Latest news with #SHAMROCKROVERS
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Shamrock Rovers in need of comeback to keep Conference League hopes alive after narrow first leg loss to Ballkani
BALLKANI 1-0 SHAMROCK ROVERS Shamrock Rovers in need of comeback to keep Conference League hopes alive after narrow first leg loss to Ballkani SHAMROCK ROVERS will have work to do to stay in the Europa Conference League after falling to a narrow defeat to FC Ballkani in Kosovo. A Sunday Adetunji goal in the second-half was all that separated the two sides in Thursday night's second leg. Advertisement 2 Shamrock Rovers lost to FC Ballkani in the opening leg of their Conference League qualifier Credit: Nikola Krstic/Sportsfile 2 Almir Kryeziu of Ballkani in action against Danny Mandroiu of Shamrock Rovers Credit: Nikola Krstic/Sportsfile It could have been more, with Almir Kryeziu and Adetunji both passing up chances to put the game to bed, while Josh Honohan had a late chance brilliantly saved. It leaves the League of Ireland leaders needing to turn things around in Tallaght next week to make the play-offs. The tandem of Almir Kryeziu and Giovanni caused all sorts of problems all evening down the left and combined for the game's first big chance on 12 minutes. Kryeziu dropped onto the touchline before finding former Ajax prospect Giovanni in behind. Advertisement He crossed low in the direction of Sunday Adetunji but Ed McGinty did enough to put the striker off before he could knock it in. The Rovers goalkeeper had to be on alert to parry a Geralb Smajli strike from range after another Giovanni pick-out. Kryeziu and Albert Diene were next to have goes with long range strikes that ballooned over the bar. Rovers began to create a couple of half openings once the first-half ticked towards the half hour mark. Advertisement A brave Josh Honohan header set Dylan Watts free down the left, only for his cutback to be too far ahead of Danny Mandroiu and too far behind Rory Gaffney. But as the half-time whistle approached, the hosts put their collective feet back on the pedal, with the two danger men combining for their next chance on 34 minutes. Shamrock Rovers snap up Northern Ireland Under-21s goal-getter as Stephen Bradley gives exciting verdict Giovanni played a corner short to Kryeziu. He reversed it back to the edge of the box for Ardit Deliu, who could only slice his shot harmlessly wide of Ed McGinty's left-hand post. Rovers' best moments of the first-half came from set pieces, with Josh Honohan drawing a superb low save from Adnan Golubovic from a Dylan Watts corner after the Ballkani goalkeeper had flapped at one moments earlier. Advertisement But their first big chance of the second-half came from their best piece of open play of the game. After a spell of possession that earned whistles from the frustrating home crowd, Josh Honohan was picked out with a fine pass down the left side on 50 minutes. He drove at his mind before sliding the ball across the face, where Danny Mandroiu could not direct the ball on target. With that chance having passed them by, the deadlock was broken by the Kosovans five minutes later. Advertisement A clever interchange of passes ended with Smajli finding Sunday Adetunji. The Ballkani front man turned inside a Rovers defender before rolling past McGinty. They should have made it 2-0 four minutes later when a deflected shot was well saved by McGinty, only for Kryeziu to balloon the rebound high and over the bar. Stephen Bradley responded to this latest scare by bringing on Michael Noonan and Connor Malley, but it was Ballkani who remained dangerous, with Adetunji forcing a corner after being found by Giovanni. The hosts once again should have doubled their lead with ten minutes to go when Adetunji was picked out by a good cross from substitute Bleart Tolaj, only for his soft finish to be easily saved by McGinty. Advertisement Rovers had one last chance to equalize when another Watts set piece found the head of Honohan, but for Golubovic to make another good save. SUN STAR MAN Giovanni (FC Ballkani) BALLKANI: Golubovic 7; Smajli 7, Batarelo 6 (Jashanica 38, 6), Halili 6, Potoku 6 (Letaj 85, 5); Deliu 6, Giovanni 8, Diene 7; Hamidi 6 (Tolaj 65, 6), Adetunji 7, Kryeziu 7. Advertisement SHAMROCK ROVERS: McGinty 6; Grant 6, Cleary 6, Lopes 6, Grace 6, Honohan 7; Nugent 6 (Noonan 60, 5), Healy 6, Watts 6; Mandroiu 6, Gaffney 5 (Malley 60, ). REFEREE: D Panchyshyn (Ukraine) 4
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Shamrock Rovers dealt double blow with key stars to miss BOTH legs of Conference League qualifier clash against Ballkani
Three other players will miss the away leg WHAT A SHAME Shamrock Rovers dealt double blow with key stars to miss BOTH legs of Conference League qualifier clash against Ballkani SHAMROCK ROVERS will be without midfielders Jack Byrne and Aaron McEneff for both home and away legs against Ballkani in the Conference League. The Hoops are in Kosovo ahead of tomorrow's away leg but travelled without some key men through injury. 2 Shamrock Rovers will be without some big names for the Conference League clash against Ballkani Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile 2 Jack Byrne and Aaron McEneff, not pictured, will not feature in either leg Credit: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile Graham Burke, Matt Healy and Trevor Clarke were not part of the travelling party because of injury but are expected to be available next week. But Byrne, who also missed Sunday's win over Derry City, and McEneff are not listed in the squad for the tie, which means they cannot feature next week even if fit. Boss Bradley explained: 'Should you get through to the next round, you can name another squad then. 'Obviously, when you get to the league phase, it's locked in and you can't do anything. But with this, you can change two players up to the day before the game. 'We might not pick up any injuries, but we could well pick up injuries over the next two weeks and the whole picture changes again. 'But it does give you that freedom when it's gone round to round rather than locked in for the league phase. 'If it was the last game of the season and you're going to win the league, it was a cup final, I'm sure they would all be available to play. 'But we're in a position that we've got a really good squad and everybody's ready to play. And we don't need to take silly risks with players.' The absence of five big names is a blow, though Bradley knows his squad has strength in depth for the clash, and the experience. His side made League of Ireland history last year by progressing through the group phase, having already reached the groups in 2022. Shamrock Rovers snap up Northern Ireland Under-21s goal-getter as Stephen Bradley gives exciting verdict But on both occasions they had the 'champions' path' which meant a safety net if knocked out of the Champions League while this year they must win every tie. Bradley added: 'That's the beauty of the Champions path. And not having that, we knew it was going to be difficult. 'And what I said at the start, our aim is to get into the group phase, the league phase. That's our aim.'
Irish Independent
31-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
No stress for Shamrock Rovers as they set up Kosovo trip on strange night in Tallaght
SHAMROCK ROVERS 0 ST JOSEPH'S 0 (Rovers win 4-0 on aggregate) Truth be told, it was a pretty strange night in Tallaght. Early-stage European qualifiers tend to be stressful affairs for all concerned, given the stakes. There's €375,000 riding on each tie at this stage of the Conference League, but everyone involved with Shamrock Rovers already knew it was in the bank after last week's four-goal stroll in Gibraltar.
The 42
30-07-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Shamrock Rovers make winning start under Stephanie Zambra
SHAMROCK ROVERS beat Waterford 7-1 at Tallaght Stadium this evening, as Stephanie Zambra made a winning start as interim manager. The former Ireland international took charge after Collie O'Neill decided to resign from his position last week, leaving the team in sixth place with six games remaining. Advertisement However, the Hoops were still favourites against 10th-place Waterford, who have won just three matches all season. Claire O'Reilly gave the hosts the lead in the 18th minute before Anna Butler doubled their advantage just before the half-hour mark. Chloe Atkinson's penalty got her side back in the game just before half-time, but Zambra's team ran riot after the break. 2022 WNL Player of the Year Emily Corbet scored a 12-minute hat-trick, while former Ireland international Áine O'Gorman hit a brace to seal an emphatic win.
The 42
24-07-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Collie O'Neill resigns as Shamrock Rovers boss
SHAMROCK ROVERS HAVE confirmed that Collie O'Neill has resigned as women's first-team head coach. O'Neill departs after two and a half seasons at the helm, having taken charge as Rovers returned to the Women's Premier Division in 2023. Advertisement UCD's 2018 Men's First Division winning manager oversaw third and fifth-placed league finishes, while the Hoops reached the All-Island Cup final last year but were beaten by Galway United on penalties at Tallaght Stadium. TOTAP Las Damas first reported O'Neill's resignation on Tuesday night, following a 1-0 defeat to DLR Waves at the weekend, and Rovers confirmed the news in a statement this morning. It reads: 'Shamrock Rovers FC can confirm that Collie O'Neill has decided to resign from his position as Head Coach of our Women's First Team. 'We would like to place on record our thanks to Collie for his contributions during his time at the club, and we wish him the very best for the future. 'Assistant coach Ciaran Ryan has notified the club that he will also depart at this time. We also thank Ciaran for his work with Shamrock Rovers and send best wishes for what comes next.' Rovers currently sit sixth in the league table, 12 points off the top with six games remaining, and their next fixture is against Waterford FC next Tuesday. Meanwhile, Ireland international Claire Walsh has joined Celtic. The 30-year-old makes the move from Glasgow City on a one-year deal, joining Saoirse Noonan at the club.
