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Irish Independent
23 minutes ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Striker Douglas James-Taylor linked with move to Bohs after loan deal with Drogheda expires
Bohemians have made a strong move to sign striker Douglas James-Taylor after the expiration of a successful loan with Drogheda United where he was a crucial factor in their FAI Cup success. It's understood the Gypsies are poised to secure James-Taylor (23) on a permanent deal, with the Englishman expected to turn down the offer of a new contract from Walsall that would have opened up the possibility of a return to Drogheda. The Boynesiders also explored signing the front man on a permanent basis.
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
'He is definitely a student of the game': Bradley wishes Andrews well in Brentford gaffer role
'I'm sure he's cursing me' joked a jovial Stephen Bradley when speaking about his match winner from Friday night, Rory Gafffney. The 35-year old sprung from the bench to net a crucial winner against a stubborn and talented Waterford side, showing reactions of a player half his age to capitalise on a Stephen McMullan error as the Northern Irish man failed to gather Danny Mandroiu's stinging effort, allowing Gaffney to tap home. And his gaffer is fully aware of the frustration his experienced and reliable front man justifiably feels. ''He should have started tonight, I'm sure he feels the same,' admitted Bradley. 'He was brilliant here against Cork City last Friday. He played 90 minutes so you leave him out of Monday's squad obviously. I know he's really annoyed he doesn't start tonight and that's the hardest part of this job is leaving good people like that out of the squad, obviously good players, but good people too out of the team and out of the squad and I knew he was annoyed, rightly so. 'But he's played at the level he's played at for such a long time because of his character and how professional he is and I knew once you call upon him he'll be ready. And he was tonight, I thought he played like he has done all year to be fair, so I'm sure he's cursing me but he comes on and wins us the game.' That huge win restored Rovers ominous lead at the top back to 11-points over Bohemians and Derry City in the title race, with the gap nine points prior to kick off, and The Hoops boss feels his side are in a good place with an healthy lead going into what promises to be a crazy July, adding: 'That's why it (Friday's) win was an important one, it was important we got three points. "We go to Sligo Rovers, FAI Cup and then into Europe so we're in a position that i would have taken your hand off at the start of the year so it's important that you push as hard as you can coming into this period because you have a little break that allows you to fully focus on what's to come and not looking at what's around the corner. They were excellent tonight and its a nice lead to have.' Bradley was quick to praise his players who bounced back from Monday's Dublin derby defeat that brought an end to their 11-game unbeaten run but insists, as always, that its just about themselves. 'The thing that disappointed me on Monday was not losing the game, but our performance in the game.' said the 40-year-old. 'We've been that good this year, but we were miles off our levels and that's what annoyed us. You can win and lose games, that's football. It was more just get back to our levels, get back to what we do. "So if Waterford had left Tallaght with a draw, we can't complain about our performance, it was really high level and you take that, but we don't accept Monday. "We asked the players to respond from Monday in terms of our performance levels and they did that, I thought they were excellent all over the pitch, in and out of possession, showed a real hunger to get back to our levels and we get a really important win.' "So it wasn't about extending the lead, it was just about getting back to our performance levels and everything after that takes care of itself.' On the same day Rovers stretched their lead at the summit, a fellow Dubliner was handed the reigns in the Premier League at Brentford in a somewhat surprising move, but did not come as a shock to Bradley who had started his pro-licence with Andrews before the latter having to defer to the following year due to work commitments. 'Yeah it's great. I really, really hope he does well. I got to have a lot of discussions with him on tactics and football in general. You can see he is definitely a student of the game and thinks about it. I'm absolutely delighted, a young Irish manager in the Premier League and I just really, really want it to go well for him. I texted him today, and I hope it goes really well. That's what we want, we want our managers managing at the highest level, and in England, that's the highest level. As well as being proud of a fellow Irish manager at the top table in English football - the first Irish Premier League manager since Chris Hughton in 2019 - he was insistent that the former set-piece coach got the job on merit, adding: 'I think Brentford have always been bold and brave in what they've done. "We all look at Frank now as an established, really good manager but he wasn't always. He was an assistant, he was involved in the B team. The Sparta manager we played against last year, he was B team manager as well and was the next one to come in and then got the Sparta offer. They do that quite regularly. 'We had a really good relationship with Rob Rowan (Brentford technical director who died aged just 28 in 2018) who sadly passed a few years back and he was the one who set all that in motion and they have stuck to their plan. If Brentford have given Keith that job, they've given it to him because they really believe in what he does and how he does it. "They don't look to me like a club that makes rash decisions. They buy well, they sell well, they recruit good players, they recruit good managers and coaches. I think they have made this decision with their eyes open and that should fill you with confidence if you're Keith. "I can only imagine the amount of managers who would have wanted that job, so the fact they have gone straight for him is a massive vote of confidence. They have obviously seen something that they really, really like which is good."
Irish Examiner
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Gaffney the hero as Shamrock Rovers extend lead at summit
Premier Division: Shamrock Rovers 1 Waterford 0 Supersub Rory Gaffney proved the hero as he was in the right place at the right time to notch a valuable winner and extend his side 11-point clear at the summit. Rovers could have been in front within the first five minutes when Graham Burke stood up an inviting cross to the back post that found Danny Grant. The wingback, under some pressure, showed good composure to chest the ball down but saw his low strike somehow hit the foot of the near post before rolling across goal and eventually cleared. Waterford's Jesse Demspey found some space down the left and smartly teed up James Olayinka, who burst forward from midfield and saw his sweeping strike was sharply turned away by Ed McGinty. Both sides started to sense blood as the game began to open, with chances coming at both ends. Firstly, Josh Honohan cut inside from the left, and bent a lovely effort to the far post but was denied by Stephen McMullan at full stretch. The visitors went straight down the other end and Olayinka turned two men before unleashing a powerful effort straight into McGinty's midriff. Waterford then spurned one of the clearest openings of the evening when Tommy Lonergan got in behind the Rovers rearguard and looked to be in on goal. On the cover, Dan Cleary forced the front man slightly wide, leaving Padraig Amond free in the process, but his strike partner selfishly went for goal with the angle against him and shot straight at McGinty. The hosts continued to be patient in their search to break the deadlock but were met by a well-organized sea of blue. The introduction of two former PFAI award winners in Jack Byrne and Rory Gaffney showed the strength in depth at the disposal of the Bradley and lifted the crowd in the process. The 35-year-old Gaffney reacted quickest to a spill by McMullan - who had initially failed to hold a stinging Danny Mandroiu strike from 25-yards, and tapped home with just 15 minutes remaining. Rovers pushed for a second and fellow substitute Maxim Kovalevskis showed great feet to cut inside and square to Gaffney, but he saw his thunderous effort bravely blocked. Rovers saw out the remaining minutes in what could prove a pivotal victory in the title race as his side's attention now turns to both another European adventure and the start of an FAI Cup tilt. Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty; Dan Cleary, Roberto Lopes, Lee Grace; Danny Grant (Maxim Kovalevskis, 76'), Dylan Watts (Rory Gaffney, 65'), Matt Healy, Danny Madroiu (Darragh Nugent, 87'), Josh Honohan; Graham Burke (Jack Byrne, 65'), Michael Noonan (Gary O'Neill, 87'). Waterford: Stephen McMullan; Andy Boyle, Darragh Leahy, Ryan Burke (Trae Bailey Coyle, 80'); Grant Horton, Rowan McDonald (Dean McMenamy, 69'), Sam Glenfield, James Olayinka, Jesse Dempsey (Kyle White, 71'): Tommy Lonergan, Padraig Amond. Referee: Paul Norton (Dublin).
Irish Independent
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Rory Gaffney comes off the bench to secure three vital points for Shamrock Rovers
This clash was heading towards a stalemate as Stephen Bradley's side looked like they may miss out on the chance to extend their lead out to 11 points, but a howler from Waterford 'keeper Stephen McMullan gifted Rory Gaffney the winner and gave the leaders the win they craved to take a big step towards the 2025 league title. Bradley got exactly the response he wanted from his side after Monday's derby humbling at the hands of Bohs, as Rovers secured a fifth successive win over the men from the south east, but more importantly, extended their lead at the summit by another two points and out to 11 with just 12 games remaining. After beating Bohemians and drawing with Shelbourne, Waterford's third game in seven days against Dublin opposition ended in a defeat, although John Coleman's side were well in this contest and twice went close to a first-half opener through Olujimi Olayinka and Tommy Lonergan. They remain in eighth and eight points above ninth-placed Sligo Rovers. The crowd of 4,014 at Tallaght Stadium was the Hoops' lowest home league attendance so far this year and around 300 fewer than last week's win against Cork City, with the clash also Rovers' final league game at home until August, on account of next month's Conference League and FAI Cup campaigns both beginning. The hosts started on the front foot and were inches from taking an early lead inside five minutes as the post denied Danny Grant a first goal since March 7, after a fine cross from Graham Burke. Blues centre-half Andy Boyle, making his first start since April 25 after recovering from a calf injury, was perhaps fortunate to escape a straight red card when he appeared to take Michael Noonan down just behind the halfway line, Rovers appealing that the four-time league winner with Dundalk was the last man back at the time. The Rovers teenage star would have been through on goal courtesy of Burke's through ball, but referee Paul Norton brandished a yellow card. The visitors came forward minutes later as Jesse Dempsey's excellent cross found Olayinka, with the former Arsenal academy midfielder seeing his shot saved by Hoops number one McGinty. But the ball fell kindly towards Pádraig Amond at the back post, who looked certain to score had recent Ireland call-up Josh Honohan not held off the Blues skipper superbly before diverting the ball to safety when he realised Sam Glenfield was also hot on his heels. Honohan then broke forward on 21 minutes from left wing-back, cut back inside on to his right foot and unleashed a curling shot that looked destined for the far corner, but Blues 'keeper McMullan was equal to it with a superb stop. Rovers midfielder Mandroiu should have done better to hit the target after being teed up by Burke's short free-kick routine, before Olayinka saw his piledriver stopped by McGinty for the second time in the space of 15 minutes, in a lively opening half-hour in Dublin 24. Both sides continued to search for the opener as Mandroiu and Ireland U-21 striker Lonergan both saw efforts saved, with the latter opting to go himself rather than squaring across to an unmarked Amond, who was in disbelief that it wasn't put on a plate for him yards from goal, but neither could find a breakthrough with the teams going into the break scoreless. ADVERTISEMENT Noonan was finding his long runs forward towards balls over the top snuffed out by Blues 'keeper McMullan, who was doing a good job of keeping a high line to keep the Ireland U-19 international at bay. Waterford's Rowan McDonald found a pocket of space just before the hour mark but McGinty was again equal to it, on a night where both men between the sticks were on the top of their games. Noonan again went close on 72 minutes, this time with a header from Mandroiu's deft cross, but moments later, the breakthrough finally arrived. Mandroiu's shot from distance looked to be routine for the Waterford shotstopper, but he spilled it and allowed substitute Gaffney to pounce and fire into an empty net for his sixth of the season. Job done for the leaders, who take another step towards the title they have their eyes set on reclaiming. Shamrock Rovers: McGinty; Cleary, Lopes, Grace; Grant (Kovalevskis 76), Healy, Watts (Byrne 65), Mandroiu (Nugent 88), Honohan; Burke (Gaffney 65), Noonan (O'Neill 88).
RTÉ News
a day ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
LOI preview: Bohs aim to keep some heat on Shamrock Rvs
As the most hectic period of the season comes to an end, many sides have been left licking their wounds and some purring at what is to come. Shamrock Rovers were left smarting from a 2-0 derby defeat to Bohemians last Monday, but they have plenty to look forward to in the coming weeks. The Hoops have opened up a gap on their rivals despite that loss and with favourable draws in Europe and the FAI Cup as those competitions come upon us in July, they are in a fine position to have a memorable season. Stephen Bradley's side face Waterford tonight. The Hoops boss was quite cutting in his assessment of the loss to Bohs and has been trying to address the issues this week. He said: "There are a few things that went wrong, that's clear to see. It's our job as a staff to understand that and try to understand why that happened, because the players have been excellent for long periods of this season. "We've obviously reviewed the game and we know why, so we need to make sure it doesn't happen again. It's unfortunate it's in that type of game that it's happened, but it did and we got punished." Looking ahead to tonight's encounter, he said: "We know it's a difficult game, we know Waterford have been very good. We've watched them really closely all season because of Conan Noonan, so they've been very good, especially since the new management under John Coleman have gone in. They're playing slightly differently, so we need to be at our best tomorrow to go and win the game." Perhaps the most important game tonight concerns two sides wondering where it has gone wrong. Cork City supporters have been protesting against owner Dermot Usher this week but they must put that to one side for a crucial match against an out-of-sorts St Patrick's Athletic. The Saints have struggled to find any momentum this season and left Stephen Kenny working hard to turn things around. Injuries to key midfielders have hampered them, but with a squad filled with talent, their current spot 15 points behind the leaders is a major disappointment. Much has been made of the fallout of Damien Duff's exit from Shelbourne after also slipping to a mid-table position. As each day passes, life goes on at the Tolka Park side. They face a trip to Galway tonight, ironically a fixture Duff struggled to master in his near-four years in the dugout. Interim boss Joey O'Brien knows the importance of lifting spirits, given the cloud that has been over Tola Park: "We need a win, that does wonders for confidence. Some of the individual mistakes are hard to pinpoint, and while we're not giving up many chances in most games, it's been a case of one really poor mistake costing us a few times this season. "The fact is we haven't kept enough clean sheets. That's something we want to address. "It's about trying to impose our game on them, taking the bull by the horns, and bringing it to the level we know we have, but maybe that we've not shown enough in recent weeks." United most cope with their top scorer Moses Dyer. He was due to be suspended after a red card in the 2-1 loss in the Showgrounds on Monday, but he is also set to depart the club for a move to Cambodia. Bohemians are at a high point for the season having moved to second place. How times have changed as the last time they welcomed Sligo Rovers to Dalymount Park, it felt as it was a must-win scenario for Alan Reynolds. They secured a nervy 4-2 victory against a depleted Bit O'Red in that game in question. Both outfits will feel stronger going in this fixtures as they Gypsies look to make it nine points from their matches with Sligo so far this campaign. John Mahon is out for Sligo due to suspension, but Ollie Denham may make a first start since the previous meeting of the team back in April having overcome a hip problem. Sligo boss John Russell admits his side will be up against it given the momentum Bohs have: "Every game and every ground has its own challenges. But at the moment, I think Dalymount is probably the toughest place to go given Bohs' recent form. They've been very good, particularly at Dalymount but we've spoken since Tuesday morning about our game plan and we're happy the players are well prepared. "We're happy with our form since the break but it stands for nothing if we can't keep it up and the challenge now is to do exactly that." The final game sees Derry City take on Drogheda United. City opened some eyes with back-to-back victories in Dublin last weekend. In a league where a run of wins can change everything, Tiernan Lynch may be finding some consistency at last. It's been a turbulent time for Drogheda as they were denied late on in Cork on Monday. Despite that setback, and many others in this month, they remain well-placed to stay in the top four for a while. They will have a quiet month with no European matches and scheduled league games moved forward in the thought they would be otherwise engaged. Now that it isn't the case, points on the board are all-important given the teams around them will be in action more in July.
