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Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Shamrock Rovers held by Galway United but maintain lead at the top
Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Galway United Shamrock Rovers couldn't take advantage of their nearest rivals Drogheda United dropping points, but they still head into the mid-season break with a six-point lead at the top of the Premier Division. It was a frustrating evening for the Hoops against Galway United, as John Caulfield's side put up a solid defensive display. Caulfield punched the air at the final whistle to signal his delight at a job well done. Having lost four on the bounce before last weekend's win over Cork City, it was another confidence boost for the Tribesmen, particularly as it came against a side that had won their previous five games. Heimir Hallgrímsson and John O'Shea turned up but, unfortunately for Josh Honohan, the same couldn't be said for the Rovers wing-back. It was an uncharacteristically quiet night for the 24-year-old, thanks in a large part to the performance of Galway United' Cameroonian full-back Jeannot Esua. But Honohan has more than done enough over the past season and a half at Tallaght Stadium, both at home and in Europe, to merit the attention of the Ireland boss. Taken off just before the hour for Rovers' exciting Under-17 international Victor Ozhianvuna, he can now look forward to his first week of senior Ireland duty. It wasn't just Esua who was playing the spoiler role for the visitors. After a dominant start, in which the Tribesmen pinned their hosts back and came close to scoring through Vincent Borden, they retreated into a formidable defensive shape and soaked up lots of pressure. With Garry Buckley and Rob Slevin at the heart of their rearguard action, Galway kept the Premier Division leaders a safe distance from goal. They gave goalkeeper Evan Watts plenty of protection, and the on-loan Swansea City youngster only had to dirty his gloves twice in the first-half. The first was 12 minutes in, when Aaron McEneff attempted to bend the ball inside the right-hand post, but was denied by the flying Welshman. McEneff's effort was the last of a flurry of activity around the Galway box. Slevin did a brilliant job of cutting out Graham Burke's low cross from the left, with Michael Noonan lurking behind him. The Galway defender could easily have diverted the ball into his own net, but got his angles spot-on to send the ball to safety. Buckley deflected a Noonan shot over, while Jack Byrne drilled a low 25-yard shot well wide during that dangerous spell. Midway through the first-half, Danny Grant's cross was met acrobatically by McEneff, but his bicycle kick cleared the crossbar. Noonan was constantly on the shoulder of the last defender, inviting his teammates to tee him up for a run on goal. When Byrne did just that, with a pass from deep inside Rovers territory, the 16-year-old sprinted towards goal, with Graham Burke in support. Burke opted to run inside, rather than continue on Noonan's right, and that squeezed the space available to his young teammate, who still got his shot off, but saw it spin wide off a Galway boot. Watts' second stop, low to his left, denied Grant six minutes before the break, while moments later Rovers had a loud penalty appeal waved away, after Burke's shot hit Slevin on the knee and then the hand. Galway defender Buckley had a big let-off seven minutes into the second-half when he got his foot to McEneff's low centre and sent the ball just wide of his own goal. Hoops boss Stephen Bradley turned to an embarrassment of riches on his bench to try to break the deadlock, with Danny Mandroiu, Ozhianvuna, Rory Gaffney, Aaron Greene and Dylan Watts all coming on. There were chances for Ozhianvuna and Gaffney, but they could not break the deadlock. Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty 6; Adam Matthews 6 (Rory Gaffney 76), Roberto Lopes 6, Cory O'Sullivan 7; Danny Grant 6, Aaron McEneff 6 (Danny Mandroiu 59, 6), Matthew Healy 6, Jack Byrne 6 (Dylan Watts 69, 6), Josh Honohan 6 (Victor Ozhianvuna 59, 6); Graham Burke 7, Michael Noonan 7 (Aaron Greene 69, 6). Galway United: Evan Watts 7; Jeannot Esua 8, Garry Buckley 8, Robert Slevin 8, Greg Cunningham 7 (Robert Burns 57, 6); David Hurley 6 (Conor McCormack 76), Vincent Borden 6 (Stephen Walsh 89), Cian Byrne 7, Ed McCarthy 6; Patrick Hickey 6, Moses Dyer 6 (Killian Brouder 89). Referee: Kevin O'Sullivan
The 42
4 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
Grounds for change in League of Ireland shines a light on anguish and joy in equal measure
EVERYONE GETS THEIR kicks in different ways. When Aaron McEneff scored an 89th-minute winner to complete a 2-1 comeback against Derry City last Friday he celebrated the moment in front of fans packed into the recently-opened North Stand at the Ryan McBride Brandywell. For some it was a form of treachery given he grew up just a few miles away in Carnhill, but McEneff's family's ties to the Hoops are strong. His father Noel was born and raised on Reilly's Avenue, a small row of south inner city cottages in Dublin sandwiched between the Coombe Hospital and Lowe's Pub. Rovers has always been Noel's club and that passion was passed down to his three sons, as was clear when Aaron sent Stephen Bradley's side six points clear at the top of the Premier Division. We digress. When a video of the goal was clipped and shared on social media within minutes of full-time, The Beat's first instinct was to refresh the website of picture agency Inpho to see the reaction of those supporters behind the goal. It didn't disappoint. Advertisement The faces and reactions were of anguish, disdain, anger and even a little bit of apathy. There seemed to be one lad in the top corner with his phone out either capturing the moment or his own reaction but, other than that, this was a real-time encapsulation of suffering in the purest form. In the first row, a Derry supporter who could pass for Dylan Watts has his arms outstretched and his mouth elongated in such a way that he was preparing for the last part of 'F**K OFF'. To his right was another fella simply committing to the good old-fashioned 'BOOOOOOOOO.' In between them, a woman has her hands clasped together like a regular Mass-goer, her glasses resting on top of her hair, a single bit of fringe flowing to the side with her lips and eyes narrowed in equal measure. 'Really, Aaron, really?' you could imagine her saying. Amid the glut of middle finger salutes and other, more accusatory hand gestures, a bald man with what appears to be a tobacco-stained moustache grips – and this is an educated guess because of lived experience – a can of Stella Artois tightly. Further back, one committed smoker refused to allow the McEneff goal get in the way of a final drag on his cigarette. There is the lad in Stone Island who just turns to his side and drags the fingers on both hands down his cheeks in a forlorn state of acceptance at the misery. We've all been there. Aaron McEneff celebrates his late winner in front of Derry City fans. Lorcan Doherty / INPHO Lorcan Doherty / INPHO / INPHO Scan the photo and you will see mostly young faces. Red and white jerseys are few and far between. Some are enraged, all are engrossed, and as stated by the X account LOICrowds, and verified by the club, the 'attendance of 4,250 on Friday is their highest attendance at the Ryan McBride Brandywell for a league game since 2006.' If it wasn't for Derry City, and owner Philip O'Doherty, ploughing £2 million (€2.4m) into the redevelopment of the Brandywell to construct the new stand over the winter it's a sight we would have missed out on. A welcome addition to the aesthetics of a Friday night. Club director Robert Martin spoke to the Derry Journal last week and it was explained how the club had been turning away demands for an additional 700 season ticket holders because of their limited capacity previously. They say capacity will rise from 3,700 to 6,300 once upgrades are complete, and it won't just be locals feeling the benefits. The Derry Journal stated that 'the relocation of season ticket holders from the terrace areas and Southend Park stand will also free up room for an additional 500 seats for visiting fans.' Everyone's a winner, except when those home fans have to endure an away side scoring late in front of them. Derry don't own the Brandywell – the local council do – so their willingness to invest was crucial in improving standards. St Patrick's Athletic have been purchasing property along Emmett Road in preparation for redevelopment of Richmond Park. One homeowner of a property backing onto the ground even bid farewell at the start of this season when he pulled the back fence out to get curry chips from one of the vans in the ground. The commitment of almost €25 million from the Government's Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund will see Bohemians redevelop Dalymount Park, but the club confirmed last week that they will remain in Phibsborough for part of the 2026 season. That means Damien Duff may yet end up on the Grassy Knoll behind the goal again. Shelbourne have also been increasing capacity at Tolka Park by improving terracing that had been neglected, as well as making improvements around the ground as a whole, although when their redevelopment plans really take hold is up in the air after a 250-year lease was signed with Dublin City Council last year. Sligo Rovers, like Bohemians, were the big winners from the last round of LSSIF, and the Bit O'Red envisage 'the diggers being out' on a redeveloped Showgrounds next year. Related Reads 'I'm not one bit mortified for myself, I'm mortified for the league': Damien Duff on that viral photo Stephen Kenny says 'sportsmanship is a thing of the past' in League of Ireland Brotherly love and lifelong challenges for wheelchair users in League of Ireland Drogheda United were placed on a reserve list of that LSSIF allotment, the club's plans for a new 4,500-seater stadium on the north side of the town described last November by then Minister of State for Sport Thomas Byrne as 'essentially, they are the next big FAI project.' Wexford FC were allocated €2m towards a new 6,000-capacity ground closer to the town centre as current home Ferrycarrig Park is on a site that's part of the expansion of the M11. Galway United submitted a joint venture for a new training base alongside Athenry Swans Hockey but will have to wait for the next round of funding. All of these projects will go some way to improving Irish football. Even if it just means being able to see the anguish and joy of more people who love the game.
The Irish Sun
26-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Aaron McEneff loved ‘great moment' goading Brandywell crowd after late winner for Shamrock Rovers
AARON McENEFF made no apologies for savouring his late winner against his former club. The Shamrock Rovers star netted with a minute to go as the Hoops He enjoyed the moment to the full, running the length of the Southend Stand with arms aloft, in front of the home fans, earning a booking for his troubles. But McEneff beamed: 'It was a great moment to be honest." 'I got a bit excited with the celebration but I've had a tough time last year with injuries and stuff and I'm only back from a wee niggle so to come up and score the winner here is a night I'll not forget." 'With it being Derry, my home town, there was a wee bit of emotion and I just got excited.' More of the League of Ireland Admitting he probably recognised some familiar faces as he gloated, the midfielder said: 'It was just one of those moments, you come off the bench, you score so late and you're overcome with emotions, I suppose." 'As a player, you have to take stick sometimes so I'm sure the fans are big enough to take a wee bit of stick back.' The 29-year-old made his name at Derry, although the League Cup in 2018 was the only piece of silverware he won in his time there. In two seasons with Rovers, he won the FAI Cup and Premier Division title, earning a call-up to the Ireland senior squad along the way. Most read in Football An 18-month stint with Hearts — whom he helped to win promotion — followed before another season-and-a-half spell with Perth Glory. His return to Tallaght before the start of last year has not exactly gone according to plan, although he did help Stephen Bradley's side reach the last 16 of the Europa Conference League and they are now favourites to reclaim the league crown. Gary Lineker tears up as he bids emotional farewell to iconic Match of the Day after controversial BBC axe 'But I got a good pre-season and I got a good base of fitness, I got a good run of games at the start of the season and then I just got a small niggle in my calf." He said: 'Last year it was my quad and then I had a few hamstring problems but we shut me down early at the back end of last year and I missed a few European games. 'At this club, it's all about the group and our group is in a really good place at the moment." 'When you're on the bench you have to be ready to come on to try to impact the game." 1 Aaron McEneff cupping his ears to the home fans at the very familiar Brandywell Stadium. 'Subs have done that and thankfully I was able to do that." 'It has been frustrating at times with the injuries I've had." 'There have been times when I've felt like I've been getting going and really getting to the level where I think I can get to and maybe push on, and maybe something else happened." 'But I've stuck with it to be fair and the group's stood by me and the staff here are brilliant. I just want to kick on and help the team, I suppose." 'That's my game, getting into the box and scoring goals. Thankfully, the ball fell to me and I did that.' GRIDIRON GROUP With only Seán Kavanagh — who is due back soon — currently injured, competition for places is intense at Rovers but McEneff has no issue with rotation. He joked: 'It's like an NFL squad! There's a lot of games, a lot of football to be played." 'There's a lot of talented players. You see at times when we pick up injuries, people have to step up." 'Now we've got a full squad and people are going to have to be ready, whether they're starting or on the bench." 'That's just the way it is, it's about the group and, to go and win things, with the amount of games we're playing, we're going to need everyone involved so it's important to be ready when you're called upon to do a job.'
The 42
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Last-gasp goal sees Shamrock Rovers win top-of-the-table clash
Derry City 1 Shamrock Rovers 2 Simon Collins reports from the Ryan McBride Brandywell DERRY MAN Aaron McEneff came back to haunt his hometown club with a last-gasp winning goal, which sent Shamrock Rovers six points clear at the top. Substitutions on both sides influenced this cat-and-mouse encounter on Foyleside, but it was Michael Noonan and McEneff who earned three vital points for the Hoops in the end. Derry haven't won against Rovers in the league in nine attempts, but sub Danny Mullen's fifth goal of the season on 66 minutes put them firmly in the driving seat. That lead lasted less than six minutes as Noonan headed in from close range after Roberto Lopes' long-range strike was turned onto the crossbar by Brian Maher. Against his hometown club! 🫨 Aaron McEneff scores late on that'll surely win it for the visitors. — League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) May 23, 2025 Derry reacted well to that setback, but it was a former hero turned villain at Brandywell, McEneff, who had the last laugh with an 89th-minute winner. Fellow sub, Danny Mandroiu threaded a pass through to Noonan, who picked out McEneff's run towards the near post, and he made no mistake. Advertisement The midfielder was cautioned for his overzealous celebrations in front of the home support in the Southend Park stand to silence a record 5,000-plus attendance. That goal ensured a fifth consecutive win for Rovers and a seventh game unbeaten as the Dubliners ominously started shifting through the gears. Derry started with promise, and Michael Duffy was gifted possession inside Rovers' penalty area when Dan Cleary's attempted clearance fell kindly to the winger, but his curling effort sailed harmlessly wide of the far post. Match referee Marc Lynch issued three contentious yellow cards inside eight first-half minutes to Boyce, Winchester and Rovers' defender O'Sullivan, who was replaced by Josh Honohan after just 18 minutes as Stephen Bradley wasted no time in turning to his bench. Derry carved open the Rovers defence with a neat pass into the feet of Whyte just inside the penalty area on 25 minutes, and the ex-Portsmouth man glided past his man before picking out Boyce eight yards from goal. The striker's first-time strike was deflected behind by Adam Matthews, who recovered well. From the corner,r the ball eventually came to Ferguson in space at the back post, but the full-back fired his effort wide of the target. Rovers' first shot on target arrived on 33 minutes after Ferguson's pass was intercepted inside his own half. Aaron Greene crossed low towards Graham Burke, but his powerful strike was saved comfortably by Brian Maher. Rovers were bossing the ball at the start of the second half, but it was Derry who broke the deadlock in devastating fashion on 66 minutes. Winchester won the ball from Byrne before finding McMullan on the right flank. The winger played a delicious pass to send his fellow Scot Mullen into space, and the former Patrick Thistle striker finished expertly past Ed McGinty. That lead lasted less than six minutes as Roberto Lopes' ferocious strike from distance was turned onto the bar by Maher, but substitute Noonan reacted to the rebound quickest and headed into the net from close range. McMullan and Mullen combined brilliantly again on 75 minutes, but the latter couldn't get enough lift on the ball to guide it over the head of McGinty who snuffed out the danger. Matthews made an important block to deny Duffy's close-range strike with nine minutes remaining as Derry went in search of a winner. Rovers issued a killer blow in the final minute when Mandroiu split the defence with a searching pass into Noonan, who picked out the run of McEnef,f and the Derry man made no mistake with a clinical finish. Four minutes of stoppage time were signalled, but Derry couldn't find an equaliser as their four-match unbeaten run came to an end. Derry City: Maher; Ferguson (Doherty 77), Connolly, Holt, Cann, Todd; Whyte (McMullan 60), O'Reilly (Benson 84), Winchester, Duffy (Hoban 84); Boyce (Mullen 60); Shamrock Rovers: McGinty; Matthews, Lopes, Cleary, Grant, O'Sullivan (Honohan 18), Byrne (McEneff 77), Nugent (Mandroiu), Burke (Watts 64), Greene (Noonan 64). Referee: Marc Lynch.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rovers come from behind to defeat Derry City
A late winner from Aaron McEneff sealed a comeback 2-1 win for Shamrock Rovers at Derry City to extend their lead at the top of the League of Ireland. After a goalless first half, Danny Mullen gave Derry the lead not long after his introduction from the bench on 65 minutes. Rovers substitute Michael Noonan drew the sides level just four minutes later before former Candystripes midfielder McEneff snatched the winner in the 89th minute. The 29-year-old, who played over 100 times for Derry City, was booked for his celebrations after the goal. The visitors are now unbeaten in their last seven games and have increased their lead over third-placed Derry to eight points. Despite early pressure from both sides, neither keeper had a save to make in the opening 20 minutes with Michael Duffy's acrobatic attempt not testing Ed McGinty and Danny Grant blasting an effort well over the crossbar at the other end. The home side enjoyed majority of the possession in the opening 45 minutes with Gavin Whyte heavily involved in the action, providing Liam Boyce with a chance to break the deadlock midway through the half. Rovers felt they should have had a penalty when Aaron Greene's shot struck the arm of Hayden Cann but their protests were waved away by referee Marc Lynch. As the quiet first half drew to a close, Brian Maher was forced to make a save low down to deny Graham Burke's effort with the forward having a shot from range easily gathered by Maher shortly after. The second half offered more attacking chances with Boyce and Burke going close for their respective sides but it was the replacements who made the difference. On the hour, Derry boss Tiernan Lynch threw on Paul McMullan and Danny Mullen, and four minutes later the pair combined to open the scoring with Mullen latching onto McMullan's looping cross to fire past McGinty in the Rovers goal. The lead did not last for long as 16-year-old Noonan - who came on just before the opening goal - headed home the equaliser. An ambitious effort for Roberto Lopes from 35 yards was tipped onto the crossbar by Maher in the Derry goal but it fell straight to teenager Noonan. Stephen Bradley's men upped the tempo and came close to taking the lead when Josh Honahan weaved his way around multiple red and white shirts before sending an effort narrowly wide. Adam Matthews then made a crucial block to deflect Duffy's strong strike to safety, to the relief of the travelling fans. However, the goals weren't done though as with just two minutes of normal time left the away side took the lead with McEneff converting Danny Mandroiu's pass from close range to secure the three points for Shamrock Rovers against his former side.
