Conor Love's eight-point haul steers Fermanagh to Tailteann Cup win over Wexford
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Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Conference League qualifiers: Shamrock Rovers outclass St Joseph's in Gibraltar
Conference League second round qualifiers, first leg: St Joseph's 0 Shamrock Rovers 4 (Gaffney 13, Mandroiu 67, McGovern 73, Byrne 75) Rory Gaffney, Danny Mandroiu, John McGovern and Jack Byrne all grabbed goals at Europa Point Stadium in Gibraltar as Shamrock Rovers began their Uefa Conference League campaign with a convincing second round qualifier first leg victory over St Joseph's. Looking to make a big splash in the competition after reaching last season's knockout rounds, Rovers came under some early pressure when a header by Manuel Sanchez, better known as Manolin, from an Alvaro Rey free-kick forced a save from goalkeeper Ed McGinty. Yet McGinty's opposite number Bradley Banda produced a point-blank stop to deny Gaffney from close-range on 12 minutes, before the Galway native found himself in space moments later and proceeded to lift the ball beyond the reach of the Joseph's netminder for the opening goal. This offered the Hoops a strong platform in warm conditions at a ground that serves as the home venue for Gibraltar's national rugby team. READ MORE Joseph's overcame NIFL Premiership outfit Cliftonville 5-4 on aggregate in the first round, but with their midfielder Facu Alvarez firing marginally off-target with a shot from distance, Rovers brought a slender advantage into the interval. Rory Gaffney scores Shamrock Rovers' first goal. Photograph: Martin Seras Lima/Inpho Although Joseph's were close to equalising five minutes after the restart when Javi Paul headed wide of the mark from an Angel Martinez corner, Rovers almost doubled their cushion when Mandroiu curled narrowly past the target at the opposite end. However, like Gaffney before him, Mandroiu eventually got his name on the scoresheet. After Josh Honohan's strike was turned away by Banda, the former Bohemians and Lincoln City star unleashed a follow-up effort that took a wicked deflection on its way into the net. This left the Hoops in a commanding position and despite the play briefly being halted for a second-half water break, Stephen Bradley 's men continued to turn on the style when the action resumed. Recent recruit McGovern (a Tailteann Cup winner with Down last year) was introduced inside the final quarter for his European debut, marking the occasion by almost immediately adding Rovers' third goal on 73 minutes. His fellow substitute Byrne also got in on the scoring act just two minutes later with a superb finish from outside the box, securing a four-goal lead for the Dubliner's ahead of the return leg in Tallaght next Thursday. ST JOSEPH'S: Banda; Jolley (Volz 29), Paul, Barba, Martinez (Javi Forjan 58); Manolin, Gonzalez Perez, Alvarez; Armental (Gibson 58), Rodriguez, Rey (Amadou 86). SHAMROCK ROVERS: McGinty; Grace Lopes, Cleary; Grant (Nugent 80), Mandroiu (McGovern 71), Healy, Watts (McEneff 64), Honohan; Burke (Byrne 64), Gaffney (Noonan 71). Referee: M MacDermid (Scotland).
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
Duffry Rovers make light of absentees to comfortably account for Cloughbawn
Duffry Rovers 4-17 Cloughbawn 2-6 Wexford People THAT OLD adage about a rising tide lifting all boats can readily be applied to Duffry Rovers and specifically their football fortunes right now. Their Premier Minor title win of 2023 was one of the stand-out under-age achievements of recent times, and those young players are beginning to really blossom.
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Meet the new Shamrock Rovers striker who is a Tailteann Cup winner with Down
He is a Tailteann Cup winner with Down, but it's not his Gaelic football career that is on an upward curve. John McGovern has committed his future to the 11-a-side game and after a first start for his new club Shamrock Rovers he now has his eye on a European debut. McGovern arrived at the Hoops after an impressive campaign with Dungannon Swifts last year, when he scored 14 goals in 29 appearances. He could have signed for Rovers last January, but was determined to finish his Business and Information Technology studies in Queens University. A sporting all-rounder, with Collingwood Cup credentials too, he will travel to Gibraltar with the rest of Stephen Bradley's squad tomorrow ahead of Thursday's Europa Conference League clash. 'For me, whenever I was joining, it was the chance of European football as well, that there would be European football there as well,' he said of his decision to move to Rovers. 'So it's an exciting venture for me, playing in Europe for the first time.' But for a controversial red card, McGovern could have been heading back up north this week to face Cliftonville in Europe. Instead, it's their conquerors St Joseph's. John McGovern made his first Shamrock Rovers start in their FAI Cup win against Wexford (Image: INPHO/James Lawlor) 'No team that gets into Europe will be a pushover, we know that, the manager and the club know that,' said the 22-year-old. 'Whenever you go into Europe it won't be easy or smooth sailing. 'Rovers have shown down the years that they deserve to be in Europe, they have worked hard and done well, that's why we are here.' A former underage international with Northern Ireland, McGovern could easily have opted to continue playing Gaelic football for Ballyholland GAC and Down. Click this link or scan the QR code to receive the latest League of Ireland news and top stories from the Irish Mirror. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . 'We won the Tailteann Cup last summer,' he said of his time with the senior intercounty side. 'I balanced both sports from the age of five, I went back and always wanted to play for Down. 'Things were not going too well with Newry City at the time I was there, so I went back and wanted to keep fit and give it a crack at playing Gaelic. 'I went for six months and we won a Tailteann but I had to dedicate the final year to playing for Dungannon and Newry, and ended up here. 'Putting that focus on playing soccer has paid off.' While Rovers had come in for McGovern last winter, he also had contact from clubs across the water. An opportunity to play for the Hoops, he says, was too good to turn down. 'That was my final year in university so it was about getting a full season under my belt playing Premiership football and getting my university degree done, then exploring options,' he explained. 'So throughout the year I dedicated myself to playing for Dungannon and then my university. 'Stephen Bradley contacted me in January and tried to bring me in, the timing wasn't right then but I said I'd be hugely interested. 'Rovers are the biggest club in Ireland. You could go across the water, clubs in Scotland and lower league clubs in England were interested, but you look at the success Rovers have had since they were founded, league titles, FAI Cups and Europe most years, that was an incentive for me. 'I want to get better playing with better players at a bigger club so it was a good step for me so playing LOI was something I wanted to do.' Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email .
