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RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Rachel Graham: Vital to get value from Ireland's USA quest
Former Republic of Ireland international Rachel Graham says it's vital that the upcoming friendly double-header against the United States doesn't devolve into a pair of back-to-the-wall performances. The Girls in Green are Stateside this week to take on the world number one side in Colorado and Cincinnati, Ohio with both matches live on RTÉ (coverage details below). Carla Ward has rested captain Katie McCabe after a gruelling season, while Aoife Mannion, Heather Payne, Tara O'Hanlon, Jamie Finn, Lily Agg, Jess Ziu and Leanne Kiernan are among the other players who won't be involved. While the USA have also left out a number of key players, they will still be heavy favourites for the two friendlies. But with a crucial Nations League play-off tie against Belgium coming in October, Shelbourne midfielder Graham told the RTÉ Soccer Podcast that it's important for Ireland to extract "value" from the USA games in a way that goes beyond simply defending for 90 minutes apiece. "It's going to be a really tough two games for our squad, we've played them numerous times in the past (and) we've lost every single time," she said. "Now results seem to be getting quite tighter. We played them last time in April 2023 and we lost 1-0 and 2-0, so they are getting tighter. "But I just hope for these two games that we do get something of value from the games and it's not just a case of where we're camped in our 18-yard box and we're just bodies on the line, trying to defend, trying to block shots and we do get a bit more where we can possibly get on the ball or even getting a better shape higher up the pitch. "Because if you're going off previous games, it does go that way where it's 11 players behind the ball and it's just stopping a shot or throwing your body on the line. "It's obviously going to be a great occasion and great experience for the girls but I just think for us now that we get some sort of value from the game and some sort of thing where we come away and say 'we did that well' or 'we improved here' going into the games against Belgium." Ireland manager Ward was part of former Chelsea head coach Emma Hayes' USA set-up during last year's successful Olympics campaign, with a remit including opposition analysis, so she may have an inside track on their players and methods. But even though some of the USWNT's big names are rested, the fringe players will still give Ireland plenty to worry about, according to Graham. "It's quite an inexperienced squad for Emma Hayes. There are six players who are completely uncapped and including those six there's 19 players with less than ten caps," she said. "She hasn't selected (hardly any) players in Europe, just to give them a rest. Basically, they're in their off-season. "That's the likes of their captain Lindsey Heaps, who plays for Lyon, Emily Fox for Arsenal, Crystal Dunn for PSG. They're all going to be missing. "Trinity Rodman is out injured so some of the big names and faces that we really know are not going to be there. "But in saying that, they still have some other big players. They've Rose Lavelle, Emily Sonnett, Naomi Girma, they're all experienced top quality players."
RTÉ News
4 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Continuity 'most obvious' option to fill void left by Damien Duff at Shelbourne, say Alan Cawley and David McMillan
With Shelbourne facing into the difficult task of filling the void left by Damien Duff, the club would be best served pushing for Joey O'Brien to take the reins at least until the end of the season, according to Alan Cawley and David McMillan. Republic of Ireland legend Duff made the shock decision to resign as Shelbourne manager on Sunday just seven months on from guiding the club to a first SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division title in 18 years. While their title defence has not gone swimmingly this season and Duff's frustrations with his players had become more pronounced, a lucrative Champions League first qualifying round tie against Linfield was awaiting next month which made the timing of his decision all the more surprising. Speaking on the RTÉ Soccer Podcast, former league winners Cawley and McMillan both opined that the timing was "strange" and offered their views on the factors behind Duff's decision. But they also cast an eye ahead to how the north Dublin club can reset quickly with the Linfield tie looming, and both feel Duff's assistant Joey O'Brien, who took charge of the team for the 2-2 draw against Waterford on Monday, is an obvious choice to be handed the reins at least until the end of the season, although the ex-Irish international has remained non-committal about the prospect thus far. "It leaves such a hole for them because you speak about not only the football end of things but also the promotional and marketing side of things," said Cawley of Duff's departure. "And not just Shelbourne, I think the league was basing a lot of their marketing and promotion on Damien Duff and him being a key figure in our league. "This was a fella who was getting front and centre all the time on the back pages of the papers, online or wherever and now that's gone. "So that's going to be a huge void to fill just in terms of the promotional side of things and marketing. "But in terms of who they bring in from the footballing end of things, I think even listening to Joey O'Brien's interview last night, it could be a thing that he takes it or that might be what they might want until the end of the season, because there's continuity. "He seems like a similar enough figure (to Duff) in terms of his drive and his motivation. He was obviously a brilliant player as we know and had big success. "So it could be something that he could be the ideal candidate if he wants to step into the breach. I don't know (if he wants it), it will have to come from him. But even just in terms of until the end of the season till they regroup." Cawley added that his former club Shels will not be short of suitors for the vacancy given the growing status the club and league has enjoyed during Duff's three-and-a-half-year spell. "They won't be short on people interested in the job, even from across the water as well. There would be huge interest because of, again, what Damien has brought in terms of the interest, not just domestically but all over the UK as well," he said. But McMillan agreed that O'Brien would be the best bet particularly in light of the Linfield tie, given the 39-year-old's extensive knowledge of the squad. "(The managerial change) adds a little bit of confusion for Linfield and that's where I think from Shels' perspective, continuity for the next couple of weeks (is important), as Alan says, until the end of the season - but at least for the next month or two," said the former Dundalk striker. "Probably if I was a decision-maker in Shelbourne I think the most obvious thing to do is to try and ensure that Joey stays there. "If he's not committed to doing it long-term, at least have him there for the next month in charge to see through these games because I think if you're bringing in a new manager with such a short space of time to what are such crucial games, that's really hard to try (with) new tactics and everything that a new manager brings. It's really hard to hit the ground running into those games. "Continuity for Shelbourne will be really important and football's all about timing and I think it's right that Joey will stay there."
RTÉ News
17-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Shamrock Rovers already have one hand on title
While the League of Ireland season is only just past halfway, Richie Towell reckons the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division title race is already showing signs of being done and dusted. His former club Shamrock Rovers earned back-to-back wins over reigning champions Shelbourne and Drogheda United over the past few days and sit nine points clear of bitter rivals Bohemians, who albeit do have two games in hand. Speaking on the RTÉ Soccer Podcast, ex-Dundalk and Hoops midfielder Towell said Rovers are showing real signs of building up a head of steam while most of their erstwhile rivals are struggling to find momentum. "I think at the moment they're in cruise control. They're absolutely cruising it," he said. "To be honest, I said it a couple of weeks ago that they were my favourites to win it. But I think they have one hand on it already. "And not just based on how good they are. I don't think any other team is good enough to catch them. "You have Bohemians who are the closest to them and they have a couple of games in hand. Maybe they can put up a small bit of a title challenge. "But for the rest of them, you see Shels, you see Pat's, I don't think any of them have the quality or the confidence to go on a proper run and try and challenge Shamrock Rovers. "You see the depth in the squad. I even know some lads can't get into the squad that would walk into probably any other team in the league which is absolutely crazy, so Shamrock Rovers are in absolute cruise control at the moment." The mood within Stephen Bradley's squad may be positive but that's a contrast to Drogheda United. Although that is in no way related to on-pitch matters, with Kevin Doherty's team putting up a good fight on Monday night on the way to losing 2-1 at Sullivan and Lambe Park and currently sit in the top half of the table. It's more related to the blow of being excluded from the UEFA Conference League due to multi-club ownership rules, with the verdict in their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport being announced hours before kick off on Monday. Both Towell and ex-Drogheda and Republic of Ireland winger Keith Treacy sympathised with Doherty and his players on the podcast, with Towell highlighting how dreams of a European dalliance were dashed for personnel who might not be guaranteed to get that opportunity again. "This is some boys' livelihoods. There's potential earnings there for lads in European games that they would never get the opportunity to earn playing in the League of Ireland. That's after being taken away from them," he said. "Subconsciously, (players) are going to be thinking when the draw is made today, when the games are on in July, 'we should be out there', and all of a sudden they've no (European) games. "They have two decisions to make now, Drogheda's players do. They either say 'it's going to hinder our performance and let it get our heads down', or else they can say, 'Let's use this to our advantage. We're going to be fresh, we're not going to have any games, let's rest, recuperate and be ready to attack the league.'"
RTÉ News
17-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
'Old-school mentality with modern ideas' - Keith Treacy backs Keith Andrews for Brentford vacancy
Keith Treacy believes his former Republic of Ireland and Blackburn Rovers team-mate Keith Andrews' "old-school mentality with modern ideas" will allow him to thrive as a head coach and has his fingers crossed that the Dubliner will get the Brentford job. Following Thomas Frank's departure to take charge at Tottenham Hotspur, RTÉ Sport understands that Andrews, who is a set-piece coach at Brentford, is among the candidates for the vacant head coach role at the Premier League club. However, it is an ongoing process and there is not expected to be an imminent appointment at the west London outfit. If it were to come to pass, it would mark a meteoric rise for the 44-year-old, whose previous coaching roles have included being Stephen Kenny's long-time assistant coach with Ireland and a spell at Sheffield United under Chris Wilder. Speaking on Monday's RTÉ Soccer Podcast, Treacy, who played alongside Andrews at club and international level, backed the former Wolves, Hull City, West Brom and MK Dons player for the vacancy at Brentford. "I think it's a massive opportunity. To be 44-years-of age and to be thrown around to potentially be the next manager of Brentford would be a huge step forward," he said. "Keith is a very realistic bloke, very clever bloke. I don't think he'd be underestimating the opportunity if it does come along. "But the fact that he hasn't gone to Spurs with Thomas Frank, you're thinking has he been told something? "But I believe there are meetings taking place in the background now." Andrews has earned praise in some quarters for his impact at Brentford last season, with the Bees' statistical strenght at set-pieces drawing notice, as well as their propensity to make fast starts in matches. "A lot of people have said to me, 'How can a set-piece coach become the coach or the manager of a club?' I wouldn't put too much weight behind the title 'set-piece coach'. I think he does an awful lot more than just drill them for when they're defending or attacking set-pieces," Treacy continued. "He's learned under Stephen Kenny, he's learned under Chris Wilder. He will feel he's earned his stripes and from an Irish point of view, if he does get it, Irish coaching is in a brilliant place at the minute, domestically with Stephen Bradley, Damien Duff, Kevin Doherty as well should be thrown into the mix. He's turning up trees at Drogheda at the minute. "And obviously across the water there's a couple of lads as well. Kieran McKenna has just dropped out of the Premier League, so it's in a good place and I really do hope Keith does get the job because I've been lucky enough to work with Keith. "I was his room-mate for the Irish B team when we played (Nottingham) Forest in Dalymount, played with him at Blackburn and he's really old-school in his beliefs in that he won't take anything less than 100%. "He will obviously have tactics and phases of play, and stuff that he will add to the mixer, but I think his underlying message will be out-work the opposition and then the talent will come to the forefront. "So old-school mentality with modern ideas and I'm sitting here with my fingers crossed, hoping he gets the job. I'd love to see him get a crack at the whip." Recalling Andrews' personality in the Blackburn dressing room, Treacy highlighted elements that stood out and could point to relevant attributes in management. "There are certain senior players that would be very quick to give you an earful if you did something wrong in training and they wouldn't go after certain players because they might get a bit back," he said. "But Keith would give me a bit when I did something wrong, he would go after Craig Bellamy, he would go after (Roque) Santa Cruz, whoever it was. Keith just has that mentality of you need to do better. "I loved that he treated everybody the same in the way that he would dish out these earfuls." While Andrews may be in the running for the Brentford job - at a time when defender Nathan Collins is on the books as well as the newly arrived Ireland number one Caoimhin Kelleher - other Irish coaches have been on the move this week. Brian Barry-Murphy has just been appointed Cardiff City manager and Diarmuid O'Carroll has joined Sparta Prague's first-team staff from Newcastle United's youth ranks. The latter, a former Ireland Under-21 international, is an ex-Celtic youth team-mate of former Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers midfielder Richie Towell, who was also on this week's podcast, describing him as a good player and "good fella" to boot.
RTÉ News
17-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
RTÉ Soccer Podcast: Drogs dealt a blow, Keith Andrews buzz and Ireland sleepwalking again?
Former Republic of Ireland, Blackburn and Drogheda winger Keith Treacy, ex-Dundalk, Shamrock Rovers and Ireland U-21 midfielder Richie Towell, Shelbourne midfielder and former Irish international Rachel Graham and Louth-based journalist Barry Land y join Raf Diallo on this week's RTÉ Soccer Podcast. Among the talking points this week are former Boys in Green midfielder Keith Andrews being linked with the Brentford vacancy, Drogheda's explusion from the UEFA Conference League over multi-club ownership rules, takeaways from Ireland's dull friendly draw in Luxembourg and the Girls in Green squad to face the USA next week. TIMESTAMPS 00:45 Keith discusses his former Ireland and Blackburn team-mate Keith Andrews, who is among the favourites to step into the vacancy at Premier League side Brentford and Barry talks about the Bees and how Thomas Frank's exit to take charge at Tottenham Hotspur could impact the incoming Caoimhin Kelleher. Richie also reveals that he played with Diarmuid O'Carroll, who is joining the Sparta Prague first team staff from Newcastle Under-21s. 10:20 Keith, Richie and Barry reflect on the Republic of Ireland's 0-0 friendly draw in Luxembourg last week and Keith explains why he doesn't share other people's optimism as Heimir Hallgrimsson's squad look towards the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in September. 19:35 We listen to manager Kevin Doherty's emotional post-match comments after Drogheda United's loss to Shamrock Rovers which followed confirmation of the club's expulsion from the upcoming UEFA Conference League. Barry gives an insight into the club's case and the multi-club ownership model, before Richie and Keith share their thoughts on the matter. 34:40 Richie, Keith and Barry review all the action from Friday, Saturday and Monday in the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division, including St Patrick's Athletic's form falling flat, Shamrock Rovers going through the gears, worries at Cork City who have dropped from the bottom, while Richie also touches on First Division Dundalk signing JR Wilson. 01:01.55 Rachel talks about the postponement of her top-of-the-table match for Shelbourne against Athlone Town and reviews the games that did go ahead on Saturday.
