Latest news with #GrahamBurke
Irish Times
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Shamrock Rovers move five points clear after thumping win over St Patrick's Athletic
League of Ireland: Shamrock Rovers 4 St Patrick's Athletic 0 Another cleverly taken goal from the precocious Michael Noonan sent Shamrock Rovers on their way to an unexpectedly facile fourth successive win as they punished injury-hit St Patrick's Athletic's defensive frailty at Tallaght Stadium. Man of the match Graham Burke rowed in with a brace before Aaron Greene added a fourth to inflict St Pat's heaviest defeat since Stephen Kenny took charge just over a year ago. Their impressive momentum moves Stephen Bradley's Rovers five points clear at the summit of the Premier Division , albeit with an extra game played, ahead of Friday's trip for a top-of-the-table meeting with Derry City. A third defeat in four games sees St Pat's, who topped the table at the end of March, drop to sixth, seven points behind Rovers. READ MORE Having named wingback Josh Honohan in his squad for the June friendlies, Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson was an interested spectator as Rovers should have punished an error to take the lead before a minute was played. Shamrock Rovers' Michael Noonan rounds St Pat's goalkeeper Joseph Anang before shooting to score the first goal of the game. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho Defender Sean Hoare, a former Hoop, inexplicably took a long throw across his own penalty area which fell straight at Burke's feet. Joseph Anang saved his defender's embarrassment when parrying Burke's volley out for the first corner of the game. Hoare was soon close to redeeming his mistake when St Pat's raided with intent for the first time. Joe Redmond nodded Barry Baggley's deep corner back across goal for Hoare whose header was off target. Mason Melia then showed his promise as the 17-year-old spun Rovers' captain Roberto Lopes to set up Simon Power whose shot was deflected out for another corner. In what was still an open game, Burke, played in by Cory O'Sullivan, worked Anang again before a gross misjudgement by the Saints' goalkeeper all but gifted Rovers the lead on 22 minutes. Burke's ball down the right looked to pose little threat but Anang raced out from his goal in the hope of reaching it first only to be beaten to it by the alert Noonan. And before Anang could retreat back to his goal, the 16-year-old, in an almost identical situation to his goal in Waterford on Friday night, showed terrific composure to shoot into the unguarded net. Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson at Tallaght Stadium. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho The goalkeeping had to be more assured at the other end on 33 minutes to prevent a St Pat's equaliser. Aidan Keena dinked a clever pass through for the run of Melia to bring a good save from the well-positioned Ed McGinty. Two minutes later Rovers doubled their lead, again punishing poor defending. Burke was allowed to carry the ball from the halfway line, cut all too easily past a sluggish Jamie Lennon, before drilling a shot low and hard past Anang into the bottom corner of the net. Further punishment should have been inflicted on the disjointed St Pat's defence when Honohan ghosted between two defenders only to drive over. St Patrick's were then left incensed in stoppage time at the end of the half when Melia looked to have been tripped by Lopes inside the area. But no penalty was forthcoming. Shamrock Rovers' manager Stephen Bradley celebrates after the game. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho The game was then all but over as a contest five minutes into the second half when Rovers extended their lead. Noonan showed his tenacity to win a tackle with Luke Turner. Grant pounced on the loose ball to burst forward to cross and give Burke a simple tap-in for his sixth goal of the season. Substitute Greene added the gloss with a fourth goal seconds after coming on in the 69th minute, calmly curling a low shot past Anang to the bottom corner for a well-taken fifth strike of the campaign. Champions Shelbourne's poor form continued as they had to settle for a 0-0 draw with erstwhile league leaders Drogheda United at Tolka Park, both now with just one win from their last eight games respectively. SHAMROCK ROVERS: McGinty; Grace (Clarke, 61 mins), Lopes, C. O'Sullivan; Grant, Nugent (Mandriou, 67), Healy, Honohan; Byrne (McEneff, 67), Burke (Watts, 67); Noonan (Greene, 67). ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Anang; Hoare, Redmond, Turner (McClelland, 55 mins); Elbouzedi, Baggley (Breslin, 69), Lennon, Power (Carty, 80); Kavanagh (McLaughlin, 80); Melia, Keena (Mulraney, 55). Referee: Damien MacGraith (Mayo). Attendance: 6,542.
Irish Examiner
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Burke hits brace as Shamrock Rovers sink Pats with ease
SSE Airtricity Premier Division: Shamrock Rovers 4 (Michael Noonan 21, Graham Burke 36, 50, Aaron Greene 68) St Patrick's Athletic 0 Personal joy for Michael Noonan in a week of family anguish. The gaze of the nation was already affixed to the 16-year-old striker before he was referenced in the central criminal court last week. As Noonan's father Andy was jailed for 13-and-a-half years arising from a serious case involving a heroin seizure, the judge highlighted the consequence of missing his son's blossoming career. A few hours later, the teen was living up to that tag by scoring in the comeback win at Waterford. His deadly finishing was on show again three days later, dissecting the club he left in the off-season by firing Shamrock Rovers into a 21st-minute lead that they built on. Graham Burke's brace brought him to 88 Rovers goals, surpassing a record held by Gary Twigg since Rovers moved into Tallaght 16 years ago. Noonan's replacement Aaron Greene added a fourth with virtually his first touch, punishing a static Saints defence to curl the ball past Joseph Anang to consolidate their position at the summit of the table. The one-sided complexion of this derby defeat should concern the Saints. It's a year this week since owner Garrett Kelleher succeeded in luring Stephen Kenny back to Inchicore for his first job since his disastrous Ireland spell. The objective in handing the incomer a five-and-a-half year contract was simple – to dethrone their south-side rivals. Damien Duff's Shelbourne achieved it first but the gulf between Rovers and Pat's is arguably wider than 12 months ago. Seven points is the official gap as the halfway point of the season looms on Friday week and yet the ease with which the Hoops toyed with their visitors exemplified the task facing them to regain a title last won in 2013. Three defeats in four games doesn't bode well though Rovers' fans taunting Kenny about getting sacked in the morning might be overstretching it. Rovers were four goals to the good by the 68th minute when that chant broke out and the cheers greeting a procession of keep-ball for the final stages must have stung. It was the meeting of this generation's two most successful domestic managers and they've been around the block long enough to become adept at throwing dummies. Kenny had declared after his side came from behind to beat joint-bottom Cork City on Friday that Barry Baggley was suspended. He wasn't and started in midfield. Similarly, Stephen Bradley's pre-match tidings contained a clean bill of health notice when, in fact, the central defender was sat in the stand. Rory Gaffney and Adam Matthews flanking him in their trainers might well have been with Friday's trip to title rivals Derry City in mind. Some of their colleagues on the pitch seemed to be wearing slippers, so comfortable were they in picking off the Saints challenge in the first half. Baggley and his midfield partner Jamie Lennon were dominated by Matt Healy and Darragh Nugent, while Jack Byrne and Burke ahead of them got the room they have a tendency to gorge on. Burke is 31, Byrne 29 and together they combined to exploit Kenny's crew. Aside from their teenage striker Mason Melia, who was denied by Ed McGinty at 1-0 and saw a late shot strike the underside of the crossbar, they were generally blunt in an attacking sense. The first shot in anger was directed by Burke, spearing a left-footed effort that Anang confidently held. Moments later, Burke was central to the breakthrough. Keeping the ball in his own half right near the sideline, he proceeded to loft a ball for the onrushing Noonan to chase. Anang needlessly dashed from his box and when the teen snuck between Baggley and the goalkeeper he had the awareness to cut back inside and roll the ball into an empty net. Burke again controlling the ball in the Rovers half on 36 minutes shouldn't have spelt trouble but the Pat's defence backed off as he roamed clear undetected before burying a 25-yard left foot strike past Anang's outstretched arm. Saints left the field at the interval still protesting for a penalty when Melia and Pico Lopes clashed but the chasm was underlined five minutes after it. Hesitancy in defence allowed Noonan and Danny Grant to fuse, sending the latter away to cross for Burke to race in at the back post and sidefoot home. As if the defeat wasn't damning enough, on comes a quadruple of subs to interlink and collect a fourth to record the most comprehensive Rovers win since beating Sligo last September. SHAMROCK ROVERS: E McGinty; R Lopes, C O'Sullivan, L Grace; D Grant, D Nugent (D Watts 68), M Healy, J Honohan; J Byrne (A McEneff 68), G Burke (D Mandroiu 68); M Noonan (A Greene 68). ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: J Anang; J Redmond, S Hoare, L Turner (J McClelland 56); Z Elbouzedi, J Lennon, B Baggley, S Power (R McLaughlin 80); B Kavanagh (C Carty 80), M Melia, A Keena (J Mulraney 56). Referee: Damien McGraith (Mayo). Attendance: 6,542.
The Irish Sun
19-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Shamrock Rovers punish sorry St Patrick's Atheltic as Graham Burke stars in dominant derby rout
ST PAT'S were dished out some more capital punishment as they suffered their heaviest defeat of Stephen Kenny's reign. Michael Noonan - who left 2 Shamrock Rovers hammered St Pat's on Monday evening at Tallaght Stadium 2 Graham Burke of Shamrock Rovers bagged a brace in the Dublin derby rout Graham Burke then scored a brace either side of the break before Aaron Greene got a fourth shortly after being introduced off the bench as It was St Pat's third derby defeat in just 24 days having also suffered last-gasp losses away to Bohemians and Shelbourne. In fact, they have taken just five points from seven games so far against their city rivals, to seriously undermine their title challenge. Rovers, on the other hand, have pulled away from the pack, thanks to four wins in a row. read more on football With Chris Forrester, Kian Leavy and Romal Palmer all injured, St Pat's were short on midfield options. So it will have been a relief for Kenny to discover that Barry Baggley was not, in fact, suspended. He had been under the impression that the ex-Northern Ireland under-21 international would be banned for this match for a fifth booking of the season. But, aside from his sending-off against Rovers in March, for which he served an automatic one-match ban, he had been cautioned only five times. Most read in Football He would have hoped to do better, however, than see Michael Noonan's shot fly through his legs as he jumped in an effort to block a shot which rolled into an empty net. The main blame lay not with him, though, but with keeper Joseph Anang. Rebekah Vardy throws husband Jamie a surprise party as he leaves Leicester City He inexplicably raced out of his goal as Noonan chased a pass from Graham Burke when Baggley was already there to close him down. Anang could not win it, realised his mistake and started backpedalling furiously as Noonan turned back inside and guided the ball into the unprotected goal. That was in the 22nd minute and they did not cover themselves in glory for the Hoops' second goal 14 minutes later. Lee Grace passed to Burke inside his own half and he was allowed to dribble into space without any real pressure on him. When Jamie Lennon belatedly moved to press, Burke turned inside him and scored with a low shot into the bottom corner which appeared to catch a slight deflection. The tendency towards self-destruction had shown itself as early in the first minute when Sean Hoare's throw-in went straight to Burke who forced Anang into a save. It was almost as if he had forgotten he had ended a successful four-year stint with Rovers in the close-season to rejoin his former club. And it continued when Simon Power passed to Lennon when there were three Rovers players in close proximity with Matt Healy nicking possession, forcing the midfielder to foul for which he was booked. Rovers had other chances in the first half with Anang denying Burke after he was played in by Cory O'Sullivan with Josh Honohan showing why the watching Ireland boss But it was by no means one-way traffic with Aidan Keena providing some good supply for strike partner Mason Melia who, not for the first time, was giving Roberto Lopes a tough time. Hoare went close from a header knocked back across goal by Joe Redmond whilst Lee Grace did well to block a Power shot. Just before half-time, St Pat's really should have had a penalty for a foul by Lopes on Melia but none was given and, instead of having a chance to halve the deficit just before the break, they fell 3-0 behind soon after the restart. Danny Grant made a surging run down the right and squared the ball. Noonan just missed out on making a connection but Burke did not need to be asked twice, getting his second of the night with a tap-in at the far post. St Pat's looked broken at that point and could not find a way back into the game with Greene scoring within 90 seconds of his introduction with no late consolation for the visitors with Melia's shot crashing off the underside of the bar. SHAMROCK ROVERS 4 -0 ST PAT'S Noonan 22 Burke 36, 50 Greene 69 SUN STAR MAN: Graham Burke (Shamrock Rovers) SHAMROCK ROVERS: McGinty 7; Grace 7 (Clarke 61, 5), Lopes 6, C O'Sullivan 7; Grant 7, Healy 7, Nugent 6 (Mandroiu 68, 5), Honohan 7; Burke 9 (Watts 68, 5), Byrne 8 (McEneff 68, 5); Noonan 8 (Greene 68, 6). ST PAT'S: Anang 5; Hoare 5, Redmond 6, Turner 6 (McClelland 56, 4); Elbouzedi 5, Lennon 5, Baggley 6 (Breslin 69, 4), Power 6 (McLaughlin 81, 4); Kavanagh (Carty 81, 4); Melia 7, Keena 7 (Mulraney 56, 4). REFEREE: D MacGraith (Mayo) 5
Irish Times
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Shamrock Rovers looking inevitable and Bohs could be contenders – what we learned from Friday night's League of Ireland action
Feeling of inevitability around Shamrock Rovers A couple of weeks ago, giving an interview after Shamrock Rovers' 2-2 draw with Shelbourne , Jack Byrne suggested that if the Hoops were not fighting at the top of the table this season, certain players would no longer be at the club. Ten points from a possible 12 in the four games since represent a good response to that threat. Rovers are now two clear at the top of the League of Ireland , and with their history of finishing seasons stronger than they start them, things are looking ahead of schedule. Waterford began brightly at the RSC and took the lead 10 minutes in. Ryan Burke's cross was flat and inviting, though still a good 12 yards from goal when Pádraig Amond latched onto it. The veteran striker is so clever from this sort of range, and his flicked header bent beautifully into the top corner. READ MORE The away side gradually grew into the game. About 25 minutes in, a long throw-in down the line found Aaron Greene, who played a simple cut-back to Rory Gaffney for the equaliser. It was well contested from there on until Waterford goalkeeper Stephen McMullan, who had been performing well, handed the game away, inexplicably side-footing a pass straight to Michael Noonan, who rolled the ball into an empty net with McMullan scurrying desperately to reach it. Graham Burke added a late third, indebted to the tenacity and power of new Republic of Ireland recruit Josh Honohan. Waterford had been pushing for an equaliser, but Rovers calmly flexed their muscle, sending an ominous warning sign to title rivals. New manager watches on as Cork City surrender another lead Remarkably, Cork City have dropped points from winning positions in eight of their 16 league games this season. New manager Gerard Nash was in attendance to watch his side at St Pat's, and he can be pleased with a lot of what he saw. Up against high pressure and the sharp prongs of Mason Melia, Aidan Keena and Jake Mulraney, the Leesiders managed to turn around a half-time deficit and they led with 15 minutes to go. It looked as though Stephen Kenny's side were set for a first home defeat of the season, but a familiar script unfolded. With 89 minutes on the clock, Zack Elbouzedi forced home an equaliser courtesy of the unfortunate Matthew Kiernan. Then, deep into stoppage time, Elbouzedi teed up Jamie Lennon, whose fizzed effort across goal found the corner. This was not a game Cork City were expected to win, but the trend of collapsing is cause for concern. Depleted by injuries and suspension, there are positives to take from the performance – Nash needs to turn them into points. Connacht derby piles misery on Galway United Most sides in the League of Ireland have to endure a difficult run of defeats at some point in the season, and Galway United are in the midst of theirs. Four losses in a row are highly unusual for John Caulfield's side, who have been notoriously difficult to beat since returning to the premier division in 2023. This was a redemptive, confidence-boosting win for Sligo, meanwhile, who remain bottom of the table but are now level on points with Cork City. Galway were the aggressors in the first half and saw decent looks spurned by Ed McCarthy and Patrick Hickey. Those chances grew fewer in the second period as Sligo started moving the ball better. Jad Hakiki and Owen Elding looked bright, the former testing Brendan Clarke well. Galway edged back into it and nearly took the lead – Hickey's bobbling finish hit the inside of Sam Sargeant's post and trickled agonisingly across the line. Cliche dictates that these moments go against you when you're down, and it proved to be a pivotal miss. Just 90 seconds later, Reece Hutchinson was fed in down the left to squeeze in the game's only goal. After so much early season promise, a bad run of form has Galway United down to eighth. It is no crisis, but the Tribesmen will need to turn things around quickly if they want to be back in any conversation around European spots. Good fortune the best tactic against Drogheda It can be close to impossible to break down Drogheda's defence when they are defending a lead, but Dominic Thomas showed one avenue beyond Luke Dennison late on to earn a 1-1 draw for Derry City at Sullivan and Lambe Park. The away side didn't deserve much against a Drogs outfit celebrating manager Kevin Doherty committing his future to the club until the end of 2027. It looked as though Elicha Ahui's first-half header had done enough to earn three points. The defender was man of the match when the two teams met in last season's FAI Cup final and he was at his best again on Friday night. Thomas Oluwa had a couple of big chances to kill the game, and Derry had one real sight of goal – a rusty Pat Hoban failed to get much power behind his half-volley from close range. In the end, a hopeful effort from Thomas deflected kindly off Ryan Brennan, wrongfooting Dennison and earning Derry a point that keeps them second. Resurgent Bohemians looking like contenders An incognito Damien Duff peered in from the grassy banks behind the goal at Dalymount Park as Bohemians marched to their sixth win in seven games. Suspended from the touchline after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season, Duff watched another disappointing defeat for his Shelbourne side, who have slid to sixth in the table. Down to nine men by the end of the night after two red cards, he can take some heart from the fight they showed. Perhaps this one should have been more comfortable for Bohs, who had to hold on at the death despite their two-player advantage. Still, having amassed six points from their opening seven games, it is a stunning run of form for the Gypsies, who may now be dreaming of a title charge.
The Irish Sun
05-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Aaron Greene bags career milestone as Shamrock Rovers cruise past Sligo in LOI clash
AARON GREENE scored his 100th league goal as Shamrock Rovers got back to winning ways against bottom-of-the-table Sligo Rovers at Tallaght Stadium. The 35 year-old, in his 17th season in the domestic game, doubled Advertisement 2 Aaron Greene of Shamrock Rovers netted his 100th goal in the win over Sligo Rovers at Tallaght Stadium 2 Graham Burke starred for Shamrock Rovers and also scored from the spot in the game against Sligo Graham Burke, central to everything good about Utterly outplayed in the first half, But with ex-Sligo goalkeeper Ed McGinty making fine saves to deny Matt Wolfe and Ronan Manning. Sligo couldn't come close to repeating their win over the Tallaght side from earlier in the season as they remain three points adrift at the foot of the table. Advertisement READ MORE ON FOOTBALL Burke twice got sight of the Sligo goal, working Sam Sergeant before a second effort was deflected for a corner, as Hoops started very much on the front foot. Following some patient build up play, Jack Byrne then curled an audacious effort just wide. Sligo were creaking and their goal was finally breached on 25 minutes. Burke was everywhere for Hoops and it was he who got to the end line to see his cross strike the hand of Sligo right-back Conor Reynolds. Advertisement Most read in Football Referee Rob Hennessy pointed to the spot despite Sligo's protests before Burke sent Sergeant the wrong way from the spot. Adam Matthews blazed wastefully over the bar when he should have at least hit the target ahead of Rovers making no mistake in extending their lead three minutes before the interval. 'Absolutely embarrassing' - Joey Barton does a Steve McClaren with French TV interview on return to Marseille_1 Byrne and Burke were the architects, the latter chipping a sublime ball over the home defence. Greene timed his run perfectly to swivel and volley to the net for his 47th goal for Rovers and the milestone century of league strikes in his career. Advertisement It might have been worse for Sligo right on the blow of the break but for a brave block tackle by skipper John Mahon on Darragh Nugent who pulled the trigger from Matthews' cross. Sligo regrouped at the interval and enjoyed a good spell of pressure early in the second half from a series of corners with McGinty denying Wolfe with his feet. Hoops skipper Roberto Lopes then cleared an Owen Elding header off the line from Will Fitzgerald's cross as Sligo pressed to get back into the game. Greene brought relief when having a goal disallowed before bringing a parry save from Sargeant. Advertisement Back at the other end, Francely Lomboto blew a glorious chance when ballooning his shot off target from Elding's through ball. Manning then brought a tip over save from McGinty as Sligo maintained their resurgence, if to no avail as Rovers' first half dominance proved more than enough. SHAMROCK ROVERS 2-0 SLIGO ROVERS SUN STAR MAN: Graham Burke (Shamrock Rovers). Shamrock Rovers: McGinty 7; Grace 7, Lopes 7, C. O'Sullivan 7; Matthews 6, Nugent 7, Healy 6 (O'Neill, 67, 6), Byrne 6 (Noonan, 67, 6), Grant 7 (Ozhianvuna, 83, 6); Burke 8 (O'Sullivan, 67, 6); Greene 7 (Gaffney, 83, 6). Sligo Rovers: Sergeant 7; Reynolds 6 (Lintott, 77, 6), McElroy 7, Mahon 7, Hutchinson 6; Wolfe 7 (Patton, 77, 6), Manning 6; Elding 7, Hakiki 6 (Kavanagh, h-t, 6; Mallon 82, 6), Fitzgerald 7; Lomboto 6 (Waweru 77, 6). Advertisement Referee: Rob Hennessy (Clare) 6. Attendance: 4,577.
