Latest news with #Keena
RTÉ News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
New vinyl factory opens in Clane, Co Kildare
A new vinyl factory has opened in Clane, Co Kildare, as the popularity of records continues to rise, particularly among younger listeners who are swapping their phones for the turntable. "It is taking up most of the space in record stores all over the world," said Chris Keena of the continuing rise in vinyl sales. Mr Keena is the Commercial Manager of Anthem Vinyl, Ireland's new and only vinyl factory. "It's the format that has survived everything. People will always go back to vinyl," he said. The factory will be pressing vinyl for a wide range of Irish musicians from 80s stalwarts Cry Before Dawn, who are making their first vinyl EP since 1989, to new Indie band Delush from Dublin, making their first ever vinyl. Factory founder Brian Kenny said they can now offer musicians the chance to curate and produce their work at scale. "Each machine will produce a record every 30 seconds, so in a standard week, we can produce 8,000 records pretty reliably." The band Delush visited the plant to see their EP 'Famous' coming off the pressing line in bright pink. "It's important to us and the consumer for the same reason. It's the connection, it's to physically hold the music, seeing it, the artwork and style that is unique to the band," said band co-founder Scott Leigh. "It's a piece of memorabilia that you can hold on to," said Mr Leigh, who has a turntable in his bedroom that helps him unwind in the evening without the distraction of the phone. "If you are on the phone listening to music, you're easily on Instagram or something else." Back in Dublin city, all generations are browsing row after row of vinyl at Spindizzy Records in the Market Arcade on George's Street. It started as a stall in 1996 and has now recently expanded to a shop with an impressive array of vinyl. "There has been a constant and enduring interest in vinyl," said shop manager Enda Gogarty. Vinyl collector Paul McDermott often visits on a Friday to pick up his pre-orders and browse the second-hand arrivals. "I think people like the physical copy ... I even see it with my own kids; they are suddenly taking an interest in dad's record collection, which hitherto they never would never had before!".
RTÉ News
17-07-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Stephen Kenny expecting much tougher test for St Patrick's Athletic away from Richmond Park
Stephen Kenny says he is expecting a much tougher test from FC Hegelmann later than St Patrick's Athletic endured last week in the Conference League. The Super Saints take a 1-0 aggregate lead into this evening's decisive first qualifying round, second leg, but they should have taken more from the first meeting last Thursday. Mason Melia had some big chances by the banks of the Camac, while Jason McClelland saw an effort come back off the crossbar. Eventually, substitute Aidan Keena would score the only goal from the penalty spot. But Kenny says he's not expecting to dominate the Lithuanians in Raudondvaris, like they did in Dublin. "Hegelmann, we probably didn't see the full extent of them last week," he told RTÉ Sport at the pre-match press conference. "At home I expect they'll have a higher level of performance. We'll have to more than match that and make sure we come out on the right side of this tie. "They've more in the locker than they showed last week and they'll be more committed from an attacking point of view. "It's about our level of performance. We were very good last week but we must look to build on that." Pat's have been struggling for goals, with just three in around 800 minutes of action, between the League of Ireland, and their European opener last week. They've been training on astroturf to get used to the feel of an artificial surface, something which they'll have to contend with later at the Raudondvario Stadionas. And Kenny is hopeful that it's just a matter of time before the team really clicks, and the goals start flowing for the Richmond Park outfit. "I was very pleased with our performance [last week]. Our passing was accurate, our movement dynamic, we had pace in the team. "The only thing lacking - we created a lot of chances - was our finishing. "We missed a lot of chances but we kept going. We believed we could get the goal and eventually we got the penalty. "We had the opportunity to give ourselves more leeway but we didn't quite take it. It's important to have that lead and now we're set up for a real battle out here. "We still have it all to prove but I've faith in the players." Last week, Kenny's four substitutes - Chris Forrester, Kian Leavy, Zack Elbouzedi and Keena - brought a different dynamic to the game, with former Sligo man Keena scoring the all important goal. And Kenny says he's contemplating changing things up for a game where he expects his side to be a bit more on the back foot. "We'll need 16 tomorrow out here, it'll be a really tough game," Kenny concluded. "Mason, even though he didn't score on the night, was really good the way he led the line. "We have competition for places and that's important. A few of the players who came on made an impact and that's what you're looking for."
Irish Daily Mirror
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Keena the hero as St Pat's pick up huge European win
The last time a Mullingar man received a reception as raucous as this was when Joe Dolan led a singsong in the lounge at McDowell's. This time it was Aidan Keena who inspired the locals to empty their lungs and deliver their chants. All they needed was an excuse to do so. And after 81 minutes of an utterly dominant display, their Westmeath striker provided them with the opportunity. Keena's goal, a penalty awarded for Klaudijus Upstas' foul on Mason Melia, was badly needed because at that stage St Pat's had a scarcely believable 18 attempts on goal - only six of which were on target. It was just that sort of night. Then again it has been that sort of season, this being Keena's first strike since May 30 and just the second goal St Pat's have registered in this timeframe. Their goal shyness is clearly an issue. Otherwise they wouldn't be out of the running for this year's league. But there isn't much else wrong with their game. At the back, the Redmond-Grivosti pairing is secure; in midfield Barry Baggley had his best game in ages, Jamie Lennon defying an early injury to soldier on right until the final ten minutes. He was immense. You could say the same about Brandan Kavanagh, even if he did run out of gas in the final quarter, while Simon Power, their left winger, had his best game in months. And yet St Pat's nearly blew it on a night when they threatened to overwhelm their Lithuanian opponents in the opening ten minutes. But their biggest problem wasn't presented by FC Hagelmann - more by themselves. Chance after chance was carved open. And all bar one was spurned. It was hard to believe, especially when the opening ten minutes saw a cross from Jason McClelland cross deflect off Melia's outstretched leg but end up just a yard or so wide of Vincentas Sarkauskas' goal. There could have been a sixth minute penalty too - Armalas tangling with Power. He escaped that time as he did later on when accused of handball, and when he collided with Melia in the box, all prior to half-time. Then there were the openings. After seven minutes Brandan Kavanagh intercepted a loose pass from Upstas in midfield, running from there to the edge of the area, where he passed to Melia who fired over. Two minutes later, a Kavanagh free kick was tipped over by Sarkauskas. Then Jason McClelland's cross rebounded off the bar and that's before we mention Baggley's shot, Melia's header, or Mulraney's free kick, all of which were saved by the Hegelmann keeper. To their credit, Hagelmann looked a threat on the counter attack, Lois Ribeiro going close to scoring on three occasions, then leading a breakaway which resulted in Lennon's injury when he blocked Njoya Abdel's shot. Later Ribeiro shot wide on 50 minutes and again on 54 at a time when you wondered if this would be their night. But no. The timing of Stephen Kenny's substitutions was smart, as he left it late enough to ensure the freshness of Zack Elbouzedi's legs would cause trouble down the flank, but early enough to allow the winger to make an impact. And he did. So, for that matter, did another sub Chris Forrester. And yet the goal wouldn't come, Melia missing a clear-cut chance on 70 minutes, Keena seeing his first touch deflected wide for a corner, before he watched Melia head straight at Sarkauskas from the subsequent set-piece. On it went. Pat's kept on pressing, Hegelmann kept on resisting and Melia kept on running at Klaudijas Upstas. Eventually his effort was rewarded with a penalty, given by the Belgian ref, Simon Bourdeaud'hui. It was time for Keena to take the stage and he posed over the penalty spot as if he was born to be on it. The goal went in, the crowd erupted and everyone in Inchicore went home happy, knowing there is no show like an Aidan show.
The Irish Sun
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
St Pat's finally get their goal as Aidan Keena penalty seals first leg win over Hegelmann in Conference League qualifier
THE patience of the Saints was rewarded as their near seven-hour goal drought was ended when Aidan Keena shot down Hegelmann in the Conference League. Substitute Keena drilled home a penalty nine minutes from time to beat the Lithuanians and give St Patrick's Athletic a slender advantage ahead of next week's second leg. 2 St Pat's beat Hegelmann in the first leg of the Europa Conference League qualifiers Credit: Ben McShane/Sportsfile 2 Aidan Keena scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot Credit: Ben McShane/Sportsfile It was deserved too; Stephen Kenny's men should have won with ease having dominated from the first minute to the last. But until Keena nearly burst the net with his shot from 12 yards, there were few in the ground who truly believed a goal was coming as their troubles in front of goal continued. It is a mystery how the Saints were heading for their fourth blank in a row and were just 12 minutes shy of seven hours without a goal. At Inchicore, the numbers were even more shocking. Read More on St Pat's Not since Mason Melia scored on May 23 had home fans seen a home goal as they patiently and impatiently watched 478 minutes in the meantime without one. And when it came, Melia was central to it. Having been kicked from pillar to post through the opening 81 minutes, he tried to dribble in the area and was felled by Klaudijus Upstas before Esmilis Kausinis tackled Barry Baggley. Simon Bourdeaud'hui took his time before pointing to the spot. Most read in Sport Then there was nothing going to stop Keena's penalty that was hit with the venom that epitomised the frustration of the crowd at finishing that goal drought. And it was more than deserved for the Saints whose relief at getting the win will be tempered by the fact that it could and should have been by a greater margin. League of Ireland mascots compete in charity race in Naas It was so one-sided that the busy fourth official who would sprint to follow play in the middle third-of the field did more running than the linesmen manning the Saints' defensive halves. But while the hosts gave their fans plenty to shout out, there was little to cheer . Early on, Melia glazed wide before the striker flashed another effort over on a speedy attack from Brandon Kavanagh on seven minutes. Kavanagh then had a free kick tipped over on 10 minutes before Jason McClelland saw his cross-shot come back off the bar on 17 minutes. Hegelmann seemed to be in panic mode and the sight of Upstas and Kader Njoya Abdel colliding as both went for the same ball on a counter attack summed them up. And when not running into each other, they were running into Pat's men that had the home supporters incensed. Simon Power had an early shout for a penalty when seemingly tripped by Vilius Armalas early though he was unlikely to get on the end of Brandon Kavanagh's pass. And later Armalas rather blatantly sent Melia tumbling in the area with a body check as the 17-year-old looked to close down Carlos Duke. In between those moments, the Lithuanian defender also got away with a handball when he clearly moved his elbow towards a deflected cross to control it. STAYING ALERT Yet St Pat's domination meant there was always a risk of a counter attack, as Jamie Lennon had to make a crucial block to deny Donastas Kazlauskas a clear shot on 30 minutes. But that was the exception as the Saints continued to press forward with McClelland firing into the side netting and Melia going close before half time. It continued in the same vein after the break as Barry Baggley broke forward but shot straight at Vincentas Sarkauskas and Kavanagh also tested the goalkeeper. And the longer it went without a goal, the more frustration crept in on and off the pitch as Power blazed way wide and Melia put a gilt-edged opportunity over. But just as all hope seemed to be lost, Keena delivered from the spot. SUN STAR MAN Barry Baggley (St Patrick's Athletic) ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC : Anang 7; McLaughlin 6, Redmond 7, Grivosti 7, McClelland 7; Baggley 8, Lennon 7 (Forrester 73, 6); Mulraney 6 (Leavy 83, 6), Kavanagh 7 (Keena 73, 6), Power 7 (Elbouzedi 73, 6); Melia 7. HEGELMANN : Sarkauskas 7; Upstas 6, Armalas 6, Doris 6, Duke 6; Antanavicius 5 (Harouna 83, 6), Kojic 6, Shchedryi 5 (Kausinis 73, 6); Kazlauskas 5 (Popescu 65, 6), Njoya Abdel 5 (Yusef 83, 6), Leo Ribeiro 6 (Wesley 73, 6). REFEREE : S Bourdeaud'hui (Belgium) 4
Irish Daily Mirror
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
‘Could've been worse' - St Patrick's Athletic striker on Golden Boot race blow
Aidan Keena fancies his chances of winning this season's Golden Boot - because his rivals failed to take advantage of his six-week injury absence. Considering he missed so many games with a hamstring injury, the St Patrick's Athletic striker reckons he is doing well to be just three goals behind leading scorer Moses Dyer. The Galway United man is on eight goals for the campaign and his heroics have earned him the SSE Airtricity/SWI Player of the Month award for March. But having scored his five goals to date in just his first four appearances of the campaign, Keena says he is still very much in the mix for the personal honour. He was asked if he had his eye on the top scorer prize and replied: 'Kind of yeah, but at the same time if you're giving them six weeks, you're going to have to catch up, know what I mean, I have to get myself going again. 'I know if I can get myself going, I can be top scorer, it's not really a pressure on myself. A couple of boys are flying at the moment, Moses Dyer is flying, everyone has their turn. 'I'm three behind, I'm drawing with a few. It's going alright. Could have been worse.' 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. While team glory trumps individual honours, Keena says a successful pursuit of the Golden Boot will be a win-win. 'Yeah, because I hit my personal goals we're going to be close as a team. That's the way I look at it,' he said. 'Other boys might be different. But if I'm top scorer, that means I've scored a lot of goals and hopefully we've won a lot of games, know what I mean? That's the way I look at it.' Keena missed almost two months as he recovered from a hamstring injury that he picked up in training shortly after a 3-0 win against Bohemians in mid-March. He returned to action earlier this month against Galway United and provided an assist for Kian Leavy's opener. He acknowledged that his absence could have been much longer. 'Basically the way the t-junction is you either need an op or you don't,' he said. 'If you need an op, you're out for months - three or four months - but if you don't, you get lucky enough and you can be back in six weeks. 'It happened in training, a cross came in and I took a shot and the pain just shot straight up it. I was feeling good and then just blew up out of nowhere.' While Pat's have lost their last two games, Keena is confident that they can return to winning ways and close the four-point gap to the top of the table. 'If you start winning a few games, you get that confidence and everyone gelling and then you can go on a little run,' he said. 'I think it's fair to say (that Pat's haven't hit the levels of late last year). We haven't. But I don't think any team has. 'I think because it's so tight and every team is close enough standard wise and ability wise that it is going to just that sort of league. 'One team is top one week and two weeks later, they're fourth. It's just the way it is at the moment.'
