LOI Preview: Seán O'Connor and Daniel McDonnell assess the interesting plotlines running alongside this weekend's three Premier Division games
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Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
Shelbourne's second string seal FAI Cup progress as star names are rested ahead of Champions League clash
Shelbourne's second string were more than a match for non-league side Fairview Rangers as the Premier Division champions interrupted their Champions League campaign to seal a place in the next round of the FAI Cup thanks to a comfortable win away to the Limerick outfit, with a three-goal salvo from John Martin.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Teenage sensation Victor Ozhianvuna scores super goal on full debut as Shamrock Rovers rout Wexford in FAI Cup
TEEN STAR Victor Ozhianvuna capped his full Shamrock Rovers debut with a sublime first goal for the club before the senior subs came on to kill off First Division Wexford in Tallaght. The 16-year-old scored early on but Stephen Bradley's Hoops side were made to work hard for their passage into the FAI Cup third round. It was only in the final 15 minutes that the visitors were put to the sword by goals from substitutes Graham Burke, Rory Gaffney and Danny Mandroiu. Eight points clear at the top of the Premier Division with just one defeat in 14 games, Rovers made seven changes from their most recent competitive outing against Sligo Rovers, including starting debuts for Ozhianvuna and recent signing John McGovern. Early doors, Ozhianvuna came in off the left wing to position himself perfectly to meet Darragh Nugent's on-the-money cross and score with a crisp, first-time side-foot volley. Read More on Shamrock Rovers Semi-finalists last year, striker McGovern heading wide from Ozhianvuna's cross, while Michael Noonan and Byrne worked Paul Martin between the posts before half-time. The Wexford threat from Oluwabiyi remained in the second half and he curled just wide on 54 minutes. Frustrated with labouring to put the game to bed, Bradley made five substitutions on 63 minutes with Dylan Watts, The latter brought a brave save from Martin with the keeper colliding with a post. Ed McGinty then denied Mike Rowe at the other end. Most read in Football Rovers finally got a second on 75 minutes as Mandroiu linked with Nugent to cross for Burke to show his composure from close range. Gaffney hooked in a third from almost on the goal line after Grace had nodded down Watts' corner and he then set up Mandroiu to sweep home the fourth in the 90th minute. SUN STAR MAN Victor Ozhianvuna (Shamrock Rovers) SHAMROCK ROVERS : McGinty 7; Grace 7, Lopes 6, O'Sullivan 7; J Honohan 6 (Watts 63, 6), Nugent 7, O'Neill 7 (Mandroiu 63, 6), Ozhianvuna 8; Byrne 6 (Healy 63, 6); Noonan 6 (Burke 63, 6), McGovern 7 (Gaffney 63, 6). WEXFORD : Martin 8; McCarthy 7, Larkin 7, McCourt 7, Crawford 7 (Browne 86, 6); O'Brien 7 (D Levingston 86, 6); Rowe 7, Harnett 6 (Haris 64, 6), McCormack 7, Oluwabiyi 8 (Flynn 77, 6); Dobbs 6 (Wasilewski, 77, 6). REFEREE : M Houlihan (Dublin) 6. 1 Victor Ozhianvuna scored a super goal on his full Shamrock Rovers debut Credit: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- RTÉ News
Teen prospect Ozhianvuna guides Shamrock Rovers past Wexford in FAI Cup
Sixteen-year-old Victor Ozhianvuna capped his full Shamrock Rovers debut with a sublime first goal for the club as Stephen Bradley's side were made to work hard for their passage into the third round of the FAI Cup at Tallaght Stadium. While Ozhianvuna's early lead brought the promise of a comfortable victory, Rovers didn't put Stephen Elliott's First Division Wexford to the sword until the final 15 minutes with goals from substitutes Graham Burke, Rory Gaffney and Danny Mandroiu. Rovers head coach Bradley spoke of the importance of trying to win the cup for a 26th time this year. And while regaining their title is Rovers' main ambition, the FAI Cup brings added incentive this season. The winners go into the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League first round, with a parachute into the Conference League second round if they are beaten, which carries a guaranteed minimum prize fund of €700,000, more than double what was previously on offer. Eight points clear at top of Premier Division, with just one defeat in 14 games, Rovers made seven changes from their most recent competitive outing against Sligo Rovers, including starting debuts for Ozhianvuna and recent signing, striker John McGovern. Ably dealing with a confident start by Wexford, Rovers had to work hard to stamp their authority on the game, their first home tie in the competition in four years. Jack Byrne curled a shot wide before the small home crowd were treated to a terrific goal on eight minutes. Ozhianvuna came in off the left wing to position himself perfectly to meet Darragh Nugent's on-the-money cross to score a with a crisp first-time side-foot volley. Beaten by winners Drogheda United in the semi-finals last year, Wexford belied their poor recent form of just one win in seven games to trouble Rovers when they got forward, with the pace of ex-Rovers academy and Ireland youth international Ajibola Oluwabiyi a promising outlet. But Rovers were always capable of stretching the visitors' rearguard with McGovern heading wide from Ozhianvuna's cross while Michael Noonan and Byrne worked Paul Martin between the posts before half-time. Martin was soon to the rescue again with a couple of fine saves early in the second half to deny 16-year-old Noonan. The threat from Oluwabiyi very much remained as Rovers had a let-off on 54 minutes when the teenage winger cut inside Lee Grace to arc a shot just wide. Frustrated with labouring to put the game to bed, Bradley made no fewer than five substitutions at once on 63 minutes with Dylan Watts, Mandroiu, Burke, Matt Healy and Gaffney sprung from the bench. The latter, latching onto a Nugent cross, brought a brave save from Martin with the keeper colliding with a post. That kept Wexford in the game as Ed McGinty soon had work to do to save from Mike Rowe. Rovers did finally kill off Wexford's challenge on 75 minutes, Mandroiu linking with Nugent on the right to cross for Burke to show his composure from close range. Eight minutes later, Gaffney hooked home from almost on the goal line after Grace had nodded down Watts' corner. Gaffney then set up Mandroiu to sweep home the fourth goal in the 90th minute. Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty; Lee Grace, Roberto Lopes, Cory O'Sullivan; Josh Honohan (Dylan Watts 63), Darragh Nugent, Gary O'Neill (Danny Mandroiu 63), Victor Ozhianvuna; Jack Byrne (Matt Healy 63); Michael Noonan (Graham Burke 63), John McGovern (Rory Gaffney 63) Wexford: Paul Martin; Michael McCarthy, Dean Larkin, Robbie McCourt, James Crawford (Cian Browne 86); Matt O'Brien (Darragh Levingston 86); Mikie Rowe, Kaylem Harnett (Muhammad Haris, 64), Ben McCormack, Ajibola Oluwabiyi (Calum Flynn, 77); Aaron Dobbs (Filip Wasilewski, 77)
