Latest news with #SimonPower
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Simon Power targets European return as St Patrick's Athletic host his former club Sligo in crucial clash
Simon Power is determined to help St Patrick's Athletic get back into Europe next season KNOW HOW Simon Power targets European return as St Patrick's Athletic host his former club Sligo in crucial clash FOR Simon Power, playing in Europe was one of the big draws when it came to signing for St Pat's last December. Now, his only aim is making sure that he can look forward to it again next year. Advertisement 2 Simon Power of St Patrick's Athletic is determined to help his club get back into Europe next season 2 St Pat's host Power's former club Sligo Rovers at Richmond Park on Sunday St Pat's host Power's former club Sligo Rovers at Richmond Park this evening looking for a victory to push closer to the top three and European football next season. This year's Conference League journey appears imminently over after Thursday's 4-1 first-leg loss to Besiktas in the third round in Tallaght. But Power insisted that playing on the continent in 2026 now has to be the focus. He said of Sligo's visit: 'It's a massive game because we want to get back in the European spots for next year. Advertisement "We have to climb back up that ladder and gain points and we're looking to do that on Sunday. 'Every League of Ireland player wants to be playing European football. That was a major pulling factor for me signing here in the first place as I knew the quality in the squad. 'With Stephen Kenny coming in — I worked with him previously at Ireland Under-21s and he was a major pulling factor. 'We'll be looking to do that as we back ourselves. We'll have gained invaluable experience from this European campaign and we want to take that into the league now. Advertisement 'Games will be coming thick and fast and we have to dust ourselves down after Thursday and focus on Sunday. "We need to be picking up more points week in, week out and we can't really be settling for one point here. Benjamin Sesko is paraded around Old Trafford after completing £74million transfer 'All we want to do is win every single game and hopefully we can start that against Sligo.' And if Pat's — who won nine in a row to end last season, climbing from eighth place to third — are to make Europe again, Power will likely have a big role in them doing it. Advertisement After injury problems earlier in the season following his arrival from Sligo, the 27-year-old has been a regular recently. He admitted: 'It was a bit of a risk for me coming here in the first place with the wingers we have. 'I didn't want to come in and just be happy with sitting on the bench. 'I've worked hard and bided my time to get in the team but I'm playing week in, week out now and I'm really enjoying it.' Advertisement And even on a tough night on Thursday, Power was one of the standout performers. TURKISH DELIGHT Ex-Chelsea man Tammy Abraham's hat-trick and an earlier goal from his fellow former Premier League star Joao Mario, previously of West Ham, had the Turkish big guns cruising at the break. But Power scored the Saints' consolation goal in the second half when they gave a better account of themselves against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's star-studded side. He added: 'I was delighted to score but it's bittersweet. We're disappointed with ourselves that we conceded four goals as we wanted to stay in the game for as long as possible. Advertisement 'Look, we did ourselves proud in the second half. 'They didn't score and we beat them in that half and gave something back to the fans, beat them 1-0 in the second half. So there are some positives.'
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Conference League qualifiers as they happened: St Pat's mauled by Besiktas in Tallaght as Shamrock Rovers lose to Ballkani
Today at 14:00 St Patrick's Athletic took on the might of Turkish side Besiktas, managed by Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, while in Kosovo, Shamrock Rovers faces Ballkani in tonight's Uefa Conference League third qualifying round first legs. You can relive all the action as it happened here. 3 minutes ago That's where we will leave it this evening! Thank you for joining us on another Irish Independent live blog. For post-match reactions and reports, keep an eye on the as the night progresses. A final look at that wonderful pre-match display from the fans in Tallaght: Daniel McDonnell on Twitter / X North Stand in Tallaght belongs to St Patrick's Athletic tonight. Healthy Turkish turnout too and not restricted to the away section Daniel McDonnell (@McDonnellDan) August 7, 2025 FULL-TIME: Athletic 1 - Besiktas 4 Well, the two-legged tie might be over as a contest, but can take great pride in winning the second-half and keeping the 16-time Turkish champions scoreless in the process. Besiktas flexted their muscles in the first-half with Portuguese international Joao Mario on fire, while Tammy Abraham netted a wonderful hattrick. He takes in the adulation of the travelling fans with the match ball tucked under his arm. The Inchicore club hand their fair share of strong performers in goal-scorer Simon Power and the industrious Kian Leavy in midfield. Stephen Kenny's side will travel to Turkiye next Thursday where they will give Besiktas another rattle in the 42,000-seater Tupras Stadyumu. 15 minutes ago Athletic 1 - Besiktas 4 (90 mins) We will play 3 minutes of additional time in Tallaght as this first-leg tie nears it's conclusion. 19 minutes ago Athletic 1 - Besiktas 4 (87 mins) Over to Tallaght and Stephen Kenny's men are holding their own late in this second-half with just 3 minutes of normal time remaining. Besiktas substitute Kartal Yilmaz has just fired wide, with Simon Power off target at the other end. Mason Melia is replaced by Brandon Kavanagh. 22 minutes ago FULL-TIME: Ballkani 1 - Shamrock Rovers 0 Its defeat for Shamrock Rovers in the first-leg of this Conference League third qualifying round. In truth, Ballkani probably deserved it as they created a plentiful supply of chances. Crucially, Sunday Adetunji took his chance on 56 minutes in a very composed manner. However, its only half-time in the context of this two-legged tie. The Hoops will fancy their chances next week at home to the Kosovan side in Tallaght next Thursday. League of Ireland on Twitter / X Defeat in Pristina but all to play for in Tallaght next week 👊 League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) August 7, 2025 External contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties. 27 minutes ago 90+2' SAVE! Agony for Shamrock Rovers as Dylan Watts delivers a wonderful freekick to the back post which is met by the head of Honohan. The wing-back is denied by another fine Adnan Golubovic save. 28 minutes ago 90' The Hoops couldn't take advantage of that aforementioned set-piece as Danny Grant strayed offside. There will be a minimum of 4 minutes of additional time played as Geralb Smalji wipes out Josh Honohan on an attacking foray. 30 minutes ago Athletic 1 - Besiktas 4 (76 mins) CHANCE! That was well worked by as Jason McClelland worked a free short to Chris Forrester. The experienced midfielder cut in on his right and forced Gunok into a fine save. Kian Leavy has been excellent for the Saints tonight too. He wins another corner for the hosts. 32 minutes ago 87' Michael Noonan does well to win the ball back and set Danny Grant away on a one-man break. He holds on to win a free from Gentrit Halili who is finally brandished with a yellow card - it only took about 8 fouls. Can the Hoops profit from this set-piece? 36 minutes ago 82' JUST WIDE! Another chance for the hosts as Adetunji holds up possession expertly for Giovanni. The Brazilian's left-footed effort fizzes past the right post. McGinty probably had his angles covered. 39 minutes ago 80' CLOSE! That could have resulted in a second goal for Ballkani as Halili's cross beats Lee Grace and falls to Sunday Adetunji. The 27-year-old marksman can't control it and Ed McGinty pounces. 43 minutes ago 75' Gentrit Halili, Ballkani's centre-half, has easily racked up a good half-dozen fouls now. The Hoops bench erupts after more cynical play from the 23-year-old, but it lands Stephen Bradley in the referee's book. There's no doubt about it, the Ukrainian arbiter has been rather lenient towards the hosts thus far. External contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties. 45 minutes ago A moment Simon Power will never forget - his wonderful solo goal against Turkish giants Besiktas: 48 minutes ago 70' Into the final 20 minutes here in Kosovo and the lively Almir Kryeziu draws another fine save out of Ed McGinty. The Hoops shot-stopper did well to hold onto the powerful strike. 50 minutes ago Athletic 1 - Besiktas 4 (55 mins) SAVE! have come alive in this second-half and their travelling fans from Inchicore have burst into song. Substitute Axel Sjoberg puts in a wonderful cross from the right, but Melia's strike is parried by Mert Gunok. The teenager can't get onto the rebound. That was so close! 53 minutes ago 64' Stephen Bradley has made a couple of alterations after the hour mark with Conor Malley and Michael Noonan taking over from Darragh Nugent and Rory Gaffney. Ballkani make an alteration of their own as Walid Hamidi makes way for Bleart Tolaj. 55 minutes ago Athletic 1 - Besiktas 4 (49 mins) GOAL! What a start for the Saints as Simon Power shows a clean pair of heels to Gabriel Paulista. The former Arsenal and Valencia centre-half is left eating the 27-year-old's dust as he slots it home at the near post despite the advancing frame of Mert Gunok. Not even a VAR review can overturn it. Wonderful stuff! League of Ireland on Twitter / X 49' | Pats have a goal back! Simon Power scoring shortly after the 1-4 BJK League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) August 7, 2025 Today 03:50 PM 56' GOAL! Ballkani 1 - Shamrock Rovers 0 The Kosovan club have constructed the breakthrough just before the breakthrough here! Shamrock Rovers fail to deal with Ardit Deliu in midfield. The Albanian feeds it wide to Giovanni who slips a ball into Sunday Adetunji. The Nigerian striker has ice in his veins as he cuts inside Lopes and picks out the bottom-left corner. Live Blog Software
RTÉ News
17-07-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Pat's poised to pitch up at Hegelmann with narrow lead
If Europe was going to provide a narrative shift for St Patrick's Athletic, it didn't appear to happen in last week's UEFA Conference League first leg against FC Hegelmann. Stephen Kenny's side had gone into the first qualifying round tie off the back of a lengthening dry spell. Domestically, since the start of June, the Saints had only scored one goal in six games - a Simon Power consolation in a 3-1 defeat at Galway United. The first leg against Lithuanian minnows Hegelmann looked like an opportunity to unblock the pipes and rack up a deluge of confidence-boosting goals. And while the Inchicore side did go on to create a whole host of chances at Richmond Park last Thursday, it took until the 81st minute to break the deadlock. And that was from the penalty spot rather than from open play. The fact that the aforementioned Power strike is the only open-play goal St Pat's have scored in 630 minutes of football is somewhat baffling given the creative talent at Kenny's disposal, whether it's Tottenham Hotspur-bound teenage sensation Mason Melia and the scorer of the first-leg penalty, Aidan Keena, up front, or the supporting cast of wingers and attack-minded midfielders like Jake Mulraney, Zach Elbouzedi, Brandon Kavanagh and Kian Leavy. The positive for Pat's in this evening's second leg is that they incurred no bookings last week and kick off with an albeit narrow 1-0 lead to build on. But how they approach the 5pm kick-off at the Raudondvario stadium will be intriguing, with the artificial pitch a factor that should prompt a compromise in the style of play, according to former St Pat's and Republic of Ireland winger Keith Treacy. "I understand the second leg in Stephen Kenny's words is a small astro," he told the RTÉ Soccer Podcast. "Play the conditions. If the astro is not great, do not play out from the back. Don't force your style of play if it's not going to be conducive to you. So for me, don't make mistakes, Pat's should easily win that game." Treacy also said that from the evidence of the first leg, only two of Hegelmann's players have the capacity to trouble St Pat's - the Cameroonian striker Abdel Kader Njoya and Brazilian winger Leo Ribeiro - with the first leg chances conceded by the Saints having been self-inflicted when caught out on the break. "The only way that those two players can hurt you is in transition if Pat's lose the ball up high. Maybe a big, long raking pass or Ribeiro can eat up the ground with his pace. But they're playing a team that basically have two good players in it and they should be able to stand on their throat," he added. "I wouldn't be looking forward to (the astro pitch) myself but you've had a look at (Hegelmann), they struggle to keep the ball in the middle of the pitch and they make some really strange decisions at times and they were lucky to get out of Pat's with just a 1-0. "I'm sure Stephen Kenny will be saying, 'These aren't great'. Whatever he's saying in the media about them not being bad and moving forward, they've got a little bit of money thrown behind them, they got promoted four years ago, they're new to all this "They've an average attendance of about 300, they've only got a stadium capacity of 1,500. So whatever version of this team Pat's get, it's not going to be hostile, it's not going to be brilliant. "So I expect Pat's to come through it. I don't expect it to be easy, they will have to solve some problems on the fly because they don't know an awful lot about this team. There could be some surprises but to me (Hegelmann) have two half-decent players that you need to look after and the rest are bang average." A clean sheet for Pat's would ensure progression to the second qualifying round and the League of Ireland have managed to string three of those together in a row, including last week's first leg. But an open-play goal or two at the other end would go a long way to easing any nerves, although that would require bucking their own recent downturn on that front. In former Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers midfielder Richie Towell's view, it's vital that Pat's ease the burden on Melia given he is just 17. "Mason's still a young boy so take the load off him and not have that pressure especially coming around in Europe," he said. "Let's be realistic, Pat's will be hoping for some financial gain from Europe and to put that sort of weight on a 17-year-old's shoulders is really difficult." That being said, Melia's manager was pleased with his output last week despite the foul-infused attentions of Hegelmann's centre-backs even if he wasn't able to find the back of the net. "Mason shipped a bit of treatment but he kept coming back for more and he doesn't hide," Kenny said. "He keeps his head high and even though he missed a couple of chances he's coming back and getting in the box again. Then he ultimately got taken out for the penalty." Whether it's Melia or Keena, or both, starting up front this evening, will be interesting to see. But getting back among the (open-play) goals will certainly be on the agenda and not just with an eye to being galvanised for upcoming domestic considerations. The prize for getting to the next stage in the Conference League is not just financial but Pat's would fancy themselves to have a crack at the winner of the tie between Estonia's Nomme Kalju and Albanian side Partizani, who are currently locked at 1-1 on aggregate after last week's first leg in Tallinn. If they could replicate last season's European run, which took them to the play-off round, it could be the shot in the arm that the Saints need to revitalise their flagging domestic campaign.
The Irish Sun
09-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Stephen Kenny challenges St Pat's to ‘fight to earn the right' to succeed in Conference League amid LOI struggles
STEPHEN KENNY knows Europe means a narrower focus - but he still takes a wide angled view on it. St Pat's host Lithuanian side Hegelmann at Richmond Park tomorrow in the opening round of the Conference League looking to start another great European run. 2 Stephen Kenny is interviewed by Virgin Media Sport during a St Patrick's Athletic media conference at Richmond Park Credit: Ben McShane/Sportsfile 2 He compared Simon Power to Chiedozie Ogbene Credit: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile But Kenny's men are not going into Europe in the best of form having won just one in nine, and scored just once in their last six games. It is a long way away from the end of last season when his team won nine in a row as they went from third from the bottom to third from the top to qualify for Europe . And the Saints gaffer is realistic about what is ahead of his team. He said: 'It is interesting, for me, to see a team with full confidence, winning all their league games and winning in Europe, and then to see those levels drop off. Read More on League of ireland 'If everything was perfect I would not have been brought in in the first place (last year). It didn't look like much was wrong - we were flying - and we still had a lot of stuff to iron out.' But having hit form last year in Europe when they reached the Conference League play-off round, Kenny hopes for a change of fortunes again in this year's competition. He added: 'The players worked so hard last year to come up from third bottom, it just looked so unlikely at that stage. 'The reason we worked so hard to qualify for Europe is when you get there you want to make an impact. Most read in Football 'There's no point in doing it and just getting knocked out, you have to show a level of ambition and we will have to fight hard over two legs to get through.' League of Ireland mascots compete in charity race in Naas And that means improving their form, and particular, their finishing with five blanks in their last six games a worry. Kenny previously highlighted how his wingers have been nullified in the League of Ireland lately. But he hopes a change of focus can help them flourish tomorrow even as the Richmond Park pitch is narrowed because of Kenny added: 'I know it is a dying art, not many teams play with them now, in Ireland . We have Simon Power, who has hit a bit of form, which is great to see after his injury issues. 'He is very different. His raw pace, according to StatsSports' measurement, is on par with Simon is probably the quickest player in the league. 'Will the wingers get more of a chance to flourish in Europe? We don't know, because this is a good team. 'I don't think this is going to be us getting on the ball and having waves of attack. I think this will be… they are quite an attacking team and they'll try to control a lot. 'We'll have to really, really fight to earn the right. We have worked so hard to get there, so when you are in there you have to make it count.'
Irish Daily Mirror
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
The one rule that has Stephen Kenny pining for the introduction of VAR in LOI
Stephen Kenny says his frustration with recent rulings on one aspect of the game in particular has turned him into an advocate for the introduction of VAR into the League of Ireland. Simon Power last week became the latest St Patrick's Athletic player to have a goal chalked off for offside. And as with previous strikes by Zach Elbouzedi and Jake Mulraney, Kenny reckons the Saints were hard done by. Thursday night's Europa Conference League opponents Hegelmann play in the Lithuanian top-flight - and despite low attendances and small stadiums, they have VAR in their domestic league. 'I was at their game at the weekend, I was watching it live, and they have VAR. So in Lithuania they have it in their league games,' said Kenny. As for the League of Ireland, he added: 'Yeah, I would (like to see it introduced), particularly for the offsides. 'I don't know about everything else, but Zach Elbouzedi has had two goals disallowed for offside this season; one in the opening game against Drogheda. 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. 'Jake Mulraney has had an absolutely brilliant header disallowed in the Brandywell to go one-up, and then the other night Simon Power has had a goal, which would have been nearly goal of the season in terms of Ryan wins it, Aido sets it, Jamie plays it through, it was a great goal, but that's chalked off. 'I like the offsides, they have it in Lithuania. How do they have it with the resources they have? They've not got big crowds or they've not got major grounds. It's 1,500-capacity in a small ground. 'I don't know what the costs involved are, I don't know how practical it is and I'm not sure what's involved in it. But they have it. I'd like it for the offsides, for sure.'
