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Irish Independent
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Patience pays off as Dundalk FC put four past Kerry
While Ciarán Kilduff's side have always been the team to beat in the SSE Airtricity Men's First Division, quite often they have struggled to produce the sort of results to match their performances. Prior to their trip to Tralee on Friday, the Lilywhites had won 13 matches but just four had been by more than a goal – two by a two goal margin and two by three. Given their level of dominance in games throughout the season to date, it's somewhat surprising that it took until match day 22 to really put a team to the sword but that's what they did in Kerry. Having opened up a four point gap at the top of the table over Cobh Ramblers a week prior, this result means they now also have a four point advantage when it comes to goal difference as well. While the fact that two of the goals came in injury time to perhaps put a flattering look on the scoreline, the victory was no more than the Lilywhites deserved. While a large travelling support descended on Mounthawk Park, the trip will live longer in the memory than the game itself. In truth, this was a tough watch for a long period. Yet from a Dundalk perspective, it was another box ticked off – three points acquired and one game closer to the finish line of promotion. Perhaps post Cobh, a big win was just what the side needed. Something to put a bit of a pep in their step heading to the Carlisle Grounds to face Bray Wanderers this weekend. Leaving aside the two 4-0 wins against Malahide Utd and a Shamrock Rovers underage side in the Leinster Senior Cup, this was the biggest win of the Kilduff era and the first time that Dundalk have scored four in a game since the 4-2 victory over Drogheda Utd almost a year ago on July 12 2024. It was also the first time that the side have scored four on their travels since a 5-1 win away to UCD on the final day of the 2023 campaign. The club has changed a lot since those days but, bit by bit, they're working their way back to the top flight. This was another notable step in that direction. Both sides had chances in the early stages with Daryl Horgan curling a shot just wide from just outside the box on four minutes following good one-two with Gbemi Arubi. Kerry then registered the first shot on target a minute later when Sean McGrath got a shot away, which unfortunately for him was straight down the throat of Enda Minogue. ADVERTISEMENT After Eoin Kenny had been denied by Tim-Oliver Heimer at his near post, Dundalk then hit the front on 20 minutes. Alex Dunne's attempted pass was cut out by Harry Groome, who collected the ball before stepping inside the defender and curling a shot to the net for what was his 15th career goal and fourth against the Munster men. The visitors pressed for a second after that but Kenny's drilled cross from the right just evaded Horgan on 29 minutes while another of his balls into the box was cleared off the line by Niall Brookwell six minutes later after Dean Ebbe looked destined to score. To their credit, Colin Healy's side pushed for a way back into the game either side of half-time. On 41 minutes Kennedy Amechi's bicycle kick required a save from Minogue, while moments later Oran Crowe had a shot drift just wide. Substitute Arran Healy then had a shot blocked after Crowe's free kick had dropped to him in the box within three minutes of the restart. The outcome was largely put beyond doubt on the hour mark, however, when Ebbe released Kenny on the right, with his low shot beating Heimer at his near post for what was the 19-year-old's 10th senior career goal. Kilduff rang the changes after that with Andy Paraschiv and Keith Ward both having attempts go just wide. As the game looked to be drifting to a dull finish, Dundalk added two more goals in stoppage time. The first arrived in the 93rd minute when Ward's free kick crept to the net following a foul by Brookwell on Kenny. Still rocked from that concession, Kerry conceded another almost directly from the restart as Ebbe slipped Paraschiv in, with the teenager holding off Chris McQueen before firing home his side's fourth. The two trips to Kerry this season have been memorable for the side and its fans. All associated with Dundalk will be hoping it's a long time before they're in Tralee again though, with promotion the ultimate goal of this season. Kerry FC: Heimer; Dunne (Barrett 76), McQueen, Brookwell, Williams, O'Connell; Mujaguzi (Healy HT), Crowe; McGrath; Amechi, Palmer. Dundalk FC: Minogue; Wilson (Mulligan 81), Animasahun, Leonard, Keogh (McHale 70); Dervin, Groome (Paraschiv 70); Kenny, Ebbe, Horgan (McDaid 61); Arubi.
The 42
29-06-2025
- Sport
- The 42
'I still come into every single camp thinking this will be the one I break through'
PLAYING IN GEORGIA will be a new experience for Nick Timoney but the Ulster flanker has long held a soft spot for Georgian rugby. 'I have hours of Mamuka Gorgodze footage watched from when I was a kid,' explains Timoney, speaking during a media day at Ireland's pre-tour training camp in Abbotstown. 'I used to watch a highlight video of his pretty much every week. I'm not like massively familiar with the place and stuff, but Georgian rugby, we all know what it's about. They're big, they're physical, they're passionate, and you're not going to get an easy game against them.' It's not hard to see why Timoney found an interest in the bruising Gorgodze, who played for Montpellier and Toulon. 'Just back in the day when you're a kid, as you would with loads of different rugby players that were in your position and you kind of looked up to, you'd look up some of their clips, their highlights, but there was a 10-minute compilation video of Mamuka Gorgodze playing a lot of European countries for Georgia. There's loads of clips from them playing Poland and Russia and Spain and stuff. So I used to watch that a bit when I was younger. He was a bit of a tank.' Gorgodze wasn't the only player on repeat on Timoney's YouTube. 'I used to like the Chabal one, I mean the stereotypical ones you'd think of, back rows back whenever I was a teenager. I used to love David Wallace, the Sean O'Briens of this world, Ferris back in the day. I was into all my highlight clips when Rugbydump was a website that was going round back in the day, 'Try-savers and rib-breakers 11′ was my favorite one.' Those compilations were the inspiration around the time Timoney was pushing through as a promising young rugby player at Blackrock. In 2014 Timoney counted Caelan Doris, Joey Carbery, Hugo Keenan, Jeremy Loughman and Conor Oliver among his teammates as he captained Blackrock to Leinster Senior Cup success. Advertisement Timoney lifts the Leinster Schools Senior Cup in 2014. Colm O'Neill / INPHO Colm O'Neill / INPHO / INPHO Then some bumps in the road. Although selected for the Ireland U20s, Timoney didn't get a place in the Leinster Academy. Kieran Campbell, academy manager at Ulster, picked up the phone and Timoney was heading north. 'The first couple years were tough, I didn't really feel like I was getting much purchase and towards the end of my second year, which was going to be my last on the two-year academy deal, and I hadn't gotten a game and hadn't gotten really that close. 'I remember playing an AIL game at Queens away to Corinthians, I think, and we got absolutely hammered. They were bottom in the league. This was 2A and I was sort of thinking there's maybe five, six weeks left in the season. 'I hadn't heard anything about the following season, thought it was maybe going to come to an end at that stage, but somewhat randomly got a chance off the bench then the following week against Cardiff and got another couple chances and ended up managing to stick around for a few years. 'I wouldn't say the first two years were a resounding success, but just about got myself kept on and just about got a chance then in the end, and I suppose then when you're featuring week in, week out…' Now his value to Ulster is beyond any doubt, with the 29-year-old capped over 150 times for the province. Ireland has been a more testing battle, with Timoney vying for action in one of the most competitive areas of the squad. He won his first Test cap four summers ago but has added just two further appearances since, the most recent of which came against Fiji in November 2022. Even during spells when he's been in good form, there have been times when Timoney hasn't been able to even make the wider squad. 'I'd be lying if I said there wasn't times where I was frustrated, but I certainly have had times where I feel like I'm incredibly close to it, and I've felt like if I had a chance, I would've taken it and run with it. 'I still feel that way, but at the same time, you get to every single Test match and it's a Six Nations game, and Irish Rugby's not in the business of just dishing out caps because you've had a good game. Like he's still picking the best four lads for the squad, and if those lads stay fit and are playing well the whole time, I mean that's just the way it goes. Obviously it's tough in my position, but that's part of it.' Timoney speaking to the media in Abbotstown. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO Cap number four should arrive over the next fortnight, with the Ireland coaches hoping to hand every squad member gametime across the Tests with Georgia and Portugal. The long wait between caps has only heightened his desire to make the most of such opportunities. 'It can be tough because, being a realist, you come into a lot of camps and you know that you're not necessarily top of the pecking order. The same way that all the other lads are desperate to play, and then the game against England is opening the Six Nations or something like that, and it's still kills you inside a little bit every time you're not announced and you're not in the team. 'But ultimately, if you really value playing for Ireland enough, then there's no choice but to put more emphasis on getting better and working harder. So that's just what I try to do.' As Timoney sees it, this window is not just a fly-by opportunity to get back in the green jersey. The Ulster player still holds ambitions of making the Test arena a more regular part of his life. Timoney debuted for Ireland in 2021. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO 'There's examples of it all over. There's the Deon Fouries of the world who are uncapped to 35 and captain their team in a World Cup final. Maybe that's a bit of an extreme example, but the way it is in Irish rugby the coaches are good enough and they value progression and what they see in front of you. It's not a case of them making their mind up about you and deciding that you're not the one when you're 25, 26, 27, 29 hopefully. If you're playing well enough, they'll pick you. 'The belief is still there. I still come into every single camp thinking this will be the one I break through and I'll be into it properly then. That's been slower obviously than I would've liked, but I still keep backing myself and believing I'm going to still keep trying to get better. 'As soon as I think that I've peaked and I'm down the other side of it, then maybe I'll lose a bit of hope. But I feel like I still have loads of improvements to make and I still feel like I'm feeling good and have the same appetite for it.'
Irish Independent
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Shane Tracey has no regrets moving from Bohemians to Dundalk FC
It went somewhat under the radar that the midfielder from the Avenue Road had signed amateur terms with his hometown club when it was announced just 79 minutes prior to the Lilywhites' season opener against Athlone Town on February 14. Perhaps the reason that Tracey isn't as well-known as some of the other youngsters who have featured for Ciarán Kilduff's side this season is because the bulk of his footballing education up until this point has come in Dublin, having initially come through the underage ranks at Shelbourne before going on to join Bohemians, where he made three first-team appearances – all in the Leinster Senior Cup. Indeed, his last outing for the Gypsies came at Ferrycarrig Park on February 3 when he scored in a 6-3 victory against Wexford FC. Fast forward a little under four months and Tracey was again shining in the sunny south east recently when he came off the bench for his tenth senior appearance for Dundalk to help his side turn a 2-1 deficit at the time into a 3-2 victory. While there have been just three starts for Tracey so far, all at home, his cameo appearances and confidence on the ball have certainly caught the eye with the 19-year-old playing a big role in helping his side turn around the game against Stephen Elliott's men to ensure they maintained their six point lead at the top of the table heading into the mid-season break. Speaking to The Argus after that victory, Tracey said he was enjoying life at Oriel Park right now. 'I'm really enjoying it,' he beamed. 'I thought I did well when I came on. It was tough but we got the two goals in the end so it was good.' Having made a couple of Leinster Senior Cup appearances at Bohemians earlier this year, Tracey admitted to enjoying life at Dalymount Park. However, the persuasive powers of Dundalk assistant Ken Kiernan ensured he returned home on the eve of the season commencing – and he admits it is one of the best decisions he could have made. 'I was at Bohs and I decided to stay but then Ken was ringing me and I just decided to take the risk to come here. I'm happy that I took the risk now and it's starting to pay off. 'It's a young team but everyone is hungry. We're top of the league at the moment and enjoying the journey so hopefully now it can continue because we all want to go on and win this league.' While somewhat shy to speak to, Tracey has no problems expressing himself on the field, with his range of passing reminiscent of a young Keith Ward – a team-mate that he admits to learning so much from in their short spell together. 'I'm learning so much from him,' he said of the 34-year-old. 'He's so good in training technically and he's just so good around the group as well. He's always having a laugh. It's good to learn off someone like Wardy. 'You have to believe in yourself. You need confidence. It can be hard sometimes but you just have to believe in your ability and the gaffer definitely gives us all that.' Tracey's adjustment to life back in Dundalk has been helped by his old St Mary's College school pal, Eoin Kenny. 'Myself and Eoin went to school together and we were in the same friend group in school so we were close already and it was kind of easy coming in with him here. He was always here to help,' he said. While Tracey's arrival at Oriel Park may have been a little more low key than some of Dundalk's other signings this season and he might not be as well-known as some other locals at the club, he is quickly making a name for himself. His story has just begun though. 'Hopefully I can keep knocking on the door for a few more starts. That's all I can do, just try my best,' he said. 'I just want to kick on, keep doing well and hopefully start more games.'
The Irish Sun
28-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Jim Crawford full of praise for Irish record-breaking youngster, who ‘has an eye on the Under-21 top scorer'
JIM Crawford has played a part in developing some of Ireland's brightest stars, from Dara O'Shea to Evan Ferguson and now Mason Melia. And the Ireland Under-21 boss insists the most important thing is players get the right advice and support — in good times and bad. Advertisement 2 Mason Melia lining out for Ireland U21s 2 Crawford is a big admirer of Melia St Pat's star Melia, 17, The striker has been a sensation at Richmond Park and Crawford acknowledged the sky is the limit for the Wicklow man, who has already Crawford told SunSport: 'If Brexit wasn't around, there is an extremely high possibility that he'd have an English team — Spurs — in brackets after his name. 'He's got so much going for him. Probably the most important thing is he's a grounded boy, he's level-headed and humble. Advertisement Read more in Irish football 'Sometimes the really talented player — whether Under-12 or senior — is the most challenging to deal with. Are those players the ones that go and reach their ceiling? There are a hell of a lot of cases where they don't because their ability got them through younger age groups. 'Mason is 180 degrees the other side of that. He's constantly working on his game. 'He's been great since he's come into camp with us. We brought him in with a view to giving him minutes last October but he had a slight injury. Advertisement Most read in Football "Then we had him in the last camp in March when he became the youngest scorer in Under-21s history. 'Knowing him, he's probably got an eye on the top Under-21 scorer, which is jointly held by Kevin Doyle and Robbie Brady with seven goals. Shamrock Rovers snap up Northern Ireland Under-21s goal-getter as Stephen Bradley gives exciting verdict 'He's probably thinking, 'I'm six away from that now'. But of course the senior manager likes him so who knows how long he'll be with the Under-21s?' Melia's career has had few setbacks since he scored on his debut against Wexford in the Leinster Senior Cup as a 15-year-old. Advertisement But Crawford understands that few careers always go in an upward trajectory. And speaking generally, he said all players need the right support. He explained: 'There are young players who at 14s, 15s, 16s, 17s, all the way up, they are the best in their age group. 'But when you get to a certain age . . . there are 101 stories — I'm sure every coach has a few — of players who then just become a number. 'Some players can't handle that. It's then you need to dig in, work a bit harder and get the support from your coach and people around you. Advertisement "There is learning through adversity. It is what you see in Ireland players who are 25 or 26, when they have a bad ten minutes in a game, they know how to respond. 'It is why this time is so important for young boys. 'Even if you're in the first team and in a performance phase, you also need development. When things are not going well, you need people at the club to sit down and work things out with players. 'I'm a firm believer that players are always learning, even if they are getting up to their 30s. But especially with young players, you need to develop them even if they're in the first team. Advertisement 'They may lose confidence if they're not playing well, or even just develop bad habits, and you have to keep working with them. 'You need a support network for that, whether coaches at the club, parents, mentors, agents . . . I think the boys in our squad have that.' CRAWFORD KNOWS FIRST-HAND And Crawford, 52, points to his own career as a reference point. The Dubliner was a star for Bohemians when snapped up by Newcastle United in 1995 as he went straight in to join the first team. That was the season that the Magpies were the great entertainers as they led the Premier League only to be pegged back during the run-in by mighty Advertisement Crawford was on the fringes as his two appearances came at the end of the following season. He recalled: 'I was 21. You go to a club where you are competing with Dave Batty, Rob Lee, Lee Clarke, Steve Watson. 'I just went in and said, 'OK, I'll go here and break into this team'. Then you're playing your reserve games and going through your low period, it's a challenge. 'Back then you didn't have that support system around you to help you through it. Advertisement 'If I had that mentor, somebody who had been through it themselves that can say, 'You need to get out on loan here and do what I did . . .' 'I probably stayed too long at Newcastle. I should've realised, 'Am I going to get into that first team? No'. "I was on the bench and you get caught up in that and you're thinking, 'Maybe this game, I'll get my couple of minutes'. 'You take a step back . . . you probably weren't. You were on the bench because of an injury crisis. Advertisement 'But had someone said to me to go on loan, I'd have been, 'I'm on the bench, I'm this close!'' JIM'S JOURNEY He did have a two-month spell at Rotherham and a month at Dundee United but left St James' Park after three years for a move to Reading, before joining Shelbourne. With the Reds, he won four league titles and was 45 minutes away from the Champions League group stages, before going into coaching. Having taken interim charge of Shamrock Rovers in 2008, he has been with the FAI ever since — first as Under-19 assistant, then Under-18 boss, Under-21 assistant, and since 2020, Under-21 gaffer. Advertisement His time in charge has seen the Under-21s go from also-rans to qualifying contenders, though there have been near-misses in each of the campaigns. But he hopes the new crop of players for Euro 2027 can see Ireland make the jump and reach a first-ever finals, and even the 2028 LA Olympics. Crawford said: 'There are a couple that have tasted the disappointment but it's a new group. It's all building towards September now.'
The 42
25-04-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Father's influence, multi-sport youth, and the importance of a non Dublin-centric Leinster
WHEN HE WAS progressing through the ranks of schools, provincial and international rugby over the past few years, rising Leinster prospect James Culhane didn't have to look very far for the perfect source of inspiration. A native of Limerick, Culhane's father Paul was a talented rugby player in his own right. In addition to featuring in the Munster Schools Senior Cup with St Munchin's College in the Treaty County, the elder Culhane captained the Ireland U21s as well as the Irish Universities side. His son James followed in his footsteps to an extent when he was skipper of the Blackrock College side that won the Leinster Schools Junior Cup in 2018 and he was a virtual ever-present when the Ireland U20s won a Six Nations Grand Slam four years later. Throughout this time, Culhane Sr was always on hand to provide guidance to the bustling back-row if it was ever required. 'He's been a huge influence, my Dad. He'd be one of my biggest heroes and he loves seeing me do well. Whether it's in rugby or my engineering degree [in UCD], but he has obviously been a huge mentor for me,' Culhane remarked ahead of Leinster's United Rugby Championship clash away to Scarlets tomorrow evening. Yet despite receiving his education in a south Dublin school that won their 72nd Leinster Senior Cup title only last month, Culhane's home village is actually Enniskerry in Co. Wicklow. Advertisement He is one of a number of players from the Garden County in the Leinster squad with Josh van der Flier (Wicklow Town), Jack Conan (Bray) and Cormac Foley (Newtownmountkennedy) also included amongst this particular cohort. The eastern province's head coach Leo Cullen – like Culhane, a former Blackrock College student – is another Wicklow native. There is also a healthy Kildare contingent within the Leinster senior squad that is spearheaded by the likes of Sam Prendergast, Jimmy O'Brien and Jamie Osborne, and Culhane acknowledged it is vital the game in the province is spread right across the 12 counties. While Blackrock College had a massive part in his development, Culhane also credits the De La Salle Palmerston club in Kilternan – located a little under four miles from Enniskerry – for first introducing him to rugby as a youngster. 'I think it's so important that it's just not Dublin where the rugby is centred. That we try to expand as much as we can, because there is so much talent everywhere around Leinster. It's just important to try and give everyone an opportunity to express that. Bring as many people through as you can. 'I did come through Blackrock, which was part of the school system. I would have played for De La Salle as well, that would have been the early part of my development in club rugby. I played a lot of both. You talk about Sam [Prendergast] and [Diarmuid] Mangan as well, they went to Newbridge. I think it's good to play both club and school, and get experience from both.' Culhane in action against Ulster last weekend. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO Culhane is someone who is also a strong advocate for playing multiple sports, having previously represented the South Dublin Football League in the Kennedy Cup. He also played his fair share of GAA back home in Enniskerry, but rugby was always going to be the main sporting pursuit in the long-run for Culhane. Hamstring and shoulder issues restricted him to just five outings last term, but with eight appearances already under his belt in the current campaign (including an 80-minute run out against Ulster at the Aviva Stadium last Saturday), the 22-year-old is doing his best to make an impact in his first official season as a Leinster senior player. 'I would have played with the SDFL when I was 12 and 13, I would have played left-back. I think it is easier to get in the team when you are left-footed, there are not as many left-footers! I played for Wayside [Celtic]. I also played for a few different teams. I started in Enniskerry and then Cabinteely for a little bit as well,' Culhane added. 'I think once I joined Blackrock, I was always going to keep playing the rugby, but growing up I loved playing all sports. Loved playing the GAA, football and rugby as well. 'It is taking that opportunity [with Leinster] when you get it, especially when you're involved with the team of internationals. On the weekend, I was delighted to be playing with just so much talent around me. The way they play elevates your game as well. When you get an opportunity to get your way into that team, you take it.'
