Latest news with #GreenArmy
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Ireland's EuroHockey hopes rocked by shock defeat to France
Ireland women's EuroHockey campaign was left hanging by a thread after a lacklustre 1-0 defeat against France where 13 penalty corners went begging and they twice hit the post. A feast of Irish goals over a 13-year unbeaten record against the French completely deserted them in Monchengladbach, as Mathilde Duffrene's second-half penalty corner proved the difference while goalkeeper Lucie Ehrmann produced an outstanding display to thwart Ireland's forward lines. Victory for lower-ranked France was their first at a EuroHockey since 2003. As it stands, this defeat leaves Ireland's hopes of reaching the semi-finals resting on their final pool game against hosts Germany and a handsome goal difference win. 'We are gutted,' said Katie Mullan. 'We had a lot of opportunities, the French goalkeeper was phenomenal, but we should take a hard look at ourselves in attack as we expect more from ourselves and we are able to produce more quality in the final third.' The outcome may have been vastly different had an unmarked Mullan not hit the post and then blazed over in the first quarter. This before Ireland had five penalty corner chances in a row. They couldn't convert, with the post being rattled either side of post runner Emma Van Der Zanden charging down the castle hits. The Green Army had seven corners in all during the first 15 minutes, each one lacking injection speed and control from the top. With a high press, Ireland continued to move the ball with purpose as they dominated the last third in the second quarter. Yet it was France who found the net first from a corner midway through the quarter, although the sweep shot was ruled out for illegal height. Ireland had scored no less than four goals in each of their seven previous wins over the French. However, Les Bleues have come a long way since their 7-1 hammering to the Irish at the 2015 EuroHockey. At the start of the second half, goalkeeper Ehrmann's body protection came to the fore while at the other end an advancing Lizzy Murphy made a sprawling body save from Van Der Zanden. It paved the way for more Irish circle penetration and increasing desperation to find the net as more corner set pieces went begging. Eleven minutes from time, and with Ireland down to 10 after a green card to Michelle Carey, France scored against the run of play thanks to Duffrene's incisive penalty corner flick. Ireland then went to 11 outfielders when Murphy was taken off with five minutes left. To sum up Ireland's afternoon, Mullan was handed a yellow card for physical play two minutes later. Coach Gareth Grundie said: 'We were impatient with the ball but we had enough opportunities to win it comfortably. We will have to take that one on the chin. 'We kept trying to be too direct and we could have done better with our 13 corners.' Ireland's hopes rest on Olympic, world and defending European champions Netherlands beating Germany later on Monday, setting up a final pool game showdown on Wednesday.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Adam Idah at a Celtic crossroads season as Martin O'Neill admits he only saw teen powerhouse going in one direction
Martin O'Neill cast an eye over a 17-year-old Adam Idah in his final months as Ireland manager and saw a youngster blessed by a raw power he was sure would see his career motor. The former Celtic boss was fuelled with hope by the sight of Idah and Troy Parrott leading the Irish attack at the 2018 UEFA Under 17 Championships in England. But five years on from the Green Army's charge to the quarter finals of that competition, O'Neill feared Idah's footballing journey was grinding to a halt. READ MORE: Brendan Rodgers offers simple Celtic choice and the answer is always the same for one dedicated disciple READ MORE: I see Celtic chaos coming as blunt instrument goes from sleep walking to full blown narcolepsy – Hugh Keevins A bit part player at Norwich, the player himself has since admitted his career was stalling in Norfolk. So when last year's move to Celtic came about O'Neill admits he had doubts over the frontman's chances of getting back on track in the Parkhead fast lane. Twenty goals including three in the Champions League is a fair return in his first full season after ending his loan stint as a Scottish Cup Final hero. Yet a section of the Hoops support remain unsure of the Irishman who, despite his goal haul, has never truly convinced he's ready to command the number nine shirt. It means the 24-year-old is at a crossroads with the new season off a running and Brendan Rodgers in the market for another striker. O'Neill just hopes the 6ft 3in frontman can make the most of the attributes that made him a standout in that U17 competition at Loughborough and St George's. He recalled: 'He was an underage player at the same time as Troy Parrott. Roy Keane and I went to Loughborough, it was the under-17s who were playing in an international tournament. 'He was outstanding at the time. He was big, he was strong, very, very strong. Sometimes you'd think to yourself 'well, there's no more growth in him so maybe when other people get a wee bit stronger…' 'But no, definitely, you could see he had plenty of talent. 'I did watch his career, but it was grinding to a bit of a halt at Norwich, not getting into the side. 'I thought that stepping up to Celtic might be too much for him. I thought it was. So well done to him. 'He's got a lot to live up to if he's going to lead the line at Celtic this season, and that's big. 'As a centre forward, you're expected to score goals, expected to score a lot of goals as well. 'And you're expected to be able to beat players, hold it up, run down the channels, do everything. 'Brendan should be able to teach him the game. He's improved since Norwich. He's made that step up. 'He's gone from there, where he wasn't playing regularly in a Championship side, and there he is at Celtic. 'But this is a big season for him. If he's going to start, this is a really big season.' Idah's form int he last campaign fluctuated from a 14-game goal draught to ending that run with a deadly double in a Champions League blockbuster at Villa Park. The inconsistency led to criticism from punters, pundits and ex-players. But O'Neill said: 'That's the nature of the game. I just think you have to cut 'the noise'. Whatever that noise is. I hate that word as much as I hate the word 'transition'. 'The noise is there. It's there every single week, and you think you can be doing really well for a period of three months, then you might go four games without scoring a goal, and whoaaaa.. those three months suddenly disappear completely. 'That's called playing for the Old Firm. You've got to deal with it. 'I went to the game at Villa Park and he scored twice. You're talking about a team flying high in the Premier League. So if you can't get confidence from that, you'll never get it.' Idah drew a blank as Celtic squeezed past St Mirren 1-0 on the opening day of the season ahead of this afternoon's trip to face Aberdeen leading to more flak from punters. With just 10 days until the Champions League play off against either Kairat Almaty or Slovan Bratislava, the clock is ticking on Rodgers adding to his ranks ahead of the Euro campaign. And O'Neill remembers all to well the feeling of anxiety growing as the end of the transfer window edged closer. The man who led the Hoops to the 2003 UEFA Cup Final said: 'I'm hoping that Celtic get a few players in. 'I've been in the same situation as a manager when we haven't done business early on. 'Brendan wants to improve the team. I would be astonished if the board and Dermot didn't want to improve the team. 'Each day that counts down, I suppose, you get worried. I was exactly the same. 'As a manager, you're definitely looking to try and improve the team. 'You would say that at this minute, if Celtic are going to maintain last season's form, particularly in the Champions League, then you would think that you would need a bit of help.' Twenty four years ago O'Neill's Hoops were blazing past Ajax via a 3-1 first leg win in Amsterdam on their way to the Champions League group stages where they dumped Porto, Rosenborg and famously Juventus in Glasgow but still bowed out after losing all three games away from home. The 73-year-old still remembers that night in the Amsterdam ArenA like it was yesterday - and insists that should still be the benchmark for the current Hoops side. He said: 'Amazing, honestly. Bobby Petta, Didier Agathe, and Chris Sutton scored. 'This is what Celtic and Rangers should be talking about. They should be plying their trade in the big leagues. 'The precedent was set years and years ago, certainly for Celtic with Jock Stein. And every manager that steps in. 'That seems as if it's a million miles away, and it probably is at this minute. 'It doesn't mean that you shouldn't be aspiring to that. You have to go for it. 'If you're in the Europa League, that's fine, but your aspirations should be the Champions League. I'm sure that's what Rangers are aiming for now.' * Martin O'Neill was promoting Premier Sports' coverage of Scottish football including over 80 matches from the Scottish Premiership, Premier Sports Cup, Scottish Cup and KDM Evolution Trophy. Fans can watch an entire season of football for only £99 using promo code PSCUP25 .
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Ireland keen for another crack at World No.1 Netherlands
Ireland women face the toughest test in world hockey when they take on world No.1 side the Netherlands on Saturday afternoon in their EuroHockey Championship opener. The Dutch are unbeaten in this event for 10 years and will become the first nation, male or female, to win five EuroHockey titles in a row should they claim gold next Sunday in Monchengladbach. Since losing the 2018 World Cup final, Ireland have now played the Oranje in every major tournament bar the 2023 EuroHockey. 'For years we didn't get to play the Dutch in the way fixtures worked out or in any Test series,' said Katie Mullan, who will be playing her sixth EuroHockey campaign. 'It's those games where we have grown a lot. In some aspects of our game we get closer every time and you always want to play the best and the ability to have a go.' Ireland also face France and then hosts Germany in their final pool game on Wednesday, which is likely to be a straight shoot-out for a last-four berth. The Green Army have finished fifth twice in their last three appearances. With five of the world's top eight nations competing, 11th-ranked Ireland will have their work cut out to reach the semi-finals for the first time ahead of a first appearance in next season's FIH Pro League. This summer, coach Gareth Grundie has given Ireland plenty of matches to fine-tune this side. Since June, they have played against USA, the Dutch under-21s in Dublin, away to Czech Republic and Belgium and at home against Spain last week. 'We haven't broken the back of the Europeans yet,' said Mullan. 'It's by far the hardest continent as you have so many good teams, so making the semi-finals would be huge for us. 'It's performance after performance and there are two things you want to do at an international tournament: to play the best team and play the hosts. 'To play Germany next Wednesday night will be one of those ones you will never forget. It is one of those spectacle games you strive to get up for.' Sarah Hawkshaw will captain Ireland in her first major tournament since taking over from Mullan, 31, after the Paris Olympics. Hawkshaw is joined by four teammates from her Belgian club Braxgata, including experienced defender Roisin Upton. Belfast Harlequins' Katie Larmour will be the least experienced Irish player when she lines up alongside Upton in the back lines. 'She is a very mature athlete, level-headed and really reliable at the back,' added Mullan. 'You will see the raw Irish mentality in her and her stability means we rely on her, even though she has one cap.'
BBC News
04-08-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Plymouth condemn 'unacceptable' Wiredu abuse
Plymouth Argyle have condemned the "torrent" of social media abuse directed at midfielder Brendan Wiredu following the side's 3-1 loss to 25-year-old was making his debut for the Pilgrims in their opening League One game of the scored an own goal, made a mistake that led, in part, to Barnsley's second goal and was booked for an on-pitch scuffle before being substituted at a statement, Argyle said Wiredu suffered "a torrent of abuse from Argyle fans both publicly and privately that caused him to deactivate his social media accounts". The statement added: "This behaviour is not acceptable to any player, staff member or supporter and does not embody the One Argyle ethos we live by every day throughout the football club."Brendan spoke openly ahead of his debut about his excitement to play in front of the Green Army for the first time and moving forward we hope Argyle fans show him the incredible support he deserves as he is an integral part of our squad."Everyone at the club is fully supporting Brendan during this time and we want to remind supporters that the standards we set online are equally important inside Home Park."
West Australian
20-07-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Super Netball 2025: Perth turns green as West Coast Fever thrash NSW Swifts in major semifinal
Perth turned green as fans flocked in droves to witness Super Netball history as West Coast Fever booked their place in the 2025 grand final. And the home side gave the 11,838 supporters that packed RAC Arena a show, thrashing the NSW Swifts by 32 goals in the major semifinal to extend their winning streak to a remarkable 13 games. And it was a party inside the venue as the 'Green Army' watched the record-breaking afternoon unfold in front of their eyes. Among the VIP invitees was Olympic polevault gold medallist Nina Kennedy, while Perth Lynx stars Steph Gorman, Alex Ciabattoni and Kiara White also turned out courtside. Liberal leader and former Perth Mayor Basil Zempilas also turned out to be part of the Green Army as he continues his rising political career. Education Minister Sabine Winton — who played netball at the Wanneroo Districts Netball Association — was also courtside, as was Netball Australia chief executive Stacey West who watched the heavyweight clash. Fever coach Dan Ryan praised the immense support they had all season which had helped drive them to a premiership. 'I always have a moment just before the first centre pass where everyone has got their mobile phones out and I make sure I do a 360 and take in the experience because it's so easy to take this for granted,' he said. 'It's the best netball arena in the world; it's in front of the most passionate fans in terms of numbers and merchandise in this competition. It's something to be very connected to because it's not normal, it's elite. We really try to embrace that. 'You do take it in because they're very much a part of the journey and you've got to make sure that you embrace that. What we get to do here is something pretty special.'
