Latest news with #EvanCaffrey
RTÉ News
09-07-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Mipo Odubeko gives Shels slim advantage after Linfield battle
Mipo Odubeko's 58th-minute goal earned Shelbourne a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Linfield in their Champions League first-round qualifier at a raucous Tolka Park. The stakes are so high in the embryonic stages of UEFA's elite competition. Progression to a second-round clash with Azerbaijani champions Qarabag would guarantee a precious injection of funds into the coffers, and also offer extra lives in Europe. Lose to Qarabag and you drop into the Europa League, lose that tie and you head for the Conference League. Shels – led by the excellent Harry Wood – dominated most of this encounter but had to be patient to break down the visitors, who sat deep and in numbers. Sean Boyd's introduction off the bench proves crucial, as he released Odubeko to steer a left-footed effort past Chris Johns. Boyd and Tyreke Wilson threatened to add a second, while Evan Caffrey spurned two great chances in the first half – both with his head – as the Reds tried to shatter Linfield's resistance. In the end they had to settle for a slender win to tee up a mouthwatering battle in Belfast next week. The atmosphere was frenzied as the teams emerged from the tunnel at Tolka. Inevitably, the early fare was scrappy but Shels soon found their feet, and really should have taken the lead just seven minutes in. 7 mins: Shelbourne 0-0 Linfield Evan Caffrey forces Linfield keeper Chris Johns into a point-blank save #rtesport #UCL 📺 Live on @RTE2 and @RTEplayer 📱 — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 9, 2025 Caffrey had two bites at the cherry: first timing his run perfectly to glance a corner kick off the woodwork; then, after Shels recycled the ball, ghosting back into the area to power in a downward header that keeper Chris Johns brilliantly scooped out. Linfield were under pressure. They tried to take the sting out of proceedings with sporadic spells of possession, but were mostly putting out fires, by all means necessary. Josh Archer went in the book for a late challenge on Kerr McInroy, then skipper Jamie Mulgrew also saw yellow when he scythed down Ali Coote. Shels thought they'd got the opening they craved in the 22nd minute. McInroy's corner caused panic, with JJ Lunney controlling the ball on his chest and lashing in a volley that hit the arm of Ben Hall. Penalty kick said Portuguese referee Luis Godinho. However, after a VAR check, he changed his mind. It was the right decision. Linfield rarely threatened, though they did get a sniff just after the half-hour mark. McInroy's sloppy pass out from the back fell nicely for the onrushing Ethan McGee a couple of yards outside the area. His first-time shot flew well wide. They had another chance approaching half-time. A long ball caught the Shels defence flat, with Callumn Morrison darting onto the bouncing ball. He tried to lob Conor Kearns but failed to get enough power on the attempt, and the stopper backtracked to make a straightforward save. Goalless at the break. Shels re-emerged with plenty of energy, but still lacked a cutting edge. Joey O'Brien's triple change in the 55th minute proved critical. On came Tyreke Wilson, Daniel Kelly and Boyd. Three minutes later, they took the lead. Boyd bundled past a challenge and poked a little pass through for Odubeko, who twisted into a half a yard of space before steering home a low left-footed finish from just inside the box. It was a major shot in the arm, and seemed like it might open the floodgates. But Linfield – still in pre-season and at times looking weary – showed resilience to jab back. Barrett had to be alert to block Morrison's fierce effort as the visitors came out of their shell. Odubeko slashed at a dropping ball, Boyd prodded wide from a Ledwidge cross and then headed wide after being picked out by Wood. But a second goal would not arrive. Shelbourne will take a one-goal to Windsor Park for a fascinating second leg that promises plenty more twists and turns. Shelbourne: Conor Kearns; Mark Coyle (Capt), Paddy Barrett, Kameron Ledwidge; Evan Caffrey (Daniel Kelly 56), JJ Lunney, Kerr McInroy, Harry Wood (Ellis Chapman 78), James Norris (Tyreke Wilson 56); Ali Coote (Sean Boyd 56); Mipo Odubeko (John Martin 87).
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Odubeko's strike sees Shelbourne edge past Linfield
Shelbourne got the better of Linfield in the first leg of their Champions League first qualifying round tie at Tolka Park with Mipo Odubeko's second-half strike the only goal of the Northern Ireland champions had to soak up plenty of pressure to ensure they would return to Belfast for next week's second leg facing only a one-goal what was their first competitive game of the 2025-26 season, David Healy's side appeared well drilled and defended strongly throughout, although Evan Caffrey had two good chances in the first hosts in Dublin also had a penalty award overturned by the video assistant referee (VAR) in the first half, but Odubeko's well-taken finish in the 58th minute ultimately proved to be the difference. Linfield show defensive grit in goalless first half The game at Tolka Park provided a second clash between the champions of the Irish Premiership and League of Ireland Premier Division in as many seasons after Shamrock Rovers thumped Larne 4-1 in last year's Uefa Conference while the southern side again asserted their dominance in the first half of this one, Linfield held firm through the opening 45 minutes despite a few Caffrey looked lively throughout for Shelbourne and came closest to opening the scoring in the early exchanges when he got onto the end of a near-post corner only to see his flicked header come back off the same player then drew a brilliant save from Linfield keeper Chris Johns from point-blank range after defender Euan East had slipped in the Shelbourne piled on the pressure, they thought they would have the opportunity to take the lead from the penalty spot when Ben Hall was adjudged to have handled Jonathan Lunney's effort from the edge of the box, but the decision was overturned by admirably organised without the ball, in the absence of playmaker Joel Cooper who joined Coleraine over the summer, Linfield offered little attacking threat, although they did have a few chances of their own in the goalless first half. First Ethan McGee drove an effort wide after latching onto a loose pass across the box before, in the final minutes before the break, Callumn Morrison's looping effort failed to catch out Conor Kearns in the Shelbourne goal. Shels up ante with second-half substitutes Shelbourne were playing their first Champions League fixture since 2005 and, while their title-winning manager Damien Duff departed between the draw and this first leg, they came into this one 25 games into their domestic manager Joey O'Brien got his first win against Cork City on Friday night and, in comparison to Linfield who had only last week's Charity Shield final under their belts, their increased match sharpness was Odubeko is one player who has been enjoying life under former West Ham and Bolton defender O'Brien and the striker opened the scoring with his third goal in as many minutes into the second half, he was put through by substitute strike partner Sean Boyd, took a touch to get the ball out of his feet and fired into the far corner. Boyd, whose assist came only two minutes after his introduction, proved to be a lively replacement as he flashed a header across goal before firing Tyreke Wilson's cross over the top. Kieran Offord came closest to delivering a Linfield equaliser in the closing minutes when he charged down Conor Kearns attempted clearance only to see the ball deflect narrowly wide.
Irish Examiner
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Early Ali Coote goal ends St Pat's home record and gets Shels back on track
SSE Airtricity Premier Division: St Patrick's Athletic 0 Shelbourne 1 Ali Coote's early goal ended St Patrick's Athletic year-long unbeaten home record in the league to reignite Shelbourne's tenuous title retention hopes as they beat the Inchicore side for the second time this season. The result, only the champions' third win in 12 games, moves Damien Duff's side level on points with fourth placed St Patrick's, though still 12 points behind leaders Shamrock Rovers who came from behind to beat Drogheda United 2-1. St Patrick's worrying form thus continues as they've now failed to win any of their last three games at Richmond Park and have one win in five. With five changes from Friday's home defeat to Shamrock Rovers, Shelbourne enjoyed plenty of early possession and were deservedly ahead from a sweeping attack on 10 minutes. Skipper Mark Coyle, Harry Wood and Evan Caffrey were involved before Tyreke Wilson put the latter's cross back into the home area. With St Patrick's at sixes and sevens, Coote's shot took a deflection off Tom Grivosti to wrong-foot goalkeeper Joseph Anang and find the net for his third goal of the season. Shelbourne maintained their positive start as St Patrick's laboured to get a foothold in the game. It was the 23rd minute before Saints threatened for the first time to give their restless fans some cheer. A surge forward from right-back by Ryan McLaughlin set it up with Aidan Keena helping Simon Power's cross on to Jay McClelland. Sam Bone displayed good defensive instincts, deflecting the shot out for the game's first corner. With St Patrick's finally in the game, Conor Kearns was worked for the first time when having to react acrobatically to turn an in-swinging ball from Jake Mulraney round a post before Kian Leavy forced a third corner in quick succession with a deflected shot from distance. But there was a let-off for St Patrick's on 34 minutes when Shelbourne striker Sean Boyd, starting for the first time in two months, sliced tamely wide dead in front of goal after incisive approach play by Evan Caffrey who had worked a one-two with Wood on the right. Clearly unhappy with his team's first half showing, Stephen Kenny made three changes from the resumption with Axel Sjoberg, Barry Baggley and Mason Melia replacing McLaughlin, Anto Breslin and Mulraney. It duly injected more energy and purpose into the home side as they chased the game. Shelbourne had three corners to defend in the opening minutes of the half while Kearns was then forced into a diving save from a Keena drive. The visitors' rearguard remained steadfast, however, as St Patrick's upped the tempo. Substitute Zach Elbouzedi had a close range effort bravely blocked while Jamie Lennon shaved the crossbar from 20 yards. In the key moment of the second half five minutes from time, Kearns made the save of the game to deny Baggley following Elbouzedi's surging run from deep as St Patrick's 17-game unbeaten home run in the league came to an end. ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Anang; McLaughlin (Sjoberg, h-t), Redmond, Grivosti, Breslin (Baggley, h-t); Lennon, McClelland; Power, Leavy (Elbouzedi, 71), Mulraney (Melia, h-t); Keena (Carty, 85). SHELBOURNE: Kearns; Bone, Barrett, Ledwidge; Caffrey (Gannon, 74), Lunney (Kelly, 70), Coyle, Wood, Wilson (Norris, 74); Coote (Chapman, 60); Boyd (Martin, 70). Referee: Paul Norton (Dublin). Attendance: 4,421.
The Irish Sun
08-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Evan Caffrey urges Shelbourne to ‘be ourselves again' as League of Ireland title tilt stutters
EVAN CAFFREY insisted that Shelbourne need to be themselves again to turn around their fortunes. 2 Evan Caffrey of Shelbourne has urged his team-mates to turn the corner after a five-game winless streak 2 2024 Champions Shelbourne have slipped to seventh in the Premier Division table They are still just five points off the top of the table and Caffrey is confident that one win can change impressions of Shelbourne. But he acknowledged that recent performances have not been good enough, and the only way to fix it is to work. He said: 'Watching them back and being in the games, you can feel a bit of a flatness. 'We weren't ourselves, there was no intensity in our play going forward and then just silly mistakes costing us goals at the moment. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL 'In the last two games, we didn't really play with any sort of intensity, we kind of just accepted things on the pitch. 'In Derry, we didn't lay a glove on them. And against Waterford, there was no intent in our attacking play and getting balls in the box, taking chances and stuff. 'And then errors cost us which is not great. Getting back to ourselves, we just need to bring a real energy, and just be ourselves again. Relax and bring a real energy.' But he is confident Shels will turn it around as he pointed to how they overcome from jittery moments last season on their way to winning the league. Most read in Football He added: 'I know there was a patch last year when we didn't win for a few games and we've been here before and we have to deal with it and we came back and we won the league in the end. 'I believe we'll be fine. Just one game and we'll get back to ourselves, bring our energy, apply ourselves well at the back and stay focused for 90 minutes.' 'Upset' Mikel Arteta claims there 'hasn't been a better team' than Arsenal in the Champions League in blunt interview
