Chiedozie Ogbene to be fit and flying for start of Ireland's World Cup qualifying campaign
The former Cork City man hasn't played since rupturing his Achilles tendon during his club's Premier League 4-3 defeat to Brentford in late October but the news is positive in time for Ireland's Group F openers at home to Hungary and away to Armenia.
'Yeah, he will be available,' said Hallgrimsson as he prepares his current squad for two June friendlies against Senegal and Luxembourg. 'According to him, he is going to be the fittest player in pre-season so definitely in September he will be ready for us.'
Chiedozie Ogbene of Ipswich Town arrives prior to the Premier League match between Ipswich Town and Fulham. Pic:The news on Seamus Coleman is less clear.
The Everton skipper had been named in the initial Ireland squad released three years ago but he has since dropped out having injured his ankle just 18 minutes into the club's last game at Goodison Park earlier this month.
The Donegal man has been sidelined for three weeks. One of 17 players out of contract at the Premier League club this season, he has been reassured by manager David Moyes that he has a role to play next season.
It appears that this will be something of a player-coach hybrid role and Hallgrimsson was also asked on Thursday whether the 36-year-old would be a part of Ireland's plans come the autumn and, if so, in what guise.
'He is a leader in this squad and you cannot have his experience in many players,' said the Irish boss. 'His experience, his leadership skills are one thing, but his quality as a player is another thing as well.
'He's been playing at the highest level for such a long time, so it's a shame for me and, of course the national team, not to have him around, but hopefully there will come another time for him. Hopefully, it will be just the off-season and he'll come fit and flying.
'I know he's going to be at Everton in whatever role, maybe a little bit more leadership role, but it's for him to answer if he's going to continue playing or not. It's his decision, but I'm hoping – and I know the Evertonians are hoping - he will continue playing.'
The only other changes to the squad Hallgrimsson put out three weeks ago is the absence of Sammie Szmodics, whose ankle swelled up after Ipswich Town's last league game at the weekend, and the inclusion of Stoke City's Andy Moran.
Hallgrimsson has deliberately omitted a whole clutch of Championship players due to the gap between the end of that league season in early May and the first of the summer friendlies, against Senegal next week.
There is, he admitted, risk in this in that it could cost Ireland some of the momentum built up in the last window, with a flipside that it allows fresher faces to show what they can offer.
Whatever the pros and cons there, he is more than happy to have been handed a four-team qualifying group for the 2026 World Cup given it has delayed Ireland's start and avoided competitive games in a June window which has historically been problematic.
'It would have been tough having a similar squad to Bulgaria when we played them [in March] to have a lot of players who finished a month ago, keeping them fit for an important game. We couldn't have done what we did, given them an extended holiday and off-season so they will be fit in September so they will be rested when it comes to the new season.
'These guys we left out now and that's because the June window has not been successful for Ireland in the past. It's been a tricky window, not playing for a month and then coming into the national team camp for a game that's maybe on a higher level than you play on a regular basis. You are never 100% physically fit or mentally focused after a holiday period.
'So, yes, I am happy we are not playing World Cup group stage at this time.'
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Irish Times
a few seconds ago
- Irish Times
Mark English claims 800m title over Cian McPhillips at National Championships
Not since the heydays of middle-distance running at Morton Stadium has there been a more popular and proven winner than Mark English . Nor a victory so deeply and deservedly celebrated. In the standout performance of the 153rd consecutive staging of the National Track & Field Championships, English was imperious in defending his 800m title, the Donegal runner turning the expected two-lap showdown against Cian McPhillips into a tactical masterclass. Most in attendance suspected the 32-year-old would have a race on his hands, and it looked that way coming into the homestretch when 23-year-old McPhillips sat right on his shoulder. Without once glancing back, English shifted gear again and simply blew him away, winning in 1:48.76, McPhillips second in 1:49.26. It made for a 10th outdoor title for English, to sit alongside his nine indoor titles, only this was clearly one to relish – the Finn Valley athlete punching the air as he crossed the line before promptly jogging back down the track to embrace the adulation. READ MORE 'I felt great. I had a plan and it worked out,' said English after the final. 'I knew Cian is in brilliant shape, has run the second fastest (Irish) time of all-time. He's a quality athlete, so I knew I'd have to execute the perfect race to win, and thankfully I did. And for all the support that's here for me today, that gives you a great bit of confidence before the race starts, and very pleased.' The sheer class of English eclipsed the other anticipated middle-distance showdown that was the men's 1,500m, in which Clonliffe Harriers' Cathal Doyle won his fourth consecutive title. Also running tactically astute, Doyle kicked hard around the final bend to win in 3:53.60 – his 52-second last lap enough to hold off the fast-finishing Andrew Coscoran , who grabbed silver in 3:53.84, just ahead of Nick Griggs (3:53.90). Coscoran was back on the track just over 90 minutes later to win the 5,000m in 13:34.14, needing a fast finish to see off Brian Fay. Alex O'Neill holds off Sarah Healy to win the women's 800m final. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho Six weeks out from the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Sarah Healy moved down to the 800m to test her speed, and tactics too, but had to surrender to the strength of Alex O'Neill, the Clare athlete winning in 2:04.53 after leading the entire last lap. 'Delighted, it's huge to get my first senior title,' said O'Neill, who runs with Limerick Track AC. 'I've been feeling really strong lately, but I was bit shocked the last 50, because I knew there were all there.' Healy finished a close second in 2:04.57, unable to find the space to get past O'Neill in the last 50m. In the absence Rhasidat Adeleke, the title of Ireland's fastest woman for 2025 went to Emerald AC's Ciara Neville, winning the 100m in 11.44 seconds six years after she first claimed the title as a teenager. 'Honestly, since winning my first title in 2019, it's just been such a battle with injuries,' said Neville, who finished clear of Lauren Roy (11.49). 'So this year I knew I was really coming back into myself, and I'm delighted. I have to give such credit to my coaching team down in Limerick.' Sarah Lavin during the women's 100m hurdles final. Photograph: Morgan Treacy Neville's training partner Sarah Lavin , racing for the fourth time in two days, claimed her 10th title in the 100m hurdles, 24 hours after finishing second to Sharlene Mawdsley in the 200m, her time of 12.92 well clear of Molly Scott (13.61). 'I just focused on my job, hurdle by hurdle, so clean and solid,' said Lavin. 'The thinking behind two events was I'm going to need to have the run of my life in Tokyo, on September 13th and 14th, and you're not going to feel super fresh after just running a heat. That was important, so very happy with that.' The title of Ireland's fastest man has rested with Israel Olatunde for the last four years, but an injury sustained in his semi-final earlier on Sunday forced the Tallaght AC sprinter to withdraw from the final. Olatunde would have needed to be at his absolute best to beat Bori Akinola, the 23-year-old from UCD, who won his first 100m title 10.29, just off his lifetime best of 10.25, adding to his 60m indoor title. Sean Aigboboh of Tallaght AC was second in 10.41. In the absence of Mawdsley, Sophie Becker dominated the women's 400m, winning in 52.87, while Jack Raftery won the men's title in 45.71. In the field events, Nicola Tuthill won her fourth hammer title in a new Irish under-23 record of 71.75m, while Reece Ademola from Leevale was also a class apart in the long jump with 8.0m. National Track and Field Championships, Santry (selected results) MEN 100m 1 Bori Akinola U.C.D. A.C. 10.29 2 Sean Aigboboh Tallaght A.C. 10.41 3 Lorcan Murphy Dundrum South Dublin A.C. 10.57 200m 1 Marcus Lawler Clonliffe Harriers A.C. 20.66 2 Darragh McConville Dundrum South Dublin A.C. 21.41 3 Adam Murphy Tinryland A.C. 21.51 400m 1 Jack Raftery Donore Harriers 45.71 2 Christopher O'Donnell North Sligo AC 46.27 3 Ciaran Carthy Dundrum South Dublin 46.34 800m 1 Mark English Finn Valley A.C. 1:48.76 2 Cian Mc Phillips U.C.D. A.C. 1:49.26 3 Andrew Thompson North Belfast Harriers 1:49.93 1,500m 1 Cathal Doyle Clonliffe Harriers A.C. 3:53.60 2 Andrew Coscoran Star of the Sea A.C 3:53.84 3 Nick Griggs CNDR Track A.C. 3:53.90 5,000m 1 Andrew Coscoran Star of the Sea A.C. 13:34.14 2 Brian Fay Raheny Shamrock A.C. 13:34.92 3 Jack O'Leary Mullingar Harriers A.C. 13:41.47 110m hurdles 1 Adam Nolan St. Laurence O'Toole A.C. 14.24 2 Gerard O'Donnell Carrick-on-Shannon A.C. 14.40 3 Conor Penney Craughwell A.C. 14.70 400m hurdles 1 Niall Carney Clonliffe Harriers A.C. 54.87 2 Briain Cullinan Sligo A.C. 54.89 3 Jason O'Reilly Killarney Valley A.C. 55.33 Shot Put 1 Eric Favors Raheny Shamrock A.C. 19.58 2 John Kelly Finn Valley A.C. 17.85 3 Callum Keating North Cork A.C. 14.67 Hammer 1 Sean Mockler of Moycarkey Coolcroo A.C 65.62 2 Simon Galligan Clonliffe Harriers A.C. 60.79m 3 Cóil Ó Muirí Fr. Murphy A.C. 56.68m Long jump 1 Reece Ademola Leevale AC 8.00 2 Sam Healy Leevale AC 7.53 3 Luke O'Carroll Tralee Harriers 7.15 High Jump 1 Conor Penney Craughwell A.C. 2.10 2 Mohammed Ibrahim Halil Raheny Shamrock A.C. 1.95 3 Darragh Kelly Craughwell A.C. 1.90 WOMEN 100m 1 Ciara Neville Emerald A.C. 11.44 2 Lauren Roy Fast Twitch A.C. 11.49 3 Mollie O'Reilly Dundrum South Dublin A.C. 11.60 200m 1 Sharlene Mawdsley Newport A.C. 23.55 2 Sarah Lavin Emerald A.C. 23.80 3 Lauren Roy Fast Twitch A.C. 23.88 400m 1 Sophie Becker Raheny Shamrock 52.87 2 Rachel McCann North Down AC 53.19 3 Cliodhna Manning Kilkenny City Harriers 53.99 800m 1 Alex O'Neill Limerick Track A.C. 2:04.53 2 Sarah Healy U.C.D. A.C. 2:04.57 3 Maeve O'Neill Doheny A.C. 2:04.69 1,500m 1 Laura Nicholson Bandon A.C. 4:13.32 2 Zoe Toland CNDR Track A.C. 4:15.11 3 Niamh Carr Dublin City Harriers A.C. 4:16.08 5,000m 1 Niamh Allen Leevale A.C. 15:35.90 2 Anika Thompson Leevale A.C. 15:40.56 3 Fiona Everard Bandon A.C. 16:04.36 100m hurdles 1 Sarah Lavin Emerald A.C. 12.92 2 Molly Scott St. Laurence O'Toole A.C. 13.61 3 Sarah Quinn St. Colmans South Mayo A.C. 13.84 400m hurdles 1 Cara Murphy Dundrum South Dublin A.C. 59.85 2 Ellis McHugh Ferrybank A.C. 1:00.13 3 Lauren Kilduff Craughwell A.C. 1:00.39 Hammer 1 Nicola Tuthill UCD AC 71.75m NU23R 2 Margaret Hayden Tallaght A.C. 60.22 3 Caoimhe Gallen Lifford Strabane A.C. 52.27
Irish Daily Mirror
a few seconds ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Alex O'Neill dethrones Sarah Healy to run out shock winner of 800m
Alex O'Neill dethroned Sarah Healy to run out a shock winner of the 800m at the Irish National Senior Championships in Santry, Dublin. European indoor 3000m champion Healy went into the race as the hot favourite having qualified fastest from the heats. But in a tactical race, once O'Neill kicked for home off a slow pace, the alarm bells began to ring for Healy. Boxed in by the eventual winner and Maeve O'Neill, Healy dug in and rallied up the inside lane in a barnstorming finish. But the line came up just in time for Clare woman Alex O'Neill to win her first national senior title and take Healy's scalp. O'Neill said: "I'm delighted. I haven't raced in a national championship in a while, so it's huge to get a senior title, an unbelievable feeling. "I've been feeling really strong lately and I was hoping it would go to a kick finish although I was a little bit apprehensive to do that after leading. "But I was just trying to keep them off at the bends and make them work that little bit extra." She added: "I was just trying to do as my coach said, to make my stride shorter and relax my face. I am not sure if I managed to do that, but it was great to be able to hold them off." There was also a thrilling finish to the men's 800m final as the two protagonists Mark English and Cian McPhillips engaged in a prolonged battle down the straight. But it was 32-year-old English, in the form of his life, who got the better of the younger man to win his tenth national title in a time of 1:48.76. Asked what has clicked this year, the Donegal man and Irish record holder said: "I changed coach back in November, and I've increased the volume a little bit, so I think they have been the differences. "After the indoor season, I went out to altitude again, so that might have had an effect too. But I guess it's just an accumulation of all the little changes I've made over the last year. "I'm hoping to have another race or two before the world championships. I can't wait for that as I'm in great shape at the minute." There was also a tenth national title for Sarah Lavin as she stormed away from the field to win the 100m hurdles in a time of 12.92. Having finished second to Sharlene Mawdsley in the 200m final on Saturday, Lavin excelled in her favourite discipline to stretch clear of silver medallist Molly Scott and bronze medallist Sarah Quinn. There was also a big winning distance in the men's 100m final as Bori Akinola streaked away to take gold. Into a headwind, the 23-year-old ran an impressive time of 10.29 to finish clear of Sean Aigboboh (10.41) and Lorcan Murphy (10.57). In the men's 5000m, Brian Fay attempted to nullify the speed of Andrew Coscoran by kicking for home early. But Coscoran, 29, had plenty in reserve to pass Fay up the home straight and go clear at the line in time of 13:34.14. Coscoran wasn't done there, though. Ninety minutes later, the Balbriggan man lined out in a stacked field for 1500m final. Cathal Doyle, looking for his fourth consecutive win in the race, made a decisive move to the front with 200m to go, though, and never let up to win in a time of 3:53.60. Coscoran looked to be showing the effects of his 5000m exertions when fifth coming around the final bend, but to his great credit, he powered up the straight to snatch second from Nick Griggs. In the women's 400m, Sophie Becker, in the absence of Sharlene Mawdsley, was the favourite to defend her title, and she did so in great style, hitting the line in 52.87, ahead of Rachael McCann and Cliodhna Manning. Becker's Donore Harriers' training partner Jack Raftery also went back-to-back in the men's 400m, clocking a winning time of 45.71 to finish ahead of five-time champion Chris O'Donnell and Ciaran Carthy.
Irish Independent
a minute ago
- Irish Independent
‘I had a plan' – Mark English wins tenth 800m national title and hints at his future with a lap of honour
The Donegal athlete's foot-perfect performance proved an undoubted highlight of the National Track and Field Championships, English continuing the best season of his career so far, having won European Indoor bronze in March before setting the five fastest times of his career outdoors. It's 14 years since English won his first senior title, aged 18, and he has ruled this domain with dictatorial authority since. But in Cian McPhillips, he had a worthy pretender to his throne, the Longford athlete going second on the Irish all-time list with his recent 1:44.19 at the Morton Games. After a controlled first lap of 55 seconds, English sat second with McPhillips stalking his every move in third. English edged to the lead on the last bend and McPhillips spotted him a metre as they hit the straight – something you just can't do for a rival of English's class. English hit the jets at that point and pulled clear with every stride, hitting the line in 1:48.76 to McPhillips' 1:49.26. 'I was a little bit nervous coming into that,' said English. 'There was a bunch of guys who all train together and I had to race them all, so I knew it was going to be difficult. But I had a plan and I executed that, and it worked out.' English said he has not yet decided if this will be his last season, but it was notable that he did a lap of honour after the race – a rarity at nationals. If that was his way of saying goodbye to this fabled stadium, it was quite the farewell. Andrew Coscoran went after an ambitious double in the 5000m and 1500m, with less than 90 minutes between finals. The Dubliner was coolness personified in the longer race, biding his time and kicking past his former training partner Brian Fay to win in 13:34.14. But whether it was the fatigue from that or a lapse in concentration, Coscoran was shuffled back at a key stage of the 1500m final, languishing in seventh with 250 metres to run. Up front, Cathal Doyle turned the screw and the Clonliffe Harrier wasn't for catching, taking his fourth straight title in 3:53.60. Coscoran came from the clouds to take silver in 3:53.84 with rising star Nick Griggs taking a brilliant bronze in 3:53.90. There was an emotional win in the women's 100m for Ciara Neville, the Emerald AC athlete winning her first senior outdoor title since 2019. Neville suffered a severe injury in her hamstring tendon in 2021, which cost her a shot at the Tokyo Olympics and she endured many dark days in the years since as she tried to recapture her best form. But the 25-year-old looked back near her best as she clocked 11.44 in still conditions to take gold ahead of Lauren Roy (11.49). 'It's been such a battle with injury,' said Neville. 'This year I knew I was coming back into myself and I'm just delighted. This was my year to put down a statement that I'm back. I couldn't be happier. I have to give my team in Limerick such credit for sticking by me, getting me back. They've been with me the whole way.' Neville is coached by Noelle Morrissey and it was a great day for their stable, as Sarah Lavin powered to her 10th national title in the 100m hurdles, clocking 12.92 (-0.6m/s). 'It was clean, it was solid,' said Lavin. 'I'm happy with that.' There was a big upset in the women's 800m as Alex O'Neill of Limerick Track Club outfoxed her rivals, kicking off the front after a pedestrian first 600m and holding off the late surge of Sarah Healy to win in 2:04.53. 'I was hoping it'd go to a kick finish,' said O'Neill. 'I'm a bit shocked.' Nicola Tuthill produced a superb effort of 71.75m to win the hammer throw, the recent World University Games silver medallist adding 4cm to the Irish U-23 record she'd thrown in Finland earlier this summer. Reece Ademola underlined his vast potential with a magnificent 8.00m leap to win the men's long jump, the only shame being the tailwind of 2.6m/s meant it won't count as a personal best. The Leevale athlete underwent knee surgery last August and only returned to jumping in late June. There was a golden double for the Dublin Sprint Club training group in the 400m finals, with Sophie Becker dominating the women's race to win in 52.87 and Jack Raftery a class apart in the men's, clocking 45.71. Bori Akinola was a hugely impressive winner of the men's 100m in 10.29 (-0.5m/s), his first senior outdoor title, while Irish record holder Israel Olatunde had to withdraw from the final with a niggle, having won his semi-final in 10.45.
