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The 42
20-07-2025
- Sport
- The 42
St Pat's equal club record win in FAI Cup rout
St Patrick's Athletic 8 UCC 0 CHRIS FORRESTER SCORED a nonchalant brace as St Patrick's Athletic equalled a club record win to cruise through to the FAI Cup third round with this facile victory over Munster Senior League side UCC at Richmond Park. Having won the cup twice in the last four years, and five times in total, Stephen Kenny's side were never in danger of losing their record of never having lost to a non-league team in the competition. Doubtless with Thursday's Conference League home clash with Estonian side Nõmme Kalju in mind, manager Kenny opted for a completely different starting XI from last Thursday's rousing 2-0 win away to FC Hegelmann. That meant a full debut for 19-year-old midfielder Matthew O'Hara, captain of the club's under-20 side, who recently signed his first professional contract having been at the club since he was 13. UCC needed a play-off victory to retain their top flight status in the MSL which finished two months ago. Not only out of season, they travelled to Dublin missing up to a half a dozen first team players in what was head coach Noel Healy's final game over a 15-year association with the university club. Unsurprisingly, it was one way traffic from the off with UCC goalkeeper Kevin Fitzpatrick inspired early on with fine saves to deny Conor Carty and Aidan Keena before Saints' pressure told on 19 minutes, if not from an expected source. Zach Elbouzedi pulled the ball back for defender Axel Sjoberg whose low cross was knocked past Fitzpatrick by his unfortunate skipper Colm Murphy for an own goal. Fitzpatrick made another terrific save to thwart Elbouzedi one-on-one while Carty bounced a header off the crossbar from Brandon Kavanagh's delivery, all a mere prelude to the floodgates opening with a quick-fire treble before half-time. Advertisement First, the lively Kavanagh beat Fitzpatrick at his far post with a looping header from Sjoberg's cross on 40 minutes. Two minutes later Kavanagh's shot was deflected into the path of Keena who cut inside a couple of defenders to drill to the bottom corner. Skipper Forrester then got in on the act to utterly deflate UCC when casually dribbling past three defenders inside the area to tap home. The goal deluge continued into the second half with another three scored inside six minutes of the restart. Scarcely a minute in, Al-Amin Kazeem ghosted in off the left flank to meet Sjoberg's cross and find the top corner for his first goal for the club. Jake Mulraney (file photo). Aleksandar Djorovic / INPHO Aleksandar Djorovic / INPHO / INPHO Two minutes later it was 6-0 when half-time substitute Jake Mulraney rifled to the bottom corner from the edge of the area. Kazeem then provided the cross for Carty to continue the scoring on 51 minutes with a well-placed header. Forrester completed the rout with his second from a crisp low drive to the net on 68 minutes following debutant substitute Billy Hayes' assist. St Patrick's Athletic: Rogers; Sjoberg, Turner, Breslin; Forrester, O'Hara (Grivosti, 63); Elbouzedi (Mulraney, HT), Kavanagh (Hayes, h-t), Kazeem; Carty, Keena. UCC: Fitzpatrick; Duggan, Murphy, Iyalla, O'Neill (Roberts, 64); McCarthy; Walsh (Connolly, 64), Broderick (Bowdren, 80), Howard (O'Halloran, 69), Loughery; Fahy (Sulleiman, 69). Referee: Alan Patchell (Dublin). Attendance: 1,243. ***** Elsewhere in the FAI Cup second round this evening, Longford Town defeated Castlebar Celtic 6-3 in Mayo. A first-half hat-trick from Daragh Murtagh and Dean George double helped the First Division side to victory. Castlebar Celtic opened the scoring in the fourth minute through Mark Cunningham, before Murtagh opened his account with 11 on the clock. Eoghan Hughes moved the hosts back into the ascendency four minutes later, but Murtagh hit back with a five-minute brace. A 39th-minute penalty from Jordan Loftus left it 3-3 at the break. Castlebar dug deep, and Longford only went in front through substitute George in the 75th minute. Another sub, Francis Campbell, was on target in the final minute of normal time, before George made it 6-3 in the additional period.
Irish Examiner
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
St Patrick's Athletic equal club record victory in FAI Cup demolition of UCC
St Patrick's Athletic 8 UCC 0 Chris Forrester scored a nonchalant brace as St Patrick's Athletic equalled a club record win to cruise through to the FAI Cup third round with this facile victory over Munster Senior League side UCC at Richmond Park. Having won the cup twice in the last four years, and five times in total, Stephen Kenny's side were never in danger of losing their record of never having lost to a non-league team in the competition. Doubtless with Thursday's Conference League home clash with Estonian side Nõmme Kalju in mind, manager Kenny opted for a completely different starting XI from last Thursday's rousing 2-0 win away to FC Hegelmann. That meant a full debut for 19-year-old midfielder Matthew O'Hara, captain of the club's under-20 side, who recently signed his first professional contract having been at the club since he was 13. UCC needed a play-off victory to retain their top flight status in the MSL which finished two months ago. Not only out of season, they travelled to Dublin missing up to a half a dozen first team players in what was head coach Noel Healy's final game over a 15-year association with the university club. Unsurprisingly, it was one way traffic from the off with UCC goalkeeper Kevin Fitzpatrick inspired early on with fine saves to deny Conor Carty and Aidan Keena before Saints' pressure told on 19 minutes, if not from an expected source. Zach Elbouzedi pulled the ball back for defender Axel Sjoberg whose low cross was knocked past Fitzpatrick by his unfortunate skipper Colm Murphy for an own goal. Fitzpatrick made another terrific save to thwart Elbouzedi one-on-one while Carty bounced a header off the crossbar from Brandon Kavanagh's delivery, all a mere prelude to the floodgates opening with a quick-fire treble before half-time. First, the lively Kavanagh beat Fitzpatrick at his far post with a looping header from Sjoberg's cross on 40 minutes. Two minutes later Kavanagh's shot was deflected into the path of Keena who cut inside a couple of defenders to drill to the bottom corner. Skipper Forrester then got in on the act to utterly deflate UCC when casually dribbling past three defenders inside the area to tap home. The goal deluge continued into the second half with another three scored inside six minutes of the restart. Scarcely a minute in, Al-Amin Kazeem ghosted in off the left flank to meet Sjoberg's cross and find the top corner for his first goal for the club. Two minutes later it was 6-0 when half-time substitute Jake Mulraney rifled to the bottom corner from the edge of the area. Kazeem then provided the cross for Carty to continue the scoring on 51 minutes with a well-placed header. Forrester completed the rout with his second from a crisp low drive to the net on 68 minutes following debutant substitute Billy Hayes' assist. St Patrick's Athletic: Rogers; Sjoberg, Turner, Breslin; Forrester, O'Hara (Grivosti, 63); Elbouzedi (Mulraney, h-t), Kavanagh (Hayes, h-t), Kazeem; Carty, Keena. UCC: Fitzpatrick; Duggan, Murphy, Iyalla, O'Neill (Roberts, 64); McCarthy; Walsh (Connolly, 64), Broderick (Bowdren, 80), Howard (O'Halloran, 69), Loughery; Fahy (Sulleiman, 69). Referee: Alan Patchell (Dublin). Attendance: 1,243.
The 42
18-07-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Five-star Drogheda dismiss non-league Crumlin United to begin title defence
Drogheda United 5 Crumlin United 0 Barry Landy reports from Sullivan & Lambe Park DROGHEDA UNITED BEGAN their defence of the FAI Cup in style by hitting non-league Crumlin United for five at Sullivan & Lambe Park. Whilst it was not the nine-goal hammering they dished out to Munster Senior League side Wilton United in last year's competition, it was no less comprehensive as Drogheda dominated from start to finish. The home side did not score until the 45th minute – through a Conor Keeley header – but they pressed home their superiority after the break through goals from Thomas Oluwa, Josh Thomas, Darragh Markey and John O'Sullivan. For Keeley, Thomas and O'Sullivan, theirs were first career FAI Cup goals. Advertisement It was an emotive night for Crumlin, with a minutes silence before the game dedicated in part to Nicole McNeill, the sister of player Ian, who passed away during the week. Ian took his place in the side at right back. Kevin Doherty certainly demonstrated his intent by selecting a strong XI to take to the field against the non-league outfit. Drogheda do have a sparse looking July with no European trips in their calendar. Thomas appeared as a substitute after almost five months out with a quad injury – scoring a penalty to put United two goals ahead – and O'Sullivan, on-loan from Shamrock Rovers ensured he had a debut to remember with a late goal of his own. It was a perfect night Keeley opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time – heading in Owen Lambe's corner – and Oluwa added it to just two minutes after the restart. Had the game not been over as a contest by that point, there was no way back for Crumlin. Oluwa's strike was eye-catching – a piledriver from 20 yards, but replays suggested it look a touch on the way past overworked goalkeeper Morgan Daly. He was a standout performer for a team that were under the cosh throughout. So too was winger Reece Kavanagh. He won a corner off James Bolger after one of his multiple darts into Drogheda territory in the first half. He was fleet of foot throughout and while the visitors did not test the goalkeeper, it was likely anything they would muster might come from the 19-year-old. Kavanagh had bagged two in Crumlin's 4-2 victory over Lucan United in round one but this was a much sterner test for them. Related Reads Cork City's Callum Honohan to join brother at Shamrock Rovers Sligo Rovers boost survival hopes as Derry City's title hopes take a hit Roy Keane ad and RTÉ boss miss the point as League of Ireland fans drive culture change Thomas, on loan from Swansea City, was fouled by Anthony Kay and slotted the spot kick beyond the goalkeeper himself. Markey made it four from close range soon after. O'Sullivan's 85th minute goal was well taken. Any one of several United men could have tested sub goalkeeper Ryan Donnelly. O'Sullivan did and beat him. Doherty's team are enjoying a fine season and a return to the Aviva Stadium in November will surely be in their sights, whatever obstacles the draw throws up. For now though, a trip to Salou for a training camp next week awaits in their immediate future. Drogheda United: Luke Dennison; Andrew Quinn, Conor Keeley (Aaron Harper Bailey 76), James Bolger; Owen Lambe, Ryan Brennan (Shane Farrell, 60), Luke Heeney (John O'Sullivan, 59), Conor Kane (Kieran Cruise, 70); Darragh Markey; Thomas Oluwa, Dare Kareem (Josh Thomas, 60). Crumlin United: Morgan Daly (Ryan Donnelly, 83); Ian McNeill, Josh MacGabhann, Jack Funge, Aidan Friel (Kyle Murphy, 63); Jamie Whelan, Samuel O'Donoghue; Calum Bridgeman (Kane Byrne, 83), Ben Coughlan (Brian O'Meara, 63), Reece Kavanagh; Anthony Kay (Synnott Lawlor Brennan, 75). Referee: Oliver Moran
Irish Daily Mirror
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Senior FAI figure resigns from post
The vice-president of the FAI, John Finnegan, has resigned from his position at Irish soccer's governing body. He will, however, remain as the chairperson of the Munster Senior League. He has been a part of the FAI Board since 2019 and was made vice-president in 2023. His departure is said to be for personal and family reasons. The resignation comes after an anonymous email received by the FAI which detailed "a wider culture that remains toxic, unaccountable and in many cases unchanged despite past scandals" and named certain individuals involved in this. In a statement, the FAI said: "The Football Association of Ireland confirms that John Finnegan has resigned from his position as Vice President of the Association with immediate effect, due to personal and family reasons. "The Board has accepted his resignation and thanks him for his service to the association over the past number of years." His solicitor, Brendan O'Sullivan, spoke on his client's previous disciplinary process with a former employer in 2013, saying it had nothing to do with his resignation. He said: "He is resigning for personal and family matters. This regrettable incident happened 15 years ago. "It was handled at the time and the finding was that inappropriate language was used in messages. John would now like to put this matter behind him."
RTÉ News
03-07-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
FAI vice-president John Finnegan departs role
FAI vice president John Finnegan has resigned from his post with immediate effect, citing "personal and family reasons." The Cork man, who has served on the FAI Board since 2019 and as vice-president from 2023, will remain as chairperson of the Munster Senior League. His departure comes a week after the FAI received an anonymous email detailing a series of allegations against named individuals, amounting to a "a wider culture that remains toxic, unaccountable and in many cases unchanged despite past scandals". While Finnegan has not yet commented on his resignation, his solicitor Brendan O'Sullivan acknowledged that his client had been involved in a disciplinary process with a previous employer in 2013 concerning inappropriate messages he had sent some years earlier. No criminal proceedings arose from this and the messages at the centre of the dispute did not contain images or photographs. "He is resigning for personal and family matters. This regrettable incident happened 15 years ago," O'Sullivan told the Irish Independent. "It was handled at the time and the finding was that inappropriate language was used in messages. John would now like to put this matter behind him." Prior to his resignation, It had been expected that Finnegan would have been re-elected to another two-year term as vice-president at the upcoming AGM. In a statement, the FAI wrote: "The Football Association of Ireland confirms that John Finnegan has resigned from his position as Vice President of the Association with immediate effect, due to personal and family reasons. "The Board has accepted his resignation and thanks him for his service to the association over the past number of years."
