Latest news with #Rafferty
Belfast Telegraph
6 days ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Rangers defender ruled out of Northern Ireland's Nations League clash with Poland
The Rangers Women defender sat out the team's final training session ahead of the Seaview battle and hasn't recovered in time to be included in the matchday panel. Rafferty had come into the international break on a high after helping Rangers win the Scottish Cup last weekend and had been excited to carry the momentum of a hugely enjoyable first season with the Scottish giants onto the international stage, but she will now miss the first match of the double header while also being a doubt for next Tuesday's final game of the campaign away to Bosnia & Herzegovina. The 29-year-old was also forced out of the home and away games against Romania in April through injury and her absence leaves manager Tanya Oxtoby short of experienced cover in the defence ahead of one of the biggest games Northern Ireland have faced since the Women's Euro 2022. Northern Ireland sit three points behind Poland in the group table and are seeking a victory to take the fight for promotion into Nations League A into Tuesday's last round of matches. After losing 2-0 in Gdansk back in February Northern Ireland require a win by three goals in order to overtake the Poles on head-to-head record. Poland, who enter the match on the back of seven wins in their last eight games, have confirmed that Barcelona star Ewa Pajor is fit an available after the disappointment of losing to Arsenal in last weekend's Women's Champions League Final.
Belfast Telegraph
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Laura Rafferty eager to carry ‘wholesome' Rangers experience into NI duty and stun Poland
The Northern Ireland defender can list pluses both on and off the pitch since moving to Rangers Women in the summer of 2024 – and there has also been a benefit for her family, too, who she left behind when her time with Southampton came to an end. The biggest boost in terms of her football career, though, is that Rafferty now feels much better placed to perform at international level. That feeling also comes with a warning that if Nations League opponents Poland take their eye off the ball and are already looking ahead to July's Women's Euro 2025 Finals, Northern Ireland are ready to take advantage. Rafferty joined up with Tanya Oxtoby's squad immediately after helping Rangers lift the Scottish Cup. That meant celebrations were somewhat muted, but there was also a sad feeling as she didn't want her first season with the club to end. 'Yesterday, we'd just won the Cup and everyone is feeling happy, but I was sad, too, not to be coming away with Northern Ireland but because after camp, it's then the break,' said Rafferty, who celebrated a Cup double after narrowly missing out on the League title. 'It's the furthest that I've been from home, but probably the most I've felt at home. 'I've felt so much love from a lot of people at the club, and the way that we're treated is very professional. 'That gives us the stage to go and perform and be as successful as we can be – and I will say that I am looking for the treble next year. I've not let that go. 'I've settled in really well in Scotland. I actually answer FaceTimes to my family; compared to when I was in Southampton, they could never get in contact with me. 'I feel very wholesome in terms of being in Glasgow, and that's a massive credit to the club for making me feel like that because while I was in my home town prior to that, it didn't feel that way if I'm being completely honest.' Having a happy Rafferty can only be good news for Northern Ireland, especially ahead of a game she describes as 'massive'. Tucked just three points behind the Poles in their Nations League group, Northern Ireland still harbour ambitions of overtaking the Euro 2025-bound team and earning automatic promotion to League A, especially as the feeling that the 2-0 defeat in Gdansk back in February was an opportunity missed. 'I would say it's absolutely up there,' said Rafferty in terms of the magnitude of the game compared to any since Northern Ireland themselves were at the Euros in 2022. 'Going into this game, knowing what it means, knowing what we can take from the game and being confident going into it, I think it's massive.' The one thing Northern Ireland haven't quite managed to achieve while enjoying unprecedented success is taking the scalp of a big nation. With Poland weeks away from their first major tournament, now is the perfect time to tick that box. 'We can do it. I believe it. We believe it,' said Rafferty. 'I know as a player, they probably will have the Euros in the back of their mind. 'Elite professionals tend to be able to multitask in terms of thinking about different things, but if there's any moment in the game that might be a special moment for us, we want to take that, and if that is a bit of complacency or anything with them heading to the Euros, then I'm not shy on jumping on that at all.'
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Opens new wounds': White South African man whose parents' memorial was called 'burial site' by Trump
Donald Trump's meeting with Cyril Ramaphosa A video played by US President Donald Trump during his White House meeting with South Africa counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa has opened "several new wounds" for a white South African man. Also Read: Donald Trump shows Cyril Ramaphosa evidence of 'white genocide' in South Africa during explosive Oval Office meeting Nathan Rafferty, who now lives in Brisbane, Australia, has said he was "shocked" when the clip, taken in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province, was played during the Trump-Ramaphosa meeting. "The last thing you expect to see are some of the most traumatic parts of your life shown on international TV. So it was totally unexpected. It obviously opened several new wounds," Rafferty told US news outlet NPR . The US president used the video to support his allegation of a "genocide" of white South Africans. However, what he alleged to be a "burial site," turned out to be a memorial for Rafferty's murdered parents. Also Read: Is 'white genocide' real in South Africa? Unpacking Donald Trump's Oval Office claim "My parents Glen and Vida were gunned down by six assailants, by six men on their farm in 2020, so those crosses were erected as a memorial on the day of their funeral. The local community used it as a means of protest and to pay tribute," Rafferty stated. He also rejected the Republican leader's "genocide" charge. However, he admitted "much more needs to be done" to prevent such "brutal attacks." Also Read: White House's Karoline Leavitt spars with reporter over video of white South African farmers' 'burial sites' "Do I think that there's a targeted genocide program of some sort? No, I don't. But I never went farming because I was fearful of the tinderbox that it is, despite having four generations of farmers in my family," Rafferty said.
Irish Independent
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Home sweet home as Caolan Rafferty retains Dundalk Scratch Cup
It gave him a four under par total of 140 and he finished four shots ahead of Co Louth's Gerard Dunne, with another Baltray player, Gavin Tiernan, a shot further back on one over. Tiernan had led by one shot after the first round when he was the only player to break par over Dundalk's tough championship course. He had four birdies at the third, 10th, 12th and 17th but bogeyed the fifth, 13th and 18th for a 71. Dunne was a shot further behind on level par after an eagle three at the 12th and a birdie at the sixth and three bogeys at the third, eighth and 17th. The two Baltray players were followed by four Dundalk members as Aidan Lawless matched Dunne's level par score with Neal MacKell on plus one, while Ben Cahill and Rafferty were on plus two. Rafferty had two bogeys at the par five seventh and 12th and 16 pars in a birdie-free round, but he made up for the lack of birdies in the second round as he went on a charge that eventually yielded victory. Down the front nine he had eight birdie opportunities and took three of them at the second, sixth and seventh to go out in 33 and take a one-shot lead into the back nine as Tiernan dropped three shots as a result of bogeys at the first, fifth, eighth and ninth and a birdie at the fourth. Lawless also fell away after four bogeys on the opening nine, leaving Rafferty's playing partner Dunne to become his nearest challenger. He remained on level par thanks to back-to-back birdies at the sixth and seventh which were cancelled out by bogeys at the fifth and eighth. Rafferty and Dunne both birdied the par five 10th and 12th to move to three under and two under respectively and they were level a hole later when Rafferty three-putted from 90 feet for bogey. He regained the lead when he birdied the par four 15th and extended his lead to three shots at the 16th where he sank a 15ft putt for birdie, while Dunne three-putted from the back of the green for a bogey. Both Rafferty and Dunne found the trees off the tee on the last, but the Dundalk man managed to save his par, while Dunne bogeyed to finish on level par, four shots behind Rafferty. ADVERTISEMENT Tiernan took third on one over after a second round 74, while Dundalk youngster Ben Cahill and James O'Rourke from Naas finished on two over. The win gives Rafferty his sixth victory in the competition and a massive confidence boost ahead of the defence of his East of Ireland Championship in Baltray over the June Bank Holiday weekend. Final standings May 18 Dundalk Scratch Cup sponsored by One Finance – 140 - Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk) 74, 66; 144 - Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth) 72, 72; 145 - Gavin Tiernan (Co. Louth) 71, 74; 146 - Ben Cahill (Dundalk) 74, 72; James O'Rourke (Naas) 74, 72; 149 - Jamie Kelly (Ardee) 76, 73. Round 1 Gross: Aidan Lawless (Dundalk) 72. Round 2 Gross: Eoin Murphy (Dundalk) 70. Overall Nett: 143 - Peter Durnin (Dundalk) 73, 70.
Agriland
14-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
IHFA appoints new national president at club conference and AGM
The Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA) held its annual club conference and annual general meeting (AGM) on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 7:30p.m in the Four Seasons Hotel, Co. Monaghan. This year's event proved to be a particularly memorable occasion, as members from across the country gathered to witness the appointment of Mary Rafferty as the incoming IHFA National President. Rafferty, a stalwart of the Breffni/Oriel Club, had been a cornerstone of the association for over 35 years. Serving as club secretary from 1989-2019, Rafferty's tireless dedication, exceptional organisational skills, and passion for the breed had earned her widespread respect and admiration. Newly appointed IHFA president Rafferty's dedication and hard work is evident from the fact that she is responsible for launching the Emerald Expo Show in the Virginia Show Centre, Co. Cavan during the 1990s. Her hard work did not end there, as she also established cross-border links and supported countless club and national events, playing a central role in the life of the IHFA community. Rafferty's appointment as presidency marked a proud milestone not only for herself but also for the Breffni/Oriel Club, who look forward to welcoming the prestigious National IHFA Open Day at the Greenan Family's Greenlea Herd, Crosshugh, Co. Monaghan on July 10, 2025. The day's programme will feature inter-club and Macra National Stock Judging Competitions, the announcement and presentation of the IHFA National Herds Competition awards, a select young stock sale from the Greenlea herd, and an all-day trade stand exhibition showcasing a wide range of products and services. Former president of the IHFA John O'Sullivan with Mary Rafferty The IHFA AGM also marked the conclusion of John O'Sullivan's presidency, with the association extending sincere thanks to O'Sullivan for his leadership and continued commitment to the Holstein Friesian breed. In addition, Leo Nulty of the North Eastern Club was announced as the incoming president elect for the coming year, a development warmly welcomed by members in attendance.
