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Irish Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Shamrock Rovers will travel to Kosovo next week after stress-free Tallaght draw
Shamrock Rovers 0-0 St Joseph's With the hard work done in the heat of Gibraltar last week, this one had more of a pre-season vibe about it as Shamrock Rovers eased into the Europa Conference League third qualifying round. Results elsewhere on Thursday night mean it's a trip to Kosovo for next Thursday's first leg against Ballkani, who saw off Maltese outfit Floriana 5-3 on aggregate. It was understandable that Rovers' performance lacked the tempo that you would normally expect on a big European night, given that the hard yards were run in Gibraltar last week. But there was no intensity to St Joseph's performance either. Four goals down, you'd think the pre-match message would have been to get the first goal and go from there. But they didn't seem too interested in testing Rovers' resolve. Hoops boss Stephen Bradley felt the lead was comfortable enough to ring in the changes to his starting-11, and he made six changes to the side that started in Gibraltar. Not that you could call it a weakened team, given that among the changes were Jack Byrne, Gary O'Neill, playing in an unfamiliar role in Rovers' three-man defence, Aaron McEneff and Michael Noonan. Youngsters Cory O'Sullivan and Cian Barrett have both tasted plenty of first-team action this year. And by the 61st minute, Bradley had made all five substitutes, bringing on a bucketload of experience in Lee Grace, Sean Kavanagh, Dylan Watts and Danny Mandriou, as well as new signing John McGovern, who scored his first goal for the club last week in the first-leg win. With the prospect of a game against Derry on Sunday hanging in the balance - and dependent on the fortunes of two Kosovan teams - he could afford to give Graham Burke, Matt Healy and Dan Cleary a watching brief. Larne's win over Prishtina means the Derry game will go ahead as planned, before their trip to face Ballkani. Rovers' benched stars might have snuck in 40 winks at some point, as neither side made serious inroads, barring the odd exception. Had Danny Grant been more accurate in the eighth minute, when he blasted high over the bar from 12 yards, maybe that might have injected a little more excitement into proceedings. He raced onto the loose ball after goalkeeper Bradley Banda parried Rory Gaffney's angled near-post drive, but couldn't keep his effort down. St Joseph's did come close to a first-half goal, just after the 30-minute mark, when Geovanni Barba's through ball found Javi Forjan on the march into the Hoops area. However, goalkeeper Ed McGinty was alert to the danger, and he raced off his line to narrow the angle and make the save. Rovers' teenage striker Michael Noonan was celebrating his 17th birthday yesterday, but he couldn't mark the occasion with a goal. He was, however, feeding off scraps. A rare opening emerged early in the second-half when he came inside from the left and let fly, only for Gabri Cardozo to stick out a foot and block his shot. Rovers kept the attack going, however, and Noonan got a second chance, which he curled towards the far post. Sub McGovern attempted to deceive Banda, who was already off his feet, by altering the direction of the ball slightly with his head, but the goalkeeper still managed to get his hand to it. Another Noonan chance of his own making as the clock drifted towards 90 saw the birthday boy spin brilliantly past one challenge, and make a dart for the right angle of the six yard box. St Joseph's sub Javi Paul appeared to lean into the striker, and Noonan went tumbling, but Swiss referee Granit Maqedonci saw nothing wrong and pointed for a goal-kick. Replays suggested that the official got that one wrong. A goal at that stage would have given the 5,128-strong crowd something to cheer, and would have boosted both Rovers' and Ireland's co-efficient. But there will be more opportunities for that. SHAMROCK ROVERS: Ed McGinty 6; Gary O'Neill 6, Roberto Lopes 6 (Lee Grace 46, 7), Cory O'Sullivan 6; Danny Grant 6, Jack Byrne 6 (Sean Kavanagh 62, 6), Cian Barrett 6, Aaron McEneff 6 (Dylan Watts 62, 6), Josh Honohan 6 (Danny Mandroiu 62, 6); Rory Gaffney 6 (John McGovern 46), Michael Noonan 7. ST JOSEPH'S: Bradley Banda 6; Leon Volz 6, Gabri Cardozo 7, Geovanni Barba 7, Jayce Olivero 6; Juan Pena 6 (Pablo Rodriguez 61), Manuel Sanchez 6, Junama 6; Mitch Gibson 6 (Adrian Armental 47), Javi Forjan 6 (Ethan Santos 65), Angel Martinz 6. REFEREE: Granit Maqedonci (Switzerland)
Irish Daily Mirror
24-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Shamrock Rovers kick off Euro run with record-breaking demolition of St Joseph's
Shamrock Rovers smashed another European record and took a big step towards even more continental glory, with a first-leg demolition of St Joseph's. The Hoops were 1-0 up at half-time, but a flurry of substitutions saw them storm to their biggest ever away win in Europe. Shortly after Danny Mandroiu doubled their advantage, he was replaced by recent signing John McGovern, and he was less than two minutes on the pitch when he added to the scoreline. That goal was created and finished by three of Stephen Bradley's changes - with Aaron McEneff and Michael Noonan involved in the build-up. And another replacement, Jack Byrne, made it four with the finish of the evening from 20 yards. Once again, the awesome strength of Shamrock Rovers' squad has been highlighted. Last weekend, Bradley made a rarely seen quintuple substitution to close out their FAI Cup win over Wexford. That depth - plus the addition of Connor Malley on-loan from Sligo Rovers - will be key to the Hoops going all the way to the league phase, as they did last year on a record-breaking run. Speaking of records, only twice before have they scored four on the road - against Spora Luxembourg in the 1966/67 Cup Winners' Cup, and away to Larne last year in the league phase of the Europa Conference League. Both those results, however, were 4-1. Yesterday's clean sheet rarely looked threatened, after an early Manuel Sanchez header was well dealt with by goalkeeper Ed McGinty. From that moment on, Rovers looked in control on a sticky astroturf pitch and in conditions that required water-breaks midway through each half. Click this link or scan the QR code to receive the latest League of Ireland news and top stories from the Irish Mirror. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . Moments before Rory Gaffney opened the scoring, the experienced forward had smashed an effort straight at goalkeeper Bradley Banda from close range. He made no mistake when a second opportunity arrived, this time from a hooked ball over the top from Dylan Watts. Gaffney ran onto the pass and into the area, and deftly chipped the advancing Banda. Shamrock Rovers' Rory Gaffney scores his sides first goal (Image: INPHO/Martin Seras Lima) Graham Burke went closest before the break to doubling Rovers' advantage, but that honour went to Mandriou in the 67th minute. Josh Honohan's shot was saved by Banda, but he could only push the ball out to Mandroiu just outside the box. His effort was bound for the right corner before it took a huge deflection that sent it inside the left-hand upright. Minutes later, goalscorers Gaffney and Mandroiu both went off, with McGovern and Noonan replacing them - and within two minutes of their arrival they linked up for Rovers' third. Noonan's low cross from the left was swept in by the former Dungannon Swifts striker at the near post. Two minutes later, Honohan teed up Byrne for a delightful finish; a curling effort that sailed inside the top right-hand corner. 'We're delighted,' said Hoops boss Bradley afterwards. 'I know a lot of people would have had us favourites to come here win the game, but you have to go and win the game and play what's in front of you, and I thought the players did that really well. 'It was extremely hot at kick-off time. The pitch is obviously sticky, it's an astroturf, but I thought the players got to grips with that really quickly and were excellent in how they went about the game. 'I was really pleased with how hard we worked, we didn't take our foot off, and that was really important.' Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty 6; Dan Cleary 7, Roberto Lopes 7, Lee Grace 7; Danny Grant 7 (Darragh Nugent 80), Danny Mandroiu 7 (John McGovern 71), Matt Healy 8, Dylan Watts 7 (Aaron McEneff 64, 7), Josh Honohan 7; Graham Burke 7 (Jack Byrne 64, 7); Rory Gaffney 7 (Michael Noonan 71). Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email .
Irish Daily Mirror
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Easy win for Rovers as they begin FAI Cup campaign with a stroll
With 65 minutes on the clock, Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley turned to his bench and changed half his outfield players. Five substitutions at once isn't something you see too often in competitive games. But with First Division Wexford making life difficult for Bradley's Premier Division table-toppers, he obviously felt the need to shake things up. It wasn't long before two of those changes, Graham Burke and Danny Mandroiu, combined to finally put the game beyond their visitors. A third, Rory Gaffney, embellished the scoreline with a late strike, while Mandroiu also got on the scoresheet in the 90th minute. From former Ireland striker Stephen Elliott's point of view, his stomach must have sunk when he saw Rovers' five substitutes assembling on the touchline. Burke, Mandroiu ,Gaffney, Dylan Watts and Matt Healy would make some five-a-side team. Forget a goalkeeper, you wouldn't need one with their ability to keep the ball. Elliott's players had done so well to frustrate the Hoops, while they didn't look too shabby going forward either. Aji Oluwabiyi left Rovers for Wexford earlier this month and he was a livewire on the left. Eager to show his old employers what they were missing, he wasn't far off a goal nine minutes into the second-half, wh en he cut inside from the left, onto his right foot, and curled the ball inches wide of the far post. At this stage, Rovers were ahead through Victor Ozhianvuna's eighth minute goal. He hooked a classy volley into the roof of Paul Martin's net from 12 yards, connecting sweetly with Darragh Nugent's right-wing delivery. Conceding so early, you feared for Wexford, but they held firm and displayed plenty of attacking ambition of their own. Oluwabiyi's pace caused plenty of problems and he forced Lee Grace into a block in the 25th minute. Bradley handed a first start to recent signing from Dungannon Swifts, John McGovern, and he was just a foot wide of the upright with a header from an Ozhianvuna centre. McGovern linked up well with 16-year-old Michael Noonan, who should have added a couple of goals to his tally so far this season. However, Martin in the Wexford goal was in great form and he thwarted a number of Rovers attacks. He saved from Noonan in the 27th minute, and raced from his line to deny Jack Byrne from a tight angle shortly before half-time. Then twice early in the second-half he got the better of Rovers' brilliant teenage striker; advancing to parry Noonan's drive after a McGovern through-pass, and then, moments later, getting his hands to the ball when Noonan attempted to go around him. If your mega-talented starting-11 can't seal the deal, and you can bring so many outstanding players off the bench, why not throw five pairs of fresh legs onto the pitch? Gaffney was the first of the quintet to test Martin. He thought he'd done enough when he got his head to Nugent's cross at the back-post, but Martin somehow kept it out. It was a sore one for the goalkeeper, as he collided with his post in making the save. He played on after receiving treatment, but could do little to stop Rovers' subs from going goal-crazy in the closing stages. With 75 minutes on the clock, Burke played the ball to Mandroiu, who sent Nugent galloping down the left. His pull-back was controlled by Burke, who finished from 12 yards. Gaffney made it three in the 83rd minute when he hooked home a Grace header from close range. Sub Watts was involved in that one, as it was his corner that found the former Wexford defender's head. And when Gaffney laid the ball off to Mandroiu in the 90th minute, he made no mistake with his finish.
The 42
18-07-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Figures that show new generation of LOI stars could earn millions
MAYBE WINDSOR PARK is a lucky omen for League of Ireland teams, the kind of venue that is a catalyst for hope and greater possibilities. The parallels between the post-match scenes on Wednesday night after Shelbourne edged clear of Linfield in Champions League qualifying and when Shamrock Rovers blitzed Larne 4-1 in the league phase of last season's Uefa Conference League did not stop with the jubilant celebrations in front of delirious travelling supporters. Comparisons could be drawn, too, in the sense of confidence and opportunity that the respective triumphs inspired. Last October, Rovers' head coach Stephen Bradley was enthused during post-match duties in Belfast after guiding his side to the club's first win in a group/league phase of European competition – worth an additional €400,000 to the club coffers on top of €3 million for qualifying. The new 36-team format sees the top eight qualify for the last 16 automatically with those ranked ninth to 24th battling it out in the play-offs. 'We want to qualify out of the first phase, that's been one of our aims,' Bradley said. 'Why not? Why can't it be our aim? Let's go and try and do it, yeah. I don't see why we should put a limit on what we can do here.' Rovers backed up Bradley's words and became the first Irish club to reach the knockout stages of European competition, earning over €6m in the process. Close to 20% of that pot would be divvied up in prize money in the players' pool, with a certain portion guaranteed and the rest related to appearances and performances. Fast forward to this week and Shels boss Joey O'Brien was just as pleased after progress to the second qualifying round of the Champions League guaranteed at least a place in the play-offs of the Conference League, due to the safety nets of the champions' path, and €1.7m in prize money for the club. 'Ultimately, to get the real money, you must make group stages. I told the lads in there that's the aim. We don't want this to be our [only] European memory. We want to go and create more history by qualifying for the groups,' he said. Shels will earn a minimum of €3.17m should they replicate Rovers' qualification, and then the money will really hit for players. Advertisement Sean Boyd was up front in the aftermath of Wednesday's win that talk of bonuses was a topic of discussion, which is hardly surprising given they have the kind of impact of players' lives that so many of us can relate to – paying off bills, saving for a house, getting a mortgage, or in the recently-engaged Boyd's case possibly paying for a wedding. 'She's already spent everything,' Boyd joked. 'I said [to her], potentially, if we get through, we get this [amount]. And she's like, 'oh, lovely, that will pay for the wedding'. We've to buy a house as well, so it's all coming at once. 'Ganno had mentioned during the week, it's like you get a deposit for your house obviously if you go through a few rounds so that's kind of where the players in the league probably make some decent money. So, yeah, another incentive probably.' The 'Ganno' that Boyd referenced is Sean Gannon and he is a fascinating test case for what the future might hold for those top-tier League of Ireland players who spend their careers in this country. He only turned 34 last week but has won 11 Premier Division titles between 2011 and 2024 with Rovers (two spells), St Patrick's Athletic, Dundalk, and Shels. As the Reds are also guaranteed six more games this season the defender is set to overtake Ronan Finn's record of 63 appearances in Europe for a League of Ireland player if he features in each of the fixtures. With that in mind, and given the current European formats as well as growth of basic earnings and bonuses at top clubs, it's safe to estimate that the next Sean Gannon will comfortably become a millionaire in the League of Ireland. And there may well become more like him at the top table. The Beat sources have laid out what we understand to be an accurate pay scale for those current established professionals at the top clubs in the country; starting at €50,000 per year for Category 3, €100,000 for Category 2, and a small, elite group touching €150,000 in Category 1. As players can also expect to share 20% of European prize money between them (ranging from €30,000-50,000), it is now feasible to consider that those from all three categories who spend at least 10 years at the top and qualify for European league phase football in half of those campaigns could earn the following; Category 3 – €750,000 Category 2 – €1,250,000 Category 3 – €1,750,00 A tall order, for sure, but with such financial and professional rewards now on the line it is definitely enough to maintain motivation levels and help retain the calibre of talent capable of achieving such targets. And that's before you consider the added security that comes with Sportsperson's tax relief, which explains that players 'may claim a deduction of 40% of certain income arising in any 10 of the following years: your year of retirement or the preceding 14 years of assessment.' It's understood that there are already players who will have the comfort of considerable six-figure sums once they hang up their boots. In a week when the Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland (PFA Ireland) secured an increase in the minimum wage starting next season from €430 per week to €450, and their research detailed that the average weekly wage in a full-time Premier Division now stands at €890 per week (it was around €700 last year), it's clear that strides continue to be made across the board. But for those among the elite, challenging for titles and battling for league phase football in Europe, there will be millions to be made from staying in the League of Ireland. Of course, the above detail is based on figures standing still in terms of European prize money and the domestic growth continuing at a conservative pace. Who knows what might happen when the Virgin TV deal is to be renewed before 2029 and we could also have Bohemians and Sligo Rovers in new, modern stadiums? Not to mention Finn Harps or Wexford, with St Patrick's Athletic possibly even advancing their own case for redevelopment of Richmond Park. Even the value of winning the FAI Cup has soared, so how apt that the second round starts this weekend and Shels travel to Limerick on Saturday to face non-league side Fairview Rangers before welcoming Qarabag to Tolka Park in the Champions League on Wednesday. Whoever lifts the FAI Cup in Aviva Stadium this November will be guaranteed €700,000 in prize money from European qualification as they will go into the Europa League and have the safety net of a second tie in the Conference League should it be required. That is because success of clubs – specifically Rovers – has improved the overall Uefa coefficient to a point where should the Hoops win the Premier Division this season they will be seeded for two rounds of Europe next season. That is the kind of bonus territory we are looking at.
The Irish Sun
17-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Day to forget for Drogheda United as Shamrock Rovers rub salt into the wound after CAS appeal verdict
DROGHEDA UNITED felt they never got a rub of the Greene - as their Conference League expulsion was followed by defeat to Shamrock Rovers. Aaron Greene was the Hoops match winner as the league leaders came from behind to see off the dogged Drogs and extend their lead at the top of the table to nine points. But Kevin Doherty's Drogheda United just felt it was a day where nothing would go their way. Their appeal against UEFA's decision to deny them Conference League entry under the multi-club owner rule And they were then aggrieved by a big decision going against them that gave Rovers' their equaliser just four minutes before half-time. It happened when Dylan Watts' ball drifted through to Luke Dennison just before Graham Burke arrived only, for the referee to then give a handball against Andrew Quinn. Read More On Irish Football It was given by assistant referee Emmett Dynan - and Hoops' fans who had the same view as he did were adamant it was handball - though no one on the pitch argued for it. Yet when the Drogs had retreated ten yards and Burke had curled the ball around the wall and just inside Dennison's right-hand post. It meant the Drogs were upset for the second time of the evening even as they came to terms with the confirmation that they will not be in the Conference League. Never before had the Drogs pre-match song 'Don't worry be happy' been so appropriate, as the crowd got into it with the first 'Drogheda 'til I die' coming' in the third minute. Most read in Football And they took the lead in the fourth. A high corner from the left by Shane Farrell was met by a towering George Cooper as he climbed above Josh Honohan and Cory O'Sullivan to head powerfully into the net. Chelsea launch Club World Cup campaign with 2-0 victory over LAFC in Atlanta But that was as good as it got for the home side as the Hoops seized control after that and rarely even let them out of their own half. The could have equalised a minute later only to be denied three times. Honohan's cross from the right found Trevor Clarke rushing in from the left but his volley was brilliantly palmed away by Luke Dennison. There were then two more chances as Burke's follow-up was blocked by Quinn and Watts shot straight at Dennison. 1 Aaron Greene's strike in the 74th minute secured the 2-1 away win But for the most part, Rovers' could not find a way through the massed ranks of claret and blue with Quinn especially seeming to get his head to everything. And, there was always a risk that the Drogs could conjure something from a set-piece or on the break, with Farrell forcing Ed McGinty into a flying save on 31 minutes. But Burke's goal four minutes before half-time left the Drogs feeling aggrieved and saw gaffer Kevin Doherty booked for his protests. HOOPS FRUSTRATION Not that the Hoops were any happier with referee Neil Doyle, who walked off the pitch at half time escorted by Rovers' Stephen Bradley and Glenn Cronin, and Drogs No. 2 Daire Doyle. The visitors were further incensed when he failed to award a free when Cooper took down substitute Michael Noonan when he would have been through on goal on 70 minutes. But by then, the game had slipped into the same pattern as the first half with Rovers pressing and Drogheda looking for breakaways. The hosts had half chances with Quinn twice leading the charge out, but the Hoops' bench press - Noonan, Jack Byrne and Danny Mandroiu came on - made the difference. And they did unpick the Drogs lock 16 minutes from time when Byrne fed Danny Mandrou on the edge of the area and his first time pass slipped Greene in to coolly finish. The Drogs did push for an equaliser and Warren Davis headed over while Byrne came close to wrapping it up for Rovers with a curling effort. But the hosts were again aggrieved in injury time as goalkeeping coach Aaron Shanahan was sent off for his protests over a call going against the Drogs. Sun Star Man - Graham Burke (Shamrock Rovers) Drogheda United: Dennison 6; Cooper 7 (Harper-Bailey 71, 6), Keeley 7, Quinn 7; Cruise 6, Heeney 6, Farrell 7, Kane 7; Markey 5 (Brennan 56); James-Taylor 5 (Davis 65, 6), Oluwa 5. Shamrock Rovers: McGinty 7; Grace 7, Lopes 7, C O'Sullivan 7 (Byrne 65, 7); Honohan 7, Watts 7 (Noonan 65, 6), Healy 7, Clarke 7 (Grant 76, 6); Nugent 5 (Mandroiu 7, ht), Burke 7 (Cleary 79, 6), Greene 7. Referee: N Doyle (Dublin) 4.
