Latest news with #JosephAnang
Irish Daily Mirror
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
St Patrick's Athletic keeper outlines his World Cup hopes and European dreams
Joseph Anang hopes his European exploits with St Patrick's Athletic can boost his bid to go to next year's World Cup. The 25-year-old received his first Ghana call-up for last month's Unity Cup against Nigeria and Trinidad & Tobago - and although he wasn't capped he was delighted with the experience. Anang had his eye on an international call-up when he returned to St Patrick's Athletic, this time on a permanent deal, from West Ham. 'Obviously West Ham let me go and from there I had to go somewhere and play some football,' he said, ahead of tonight's Europa Conference League clash between St Pat's and Estonian side Nomme Kalju. 'I also had the international career in mind, that's why I had to come here and get some games and then obviously get my career going again.' Ghana are on course to qualify for next year's World Cup. With four games to go, they lead their group, with second-placed Comoros three points behind them. 'It (qualification) is very, very possible because now we've got four games and I think we've got to win two to go through. So yeah, it's very, very possible,' said Anang, a former England underage goalkeeper.' As for his recent international call, he said: 'Me and the Ghana FA, we've been in contact since I was at West Ham but back then I wasn't playing so they couldn't really put a trigger. 'But now for the past year, we've been playing, so obviously that's why in the last two months, that's why I was able to get a call up. 'That was a great, great experience. That was my first call up, so hopefully first of many.' Click this link or scan the QR code to receive the latest League of Ireland news and top stories from the Irish Mirror. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . European performances have tended to be the ones to elevate League of Ireland players onto the international stage. Shamrock Rovers' Josh Honohan caught the eye of Boys in Green boss Heimir Hallgrímsson with his performances in the Conference League last season. 'It's like they (international managers) are more focused on players playing in big leagues or playing against decent enough opponents and stuff like that,' said Anang. 'So I think they are watching me more playing in Europe than in the league, for sure.' If that's the case, then another clean sheet tonight would do his prospects no harm. Anang's goal wasn't breached once in the Saints' Conference League first qualifying round tie against Lithuanian side Hegelmann, as the Dubliners recorded a 3-0 aggregate win. In all competitions, he has recorded four consecutive clean sheets - and 13 in total this season. 'It feels good,' he said. 'It feels very good and obviously that shows how me and the boys have been working day in, day out and training defensively. 'So yeah, hopefully we can keep you up in the coming games.' Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email .
Irish Times
31-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Shamrock Rovers hold the lead as season reaches its halfway point – what we learned from Friday's League of Ireland
Mid-season break may have its benefits Damien Duff questioned the merit of the League of Ireland 's mid-season break this week, but results on Friday night suggest a small rest might be appropriate. Eight goals were scored across the five games, with half of them coming in Waterford and Drogheda's 2-2 draw at the RSC. Even the imperious league leaders, Shamrock Rovers , looked lethargic as they played out a 0-0 against an admittedly impressive Galway United defensive unit. Duff's comments disregarded that the break coincides with a round of international fixtures, for which the league pauses at other points throughout the year. Joseph Anang was on the bench for Ghana against Nigeria on Wednesday and flew back to take part in a 1-0 victory for St Pat's in Sligo. Others, including Josh Honohan, have games to look forward to in a week's time. Regardless of international commitments, this interval has been part of the league's schedule for years. Still, on the evidence of last night, some sides could use a small rest. READ MORE Shamrock Rovers finally held but lead remains intact You have to go back to March to find the last game in which Shamrock Rovers failed to score a goal, but the league leaders were frustrated by a resilient Galway side in Tallaght on Friday night. The Tribesmen seemed to take a lot from their hard-fought victory over Cork City last week, coming out with a confident zip to their play belying a run of four defeats in five. Gradually, the Hoops did take control, but aside from one impressive save to deny Danny Grant, Evan Watts didn't look overly stretched in Galway's goal. Rovers' lead at the top stays at six points, and confidence will be high heading into the second half of the campaign. Galway will hope to build off an organised, disciplined performance – the sort of foundation that John Caulfield and Ollie Horgan demand. Late goal specialists flip the script Bohemians have developed a reputation for winning games late on this season, with memorable victories arriving at the death against the likes of Shamrock Rovers, St Pat's and Galway United. The moment of consequence in their game against Derry City, however, arrived within 30 seconds. James Clarke's strike from the edge of the area hit Mark Connolly's arm, and referee Rob Hennessy pointed to the penalty spot. It felt harsh in the moment, and Connolly would argue he had no time to adjust. As he did against Shelbourne two weeks ago, Dayle Rooney converted. Bohemians' Dayle Rooney scores a penalty against Derry City. Photograph: INPHO/James Lawlor Bohs deserved their victory and should have scored more. Derry were unusually disordered, emphasised by Tiernan Lynch making four substitutions by the time the second half began. To make matters worse, his fifth change Robbie Benson managed to collect two yellow cards in 20 minutes – neither the product of particularly harsh challenges. The home side can now look back on an impressive first half of the season. If they manage to wholly avoid a repeat of the poor form they showed in the opening seven games, European football looks likely. Drogheda remain tough to beat Drogheda United's scintillating early season form may have cooled, but their cockroach qualities are going nowhere. Like many sides before them, Waterford discovered how difficult it is to bury the Drogs, who twice scored from corners to escape the RSC with a point. Conor Keeley's injury time goal, smashed in from all of two yards, will haunt John Coleman as he looks to address his side's Achilles heel – set pieces. Pádraig Amond, who set up Tommy Lonergan early on, looked to have won the game when he cleverly diverted Dean McMenamy's drive past Luke Dennison. The away side though, despite a late red card for Elicha Ahui, remain in second place thanks to a valuable draw. Nash's Cork City show signs of life Ger Nash claimed his first point as Cork City manager but may feel as though his side could have taken more in an impressive showing against the champions. Damien Duff talked up the weight of Shelbourne's trip to Cork in the build-up, but his side struggled to echo his message on the pitch in a lacklustre first-half performance. Cork were the better side, with Djenairo Daniels and Seani Maguire looking like a cohesive pairing and playing into each other's strengths. Shels looked solid but docile. Shelbourne's JJ Lunney and Djenairo Daniels of Cork City. Photograph: INPHO/Bryan Keane Despite his best efforts, Mark Coyle has looked understandably uncomfortable at times in his makeshift centre-half position this season. Another such occasion arrived near the hour mark – Maguire, making his first start since suffering a hamstring injury against Waterford at the beginning of March, leapt high above the Shels captain to head home a looping cross from Milan Mbeng. Plenty of times this season, Shelbourne have patiently controlled the ball and struggled to unlock well organised defences. Here though, Cork looked comfortable at 1-0 and may have gone on to win had there not been a moment of inspiration from Ali Coote. On as a substitute, Coote twisted on the edge of the area and arrowed a low strike in off Tein Troost's far post. Neither side will be thrilled with a point, and both have plenty to improve on in the second half of the season. Still, with David Meyler now in alongside Nash as Cork's number two, there may be something to build on. Looking ominous for Sligo Rovers Sligo Rovers didn't play badly but came away with nothing on Friday night, in a familiar and disheartening story for the league's bottom-placed side. Like Bohemians, St Pat's took advantage of an early penalty (converted by Aidan Keena) and never needed to build on their lead. The Bit O'Red had decent half-chances without ever mounting a barrage on their visitors. Sligo now have one win in eight games and sit 11 points behind eighth place Waterford. With the constraints of their fully supporter-owned model, it is difficult to imagine much can be solved in the July transfer window. Still, games like last night's make it feel like the gap on the pitch is only marginal.
The 42
26-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
St Pat's goalkeeper set to make international debut with Ghana
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC goalkeeper Joseph Anang is set to make his international debut with Ghana after he was called up to their senior squad for the first time. Ghana will take on Nigeria in an international friendly this Wednesday in London. If Anang starts, he will the club's ninth full international while with St Pat's. Anang was previously on loan with St Pat's from West Ham in 2022 and returned to the Dublin side last season. St Pat's are currently fifth in the Premier Division table, and will travel to face Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds on Friday evening. Advertisement Joseph Anang has been called up to the Ghana senior squad for the first time 👏 🇬🇭 @GhanaBlackstars will face Nigeria in London on Wednesday If Joe features, he'll be our 9th full international while with St Pat's Congratulations Joe & good luck#StPatsFC 📸 @sportsfile — St Patrick's Athletic FC (@stpatsfc) May 26, 2025
Irish Daily Mirror
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
St Pat's star receives international call-up for Unity Cup in London
St Patrick's Athletic goalkeeper Joseph Anang has been called into the Ghana squad for the first time. The 24-year-old has been named in the Black Stars' squad for the Unity Cup which takes place in London. And Anang will be hoping to feature in Wednesday's game against Nigeria, at Brentford's Gtech Community Stadium. Click this link or scan the QR code to receive the latest League of Ireland news and top stories from the Irish Mirror. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The winner will advance to a final against Trinidad & Tobago or Jamaica, with the loser going into a third-placed playoff. Late last season, Anang revealed how Ghana have been monitoring him for two years with a view to a call-up. At the time, the Saints ace said: 'We have been speaking the last two years but I was at West Ham as a No 3 and not playing. 'They might look at me more in the future (being back at St Pat's), you never know. I'm just putting in the work and waiting for a call-up.' Arsenal's Thomas Partey and Mohammed Kudus of West Ham have been told they can sit out the Unity Cup, so won't be part of the squad with Anang. Antoine Semenyo, and Kamaldeen Sulemana and Inaki Williams are other notable absentees.
The Irish Sun
26-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
St Patrick's Athletic goalkeeper Joseph Anang called into Ghana squad for the first time
ST PAT'S keeper Joseph Anang has been called into the Ghana squad for the first time. Anang returned to St Pat's last summer on a permanent deal having previously enjoyed a successful stint on loan from West Ham in 2022. Previously capped by England at under-20 level when he was with the Hammers, he has caught Ghana boss Otto Addo's eye with his performances for the Saints. Anang moved to England as a teenager and had previously spoken about wanting to represent the country of his birth. And that has moved a step closer with his call-up for the Unity Cup at Brentford's GTech Community Stadium. The other keepers in the squad are 23-times capped Lawrence Ati-Zigi, an ever-present for Swiss side St. Gallen this season and Hearts of Oak's Benjamin Asare, who won his first two caps in March. Read More On Irish Football The revived Unity Cup - which included Ireland when last held in 2004 - also features Jamaica, Nigeria and Trinidad & Tobago. The Black Stars face Nigeria in their semi-final on Wednesday with a final and third-place play-off on Saturday. As the games do not fall during the international window, St Pat's were not obliged to release their keeper. And it is understood that he will return to Ireland after the first game and be available for St Pat's league match away to Sligo Rovers on Friday, their last before the mid-season break. Most read in Football 1 The 24-year-old is regarded as one of the best keepers in the Premier Division Roy Keane smirks live on TV before responding to Ruben Amorim's claim that the 'good days are coming' for Man Utd
