Latest news with #JOEYO'BRIEN
The Irish Sun
22-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Joey O'Brien calls on Shelbourne to take fight to Qarabag in Champions League as he hails Tipperary's All-Ireland win
JOEY O'BRIEN has told Qarabag: 'Camán have a go if you think you are hard enough.' The Azerbaijani champions have played group-stage football for the past 11 years in a row and are tipped to get past 2 Shelbourne boss Joey O'Brien pointed to the Tipperary hurlers' astonishing second-half display in the All-Ireland final as inspiration 2 Tipperary shocked Cork in the All-Ireland final - now the Shelbourne boss wants his team to do the same against Qarabag But, ahead of the first leg in Tolka Park tonight, O'Brien pointed to the O'Brien said: 'They're going to come over here, back themselves, try to dominate the ball possession-wise. 'We need to make sure we're defending, staying on guard, at the top of the pitch. 'Obviously, playing at this level, for the club that they play at, they're going to have players that can hurt you. And we need to embrace that challenge. read more on football 'That's what it's all about for me, going in against a player that, yeah, on paper, people are talking about, that should be better, or is better than you. 'That's why football is magic, man. You go out in 90 minutes, take a crack off them, see who's standing at the end of it. 'Underdogs, Irish people in general love that, don't they? Watching the hurling there at the weekend and it was the underdogs that won it. 'That is the way we are looking at this, it is a chance for us to attack the game and create an upset.' Most read in Football Shels are hoping international clearance will come through in time for But Lorcan Healy will keep his place in the team with Conor Kearns ruled out with the hamstring injury which forced him off against Linfield last week. Mikel Arteta could not be happier with new Arsenal signing Martin Zubimendi Captain Mark Coyle has shaken off a knee knock.
The 42
17-07-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Shelbourne boss eyes European glory - 'We want to go and create more history by qualifying'
JOEY O'BRIEN SAYS he wants Shelbourne to make memories of a lifetime by qualifying for the league stage of European competition this season. The Reds boss saw his side progress to the second qualifying round of the Champions League after a 2-1 aggregate win over Linfield. Victory means the League of Ireland side are guaranteed at least a place in the Uefa Conference League play-off round with the potential to earn over €3 million by qualifying. A second-round Champions League tie with Qarabag is on the horizon next week, though, with the first leg at home in Tolka Park on Wednesday. Defeat to the Azerbaijan giants would see Shels head for the third round of the Europa League. Shamrock Rovers earned over €6m after they reached the knockout stages of the Conference League last season and O'Brien spoke of the reality such money brings. 'This opens up another door from the club's point of view. Here, listen, the people people at this club don't get involved at this level to make money. The lads in the background do it because they absolutely love it. 'Ultimately, to get the real money, you must make group stages. I told to the lads in there that's the aim. We don't want this to be our want our European memory. We want to go and create more history by qualifying for the groups.' O'Brien said games in Europe are the ones he can remember from his own playing days and he revealed that he challenged his squad to step up and take on the European challenge after Damien Duff resigned last month. Advertisement The Dubliner stepped up from No.2 and is now unbeaten in five games. 'It wasn't something I had planned, just the way it worked out,' he said of taking the job. 'I just said to the lads in there, the manager had a huge say in this and the squad he built, the success that we had last year, a huge part of him created this night, it was up to us and the players, not to me, I said to the players when I took over, you take on the baton, he stepped aside, you take it and run with it and see how far we can go. 'The build-up around this game since the draw was made, it's a massive, massive game. You don't get that in league football. Everything that's at stake, going through and the possibilities that it opens up. It was a great night for the football club.' It was a manic end to the first half with Shels conceding a penalty and seeing Linfield draw level on the night after Ali Coote's earlier goal. The away side then thought they regained the lead with a well-worked corner only for VAR to intervene and the official on the pitch rule it out after checking his pitchside screen. 'I just said to the lads, don't have a regret, this one will not let you by, if you regret this. It's great for us that we don't have that regret,' O'Brien said. 'These two games, with VAR has added something, you have the peno last week, you start off well and get a peno and you think, we are on the front foot, it's overturned. The early subs we had to make, the worked corner, that was a mad few minutes, they equalise, we went up the other end, Davey [McAllister] had drawn up that set play and felt it could have worked and it worked a treat, we thought it worked a treat and then VAR steps in. 'Going in at half time the lads were a bit flat, we had that emotion of being really high and then back to thinking, they are back in the game. I said to the lads, we are still winning the tie, we just need to go out and dominate possession and we'll get more chances.' O'Brien hailed the 'brilliant' Mipo Odubeko up front and heaped praised the 'excellent' JJ Lunney and Kerr McInroy for helping dictate play even more after Linfield had defender Ben Hall sent off on 63 minutes. 'I thought we were better team over two legs but sometimes you don't always get what you deserve.' Shels did here and now a proper European adventure beckons.
The Irish Sun
09-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Joey O'Brien urges Shelbourne to strike early as Linfield face Champions League clash lacking match sharpness
JOEY O'BRIEN wants his players to go for the jugular against out-of-season Linfield. 2 Shelbourne boss Joey O'Brien has urged his side to go on the attack from the off against Linfield 2 Shelbourne face David Healy's side in the Champions League first round qualifier And O'Brien hopes his side's match sharpness can come to the fore at Tolka Park. 'We go out and attack the game to win. That's not going to change. 'The atmosphere will be up but it's also about not getting too emotional, being in control of the performance, wanting it but not wanting it too much that you tighten up and can't perform. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL 'That's something that we've spoken about - attacking the game but not being too desperate or otherwise your performance suffers.' Opposite number David Healy said: "We've been in nearly a month now, we've prepared as best as we can. 'It's probably not like pre-seasons gone by where players are a little bit more unhealthy and whatever else. Now the players are a bit more considerate in what they do in the off-season.' 'I've seen it all' - Michael Buffer introduces Chelsea and Fluminense players and teams like boxers in Club World Cup
The 42
02-07-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Joey O'Brien set to be confirmed as Shelbourne manager
JOEY O'BRIEN IS set to be named as the new Shelbourne manager with official confirmation from the club understood to be due shortly. The former Republic of Ireland international had been Damien Duff's assistant for the past three and a half years and stepped into the caretaker role for the games with Waterford and Galway United in the week after Duff's resignation. Advertisement Shels drew both matches 2-2 and 1-1, respectively, and the club have now decided to hand the Dubliner the job ahead of what will be his first home game in charge against Cork City on Friday. The Premier Division champions are currently fifth in the table and face Linfield in the first qualifying round of the Champions League next week. They welcome the Irish League champions to Tolka Park on Wednesday, 9 July before visiting Windsor Park for the second leg the following week. Retaining their League of Ireland crown now looks beyond Shels but they are just five points off second place Bohemians, and while the Gypsies have a couple of games in hand the European places are well within grasp for O'Brien. Shels' FAI Cup campaign also kicks off on 19 July when they travel away to the FAI Junior Cup winners and Limerick District League Premier Division champions Fairview Rangers.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Top performers from OT7 Week 4 headlined by four-star SAF Joey O'Brien
DALLAS --Week 4 of OT7's fourth season is in the books. High-level recruits from all over the country competed in Texas for the fourth and final week of OT7's regular season -- ahead of the the Golden Ticket Tournament next weekend and the OT7 Championships on June 26-29 in Florida. Advertisement The field featured several blue-chip recruits in the 2026, 2027, and even 2028 classes so far. Included in this weekend's field was players committed to Georgia, LSU, Texas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Iowa State, Rutgers, Penn State, and more. Here's a look at the Day 1 top performers -- and here are the 10 top performers from the entire two-day span of Week 4 action at OT7 from Dallas College's Mountain View campus headlined by Rivals MVP Joey O'Brien. 1. FOUR-STAR SAFETY JOEY O'BRIEN Joey O'Brien was a runaway Day 1 MVP at OT7 on Saturday -- and continued his outstanding run in coverage again to close out the weekend. The four-star SAF came up with five interceptions on Day 1 and added a sixth on Sunday. Four of O'Brien's picks were returned for scores this weekend. Advertisement O'Brien also accounted for several more big plays in coverage -- covering a ton of real estate at 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds. He's rangy and long and consistency puts himself around the ball. He plays with a sixth sense and was a game-breaking MVP during Week 4's action. 2. FOUR-STAR SLOT WR VANCE SPAFFORD (GEORGIA COMMIT) Vance Spafford was among the leaders in receptions after two days in Dallas. The top-40 prospect from California also ranked in the tops in touchdown catches and was proficient working underneath and in the middle of the field. Rivals' No. 2 SLOT has strong hands and catches everything thrown in his direction. Spafford is electric with the ball in his hands and has a propensity to get open -- and do in consistently. The Georgia verbal showed some real toughness making several catches through contact in the end zone. 3. FOUR-STAR WR JABARI MACK (LSU COMMIT) Elite WR Jabari Mack was a regular source of big plays through the weekend. The four-star prospect from The Boot consistently got open and was targeted often -- and came away with difficult grabs showcasing his catch radius and ability to get up and win in contested-catch situations. Mack is an explosive route-runner and dangerous with the ball in his air. The top-100 WR committed to LSU has enjoyed a very productive off-season, including strong showings both weekends at OT7. 4. FOUR-STAR TE MARK BOWMAN Elite TE Mark Bowman moved at a different speed than other pass-catchers of his stature. The top-30 prospect from California is very gifted winning 50-50 balls and also maneuvering in the middle of the field. Bowman catches everything thrown in his direction and is strong working in the middle of the field and in one-on-one coverage. The four-star TE is a crisp route-runner that can also stretch the field and play above the rim by end zone. 5. FOUR-STAR WR KEEYUN CHAPMAN Keeyun Chapman is a difference-maker working on the outside. The big-framed multi-sport athlete was reliable moving the sticks and working downfield. A possession receiver for Landon Duckworth -- his high school teammate at Jackson (Ala.) High -- Chapman was the source of multiple touchdowns. His size presents major mismatches for defenders in coverage and he has plus-ball skills. 6. FOUR-STAR ATH SALESI MOA Four-star ATH Salesi Moa was dynamic working on both sides of the ball -- as one of the top targets for five-star QB Ryder Lyons and also in coverage during the two days of competition. Moa was outstanding stretching the field and separating in the short area and on routes downfield. He was also good working after the catch. The coveted ATH from Utah also orchestrated a wild two-minute stretch on Day 1 -- scoring two touchdowns and also had a pick-six before halftime of a game on Saturday. 7. FOUR-STAR SLOT WR MYLES MCAFEE (2027) Myles McAfee was one of the most productive pass-catchers on the Week 4 slate. The four-star WR from Maryland was a favorite target for Gavin Sidwar. McAfee consistently found holes in the defense and was sure-handed and able to turn and run for chunk gains. He brings an electric skill-set to the SLOT with the propensity to make plays at multiple levels of the field. 8. FOUR-STAR SLOT WR TRENTON YANCEY (2027) Four-star SLOT receiver Trenton Yancey was constantly moving the sticks and operating with purpose in the middle of the field. Yancey is extremely sure-handed and dynamic in even the smallest glimpses of daylight. The top-15 recruit in the 2027 cycle out of Texas is also quick to navigate downfield and capable of making plays at multiple levels of the field. 9. THREE-STAR WR ELIAS COKE (RUTGERS COMMIT) 2026 three-star WR Elias Coke came away with several highlight grabs over the course of the weekend -- none bigger than the game-winning reception downfield in overtime on Day 2 of action. The Rutgers verbal out of Pennsylvania was excellent operating down the sideline and making catches through contact. Coke showed strong hands throughout Week 4 and was a huge big-spark play on offense. 10. FOUR-STAR SAF JETT WASHINGTON Jett Washington consistently found himself around the football -- and was among the leaders in interceptions after the two-day stretch of competition in Dallas. On the field, the top-100 SAF is known for his physical presence. In this setting, the four-star prospect showed his range and coverage skills -- and how easily and instinctively he operates in his 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame. The multi-sport standout is an innate playmaker that showed up big time this weekend. ADDITIONAL NOTES FROM OT7 WEEK 4: --Texas QB commit Dia Bell was surgical working the short-passing game. The top-100 passer from South Florida throws with great timing and anticipation -- was on-point throughout the two-day stretch with a very strong Day 2 of work to close out the competition. Advertisement --Four-star QB Luke Fahey was excellent distributing the football to his array of blue-chip pass-catchers. Fahey was consistently on-time and on-point, and able to effectively go through his reads and churn out good decision after good decision. He had a very strong two days of work. --Four-star 2027 WR Easton Royal was in the "just missed" category on Day 2 and continued to make plays on both offense and defense throughout the weekend of action. Royal is a big-play spark capable of getting behind defenders over the top or making them miss in the open field. Royal also snaps at a NICKEL defender and moved well laterally and in coverage. --Four-star QB Gavin Sidwar was another player in the mix for top performers both days. The Pennsylvania passer showed great timing and ball placement with his cast of receivers and was excellent fitting throws into tight windows and keeping touch on some of his deep-ball throws. --Four-star LB Anthony Davis covers a ton of real estate from sideline to sideline on Friday nights, but on Saturday and Sunday in the 7-on-7 setting was constantly sniffing out passes and getting his hands on passes in coverage. Davis moves well as a linebacker and has fantastic football instincts. --Four-star SAF Jordan Smith is physically imposing and moves at a different speed working over the top at FREE. The South Georgia blue-chipper has excellent range and can close on passes in a hurry. Smith flies around on the field and sets the tempo with his play-style.
