‘It's about creating new memories' – Shels captain Mark Coyle embraces Joey O'Brien era ahead of Linfield Champions League tie
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Irish Daily Mirror
29 minutes ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Kenny raves about St Pat's ace and lauds 'incredible football intelligence'
Stephen Kenny has hailed Jay McClelland for stepping out from the shadows and into the European spotlight for St Pat's. McClelland was the Saints man-of-the-match in Thursday's tense 1-0 Conference League win over nine-man Kalju, a result that puts St Pat's in control going to Estonia. And if they hold their rivals at bay on Thursday, the Inchicore men will face the loser of the Europa League tie between Besiktas and Shakhtar Donetsk. As it stands, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Besiktas are the most likely opponents as they lost Thursday's first-leg 4-2 at home. McClelland, 28, has been at St Pat's since 2020 but hasn't always been a starter and when he does play, he could be deployed in any number of positions. Lately, the attacking midfielder has been playing at left-back but has also popped up on the left wing and in the middle of the park. 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 . But Kenny has hailed McClelland's professionalism for refusing to cave when opportunities were hard to come by, after becoming a key man in Europe this year. Ex-Ireland boss Kenny said: 'No, he hasn't (always been a starter), and hasn't always been in the squad - he's been in the stand in the past. He's had to bide his time but he's just having a run of form and his innate football intelligence is incredible. St Pat's Jay McClelland and Daniil Tarassenkov of Kalju (Image: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne) 'He can see great pictures and has the technical ability to execute really intelligent passes and crosses. He's a very intelligent player. The physicality maybe wasn't his strongest point but he has adapted that to his game to help him play there. 'He's worked on aspects of his game which weren't his strongest points where you might get exposed as a left-back, in your one-on-one defending and your heading. 'He's got much better at those facets of the game and his distribution is very inventive. It's a competitive area for us. Anto Breslin has never let us down, he's always been a terrific full-back at the club. 'At the start of the season we probably wouldn't have factored Jason playing at left-back but when people take their opportunity you have to reward that.' McClelland only started five league games last season - he came on another 16 times - but already has 12 Premier Division starts this year from his 21 league appearances. At no stage since Kenny took charge 14 months ago has the Dubliner ever knocked on the manager's door demanding to leave. St. Patrick's Athletic's Jay McClelland (Image: ©INPHO/Dan Clohessy) Kenny said: 'He was out of contract last year but I made it clear to him that I wanted him to stay. His versatility is important. Even when he's not in the team, he's super fit and that's a challenge because players find it hard to stay at the level when they're not in the team- they get demoralised.' Ryan McLaughlin, the former Liverpool and Northern Ireland player, is another who has stepped up to snatch a starting role. He was behind Axel Sjoberg as Kenny's right-back option, but has now wrestled the shirt off the Swede. Kenny continued: 'Ryan and Jason didn't start any of the European games last year and they're in the positions now. "You see the passing, Ryan to Jason and then Jason back to Ryan. You don't see that much in matches, those touchline to touchline passes from full-backs. But Ryan has that in his locker and the in-joke in the group is that he showed Trent Alexander-Arnold how to do it! Meanwhile, Kenny won't rule out signing a midfielder before Monday's 11pm transfer deadline for contracted players, as Romal Palmer remains on the long-term list. But Chris Forrester is nearing a return to the starting line-up after stepping up his comeback from injury of late, and scoring the all-important late winner against Kalju. Kenny said of Forrester: 'He's been a great player, a regular in nearly all of my games since I took over but he was out for eight weeks. 'That's two months and you can lose a lot. He needs to work hard. He's had a few weeks' training and is coming on so he definitely comes into our thoughts.' Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email .
The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘It's a dream come true' – Irish surfer makes sporting history with first EVER European Surfing Championship gold medal
GEAROID MCDAID made sporting history after becoming the first Irishman to win a European Surfing Championship gold medal. He delivered a flawless performance in the final in 2 Gearoid McDaid won a gold medal at the European Surfing Championships 2 Ireland finished third overall Commenting afterwards, McDaid said: 'So stoked to win the European Championships ! "After coming second last time, it's an absolute dream come true to take the win this year. "Having my parents here to share it made it even more special. "Huge thanks to Gavin [McCrea, team manager] and the whole Irish team for their support all week. Read More on Surfing "I couldn't have done it without them. "None of this would have been possible without the backing of my long-term sponsors, who've believed in me from day one and supported me to compete at this level!' His win was the highlight of an unprecedented overall third place finish for Team Ireland . Teammate Ruby Knox earned bronze in the Women 's Longboard, while Tom Breene finished fourth in the Men's Longboard. Most read in Other Sports The combined results saw Ireland earn a first ever team podium at the European Championships. With a European gold and a team podium in the same week, Ireland has announced itself as a serious force on the continental stage and this result is expected to ignite a wave of fresh investment and interest in the sport at home. Teen Scot becomes youngest Brit woman to tackle the world's biggest waves Team manager Gavin McCrea said: "This week has been nothing short of historic for Irish surfing . "Gearóid's gold is a dream moment, but just as important is the way the whole team pulled together. "Ruby taking 3rd place in women's longboard, Tom taking 4th in men's longboard. "Every single athlete has shown what's possible when passion and hard work come first. "We've gone up against the biggest nations in Europe and proved that Ireland belongs on the podium.' Official Homecoming for the Irish Surf Team and European Champion Gearoid McDaid will take place at The National Surf Centre in Strandhill this Sunday, July 27 at 5:30 pm.
The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Shelbourne director warns funding needed ‘if we want another Italia 90' & says Mason Melia ‘example of what can be done'
SHELBOURNE academy director Colm Barron looks at the success of Mason Melia and imagines what more could be achieved. Melia, 17, will move to 5 Shelbourne academy director Colm Barron Credit: RTE 5 Mason Melia, bound for Tottenham Hotspur, celebrates after scoring a goal for St Patrick's Athletic Credit: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile 5 25 April 2025; Victor Ozhianvuna has been linked with Arsenal Credit: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile 5 Cathal O'Sullivan has been linked with Brentford Credit: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile He is one of a number of emerging teenage talents coming through the League of Ireland . star with the Premier Division leaders. next million-euro export In the eyes of Colm Barron, this quartet - among other - is an example of what can be done with the kind of support that is currently lacking. Read More on Shelbourne The Shelbourne academy director told SunSport: "I think that shows the evidence that the National League underage is working. "My point would be, can you imagine what we could do, or potentially could do, if we were able to get 16-17-year-olds into full-time football within our own country, while also supporting them? "I think what's happened over the last few years with the likes of Mason, etc., and plenty of other good young players coming through, has been brilliant. "But what happens when he's 22-23 will really determine whether it's been a success or not for him, so I wouldn't get carried away with that. Most read in Football "There was "I wouldn't say they're coming through despite the system; it's probably a good realisation with regards to the good work that's being done at clubs." RTE pundit's one-liner about Damien Duff makes Joey O'Brien laugh after Shelbourne's win vs Linfield Barron is no stranger to the kind of funding and resource support required by the Back in April, LOI Academy Development Manager Will Clarke He outlined how there were just nine players between the ages of 16 and 19 in a full-time environment in Ireland, in addition to "a handful" abroad. Clarke revealed how, to have success at international level, we need 35 players playing in the top five leagues in The impact of Barron said: "Everything is privately funded by the clubs, so whether that's through investment from the owners - they do the best that they possibly can to support the academy system. "With Brexit and the changes that have happened in the game in regards to young players going to the UK, there's a massive emphasis now on the National League clubs especially to be developing these players. "The infrastructure just isn't there to support them, to give them the best opportunity, and while clubs like ourselves and other League of Ireland clubs are doing their best to fight the system, having that infrastructure around players to be able to hire more staff, player care, sports psychology , all those elements need to be there to develop elite level athletes. "If that's what our ambition is in this country , which it needs to be because we all want spring back days of USA 94, Italia 90, then there needs to be a major support put in through the government or through the FAI and that's just not there at the moment. GLASS CEILING "The level of the ceiling from a football perspective is probably getting close to being reached if the funding around it doesn't change. "There's no club in this country who has a full time academy system for 16-18 year old players. "If that was to change as a starting point, the League of Ireland product would just go through the roof. "The improvement of players would also go through the roof, and then we start to get closer to breaching the gap between ourselves and other European countries." "Can you imagine what we could do, or potentially could do, if we were able to get 16-17-year-olds into full-time football within our own country, while also supporting them?" Colm Barron Barron hopes to demonstrate the work being done in a hand-cuffed system through the upcoming documentary Football Families . The new series, which airs on next Thursday night at 10:10pm, offers a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings at Tolka Park. It was filmed in 2024 at a time when And Barron hopes it will expose the public to the sacrifices involved in a football club, and expose rising stars to the kind of scrutiny they can expect in the professional game. "The thought process for us when we were approached for that was for two reasons. "To shine a light on the good work that's being done in academies at the moment through an under-resourced system in regards to support, funding and infrastructure from the government and the FAI. "And then the second thing was for players to potentially receive an opportunity for something that they might experience in the future with regards to cameras being around. "It's good for them to be exposed to them things and to handle that side of the game. "Young people's lives are lived out through social media , the majority of them. "It's become more and more common that players have agents at younger ages. People are probably starting to lose the run on themselves a little bit with regards to that. "We see the glitz and glamour of Sky Sports and footballers believe that, 'oh yeah, that's me' or 'that's what I want to be'. "They don't see the hardship, the setbacks, the discipline, the sacrifice that it takes to do that. "Education around that is huge. The support network around that is something again that needs to be invested in. "Players need to be cared for around all aspects, not just what they do on the pitch. "To do that you have to have resources, you have to have time, you have to have money to do that." 5 Shamrock Rovers star Michael Noonan Credit: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
