Latest news with #O'Brien
The Irish Sun
19 minutes ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘You wanted this as a kid' – Joey O'Brien urges Shelbourne players to enjoy European clash with Linfield
JOEY O'Brien says tonight's all-island Champions League clash is not about the money — but rather, it is a chance for Shels' players to show their worth. The 2 O'Brien stepped up from his role as assistant manager when Damien Duff left 2 Shelbourne find themselves 1-0 up on aggregate going into the tie The Reds lead He said: 'Not a lot of lads get a chance to play in a Champions League qualifier, not many lads get a chance to win a Champions League qualifier. "It's great, but ultimately it's about going through to the next round. That's what it's all about. 'I do tell the lads that's not a pressure, that's not something you fear. That shouldn't be something that makes you think, 'If this goes wrong . . . ' Read more on Irish football 'This is what you wanted as a kid, it's to be in these games, it's the pinnacle of club football.' The Dubliners lead 1-0 thanks to a Mipo Odubeko strike in a first leg they absolutely dominated. And their boss — who won the league with the Reds as No 2 to Former Shamrock Rovers, West Ham and Bolton Wanderers defender O'Brien, 39, added: 'It's just about going out and embracing it and enjoying it and showing how good a player you are. Most read in Football 'That's a big thing for me coming into the job and talking to the boys, 'Just go out and show how good a player you are'. That's the biggest thing for me. 'When I was a player, that's what I wanted to be told by a coach, 'Just go out and show people how good you are . . . you're good enough to be at this level'. Celtic launch new away kit with trailer featuring Scottish music icon and Hoops legends 'They've earned the right to be at this level, they done that last year, now it's about going out and having no regrets.'
RTÉ News
2 hours ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Shels go north looking to close out Champions League tie
Shelbourne manager Joey O'Brien takes his side to Linfield with a slender lead as they seek to progress to the second round of the Champions League qualifying stage. Mipo Odubeko's 58th-minute goal earned Shels a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the Blues in their first leg of the first-round qualifier at Tolka Park a week ago. Shelbourne dominated the first leg in Dublin and had a penalty award overturned by VAR in the first half but Odubeko's goal aside, they were unable to make their possession count on the scoreboard. Linfield came away relatively satisfied with the result as the game was their first of the season, with the NIFL Premiership not getting underway until August and they'll believe that they can turn the tie around at Windsor Park. O'Brien meanwhile, made all the right noises about how hard his side worked and how they controlled the game but will know that they could have made the second leg a formality had Sean Boyd and Evan Caffrey shown more composure in front of goal. The new Shels boss will be hoping that his side don't come to regret those missed opportunities and with so much at stake, he'll be desperate to ensure that his side progress to the second qualifying round and with it the additional prize money €750,000. Azerbaijan champions Qarabag are waiting for the winners, along with an easier route to European group stage football, with the losers dropping into the Conference League qualifiers. O'Brien has a full-strength squad to choose from for the trip to Windsor Park as Sean Gannon comes back in, having been suspended for the first leg. Gannon brings a wealth of European experience, having gone deep in UEFA competitions Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers. Harry Wood, who went off injured after turning in a man-of-the-match performance in the first leg, is also cleared to play. O'Brien believes that his side, having already got the better of Linfield, can go into the second leg full of confidence, knowing that they can get at the Belfast team. "We have a small advantage," he said. "The lads have seen them on the pitch - their speed, their movement, how good they are, so you have that feel of who you are up against now. "These are the games that you want to be involved in as a player. You've won the league and you want to be involved in the Champions League. "I said it to the lads, not many players get the chance to play in the Champions League qualifier and not many players get the chance to win a Champions League qualifier. "Ultimately it's about going through to the next round, that's what it's all about. In the background there's the whole financial side but as a player it's all about winning and getting through to the Champions League and the next few rounds in Europe." Linfield meanwhile, are able to welcome back an old European stager of their own as former Dundalk midfielder Chris Shields is back in contention, having missed the first game through suspension. Like Gannon, Shields has vast experience when it comes to two-legged European ties and he could offer Linfield an extra dimension in midfield, but manager David Healy is being coy as to whether or not he will start. "We underperformed with the ball last week," the Linfield boss said. "Our work ethic and organisation was there, but if we are better on the ball tomorrow night with the players that we have, Chris being back and involved – I've not decided if he is starting or not – we will be better. "I have no doubt we will be better in possession." Healy feels that his side can improve on their first-leg display and with the tie balanced so finely, has spent time on the training ground practicing penalties this week and analysing Shelbourne's history in shootouts. "There is huge belief that we can build on that performance," he said. "It would be brilliant if we did score in the first 10, 15 minutes and the tie is level, but we don't need to. The most important thing is we build into the game. "If playing in a league game, on a Saturday, the boys will stay for four or five minutes after and take six or seven penalty kicks just to get their eye in, get in practice. "As a group we work on everything, we will have a look and know the goalkeeper and as a staff we're aware of previous penalty takers for Shelbourne.
Irish Independent
3 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
New law will allow private wires to free up electricity connection
The 'private wires' policy agreed by Cabinet represents a major shake-up in the way electricity can be delivered and distributed. ESB Networks is currently the only operator legally permitted to manage electricity connections. It installs and owns the cables and wires. The semi-state company is under significant pressure as demand for power grows, with delays in connections frustrating businesses and domestic customers. Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy, Darragh O'Brien announced yesterday that a parallel system had been agreed that would operate alongside ESB Networks. Legislation to underpin it would be given priority status, with drafting to begin shortly and enactment expected within 12 months. The law will put the energy regulator, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), in charge of administering private-wires applications. The plan brought to Cabinet highlights several scenarios where it envisages private wires will be frequently sought. A 'generator' such as a wind farm or solar park could provide a direct connection to an adjacent factory without both sides having to connect to the national electricity grid. An existing generator will be able to share its grid connection with a new generator from another firm, saving the new installation waiting for a separate connection. A firm that supplies its own electricity – from a rooftop solar array, for example – will be able to provide electricity directly to a neighbouring customer. ADVERTISEMENT An EV owner will be able to lay their own cable for on-street charging – subject to planning permission. Mr O'Brien stressed the new system would not grant participants any automatic rights of access over third-party lands and that planning permission would still be required for most installations. I will also ensure that the CRU is resourced to take on this area However, he said it would enable a faster, more flexible response to the needs of a growing economy. 'This is a very significant reform of the rules on electricity infrastructure,' he said. 'I, and officials in my department, are now focused on the next steps. 'Primary legislation to amend the Electricity Regulation Act allowing for private wires will be enacted. 'Supporting regulations to define standards and processes for granting permission for private wires will be adopted. 'I will also ensure that the CRU is resourced to take on this significant new area of regulation.' The move followed a consultation with industry and the wider public last year and was supported by ESB Networks. The department said the current system would remain the preferred route to connection in most cases.
Rhyl Journal
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Minnie Hauk leads the way in Irish Oaks confirmations
The Frankel filly, who had won a trial at Chester prior to gaining Classic success, has been waiting for this weekend while Whirl has already franked the form by beating the year-older Kalpana in the Pretty Polly Stakes. Her trainer Aidan O'Brien has not been as dominant in the Irish Oaks as the Irish Derby, but he still holds the record for the most wins with seven, with Savethelastdance two years ago his most recent. As ever, the main danger to the ante-post odds-on favourite could come from within Ballydoyle. Whirl has been left in, but O'Brien did suggest after she won the Pretty Polly that the big two would be kept apart. Bedtime Story, Butterfly Wings, Island Hopping and Merrily complete the six-strong entry for the yard. Fozzy Stack's Bay Colony, Johnny Murtagh's Subsonic and Joseph O'Brien's Wemightakedlongway are the only other confirmations. O'Brien also has four of the eight in the GAIN Railway Stakes, including Queen Mary winner True Love. First Approach, Flushing Meadows and Puerto Rico are his others, while Joseph O'Brien could run Green Sense. Adrian Murray's Power Blue and the Ger Lyons-trained Learntodoscover are also possibles. George Baker's Desert Cop, Mick and David Easterby's in-form Canon's House and Mick Appleby's Kodi Lion are among 19 left in the Kwiff Supercharged Betting Scurry Handicap, for which Big Gossey tops the weights.
Irish Examiner
15 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Two of three men who appealed jail terms for carrying weapons as part of ongoing feud have sentences upheld
A claw-hammer, a hurley, a slash-hook handle and three sledgehammer handles were seized by Mallow gardaí in the investigation of a feud between two families which 'sullies the name of Mallow and frightens members of the public'. Three men who were prosecuted for having this stash of weapons in a car on March 18, 2023, appealed against jail terms imposed on them at Mallow District Court. However, the sentences were affirmed, with the exception of one man having the last month of his sentence suspended. Detective Garda David Forsythe said at Cork Circuit Appeals Court on Tuesday that gardaí received an anonymous call from a concerned member of the public that members of the O'Brien family in Doneraile were on their way at lunchtime that day as part of a planned attack on the home of the O'Flaherty family on Connolly Road in Mallow. Gardaí intercepted an orange BMW being driven towards River Valley, Mallow, Co Cork, and because of a smell of cannabis they indicated personal searches together with a search of the car were going to be carried out. The five occupants of the car cooperated, as weapons, including the hammer, hurley and implement handles, were found in the car. Det Garda Forsythe said there was no sign of the feud between the families abating and recently the conflict broke out in a physical altercation at Mallow courthouse, which disrupted court proceedings for a period and spilled out on the street. 'From a Garda point of view, it is quite time-consuming trying to keep a lid on these things. It is quite serious for people living in Mallow — it sullies the name of Mallow and frightens members of the public. 'Gardaí received a call that day that members of the O'Brien family in Doneraile were going to launch an attack on the O'Flaherty family in Mallow. 'The evidence is that it is still ongoing,' Det Garda Forsythe testified on Tuesday. Barristers Brian Leahy and Liam M O'Brien asked for the sentences to be suspended or community service orders imposed instead of the jail terms, stressing there was no evidence against them causing any damage to the O'Flahertys' property and that their only offence was of being in possession of the implements. However, Judge Boyle affirmed the six-month sentences under appeal by 37-year-old Kevin O'Brien and 49-year-old Richard O'Brien — both of Ballydineen halting site, Doneraile, Co Cork. In respect of the five-month sentence appealed by 21-year-old Kevin Barry, of Inchnagree, Buttevant, Co Cork, Judge Boyle suspended the last month of the sentence. All three appellants were then taken into custody to commence their sentences on the single charge of possession of the weapons on the day in March 2023.
