Latest news with #Odubeko
RTÉ News
09-08-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
John Martin snatches draw for Shels against Bohs in rollercoaster derby
John Martin repeated his midweek European heroics against Bohemians as his 90th minute header snatched a share of the spoils for Shelbourne in an enthralling Dublin Derby. Martin towered above all at the back post to power home Sean Gannon's cross and keep the Reds firmly in the race for a European return next season. Bohemians fell behind early to Daniel Kelly's finish but goals from Connor Parsons and Dawson Devoy looked to have clinched victory for Alan Reynolds' charges who have let five points slip from their last two games leaving their European hopes in the balance. Bohs remain second but just eight points separate them and St Patrick's Athletic in sixth. There is no love lost between these two sides and Shelbourne skipper Mark Coyle set the tone for a pulsating first half when he was booked for a rash challenge on Dawson Devoy inside 30 seconds. Joey O'Brien made eight changes from his side's famous midweek European win in Croatia but his team couldn't be faulted for a lack of cohesion and were in front after four minutes courtesy of a precise Kelly finish. Mipo Odubeko fired a ball across the box and Kelly pipped Jordan Flores to the punch and swept a left footed effort into the top corner. The early fireworks continued as Bohs levelled in fortuitous circumstances after 11 minutes. Lewis Temple played a blind back pass with Wessel Speel having drifted out of his goalmouth and Connor Parsons slid in to tap home - the Gypsies only shot on target in the first half. Odubeko should have put Shelbourne back in front immediately, bearing down on goal he went for power and Kacper Chorazka stood tall to brilliantly tap the ball over. Shelbourne made another quick start to the second half and should have gone back in front. Kelly's dinked pass found Odubeko who turned and shot from ten yards but it was straight at Chorazka. Shels will wonder how they didn't find a second when Kameron Ledwidge saw his goal bound shot blocked by Leigh Kavanagh as Bohemians survived some pinball in the area. The hosts were punished for their profligacy in front of goal. Bohs recycled a poorly taken corner and Devoy did the rest, Cruyff-turning Odubeko on the end line before his effort trickled into the net via a Temple deflection. O'Brien has had the midas touch since replacing Damien Duff in the Reds hotseat and his summoning of Martin to proceedings looked like another genius move as the striker powered a header home at the back post to set up a grandstand finish. John Martin can't stop scoring!🤩 Shels are level🔴 — League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) August 9, 2025 Shels were almost architects of their own downfall again as Douglas James-Taylor pounced on Kerr McInroy's loose pass but Speel heroically denied him and ensured his side nicked a point.
Irish Independent
09-08-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Shelbourne continue unbeaten league run after a thrilling derby clash against Bohemians
Shelbourne 2 Bohemians 2 League champions Shelbourne remain unbeaten in domestic competition under the guidance of new manager Joey O'Brien as, for the second time in four days, the Reds had the heading ability of attacker John Martin to thank for getting them what they needed against Bohemians. Shels had come into 5,474 sell-out derby clearly in front of with minds very much on next Tuesday's Europa League tussle with Rijeka and that was highlighted by the the eight changes made by O'Brien to the side who came up with that thrilling win in Croatia last week. But it seemed as if a lack of focus in their own box would harm the Reds here and cost them points that are vital in the race to secure European football for next season. Bohs got their first goal from a calamitous error by defender Lewis Temple but their second, after they'd weathered long spells of pressure from the Reds, was also nightmare viewing as a cross/shot from Dawson Devoy carried little menace but still crept past keeper Wessel Speel. But Martin, whose stunning header in Rijeka earned them that 2-1 first leg win, came up with another piece of skill and guile in the 90th minute to earn Shels a 2-2 draw which is of more benefit to leaders Shamrock Rovers than any of the participants here, with their rivals dropping points now with regularity. Any fans who chanced one more pre-match pint in the beer gardens around the Dublin 3 venue and were thus late arrivals will have missed some of the key moments as this game ignited from the off, with two goals in the first 10 minutes. Shels were ahead in the third minute and it was a poor goal from a defensive point of view for Bohs. Mipo Odubeko was given time to control the ball in the box and play in a pass for the unmarked Dan Kelly to fire home against his former club. Bohs were level shortly after that, a goal that Shels defender Temple will want to erase from his online reel of career moments. Temple picked up a bass from Kameron Ledwidge but Temple didn't check before he played it back to keeper Speel as the Dutchman was far off his line, the ball trickled towards the goal line and Connor Parsons managed to get the key touch to nudge it into the net. Shels responded well to that blow and took the game to Bohs. Kacper Chorazka pulled off a solid save to deny Odubeko on 12 minutes, while there were further efforts from Sean Moore and Ali Coote. Bohs did have possession but found it hard to work the ball into frontman James Clarke and shots from Ross Tierney on 36 minutes and Parsons in first half injury time were well wide. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more The home side began the second half with more intent, with Chorazka again a key figure three minutes after the restart with a strong save to deny Odubeko. Bohs had offered little in terms of attack as possession and set pieces were wasted, but Shels paid the price for their lack of precision when Devoy put Bohs ahead on 76 minutes, Rooney playing the ball to Devoy after a corner was cleared and the Bohs captain was probably surprised to see his shot go past Speel. Shels threw on the first teamers who had been rested from the starting XI as men like Kerr McInroy and JJ Lunney took the game to Bohs, but as the clock ticked towards the 90th minute, Sean Gannon whipped in a cross, Martin got in between three defenders and rammed it home with his head. There was almost a late winner for Bohs as a slip in possession by McInroy handed possession to sub Douglas James-Taylor who raced from the halfway line but Speel got there and cleared. Shelbourne: Speel; Gannon Ledwidge, Temple; Kelly (Norris 72), Coyle (Lunney 60), Chapman (McInroy 80), Caffrey; Moore (Martin 60), Coote (Wood 60); Odubeko. Bohemians: Chorazka; Kavanagh (Buckley 86), Cornwall, Flores; McDonnell, Devoy; Morahan, Rooney (L Smith 77) Tierney, Parsons (James-Taylor 63); Clarke (Byrne 86).
The 42
23-07-2025
- Sport
- The 42
'That's why football is magic, man. Take a crack off them, see who's standing at the end of it'
IN THE DAYS after Shelbourne secured their place in tonight's Champions League second-round qualifier with Azeri giants Qarabag, manager Joey O'Brien sat down with striker Mipo Odubeko and went through his performance in the second leg of the first-round win over Linfield. 'I thought his overall game was probably his best performance for us,' O'Brien said. Odubeko didn't score and Shels didn't win on the night, but the 1-1 draw was enough to progress after a 1-0 victory in Dublin was secured courtesy of a wonderful Odubeko goal. Such was his display in Belfast, though, O'Brien wanted to provide a full debrief to the striker to lay out exactly why he was so impressive. And he reeled off a rapid breakdown on the eve of this tie. 'Everything really from the get-go, just his engagement in the game, his role leading the line, his hold-up play, his understanding of space, his runs, his use of the ball. I think at times, especially up there as well, in games, and it's going to be same [against Qarabag]. There's times where he gets a little bit disconnected from the team,' O'Brien said. 'But you've got to be able to make the ball stick and be able to turn it in at the top line, hold the ball up to you, take a little bit of pressure off the back line. I thought he'd done that brilliantly. Here, it's just his overall use of the ball, his decision-making was top drawer.' It is that level of performance that will be required by Odubeko and all of his teammates tonight if Shels are to cause an upset against Qarabag. Advertisement They have reached the group/league phase of European competition in each of the last 11 seasons and are ranked 57th in Uefa's coefficient – above Celtic, Galatasaray and last year's beaten Conference League finalists Real Betis. Between 2014 and 2023 they won all nine second-round qualifiers in the Champions League, beating Dundalk in '19 as well as FC Zurich in '22. That's a handy reference point given the Swiss side were a class above Shels when they met in Conference League action last season. Qarabag did suffer defeat at this stage in 2023/24, losing out to Raków Częstochowa of Poland before going on to reach the last 16 of the Europa League when Bayer Leverkusen won a thrilling tie 5-4 on their way to reaching that season's final at Aviva Stadium. The visitors to Tolka tonight did make it as far as the Champions League play-off round last year, only to lose 5-0 over two legs and then suffer a demoralising Europa League campaign which saw them finish bottom of the new 36-team league phase with seven defeats from eight games. If you're looking for small mercies and hopes of a European hangover lingering, maybe that is something to cling to. 'The players have changed, but the way they try to play and the formation hasn't really changed, to be honest,' O'Brien said. 'So, from that point of view, it's just quality players. Here, listen, they're going to come over here, back themselves, try to dominate the ball possession-wise. We need to make sure we're defending, staying on guard at the top of the pitch. 'We need to embrace that challenge. That's what it's all about for me, going in against a player that, yeah, on paper, people are talking about that should be better, or is better than you. That's why football is magic, man. You go out in 90 minutes, take a crack off them, see who's standing at the end of it.' The draw for the next round of European qualifiers earlier this week means both sides know what awaits after this tie. If Shels can pull off one of the biggest shocks for an Irish club in Europe and progress to the third qualifying round they will face either FCSB (formerly Steaua Bucharest) or KF Shkendija from North Macedonia. Not only that, they'd also be guaranteed a place in the Europa League play-off with a parachute into the league phase of the Conference League. In that instance a minimum of €3.17 million is coming their way in prize money. However, should Qarabag progress then the champions' path means Shels will have the safety net of a Europa League third-round tie with either Ludogorets (Bulgaria) or Rijeka (Croatia), and the guarantee of at least a Conference League play-off after that. Shels are also protecting an 11-game unbeaten run at home in Europe that stretches back to 2004 – by which point in their own history Qarabag had never played in the Champions League and their only win in 12 European fixtures was a 2-1 victory away to Maccabi Haifa in the old Intertoto Cup. 'Underdogs, like you said. Irish people in general love that, don't they? Watching the hurling there at the weekend and it was the underdogs that won it,2 O'Brien said, referencing Tipperary's win over Cork in the All-Ireland final. 'That is the way we are looking at this, it is a chance for us to attack the game and create an upset.' Tonight – Champions League second-round qualifier (first leg): Shelbourne v Qarabag, 7.45pm (Live on Premier Sports)
RTÉ News
11-07-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
We have been asking for European nights like these
It's nice when League of Ireland clubs walk into European ties with not just hope, but expectation. This week, both Shelbourne and St Patrick's Athletic showed why that shift in belief was more than just optimism. Two 1-0 wins, two dominant performances, and two nights where Irish clubs didn't just compete - they controlled. Let's start with Shelbourne. Under the lights of Tolka Park on Wednesday, Joey O'Brien's side showed precisely what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Linfield were arriving for their first competitive fixture of the season, and it showed. Shels, deep into their campaign and full of running, were sharper, fitter and more aggressive from the outset. The tone was set early. Every time Shelbourne pressed, Linfield stumbled. It wasn't just physical superiority, though. It was the structure, the relentlessness, the belief in the team that they were the superior side. When centre-back Paddy Barrett popped up on the left wing to deliver a cross for Evan Caffrey—who nearly nodded Shels ahead - you saw a team attacking with aggression. Caffrey's energy, Wood's enthusiasm, and a backline that looked comfortable throughout all spoke to a side fully in tune with their roles. And yet, for all their dominance, the breakthrough required a moment of initiative - something Shelbourne's bench provided. On the 56th minute, Boyd, Wilson and Kelly entered. Within a minute, Shels had their goal. A Ledwidge clearance led to Odubeko and Boyd linking up smartly, and despite a quiet evening, it was Odubeko who found space on the edge of the area and finished neatly with a left footed finish. The pressure didn't relent. Shels pushed for a second, and while it didn't come, there was an authority about the performance that suggested they've got more to give next week. With the return leg at Windsor Park to come, the narrow lead may not feel like enough—but with a bigger pitch and Linfield's evident lack of match sharpness, it's hard to bet against Shelbourne finishing the job. If Shels impressed with physicality and structure, St Patrick's Athletic dominated their game with an aggressive press and excellent control of the game in their showing against Hegelmann. Their 1-0 win last night at Richmond Park might sound tight, but the reality was anything but. From the first minute, Pats were the better side. In fact, they looked levels above their Lithuanian opposition in almost every department. The standout on the night? Mason Melia. Still just 17, the teenager delivered the kind of performance that reminded us all why he's regarded as the most exciting young talent in the league. Yes, he missed a couple of chances—one notably from a clever Brandon Kavanagh through ball where he opted for power instead of placement—but the movement, the awareness, his athleticism and the confidence were all there. You have to make allowances for inexperience in moments like that, and you file them under "invaluable learning." But Melia's night was far from defined by those missed opportunities. He was a constant menace, darting in front of defenders to attack crosses from both flanks and drawing fouls in dangerous areas. In fact, he was central to the game's decisive moment - arguably fouled himself in the build-up before Barry Baggley was chopped down to win the penalty. Up stepped Aidan Keena, not long on the pitch, to confidently slot it home. A big goal for a player whose form has stuttered in patches this season. The timing couldn't be better—for Keena, for Pats, and for their European ambitions. Much like Shelbourne, Pats never looked like conceding. Hegelmann posed little threat aside from the odd counter attack, which the home side handled with calm assurance. Both Irish sides now take 1-0 leads into the second legs of their ties—but their tasks differ. For Shels, the trip to Windsor Park presents a psychological challenge more than a tactical one. They've done the hard part; now they need to finish the job on a bigger pitch, where their fitness and cohesion should shine through even more. For Pats, the away leg in Lithuania is a trickier ask. The tie moves to an artificial surface, a surface that always adds uncertainty. But on the evidence of last night's display, they have more than enough in the tank to see it out. The only concern might be if they leave the door open too long. A second goal would have been a cushion - but confidence in this group will be high after last night's efforts. Two games, two wins, two clean sheets. It's early days in the European journey, but what a promising start. For the League of Ireland, this has been a good week. The results have been good, but the performances have matched them. These weren't smash-and-grab jobs. They were controlled, mature, and in both cases, deserving of a bigger winning margin.
The Irish Sun
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Shelbourne's Champions League hero Mipo Odubeko shares his prediction for second leg clash with Linfield
MIPO Odubeko revealed he feared being replaced rather than supported by Seán Boyd. It is advantage Shelbourne in their Advertisement 2 The 22-year-old joined Shelbourne after his Fleetwood Town contract was cancelled 2 Odubeko added to his six league goals last night in the Champions League qualifier His strike came after an earlier chance to get on the scoresheet had been taken away when a penalty decision was reversed following a VAR check. And, when he saw Boyd limbering up ahead of entering the fray early in the second half, he admitted he thought he might be about to be hooked before hitting the back of the net within two minutes of the change. Boyd got the better of two Linfield players and laid if off to Odubeko who shifted it onto his left before burying it in the corner with a little help from a deflection. On whether he could be hauled ashore, Odubeko said: "I was thinking that, to be fair. Advertisement Read more on League of Ireland 'The two upfront works well. We've a good relationship, a great understanding of each other both on and off the pitch. That does help. Credit to him. 'Myself and Seán have a great relationship. He's sort of like a big brother figure for me. When we're on the pitch together we work really well. 'I was happy to see him come on. He did the right thing and I scored. I'm happy for me but also him.' It looked as though Odubeko and Evan Caffrey were debating as to who would take the spot-kick whilst the incident was reviewed but Odubeko said: 'I was going to take the penalty. Advertisement Most read in Football Live Blog Live Blog 'I wasn't thinking much about VAR, only about where I was going to put it. It was overturned but we got there in the end.' After a strong start, Shels struggled to keep up the momentum in the latter stages of the second half before making the breakthrough within 13 minutes of the restart. League of Ireland mascots compete in charity race in Naas And Odubeko said: 'It was just about focussing. 'A lot of people said to me at half-time: 'I know you haven't touched the ball much in the first half but the chance will fall and make sure you're ready'. I think I did that really well. Advertisement 'The first half was really difficult. They made it really tight for us and hard to play against. It was hard to get shots off but I knew the chance would fall for me. I was there to take it so I'm really happy. 'We had enough chances to score more than one. We didn't come away with more than one. Sometimes that happens. 'There's been games this season where we dominated more but came away with no goals. Listen, we're happy with one and the win.' The victory was an important moment as Shels look to move on following Advertisement Odubeko said: 'It's been really tough for the lads over the last few weeks. There's been a lot of external talk around the club but the lads have really focussed and carried out the job. 'The performances over the last few games have been really good. It's all credit to the lads and I'm really proud of them.' But they still have work to do at Windsor Park next Wednesday to ensure they progress to meet Qarabag in the next round. He said: 'We won but they made it tough for us. I'd like to think it will be an even tougher game next week but the fact is the tie is far from over. We'll just prepare for next week. Advertisement "We've a job to do so hopefully we do it. There's games there to win and games that we're capable of winning. Our focus is going to do that.'
