Latest news with #JadHakiki
Irish Times
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Shamrock Rovers fight back to earn point in Sligo
Premier Division: Sligo Rovers 2 (Hakiki 9, 24) Shamrock Rovers 1 (Cleary 33, Honohan 63) Shamrock Rovers fought back from 2-0 down to earn a share of the spoils in a thriller with Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds on Saturday night. A classy brace from Ireland under-21 international Jad Hakiki had Sligo two goals to the good by the 24th minute but goals from Dan Cleary and then Josh Honohan earned Rovers a point in a game where Sligo goalkeeper Sam Sargeant was excellent. League leaders Shamrock Rovers came to the northwest looking to extend their eight-point advantage over second-placed Derry City. Stephen Bradley's side lost 2-1 to Sligo when they met at The Showgrounds at the start of March before they reversed that result with a 2-0 win at Tallaght Stadium at the beginning of May. Sligo, with four new faces in their matchday squad, were looking for a third win in five games since the midseason break. Shamrock Rovers immediately had a stranglehold on possession and Matthew Healy and Graham Burke were close with early efforts. It was Sligo that drew first blood, however. A move sparked by a huge tackle from Patrick McClean, back at Sligo for a second spell, led to a corner that was taken short to Jake Doyle-Hayes. The midfielder's floated cross was headed home at the near post by Hakiki to give Sligo a ninth-minute lead. Sligo almost went 2-0 up when Wilson Waweru, having been given the ball by Ryan O'Kane, saw his effort denied by ex-Sligo goalkeeper Ed McGinty. Sligo Rovers' Jad Hakiki celebrates scoring his second goal with Owen Elding. Photograph: Evan Logan/Inpho It was 2-0 with 24 minutes on the clock when Hakiki netted with a confident and composed finish after running on to Owen Elding's pass. The visitors looked for an immediate response and Burke's goalbound effort was denied by Sargeant's superb save. They halved the deficit in the 33rd minute when Graham Burke's free-kick effort was blocked but they recycled possession and Danny Mandroiu's ball to the back post was headed in by Cleary. Sligo were pegged back for the remainder of the first half, as Mandroiu pulled the strings for the visitors, but it stayed 2-1. The pattern continued in the second half, with Shamrock Rovers again dictating the play. Healy's low shot demanded a careful save from Sargeant, who then twice kept his side in front with outstanding stops from goalbound efforts by Mandroiu and Danny Grant. Sergeant was keeping the visitors at bay – he made another save to stop Rory Gaffney – but they levelled almost immediately following that stop when Honohan got his head to a Dylan Watts ball. Both sides had further sights of goal, the closest was an opportunity for Sligo substitute Francely Lomboto, who guided an attempted lob too high with three minutes of normal time to go. SLIGO ROVERS: Sergeant; Reynolds, Denham, McClean, Fitzgerald; McManus (Quirk, 60), Doyle-Hayes; Elding (Kavanagh, 85), Hakiki, O'Kane (McDonagh, 90+1); Waweru (Lomboto, 60) SHAMROCK ROVERS: McGinty; Grant, Grace, Lopes, Cleary, Honohan (Kovalevskis, 75); Healy, Watts (Byrne 64), Mandroiu (McEneff, 87); Burke (Noonan, 64), Gaffney (McGovern, 75). Referee: Paul McLaughlin. Attendance: 3,359.
Irish Examiner
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Gritty Sligo hold Shamrock Rovers to earn precious point in dogfight
SSE Airtricity League Men's Premier Division: Sligo Rovers 2 (Jad Hakiki 9, 24), Shamrock Rovers 2 (Dan Cleary 33, Josh Honohan 63) SLIGO Rovers and Shamrock Rovers played out an epic 2-2 draw at The Showgrounds. This outcome stalled Rovers' surge for silverware as they had to come back from two goals down and hard-working Sligo belied their position at the other end of the table. Jad Hakiki's brace put Sligo ahead but Rovers rescued a draw - their seventh stalemate of the campaign - with goals from Dan Cleary and Josh Honohan. THE third clash of the season involving the top flight's two Rovers, Sligo and Shamrock, brought together two sides with severely contrasting fortunes Stephen Bradley's Shamrock Rovers, top of the table, had won eight of their previous 10 games, with Sligo second from bottom in the table and, although showing an improvement in form, were still in a precarious position. The hosts featured four new faces in their matchday squad, with three of these starting, including loan signings Ryan O'Kane and James McManus, who joined Sligo from Shelbourne and Bohemians respectively. Rovers dominated possession from the off. Matthew Healy and Graham Burke both fizzed shots narrowly wide inside the opening five minutes to warn the home side. Sligo, who showed plenty of grit, went ahead in the ninth minute. Will Fitzgerald, who captained the team in the absence of John Mahon and deputising at left-back, took a corner short to Jake Doyle-Hayes and his tempting cross was converted by Jad Hakiki's headed finish. Sligo, who were fortunate that a couple of dangerous Rovers build-ups broke down at the final ball, ought to have doubled their lead in the 22nd minute. Pressure forced a Rovers turnover and Ryan O'Kane set up Wilson Waweru for a shot that Ed McGinty blocked. Two minutes later it was 2-0. Owen Elding's deft pass released Jad Hakiki and he cut into the Rovers penalty area before slotting a precise shot beyond McGinty. Graham Burke's well-struck attempt to bring Rovers back into it was brilliantly kept out by Sam Sargeant. But Rovers got a goal back in the 33rd minute through a Dan Cleary header after Rovers kept a move alive when a Graham Burke free-kick came off the Sligo wall. Rovers hemmed in their opponents for the remainder of the half but a Josh Honohan header - that was narrowly wide - was their best opportunity to level matters. The Dublin club went close again early in the second-half through a Matthew Healy shot. A fantastic double-save from Sam Sargeant denied Danny Mandroiu and Danny Grant when Rovers looked certain to score on both occasions. Sergeant pulled off another save - this time to stop Rory Gaffney - but the move was kept alive and Dylan Watts' delivery to the back post was headed in by Josh Honohan for a 63rd minute equaliser. Sligo could have retaken the lead in the 87th minute but Francely Lomboto lofted the ball over Ed McGinty's goal after breaking through the Rovers cover. SLIGO ROVERS: Sergeant; Reynolds, Denham, McClean, Fitzgerald; McManus (Quirk 60), Doyle-Hayes; Elding (Kavanagh 85), Hakiki, O'Kane (McDonagh 90+1); Waweru (Lomboto 60) SHAMROCK ROVERS: McGinty; Grant, Grace, Lopes, Cleary, Honohan (Kovalevskis 75); Healy, Watts (Byrne 64), Mandroiu (McEneff 87); Burke (Noonan 64), Gaffney (McGovern 75) Referee: Paul McLaughlin Attendance: 3,359
Irish Examiner
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Lomboto's late winner secures precious win for Sligo Rovers over Galway
SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division: Sligo Rovers 2 (Jad Hakiki 44, Francely Lomboto 73) Galway United 1 (Moses Dyer 47) STRUGGLING Sligo Rovers secured a precious win - only their fifth of the season - when they beat provincial rivals Galway United 2-1 at The Showgrounds. Substitute Francely Lomboto's brilliant backheel goal after 73 minutes proved the difference in a thrill-a-minute fixture that saw second-half red cards for Sligo defender John Mahon and Galway goalscorer Moses Dyer. Sligo's other scorer was Jad Hakiki as the Bit O'Red extended their advantage over bottom of the table Cork City to four points. For what was the third Connacht cruncher of the season, with one win apiece, both sides had contrasting fortunes in recent games. Sligo, who have been either bottom of the table or second from bottom for weeks, lost 1-0 away to Drogheda United the previous Friday - on the same night Galway recorded an impressive 3-1 home defeat of St Patrick's Athletic. Galway, seventh in the standings coming into this fixture, had the game's first significant opportunity when Patrick Hickey's close-range shot was brilliantly kept out by Sam Sargeant, who then tipped over Cian Byrne's fiercely-struck free-kick. Sligo finally made inroads in the 19th minute when Will Fitzgerald's persistence led to blocked shots from Wilson Waweru and Jad Hakiki. Winger Fitzgerald, who was becoming increasingly influential, unleashed a shot that was straight at Galway netminder Evan Watts. In the 43rd minute a chaotic sequence in the Sligo goalmouth saw Galway go desperately close to taking the lead - Sam Sargeant made three saves and there were also two goal-line clearances. Just over a minute later Sligo hit the front when the lively Jad Hakiki netted with an assured finish from Owen Elding's pass. Hakiki had another chance when he surged through the centre but this time his low effort was gathered by Evan Watts. Gritty Galway were level just two minutes into the second-half when top scorer Moses Dyer netted his 10th goal of the campaign with a header from Cian Byrne's free-kick delivery. Things suddenly boiled over in the 53rd minute when Sligo defender John Mahon and Galway goalscorer Moses Dyer were each red-carded following an altercation between the two. Sligo threatened again through a Jad Hakiki shot and then a header from substitute Francely Lomboto - following a corner - as Evan Watts' save kept Galway in the game. Lomboto's goalbound shot came off the upright and he was in the right place to score with a deft backheel to restore Sligo's lead in the 73rd minute. Wil Fitzgerald cracked a shot on target as Sligo, who were now in control, sought to extend their lead in the closing stages. Galway, however, almost equalised in the 86th minute but Patrick Hickey's header was cleared off the goal-line by Sligo substitute Ollie Denham. Unlucky Galway twice hit the woodwork in stoppage-time as relieved Sligo just about held on. Sligo Rovers: Sergeant; McDonagh (van Hattum 64), Mahon, Reynolds (Mallon 85), Hutchinson; Doyle-Hayes, Wolfe (Denham 64); Elding, Hakiki (Patton 85), Fitzgerald; Waweru (Lomboto 64) Galway United: Watts; Esua, Slevin, Buckley, Cunningham (Burns 46); Byrne (Walsh 83), Borden (McCormack 46); Hurley (Brouder 74), Hickey, McCarthy (Shaw 74); Dyer Referee: Neil Doyle
The Irish Sun
17-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Sligo Rovers earn vital derby win over Galway United in much-needed boost to relegation survival hopes
SLIGO ROVERS moved level on points with Cork City at the bottom of the Premier Division after Reece Hutchinson earned this big win at the home of their Connacht rivals. The visitors were under siege in the first half but played some great stuff in the second to get on top of Galway United, who stay eighth after a fourth successive defeat. The Eamonn Deacy Park clash always felt like a game where one goal would be enough and that came from Hutchinson in the 68th minute when he drove home from Matthew Wolfe's pass. The home team had settled better into the game. Ed McCarthy had a big chance in the 16th minute after quick thinking from David Hurley put him clear but Sam Sargeant saved. Patrick Hickey then had an even better chance after a wonderful cross from Jeannot Eusa but the American headed over. Read More On Irish Football Even though they were often overpowered, Sligo played some nice football in patches and Cian Kavanagh almost gave them the lead from a spectacular bicycle kick. They controlled the ball much better early in the second half and, playing in a deeper role, Owen Elding showed a good range of passing. Eventually, Jad Hakiki was released on the right. He carried, cut in and shot low and hard but Brendan Clarke did well to save with his legs. Most read in Football Esua was pushed further up the pitch for Galway to try to give them more power going forward — but the goal came in behind him as Sligo left-back Hutchinson bombed forward and collected Wolfe's ball to fire past Clarke. It was a sign of how quickly things can change in this crazy league as Sligo had just had their biggest scare when Hickey hit the post after a quick break from the home team, who had not created much since half-time. Damien Duff mercilessly trolled by rival fans over bizarre attempt to go incognito while serving ban And while a flurry of bookings were issued as tempers flared late on, Sligo were strong enough and calm enough to hold out for three huge points. SUN STAR MAN Jad Hakiki (Sligo Rovers) GALWAY UNITED: Clarke 7; Esua 8, Slevin 7, Brouder 6, G Cunningham 7; McCarthy 7 (Walsh 81, 5), Byrne 7, Hickey 7, Hurley 6 (Kerrigan 90, 5), Burns 6 (Horgan 57, 5 (B Cunningham 90, 5)); Dyer 7. SLIGO ROVERS: Sargeant 8; Reynolds 7 (Lintott 74, 6), McElroy 7, Mahon 8, Hutchinson 8; Hakiki 8, Wolfe 7 (Lomboto 82, 6), Elding 8, Doyle-Hayes 7, Fitzgerald 7; Kavanagh 7. 1 It was a massive three points for John Russell's men to earn REFEREE: D MacGraith (Mayo) 6.
