Latest news with #ex-Sligo
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Keena on the spot for Saints in Sligo
SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division: Sligo Rovers 0 St Patrick's Athletic 1 (Aidan Keena pen 10) St Patrick's Athletic revived their stuttering campaign with a scrappy 1-0 win over bottom of the table Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds. Ex-Sligo striker Aidan Keena's 10th minute penalty was the difference for an underwhelming St Pat's who moved up one place in the table, while this was a 12th loss in 18 games for struggling Sligo. St Pat's, fifth in the standings coming into this game and with just one win from their last five games, made five changes to their starting team. Among their absentees were Chris Forrester and teenage sensation Mason Melia. They fielded two ex-Sligo players for this north-west assignment, Simon Power and Aidan Keena. Sligo welcomed back midfielder Jake Doyle-Hayes and were again looking to their season's breakout star, Owen Elding, who has netted seven goals so far. St Pat's made the early running - a fizzing shot from Jason McClelland was tipped over by Sam Sargeant - and they hit the front in the 10th minute via Aidan Keena's converted penalty. The spot-kick was awarded following a foul on Simon Power, who was a busy presence for the visitors. But St Pat's didn't create anything else of note for the remainder of the first period aside from a weak shot on target from goalscorer Aidan Keena. Sligo, who were a threat when full-back Reece Hutchinson got on the ball on the left flank, only had one chance of note in that first-half - an off target header from Cian Kavanagh, who got on the end of a Jake Doyle-Hayes free-kick delivery. The woodwork denied Sligo an equaliser in the 52nd minute. Enterprise from teenage full-back led to a curling shot from Ronan Manning that came off the crossbar via a touch from St Pat's defender Joe Redmond. Simon Power then directed a shot just wide of the far post as St Pat's, although under increased pressure from an improved Sligo, remained a threat on the counter. Sligo had a chance to rescue a point in the fifth minute of stoppage time but Francely Lomboto's shot was straight at St Pat's goalkeeper Joseph Anang. Sligo Rovers: Sergeant; Reynolds (McDonagh 65), Mahon, McElroy, Hutchinson; Wolfe (Hakiki 65), Doyle-Hayes; Elding, Manning (Lomboto 78), Fitzgerald; Kavanagh (Waweru 46) St Patrick's Athletic: Anang; McLaughlin, Redmond, Hoare (Grivosti 44), Breslin; Power, Lennon, McClelland, Elbouzedi; Leavy (Turner 90+5), Keena (Carty 86) Referee: Neil Doyle Attendance: 2,356
Irish Daily Mirror
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Brendan Rodgers reacts to Johnny Kenny's first goal for Celtic
'Natural goalscorer' Johnny Kenny's first goal for Celtic was hailed by Bhoys boss Brendan Rodgers as t The ex-Sligo and Shamrock Rovers marksman got off the mark for the Glasgow giants in their 5-1 defeat of Aberdeen on Wednesday night. Kenny, who has represented Ireland at under-21 level, was making his first start for Celtic in his seventh William Hill Premiership appearance since returning to the club from his second loan spell with Shamrock Rovers in January. And the 21-year-old celebrated by scoring with a header early in the second half at Pittodrie. "Johnny, we're also pleased for because he works so hard, he is a natural goalscorer," Rodgers said. "I think when you see his movement for the goal, it's so, so good and everyone was delighted for him." Ireland striker Adam Idah was also on the scoresheet, rounding off the scoring for the champions for his 20th goal in all competitions this term with an injury time effort from close range. Rodgers hit out at Aberdeen midfielder Pape Gueye for a 'needless challenge' on Reo Hatate in the encounter with only a week and a half to go until the Scottish Cup final. Aberdeen played the closing stages of the match with 10 men after on-loan Tottenham defender Alfie Dorrington saw red for two bookings. But it was Gueye's challenge on Hatate, who went off injured and had an ice pack just below his knee, that irked Rodgers. He said: 'It was a needless challenge. The free-kick was given and the ball runs away – Reo's just relaxed and stopping it and the guy loses his head and just kicks through and block-tackles him, so hopefully it's not going to be too serious. 'It was an outstanding performance. I'm very pleased, naturally. I've always said whatever changes I do make shouldn't affect the structure of the team. We have a way we want to play. The players have clarity on the structure and what we expect. It all comes from a basis of real hard work and pressing which allows us to play at the tempo we want to.' Asked if the result will have an impact when the sides meet again in the Scottish Cup final a week on Saturday, Rodgers added: 'That's for Aberdeen. From my side, I'm really happy with the performance. For me this was still a big game for us and we did that.'
The Irish Sun
09-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘Ultimate professional' linked with reunion with ex-manager at League of Ireland club after leaving Accrington Stanley
SÉAMUS CONNEELY has left Accrington Stanley after more than a decade at the club. And that could prompt a reunion at Waterford with former boss John Coleman and team-mate Danny Ventre. Advertisement 1 Seamus Conneely has left Accrington Stanley Credit: PA:Press Association Coleman brought Conneely to Stanley in January 2015 having managed him during his stint in charge of Sligo Rovers the previous season, where he played alongside Ventre. The 36-year-old went on to make 378 appearances to put him second in the all-time list behind Sean McConville. Current boss John Doolan said: "Séamus has led the football club superbly both on and off the field of play for over a decade. "He has been the ultimate professional throughout his time with Stanley and will go down as a club legend." Advertisement Read More on League of Ireland The ex-Ireland under-21 international helped Stanley win the League Two title in 2018, helping the club stay in the third tier for five consecutive seasons. Coleman and Ventre have taken charge of the Blues and already have one ex-Sligo and Accrington player, Pádraig Amond, who is nine months older than Conneely, in their ranks.
The Irish Sun
06-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
John Coleman contrasts League of Ireland he's returning to with Waterford from one he knew at Sligo Rovers
JOHN COLEMAN believes he is returning to a better League of Ireland which is an antidote to 'backwards, sideways' football in the English Premier League. Coleman The 62-year-old - and ex-Sligo player Danny Ventre, who is expected to be confirmed as his assistant - watched caretaker boss Matt Lawlor Coleman was impressed but admitted the Blues had to ride their luck and that they might not be so fortunate next time around. Nevertheless, he reckons he will be working in a better league than the one he had a brief experience of little more than a decade ago. Coleman said: 'It's got better, in my opinion. It's got the exposure that it deserves, that it wasn't getting, so I think that's a big plus. Read More On Irish Football 'I think the crowds have grown, people are more excited about it, people are switching to Irish football at the expense of English football, which is the way it should be, and hopefully we can have some exciting times. 'What you've got, I think, in the whole league, is players who are giving their all. And I think that's proper football, and the type of football that I want to watch. 'People can get turned off watching Premier League football, backwards, sideways, boring, predictable chess football. "This is muck and bullets, and it gets the juices flowing. I can't wait to get started.' Most read in Football The Kirkby native said he was still in negotiations with Ventre, whom he managed during his first spell in charge of Accrington Stanley, about coming in as his no 2. Ventre won a league and the FAI Cup three times during a six-and-a-half-year stint with the Bit O'Red and also played for Derry City. Moment Ronaldo staggers out of restaurant and is helped into car under sheet with his football club's fans left fuming He was first-team coach at Bristol Rovers under Joey Barton and Coleman said: 'Danny knows the Irish football scene very well.' The presence of Pádraig Amond, who scored the winner against Shels on Monday, in Waterford's ranks meant Coleman had been keeping tabs on the Blues anyway. Coleman signed Amond, now 37, for Accrington from Pacos de Ferreira in 2011. Coleman said: 'I know quite a few of them because I've come up against them but personally I know Podge really well. 'I have taken a big interest in Irish football since my time in Sligo, I watched them play last season and he covers every blade of grass. He never leaves a drop out there. 'As long as he is willing, I think his body will carry him through. 'He is a great pro, a great lad and was great to manage when I had him first time around. I hope his enthusiasm and professionalism rubs off on the rest of the players, which I'm sure it does.' And he believes that will help him build on the work done by Lawlor who took nine points from his four games in charge since the club parted company with Keith Long after seven straight losses. 1 Yesterday he watched on from the stands at Tolka Park as Waterford beat champions Shelbourne 1-0 Coleman said: 'He's put the pressure on. That's for sure. What he has done is he has got the players giving their all, and that's great for another manager coming in. 'He's got every last drop out of them which is all you can ask for. Matt's done an unbelievable job in the last two or three weeks. 'And that's no disrespect to Keith because it's a tough gig when things just don't go for you. I've been on the receiving end of that many times in my career. 'But there's been great work done in the last couple of years in Waterford and hopefully we can carry it on.' However, he conceded that he might have to change how the side plays given how Shels dominated without getting anything to show for their efforts. He said: 'We've sat in, absorbed a lot of pressure, the keeper's made three unbelievable saves. On another day do they go in and it hasn't worked? 'Do you change your approach or leave it as it is and hope that you keep getting away with it? The odds are that you're not going to keep getting away with it'.
The 42
05-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Shamrock Rovers back to winning ways as Greene nets his 100th league goal
Shamrock Rovers 2 Sligo Rovers 0 AARON GREENE SCORED his 100th league goal as Shamrock Rovers got back to winning ways against bottom-of-the-table Sligo Rovers at Tallaght Stadium. The 35 year-old, in his 17th season in the domestic game, doubled Rovers' lead in an utterly dominant first half, as they earned a first win in five to sit a point off league leaders Drogheda United, ahead of meeting them in Dublin 24 on Friday. Graham Burke, central to everything good about Stephen Bradley's side in the first 45 minutes, had earlier put them ahead from the penalty spot. Utterly outplayed in the first half, Sligo had far more about them on the resumption as Hoops lost their way somewhat. But with ex-Sligo goalkeeper Ed McGinty making fine saves to deny Matt Wolfe and Ronan Manning, Sligo couldn't come close to repeating their win over the Tallaght side from earlier in the season as they remain three points adrift at the foot of the table. Burke twice got sight of the Sligo goal, working Sam Sergeant before a second effort was deflected for a corner, as Hoops started very much on the front foot. Following some patient build up play, Jack Byrne then curled an audacious effort just wide. Sligo were creaking and their goal was finally breached on 25 minutes. Advertisement Burke was everywhere for Hoops and it was he who got to the end line to see his cross strike the hand of Sligo right-back Conor Reynolds. Referee Rob Hennessy pointed to the spot despite Sligo's protests before Burke sent Sergeant the wrong way from the spot. Shamrock Rovers' Graham Burke with Conor Reynolds of Sligo Rovers. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO Adam Matthews blazed wastefully over the bar when he should have at least hit the target ahead of Rovers making no mistake in extending their lead three minutes before the interval. Byrne and Burke were the architects, the latter chipping a sublime ball over the home defence. Greene timed his run perfectly to swivel and volley to the net for his 47th goal for Rovers and the milestone century of league strikes in his career. It might have been worse for Sligo right on the blow of the break but for a brave block tackle by skipper John Mahon on Darragh Nugent who pulled the trigger from Matthews' cross. Sligo regrouped at the interval and enjoyed a good spell of pressure early in the second half from a series of corners with McGinty denying Wolfe with his feet. Stephen Bradley celebrates after the game. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO Hoops skipper Roberto Lopes then cleared an Owen Elding header off the line from Will Fitzgerald's cross as Sligo pressed to get back into the game. Greene had a goal disallowed before bringing a parry save from Sargeant. Back at the other end, Francely Lomboto blew a glorious chance when ballooning his shot off target from Elding's through ball. Manning then brought a tip over save from McGinty as Sligo maintained their resurgence, if to no avail as Rovers' first half dominance proved more than enough. Shamrock Rovers: McGinty; Grace, Lopes, C. O'Sullivan; Matthews, Nugent, Healy (O'Neill, 67), Byrne (Noonan, 67), Grant (Ozhianvuna, 83); Burke (O'Sullivan, 67); Greene (Gaffney, 83). Sligo Rovers: Sergeant; Reynolds (Lintott, 77), McElroy, Mahon, Hutchinson; Wolfe (Patton, 77), Manning; Elding, Hakiki (Kavanagh, h-t; Mallon, 82), Fitzgerald; Lomboto (Waweru, 77). Referee: Rob Hennessy (Clare). Attendance: 4,577.
