
Ballymoney exit Irish Cup after narrow loss to Bangor despite Ireland call-up's inspirational display
The Provincial side may have squeezed home – by only three shots – against their Premier League rivals Limavady in the First Round, but this time, they agonisingly bowed out of the sport's top knock-out tournament, beaten by two shots in a gripping tie.

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Scottish Sun
2 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Lucas Paqueta ‘set to be CLEARED of betting charges as FA faced with paying West Ham star's £1MILLION legal fees'
LUC'S IN Lucas Paqueta 'set to be CLEARED of betting charges as FA faced with paying West Ham star's £1MILLION legal fees' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LUCAS PAQUETA is set to be cleared of spot-fixing charges, according to reports. The West Ham star has played for two years while allegations of being deliberately yellow carded were hanging over his head. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Lucas Paqueta is set to be cleared of spot-fixing charges Credit: Getty 2 Paqueta was accused of being deliberately carded on four occasions Credit: PA It was alleged that Paqueta picked up bookings on four separate occasions between November 2022 to August 2023 amid suspicious betting patterns being flagged. A guilty verdict could have seen the 27-year-old slapped with a lifetime ban from football. But reports from The Times claim Paqueta will be cleared of all charges. The FA are set to confirm their decision early next week. West Ham and Paqueta are said to be furious over how long it has taken to reach a verdict. The FA could now face having to cover the cost of the midfielder's legal fees, which is in the region of £1million. Shortly before the investigation became public, Manchester City had agreed an £85million deal to sign the former Lyon man from West Ham. But that move collapsed once City became aware of the allegations. An investigation was launched after suspicions betting patterns were identified originating from Paqueta Island in Brazil, where the player was born. Bets ranging from just £7 to £400 were placed on the four separate cards, in matches against Leicester, Aston Villa, Leeds and Bournemouth. A total of £100,000 in winnings came from bets placed on the four bookings. West Ham's then shirt sponsor, Betway, as well as a number of other high-profile bookmakers, raised concerns after their automatic systems which monitor suspicious betting were triggered. After the nine-month FA probe, Paqueta was charged in May last year but did not face a hearing until March 2025, which finished following the end of the Premier League season. During the hearing, evidence was heard from former West Ham boss David Moyes. Paqueta's form has nosedived during the process, with the playmaker in tears on the pitch following a booking in a West Ham game versus Tottenham in May. Following that match, Paqeuta's wife released an emotional statement saying the family had been living through a "nightmare" for two years. Sources close to the player have revealed that the allegations have had a serious impact on Paqueta's mental well-being. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.


Scottish Sun
2 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Alexander Isak offered whopping £32M-A-YEAR deal from Saudi but star has heart set on record-breaking Liverpool transfer
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ALEXANDER ISAK has been offered a £32million-a-year deal from Saudi Arabia — but his heart is set on Liverpool. The Swedish striker, 25, told Newcastle he wants to leave after they knocked back the Reds' initial approach over a potential British-record £120m move last week. 2 Alexander Isak has rejected a big money move to the Middle East Credit: Getty SunSport understands he could now submit a transfer request to push for a switch to the Premier League champions. And he wants to head to Anfield despite the extraordinary offer from Al-Hilal, which would also see him land a £14m signing-on bonus and a host of other incentives. Isak would pocket £3.6m for winning the Saudi Pro League, £3.8m for lifting the Asian Champions League and a further £1.75m for finishing as the division's top scorer. Also on offer is £120,000 a month in personal expenses to cover travel for him and his family, a club house with four full-time staff and a full-time chauffeur. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL Man Utd files Amorim considers shock striker deal as bankrupt legend is given busy schedule Isak would be provided with a private jet for him and his family whenever he is called up for Sweden duty. It would make him the fifth-highest earner behind only Sadio Mane, Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez and Cristiano Ronaldo. But Isak only has eyes for Liverpool. The Toon are refusing to sell last season's 27-goal top scorer despite him not going on their pre-season tour to Asia. They have been unable to persuade him to sign a £300,000-a-week deal making him Newcastle's highest-ever earner. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK And they fear he could force a move by handing in a written transfer request. Newcastle are exploring a move for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko as a potential replacement. Newcastle plotting Benjamin Sesko bid to replace Alexander Isak And they are planning a £35m bid for Brentford's Yoane Wissa after a £25m offer was rejected. New Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike, who snubbed Tyneside for the Reds, has dropped a big hint that Isak could be joining him at Anfield. The Frenchman cost £69m from Frankfurt and boss Arne Slot wants Isak to join him, Mo Salah and Florian Wirtz in a new-look attack. And Ekitike, 23, revealed how much he likes a strike partner. He said: 'I can play alone and also with another striker and that's what makes me versatile. "You know now in football you need to adapt." 2 TRANSFER NEWS LIVE - KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM A BUSY SUMMER WINDOW


The Sun
2 minutes ago
- The Sun
Man Utd ‘bomb squad' outcasts could STAY at club as Amorim says club won't be held to ransom over Sancho, Garnacho & Co
RUBEN AMORIM opened the door to a way back for his Manchester United 'Bomb Squad' as he told Prem scavengers: We won't be held to ransom. Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia were all left behind when Amorim and his squad flew out to Chicago for the US leg of their pre-season campaign. 3 United landed as Marcus Rashford was completing his loan move to Barcelona but Amorim warned rivals they cannot lure any of the quartet on the cheap - and that they will be reintegrated into the United fold if deals are not done. Amorim said: 'I know for a fact that the club have a number, a price, for these players. 'If other clubs don't reach that number, they will be Manchester United players, no doubts about that. 'I understand that these clubs are maybe waiting for the last minute to put in bids. 'But if they try, they will be on for a surprise.' He added: 'There were different reasons for the situations of these players. 'Some of them have to find a new place to have more space in the team, other players clearly show that they want a new challenge, and they want new teams. 'We are just allowing these players to have time to think and to decide. 3 'But if you reach a point that they have to join the team, they will join the team because they are our players and I'm ready to receive them. 'If that happens and they come back to us, they will have more competition. Marcus Rashford back together with ex-fiancee Lucia Loi two years after they split as childhood sweetheart joins him in Barcelona 'But if they want to play in the World Cup this season, they need to play. 'So I'm really happy with that, because I will have more options, and if they have to fight each other to play, I'm just proud of it.' United are keen to offload the other four players to fund new signings, but Amorim insists that the price must be right. Amorim was joined by new £62.5million signing Matheus Cunha as he spoke at Soldier Field in Chicago. United have also signed Bryan Mbeumo to fill the other No.10 spot in his 3-4-2-1 system, but have yet to land a new striker. Amorim insisted that he has options in attack and would be happy going into the season with the squad he has now. He added: 'I think our club, in the moment, need to be really careful when we sign a player. 'So if we have to start the season with this squad, I'm happy. Because all the players that are here want to be here, and that for me is the most important thing. 'If we start the season with this squad, I am happy. We are going to suffer but that feeling of bonding is really important. The spirit is positive." 3