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The 42
9 hours ago
- Sport
- The 42
'He was awful, that's the worst I've seen Josh' - Shamrock Rovers star heads for Ireland duty on a low
STEPHEN BRADLEY ADMITTED he was considering making substitutions after five minutes of his side's 0-0 draw with Galway United last night. The first player to be hooked by the Shamrock Rovers boss was Josh Honohan 14 minutes into the second half. The defender will link up with the Republic of Ireland this weekend after earning a place in the international squad for the upcoming friendlies with Senegal and Luxembourg. Advertisement Head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson and assistant John O'Shea were both at Tallaght Stadium to see what Bradley described as Honohan's low point in the League of Ireland. 'He was awful. That's the worst I've seen Josh. That's the worst I've ever seen him. I've watched him for Cork [City], obviously before we signed him, we signed him here. That's the worst I've seen him. He was extremely poor,' Bradley said. 'It's not nice but he's been brilliant for us. He's obviously got his call-up, deserved it. He's doing great, well done, but he was a million miles off what he has been in every aspect and it's not good enough. 'It's not good enough for us, it's not good enough for Ireland, I'm sure. It's not good enough for anyone. He's been playing at an incredibly high level but you can't come off as much as… and it wasn't just him, it was the whole team in the first half. But Josh was really poor. I'm quick enough to give him credit, and you have to call it straight. It wasn't good enough. 'It wasn't [just] him. There was so much in it. You look at the first five minutes we had four or five goal kicks and Galway end up on attack off every one of them. It was so sloppy what we were doing. 'It wasn't just him.. It was the team, as a whole, it was really, really poor. We know that. We know our standards, we know our levels and Galway deserved credit. But we were poor.' Bradley said Galway were full value for their point and even with a six-point lead at the top of the Premier Division heading into the mid-season break the Hoops' boss was adamant it'd be foolish to step off the gas despite some proclaiming the title race close to being completed. 'We've been around long enough. We've won so much and achieved so much, and broke so many records, because we know that's nonsense. 'In May, talking about leagues being over. If you believe that, you might as well go home. That's not this league. That's not how this operates. It's not any league. It's not this league. First-half felt like that, felt like we thought we'd be okay. 'The players have been excellent to this point. But, like I said, the first half we were so far off what we have been. We were slow, we were sloppy in everything we did in and out of possession, we weren't seeing pictures clearly enough, quick enough. 'And again, Galway deserve credit, they deserve a lot of credit. But we need to analyse it and try and understand why we were so far off it.'
Irish Examiner
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
'It's a week on the gargle' - Damien Duff defends half time rant but hits out at mid-season break
In this day and age, where camera phones are everywhere, it's hard to get away with much. Particularly when you're a high-profile figure such as Damien Duff. And that again proved to be the case on Friday night as during the half-time break, when Duff thought he was having an angry word or four with his players in the privacy dressing room, opportunistic City fans were lingering outside the small window at the back of the Shed recording footage. Despite the scoreline remaining at 0-0, Duff clearly wasn't pleased at the performance of his players as City had dominated throughout the opening 45. "I was wondering why people. . . I haven't done that in a long time, and I wasn't planning it, but sometimes you are driven towards it," admitted Duff, who was surprised to learn in the aftermath of their 1-1 draw that the audio had been doing the rounds on social media. Live scenes from Turners Cross as Damien 😈 delivers the half time team talk — The Other 3 Amigos Podcast (@TheOther3Amigos) May 30, 2025 "You can talk tactics, subs, but sometimes when a manager vents it's for themselves. That wasn't for myself. It was to get a reaction out of them, to get a jolt out of them. "Does it usually work? No. Did it work in the second half? We were better. Was it because of that? I don't know. It could have been the subs, it could have been our application. The first half wasn't a Shelbourne performance, it wasn't a performance befitting champions. "To win a league again and be up there or thereabouts again, you need a bigger edge, everything has to be better than the year before and it hasn't been, and that's why we are where we are. "Does it worry me? It's not the time to worry or dwell, it's the time to act. We made changes, but an incredible flatness, which I find incredible, an amazing training week, I complimented them on it yesterday before training. "Training again was excellent, it was a training week that I've seen when I've been at elite clubs, where everyone trains with an edge, togetherness, driving each other on. Unbelievable quality all week and then maybe they thought they could roll into Turner's Cross and turn Cork over. "It doesn't happen like that in Turner's Cross. Maybe they have stopped listening, I don't know. Sure, we got a reaction in the second half, and even in the first half you can say we showed resilience getting in at 0-0 because the fire was coming, and they got in at 0-0." The stalemate on Leeside leaves the champions in fifth place, nine points adrift of Shamrock Rovers at the top of the Premier Division. Asked about the challenge his club now faces in order to retain their crown and if it is achievable, Duff admitted: "I think it is in this league. "Good three weeks and that's what Rovers have done, and pulled away. We have certainly dropped a lot of points along the way with basic individual errors when we have dominated games. "Different story here, counter-attack goal brilliant from Sean's point of view, awful from ours. I love challenges, it gets me excited. Read More Honours even as Shelbourne deny Cork City much-needed victory "Here, if it doesn't excite our players and the club, the second half of the season, be it the FAI Cup, Europe or chasing Rovers down, then they are in the wrong place. "Nine points, it's a pretty big gap but if you have a decent fortnight in the League of Ireland you can claw it back. "I wouldn't say it's a big challenge. I have always embraced big challenges. "Taking over Shelbourne Football Club was a hell of a big challenge. Cup final the first year, Europe the second year, won the league the third year, they are big challenges but we overcome them, because that's what we do." The City clash officially marked the half-way point in the League of Ireland season, with the players now getting the opportunity to go on holiday before returning to action in two week's time. "Our lads have different amounts of time off," added Duff, who recently described this mid-season break as "amateurish." "Different players have different loads during the season. The staff will be in with some players from the middle of next week, you don't need to know who they are. I have never liked it. "The flipside is it has come at a good time for us as it's a time for reflection, but I don't like it. There's an air of the jolly boys out, they are meeting at the terminal tomorrow, they are meeting at the pub in the terminal. "It's a week on the gargle. That's not the football education I had in England. People probably think I am unfair saying it. I think it's ingrained in the culture here. It's ingrained in my guys, I fought tooth and nail with my guys, I am not happy with some of my guys on it, but that's for another day. "But they have had a different football education to what I've had, I was taught differently and that's why it doesn't sit right with me."
The 42
18 hours ago
- Sport
- The 42
Galway United earn a draw to end Shamrock Rovers' winning run at the top
Shamrock Rovers 0 Galway United 0 SHAMROCK ROVERS STUTTERED to a stalemate against Galway United but after five successive wins it means this draw will only feel like a missed opportunity heading into the mid-season break rather than something more dramatic. The Hoops remain six points clear at the top of the Premier Division, the same advantage they had at the start of the night with Drogheda United and Bohemians leading the chasing pack. Galway were full value for the point and it's a sign of the division's strength they only jumped one place to seventh as a result. Frustrating nights like this felt like they had a greater consequence for Stephen Bradley's side last season, as their grip on the title was loosened. Now they are the pace setters and as they drove forward looking for a late winner it was more in hope than desperation. Had they managed to nick it in one of the five minutes of added time then maybe it would be looked back on as a significant night, instead it may well be quickly forgotten as players break until mid June. The best moment of the first half came on 26 minutes when Aaron McEneff ghosted into the box off the shoulder of David Hurley and produced an eye-catching bicycle kick from 12 yards after being picked out by Danny Grant's cross on the right. The ball fizzed over the bar but between the sight of his body contorting in mid air and the sweet connection it was enough to awaken the crowd from a midsummer night slumber. It felt like one of those lazy evenings, not due to any lack of industry or effort, merely activity in either box. Advertisement As the half wore on and Galway nullified the league leaders, the natural subplot to follow was the impact of Josh Honohan down Rovers' left. He links up with the senior Republic of Ireland squad this weekend ahead of the friendlies with Senegal and Luxembourg. His international debut will surely come and manager Heimir Hallgrímsson and assistant John O'Shea were in Tallaght Stadium to take in proceedings. He fed one nice pass for Graham Burke to deliver a dangerous cross after nine minutes but other than that his most telling contributions were forgettable ones; mis controlling a diagonal switch of play out for a Galway throw and then being needlessly caught offside when he was looking across the line. This is the kind of scrutiny that comes for any Ireland player, especially one who it seems is about to take the next step in his club career as clubs in the United Kingdom step up their interest. Bradley acknowledged as much this week, admitting it will be a battle to keep hold of the defender this summer, but he still had no qualms about substituting him for 16-year-old Victor Ozhianvuna on 59 minutes after a below par start to the second half. Rovers' Josh Honohan with Jeannot Esua. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO Rovers' biggest threat before half time came from the other side when right wing back Danny Grant drove forward, then cut across the 18-yard box before forcing Evan Watts to push his left-footed shot around the post. That remained Rovers' only shot until a tame Michael Noonan header drifted over the bar on 67 minutes. Two penalty appeals had been turned down either side of the break by referee Kevin O'Sullivan. The first was a Burke shot from distance that ricocheted off Rob Slevin's thigh onto his arm, before a coming together between Burke and Greg Cunningham on 54 minutes led to the Hoops forward going down in the area. The hosts remained frustrated and John Caulfield's men resolute, but Bradley could at least turn to quality off the bench to try and find a breakthrough. As well as Ozhianvuna – who is seemingly bound for Arsenal – coming on, last season's player of the year, Dylan Watts, replaced Jack Byrne, and playmaker Danny Mandroiu got the last half hour in place of McEneff. Veteran Aaron Greene also got the nod when Noonan's race was run for the last quarter of an hour, with defender Adam Mathews also withdrawn for striker Rory Gaffney. But with Cian Byrne sitting in front of the Galway defence, and Vince Borden supplementing that defensive work alongside David Hurley and Patrick Hickey, space was congested in the final third. Galway also began to sense more opportunities on the counter and with set-pieces to add another layer of danger. Ozhianvuna had two shots from the near the edge of the box, neither of which found the target, and for the final 10 minutes it was one-way traffic. Galway, though, were doing a great job of creating a bottleneck and Rovers had no way through. Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty; Adam Mathews (Rory Gaffney 76), Roberto Lopes, Cory O'Sullivan; Danny Grant, Matt Healy, Jack Byrne (Dylan Watts 69), Aaron McEneff (Danny Mandroiu 59), Graham Burke, Josh Honohan (Victor Ozhianvuna 59); Michael Noonan (Aaron Greene 69) Galway United: Evan Watts; Jeannot Esua, Garry Buckley, Rob Slevin, Greg Cunningham (Robert Burns 57); Patrick Hickey, Cian Byrne, Ed McCarthy, David Hurley (Conor McCarthy 76), Vincent Borden (Stephen Walsh 89); Moses Dyer (Killian Brouder 89). Referee: Kevin O'Sullivan. Attendance: 6,204.
The 42
18 hours ago
- Sport
- The 42
Rooney's second-minute spot kick maintains excellent form for Bohs
Bohemians 1 Derry City 0 Paul Buttner reports from Dalymount Park DAYLE ROONEY PROVED spot on for the second time in a fortnight as resurgent Bohemians maintained their excellent form. Winger Rooney's second minute penalty proved the only goal of an intriguing game as a shockingly disjointed Derry couldn't build on their recent fine record in Phibsborough. A seventh win from their last nine games, and fifth from six at Dalymount Park, sees Bohemians, second bottom of the table two month ago, regain third place in the Premier Division table. Derry slip to sixth place. With one change from their narrow defeat at Drogheda United last week, as Archie Meekison came in for Collie Whelan, Bohemians had the dream start when awarded a penalty with just 20 seconds on the watch. Captain Dawson Devoy, Rooney and Ross Tierney set up James Clarke whose shot from the edge of the area struck Derry skipper Mark Connolly on the arm. Referee Rob Hennessy had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. As he did with the winner against Shelbourne two weeks ago, Rooney scored emphatically from 12 yards with a rising drive to the roof of the net. Derry briefly enjoyed a spell of possession, though laboured to make any headway in the final third. And it was Bohemians who looked far more threatening when they got forward, really stretching Derry at the back with a double chance on 18 minutes. First a break down the left by Meekison set up Tierney whose shot was headed away by Carl Winchester. The Derry defensive midfielder was well positioned once again seconds later to block a shot from Devoy as Derry, at sixes and sevens at the back, survived falling further behind. So much so, head coach Tiernan Lynch made a tactical switch when bringing on Gavin Whyte for Shane Ferguson in a switch from three at the back to a 4-3-3 formation. Advertisement It scarcely made a difference as Derry remained at sea defensively, surviving another double let-off on 38 minutes. Rooney caught the visitors' rearguard flat footed when dinking a delightful ball over the top for the run of Adam McDonnell who, stretching, lobbed over the crossbar. A mistake by centre-back Kevin Holt then gifted Clarke a sight of goal with Derry relieved to see the shot arrow wide. Further defensive frailty presented Clarke with another opening a minute before the break which he rifled over the top. Derry made three changes at the break with Kevin Holt, Hayden Cann and winger Michael Duffy substituted as Ronan Boyce, Ben Doherty and Dom Thomas came on in another reshuffle. Bohemians, though, remained on the front foot with Jordan Flores flashing a header from a Devoy corner wide before the home skipper was perhaps fortunate not to concede a penalty when appearing to push over Danny Mullen. It was the 70th minute before Derry carved their first real chance of the game, Niall Morahan doing exceptionally well to take the ball off substitute Robbie Benson's toe from Adam O'Reilly low cross. Impressive loanee Sean Grehan, on his final appearance before returning to Crystal Palace, showed his defensive quality to deflect a drive from Thomas over the top as Derry chased an equaliser. But, as they had started, it was Bohemians who finished the stronger, with substitutes Rhys Brennan and Whelan, twice, close to extending their lead. Derry's night to forget all but summed up by the sending off of Benson on 82 minutes for a foul on Keith Buckley, his second booking. Bohemians: Chorazka; Morahan (McManus, 87), Grehan, Cornwall, Flores; Devoy, McDonnell (Buckley, 65); Rooney, Tierney (Mountney, 87), Meekison (Brennan, 65); Clarke (Whelan, 74). Derry City: Maher; Cann (Doherty, h-t; Benson, 60), Connolly, Holt (Thomas, h-t); Ferguson (Whyte, 24), O'Reilly, Winchester, Todd; McMullan, Duffy (R. Boyce, h-t); Mullen. Referee: Rob Hennessy (Clare).
RTÉ News
a day ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Aidan Keena returns to haunt Sligo as St Pat's claim nervy win
Sligo Rovers will spend the summer break bottom of the Premier Division table after a tenth minute penalty from their former striker Aidan Keena saw St Patrick's Athletic pick up their first win in three with a nervy victory at the Showgrounds. Stephen Kenny's side should have made things more comfortable for themselves as they created the best of the chances in this one, though Rovers substitute Francely Lomboto did have a chance in the 96th minute to take a late point but could only fire straight at Pat's net minder Joseph Anang. The Saints haven't met expectations recently with just one win in the last five for one of the pre-season title favourites. Boss Kenny made no less than five changes in a hope to shift fortunes. Jamie Lennon, Jay McClelland, Ryan McLaughlin and former Sligo duo Keena and Simon Power were reinstated to the starting team. While Rovers made two changes from last week's narrow loss to Shels. Jake Doyle-Hayes and Ronan Manning returned to John Russell's midfield, as the home side sought just a second victory on home soil this year. As has happened so often this season, Rovers made things tough for themselves by falling behind early on. McClelland had forced Sam Sargeant into an early two-handed save with an effort from distance before ex-Rovers man Keena dispatched a tenth minute penalty after Power, another former Showgrounds favourite, had collided with Doyle-Hayes inside the Sligo area. The hosts struggled to find a way through a packed Pat's centre and had their only chance of the half on twenty minutes. Cian Kavangh, who spent 2024 with Pat's, was unable to get any purchase on a Doyle-Hayes set piece as his attempted header trickled harmlessly wide of Joe Anang's goal. The Dubliners were left frustrated that they were unable to make their dominance count further given their control of the contest and lost centre half Sean Hoare to what seemed like a hamstring injury before the interval. Power passed up a couple of opportunities early in the second period, bending one around Sargeant's far post close to the hour, while Manning's shot after trojan work from Rovers' teen full-back Conor Reynolds was deflected on to the top of Anang's post by Joe Redmond. Pat's were struggling to shake Sligo off as the game wore on and Power should have had their second on 65 minutes but couldn't stretch in time to meet Zach Elbouzedi's cross with an open goal on offer. Lennon dragged an effort from 20 yards narrowly wide with eight to go while Sligo sub Lomboto fluffed an opportunity in the sixth minute of added time after a neat one-two with Jad Hakiki opened up the space in front of Anang. Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Conor Reynolds (Kyle McDonagh 66), John Mahon, Gareth McElroy, Reece Hutchinson; Jake Doyle-Hayes, Matty Wolfe (Jad Hakiki 66); Will Fitzgerald, Ronan Manning (Francely Lomboto 78), Owen Elding; Cian Kavanagh (Wilson Waweru 45). St Patrick's Athletic: Joe Anang; Ryan McLaughlin, Joe Redmond, Sean Hoare (Tom Grivosti 44), Anto Breslin; Jay McClelland, Jamie Lennon; Simon Power, Kian Leavy (Luke Turner 96), Zach Elbouzedi; Aidan Keena (Conor Carty 86). Attendance: 2,356.
