Latest news with #ex-DroghedaUnited
RTÉ News
26-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
RTÉ Soccer Podcast: Katie McCabe's Champions League glory, Inter v PSG final, Magic Mason Melia and LOI review
Shelbourne's , former Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers midfielder Richie Towell and ex-Drogheda United defender Graham Gartland join Raf Diallo on this week's RTÉ Soccer Podcast to talk Katie McCabe's Champions League win with Arsenal and the Republic of Ireland's Women's Nations League clash with Turkey, as well as previewing Paris Saint-Germain v Inter Milan in the men's Champions League final, and reviewing the League of Ireland action and reacting to the Boys in Green's U17s World Cup draw. TIMESTAMPS 00:40 Rachel reacts to her former Raheny United and Ireland team-mate Katie McCabe's part in Arsenal's Champions League final win over Barcelona on Saturday. 07:50 Rachel looks ahead to Ireland's Women's Nations League game in Turkey on Friday which will be broadcast live on RTÉ2, RTÉ Player and 2fm's Game On, as well as discussing Tyler Toland's situation as her club Blackburn Rovers drop out of the Women's Super League 2. 13:30 Rachel talks about playing in Saturday's Avenir Sport All-Island Cup group game against Bohemians and gives an insight into Shelbourne's recently-announced academy investment. 18:50 Richie and Graham preview Saturday's UEFA Champions League final between Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain which will be shown live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. 29:00 Graham discusses his memories of being in the Ireland U-17s around the time of the Brian Kerr era and reacts to the World Cup group stage draw for the current crop who will be travelling to Qatar for the tournament in November. 32:50 Graham and Richie review all the action from the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division and talk in depth about Mason Melia's future development after his brace for St Patrick's Athletic, Shamrock Rovers' ominously good form, Cork City and the path ahead under new manager Gerard Nash, and a good Friday for Shelbourne striker John Martin, while we also hear Derry City manager Tiernan Lynch's post-match reaction after the late defeat to the Hoops.
RTÉ News
22-04-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Richie Towell: I don't think Waterford letting Keith Long go is the best decision
Richie Towell believes Waterford may not have made the "best decision" in parting ways with manager Keith Long this early into the season. After a good start to the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division campaign, the Blues have been on a dismal run in recent weeks with the 2-1 defeat at Cork City on Monday marking a seventh defeat in succession. Long's tenure had already come to an end before that game, with Friday's chastening 4-0 defeat to a struggling Sligo Rovers side his final match in charge at the RSC. Waterford's subsequent decision to bring an end to his management of the first team brought the curtain down on a spell that had seen the former Bohemians boss lead the club to promotion via the play-offs in 2023 and then keep them up comfortably in the top flight last season. And while recent results left something to be desired, former Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers midfielder Towell told the RTÉ Soccer Podcast that the decision to part ways could end up proving hasty. "I don't think that that was the best decision from Waterford to let a manager like Keith Long go," he said. Listen to the RTÉ Soccer podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. "Keith Long knows the league really well, he knows the players at Waterford really well. He's been there and done it with numerous different teams in the league. "Listen, they're in a really difficult place but if there is a manager that can probably get you out of that position, I would have thought it would've been him. "Sometimes owners and people like that think just by changing it, that everything is going to change but it's still the same players going out onto the pitch week in, week out, so sometimes the change needs to happen within the players, have a look at themselves. "They're conceding nearly two goals every single game on average. They're never, ever going to win a game if that's what they keep doing. "There's no way they can be banking on going out to score three goals in a game to win. It's impossible. "They're in a really, really bad spot at the moment, they obviously have a new manager coming in. Sometimes you'd like to think it can give them a little boost of energy at the start - it didn't really happen against Cork, they got hit with two sucker punches at the end, it was really unfortunate." Also speaking on the podcast, ex-Drogheda United and Shamrock Rovers defender Graham Gartland added that Long had a tricky job this season at a Waterford side that is part of a multi-club ownership model that also includes English side Fleetwood Town. "I've a lot of sympathy for Keith Long because he did unbelievably well to get them up. They had been trying to get up for a long time," he said. "He then kept them up in a brilliant season that they were in contention for Europe for. But then whatever happened with their recruitment over the summer, his hands were tied with the squad he had. "And they are where they are but like Richie said, what manager is going to go in and go, 'Well, I can turn this around' and what's success for Waterford? Staying in the division again? "But if you keep taking their best players away, it's hard to build on that. And for any manager going in, I know there are rumours that they might be looking at Ruadhri Higgins, but what's the remit going in? "And the question I'd ask if I was interviewed by them: 'What happens to our better players when they perform?' "(Barry) Baggley ended up going to Pat's, the other lad went back on loan to Arsenal, the connection with Fleetwood... what happens to our better players? Who has a say on whether we get to keep them or not? They'd be the questions I'd ask."
