Latest news with #Lawal
Irish Daily Mirror
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Ireland call-up ready to make up for lost time at Stoke after injury-hit season
Bosun Lawal is determined to bounce into the new season with Stoke City after ending a largely frustrating campaign with a senior Ireland call-up. Former Under-21 international Lawal was drafted into Heimir Hallgrímsson's squad for the June friendly against Luxembourg. It was a positive end to a year in which he made just eight first-team appearances for the Potters. Lawal's ambitions for the season were upended by a stress fracture in his lower back, shortly after his arrival at the Championship side on a four-year contract from Celtic. The ex-St Kevin's youth had earned the move after an impressive loan spell in League One with Fleetwood Town, where he scored six goals in 46 appearances. A versatile player, who can operate in defence and midfield, he told the Stoke City website: 'I feel like I owe it to myself and the supporters to show what I'm all about. 'I couldn't show too much of myself last season so hopefully I can do that this year. I want to try and get as many games under my belt as possible, stay injury free and then take-off from that point. 'I've always known that I'm capable of playing in the Championship. It's just about getting myself fit to be in a position to play. 'It was very frustrating for me last season. I was just waiting for my season to start after finding out I had an injury, and then I had to try to force my way into the team. 'It was tough for me last season, but I think it will do me the world of good for my career in terms of understanding how to cope with that experience. 'The people around me like my teammates, the staff and my family all helped me get through it.' The Dubliner has been busy preparing for the new season along with his teammates during a training camp in Spain. He made a 45-minute appearance during the week in a friendly against Brighton, lining out at centre-back. Lawal said: 'I've taken on loads of information from the other lads in the team during training and matches. 'I've tried to add elements to my game and will continue to do so as it will only help me moving forward.' Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email .
Irish Examiner
27-06-2025
- Irish Examiner
Off-duty garda who assaulted hotel porter while 'paralytic drunk' avoids conviction
An off-duty Garda got 'paralytic drunk' after drinking sambucas during a stag weekend before assaulting a hotel porter in Ennis, a court has heard. At Ennis District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett said: 'It is a shame really that but for the isolated incident on a stag night where Caoileann Fitzmaurice drank sambuca he probably wouldn't be here at all. 'Mr Fitzmaurice had four or five drinks and all of a sudden he was paralytic drunk and he had to be brought home. Then he was confronted by this nice man (Olufegun Lawal) who was trying to direct him to the right place when the melee ensued.' Caoileann Fitzmaurice, aged 31, stationed at Pearse Street Garda Station in Dublin, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Lawal at the Queen's Hotel, Abbey Street, Ennis, Co Clare on January 21, 2023. Judge Gabbett said he would not impose a conviction on Mr Fitzmauraice and instead imposed the Probation Act and made a compensation order for €5,000 for Mr Lawal. He said he was not convicting Mr Fitzmaurice of the offence 'due to the exemplary fashion in which he has engaged with the probation services'. Judge Gabbett said the manner in which Mr Fitzmaurice — who has no previous convictions — has met the case 'is an example to others'. He has met the case head on, shown remorse, apologised, faced up to it and paid compensation. 'He has given up alcohol, he has engaged in counselling, he is getting married, he has engaged in very pro-social activities.' Judge Gabbett said that Mr Fitzmaurice 'is a very well-educated gentleman and has a qualification in criminology'. He said it is never easy for a member of An Garda Síochána to be before the courts. He said that he was conscious of the internal disciplinary proceedings within An Garda Síochána which, he said, will have to happen because it is an assault. Judge Gabbett said that the significant aspect of the disciplinary proceedings is to get Mr Fitzmaurice 'off administrative duties and back to his normal duties of preventing crime'. Counsel for Mr Fitzmaurice, Cian Kelly BL asked that the case be struck out due to the manner in which Mr Fitzmaurice has met the case. Judge Gabbett said that he didn't think it would change the outcome of the disciplinary process if the case was struck out. On his way out of the courtroom, Mr Fitzmaurice shook hands with Mr Lawal. In the prosecution against Mr Fitzmaurice taken by the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc), Sarah Jane Comerford BL previously outlined the facts in the case to the court. Due to Mr Fitzmaurice's intoxicated state, his friends left him in the care of hotel porter, Mr Lawal and asked Mr Lawal to bring him up to his room.' Ms Comerford said: 'Unfortunately Garda Fitzmaurice was in such an intoxicated state that he started walking around the hotel. He was very disoriented — he dropped the key to his hotel room and Mr Lawal who was at all times trying to assist him picked up the key and at that point, Garda Fitzmaurice struck him two times — once in the nose and once in the left eye and Mr Lawal caught the third blow. 'Mr Lawal suffered a bloody nose and he did get some medical attention later that morning.' 'The incident spilled out onto the street where a witness saw Mr Fitzmaurice holding onto Mr Lawal and kicking out. The incident was also captured on CCTV footage.'
The Irish Sun
10-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Heimir Hallgrimsson admits he'll trial HUGE change in tact with Ireland team he picks to face Luxembourg
HEIMIR HALLGRIMSSON is hoping bigger can be better for Ireland as he prepares to try Killian Phillips for size tonight. Yesterday's training session 2 Heimir Hallgrimsson's focus is on Ireland's World Cup qualifiers which begin in September 2 Killian Phillips made his debut off the bench on Friday against Senegal The Crystal Palace player is 6ft 2in with uncapped pair Bosun Lawal and John Joe Patrick Finn similar in size. Jason Knight — who is 5ft 8in — and Josh Cullen — who is just an inch taller — have been the regular partnership in the midfield engine room. But Hallgrimsson reckons there will be times when size matters. The Icelander said: 'We've had many similar players, with similar quality. They bring in something different and sometimes in games, you need to have something different.' Read More On Irish Football As such, Hallgrimsson admitted his inclusion of the three six-footers for the first time was by design. He added: 'We were looking for someone and now it's a competition between three guys with this physique, if we can say, to show who is ready for the next step. 'Sometimes in games, you need to have that physicality and you need to have height. 'It is good to have those players knowing how we want to play. If called upon, it would be no problem for them to come in. Most read in Football 'I thought Killian did well coming on in the last game even though he was only with us three days. He got his job, understood it and did well.' Hallgrimsson allowed the media to watch the full eve-of-match training session and seems likely to go with a side mainly consisting of players wearing orange bibs in the 11 v 11 game. Inside Arsenal's Ibiza holiday as Katie McCabe and teammates pop champagne to celebrate Champions League win If that is the case, it means four changes with Phillips, Liam Scales, Evan Ferguson and Troy Parrott coming in for Ryan Manning, Dara O'Shea, Adam Idah and Jack Taylor. The team in orange had Caoimhín Kelleher behind a back four of Matt Doherty, Nathan Collins, Scales and Robbie Brady, with Kasey McAteer, Lawal, Finn and Will Smallbone in midfield. There was a forward pairing of Ferguson and Parrott. After a water break, Josh Honohan was subbed in for Brady with Josh Keeley coming in for No 1 Kelleher. Max O'Leary was between the posts for the blue team with a back four of Jake O'Brien, Andrew Omobamidele, O'Shea and Manning. There was a midfield quartet of Ebosele, Phillips, Knight and Andrew Moran, with Taylor supporting Idah up top. But it would seem a reach for Lawal and Finn to start. Lawal was As recently as Thursday, Hallgrimsson said Finn had 'to grow a little bit more as a player to be starting for Ireland'.
Irish Daily Mirror
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Championship midfielder added to Ireland squad for Luxembourg friendly
Bosun Lawal has been added to the Ireland squad for Tuesday's friendly in Luxembourg. The Stoke City man trained with the rest of Heimir Hallgrimsson's squad in Dublin today before the team flight. Hallgrimsson has reported no fresh injury concerns ahead of the game, with Lawal bolstering the midfield options. Lawal, 22, was dogged by a back injury this season and last, and made just seven appearances for Stoke in the Championship. But the former Bohemians, Celtic and Fleetwood Town man wants to finish the season on a high with a first senior cap. Ireland assistant manager John O'Shea was asked about the former Ireland Under-21 international in the build-up to Friday's 1-1 draw with Senegal. And he said at the time: 'It's been a frustrating one for Bosun. He trained with us last year and you were really hopeful that he'd have that game time with Stoke. 'It was frustrating for him with the (back) injury he picked up, but thankfully he was patient. If you try and rush back, he could suffer multiple injuries from it. 'It was frustrating not to get into the Stoke team in his ideal position either, but he played a few games towards the end of the season and was really impressive.' O'Shea added: 'I think it's only a matter of time before he will kick on like we expect.'
Irish Examiner
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Stoke's Bosun Lawal called up to Ireland squad for Luxembourg friendly
Stoke City midfielder Bosun Lawal has joined the Republic of Ireland squad for the upcoming friendly match against Luxembourg on Tuesday. The 22-year-old who previously earned 12 caps with Jim Crawford's Ireland U21 team, plays primarily as a holding midfielder but can operate as a centre back. Lawal's debut season at Stoke was hindered by a back injury that kept him out of action for a long period. He has made only six appearances after signing a four-year contract following three years at Celtic. However, manager Heimir Halgrimsson has clearly seen the midfielders potential, choosing to call him up to the squad in June of last year and now again for the upcoming friendly. Lawal developed his skills at St Kevin's and Bohemians before transferring to Watford in 2019. Hallgrimsson has decided to rest some key figures in the squad including Josh Cullen and Finn Azaz who will have a full offseason before the World Cup qualifier against Hungary on September 6. The 24-man squad trained this morning and will travel to Luxembourg later today. Read More 'Adam's role at Celtic is very different' - Hallgrimsson identifies Idah's Ireland challenge
