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Irish Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Shamrock Rovers kick off Euro run with record-breaking demolition of St Joseph's
Shamrock Rovers smashed another European record and took a big step towards even more continental glory, with a first-leg demolition of St Joseph's. The Hoops were 1-0 up at half-time, but a flurry of substitutions saw them storm to their biggest ever away win in Europe. Shortly after Danny Mandroiu doubled their advantage, he was replaced by recent signing John McGovern, and he was less than two minutes on the pitch when he added to the scoreline. That goal was created and finished by three of Stephen Bradley's changes - with Aaron McEneff and Michael Noonan involved in the build-up. And another replacement, Jack Byrne, made it four with the finish of the evening from 20 yards. Once again, the awesome strength of Shamrock Rovers' squad has been highlighted. Last weekend, Bradley made a rarely seen quintuple substitution to close out their FAI Cup win over Wexford. That depth - plus the addition of Connor Malley on-loan from Sligo Rovers - will be key to the Hoops going all the way to the league phase, as they did last year on a record-breaking run. Speaking of records, only twice before have they scored four on the road - against Spora Luxembourg in the 1966/67 Cup Winners' Cup, and away to Larne last year in the league phase of the Europa Conference League. Both those results, however, were 4-1. Yesterday's clean sheet rarely looked threatened, after an early Manuel Sanchez header was well dealt with by goalkeeper Ed McGinty. From that moment on, Rovers looked in control on a sticky astroturf pitch and in conditions that required water-breaks midway through each half. Click this link or scan the QR code to receive the latest League of Ireland news and top stories from the Irish Mirror. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . Moments before Rory Gaffney opened the scoring, the experienced forward had smashed an effort straight at goalkeeper Bradley Banda from close range. He made no mistake when a second opportunity arrived, this time from a hooked ball over the top from Dylan Watts. Gaffney ran onto the pass and into the area, and deftly chipped the advancing Banda. Shamrock Rovers' Rory Gaffney scores his sides first goal (Image: INPHO/Martin Seras Lima) Graham Burke went closest before the break to doubling Rovers' advantage, but that honour went to Mandriou in the 67th minute. Josh Honohan's shot was saved by Banda, but he could only push the ball out to Mandroiu just outside the box. His effort was bound for the right corner before it took a huge deflection that sent it inside the left-hand upright. Minutes later, goalscorers Gaffney and Mandroiu both went off, with McGovern and Noonan replacing them - and within two minutes of their arrival they linked up for Rovers' third. Noonan's low cross from the left was swept in by the former Dungannon Swifts striker at the near post. Two minutes later, Honohan teed up Byrne for a delightful finish; a curling effort that sailed inside the top right-hand corner. 'We're delighted,' said Hoops boss Bradley afterwards. 'I know a lot of people would have had us favourites to come here win the game, but you have to go and win the game and play what's in front of you, and I thought the players did that really well. 'It was extremely hot at kick-off time. The pitch is obviously sticky, it's an astroturf, but I thought the players got to grips with that really quickly and were excellent in how they went about the game. 'I was really pleased with how hard we worked, we didn't take our foot off, and that was really important.' Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty 6; Dan Cleary 7, Roberto Lopes 7, Lee Grace 7; Danny Grant 7 (Darragh Nugent 80), Danny Mandroiu 7 (John McGovern 71), Matt Healy 8, Dylan Watts 7 (Aaron McEneff 64, 7), Josh Honohan 7; Graham Burke 7 (Jack Byrne 64, 7); Rory Gaffney 7 (Michael Noonan 71). Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email .
The 42
5 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
Shamrock Rovers ease to win in Gibraltar
St Joseph's 0 Shamrock Rovers 4 SHAMROCK ROVERS earned a 4-0 victory over St Joseph's in today's first leg of the Uefa Conference League second-round qualifier at Europa Point Stadium. The emphatic win all but ensures the Hoops will progress, with next week's return match looking like a formality. Rory Gaffney's early clinical finish put Stephen Bradley's side in the driving seat. The Irish side then blew away their rivals in an eight-minute second-half period, as goals from Danny Mandroiu, John McGovern, and Jack Byrne sealed the win. The Premier Division leaders survived a couple of scares, but the scoreline was ultimately a fair reflection of the gap in quality between the two teams. Rovers went into the game with fresh memories of a superb 2024-25 Conference League campaign, when they made it to the knockout phase before being beaten by Molde on penalties. St Joseph's, meanwhile, were perceived as the underdogs, but did secure an upset victory over NIFL Premiership side Cliftonville in the last round, prevailing 5-4 on aggregate after extra time. The winners of the tie will face either Malta's Floriana or Kosovo's Ballkani, with the latter holding a 4-2 advantage from Tuesday's home first leg. The hosts began brightly as Rovers were given an early warning. Álvaro Rey's free kick from the right was met by the head of Manuel Sánchez, but Ed McGinty got down well to make the save. Advertisement The Gibraltarians continued to look dangerous, as Pablo Rodríguez burst towards the goal but ballooned a shot well over. Yet Rovers grew into the game and took the lead in the 13th minute. Rory Gaffney latched on to a lofted through pass by Dylan Watts and finished with aplomb, chipping over the onrushing Bradley Banda and into the net. St Joseph's still carried a threat, though, and Facu Álvarez narrowly blasted a shot wide from the edge of the area after a well-worked set-piece routine. The home side were then nearly caught out down the other end. Watts' quick free kick found Graham Burke, whose first-time shot from a tight angle was parried away by Banda. As the half drew to a close, St Joseph's were enjoying plenty of possession and territory, but rarely tested McGinty, as the Hoops comfortably dealt with their attacks. A view of Rovers' fans at the match. Martin Seras Lima / INPHO Martin Seras Lima / INPHO / INPHO There was an early let-off for the League of Ireland outfit in the second half. Manolín got on the end of Ángel Martínez's corner, but the midfielder's powerful header was a few inches wide. Danny Mandroiu then went close. After receiving the ball on the edge of the area after a short corner, the ex-Lincoln City man guided an effort narrowly over the bar. After a relatively uneventful period, Rovers doubled their advantage with 23 minutes of normal time remaining. An initial effort from distance by Josh Honohan was saved. The rebound fell to Mandroiu, whose low shot found the back of the net via a wicked deflection. As the game entered its dying stages, Stephen Bradley introduced Michael Noonan and McGovern, and the pair made an instant impact. Noonan's cross from the left fell perfectly for the former Dungannon Swifts man, whose hooked first-time finish appeared to have all but ended the tie as a contest. Another substitute, Jack Byrne, then got in on the act. The midfielder collected a pass from McGovern on the edge of the area and curled an unstoppable shot into the corner of the net. Álvaro Rey's curled effort drifted over, and Manolín also headed just wide from a Juanma González corner as the hosts threatened a late consolation. But barring a disaster next week, the Hoops will need to come through just two more rounds to emulate last season's achievement of reaching the league phase. St Joseph's: 1. Bradley Banda 2. Ethan Jolley (Volz 29) 4. Javi Paul 5. Geovanni Barba 12. Ángel Martínez (Forján 58) 6. Manolín 22. Juanma González 23. Facu Álvarez 25. Adrián Armental (Gibson 58) 9. Pablo Rodríguez 10. Álvaro Rey (Amadou 86) Subs: 13. Marcos Zappacosta 3. Jayce Olivero 7. Javi Forján 11. Leon Volz 15. Ethan Santos 17. Mitchell Gibson 19. Juanfri 24. Hassane Amadou Shamrock Rovers: 1. Ed McGinty 2. Josh Honohan 4. Roberto Lopes 5. Lee Grace 6. Dan Cleary 21. Danny Grant (Nugent 80) 17. Matt Healy 7. Dylan Watts (McEneff 64) 14. Danny Mandroiu (McGovern 71) 10. Graham Burke (Byrne 64) 20. Rory Gaffney (Noonan 71) Subs: 25. Lee Steacy 8. Aaron McEneff 11. Sean Kavanagh 15. Darragh Nugent 16. Gary O'Neill 22. Cian Barrett 27. Cory O'Sullivan 29. Jack Byrne 31. Michael Noonan 36. Victor Ozhianvuna 88. John McGovern Referee: Matthew McDermid (Scotland)
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Four-goal Shamrock Rovers earn big victory in Gibraltar
Shamrock Rovers have one foot in the UEFA Conference League third qualifying round following a 4-0 victory over St Joseph's at the Europa Sports Park in Gibraltar. Rory Gaffney, Daniel Mandroiu, John McGovern and Jack Byrne were all on target with the second leg to come next Thursday in Tallaght Stadium. The Hoops went into this match after a five-day break following their 4-0 victory over Wexford in the FAI Cup, and just four players remained from the starting XI last Sunday at Tallaght Stadium. Ed McGinty, Josh Honohan, Roberto Lopes, and Lee Grace all kept their places for a game with a St Joseph's outfit that got the better of Cliftonville last week in extra-time at Solitude. Rovers took a deserved lead in the 13th minute through Gaffney after the striker dinked the ball over an onrushing Bradley Banda. Graham Burke followed that up by getting underneath a Dylan Watts' free-kick and his effort was pushed out for a corner that easily dealt with by St Joseph's. St Joseph's grew into the game, but their issue was creating something that really tested Ed McGinty. The home side did manage to pry Rovers open and win a corner from an awkward Daniel Cleary clearance in the 36th minute and like everything else they put together, it came to nothing. Joseph's eventually went to the bench and brought on on Mitch Gibson, a senior Gibraltar international that hit six goals in 13 appearances at domestic level last season. Bradley responded by replacing Burke with Byrne, and a newfound sense of control created three goals in eight minutes. Hohohan kicked things off with a low effort that was pushed away by Banda. Mandroiu got to the loose ball on the edge of the area and his shot went in via a deflection in the 67th minute. This continued with McGovern marking his European debut in a hooped jersey by stabbing in a cross at the near post in the 73rd minute. Just 90 seconds later, Byrne completed the rout with the pick of the bunch. The midfielder picked his spot from 25 yards out and fired into the opposite corner with a stunning strike that Banda had no chance of getting to. It means the tie is effectively over going back to Dublin, with the Hoops likely looking towards a crucial league game against Derry City after the second leg, followed by the third round. St Joseph's: Bradley Banda; Ethan Jolley (Leon Volz 29), Javi Paul, Geovanni Barba, Angel Martinez (Javi Forjan 58), Manuel Sánchez, Juanma, Facundo Alvarez, Adrian Armental (Mitch Gibson 58), Pablo Rodiguez, Alvaro Rey (Hassane Amadou 86). Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty; Danny Grant (Darragh Nugent 80), Lee Grace, Roberto Lopes, Daniel Cleary, Josh Honohan, Danny Mandroiu (John McGovern 71), Matt Healy, Dylan Watts (Aaron McEneff 64), Graham Burke (Jack Byrne 64), Rory Gaffney (Michael Noonan 71).
Irish Independent
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Victor Ozhianvuna opens his Hoops account as Stephen Bradley summons cavalry to see off Wexford
This second-round tie against Stephen Elliott's men was the first home game in the competition in four seasons for Rovers but a match which seemed to be wrapped up early, when teenager Victor Ozhianvuna put them ahead as early as the seventh minute with his first senior goal for the club, turned out to be more tricky than expected. The win was only sealed with later goals from subs Graham Burke, Rory Gaffney and Danny Mandroiu as Rovers picked apart a Wexford side who had looked solid for 70 minutes. Some impressive work from Wexford goalkeeper Paul Martin had restricted the Premier Division league leaders to that single goal, from the teenager, and while Wexford never came close to scoring in front of a crowd of 2,420, those strikes, all in the last 14 minutes will leave a bruise on the visiting camp. Aware that this was about as tough a test as possible in the FAI Cup, away to the top-flight leaders, Wexford's game-plan would have been simple: to keep things tight for as long as possible and try to force the Hoops into making errors. So they could have done without handing Rovers such a soft goal to open their account. The game was only eight minutes old when Darragh Nugent found space down the right and crossed for Ozhiavnuna who displayed composure beyond his years to volley home, a superb finish from the 17-year-old. Wexford boss Elliott demands that his side play an attacking game and, to their credit, they stuck to their principles when possible given the stature of their opponents. Impressive teenager Kaylem Harnett did well to evade his marker and cross into the box on 17 minutes but Roberto Lopes got there before a Wexford player could and cleared the danger, while former Hoops man Aji Oluwabiyi also caused some nervous moments for the Rovers defence. Rovers responded by seeking the second goal which would have killed off the tie, John McGovern heading wide on 26 minutes from a cross by Ozhianvuna while a minute later Michael Noonan made it too easy for 'keeper Martin to make the save from a shot. Martin did well to block a goal-bound effort from Jack Byrne on 39 minutes while a Harnett effort for Wexford just before half-time was not enough to worry Ed McGinty in the Rovers goal. Wexford looked comfortable when in possession but without coming up with moments to cause McGinty bother, though the home side's defence remained on constant alert for the dangerous Oluwabiyi. ADVERTISEMENT Rovers found Martin in top form, the Wexford 'keeper saving well from Noonan two minutes after the restart after good work by McGovern; then it was McGovern's turn to test Martin. He was there again on 70 minutes, somehow keeping out a powerful header from Rory Gaffney, one of five subs called into action by Stephen Bradley at the same time, possibly the first time in league history here that a manager brought on five subs at the same time. And they did their work as Wexford tired. Nugent claimed another assist on 76 minutes to give Burke a simple tap-in, on 83 minutes a Dylan Watts corner came to Gaffney via Lee Grace for a point-blank finish. Then Mandroiu made it 4-0 in the 89th minute, Gaffney the provider as Mandroiu beat Martin with a classy strike as Rovers turn their focus to a European date in Gibraltar next week. Shamrock Rovers: McGinty; Lopes, Grace, C O'Sullian; Honohan (Watts 63), Nugent, O'Neill (Mandroiu 63), Ozhianvuna; Byrne (Healy 63), McGovern (Gaffney 63); Noonan (Burke 63). Wexford: Martin; McCarthy, Larkin, McCourt, Crawford (Browne 86); McCormack, Harnett (Haris 63), O'Brien (Levingston 83); Rowe, Dobbs (Wasileski 77), Oluwabiyi (Flynn 77).
The Irish Sun
29-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Stephen Bradley reveals what sets ‘student of the game' Keith Andrews apart after being appointed Brentford head coach
SHAMROCK ROVERS boss joked that match-winner Rory Gaffney was cursing him. With 65 minutes on the clock and the Hoops struggling against a stubborn spring Gaffney, 35, from the bench. Advertisement 2 Keith Andrews has been appointed Brentford head coach Credit: Sportsfile - Subscription 2 Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley praised the decision Credit: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile Nine minutes later, the Galway native repaid his manager's faith when he tapped home from close range after Blues keeper Stephen McMullan failed to gather a stinging effort from Danny Mandroiu. That goal Bradley said: 'He should have started, I'm sure he feels the same. 'He was brilliant here against Cork City last Friday. Advertisement Read More on Shamrock Rovers 'He played 90 minutes so you leave him out of Monday's squad, obviously. 'I know he's really annoyed he doesn't start tonight and that's the hardest part of this job is leaving good people like that out of the squad, obviously good players, but good people too, out of the team and out of the squad and I knew he was annoyed, rightly so. But he's played at the level he's played at for such a long time because of his character and how professional he is and I knew once you call upon him, he'll be ready. And he was. 'I thought he played like he has done all year, to be fair, so I'm sure he's cursing me but he comes on and wins us the game.' The victory extended Rovers' lead at the top of the Premier Division from nine points before kick-off to 11 afterwards, thanks to Bohemians dropping two points at home against Sligo Rovers. Advertisement Most read in Football Exclusive Done Deal Live Blog Bradley is glad his Hoops have a healthy lead at the summit as a hectic period of fixtures involving three competitions approaches. He said: 'We go to Europe so we're in a position that I would have taken your hand off for at the start of the year. Claudia Schiffer's film-maker husband in talks to buy stake in Brentford after supermodel seen at Premier League game 'It's important that you push as hard as you can coming into this period because you have a little break that allows you to focus fully on what's to come and you're not looking at what's around the corner. They were excellent tonight and it's a nice lead to have.' Bradley also praised his players for bouncing back from Monday's Dublin Derby defeat by the Gypsies that brought an end to an 11-game unbeaten run. Advertisement He said: 'The thing that disappointed me on Monday was not losing the game, but our performance. 'We've been that good this year, but we were miles off our levels and that's what annoyed us. 'You can win and lose games, that's football . It was more, just get back to our levels, get back to what we do. 'So if Waterford had left Tallaght with a draw, we can't complain about our performance, it was a really high level and you take that , but we don't accept Monday. Advertisement 'We asked the players to respond from Monday in terms of our performance levels and they did that. 'I thought they were excellent all over the pitch, in and out of possession, they showed a real hunger to get back to our levels and we get a really important win. 'So it wasn't about extending the lead, it was just about getting back to our performance levels and everything after that takes care of itself.' KEITH GOING On the same day Bradley's team stretched their lead in the top flight, a fellow Dubliner was handed the reins in the English Advertisement But the The 40-year-old said: 'I really, really hope he does well. I got to have a lot of discussions with him on tactics and football in general. You can see he is definitely a student of the game and he thinks about it. 'I'm absolutely delighted, a young Irish manager in the Premier League and I just really, really want it to go well for him. 'I texted him and I hope it goes really well. That's what we want, we want our managers managing at the highest level and in Advertisement 'I think 'The Sparta manager we played against last year, he was B team manager as well and was the next one to come in and then got the Sparta offer. They do that quite regularly. 'We had a really good relationship with Brentford technical director Rob Rowan, who sadly passed away a few years back, and he was the one who set all that in motion and they have stuck to their plan. If Brentford have given Keith that job, they've given it to him because they really believe in what he does and how he does it. 'They don't look to me like a club that makes rash decisions. They buy well, they sell well, they recruit good players, they recruit good managers and coaches. Advertisement 'They have made this decision with their eyes open and that should fill you with confidence if you're Keith. 'They have obviously seen something they really, really like, which is good.'
