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Irish Examiner
7 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Nash feels he now has Cork City group that are 'all-in' for 12-game survival mission
Twelve League of Ireland Premier Division fixtures. Six at home in Turner's Cross. Six away. That's what Ger Nash and his Cork City charges have left to save their top-flight lives. What is now a 12-game season - or survival mission - begins with the most important fixture of all: Ninth-place Sligo Rovers' visit to Leeside on Friday night. An eight-point gap can - and for Nash and City, needs - to be closed to five, not stretched to 11. It's imperative for their hopes of remaining at the top-level of football in this country. The meeting with John Caulfield's Galway United the following Friday holds the same importance. It's a sentiment Nash is acutely aware of, but for now, Sligo is the test that simply must be passed. "It's a huge week, it's a huge game," City boss Nash said. "We're in no doubt about that, we know the importance of it, we know we need to win games. We've got two home games coming up and I would go as far as to say both games are incredibly important and we need to pick up maximum points. It's that time, it's two-thirds of the way through the season, and we need to win games. "It's as simple as that, that's what is going to get us out of the position that we're in." There has been an evolution within Nash's playing squad this month with multiple arrivals and departures. On-loan midfielder Rio Shipston has returned to Sheffield Wednesday with the English club under a transfer embargo, Djenairo Daniels has headed for Kilmarnock, and Dutch 'keeper Tein Troost has left. Youngster Callum Honohan has joined his brother Josh at Shamrock Rovers, while Arran Healy has joined Kerry in search of first-team football. Malik Dijksteel will depart for 'Keeper David Odumosu, defenders Rory Feely and Fiacre Kelleher, attackers Charlie Lutz and Brody Lee have all arrived. Added to that quintet, on-loan Preston North End midfielder Kaedyn Kamara landed in the door in recent days. All change, but what Nash now knows is where everyone in the building stands. Every player inside the walls of their Bishopstown training base will be carrying the fight to keep City afloat for the next 12 games. The City boss is now sure his current players are "not looking at their next move". He feels they are "all-in" and "want to be" at Cork City. "I've just done a team meeting, and when I look around and what I see in the squad for tomorrow night is a group of people who fully understand the importance of the next 12 games to the people of Cork, to the City fans, for all of our careers, myself as manager, my staff, I think we see a group of people that are all-in," he said. "We need it to work for us and I think that is one of the big things that has come out of this month is that we've lost people, but we've also finished the month, going into this 12-game spell with people who want to be at Cork City and need it to be successful; I need it to be successful, the staff need it to be successful and the players need it to be successful. It's as simple as that." "I don't think we have any people who are looking at their next move, where they want to go next." Circumstances on the injury front are not ideal heading into such a crucial meeting with John Russell's Sligo, who have garnered eight points from their last four league games. Nash teased a first start for long-term absentee Benny Couto, but injuries to Odumosu, Greg Bolger and Murray leave holes in the City's strongest 11. The likelihood is that Darragh Crowley will shift into midfield to accompany Evan McLaughlin, while Conor Brann will be stationed between the posts. "Sean Murray was injured against Shelbourne, came off at half-time, so he's a doubt, Greg Bolger and David Odumosu unfortunately picked up injuries against Waterford, so they are also going to be out, the 38-year-old said. "Milan Mbeng is someone we haven't seen play since the Celtic game, so he's another one." For Sligo and Russell, the objective is simple. Play front-footed football and push City further towards the abyss. "I think it's a huge weekend of football at the bottom end of the table," Russell said. "If we manage to get a win tomorrow night, it gives us another three points on the board and there's 11 games to go. "We know we have to go and attack the game. if you want to win games in this league, home or away, you must to be at your best."
Irish Independent
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Sligo Rovers' James McManus on his screamer against Dundalk: ‘I said to Owen Elding I'm coming for his goal of the month awards'
Sligo Champion Today at 07:30 Sligo Rovers' James McManus joked that he's coming for Owen Elding's goal of the month awards after the Bohemians loanee scored a superb half-volley that put the Bit O'Red 1-0 up against Dundalk in the Sports Direct FAI Cup at Oriel Park on Friday. Sligo Rovers, who were without manager John Russell through illness, were made to work hard for their place in the next round of the cup, with the First Division side the better team for the first-half.
Irish Independent
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Ryan Casey ‘so proud' of Sligo Rovers' second-half performance against Dundalk on ‘horrendous' Oriel Park pitch
Sligo Champion Sligo Rovers' assistant manager Ryan Casey praised his players' 'terrific' second-half performance which saw the Bit O'Red seal their spot in the next round of the FAI Cup in what was a tricky tie at Oriel Park. First Division league leaders Dundalk made Rovers work for this win, and Ciaran Kilduff's side could easily have been winning at half-time had they taken their chances in the first-half.
The Irish Sun
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
League of Ireland mascot ‘should be booked for diving' joke fans after taking hilarious fall in charity race in Naas
FANS joked that a League of Ireland mascot "should be booked for diving" after a hilarious fall at a charity race in Naas. The LOI Mascot Race , sponsored by PFA Ireland , took place at the Kildare racecourse on Saturday. Advertisement 3 League of Ireland mascots took part in a charity race in Naas 3 Sligo Rovers' Benny The Bull suffered a dramatic fall late on 3 This opened the door for Finn Harps' Harper to win It was run in aid of Right from the start, In a momentous twist, Benny lost his footing and fell to the floor, allowing Harper to pull away and win the race for the second time after also winning it in 2019. Fans reacted to the race by poking fun at poor Benny for the tumble. Advertisement Read More on League of Ireland RacingTV joked: "The Devon Loch of the mascot scene..." in reference to the horse which fell on the final straight while leading the 1956 A second viewer said: "Ah jaysus benny" while a third said: "Should be booked for diving" A fourth commented: "Terrible beat for Benny The Bull backers" Between The Stipes tweeted: "Finn Harps greatest moment since the Advertisement Most read in Football " "Credit to all involved, all for a worthy cause" Watch Roy Keane break character in hilarious blooper reel for League of Ireland ad Benny's unfortunate fall was one of two blows suffered by Sligo Rovers on Saturday. John Russell's men were made to settle for a draw with Advertisement That was despite the The point leaves Sligo in the relegation play-off spot, five points ahead of bottom side Cork City. Derry City closed the deficit with a Advertisement The Candystripes are in second place They face the Hoops two times before the end of the season.
Irish Independent
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Djenairo Daniels produces late magic to earn a point for Cork City
But Seani Maguire headed over from four yards in the eighth added minute as Ger Nash's side couldn't snap their 10-game winless streak. Sligo Rovers' win saw them fall four points away from the relegation play-off berth in front of 1,815 fans. A week since their expulsion from the UEFA Conference League was confirmed, Drogs hoped to rebuild their European dreams with back-to-back wins. But Shane Farrell's fantastic free-kick wasn't enough as they dropped to third. Earlier on Monday, City announced the signing of Rory Feely from Crawley Town for an undisclosed fee. Like Colchester United recruit Fiacre Kelleher, the ex-Bohs defender will be available to play from the start of July. That duo are urgently required as City failed again to keep a first clean sheet of the season. City mirrored Drogs' 3-5-2 formation and started in spirited fashion. But it was the visitors celebrating in the 12th minute. After Milan Mbeng's foul on Ryan Brennan, Farrell stepped up and unleashed a sublime 25-yard curler over the wall. It clipped off the post on its way to the net. City are quickly becoming the 24-year-old's favourite opposition as both his goals this season have come against the Leesiders. That would be Drogs' only shot of the half. In their customary style, Doherty's side were happy to soak up pressure as City held 74pc of possession. Daniels had a header in front of goal, but didn't connect properly. Darragh Crowley's brilliant floated pass over the cover found Maguire, who guided his looping header wide. City continued to struggle to translate control into shots on target in the second half. Douglas James-Taylor almost capitalised on Freddie Anderson's poor touch, but Tein Troost reacted sharply to save his defender's blushes by parrying over the crossbar. It looked like City had run out of time until Josh Fitzpatrick's cross was met by Daniels' bullet header for his fifth goal of the season. Then, Mbeng fizzed a ball across for Maguire, who diverted over the bar. Cork City: Troost; Crowley (O'Sullivan 46), Anderson, Lyons; Mbeng, S Murray (Shipston 64), Nelson (Dijksteel 77), Bolger (McLaughlin 68), Kiernan (Fitzpatrick 68); Maguire, Daniels.
