Latest news with #SSEAirtricityPremierDivision
Irish Independent
30-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Conor Keeley's late show seals point for Drogheda United as Waterford foiled at RSC
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 Premier Division clash at the RSC.
Irish Examiner
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
McEneff gets late winner as Shamrock Rovers come from behind to beat Derry
SSE Airtricity Premier Division: Derry City 1 (Mullen 66) Shamrock Rovers 2 (Noonan 71, McEneff) DERRY man Aaron McEneff came back to haunt his hometown club with a last gasp winning goal which sent Shamrock Rovers six points clear at the top. Substitutions on both sides influenced this cat and mouse encounter on Foyleside but it was Michael Noonan and McEneff who earned three vital points for the Hoops in the end. Derry haven't won against Rovers in the league in nine attempts but sub Danny Mullen's fifth goal of the season on 66 minutes put them firmly in the driving seat. That lead lasted less than six minutes as Noonan headed in from close range after Roberto Lopes' long range strike was turned onto the crossbar by Brian Maher. Derry reacted well to that setback but it was a former hero turned villain at Brandywell, McEneff who had the last laugh with a 89th minute winner. Fellow sub, Danny Mandroiu threaded a pass through to Noonan who picked out McEneff's run towards the near post and he made no mistake. The midfielder was cautioned for his overzealous celebrations in front of the home support in the Southend Park stand to silence a record 5,000-plus attendance. That goal ensured a fifth consecutive win for Rovers and a seventh game unbeaten as the Dubliners ominously started shifting through the gears. Derry started with promise and Michael Duffy was gifted possession inside the Rovers penalty area when Dan Cleary's attempted clearance fell kindly to the winger but his curling effort sailed harmlessly wide of the far post. Match referee Marc Lynch was generous with his bookings and issued three contentious yellow cards inside eight first half minutes to Boyce and Winchester and Rovers' defender O'Sullivan who was replaced by Josh Honohan after just 18 minutes as Stephen Bradley wasted no time in turning to his substitutes bench. Derry carved open the Rovers defence with a neat pass into the feet of Whyte just inside the penalty area on 25 minutes and the ex-Portsmouth man glided past his man before picking out Boyce eight yards from goal. The striker's first time strike was deflected behind by Adam Matthews who recovered well. From the corner the ball eventually came to Ferguson in space at the back post but the full-back fired his effort wide of the target. Rovers' first shot on target arrived on 33 minutes after Ferguson's pass was intercepted inside his own half. Aaron Greene crossed low towards Graham Burke but his powerful strike was saved comfortably by Brian Maher. Rovers were bossing the ball at the start of the second half but it was Derry who broke the deadlock in devastating fashion on 66 minutes. Winchester won the ball from Byrne before finding McMullan on the right flank. The winger played a delicious pass to send his fellow Scot Mullen into space and the former Patrick Thistle striker finished expertly past Ed McGinty. That lead lasted less than six minutes as Roberto Lopes' ferocious strike from distance was turned onto the bar by Maher but substitute Noonan reacted to the rebound quickest and headed into the net from close range. McMullan and Mullen combined brilliantly again on 75 minutes but the latter couldn't get enough lift on the ball to guide it over the head of McGinty who snuffed out the danger. Matthews made an important block to deny Duffy's close range strike with nine minutes remaining as Derry went in search of a winner. Rovers issued a killer blow in the final minute when Mandroiu split the defence with a searching pass into Noonan who picked out the run of McEneff and the Derry man made no mistake with a clinical finish. Four minutes of stoppage time was signalled but Derry couldn't find an equaliser as their four match unbeaten run came to an abrupt end. DERRY CITY: Maher; Ferguson (Doherty 77), Connolly, Holt, Cann, Todd; Whyte (McMullan 60), O'Reilly (Benson 84), Winchester, Duffy (Hoban 84); Boyce (Mullen 60); SHAMROCK ROVERS: McGinty; Matthews, Lopes, Cleary, Grant, O'Sullivan (Honohan 18), Byrne (McEneff 77), Nugent (Mandroiu), Burke (Watts 64), Greene (Noonan 64). Referee: Marc Lynch.
Irish Examiner
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Galway deepen Cork City's relegation worries with late winner
SSE Airtricity Premier Division: Galway United 2 (Moses Dyer 48, Conor McCormack 85) Cork City 1 (Djanairo Daniels 52 pen) Late goals are sinking Cork City deep into relegation trouble and the pain was deepened by former player Conor McCormack swelling the gap for safety to 11 points. John Caulfield is another City link at Galway and he'll be relieved to end a four-match losing sequence with a win that could have been denied after Moses Dyer's ninth goal of the season was cancelled by a penalty from City's Djanairo Daniels. Next week's visit of champions Shelbourne marks the midway point of the season for City and new boss Ger Nash will know the return of two wins so far must be turbocharged to avoid a third drop in five years. Nash abseiled straight into managerial mode last Friday against St Patrick's Athletic, straight off a connecting flight from Sweden. Yet rather than just deliver the interval team-talk he did then, this was his first official game at the helm. Preparations began last Saturday morning at Bishopstown and there was a newness to the shape of his team. Gone was his predecessor's back-five formation, with Milan Mbeng and Darragh Crowley operating as the full backs. The newcomer wasn't afraid to make the bold calls in-game either, hauling off Freddie Anderson after one too many lapses by the young defender approaching the hour mark. Introducing left-back Matt Kiernan necessitated a reshuffle that a first full week of training convinced him was doable. It takes a mean defence to repel Galway's barrage of catapults into the box, both from play and especially deadballs, and the wild western weather contributed to a tenth-minute delivery holding up in the wind. Ed McCarthy latched onto the stray ball but the ex-Cork City winger squirted his shot past the near post. Ditto Dyer later on 38 minutes when a hospital pass by Rio Shipston to Sean Murray was intercepted and recycled to the edge of the area. Another of the City alumni, Garry Buckley, forced the only save of the half from Tein Troost – connecting with David Hurley's free-kick – yet Galway were the team fortunate to be level at the break. Cathal O'Sullivan has been the glimmer of light in this testing season for the Rebels, the teenager seamlessly stepping up on his debut Premier Division season. As has been the case against the best teams in the country, the nippy winger was a menace, drifting into channels undetected and producing killer passes at will. An absurd booking incurred on 11 minutes for shooting after he'd been harshly penalised for a foul didn't curb his influence but he was guilty of squandering the best chance on the stroke of half-time. Galway's characteristic intuition eluded them from a long ball, allowing O'Sullivan to bend his run in behind and flick the ball past the advancing goalkeeper Evan Watts. All he had to do was stroke the ball into the net but the brawn and experience of former Ireland international Greg Cunningham was enough to force him to skew the effort inches wide. Seáni Maguire looked on from the sideline relishing such a chance and in what seemed a pre-planned move was introduced in place of Shipston. Such is his history of injuries that a cautious approach is being applied but Dyer was the striker to make the most immediate impact within three minutes. Cunningham's pass still left the league's top scorer with work to do but he dribbled past Anderson into the six-yard box and his cross deflected off the Stoke City loanee to loop over Troost and trickle beyond the goal-line. Along came another goal another three minutes later and it was a controversial one through a penalty decision. Referee Mark Houlihan deemed that Josh Fitzpatrick's cross struck the arm of Jeannot Esua, enabling Daniels – who'd drilled a first half chance wide – to send Watts the wrong way. Three points were there for the taking but Galway showed their intent when both Cian Byrne and Cunningham glanced headers wide two minutes apart. Esua would get the chance to atone for his concession by raiding down the right, past Leaving Cert student Kiernan, and his cross was laid back for McCormack to smash a shot from eight yards through a thicket of players past Troost. Another relegation playoff is certain barring a major upturn in the second half of the season. GALWAY UNITED: E Watts; R Slevin, G Buckley, G Cunningham; J Esua, D Hurley (S Walsh 81), C Byrne, V Borden (C McCormack 69), E McCarthy; P Hickey, M Dyer (C Horgan 88). CORK CITY: T Tein; M Mbeng, F Anderson (M Fitzpatrick 58), C Lyons, D Crowley; S Murray, R Shipston (S Maguire 46), E McLaughlin (G Bolger 54); C O'Sullivan, D Daniels, J Fitzpatrick (M Murray 90+1). Referee: M Houlihan
Sunday World
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Sunday World
Damien Duff on ‘grassy knoll' pic that went viral – ‘It was an embarrassing photo for the league, not me'
IMPACT | Shelbourne boss insists global impact of Dalymount Park photograph is bad PR for League of Ireland Shelbourne manager Damien Duff stands on a grassy back at Dalymount Park during the SSE Airtricity Premier Division defeat to Bohemians last Friday. Photo: Seb Daly/Sportsfile And while the Shels boss admits that he has issues to deal with close to home and on the pitch, after the champions were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Drogheda United on Monday as their search for a goal goes on, the former Ireland international fears that the image sent out by last week's derby has damaged the league. Serving a touchline ban due to amassing yellow cards, Duff was restricted in terms of where he could watch their game away to Bohs and opted to observe from a grassy hill behind the Des Kelly Stand in Dalymount, but a picture, taken by Sportsfile photographer Seb Daly, of Duff certainly caught the eye – not in a good way as far as Duff is concerned. Shelbourne manager Damien Duff stands on a grassy back at Dalymount Park during the SSE Airtricity Premier Division defeat to Bohemians last Friday. Photo: Seb Daly/Sportsfile Aidan Fitzmaurice and Seán O'Connor look back on a big night of action in the two Monday games 'I'm not on the socials, obviously, but I'm not stupid, I'd imagine it got a lot of airtime, probably a lot of laughter. I'm sure an awful lot of people thought I was embarrassed, I wasn't one bit embarrassed. I find it a deeply embarrassing photo for the league,' Duff said after the scoreless draw with Drogheda United. 'I fought as much as anyone for the league for four years, so you could say I'm mortified - 'Oh, Damien is mortified for himself' - I'm not one bit mortified for myself, I'm mortified for the league. 'We call it the greatest league in the world, I call it the greatest league in the world, but a picture has gone to a lot of countries around the world, some big people in the football world have texted me, laughing. 'I think for too long now people have laughed at Irish football and everything about us. Let's not all fool ourselves and get carried away, the league is in a great place, a wonderful place. 'Yeah, great, the fans coming like you've never seen before, wonderful tight games, the most watched game, I think, in TV history, last year up in the Brandywell, the most exciting league finish in years upon years, but let's not get carried away, it was an embarrassing photo for the league, not me.' Asked by the Irish Independent if his reaction was a comment on the state of facilities at Dalymount Park and the fact that there were not many options for him in terms of staying within the confines of his touchline ban, he said: 'Read into it what you want, it's not me having digs. 'Like I said, it's probably got a lot of traction. I'm stood in a meadow on top of a hill. Here, as the Beatles sing, I was probably the fool on the hill. 'But again, I was probably the butt of the jokes, but I shouldn't be. Because it was an awful reflection of the league. 'A photo can speak a million words. You seen intrigued that I'm saying this I find it an awful photo for the league. That's all I'm saying. Embarrassing. 'Like I said, you can read into that what you want. I said it before, I said it after, because I utterly believe it.' Duff and his club had just come through a bruising 90 minutes at home to Drogheda, their fourth game in five matches without a goal scored and the Shels boss admitted that the champions didn't do enough to deserve a win as confidence has taken a hit. 'It's disappointing, we huffed and we puffed, did we do enough for me to come in here and say we deserved to win the game? I don't think so, we dominated possession, maybe three-quarters of the possession but did we do enough with the ball,' said Duff, who had to call on back-up keeper Lorcan Healy for most of the game as No. 1 Conor Kearns was forced off with a calf injury after half an hour. 'Drogheda, they are set up so well and work so hard for each other, brilliant, they have their way, it's a very efficient way, with Drogheda you have to wear them down, grind them down, and we didn't do that enough. 'They [Shels players] are maybe in a vulnerable time, not on a good run, as disappointing as tonight is, it's the many other games this season that we have let go by and dropped points is where you suffer, there have been more disappointing nights, for sure there's a lack of belief, a lack of spark and all we can do is stick together and keep working hard, as I told them at the end of the game. Read more
Irish Examiner
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Shels and Drogs battle to hard-fought draw
SSE Airtricity Premier Division: Shelbourne 0 Drogheda United 0 Shels and Drogheda couldn't be separated in a bruising battle with a genuine derby feel at a balmy Tolka Park. Despite their best efforts it was a point apiece for two sides who will feel as if they left chances to win on the field. The champions, who welcomed back Damien Duff to the dugout, were desperate to bounce back from Friday's costly defeat to rivals Bohemians, in which they lost their skipper Mark Coyle and Ali Coote to dismissals. They showed no signs of a hangover early on. A flowing move down the right side eventually saw Harry Wood cross to the back post to James Norris. The on-loan Liverpool full-back cushioned a header to Ellis Chapman, whose first time strike was bravely blocked by Elicha Ahui who threw his body in the way. The Drogs, who have been enjoying the tussle at the opposite end of the table than most would have predicted, had been unbeaten against the hosts this season with a win and a draw and defended resolutely. They began to grow in confidence and almost took the lead themselves when Conor Kearns misjudged Elicha Ahui's cross, that luckily for the Shels stopper trickled just wide. Both sides went into the clash desperately seeking a win - with matching records of one win in their last seven games - and there was nothing to separate the sides as the half developed. The home side were dealt a blow when Conor Kearns seemed to pick up a knock after his error, appearing to receive treatment on his calf. But despite the loss it was the home side who finished the half the stronger with Harry Wood having three chances in quick succession. The first of which the Englishman showed great movement to get on the end of Tyreke Wilson's deep cross, but saw the flick towards goal go agonisingly close. The start of the second half followed the same pattern as the first ended as Shels looked to pin back the FAI Cup winners but just lacked a cutting edge in the final third with the final killer ball lacking. Kevin Doherty's side sent a quick reminder of the threat they possessed when Douglas James-Taylor got a free run to get on the end of Owen Lambe's outswinging corner but failed to hit the target. Another long ball from Dennison caused all sorts of confusion for Shels defence with the towering Andrew Quinn winning a header before the ball was eventually scrambled away. The tension was palpable as the game entered the dying embers, with one goal looking like it would be enough for either side. With time running out, James-Taylor was brilliantly denied by Healy having shown excellent feet to twist and turn inside the area. There was still time for substitute Thomas Oluwa to show his power and pace getting in behind to round the onrushing Healy who forced him wide before saving low and on the rebound, the busy Markey failed to get his shot through a sea of bodies in the box as it remained 0-0. SHELBOURNE: Conor Kearns (Lorcan Healy, 29'); Sean Gannnon, Kameron Ledwidge, Tyreke Wilson; Evan Caffrey, Ellis Chapman, JJ Lunney (John Martin 7, 65'), Kerr McInroy, James Norris (Ryan O'Kane, 72'); Harry Wood (John O'Sullivan, 72'), Mipo Odubeko DROGHEDA UNITED: Luke Dennison; Owen Lambe, Elicha Ahui, Conor Keely, Andrew Quinn, Conor Kane; Ryan Brennan, Luke Heeney, Shane Farrell (Darragh Markey, 74'); Warren Davis (Thomas Oluwa, 72'), Douglas James-Taylor Referee: Rob Hennessy
