Latest news with #Sykes
Belfast Telegraph
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Brave Co Down are undone as Manchester United set up SuperCup NI Premier Final clash with Southampton
Emmanuel Ziro's goal eight minutes into the second half secured a 1-0 win for United and broke the hearts of a brave County Down side, who were tough to break down and a match for the boys from Old Trafford in spells throughout the game. It will be an all-English battle in the decider at Coleraine Showgrounds (8pm) after Southampton brushed off the challenge of Hamiilton Academicals, winning 4-1. United have won the Premier tournament five times this century, as well as one Junior title and given that record, plus a previous history beyond the 21st century, there will be a level of expectation on them to triumph again. 'If these lads are going to play for Manchester United they are going to have to deal with pressure so it's really nice practice for them,' said United coach Tom Curtis. 'This tournament is a real test for the boys against really well organised and well motivated teams and it's a fantastic experience for everybody.' United were patient in their approach throughout the game, happy to retain the ball, rotate possession and probe for openings when they may be found. That meant there wasn't a lot for Down goalkeeper Max Sykes to do, particularly in the opening stages and also in general throughout the game. In contrast Down were aggressive in trying to win the ball back and keen to attacking quickly when the did have the ball. That contrast was evident when Down's Stephen Kelly had the first real chance of the game with a shot that sailed just over the bar before United could muster anything of note. That quickly changed when Samuel O'Brien slipped a pass wide to Edson DeJonge-Seiros on the left and Sykes did well to save. Kelly's pace was a major asset to Down when they got the chance to break and when he got a run on the United defence and there was a lucky escape for United when he fed Zak Magowa, only for the ball to get stuck under the striker's feet.. The longer the game went on the more likely it looked that one goal would settle it and that's how it turned out. Abdoulaye Douka Nkoto, who lit up the tournament with two beautifully taken goals against Rangers on Tuesday night, again showed his quality with a superb through ball that split the defence, sending Ziro through one-on-one with Sykes and he rolled the ball home from 10 yards out. It was hard on Down who had been strong, disciplined and had coped with much of what United had to offer up to that stage and they can be proud of the performances that got them to the Semi-Final stage. George Robinson netted a first-half hat-trick in Southampton's victory over Hamilton. Archie Lovatt added a third as the Saints all but wrapped up the win by half time. Josh Carson netted a consolation for the Scots. Intercontinental beat Rangers 2-1 to take their place in the Globe Final, where they will meet Ichifuna, who beat Mexican side Tigres 1-0. Brighton won a penalty shoot-out against County Tyrone after a 0-0 draw to take their place in the Vase Final, where they will play County Londonderry after their 3-2 win against AFC Bournemouth. County Antrim are in the Bowl Final after a 3-1 win over County Fermanagh and that will be a local affair after County Armagh won 2-1 against West Cork Academy. County Armagh boss Darragh Peden says his boys are having fun all the way to the Junior Final Darragh Peden's 'fun and enjoyment' approach has put County Armagh Juniors one step away from the ultimate joy at the SuperCup NI. An all-county Final against County Antrim, who beat St Patrick's Athletic 3-0, awaits after a thrilling 5-4 win over Celtic and if the decider has even half the excitement then fans are in for a real treat. Armagh conceded their first goal of the tournament just a minute into the game, but 25 minutes later they were 4-1 up after a terrific response. Ethan Connolly benefited from Alfie Davidson's tenacity in chasing the ball down to equalise 10 minutes after falling behind, Will Davison swept home when the ball was delivered across the box five minutes later and it was Davidson himself who fired a thunderbolt from the edge of the box to make it 3-1. Armagh's momentum built further when Eogham Mallon scored from the penalty spot after he had been fouled. Even after Flynn Watson got one back for Celtic, Davidson again riffled home a shot from distance to keep Armagh three goals to the good. When Henry Atkinson's deflected shot found the net on the stroke of half-time and Zion Pullan headed home from a free kick early in the second-half to bring Celtic back to within one goal, the game really was on a knife edge. Mallon missed from the spot when presented with a chance to finally kill off the Scottish giants' challenge and it was the attitude of his players throughout a testing final 20 minutes that impressed Peden as much as anything else. 'I set the camp up to make sure that for Juniors first of all it was going to be fun and enjoyment and a balance between hopefully winning some football matches, which brings enjoyment,' said Peden. 'I'm really pleased with the second-half because we were asked a real question against a top team and ground out a result. Sometimes that's what you need to do. 'At 1-0 down, they had to show character and they hadn't really been served that up because we hadn't conceded a goal previously, but good gutsy characters, passing tests and can be better.' Antrim will now aim to emulate their counterparts from 2017 and 2018, who became the first county team to win the Junior competition, after their Premier team had done so in 2015. Michael Mulholland continued his goalscoring streak with the opener in their win over St Pat's with another superb finish and two goals from Seanan Wright secured their passage to the Final. Blackburn Rovers will contest the Globe decider after a 5-2 victory over Bohemians. They will face County Down, who had a superb 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur. County Tyrone reached the Vase Final with a 2-0 win over County Fermanagh and they will meet County Londonderry, who had a 2-1 win over West Ham United. The Bowl decider will be an all-English affair between Crewe Alexandra and Charlton Athletic. Crewe beat Chicago City 3-2, while Charlton won 2-1 against Plymouth Argyle. Linfield bidding to put last year's Minor Final heartache behind them after shocking Blackburn Rovers in last four Linfield will aim to go one better than 2024 after completing a hugely dramatic comeback before beating Blackburn Rovers on penalties to reach the SuperCup NI Minor Final. The Blues, who lost last year's decider to Crusaders, face Belfast rivals Cliftonville in Friday's Coleraine Showgrounds showpiece (11am), as the Reds too booked their place with a 7-6 shootout win over Shamrock Rovers after a 1-1 draw. A display of character brought Linfield level after falling 2-0 down before winning 7-6 on penalties, with only one kick missed. Divine Shitu shot across goal to put Blackburn ahead in the 22nd minute after Jonas Henderson had made a couple of impressive early saves. When Jacob Woods netted after a shot had come off the bar four minutes later, Blackburn looked in control. Linfield have faced adversity throughout the tournament, losing both Lucas Moore and Aaron Duffy to broken arms early in the week before Ronan Laverty pulled out before kick-off, and reacted with great maturity. They halved the deficit 11 minutes into the second period when Blackburn goalkeeper Jacob Lumor failed to deal with Cruz O'Neill's corner — the ball just about crossing the line — and that swung the momentum in Linfield's favour. With just a couple of minutes to go, Olly Roney sent the ball deep into the Rovers half, O'Neill crossed low into the box and Oliver Prenter hit what was a deserved equaliser. The composure of Prenter, O'Neill, Noah Clarke, Sam DeLargy Jake Booth, Zayne Leckey and Roney as they scored from the spot was impressive for such young players and when the unfortunate Teddy Simpson saw his kick saved superbly by Henderson, the celebrations began. 'That was heart, that was desire, that was energy and they showed real resilience because other teams against an opposition like that with real quality could lie down, get beaten by four or five goals,' said Linfield coach Scott Boyd. 'I think courage is the word that I'll use the rest of the day, because we were on the ropes first-half and they left everything out there.' Coleraine and Leeds United will meet in the Final of the Globe competition after both had 3-0 Semi-Final wins, the Bannsiders beating Kilmarnock while Leeds defeated Ballymena United. Loughgall were 5-0 winners over Crusaders to reach the Vase decider, where they will play Al Jazira Club, who defeated Shankill Juniors 3-1. IDA Bermuda will take on Surf Select for the Bowl after a 1-0 win over Glenavon. The Americans were also 1-0 winners, against Ross County. Shamrock Rovers beat Brighton 3-2 to win the Girls Premier tournament. Manchester United beat Aston Villa to win the Globe, while Northern Ireland were 4-1 winners over Surf Select in the Vase decider. United were also victorious in the Girls Junior tournament, beating Surf Select 3-0. Larne won the Globe competition thanks to a 5-4 victory over Kilmarnock, while FC United were 5-1 winners over Crusaders to win the Vase.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Vance's tour to tout Trump's megabill offers a preview of his midterm mission
CANTON, Ohio — Vice President JD Vance dropped by a steel factory here Monday to trumpet the White House agenda — namely a 'big, beautiful bill' that polls indicate most voters don't like. The visit also gave a glimpse of how Vance will be deployed, not just to sell President Donald Trump's policies, but also to campaign for Republicans in next year's midterm elections. It was the second time in three weeks that Vance found himself talking up the megabill in a battleground for partisan control of the House. He played defense in Pennsylvania's 8th District this month, offering a shoutout to Rep. Rob Bresnahan, a vulnerable Republican who was in the crowd. Vance switched to offense Monday in Ohio's 13th District, scolding Rep. Emilia Sykes, an endangered Democrat, for voting against the bill. 'You know who we don't have in the house right now? We do not have Congresswoman Emilia Sykes,' Vance said in his half-hour speech to workers and local political leaders at Metallus. 'And you know why she's not here today?' Vance continued before he mentioned a couple of provisions in the bill that Trump often emphasizes. 'Because she's not celebrating no taxes on tips. She's not celebrating no taxes on overtime. She's not celebrating the highest rising take-home pay in 60 years, because she fought us every step of the way on the big, beautiful bill.' Vance, a former senator from Ohio, also contended that Sykes and others who were unhappy with the bill would have been welcome at the White House to hash out their differences. 'The next piece of legislation that comes along, why don't you work hard for the people in this room, and we'll work right alongside with you?' Vance said. 'Why don't we have a Democratic Party, my friends, that instead of trying to tear down Donald J. Trump works with Donald J. Trump to build up this great American company and great American community?' Sykes, in a telephone interview afterward with NBC News, took issue with Vance's characterization of the bill and of her involvement in fighting it. She also questioned whether the no-tax-on-overtime clause would apply to many of the workers Vance visited with Monday. 'I certainly wished he would have used this opportunity and the office of the vice president to tell the truth,' Sykes said. 'Instead, he chose the opportunity to lie to my friends and neighbors.' Sykes added that she was not invited to the event. 'That's why I was not there," she said. "And I'm sure I was not invited because I would tell the truth.' The sniping offered a sampling of what's to come as the White House leans on Vance to carry its message and preferred candidates in competitive congressional districts and states with toss-up governor's and Senate races. The term-limited Trump has shown less of an appetite for campaign-style rallies and road show theatrics since he returned to the presidency in January. Vance, who is seen as a likely GOP presidential candidate in 2028, has picked up the slack, allowing him to bank the type of political goodwill that can be useful in the future. Vance peppered his remarks Monday with appeals to working-class voters. 'You drive down the road, you drive past a beautiful factory, and you know someone who built a life in that factory,' Vance said. 'You know a grandfather, a father, a cousin, an uncle, somebody whose American dream was provided by the wages and the dignity built in that factory.' The 'dignity' line had echoes of former Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, who made the 'dignity of work' a staple of his messaging but lost a re-election bid last year to Republican Bernie Moreno. Brown is weighing a comeback in next year's midterm elections — either as a candidate for governor or to fill the rest of Vance's unexpired Senate term. After his remarks, Vance posed for pictures with workers and autographed several of their hard hats with a black Sharpie marker. Donning an orange hard hat of his own, as well as safety goggles and a protective jacket, Vance then toured the factory floor for several minutes. Ohio's 13th District, which includes Akron, Canton and their surrounding areas, is one of five Democratic districts in the state and one of at least two that Republicans hope to flip in 2026. Many predict that a new congressional map due later this year will be even friendlier to the GOP — which maintains enormous influence over the process — despite a voter-approved measure designed to promote more bipartisanship in the state's redistricting practices. 'I am perceiving a feeling of calm confidence that we're adding two districts,' a Republican operative familiar with the soon-to-begin process said. 'I'd be shocked if we didn't.' Sykes, first elected to the House in 2022, won a second term last year by 2.2 percentage points, narrowly beating Republican Kevin Coughlin, a former state lawmaker. Coughlin is running again, and the National Republican Congressional Committee identifies the district as one of its top targets. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, meanwhile, has placed Sykes in its 'Frontline' program for incumbents facing tough re-election battles. A majority of registered voters in two recent polls — 58% surveyed by Fox News, 52% surveyed by The Wall Street Journal — said they opposed the megabill. In an emailed statement, DCCC spokesperson Katie Smith called Vance's visit 'another desperate attempt to lie about the devastating impact the Big, Ugly Law will have on working families,' while predicting that voters in the district will rally behind Sykes. Ohio's other vulnerable House Democrat, Marcy Kaptur, also drew a brief attack from Vance on Monday after a reporter asked him specifically about her re-election bid. 'You know Marcy, I guess her district is in northwestern Ohio, but you've got a lot of manufacturing and a lot of energy workers in northwestern Ohio that would have benefited from her 'yes' vote,' Vance said of Kaptur, who voted against the megabill. 'These guys didn't even come to the White House and try to make their concerns known,' he added. 'They just attack, attack, attack, attack. All they care about is impeaching Donald J. Trump. I don't think the American people should reward that broken style of politics, and I don't think they're going to come November 2026.' Kaptur, the longest-serving woman in congressional history, has represented the Toledo area's 9th District since 1982. A combination of redistricting and political realignment has made the district tougher for Democrats. She beat Republican Derek Merrin by less than a percentage point last fall. Merrin is seeking a rematch and faces a GOP primary with state Rep. Josh Williams. Ohio Senate President Rob McColley is another potential Republican candidate. This article was originally published on
NBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- NBC News
Vance's tour to tout Trump's megabill offers a preview of his midterm mission
CANTON, Ohio — Vice President JD Vance dropped by a steel factory here Monday to trumpet the White House agenda — namely a 'big, beautiful bill' that polls show most voters don't like. The visit also gave a glimpse of how Vance will be deployed, not just to sell President Donald Trump's policies, but also to campaign for Republicans in next year's midterm elections. It was the second time in three weeks that Vance found himself talking up the megabill in a battleground for partisan control of the House. Earlier this month, he played defense in Pennsylvania's 8th District, offering a shout out to Rep. Rob Bresnahan, a vulnerable Republican who was in the crowd. Vance switched to offense Monday in Ohio's 13th District, scolding Rep. Emilia Sykes, an endangered Democrat, for voting against the bill. 'You know who we don't have in the house right now? We do not have Congresswoman Emilia Sykes,' Vance said during his half-hour speech to workers and local political leaders at Metallus. 'And you know why she's not here today?' Vance continued before mentioning a couple of provisions in the bill that Trump often emphasizes. 'Because she's not celebrating no taxes on tips. She's not celebrating no taxes on overtime. She's not celebrating the highest rising take home pay in 60 years, because she fought us every step of the way on the big, beautiful bill.' Vance, a former senator from Ohio, also contended that Sykes and others who were unhappy with the bill would have been welcome at the White House to hash out their differences. 'The next piece of legislation that comes along, why don't you work hard for the people in this room, and we'll work right alongside with you?' Vance said. 'Why don't we have a Democratic Party, my friends, that instead of trying to tear down Donald J. Trump works with Donald J. Trump to build up this great American company and great American community?' Sykes, in a telephone interview afterward with NBC News, took issue with Vance's characterization of the bill and of her involvement in fighting it. She also questioned whether the no-tax-on-overtime clause would apply to many of the workers Vance visited with Monday. 'I certainly wished he would have used this opportunity and the Office of the Vice President to tell the truth,' Sykes said. 'Instead, he chose the opportunity to lie to my friends and neighbors.' Sykes added that she was not invited to the event. 'That's why I was not there," she said. "And I'm sure I was not invited because I would tell the truth.' The sniping offered a sampling of what's to come as the White House leans on Vance to carry its message and preferred candidates in competitive congressional districts and states with toss-up gubernatorial and Senate races. The term-limited Trump has shown less of an appetite for campaign-style rallies and roadshow theatrics since returning to the presidency in January. Vance, who is seen as a likely GOP presidential candidate in 2028, has picked up the slack, allowing him to bank the type of political goodwill that can be useful to him in the future. Vance peppered his remarks Monday with appeals to working-class voters. 'You drive down the road, you drive past a beautiful factory, and you know someone who built a life in that factory,' Vance said. 'You know a grandfather, a father, a cousin, an uncle, somebody whose American dream was provided by the wages and the dignity built in that factory.' The 'dignity' line had echoes of former Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat who made the 'dignity of work' a staple of his messaging but lost a re-election bid last year to Republican Bernie Moreno. Brown is weighing a comeback in next year's midterm elections — either as a candidate for governor or to fill the remainder of Vance's unexpired Senate term. After his remarks, the vice president posed for pictures with workers and autographed several of their hard hats with a black Sharpie marker. Donning an orange hard hat of his own, as well as safety goggles and a protective jacket, Vance then toured the factory floor for several minutes. Ohio's 13th District, which includes Akron, Canton and their surrounding areas, is one of five Democratic districts in the state and one of at least two that Republicans hope to flip in 2026. Many predict that a new congressional map due later this year will be even friendlier to the GOP — which maintains enormous influence over the process — despite a voter-approved measure designed to promote more bipartisanship in the state's redistricting practices. 'I am perceiving a feeling of calm confidence that we're adding two districts,' one Republican operative familiar with the soon-to-begin process said. 'I'd be shocked if we didn't.' Sykes, first elected to the House in 2022, won a second term last year by 2.2 percentage points, narrowly beating Republican Kevin Coughlin, a former state lawmaker. Coughlin is running again, and the National Republican Congressional Committee identifies the district as one of its top targets. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, meanwhile, has placed Sykes in its 'Frontline' program for incumbents facing tough re-election battles. A majority of registered voters in two recent polls — 58% surveyed by Fox News, 52% surveyed by T he Wall Street Journal — said they opposed the megabill. In an emailed statement, DCCC spokesperson Katie Smith called Vance's visit 'another desperate attempt to lie about the devastating impact the Big, Ugly Law will have on working families,' while predicting that voters in the district will rally behind Sykes. Ohio's other vulnerable House Democrat, Rep. Marcy Kaptur, also drew a brief attack from Vance on Monday after a reporter asked him specifically about her re-election bid. 'You know Marcy, I guess her district is in northwestern Ohio, but you've got a lot of manufacturing and a lot of energy workers in northwestern Ohio that would have benefited from her 'yes' vote,' Vance said of Kaptur, who voted against the megabill. 'These guys didn't even come to the White House and try to make their concerns known,' Vance added. 'They just attack, attack, attack, attack. All they care about is impeaching Donald J. Trump. I don't think the American people should reward that broken style of politics, and I don't think they're going to come November 2026.' Kaptur, the longest-serving woman in congressional history, has represented the Toledo area's 9th District since 1982. A combination of redistricting and political realignment has made the district tougher for Democrats. She beat Republican Derek Merrin by less than a percentage point last fall. Merrin is seeking a rematch and faces a GOP primary with state Rep. Josh Williams. Ohio Senate President Rob McColley is another potential Republican candidate.
Miami Herald
4 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Hands-On Leadership Rewriting the HBCU Athletics Playbook
For Tiffani-Dawn Sykes, returning to Virginia State University isn't just a new chapter - it's a full-circle moment that began as an HBCU student-athlete walking the same campus halls. "It's amazing to be home. It's really a full circle moment for me," she said at CIAA Media Day. As a freshman, Sykes saw something powerful: a Black woman leading athletics - Alfreeda Goff - showing her that this career was possible. "I knew I could work in college athletics because… Alfreeda Goff was a Black woman who was the athletics director there." Now, Sykes holds the same seat of power, building on the foundation laid by Goff and her predecessor, longtime AD Peggy Davis. "Being in her footsteps - and following Peggy Davis, my predecessor - is really special." The Trojans came heartbreakingly close to a CIAA title last season. There's no dancing around the goal this year - it's championship or bust. Sykes put two players on the spot at an alumni event ahead of CIAA Media Day. "I asked Donovan, 'What can Trojan fans look forward to?' He said, 'A championship, Bruno said [he's] most looking forward to the championship game." Their clarity fuels hers. "My expectations are their expectations - we're back in Durham to end our season in the championship game and then go on to the NCAA playoffs." The message is loud and clear: this program isn't just competing - it's coming to win. Sykes doesn't just lead Athletics at Virginia State University - she lives it. Whether taking photos with championship teams or pulling up to away games, she's everywhere her student-athletes are. "I can't be an armchair AD. I need to be involved," she said. For her, presence isn't performance - it's strategy. She knows being hands-on helps uncover gaps, support staff, and elevate the student-athlete experience. "There are things even a coach has blind spots on… Being present lets me say, 'Hey, we can do this differently.'" And that presence builds something just as important as strategy: trust. "Student-athletes and coaches earn trust when they see that you are around the program." Tiffani-Dawn Sykes isn't the only one fully invested. University President Dr. Makola Abdullah is equally immersed - and it's making a difference. "It's awesome to work for a leader like President Abdul - transformational, progressive, and sincerely interested in athletics," Sykes said. His support goes beyond suits and speeches. He asks coaches about their schemes, learns rosters, and shows up. "At one event, he came upstairs and did a chalk talk with some of our coaches. He wants to know, 'What kind of offense do you run? Is defense your thing?" He's all in, and not just for show. "Not just good-looking facilities - he wants the right people leading our young people… and he wants to see what it looks like on film." Trojan alumni have been discussing a move to Division I. Sykes respects the ambition, but she's focused on the program's current state. "There's not a hint from me on moving to Division I… though there is interest from our alumni." With 20 NCAA sports and a growing profile, Virginia State looks like a D1 school in many ways. But that's not the playbook - not yet. "People see our sports profile and think that's a step toward D1. But really, we want to win a national championship in Division II." And to do that, she knows what it takes: strategy, structure, and strong financial backing. "It's my job to bring in more resources and allocate them properly… I want us to have a nationally recognized athletics program. Once we do that, I'll entertain the conversation. But right now, I don't think we're ready." From her legacy-driven return to her sideline presence, Tiffani-Dawn Sykes is building something bigger than a season - she's building a model. If Virginia State lives up to its expectations - and if Sykes gets the buy-in she's working for - this could be the year Trojan athletics doesn't just win, it arrives. The post Hands-On Leadership Rewriting the HBCU Athletics Playbook appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
NBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- NBC News
Vance to continue 'big, beautiful bill' salesmanship at Ohio event next week
CLEVELAND — Vice President JD Vance will head back out on the road next week as part of his continued effort to promote the megabill that the White House pushed through Congress this month. Vance is scheduled to visit a steel plant Monday in Canton, Ohio, a person familiar with the plans told NBC News. The vice president, this person added, will emphasize what President Donald Trump's administration sees as selling points in what they have branded the 'big, beautiful bill,' including measures aimed at eliminating taxes on tips and overtime and other tax cuts. A recent Economist/YouGov survey taken after Trump signed the bill on July 4 found that 35% of adults supported it, compared with 53% who were opposed. As Democrats nationally attack the less popular aspects of the bill, including cuts to Medicaid, Vance has emerged as the White House's lead salesman for it ahead of next year's midterm elections. He traveled last week to West Pittston, Pennsylvania, where, in a 20-minute speech, he urged his audience to 'go talk to your neighbors, go and talk to your friends about what this bill does for American citizens.' Like the Pennsylvania trip, which put Vance in the state's competitive 8th Congressional District, the Canton visit will take him to another battleground for partisan control of the House: Ohio's 13th District, represented by Democrat Emilia Sykes. Sykes is a top target for Republicans eager to pick up a seat in the state, which Vance represented in the Senate before winning the vice presidency. She faces a potential 2026 rematch with Kevin Coughlin, a Republican former state lawmaker who lost narrowly to Sykes last year.
