Latest news with #Wicklow-born
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
'Feels like the beginning': Dubliner Mark McNamee makes Green Bay Packers debut
Mark McNamee played in his first game for the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night, a 30-10 pre-season defeat to the New York Jets. Remarkably, the Dubliner did so before taking part in his first official practice with the Packers. McNamee signed a contract with the team last month to be their International Player Pathway Program designee but his arrival in Wisconsin was delayed as he awaited a visa. He only received the green light for his visa earlier this week and arrived in the States late on Friday night. The 25-year-old, who was a goalkeeper with Ballyboden St Enda's, took all three kick-offs for the Packers. He is the second Irish player on their roster, joining Wicklow-born Daniel Whelan who took six punts in Saturday's game. "It's only really sinking in now," McNamee said. "I knew I had a job to do, so that was kind of my focus. I wasn't really thinking about the occasion at all, but it's unbelievable. Obviously disappointed in the result first and foremost, but to actually have suited up and played in the NFL is incredible and feels like it's the beginning, which is definitely a good moment for me and my family." Derry native Jude McAtamney, who is on the New York Giants' roster, featured in his side's 34-25 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. The Swatragh man kicked a 43-yard field goal and also an extra point.
Irish Independent
03-08-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Melia and Carty on target as St Pat's claim valuable win over Waterford
The Tottenham Hotspur-bound striker timed his run to perfection to finish off an 18th-minute through ball from Kian Leavy, and after they missed a host of chances to extend their lead, it was substitute Conor Carty who sealed a card-ridden affair six minutes from time. From the outset, Waterford looked hesitant in defence with Melia unlucky not to convert a Leavy delivery inside five minutes before Conan Noonan had a big chance for the hosts at the other end two minutes later, but he couldn't get a vital touch on the end of Finlay Armstrong's delivery. It was the Inchicore side that broke the deadlock with 18 minutes on the clock when Leavy picked up possession of the ball in the middle of the park before releasing Melia, who was kept onside by Ryan Burke, and the Wicklow-born striker fired past the helpless Stephen McMullan. Tommy Lonergan had a penalty appeal turned down on 29 minutes when he went down under a challenge from Anto Breslin, but referee Daniel Murphy waved away appeals, before Melia could have doubled the lead six minutes before the break only to fire inches wide. Lonergan saw a looping header just clear Joseph Anang's crossbar on the stroke of half-time before the visitors started the second-half on the front foot with a big chance coming to their striker just shy of the hour-mark. Leavy and Kavanagh linked up in the middle of the park with the latter playing Melia in between the Waterford defence, before European match-winner, Jake Mulraney saw his angled effort saved by keeper McMullan. Second-half substitute Carty settled the game for the South Dublin outfit on 84 minutes when he peeled off his marker to get on the end of Kavanagh's teasing left-wing corner-kick to beat keeper McMullan with a left-footed finish from close-range. Waterford FC: McMullan; Horton (Miles 59), Boyle (Coyle 84), Leahy, Burke; Armstrong (Dempsey 59); Rossiter (Glenfield 82), McDonald (Olayinka 59); Lonergan, Amond, Noonan. St Patrick's Athletic: Anang; Sjoberg, Redmond, Grivosti, Breslin (Kazeem 38); Lennon, Leavy, Kavanagh (Robinson 90), Forrester (Baggley 90), Mulraney (Carty 75); Melia (Power 75).
Irish Independent
03-08-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Melia and Carthy on target as St Pat's claim valuable win over Waterford
The Tottenham Hotspur-bound striker timed his run to perfection to finish off an 18th-minute through ball from Kian Leavy, and after they missed a host of chances to extend their lead, it was substitute Conor Carty who sealed a card-ridden affair six minutes from time. From the outset, Waterford looked hesitant in defence with Melia unlucky not to convert a Leavy delivery inside five minutes before Conan Noonan had a big chance for the hosts at the other end two minutes later, but he couldn't get a vital touch on the end of Finlay Armstrong's delivery. It was the Inchicore side that broke the deadlock with 18 minutes on the clock when Leavy picked up possession of the ball in the middle of the park before releasing Melia, who was kept onside by Ryan Burke, and the Wicklow-born striker fired past the helpless Stephen McMullan. Tommy Lonergan had a penalty appeal turned down on 29 minutes when he went down under a challenge from Anto Breslin, but referee Daniel Murphy waved away appeals, before Melia could have doubled the lead six minutes before the break only to fire inches wide. Lonergan saw a looping header just clear Joseph Anang's crossbar on the stroke of half-time before the visitors started the second-half on the front foot with a big chance coming to their striker just shy of the hour-mark. Leavy and Kavanagh linked up in the middle of the park with the latter playing Melia in between the Waterford defence, before European match-winner, Jake Mulraney saw his angled effort saved by keeper McMullan. Second-half substitute Carty settled the game for the South Dublin outfit on 84 minutes when he peeled off his marker to get on the end of Kavanagh's teasing left-wing corner-kick to beat keeper McMullan with a left-footed finish from close-range. Waterford FC: McMullan; Horton (Miles 59), Boyle (Coyle 84), Leahy, Burke; Armstrong (Dempsey 59); Rossiter (Glenfield 82), McDonald (Olayinka 59); Lonergan, Amond, Noonan. St Patrick's Athletic: Anang; Sjoberg, Redmond, Grivosti, Breslin (Kazeem 38); Lennon, Leavy, Kavanagh (Robinson 90), Forrester (Baggley 90), Mulraney (Carthy 75); Melia (Power 75).
RTÉ News
22-07-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Mark McNamee signs contract with Green Bay Packers
Mark McNamee has become the latest Irish recruit in the NFL after the kicker signed for the Green Bay Packers. McNamee, a former Ballyboden St Enda's goalkeeper, was included in this year's International Player Pathway Program and subsequently joined Canadian Football League franchise BC Lions. He played two pre-season games for the Vancouver-based franchise but was released last month. The 25-year old was tonight signed by the Packers as their back-up kicker and International Player Pathway Program player, with Australian Alex Hales departing. McNamee becomes the second Irish player on the Packers roster, alongside Wicklow-born punter Daniel Whelan. Former Down goalkeeper Charlie Smyth is another noted graduate of the IPPP, having earned a contract with the New Orleans Saints in 2024.
RTÉ News
07-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Rachel Graham: Louise Quinn and Niamh Fahey generation should be celebrated
Back in 2006, the Republic of Ireland women's under-19s players and coaching staff all sat down to have their headshots taken by the Inpho photo agency. Nearly 20 years on and if you look through the players in that squad, household names abound. That particular team contained future Girls in Green centurions Louise Quinn, Diane Caldwell and Áine O'Gorman, while Puskas Award nominee and 58-time Ireland cap Stephanie Zambra was another key player in the frame. Quinn called time on her playing career last week as did her long-time defensive colleague, Liverpool captain Niamh Fahey, and the duo stepping away from the scene has fuelled a sense of an era ending in Irish soccer, especially given that O'Gorman and Caldwell have already retired from international duty, Zambra is now coaching at Shamrock Rovers and Julie-Ann Russell has also stepped away from the game. Shelbourne midfielder Rachel Graham, who was part of the aforementioned Under-19s crop in the mid-2000s and went on to represent her country at senior level between 2013 and 2017, told this week's RTÉ Soccer Podcast that it was important for her former team-mates to receive due recognition for what they have done for the country over a long span of time. "These players deserve a lot of recognition for what they've done, they should be celebrated," said the 35-year-old, who helped Shels to a 3-1 win win at Treaty United in Saturday's round of SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division action. Listen to the RTÉ Soccer podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. "They've had great careers, done great performances for Ireland, been so consistent for Ireland. "It's sad to see them go but I do think it's the right time. I just hope that they're really remembered and if they can keep them in the game, brilliant, but if not, celebrate everything that they've done and they've left the jerseys definitely in better places for the ones coming through." Reflecting back almost two decades, Graham offered an insight into the career-long commitment levels that Quinn showed in a timeframe which also saw the Wicklow-born defender establish herself at Arsenal in between spells abroad in Sweden and Italy. "I used to remember, once or twice in camp, we'd go to the pictures in the evening and we'd obviously all have popcorn and pick 'n' mix and Louise is there with her yoghurt and her fruit and her nuts," Graham recalled. "That's the side of something that people don't see. It's all these little decisions that you have to make throughout the day to make yourself the best you can be and that's what she had to do. "She couldn't cut corners, she was someone that every decision she had to make throughout the day was the right one she had to make. "So to do as well as she did, it's a real credit to her because it's something that she had to work really hard for and she made a nice comment in her retirement statement that one of the reasons she played football was to play for Ireland and you could see that in her performances that she had for Ireland. "It was body on the line or it was head on the line and whatever you needed from Louise, she'd be more than willing to do."
