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Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Stephen Bradley: 'The scoreline will definitely play a part in our team selection for the second leg'
Europa Conference League, second round, first leg: St Joesph's 0 Shamrock Rovers 4 (Gaffney 13', Mandroiu 67', McGovern 73', Byrne 75') It was a sunshine stroll for Shamrock Rovers in Gibraltar on their European return as three second-half goals allows them to plan for a third-round tie in a fortnight. Last season's surge through the snakes and ladders Uefa structure entailed 16 matches, taking the Hoops into the knockout stages of the Conference League in February. Their tilt at replicating that run begins from a different and direct point but they looked every bit a team on a mission by dismantling St Joseph's by the midway point of the tie. Although Rovers were slow to build on Rory Gaffney's 13th minute opener, occasionally presenting avenues for the minnows to threaten such as a header from Manuel Sánchez that marginally missed the target, three goals in the space of eight minutes puts the outcome beyond doubt. Presuming there's no dramatic collapse on home soil in next Thursday's return at Tallaght, Stephen Bradley's side will march on to face either Malta's Floriana or Ballkani of Kosovo, with the latter leading 4-2 from Thursday's first leg. A deluge of Rovers goals stemmed from the contribution of substitutes introduced just past the hour. Excellent skill by Jack Byrne on 67 minutes, three minutes after coming on, led to a crossfield pass which Josh Honohan latched onto before rifling a shot off the post. Danny Mandroiu converted the rebound, albeit thanks to a wicked deflection. Two other subs, Michael Noonan and John McGovern, combined for the third, with the latter sweeping home from close range from a left-wing cross by his teenage strike partnership. Byrne completed the rout two minutes later in trademark style, controlling a pass from Honohan in his stride on the edge of the box and curling a right-footer into the far corner beyond Bradley Banda. First leg cushions are a rarity, something Bradley intends availing of, as their priority to remain top of the table and regain their title resumes against Derry City four days after the second leg. 'The scoreline will definitely play a part in our team selection for the second leg,' admitted the Hoops boss. 'Also, there's players who deserve the opportunity and some just back from injury who need to get up to scratch. We'll definitely move things around on Thursday, with Sunday against and the following Thursday's third Conference round in mind. We'll be shuffling it.' He expects to be facing Kosovan opposition for the right to reach the Conference playoffs. 'We watched Tuesday's first leg on our way to Gibraltar and Ballkani were very good,' he surmised. 'They won the game quite convincingly in the end. I'd imagine they will finish it off and we'll be heading to Kosovo in two weeks' time. ' Their centre-forward is dangerous. The left winger too was very good, creating three of the goals, but as always, they have weaknesses as well as strengths. We feel that we can hurt them.' ST JOSEPH'S: B Banda; E Jolley (L Volz 29), J Paul, G Barba, A Martinez (J Forjan 58); M Sánchez, Juanma, F Alvarez, A Armental (M Gibson 58); P Rodiguez; A Rey (H Amadou 86). SHAMROCK ROVERS: E McGinty; L Grace, P Lopes, D Cleary; D Grant (D Nugent 80), M Healy, D Watts (Aaron McEneff 64), J Honohan; D Mandroiu (J McGovern 71), G Burke (J Byrne 64); R Gaffney (M Noonan 71). Referee: Matthew MacDermid (Scotland)
Irish Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Shamrock Rovers kick off Euro run with record-breaking demolition of St Joseph's
Shamrock Rovers smashed another European record and took a big step towards even more continental glory, with a first-leg demolition of St Joseph's. The Hoops were 1-0 up at half-time, but a flurry of substitutions saw them storm to their biggest ever away win in Europe. Shortly after Danny Mandroiu doubled their advantage, he was replaced by recent signing John McGovern, and he was less than two minutes on the pitch when he added to the scoreline. That goal was created and finished by three of Stephen Bradley's changes - with Aaron McEneff and Michael Noonan involved in the build-up. And another replacement, Jack Byrne, made it four with the finish of the evening from 20 yards. Once again, the awesome strength of Shamrock Rovers' squad has been highlighted. Last weekend, Bradley made a rarely seen quintuple substitution to close out their FAI Cup win over Wexford. That depth - plus the addition of Connor Malley on-loan from Sligo Rovers - will be key to the Hoops going all the way to the league phase, as they did last year on a record-breaking run. Speaking of records, only twice before have they scored four on the road - against Spora Luxembourg in the 1966/67 Cup Winners' Cup, and away to Larne last year in the league phase of the Europa Conference League. Both those results, however, were 4-1. Yesterday's clean sheet rarely looked threatened, after an early Manuel Sanchez header was well dealt with by goalkeeper Ed McGinty. From that moment on, Rovers looked in control on a sticky astroturf pitch and in conditions that required water-breaks midway through each half. 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 . Moments before Rory Gaffney opened the scoring, the experienced forward had smashed an effort straight at goalkeeper Bradley Banda from close range. He made no mistake when a second opportunity arrived, this time from a hooked ball over the top from Dylan Watts. Gaffney ran onto the pass and into the area, and deftly chipped the advancing Banda. Shamrock Rovers' Rory Gaffney scores his sides first goal (Image: INPHO/Martin Seras Lima) Graham Burke went closest before the break to doubling Rovers' advantage, but that honour went to Mandriou in the 67th minute. Josh Honohan's shot was saved by Banda, but he could only push the ball out to Mandroiu just outside the box. His effort was bound for the right corner before it took a huge deflection that sent it inside the left-hand upright. Minutes later, goalscorers Gaffney and Mandroiu both went off, with McGovern and Noonan replacing them - and within two minutes of their arrival they linked up for Rovers' third. Noonan's low cross from the left was swept in by the former Dungannon Swifts striker at the near post. Two minutes later, Honohan teed up Byrne for a delightful finish; a curling effort that sailed inside the top right-hand corner. 'We're delighted,' said Hoops boss Bradley afterwards. 'I know a lot of people would have had us favourites to come here win the game, but you have to go and win the game and play what's in front of you, and I thought the players did that really well. 'It was extremely hot at kick-off time. The pitch is obviously sticky, it's an astroturf, but I thought the players got to grips with that really quickly and were excellent in how they went about the game. 'I was really pleased with how hard we worked, we didn't take our foot off, and that was really important.' Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty 6; Dan Cleary 7, Roberto Lopes 7, Lee Grace 7; Danny Grant 7 (Darragh Nugent 80), Danny Mandroiu 7 (John McGovern 71), Matt Healy 8, Dylan Watts 7 (Aaron McEneff 64, 7), Josh Honohan 7; Graham Burke 7 (Jack Byrne 64, 7); Rory Gaffney 7 (Michael Noonan 71). Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email .
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Hoops all but through to next round of Conference League after seaside romp in Gibraltar
And Shamrock Rovers have done just that by taking a giant step towards the Conference League third qualifying round after a ruthless second-half display against St Joseph's sees the Hoops bring a commanding lead back to Tallaght for next Thursday's second-leg. Rory Gaffney's early goal gave the Hoops the perfect start and although the visitors still led by a single goal by the hour mark, three strikes in eight minutes from Danny Mandroiu, John McGovern and Jack Byrne put this tie firmly to bed. After last season's historic run to the knockouts, this summer the Dublin 24 outfit are aiming to become the first League of Ireland side to qualify for a league phase without coming through the champions' route. They have made the perfect start to that target and are now within touching distance of a third round tie against either Ballkani (Kosovo) or Floriana (Malta), while progression would also bring their pot up €900k. The last League of Ireland side to visit Gibraltar's Europa Point Stadium was Shelbourne, as Damien Duff's men were pushed hard by the hosts 12 months ago, but the Hoops' recent European experience showed here as they avoided this banana skin with clinical finishing to kill the tie. The Hoops went close in the early stages as a clever cross found an unmarked Gaffney, but his effort was straight at Banda. The Galway native may have wasted his first chance but he made no mistake with his second to hand Rovers a dream start on 13 minutes. A sweet through ball by Watts cut through the heart of the home defence and put Gaffney one-on-one with Banda. The 35-year-old raced forward to get there first and his deft flick beat the goalkeeper and found the net. After scoring 17 goals in last season's historic campaign, the Hoops were off the mark again. It was advantage Rovers but after a period of sustained pressure, St Joseph's broke on the counter and were able to win a corner after Ed McGinty misjudged a routine catch. A smart short corner routine teed up an unmarked Facundo Alvarez on the edge of the box but the Argentinian's effort flew just over the bar. After a brief water break amid the 22 degree heat, Rovers went close again as a clever short free kick put Graham Burke, the club's record goalscorer in the Tallaght Stadium era, through on the left flank, but the forward's strike was straight at the goalkeeper. The Saints asked a couple of questions of the Rovers backline but the experienced Roberto Lopes, Lee Grace and Dan Cleay, a trio with 129 European appearances between them, dealt with everything that came their way. Mandroiu should have done better with a chance just before the whistle, but was saved by the offside flag as the Hoops went in at the break full value for their one-goal lead. For all of their first-half dominance, Rovers were given a warning by the hosts minutes into the restart as centre-half Javi Paul went up for a corner and saw his header sail just wide of McGinty's goal. Mandroiu worked himself into a good position on 53 minutes but saw his curler go post the wrong side of the post, while Cleary went close moments later, the former Liverpool man forcing a good save out of Banda. A double switch by the hosts on the hour mark did little to change things, but it was Bradley's changes soon after which helped his side put the tie to bed. Six minutes after Mandroiu doubled the Hoops' lead with the help of a big deflection, summer signing McGovern marked his European debut with his first European goal barely a minute after entering the fray, the former Down inter-county footballer converting a low cross from the left to make it three. And the Hoops made it two goals in two minutes when substitute Byrne got in on the act with a fabulous strike from just outside the box. The two-time PFAI Player of the Year failed to score in Europe last season, but he's off the mark now. What threatened to be a tricky tie on the seaside soon turned out to be a comfortable walk in the park for the Hoops. A perfect start to what they hope will be another long, enthralling European adventure. St Joseph's: Banda; Jolley (Volz 29), Javi Paul, Barba, Martinez (Forjan 58); Alvarez, Juanma, Manuel Sanchez; Rey, Rodriguez, Armental (Gibson 58). Shamrock Rovers: McGinty; Grace, Lopes, Cleary; Grant (Nugent 80), Mandroiu (McGovern 71), Healy, Watts (McEneff 64), Honohan; Burke (Byrne 64), Gaffney (Noonan 71).
Irish Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Conference League qualifiers: Shamrock Rovers outclass St Joseph's in Gibraltar
Conference League second round qualifiers, first leg: St Joseph's 0 Shamrock Rovers 4 (Gaffney 13, Mandroiu 67, McGovern 73, Byrne 75) Rory Gaffney, Danny Mandroiu, John McGovern and Jack Byrne all grabbed goals at Europa Point Stadium in Gibraltar as Shamrock Rovers began their Uefa Conference League campaign with a convincing second round qualifier first leg victory over St Joseph's. Looking to make a big splash in the competition after reaching last season's knockout rounds, Rovers came under some early pressure when a header by Manuel Sanchez, better known as Manolin, from an Alvaro Rey free-kick forced a save from goalkeeper Ed McGinty. Yet McGinty's opposite number Bradley Banda produced a point-blank stop to deny Gaffney from close-range on 12 minutes, before the Galway native found himself in space moments later and proceeded to lift the ball beyond the reach of the Joseph's netminder for the opening goal. This offered the Hoops a strong platform in warm conditions at a ground that serves as the home venue for Gibraltar's national rugby team. READ MORE Joseph's overcame NIFL Premiership outfit Cliftonville 5-4 on aggregate in the first round, but with their midfielder Facu Alvarez firing marginally off-target with a shot from distance, Rovers brought a slender advantage into the interval. Rory Gaffney scores Shamrock Rovers' first goal. Photograph: Martin Seras Lima/Inpho Although Joseph's were close to equalising five minutes after the restart when Javi Paul headed wide of the mark from an Angel Martinez corner, Rovers almost doubled their cushion when Mandroiu curled narrowly past the target at the opposite end. However, like Gaffney before him, Mandroiu eventually got his name on the scoresheet. After Josh Honohan's strike was turned away by Banda, the former Bohemians and Lincoln City star unleashed a follow-up effort that took a wicked deflection on its way into the net. This left the Hoops in a commanding position and despite the play briefly being halted for a second-half water break, Stephen Bradley 's men continued to turn on the style when the action resumed. Recent recruit McGovern (a Tailteann Cup winner with Down last year) was introduced inside the final quarter for his European debut, marking the occasion by almost immediately adding Rovers' third goal on 73 minutes. His fellow substitute Byrne also got in on the scoring act just two minutes later with a superb finish from outside the box, securing a four-goal lead for the Dubliner's ahead of the return leg in Tallaght next Thursday. ST JOSEPH'S: Banda; Jolley (Volz 29), Paul, Barba, Martinez (Javi Forjan 58); Manolin, Gonzalez Perez, Alvarez; Armental (Gibson 58), Rodriguez, Rey (Amadou 86). SHAMROCK ROVERS: McGinty; Grace Lopes, Cleary; Grant (Nugent 80), Mandroiu (McGovern 71), Healy, Watts (McEneff 64), Honohan; Burke (Byrne 64), Gaffney (Noonan 71). Referee: M MacDermid (Scotland).
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Shamrock Rovers cruise to victory in Gibraltar
Europa Conference League, second round, first leg: : St Joesph's 0 Shamrock Rovers 4 (Gaffney 13', Mandroiu 67', McGovern 73', Byrne 75') It was a sunshine stroll for Shamrock Rovers in Gibraltar on their European return as three second-half goals allows them to plan for a third-round tie in a fortnight. Last season's surge through the snakes and ladders Uefa structure entailed 16 matches, taking the Hoops into the knockout stages of the Conference League. Their tilt at replicating that feat starts from a different and direct point but they looked every bit a team on a mission by dismantling St Joseph's by the midway point of the tie. Although Rovers were slow to build on Rory Gaffney's 13th minute opener, occasionally presenting avenues for the minnows to threaten, three goals in the space of eight minutes puts the outcome beyond doubt before next Thursday's return at Tallaght. Presuming there's no dramatic collapse on home soil, Stephen Bradley's side will march on to face either Malta's Floriana or Ballkani of Kosovo, with the latter leading 4-2 from Thursday's first leg. That deluge of goals stemmed from the contribution of substitutes introduced just past the hour. Excellent skill by Jack Byrne on 67 minutes, three minutes after coming on, led to a crossfield pass which Josh Honohan latched onto before rifling a shot off the post. Danny Mandroiu converted the rebound, albeit thanks to a wicked deflection. Two other subs, Michael Noonan and John McGovern, combined for the third, with the latter sweeping home from close range from a left-wing cross by his teenage strike partnership. Byrne completed the rout two minutes later in trademark style, receiving a pass from Honohan in his stride on the edge of the box and curling a right-footer into the far corner beyond Bradley Banda. More to follow…
