Latest news with #SSEAirtricityMen'sPremierDivision
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Richie Towell: Stephen Bradley's criticism of Josh Honohan's display against Galway United would have been better kept in-house
Richie Towell believes Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley should have kept his post-match critique of Josh Honohan's performance against Galway United in-house rather than commenting publicly. The 0-0 draw at Tallaght Stadium was the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division league leaders' final fixture before the mid-season break, ending what had been a five-game winning run, with Honohan now linking up with the Republic of Ireland senior squad after earning his maiden international call-up. Honohan was hauled off after an hour with his manager Bradley later criticising the defender's performance levels in the game as well as that of the team at large. "He was awful. That's the worst I've seen Josh. That's the worst I've ever seen him," Bradley told the newspapers afterwards. "He was extremely poor. It's not nice (to be taken off) but he's been brilliant for us. He's obviously got his call-up, deserved it. He's doing great, well done, but tonight he was a million miles off what he has been in every aspect. 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." Bradley has generally been generous in his praise of his players and the criticism after the Galway game could be interpreted as a means for the Hoops manager to remind his squad to keep standards up. However, former Rovers midfielder Towell, who played alongside Honohan, told this week's RTÉ Soccer Podcast that while a manager has every right to let his players know when he's not happy with them, criticism of players being made publicly beyond the confines of the dressing room and training ground isn't always necessary - especially with a player of Honohan's commitment levels. "Normally, I'm sure all the lads found out even before it got to a newspaper or a journalist or anything like that because I'm sure when Stephen came in, straight after the game or maybe even at half-time - he probably earmarked it at half-time - (to the players, telling them) 'get your finger out here, you're not doing good enough'. But I don't really like the public side of it, coming out and doing it, for me," the former Dundalk and Rovers' title winner said. "Listen, I understand doing that if you have a type of player who is a Big Time Charlie, who doesn't come into training on time, doesn't work hard and is kind of going through the motions. But Josh is anything but that. "He's always one of the first ones into training, anything he gets asked to do in the gym he does it. On the pitch, he works tirelessly hard and his performances have been really good. "For a young lad like Josh after getting his first international call-up, I'm sure this last ten days have been a bit of a whirlwind, his emotions are probably all over the place. "So for him to have a little bit of a dip in performance, that can be natural as well. So for Stephen to come out, and he hammered him to be fair, I don't really like that. "You can do that in-house, tell (Honohan) what you think but for me, you have a player who gives you absolutely everything, who works really hard and who's not this Big Time Charlie who thinks he's bigger and better than the team. I don't think you need to do that with a player like him. "So it's a little bit disappointing to see that because Josh has been incredible for him and he will be going forward as well." Also speaking on the podcast, former Shelbourne league winner Alan Cawley gave his take on Bradley's decision to air his criticism publicly. "I often think when managers do that, it's not just sending the message to Josh, it's almost sending the message to all the other players in the squad as well, that you're not allowing anybody to get too big for their boots and I think that was probably the reason behind it also," he said. "Even though he did that, I'm sure Stephen Bradley is over the moon with certainly the recent run of form that they've had in terms of picking up the amount of wins they have and also sitting pretty at the halfway stage."
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Dayle Rooney penalty sinks Derry and keeps Bohs upwardly mobile
Dayle Rooney proved spot on for the second time in a fortnight as resurgent Bohemians maintained their excellent form in the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division. Winger Rooney's second-minute penalty was 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 table. Derry slip to sixth. With one change from their narrow defeat at Drogheda United last week, Archie Meekison coming 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. 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: Kacper Chorazka; Niall Morahan (James Mcmanus 87), Sean Grehan, Rob Cornwall, Jordan Flores; Dawson Devoy, Adam McDonnell (Keith Buckley 65); Dayle Rooney, Ross Tierney (John Mountney 87), Archie Meekison (Rhys Brennan 65); James Clarke (Collie Whelan 74). Derry City: Brian Maher; Hayden Cann (Ben Doherty h-t; Robbie Benson 60), Mark Connolly, Kevin Holt (Dom Thomas h-t); Shane Ferguson (Gavin Whyte 24), Adam O'Reilly, Carl Winchester, Sam Todd; Paul McMullan, Michael Duffy (Ronan Boyce h-t); Danny Mullen. Attendance: 4,111.
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Keeley clinches point for Drogs at Waterford
SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division WATERFORD FC 2 DROGHEDA UNITED 2 Conor Keeley rescued an unlikely share of the spoils for Drogheda United as Waterford FC's inability to defend set pieces came back to haunt them deep into second-half injury-time in their SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division clash at the RSC. After Blues skipper Padraig Amond thought that he had won the game with an 81st-minute finish, the visitors had the final laugh in added time when the central defender hammered home from close-range when he was left unmarked at the back post to meet a Darragh Markey corner-kick. The Waterford front three combined for the breakthrough goal on 19 minutes. Conan Noonan slipped the ball into the feet of Amond, who in turn played the perfectly weighted pass for Tommy Lonergan, who beat keeper Luke Dennison with a deflected effort off Elicha Ahui from 14 yards. Drogheda were level from a set piece at the other end four minutes later. Shane Farrell sent in a left-wing corner-kick into the centre of the penalty area, and Warren Davis powered a simple close-range header to the far corner past a helpless Stephen McMullan. Davis was twice denied in a bid to give his side the lead on 40 minutes when Shane Farrell whipped in another dangerous left-wing corner that saw Conor Keeley send the ball back into the six-yard box for the striker, but after Rowan McDonald blocked his initial effort, he hooked the rebound just over. John Coleman's side got their noses in front on 81 minutes when Grant Horton sent over a right-wing cross that saw Elicha Ahui clear to Dean McMenamy, who saw his goalbound effort touched home by Padraig Amond past Luke Dennison. The leveller came three minutes into added time from another set piece. Darragh Markey swung over a right-wing corner-kick to the back post, where the unchallenged Conor Keeley blasted high to the roof of the net from close-range before Elicha Ahui was sent off late on for a second yellow card. WATERFORD FC: McMullan; Horton, McDonald, Leahy, Burke; Olayinka (McMenamy 77), Glenfield (McCormack 85), White; Lonergan (Pouwels 88), Amond, Noonan. DROGHEDA UNITED: Dennison; Lambe (Cruise 61), Keeley, Quinn, Ahui, Kane; Heeney, Markey, Farrell (Bawa 77); Davis, Taylor (Oluwa 53) Referee: Rob Harvey (Dublin). Attendance: 2241
RTÉ News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Derry City manager Tiernan Lynch bemoans 'horrific goals' conceded after Shamrock Rovers snatch win
Derry City manager Tiernan Lynch admitted he was lost for words after seeing his side concede "absolutely horrific goals" to allow Shamrock Rovers to snatch victory at the Ryan McBride Brandywell on Friday night. The Candystripes had been leading 1-0 after substitute Danny Mullen opened the scoring in the second half. But the visitors quickly equalised through teenager Michael Noonan before Aaron McEneff scored a late, late winner to seal a 2-1 away win for Rovers which leaves Derry down in third, eight points adrift of the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division leaders. Speaking to RTÉ Sport, Lynch was still processing the fallout from the result and zoned in on the goals given away which he felt were "really poor" and "unacceptable". "Probably lost for words if I'm honest. I felt there were so many really good things we did out there tonight," he told Eric White. "We showed real commitment and a real desire and a hunger and all the things we've been asking of them. "But I'm lost for words with the goals that we conceded. Absolutely horrific goals to concede. I don't think (Rovers) had too many shots the whole night. "I thought everything we asked of (the players) we got but there were times we probably could have been better in possession and could have been a bit more comfortable in possession which is something we are working on and the boys are trying to improve on, there's no doubt about that. But you can't legislate for those goals." Former Larne manager Lynch, who is in his first season in charge at Derry, added that he was "absolutely distraught" by the manner in which the game was turned on its head. His emotions were in stark contrast to his opposite number Stephen Bradley who felt his Hoops side deserved the victory and were "top class" in the second '45 on route to a fifth win on the trot. "To be fair to Derry, they were better first half. We felt they would start quickly considering our game on Monday," he said. "They did that, they got the crowd involved, they created a bit of momentum with set plays but they never really had any opportunities and then second half I thought we completely dominated the game. "I thought we controlled every aspect. The (Derry) goal came against the run of play but you could see we were in a good place and never really worried us and we scored two good goals. "The second goal was a really high level goal so yeah I think we deserved to win the game." While Rovers are building real momentum, Bradley said he would still welcome the upcoming mid-season break which will come after next week's round of games. "No, I want the break," he said. "Players deserve a few days off and then because when we come back we're into Europe and it gets hectic again. "So when you get breaks like this, you take them and you make sure you use them properly and we'll do that. History shows we get better in the second part of the season."
RTÉ News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Bohemians pay the penalty as Drogheda United get back to winning ways
Douglas James-Taylor is finally back in the goals for Drogheda United and that prompted a return to winning ways for the team who were in danger of seeing their stunning start to the season peter out. This victory over in-form Bohemians, who arrived at Sullivan and Lambe Park with six wins in seven matches, sends them back up to second in the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division table, climbing above Derry City, St Patrick's Athletic and Bohs in the process. For a player who only arrived at the club last July, a wait of 265 days for a league goal will come as surprise to many. James-Taylor hit six goals in his first two months as a Premier Division player before his league goals dried up. They continued to flow in the FAI Cup but then a major thigh injury has denied Drogheda of his services for the majority of the season. He is back now though and United will hope he can thrive again. With one victory in their last eight games, the Drogs had dropped to fifth in the standings which stands in stark contrast to Bohemians who have overcome an inconsistent start to the campaign to emerge as one of the Premier Division's form teams. Six wins from seven games have transformed the mood around Alan Reynolds side and the expectations around what they might achieve this season. They arrived at Sullivan and Lambe Park in third, having won as many games as leaders Shamrock Rovers. Bohs had yet to draw in their 16 outings but United were specialists in the form. Eight draws so far was a tally only matched by Shelbourne. In Dawson Devoy, the visitors had a player capable of identifying gaps in the United rearguard and with the quality of pass in his arsenal to split it upon. It was the Bohs captain who delivered a cross onto Dayle Rooney's head in the 12th minute. His effort beat Luke Dennison but not the upright. The same combination again caused problems when Devoy's diagonal pass gave Rooney a sight of goal but Conor Keeley's block denied him. James-Taylor had United's best opportunities in the first half, twice testing Kacper Chorazka with fiercely struck efforts – first from range and then much closer to goal. He would not be denied when scoring the winning goal from the penalty spot. Sean Grehan clumsily fouled Conor Keeley in the area on the hour mark and the on-loan Walsall striker scored from 12 yards. The visitors had ample opportunity to level but a combination of misfortunate and missed chances proved their undoing. Colm Whelan saw a shot from the edge of the area cannon off the crossbar. Then substitutes Hugh Smith and Archie Meekison were denied twice in a matter of seconds. Both their efforts were too close to Dennison and he preserved the points. Drogheda United: Luke Dennison; Elicha Ahui, Conor Keeley, Andrew Quinn; Owen Lambe, Ryan Brennan (Darragh Markey, 55), Luke Heeney, Conor Kane; Shane Farrell; Douglas James-Taylor (Kieran Cruise, 87), Warren Davis (Thomas Oluwa, 69). Bohemians: Kacper Chorazka; Niall Morahan (Archie Meekison, 83), Sean Grehan, Rob Cornwall (Rhys Brennan, 71), Jordan Flores; Adam McDonnell (Keith Buckley, 71), Dawson Devoy; Ross Tierney, James Clarke (Hugh Smith, 83), Dayle Rooney; Colm Whelan.
