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Irish Independent
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Wexford FC's brave effort falls short as Shamrock Rovers show strength in depth
A 4-0 loss may suggest one-way traffic, but it was far from it as the visitors belied their SSE Airtricity First Division status with a battling performance that asked questions of the powerful hosts and, after expending such energy, they were always likely to run out of steam against an opponent filled with quality. When exciting teenager Victor Ozhianvuna fired the Hoops in front inside eight minutes it looked like it could be a long night for the Slaneysiders, but they regrouped well to ensure that hot favourites Rovers had to work hard to progress. The gulf in class between the top team in the country and one chasing a play-off place in the second tier was illustrated when Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley made five changes simultaneously shortly after the hour mark. The embarrassment of riches at his disposal was clear for all to see as Dylan Watts, Graham Burke, Danny Mandroiu, Matthew Healy and Rory Gaffney entered the fray, with three of the substitutes, Burke, Gaffney and Mandroiu, getting their names on the scoresheet in the final 15 minutes as the floodgates finally opened. The role of plucky underdog is never an easy one and nobody wants sympathetic pats on the back or participation medals, but Wexford, who took advantage of a kind draw to make it all the way to the final four last year, can certainly be proud of their efforts and use the experience to push on and get back on track in their bid for a play-off place. There was a sense of unease among the home support with the scoreboard reading 1-0 as the contest entered the home straight and it's only after Irish international Graham Burke grabbed their second in the 76th minute that the shackles came off. Stephen Elliott made one change from the team that drew 0-0 with Athlone Town the previous week, with loan signing from Waterford Ben McCormack coming straight into the starting eleven in place of Darragh Levingston. However, Wexford got off to a damaging start which saw them quickly playing catch-up as, after Jack Byrne had curled an effort narrowly wide of the right post, they struck the front seconds later through Victor Ozhianvuna. It was a beautifully constructed goal as Darragh Nugent whipped in a superb cross from the right which was met by Ozhianvuna and the 16-year-old fired a sweet volley past Paul Martin to briefly silence the vociferous band of visiting fans situated in the corner of the East Stand, who had the clearest view in the ground of the well-executed strike. Wexford playmaker Kaylem Harnett performed in his usual committed and composed fashion and his 17th minute cross had to be cut out by Roberto Lopez, while former Shamrock Rovers man Ajibola Oluwabiyi, who had an impressive debut against Athlone, again looked lively, linking up well with James Crawford down the left midway through the half to win a free-kick. Dean Larkin, who put in a good shift throughout, headed Ben McCormack's delivery into the side-netting, while, moments later, Oluwabiyi picked up the ball from Harnett and ran at the defence but saw his shot blocked. The hosts threatened to double their advantage in the 26th minute when Ozhianvuna's cross was headed narrowly wide by John McGovern, while Michael Noonan than ran through the heart of the defence but shot straight at Martin. McCormack warmed the gloves of Rovers goalkeeper Ed McGinity after Mikie Rowe and Harnett worked a short corner, while his opposite number Paul Martin kept Wexford in the game as he made a fine save to deny Jack Byrne. Harnett curled a shot into the arms of McGinity shortly before the break, but Wexford would have taken great heart from the fact that they were still in the contest going into the second-half. Paul Martin again proved up to the task two minutes after the change of ends as Michael Noonan was put through by McGovern and the netminder stood up well to thwart the youngster. The visitors came agonisingly close to drawing level in the 54th minute when Oluwabiyi raced down the left wing, shifted the ball to his right and sent a curling effort from outside the area narrowly wide of the far post. After Stephen Bradley had made a raft of changes, one of the substitutes, Rory Gaffney, forced an unbelievable save out of Martin in the 69th minute. Darragh Nugent's cross was met with a powerful header from Gaffney and looked destined for the left corner of the net, but the Wexford goalkeeper somehow got down to his right to make the stop, colliding with the post in the process. Mikie Rowe had a sight of goal at the other end after being found by substitute Muhammad Haris, but the Campile man's effort from a tight angle was comfortably gathered by McGinty. However, the game was finally put to bed when Rovers got the insurance goal in the 76th minute as Nugent pulled the ball to Graham Burke for a calm left-footed finish. It soon became 3-0 as former Wexford player Lee Grace headed down a Dylan Watts corner and the ball was steered home from close range by Rory Gaffney. Further salt was rubbed into the Wexford wounds in the 90th minute when Gaffney turned provider, teeing up Danny Mandroiu, who fired a composed strike to corner of the net. It's back to the bread and butter of the league next Friday as Wexford FC travel to Oriel Park to face leaders Dundalk. The visitors will be hoping to end a run of three games without scoring a goal, after drawing blanks against Bray Wanderers, Athlone Town and Shamrock Rovers, while the Lilywhites will be trying to return to winning ways, having lost to 2-0 to Bray and Sligo Rovers in their last two outings. Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty; Lee Grace, Roberto Lopez (capt.), Cory O'Sullivan; Joshua Honohan, Darragh Nugent, Gary O'Neill, Victor Ozhianvuna; Jack Byrne, John McGovern, Michael Noonan. Subs. – Dylan Watts for Honohan (63), Danny Mandroiu for O'Neill (63), Graham Burke for Noonan (64), Matthew Healy for Byrne (64), Rory Gaffney for McGovern (64), also, Lee Steacy, Aaron McEneff, Seán Kavanagh, Cian Barrett. Wexford FC: Paul Martin; Michael McCarthy, Dean Larkin, Robbie McCourt, James Crawford; Matthew O'Brien, Kaylem Harnett, Ben McCormack; Mikie Rowe, Aaron Dobbs (capt.), Ajibola Oluwabiyi. Subs. – Muhammad Haris for Harnett (64), Calum Flynn for Oluwabiyi (77), Filip Wasilewski for Dobbs (77), Darragh Levingston for O'Brien (86), Cian Browne for Crawford (86), also, Zayd Abada, Ryan Butler, Patrick Manning.
Irish Times
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
FAI Cup: Shamrock Rovers finally distance Wexford as bench deliver three-goal salvo late on
FAI Cup second round: Shamrock Rovers 4 [Ozhianvuna 8, Burke 76, Gaffney 84, Mandroiu 90] Wexford 0 Sixteen-year-old Victor Ozhianvuna capped his full Shamrock Rovers debut with a sublime first goal for the club as Stephen Bradley's side were made to work hard for their passage into the third round of the FAI Cup at Tallaght Stadium. While Ozhianvuna's early lead brought the promise of a comfortable victory, Rovers didn't put Stephen Elliott's First Division Wexford to the sword until the final 15 minutes with goals from substitutes Graham Burke, Rory Gaffney and Danny Mandroiu. Rovers head coach Bradley spoke of the importance of trying to win the cup for a 26th time this year. And while regaining their league title is Rovers' main ambition, the FAI Cup brings added incentive this season. The winners go into the 2026/27 Europa League first round, with a parachute into the Conference League second round if they are beaten, which carries a guaranteed minimum prize fund of €700,000, more than double what was previously on offer. READ MORE Eight points clear at top of Premier Division, with just one defeat in 14 games, Rovers made seven changes from their most recent competitive outing against Sligo Rovers, including starting debuts for Ozhianvuna and recent signing, striker John McGovern. Ably dealing with a confident start by Wexford, Rovers had to work hard to stamp their authority on the game, their first home tie in the competition in four years. Jack Byrne curled a shot wide before the small home crowd were treated to a terrific goal on eight minutes. Ozhianvuna came in off the left wing to position himself perfectly to meet Darragh Nugent's on-the-money cross to score a with a crisp first-time sidefoot volley. Beaten by winners Drogheda United in the semi-finals last year, Wexford belied their poor recent form of just one win in seven games to trouble Rovers when they got forward, with the pace of ex-Rovers academy and Ireland youth international Ajibola Oluwabiyi a promising outlet. But Rovers were always capable of stretching the visitors' rearguard with McGovern heading wide from Ozhianvuna's cross while Michael Noonan and Byrne worked Paul Martin between the posts before half-time. Rory Gaffney of Shamrock Rovers celebrates his goal with team-mates. Photograph: James Lawlor/Inpho Martin was soon to the rescue again with a couple of fine saves early in the second half to deny 16-year-old Noonan. The threat from Oluwabiyi very much remained as Rovers had a let-off on 54 minutes when the teenage winger cut inside Lee Grace to arc a shot just wide. Frustrated with labouring to put the game to bed, Bradley made no fewer than five substitutions at once on 63 minutes with Dylan Watts, Mandroiu, Burke, Matt Healy and Gaffney sprung from the bench. The latter, latching on to a Nugent cross, brought a brave save from Martin with the goalkeeper colliding with a post. That kept Wexford in the game as Ed McGinty soon had work to do to save from Mike Rowe. Rovers did finally kill off Wexford's challenge on 75 minutes, Mandroiu linking with Nugent on the right to cross for Burke to show his composure from close range. Eight minutes later, Gaffney hooked home from almost on the goal line after Grace had nodded down Watts's corner. Gaffney then set up Mandroiu to sweep home the fourth goal in the 90th minute. Holders Drogheda United had far too much at home to Leinster Senior League side Crumlin United as they eased through with a 5-0 victory. Second-half goals from James McManus and Jake Doyle-Hayes gave Sligo Rovers a 2-0 win at First Division leaders Dundalk. Bohemians were the biggest winners on the night with Collie Whelan scoring four times in a 7-0 rout of Killester-Donnycarney at Dalymount Park. Waterford beat Leinster Senior League champions St Mochtas 5-1 at the RSC while goals from Stephen Walsh and David Hurley saw Galway United past Tolka Rovers at Eamonn Deacy Park. Derry City won 5-1 at First Division Treaty United, with wins also for Finn Harps, Bray Wanderers and Kerry over UCD, Wayside Celtic and Athlone Town respectively. SHAMROCK ROVERS: McGinty; Grace, Lopes, O'Sullivan; J. Honohan (Watts, 63), Nugent, O'Neill (Mandroiu, 63), Ozhianvuna; Byrne (Healy, 63); Noonan (Burke, 63), McGovern (Gaffney, 63). WEXFORD: Martin; McCarthy, Larkin, McCourt, Crawford (Browne, 86); O'Brien (D Levingston, 86); Rowe, Harnett (Haris, 64), McCormack, Oluwabiyi (Flynn, 77); Dobbs (Wasilewski, 77). Referee: Mark Houlihan (Dublin). Attendance: 2,420. Other results: Bray Wanderers 3, Wayside Celtic 0; Drogheda United 5, Crumlin United 0; Dundalk 0, Sligo Rovers 2; Finn Harps 3, UCD 0; Galway United 2, Tolka Rovers 0; Kerry FC 2, Athlone 1 (aet); Killester Donnycarney 0 Bohemians 7; Treaty United 1 Derry City 5; Waterford 5, St Mochta's 1; Shamrock Rovers 4, Wexford 0.
Irish Examiner
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Gaffney the hero as Shamrock Rovers extend lead at summit
Premier Division: Shamrock Rovers 1 Waterford 0 Supersub Rory Gaffney proved the hero as he was in the right place at the right time to notch a valuable winner and extend his side 11-point clear at the summit. Rovers could have been in front within the first five minutes when Graham Burke stood up an inviting cross to the back post that found Danny Grant. The wingback, under some pressure, showed good composure to chest the ball down but saw his low strike somehow hit the foot of the near post before rolling across goal and eventually cleared. Waterford's Jesse Demspey found some space down the left and smartly teed up James Olayinka, who burst forward from midfield and saw his sweeping strike was sharply turned away by Ed McGinty. Both sides started to sense blood as the game began to open, with chances coming at both ends. Firstly, Josh Honohan cut inside from the left, and bent a lovely effort to the far post but was denied by Stephen McMullan at full stretch. The visitors went straight down the other end and Olayinka turned two men before unleashing a powerful effort straight into McGinty's midriff. Waterford then spurned one of the clearest openings of the evening when Tommy Lonergan got in behind the Rovers rearguard and looked to be in on goal. On the cover, Dan Cleary forced the front man slightly wide, leaving Padraig Amond free in the process, but his strike partner selfishly went for goal with the angle against him and shot straight at McGinty. The hosts continued to be patient in their search to break the deadlock but were met by a well-organized sea of blue. The introduction of two former PFAI award winners in Jack Byrne and Rory Gaffney showed the strength in depth at the disposal of the Bradley and lifted the crowd in the process. The 35-year-old Gaffney reacted quickest to a spill by McMullan - who had initially failed to hold a stinging Danny Mandroiu strike from 25-yards, and tapped home with just 15 minutes remaining. Rovers pushed for a second and fellow substitute Maxim Kovalevskis showed great feet to cut inside and square to Gaffney, but he saw his thunderous effort bravely blocked. Rovers saw out the remaining minutes in what could prove a pivotal victory in the title race as his side's attention now turns to both another European adventure and the start of an FAI Cup tilt. Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty; Dan Cleary, Roberto Lopes, Lee Grace; Danny Grant (Maxim Kovalevskis, 76'), Dylan Watts (Rory Gaffney, 65'), Matt Healy, Danny Madroiu (Darragh Nugent, 87'), Josh Honohan; Graham Burke (Jack Byrne, 65'), Michael Noonan (Gary O'Neill, 87'). Waterford: Stephen McMullan; Andy Boyle, Darragh Leahy, Ryan Burke (Trae Bailey Coyle, 80'); Grant Horton, Rowan McDonald (Dean McMenamy, 69'), Sam Glenfield, James Olayinka, Jesse Dempsey (Kyle White, 71'): Tommy Lonergan, Padraig Amond. Referee: Paul Norton (Dublin).
Irish Daily Mirror
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
FAI urged to shut its door to UEFA over treatment of Drogheda United
It is terrible the way Drogheda United have been treated by UEFA. And it is time for the Drogs of War to go into battle because sporting success should always be determined by what happens on the pitch. While UEFA changed the rules for those who are part of multi-club ownership models, the whole thing still feels bizarre. That is why Monday was such a shocking day for Drogheda when it became clear the club had lost its appeal to the Court of Arbitration and Sport - meaning they would be unable to play in this season's UEFA Conference League. Read more: Drogheda United co-chairman says owners will stump up cash to cover Conference League exit Read more: Jack Grealish's true colours shown amid Man City transfer speculation If that was bad, things would then get even worse on Monday night. Despite taking the lead against Shamrock Rovers, they were then pinned back by a free kick scored by Graham Burke just before half-time before losing 2-1 via Aaron Greene's winner. And that made it a Black Monday that Drogheda are unlikely to ever forget. Of course there is nothing wrong with UEFA looking at multi club ownership and demanding sporting integrity. Nobody would want games taking place in sporting competition where two clubs owned by the same people could potentially be giving direction as to who should win. But there was no danger of such a scenario unfolding with Drogheda United. And that is why Drogheda United co-chairman Ben Boycott was right to state that his club was made an example of. Trivela, who now own Drogheda as well as Danish side Silkeborg, have put forward many potential solutions to ensure fair play would prevail. I believe Drogheda are spot-on to say the UEFA process has 'lacked consistency, clarity and fairness'. Multi-club ownership exists all the way through the world of football. According to a UEFA statement in March, 342 clubs are currently part of Multi-Club Ownership. In English football, 16 clubs in the Premier League, 10 in the Championship, 13 in League Two are involved in clubs with ownership involvement from the same people. Just look at Manchester City. They are a majority owned club by some of the richest people in Abu Dhabi. The City football group owns stakes in clubs in the UK, USA, Australia, India, Japan, Spain, Brazil, Uruguay, Belgium, China, Italy and Turkey. And there is no doubt if Drogheda United was part of the City global group then there is no way UEFA would have gone to war with the Drogs. That is why this week's events ask serious questions of the FAI. It is their licensing process that has allowed the Trivela Group to be majority owners of Drogheda need to understand what an absolute disaster this was for both Drogheda United and Irish football. Can you imagine if those in charge at Abbotstown made it clear to the top brass of UEFA that if they made an example of any Irish club - then the FAI would call in their own Drogs of War. Had they made it clear that the FAI and Irish football would never lie down and be bullied by the inconsistencies of UEFA, they would have made a massive statement. Anyone looking at this case will be able to see that Drogheda were treated very differently to any other club. And the fact they have been made an example of is something the FAI should never, ever accept. I demand that those in charge at Abbotstown come out now and fight against this injustice. The FAI must make it very clear to UEFA that unless a remedy is found to Drogheda's situation then the two bodies will be at war. That doesn't mean firing guns. But it does mean the FAI telling UEFA they are no longer welcome in Ireland. The FAI should shut the door on UEFA and make it clear no one from their organisation is welcome on these shores. If they do this, the FAI will win respect. If they don't, they will never be respected again.
BreakingNews.ie
16-06-2025
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
LOI: Shamrock Rovers nine points clear after Drogheda win
Shamrock Rovers have moved nine points clear at the top of the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division table. The Hoops came from behind to beat Drogheda United 2-1 tonight at Sullivan and Lambe Park. Advertisement George Cooper had given the hosts an early advantage, but Graham Burke and Aaron Greene both found the net to give the visitors all three points. Elsewhere, at Richmond Park, Shelbourne beat St Patrick's Athletic 1-0 Ali Coote's 10th minute effort was the difference between the sides.
