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Irish Times
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
USA v Ireland: Carla Ward left with limited options for tough second friendly
Friendly: United States v Republic of Ireland Sunday, TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, 8pm Irish time (Live on RTÉ 2) Much as she might like to freshen up her team for the second of their friendlies against the United States, following their 4-0 defeat in the first, Republic of Ireland manager Carla Ward has limited enough options ahead of Sunday evening's meeting in Cincinnati. Both Denise O'Sullivan and Megan Campbell have been ruled out of the game having missed the Denver defeat with injuries, and there are doubts too over a number of other players. Ruesha Littlejohn's long-standing Achilles problem saw her limited to one half on Friday, while Ward revealed that Ellen Molloy, Izzy Atkinson and debutante Erin Healy were able for no more than 15 minutes in the game. Erin McLaughlin, who was recently released by Portsmouth, has been called up, the 22-year-old having been capped three times before. And Philadelphia-born Dee Bradley, who plays her football with Durham in the English Championship, has been invited to train with the squad, the midfielder qualifying to play for Ireland through her Donegal-born father and Cork-born mother. READ MORE The quick turnaround after an energy-sapping contest for the Irish side – the heat, high altitude and quality of the opposition leaving them drained at the end – simply adds to Ward's woes. 'Sunday is going to be difficult,' she said to RTÉ, 'but we have to dig deep into that performance to see what we can change and tweak, and, being honest, see who we have fit and available.' She was insistent, though, that despite being outclassed by the Americans, her players will benefit from the experience. 'I said to the girls that we're going to learn more out of tonight than we will have in all our Nations League games. And that's what this is about. 'We've faced the best team in the world. They have unbelievable quality, they really have. They're all in season, fit. We know where we're at, we're out of season. We've done what we could have done with what we had available. I take my hat off to the group.' 'We asked them to leave everything out there and they did,' she said, referring to the conditions. 'There has to be some optimism given who we're playing against and all the contributing factors. They've done pretty well considering.' With Sunday's game kicking off at 3pm local time, it could be hotter still in Cincinnati, the temperatures forecast to surpass 30 degrees. United States head coach Emma Hayes during Friday's game against Ireland. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho Asked by ESPN if she would 'take it easy' on Sunday against her old friend Ward, US head coach Emma Hayes replied with an emphatic 'no'. 'I won't change who I am, definitely not, not for anyone – even if I like you. The US women's team has such a high bar that it's up to me to keep pace with that and deliver teams that pursue excellence every time. So, we will absolutely be looking to do that again. There will be changes, though, I want to see the whole squad.' The Irish defence would, no doubt, like to see left-winger Alyssa Thompson rested after she gave them a torrid time on Friday, while Rose Lavelle was outstanding in midfield on her first appearance in six months after ankle surgery. Seeing as Cincinnati is her hometown, it's likely that Lavelle will appear again. It could be a long 90 minutes.
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Brentford appoint set piece coach and former Sky Sports pundit to replace Thomas Frank - after Danish manager left Bees to join Tottenham
Brentford have appointed Keith Andrews as their new head coach. The west London club confirmed Andrews had been chosen as the man to succeed Thomas Frank, who has taken up the vacancy at Tottenham left by Ange Postecoglou. Andrews has been working as the Bees' set-piece coach but has now been promoted to the top coaching job. The 44-year-old Irishman began his professional playing career at Wolves, and also played more than 70 matches at both MK Dons and Blackburn. He won 35 caps for the Republic of Ireland and represented his country at Euro 2012. Since moving into coaching he has worked as an assistant at MK Dons and within the Republic set-up. He had been working at Sheffield United until taking up his set-piece role at Brentford last summer. — Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) June 27, 2025 Brentford have appointed Keith Andrews as their new head coach to replace Thomas Frank Andrews said he felt 'humbled' and 'honoured' to have been appointed. 'I'm very appreciative of the owner (Matthew Benham), the board and the staff that have supported this decision. It's an opportunity I feel I'm very capable of doing and ready to do,' he told the club's official website. 'I don't know where to start in terms of what's exciting me because there's so much: the potential of the football club, the potential of the players and the potential of the staff that underpin what has brought success to this brilliant football club.' Brentford director of football Phil Giles described Andrews as 'a very good fit' for the job. 'He gets on with everyone, he's very open and he's a learner,' Giles told Brentford's official website. 'Keith is clear in what he wants, he's detailed, and the players and staff like and respect him. He understands the players in the building and the way we've played and trained under Thomas Frank. 'Keith will bring his own evolution but isn't starting from scratch, so hopefully we can make some quick progress.
BBC News
9 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Leicester City set to sign goalkeeper Keane
Leicester City are set to sign goalkeeper Katie Keane from Shamrock Rovers on a three-year Women's Super League club are expected to pay a fee for the 18-year-old but the figure is goalkeeper was called up to the Republic of Ireland senior squad at the age of 16 in is regarded as an exciting prospect having impressed at Athlone Town and with the national youth teams.
New York Times
10 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Brentford to appoint Keith Andrews as Thomas Frank's successor
Keith Andrews is set to be appointed as Brentford's new head coach on a three-year deal. Andrews has been Brentford's set-piece coach since the start of the 2024-25 season, having previously worked in Chris Wilder's backroom team at Sheffield United. The 44-year-old has also been Milton Keynes Dons assistant manager and assisted Stephen Kenny for both the Uunder-21 and senior Republic of Ireland national team until Kenny's departure in November 2023. Advertisement Andrews will succeed Thomas Frank, who left to join Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month after seven years as head coach in west London. Backroom staff members Justin Cochrane, Chris Haslam and Joe Newton also left Brentford to join Frank at Spurs, the Dane replacing Ange Postecoglou in the dugout. 'I know I have left a big piece of my heart at Brentford, not just at the football club but with the community and, of course, the incredible and loyal supporters,' Frank said in a message to the team's fans after his departure was announced. 'I want to extend my profound gratitude to the club for giving me the chance to pursue my dreams and for everyone involved who made the journey such a memorable one. 'For my family and I, it has been a privilege to be allowed to be part of such a special community – it's an experience and adventure that we will cherish for life. So, thank you. Frank's move to Spurs saw him reunite with compatriot Johan Lange, the club's technical director, who he briefly worked with at Danish team Lyngby Boldklub. Having been promoted under Frank in 2021, Brentford recorded finishes of 13th, ninth, 16th and 10th in their first four seasons in the Premier League. Andrews had a 21-year playing career which saw him represent clubs including Wolverhampton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers and MK Dons. He also played 35 times for Republic of Ireland before retiring in 2015. (Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)
Irish Times
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Martin O'Neill led chorus of doubters ahead of Brentford's surprise appointment of Keith Andrews
Keith Andrews is no stranger to criticism . Roy Keane, for example, is no fan of the Dubliner . 'I've heard a lot of bullshitters over the last 10 years and Keith Andrews is up there with the best of them,' as he put it a few years back. His appointment as manager of Brentford in the Premier League has put Andrews in the glare of a spotlight he's never experienced before. On Monday, former Ireland manager Martin O'Neill offered a cold critique of Andrews. Speaking on Talksport, O'Neill said: 'Good luck to him. I hope he does get the job because he'll then realise what management is all about. It's not as easy to be just sitting in a pundit's chair and just criticising someone who, in all honesty, had a much better career than he had. He was dealing with the bottom end of it when I was winning the European Cup.' Never change, Martin. READ MORE As Simon Jordan, the former Crystal Palace owner, pointed out on the same station, O'Neill, like Keane, has an axe to grind with Andrews. He was critical of both men during their time in charge of the Republic of Ireland . Neither man, as we know, is one for letting bygones be bygones. There is also the matter of Andrews not being born when O'Neill won the European Cup, so he wasn't dealing with the bottom end of anything at the time. No matter. But, yes, welcome to the big time, Keith Andrews. For a Premier League club to appoint someone who has never managed before is some measure of the impression the 44-year-old has made since joining Brentford as their set-piece coach last year. By all accounts, he also impressed the club's powers-that-be during his interview for a job Ange Postecoglou and Kieran McKenna were linked to. Former Brentford manager Thomas Frank, who took over at Tottenham recently. Photograph: Rhianna Chadwick/PA Wire He has big shoes to fill. Andrews succeeds Thomas Frank, who was appointed Tottenham Hotspur manager earlier this month. The Dane spent seven years in charge at the club, winning promotion from the Championship in 2021 and guiding the side to a 10th-place finish last season. He's brought three of his Brentford backroom team with him to Spurs, so Andrews will have to start assembling his own on day one. Damien Duff, though, has dismissed speculation linking him to a role. Andrews inherits a squad that includes Ireland internationals Nathan Collins and Caoimhín Kelleher, the latter a recent signing from Liverpool . He is, though, likely to lose last season's top scorer Bryan Mbeumo. Manchester United are expected to up their €70 million bid for the Cameroon international, with Spurs also said to be hovering. Andrews, who won 35 caps for the Republic of Ireland , had a 15-year playing career in England, making over 400 appearances in all competitions. He started out with Wolves, who he joined from his schoolboy side Stella Maris, and finished up at MK Dons. Upon retiring from playing in 2015, he had a spell as MK Dons assistant manager. He went on to work as assistant to Stephen Kenny for both the under-21 and senior Republic of Ireland teams , joining Sheffield United's coaching staff in December 2023 before heading for Brentford. It's a daunting challenge for Andrews. There'll been no end of sceptics, not least among the club's supporters who might have expected a 'bigger' name to succeed Frank. 'You look at the fella's resume and there's nothing in it,' said Jordan, who never passed a microphone without speaking into it. 'This is heavily risky, it seems like a really big punt.' That, inevitably, will be the narrative around his appointment, but it's a thrilling opportunity for the Irishman. 'I'm just obsessed with football. I never switch off for a second – even when I'm watching a game at home on the sofa, I'm analysing it,' he said when he started his coaching career with MK Dons. 'I'm just looking to evolve as I go along and it certainly won't be through a lack of effort if I don't get to where I want to go to.' He's come a long way since then and now has 'Premier League manager' on his CV.
