‘It was strangely nerve-racking watching it back' – Dubliner Oscar Despard on University Challenge triumph
The 22-year-old from Portobello captained his team to a nail-biting 175-170 win in a match that went right down to the wire, ending with a final-minute comeback and a winning buzz from teammate Brendan Bethlehem.
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Irish Independent
8 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Rhasidat Adeleke explains her decision to withdraw from National Track and Field Championships in Santry
On Thursday afternoon, the 22-year-old Dubliner wrote on social media: 'Unfortunately, I won't be competing at the National championships this weekend. I've attended nationals every year since 2021 & there's nothing like competing in-front of a home crowd. 'An injury I had earlier this season has transcended into additional lingering setbacks so I'll be supporting from afar. I'll hopefully be back to get some Morton magic next year. I'm forever grateful for all the support. Best of luck to everyone racing.' Adeleke wasn't among the entries when the deadline closed on Sunday night and Athletics Ireland stated on Wednesday that she would bypass the event 'as she continues to focus on recovery following recent race exertions'. Last year, Adeleke proved the star attraction at Morton Stadium, with several thousand fans watching her power to victory in an Irish 100m record of 11.13. However, she hasn't been at quite the same level yet this year. The quickest of her three 400m outings is the 50.42 she ran in Oslo last month, which puts her 25th on the top lists for 2025 and is well down on the Irish record of 49.07 that she ran in last year's European final. It's not unusual for star names to skip nationals while preparing for major championships, with some A-list names usually absent each year. Athletes require dispensation from selectors to do so. Athletics Ireland's selection policy for September's World Championships in Tokyo states that dispensation requests 'will ONLY be granted for medical reasons and/or exceptional circumstances', and Adeleke will now focus on laying a training foundation in the weeks ahead as she builds up for Tokyo. A slew of other star names will be in action in Santry, with Kate O'Connor, Mark English, Sarah Lavin, Sharlene Mawdsley, Sarah Healy, Sophie Becker, Phil Healy, Andrew Coscoran and Sophie O'Sullivan among the Olympians on the entry lists. Adeleke did not compete at the nationals in 2023 when undergoing treatment for a niggle, but she was trackside to meet fans, and she went on to finish fourth in the world 400m final that year in Budapest. In 2022, she won the national 100m title in 11.68 while in 2021, she won gold in the 100m and silver over 200m. Her most recent competitive outing was at the London Diamond League on 19 July, where she took a step forward with a season's best to finish fourth in the 200m in 22.52. Both days of action at the nationals will be streamed on the Athletics Ireland YouTube Channel, with live coverage on RTÉ Two from 5-7.30pm on Sunday. Day tickets cost €15 with a special two-day ticket available for €25, while U-16s go free.
The Irish Sun
18 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Damien Duff was totally different at Shelbourne to what media thought – he helped boost my hopes of Premier League dream
SHELBOURNE starlet Raymond Offor idolised Sergio Buschets, learned from Damien Duff, and wants to emulate Andrew Omobamidele with Ireland. The 17-year-old has been moving through the ranks at Tolka Park since making the move from Bohemians in 2023. Advertisement 6 Raymond Offor of Shelbourne during the Sports Direct Men's FAI Cup match against Fairview Rangers Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile 6 He idolised both Lionel Messi and Sergio Buschets Credit: David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images 6 He cited Andrew Omobamidele as his Ireland inspiration Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile After initial struggles with injuries and the improvement required at the Shels U17s, the Dubliner has grown in stature and captained the team last year. Such is his burgeoning reputation that he has been training with the club's senior side and made his debut in the FAI Cup win over Fairview Rangers . And having been capped by the Republic of Ireland U18s, Offor is reveling in his dream becoming a reality . He told SunSport of his debut: "It was a proud moment for me. Advertisement Read More n Shelbourne "It is what want to do as a little kid, to make your pro debut and have your name on the back of the jersey ." After starting football when he was seven, he followed in the footsteps of older brothers Mourice Jr - named after his dad - and Eric. Balbriggan FC was his schoolboy club and he modelled his own game on that of Spain . He explained: "I saw a team that was my age and my dad went up to the manager and asked if I could play. Advertisement Most read in Football Live Blog Live Blog Exclusive "They were playing a match so they gave me the jersey and that was my first memory of playing football. "At the time, Barcelona were a super team and everybody was Messi this, Messi that, but I always found a liking to Busquets. Shelbourne ace Greg Costello recalls feeling homesick after daunting move to QPR as a teen "I felt like that is what I wanted to be like on the pitch. "I knew myself that I wasn't going to be a winger or a striker , so I always looked at Busquets." Advertisement That's not to say that By the time Offor started playing for Balbriggan in 2014, the Argentinian had won six league titles, two Copa Del Reys, three Champions Leagues and four Ballon d'Ors. "I said I wanted to be a footballer. Since I wasn't able to be one, it is lovely to see my son following my dream." Mourice Offor, Raymond's dad His highlight reel was easily viewed on He added: "I did have a liking to Messi at first and, when I was younger, I was a lot smaller so I played on the right wing for a good while. Advertisement "I think I played a game while I was at Balbriggan. "I dropped back into centre-back and I remember all the parents applauding me. "If I was to pursue football, which I will, I will probably go for centre-back because it suits my build and my athleticism and all that." FAMILY GAME Motivation was never far away for Raymond at home. Advertisement His dad Mourice used to play football in his home country of Nigeria before he and his wife emigrated to Ukraine in 1997. After running a Russian language course for a few years, they moved to Ireland in 2003 and spent two years living in Mayo. The dad-of-four said: "I had that vision of finding myself there one day. "When I went to family would be in Ireland. Advertisement "I said before that it is the best decision I ever made in my life, to come to Ireland." He continued to play football in this time, including for a club in Cloonfad in Suffice to say, football played a significant role in how the cab driver raised his kids such that he can live vicariously through his youngest son. Mourice insisted: "I am a happy dad. Advertisement "When I was growing up, my uncle called me on the phone and asked each one of us what we wanted to be. "I said I wanted to be a footballer. Since I wasn't able to be one, it is lovely to see my son following my dream. "It would be a dream for me to see him pull on the senior green jersey. It would be a very glorious day for me and my family." TOUGH YEAR With his Advertisement While he played for the Gypsies U15s, making the step up to U17s with their Dublin rivals made for a tough transition exacerbated by ill-timed injury. The secondary school student said: "When I moved from Bohs U15, there are players that are a year older than you and they have been in the squad a year before, so they had to go through that struggle as well. "You have to be twice as good as the players to get in, especially as a younger player. "I got two ankle injuries that year and it set me back a good bit because the time I was meant to come in, that was when I got injured. Advertisement "That was a really tough part of my life because I was really considering is football really for me?" 6 Shelbourne players who made their debut, from left, Aaron Moloney, Cillian Ryan, Derin Adewale, Raymond Offor, James Bailey, Dan Ring and James Roche after the Sports Direct Mens FAI Cup second round match against Fairview Rangers Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile Offor revealed he came close to a return to Bohemians before well-timed word of encouragement from management. "My managers came up to me near the end of the season and they were like, 'we have a plan for you here at Shels' and I stuck to it. Advertisement "Near the end of the season, we had our final game against Treaty and that was to win the league. "The centre back that was playing had tonsilitis that day so I had to fill in for him and they just told me that day because he told them he wouldn't be playing the day before. "It was kind of a debut because that was one of my only starts that season. "I ended up playing very well that season and my managers were very happy with me. Advertisement "We ended up going to Hull a week after and I played very well that game and they were very happy with me." MADE OF DUFF STUFF The teenager has not looked back since then. In 2024, he captained the Reds as they won the league and cup double. All the while, Offor was starting to work his way into the senior panel and trained with the Shelbourne panel. Advertisement Given their eventual winning of the Premier Division title that year, it was no surprise that Offor did not make his senior debut that year. However, working under next step technically while testing his character under his expectation and scrutiny. He said: "You have to remember that it is a lifestyle, it is not just a sport. You have to put everything and anything you have got to be playing men's football. "When Advertisement "I did have a liking to Messi at first and, when I was younger, I was a lot smaller so I played on the right wing for a good while." Raymond Offor "He was the type of manager that, if you are doing very bad, he is going to say it to your face and he is going to make sure you remember. "I think, if anything that has only benefitted me. "Before I went into the first team, my first touch was awful compared to the standard you need in the first team and he used to point it out in front of the whole group every single time. "I would get very embarrassed about that but it made me feel I can't have that anymore. I don't want to be embarrassed anymore. Advertisement "I don't think he is anything like the media. I think he is more of a people's person off camera. "He will do anything to support you and get you through what you are going through. "On the pitch, you can't ask for anything better. Looking at his career and the players he played with and experiences, he can only give you good advice." 6 Shelbourne assistant manager Joey O'Brien and manager Damien Duff, right, celebrate with the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division trophy Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile Advertisement The standards on the training ground brought by Duff were maintained by his assistant Joey O'Brien when he succeeded him in June. "I really like Joey as well. Just like Damien, he will do drills with you. "You are getting an extra 15 or 20 minutes of individual session to work on them little individual parts. "That is something he taught me as well, about working on those little details of your game that is important for first team." Advertisement GREEN SHOOTS His work with the U17s nonetheless earned him a call-up to the He won his first cap as a substitute in a 2-0 friendly loss to "That was the proudest moment for me because I have always looked at Ireland as that is what I wanted. Even over a professional debut. "I remember I was buzzing because even when I was playing for Balbriggan, I would see the likes of Andrew Omobamidele playing for Ireland at a young age and. to look at them, I would be like that is what I wanted to do." Advertisement Offor is one of a number of stories of talented youngsters coming through the Shelbourne and The work put into his progression will be documented in the new Football Families series, the first episode of which will air on Since his Ireland debut, Offor has gone from strength to strength and, on July 19, made his senior Shels debut in the 4-0 win over Fairview Rangers in the FAI Cup. He has been on the bench for League of Ireland games and the home legs against Linfield and Qarabag in the Champions Leagues. Advertisement With teeth into the highest level of the game having relished the appetiser. "As a kid, you always want to be playing in the "If it is not the Premier League, then the "Obviously, you have the big things of playing in the Advertisement "I want to experience what it is like to have that buzz and that is something that stays with you forever, playing in the Champions League." 6 Raymond Offor of Shelbourne before the UEFA Champions League First Qualifying Round second leg match against Linfield
Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
‘Expect the unexpected' - Kenny hails star as St Pat's prepare for Euro clash
Stephen Kenny has paid tribute to Chris Forrester, whose goal last week has given St Patrick's Athletic the advantage over their Estonian opponents Nomme Kalju. The Saints are slight favourites to progress ahead of this evening's second-leg in Tallinn, courtesy of Forrester's 90th minute winner at Richmond Park. The 32-year-old finally broke nine-man Kalju's resistance with a goal of supreme skill, confidence and composure. Forrester, in the last round away to Lithuanian side Hegelmann, broke the club record for European appearances with his 25th game in continental competition. Another big performance tonight from their influential midfielder, in appearance number 27, and they will be well on their way to a tie against either Besiktas or Shakhtar Donetsk. And former Ireland boss Kenny is confident that the Dubliner can deliver. He said: 'Chris is an absolutely exceptional footballer. He sees pictures other people don't see and you expect the unexpected I think when Chris plays. 'When I came in last year he worked extremely hard in all of the games. 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 . 'I think obviously having eight weeks… well, four weeks and then getting injured in the comeback game and having eight weeks (out in total) interrupted his flow of the game. 'He is an important player for us and you've seen that with him scoring the winner last week.' Pat's European run so far has been down to the form not only of their older players, but of younger stars such as 17-year-old Mason Melia and 23-year-old Kian Leavy. And defensively, they are on the brink of history, having already kept a record-equalling six consecutive clean sheets. Another one tonight and progress to the Europa Conference League third qualifying round is guaranteed. 'It's probably our ability to gain more control now in games because we've slightly changed the way we play,' Kenny said, explaining the recent run. 'We're getting more control and that has probably taken a lot of pressure off our back four. I think that's certainly helped us but we need to do it in the most difficult games.' It took Pat's until the 90th minute last week to make the breakthrough against a team that played the final 20 plus stoppage time with just nine players. So no one is taking progress for granted. 'Thankfully we did get the goal,' Kenny reflected. 'We can look at it two ways. We missed chances. We would have preferred to be 2-0, of course, or more. 'But nevertheless, it was important to get that late goal and it gives us an advantage going into (tonight).' Zach Elbouzedi misses out with a dislocated shoulder, but Kenny is confident that they can manage without their nippy winger. 'Rather than looking for counter-attacks on the word go, we must look to establish some kind of control and try to score the first goal,' he said. 'That early goal (in the away leg against Hegelmann) was a great help to us for sure. But this is a different game completely. 'We've got to be very determined and be ready to fight until the end here to get the result that we need.' Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email .
