and the athletics season was still in full swing. In 1999, my eldest daughter Ciara was born, I wasn't racing that summer, and I got to go the hurling final. When Cork won, she got to sit in the Liam MacCarthy Cup , just a few months old. 'When I started being successful internationally, Cork people would always get behind me.' Photograph: Patrick Bolger/ INPHO Jimmy Barry-Murphy was also our big superhero growing up. I got to meet him in 1999, when he was Cork hurling manager, which was a huge deal for me. I was also there for the 2013 final, when Barry-Murphy was back as manager, and drew with Clare the first outing. Cork definitely should have won that year. When I started being successful internationally, Cork people would always get behind me. There was that kinship with being from the People's Republic of Cork. Then whenever I'd come home, after winning on the European and world stage, there was celebrations at Cork City Hall, and also Cork County Hall. They were very distinct, and there was always a discussion where to go first. [ 'Be single-minded': Cork hurling heroes of 1966 on what it takes to end an All-Ireland drought Opens in new window ] I also got to know Seán Óg Ó hAilpín quite well, when both of us would visit Gerard Hartmann Clinic in Limerick for some intense physio and strength work. And through Seán Óg got to know his brothers Setanta and Aisake, who played Australian Rules football with Carlton football club in Melbourne. People talk about the rebel spirit, maybe some Cork cockiness, and I couldn't imagine being from anywhere else. Flying in and out of Cork airport, you always feel that you are home. And there's no easier airport in the world to fly in or out of. The year I first got to drive a C-reg on a car, it was a badge of honour, proudly displayed driving up to Dublin and around the country. There was also that time you could apply for a Cork passport, and I still have mine. I'm in London this weekend, for the Diamond League , but I've already been on to a friend there to make sure we find a good pub to watch the final. People are saying this is Cork's game to lose, but the Cork players and management will know that they can't go into any game thinking they're better than the players they are facing. It doesn't work that way. You have to fight for it, no matter where you are from. Being from Cobh is also one of the main reasons I bought a house there. I couldn't imagine living anywhere else in Cork, because Cobh is a different place altogether. It must be something in the blood.

Nagging fear that League of Ireland outfit will become a casualty of growing multi-club model
Nagging fear that League of Ireland outfit will become a casualty of growing multi-club model

The Irish Sun

time15-07-2025

  • Business
  • The Irish Sun

Nagging fear that League of Ireland outfit will become a casualty of growing multi-club model

IF it seems like it was only recently that Cobh Ramblers chairman Bill O'Leary was heralding new owners for the club, well, that is because he was. And if Mick McDermott's side succeed in winning promotion, there will be an obvious temptation to turn a blind eye to what went on off the pitch. But we are now in an era in which long-standing community institutions are being bought and sold with increasing ease and regularity. And, however much the credentials of previously-unknown investors are stressed, it is hard to get away from the nagging fear that, sooner or later, there will be a casualty. It has not been a good few weeks for the multi-club model with Drogheda United excluded and John Textor — the American who held a 77 per cent stake in Read More On Irish Football They had relegated Lyon from the top flight — with an accompanying agreement not to enter the Europa League — because of concerns over the club's sustainability. But an appeal was successful. Textor accused the DNGC of refusing to take into account the annual average of sales worth €100million of players who had come through the club's underage structure. But that number was not the one which would have grabbed most people's attention as Textor spoke of the 'cashpooling' which went on between Lyon and Brazilian club Botafogo, where he has a 90 per cent stake. He said the French club benefitted to the tune of €125m over a 12-month period with €65m going the other way with the flows occurring to deal with 'counter-seasonality'. Most read in Football And, if the way he portrayed it suggested Lyon had benefitted from this arrangement, a report from L'Equipe suggested differently. It claimed Lyon paid the salaries of 54 players when they had only 30 players in their squad, because it was also covering wages for Botafogo with a further €91m used to sign three players for the Rio outfit. Lamine Yamal faces government investigation after 'dwarfs are hired to perform at mafia-themed 18th birthday party' There has, thankfully, been nothing of this scale seen in Ireland but the slew of anecdotes from Peak6's stewardship of Dundalk will never cease to amuse. What has happened at Oriel Park since is a reminder that having local owners guarantees neither stability nor success. But there's an element of reassurance that comes with a proprietor that has a connection to the area. Each outside investor or owner deserves to be assessed on their own merits. But there have been enough issues elsewhere for there to be grounds for concern about the multi-club model and its increasing prevalence here. 1 Drogheda fans were denied a chance to go on a European tour this summer When O'Leary welcomed FC32 in October, he referred to it being 'a potentially transformative deal. It recognizes our history, our relatively strong operating and financial models and positions us for growth in so many areas into the future'. Presumably, he envisaged that future as lasting more than six months but, by the start of April, the club was distancing itself from the group. FC32 had already pulled the plug on its funding of Austrian outfit SKN St Polten after their purchase of Spezia in Italy. RAMBLERS TAKEOVER So, no wonder Ramblers were pleased with Its website says its 'company-building mentality drives strategic, operational, and financial services that transform clubs into championship organizations'. Ramblers have yet to be added to the 'partners' section which, as of now, contains just one entry with DAV saying it is the proud sponsor of Marc Anthony's E1 Team Miami which represents the city in the world's first all-electric powerboat racing championship. The club statement thanked Eric Perez who 'represented and supported the club throughout the transaction'. You might recognise the Canadian's name as the owner of Truro City. Last week, he and Nick Giannotti acquired a 50 per cent stake in Irish League outfit Larne. Five days before that announcement, in a post on Athlone Town's website, Giannotti There were no details provided on whether this was a takeover or investment and who else was involved. The new Athlone chairman is also a Will this web have implications for day-to-day business? Experiences elsewhere suggest that is possible. 'PARTY LINE' Last month, Keith Long spoke on Long said: 'When you're part of a multi-club model, recruitment decisions are sometimes made for you. "Fleetwood have a great network but I've great experience in terms of the League of Ireland and knowing what it takes to win games. 'You're part of a multi-club group and when an owner decides X, Y or Z happens, you've got to toe the party line.' Long did not describe it in purely negative terms and the Blues have benefitted from the association. In January 2024, they had two bids for Tommy Lonergan turned down by St Pat's. Fleetwood then met his get-out clause of €60,000 and the only surprise about him being loaned to Waterford was that it did not happen until 12 months later. Similarly, being owned by the Trivela Group, who also own Walsall and Silkeborg, has been good for Drogheda. Douglas James-Taylor's 12-month loan saw him play a key role in their FAI Cup win and them retaining their top-flight status. The striker He said: 'It's a tricky one because it's the same conversation with the same people but two different clubs.' Although he may have been surplus to requirements at Walsall, Kevin Doherty wanted to keep him. EXTRA CONSIDERATION The owners' mistaken belief that significant compensation would result if another League of Ireland club signed him led to them being caught out with Bohemians landing him on a free. This was despite Drogheda receiving nothing in a similar situation when James Brown Coming hot on the heels of Drogheda losing out on European football as a result of Silkeborg qualifying because they missed a deadline to place one of the clubs into a blind trust to satisfy Uefa's rules on ownership, it was another costly mistake. Running a sustainable Irish football club is extremely difficult. Running one as part of a group where competing interests have to be taken into account does not make it any easier. And there is an ever-present fear that, if multi-club owners decide they have to ditch one of their interests, there is a good chance that it will be the Irish one — which is never the senior partner in any of these arrangements — that may bear the brunt of it. While Ramblers have managed it this time, finding someone to pick up the pieces may not always prove so easy.

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