Latest News from The 42
The 42
4 hours ago
- Sport
- The 42
Ireland's Robbie Brady signs new one-year deal at Preston
IRELAND INTERNATIONAL Robbie Brady has signed a new one-year contract at Preston North End. The 33-year-old played in 29 of the club's 46 Championship matches in the 2024-25 campaign as they avoided relegation to finish 20th in the table. The Dubliner, whose deal includes the option of an additional year, has made 100 appearances for the Lilywhites since signing from Bournemouth in July 2022 after a successful trial. 'I'm absolutely delighted,' Brady said. 'I've really enjoyed my time here so far, and I'm looking forward to another season ahead. 'The manager's been honest with me since the minute he came in, and I think we've got on since. It's been brilliant for me to be able to go back and forward with the manager like that. Advertisement 'I know he has trust in me, and from chats I've had with him, he gives me the confidence that I need to be able to perform.' Brady registered four Championship assists this season and also won the club's goal-of-the-season award for a stunning free kick in the 3-0 FA Cup fifth-round win against former side Burnley. The former Man United youngster has 10 goals in 70 Ireland caps and will be hoping to add to his international tally in next month's friendlies against Senegal and Luxembourg. 'Getting Robbie signed up for next season is great news for us,' manager Paul Heckingbottom added. 'I think his quality's there for all to see. He's got a great delivery with his left foot, he's a player who can do a number of different jobs for us, as we saw last season, and he's got real fight in his game. 'He's someone who can really impact matches. He's a big part of things behind the scenes, too, so we're really pleased he'll be here again next season.'
The 42
8 hours ago
- Sport
- The 42
Chelsea come from behind to beat Betis in Uefa Conference League final
CHELSEA BEAT REAL Betis 4-1 in the Uefa Conference League final this evening. The Spaniards took the lead through Abde Ezzalzouli, but a second-half fightback from the Blues saw them claim the trophy. Advertisement More to follow
The 42
11 hours ago
- Sport
- The 42
Alcaraz regains composure while Swiatek eyes 102-year French Open record
REIGNING FRENCH OPEN champion Carlos Alcaraz booked his spot in the third round at Roland Garros on Wednesday with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 win over Fabian Marozsan, but admitted at times he 'couldn't handle' his 56th-ranked opponent. The Spaniard started imperiously as he raced into a one-set lead before his Hungarian rival broke him in the very first game of the second frame and served out to level matters. 'I think today was a really good match for me. I played great. But yeah, in the second set, at the beginning he broke my serve,' Alcaraz told his post-match press conference. 'I think he started to play better and better, and he reached a level that I couldn't handle it. 'So it was great level from him.' However, the world number two swiftly refound his excellent clay court form, which saw him win at Monte Carlo and Rome before Roland Garros, to storm through in four sets. Advertisement '(I am) just really proud about refresh my mind and I started the third set really, really well and ended up playing really great two last sets,' Alcaraz added. 'I didn't feel like I lost the focus at all. He just played much better. So I just think today was I maintain my level during the whole match. 'But in the second set, he reached just much better level than I did.' Next Alcaraz will face home hope Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard or Bosnian Damir Dzumhur in the round of 32. Despite being through to the third round, Alcaraz refused to look forward to a potential final against Italian world number one Jannik Sinner. Poland's Iga Swiatek hits a forehand against Britain's Emma Raducanu. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo '(The) final is too far away right now to think about,' he said. 'Here in the last four matches against him (Sinner), it's great having wins against him, but I don't know if in case I'm gonna face him sooner or later.' The women's reigning champion Iga Swiatek also swept past former US Open winner Emma Raducanu in straight sets to reach the Roland Garros third round. Poland's Swiatek won 6-1, 6-2 in 79 minutes and will play either Czech qualifier Sara Bejlek or Romania's Jaqueline Cristian for a place in the last 16. Swiatek is bidding to become the first woman to win four consecutive French Open titles since Suzanne Lenglen 102 years ago. 'I felt good on court for sure, so I felt I could do whatever I had planned to do or whatever I wanted to do,' said Swiatek, who wrapped up victory on her second match point. 'I just had to adjust to the wind because the conditions were pretty tricky today. I'm happy that I did that well and I'm through. 'I think having some time off before helped me a little bit for sure, so I'm just ready to fight for it and compete.' The 23-year-old, who has slipped to fifth in the world rankings, brings her tally to 23 wins in a row at Roland Garros. – © AFP 2025
The 42
11 hours ago
- Sport
- The 42
Giro leader Del Toro hits back with stage 17 triumph
OVERALL LEADER Isaac del Toro bounced back from the disappointment of seeing his advantage slashed by storming to a brilliant victory on stage 17 of the Giro d'Italia on Wednesday. The Mexican saw his lead cut from 1min 20sec to just 26 seconds in stage 16, but attacked on the Le Motte climb before powering away from Romain Bardet and Richard Carapaz in the final two kilometres. Del Toro celebrated his maiden Grand Tour stage victory with a bow and is now 41 seconds ahead of Ecuadoran rider Carapaz overall, with Simon Yates 10 seconds further back. It was a spectacular response from Team UAE's Del Toro, who timed his surge to victory to perfection at the end of a mountainous 155km ride to Bormio in the Alps. 'It's incredible, everybody wants this and today I realised I will never give up,' he said. Advertisement 'I will always stay one step in front, and I will always try… I don't have anything to lose, and today wasn't easier than yesterday, but for sure I had a better mentality.' The 21-year-old finished three seconds clear of Frenchman Bardet and six seconds ahead of pink-jersey rival Carapaz to extend his general classification lead. Yates, who started the day in second overall, was cut adrift by Del Toro's attack, which only Carapaz could initially follow, and crossed the finish line nine seconds behind. It was heartbreak for Bardet, who will retire in two weeks, as he came up just short in his latest bid to complete a hat-trick of stage wins on every Grand Tour. 'As is often the case at the Giro, this is my fourth second place in four participations,' said the 34-year-old, who led on his own until being caught by Del Toro and Carapaz. 'I did my best. It's definitely a shame because I had everything in place to win, but you can't control the behaviour of the other teams. I'm proud of this last appearance in a Grand Tour.' Darren Rafferty finished in 127th position, while fellow Irish rider Sam Bennett was 154th. Overall, the duo are 86th and 147th, respectively. Bennett is 42nd in the points classification on 17 points. Thursday's 18th stage is a hilly 144km route from Morbegno to Cesano Maderno in Lombardy. You can view the standings in full here. – © AFP 2025
The 42
11 hours ago
- Sport
- The 42
'A credit to the team': Inside Katie McCabe's Champions League final display
IN THE DYING seconds of Saturday's Champions League final, Katie McCabe showed all of her experience. As the seventh and final minute of injury time drew to a close, Arsenal's Irish left-back tried to take the ball down with her foot. It ricocheted upwards for a headed clearance, and she drew a foul from Caroline Graham Hansen, arguably the best right winger in the world who she had limited all evening. McCabe got the header away, but made the most of the minimal contact; one last act of frustration inflicted on Graham Hansen. Celebrations broke out on the Arsenal bench. It was all but over. McCabe urged the defensive line out one last time as goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar sent the free-kick upfield, and 25 seconds later, the final whistle sounded and all hell broke loose. Arsenal were champions of Europe, having stunned Barcelona at Lisbon's Estádio José Alvalade. They shed the underdog tag to beat the back-to-back champions 1-0, reigning supreme for the first time since 2007 — and just second time ever. They are the only English winners of the competition, and the first to do so having come through every round of qualifying. McCabe played each of those 15 games, her 1,296 minutes the most ever recorded in a Uefa women's club season. ❤️ A record-breaking season 💚 Katie McCabe's 1️⃣,2️⃣9️⃣6️⃣ minutes played during Arsenal's successful #UWCL campaign is the most ever recorded in a UEFA women's club season 💪 — UEFA Women's Champions League (@UWCL) May 28, 2025 Advertisement The Dubliner played her part in a superb defensive display amidst Renée Slegers' tactical triumph. Incredibly, the back four didn't commit a single foul: in all, Arsenal made four, compared with Barcelona's 10. While England captain Leah Williamson and goalscoring hero Stina Blackstenius have been widely heralded, McCabe also deserves huge credit for generally nullifying Graham Hansen, just like she did to Lyon's Kadidiatou Diani in the semi-final turnaround. Again, she was extremely disciplined defensively — not always the case — in a compact set-up. The Irish skipper timed her attacking influence well, but prioritised her defensive duties, with Ona Battle another huge threat down Barca's right flank. Caitlin Foord offered support, and at times cover, as the duo combined to good effect. In the fifth minute, they stood off Graham Hansen before McCabe put in two quick-fire blocks. This was a recurring theme throughout the game: Arsenal letting Barca players have the ball and picking the right moment to engage. McCabe profited three or four times, backing herself in the fascinating one-v-one battle. Working in tandem with left-sided centre-back Steph Catley, she produced several other crucial blocks, clearances, and tackles — a sliding challenge on Graham Hansen on the half-hour mark among the highlights — and racked up the interceptions. Katie McCabe executes a sliding tackle on Caroline Graham Hansen. Jose Breton / INPHO Jose Breton / INPHO / INPHO Picking the pocket of Ballon d'Or holder Aitana Bonmati was one act of note just before the hour, and it underlined the importance of balance. The Arsenal defender drove forward momentarily before turning back to Mariona Caldentey, but the next player up, Frida Maanum, lost the ball and in an instant Bonmati tore down Arsenal's left and tested van Domsellar. There were other shaky moments, including an early deflection which put the Dutch 'keeper under pressure. McCabe was often happy to leave Graham Hansen isolated out wide, and watching on in the stadium, it felt risky. She sometimes drifted too far centrally, seemingly distracted by the ball and players like Bonmati, with Catley urging her back to base. She would have breathed a sigh of relief just after half time when Claudia Pina rattled the crossbar. A cross to Graham Hansen, in oceans of space on the right, was arguably the better option. Recoveries were a staple. Graham Hansen did get the better of her on occasion, especially amidst intricate combination play and overlapping, while poor execution of passing crept in under pressure. Balls in behind to Foord were generally a success, though, highlighted by former team-mate Jen Beattie on commentary after a rare overhit effort. 'But she sees the vision there,' the former Scotland international said. 'That's Katie McCabe's quality that she's showed every game, week in, week out. Started every game in the Champions League for Arsenal. She's a credit to the team — whether she's playing left-back or higher up the pitch, she can bring the quality in all areas of the pitch.' This was a quieter attacking performance with set-piece involvement also minimal. Still, McCabe created the second most big chances in Europe this season, one less than Alexia Putellas' 22, and popped up as a threat at the weekend. The Kilnamanagh native started the sequence for the disallowed goal in the first half, brilliantly switching to right full-back Emily Fox after her throw-in one-two with Frida Maanum. Irene Paredes turned Maanum's cross into her own net, but it was chalked off for offside. She was also involved, albeit indirectly, in the build-up to Blackstenius' 74th-minute winner. After Barca failed to clear Caldentey's corner and Little recycled to the Spanish sensation, McCabe made a clever decoy run. She commanded the Blaugrana's attention, as the ball was worked to Beth Mead, who slipped Blackstenius in for the golden goal with a fine disguised pass. McCabe was right in the thick of it a few minutes beforehand, swatting Graham Hansen aside on a surging run down the left, before being stopped in her tracks by Battle in the box. Penalty appeals were waved away, and she was left hobbling: not for the first time after being clattered by Ewa Pajor early on and taking a ball to the face from Putellas. Related Reads Letter from Lisbon: An Irish Champions League winner on a wonderful occasion Katie McCabe's Arsenal beat Barcelona for Champions League glory Katie McCabe: The gifted kid from Kilnamanagh chasing Champions League glory More often than not on the opposing end of these incidents, McCabe kept her cool and was disciplined throughout. Off the ball, her arms were often spread wide, pointing and organising, as Arsenal kept Barca at bay. The Gunners defended for their lives down the stretch, McCabe among the many blockers and stoppers, as they reached the Promised Land. Having undoubtedly led the celebrations from Lisbon to North London, international football is back in focus for the Irish captain. She was warmly welcomed by the squad in Istanbul last night ahead of Friday's penultimate Nations League League B group game against Türkiye. Carla Ward's side must win to keep their hopes of automatic promotion alive, before a potential Páirc Uí Chaoimh shootout against leaders Slovenia next Tuesday. There, they must equal or surpass the 4-0 victory the Slovenians achieved in February's Koper shocker — with play-offs in October the alternative route to League A. Katie McCabe may now be a Champions League winner after another big shift in a remarkable European season, but the wheel keeps on turning.
