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Irish Independent
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Wexford FC's brave effort falls short as Shamrock Rovers show strength in depth
A 4-0 loss may suggest one-way traffic, but it was far from it as the visitors belied their SSE Airtricity First Division status with a battling performance that asked questions of the powerful hosts and, after expending such energy, they were always likely to run out of steam against an opponent filled with quality. When exciting teenager Victor Ozhianvuna fired the Hoops in front inside eight minutes it looked like it could be a long night for the Slaneysiders, but they regrouped well to ensure that hot favourites Rovers had to work hard to progress. The gulf in class between the top team in the country and one chasing a play-off place in the second tier was illustrated when Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley made five changes simultaneously shortly after the hour mark. The embarrassment of riches at his disposal was clear for all to see as Dylan Watts, Graham Burke, Danny Mandroiu, Matthew Healy and Rory Gaffney entered the fray, with three of the substitutes, Burke, Gaffney and Mandroiu, getting their names on the scoresheet in the final 15 minutes as the floodgates finally opened. The role of plucky underdog is never an easy one and nobody wants sympathetic pats on the back or participation medals, but Wexford, who took advantage of a kind draw to make it all the way to the final four last year, can certainly be proud of their efforts and use the experience to push on and get back on track in their bid for a play-off place. There was a sense of unease among the home support with the scoreboard reading 1-0 as the contest entered the home straight and it's only after Irish international Graham Burke grabbed their second in the 76th minute that the shackles came off. Stephen Elliott made one change from the team that drew 0-0 with Athlone Town the previous week, with loan signing from Waterford Ben McCormack coming straight into the starting eleven in place of Darragh Levingston. However, Wexford got off to a damaging start which saw them quickly playing catch-up as, after Jack Byrne had curled an effort narrowly wide of the right post, they struck the front seconds later through Victor Ozhianvuna. It was a beautifully constructed goal as Darragh Nugent whipped in a superb cross from the right which was met by Ozhianvuna and the 16-year-old fired a sweet volley past Paul Martin to briefly silence the vociferous band of visiting fans situated in the corner of the East Stand, who had the clearest view in the ground of the well-executed strike. Wexford playmaker Kaylem Harnett performed in his usual committed and composed fashion and his 17th minute cross had to be cut out by Roberto Lopez, while former Shamrock Rovers man Ajibola Oluwabiyi, who had an impressive debut against Athlone, again looked lively, linking up well with James Crawford down the left midway through the half to win a free-kick. Dean Larkin, who put in a good shift throughout, headed Ben McCormack's delivery into the side-netting, while, moments later, Oluwabiyi picked up the ball from Harnett and ran at the defence but saw his shot blocked. The hosts threatened to double their advantage in the 26th minute when Ozhianvuna's cross was headed narrowly wide by John McGovern, while Michael Noonan than ran through the heart of the defence but shot straight at Martin. McCormack warmed the gloves of Rovers goalkeeper Ed McGinity after Mikie Rowe and Harnett worked a short corner, while his opposite number Paul Martin kept Wexford in the game as he made a fine save to deny Jack Byrne. Harnett curled a shot into the arms of McGinity shortly before the break, but Wexford would have taken great heart from the fact that they were still in the contest going into the second-half. Paul Martin again proved up to the task two minutes after the change of ends as Michael Noonan was put through by McGovern and the netminder stood up well to thwart the youngster. The visitors came agonisingly close to drawing level in the 54th minute when Oluwabiyi raced down the left wing, shifted the ball to his right and sent a curling effort from outside the area narrowly wide of the far post. After Stephen Bradley had made a raft of changes, one of the substitutes, Rory Gaffney, forced an unbelievable save out of Martin in the 69th minute. Darragh Nugent's cross was met with a powerful header from Gaffney and looked destined for the left corner of the net, but the Wexford goalkeeper somehow got down to his right to make the stop, colliding with the post in the process. Mikie Rowe had a sight of goal at the other end after being found by substitute Muhammad Haris, but the Campile man's effort from a tight angle was comfortably gathered by McGinty. However, the game was finally put to bed when Rovers got the insurance goal in the 76th minute as Nugent pulled the ball to Graham Burke for a calm left-footed finish. It soon became 3-0 as former Wexford player Lee Grace headed down a Dylan Watts corner and the ball was steered home from close range by Rory Gaffney. Further salt was rubbed into the Wexford wounds in the 90th minute when Gaffney turned provider, teeing up Danny Mandroiu, who fired a composed strike to corner of the net. It's back to the bread and butter of the league next Friday as Wexford FC travel to Oriel Park to face leaders Dundalk. The visitors will be hoping to end a run of three games without scoring a goal, after drawing blanks against Bray Wanderers, Athlone Town and Shamrock Rovers, while the Lilywhites will be trying to return to winning ways, having lost to 2-0 to Bray and Sligo Rovers in their last two outings. Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty; Lee Grace, Roberto Lopez (capt.), Cory O'Sullivan; Joshua Honohan, Darragh Nugent, Gary O'Neill, Victor Ozhianvuna; Jack Byrne, John McGovern, Michael Noonan. Subs. – Dylan Watts for Honohan (63), Danny Mandroiu for O'Neill (63), Graham Burke for Noonan (64), Matthew Healy for Byrne (64), Rory Gaffney for McGovern (64), also, Lee Steacy, Aaron McEneff, Seán Kavanagh, Cian Barrett. Wexford FC: Paul Martin; Michael McCarthy, Dean Larkin, Robbie McCourt, James Crawford; Matthew O'Brien, Kaylem Harnett, Ben McCormack; Mikie Rowe, Aaron Dobbs (capt.), Ajibola Oluwabiyi. Subs. – Muhammad Haris for Harnett (64), Calum Flynn for Oluwabiyi (77), Filip Wasilewski for Dobbs (77), Darragh Levingston for O'Brien (86), Cian Browne for Crawford (86), also, Zayd Abada, Ryan Butler, Patrick Manning.
Irish Independent
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
‘We value Victor where we value him' – Stephen Bradley says Rovers ‘down the line' with record deal for in-demand teen Ozhianvuna
He's the teenage prospect who drew even more attention to himself with a stunning finish for his first goal in senior football to help Shamrock Rovers into the last 16 of the FAI Cup. And the future of Hoops star Victor Ozhianvuna is close to being agreed as manager Stephen Bradley says the club are 'down the line' in terms of an agreement with a foreign club – believed to be Arsenal – in a deal which would shatter the League of Ireland record fee of €1.9m set by Mason Melia's sale to Tottenham.
The Irish Sun
18-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Teenage sensation Victor Ozhianvuna scores super goal on full debut as Shamrock Rovers rout Wexford in FAI Cup
TEEN STAR Victor Ozhianvuna capped his full Shamrock Rovers debut with a sublime first goal for the club before the senior subs came on to kill off First Division Wexford in Tallaght. The 16-year-old scored early on but Stephen Bradley's Hoops side were made to work hard for their passage into the FAI Cup third round. It was only in the final 15 minutes that the visitors were put to the sword by goals from substitutes Graham Burke, Rory Gaffney and Danny Mandroiu. Eight points clear at the top of the Premier Division with just one defeat in 14 games, Rovers made seven changes from their most recent competitive outing against Sligo Rovers, including starting debuts for Ozhianvuna and recent signing John McGovern. Early doors, Ozhianvuna came in off the left wing to position himself perfectly to meet Darragh Nugent's on-the-money cross and score with a crisp, first-time side-foot volley. Read More on Shamrock Rovers Semi-finalists last year, striker McGovern heading wide from Ozhianvuna's cross, while Michael Noonan and Byrne worked Paul Martin between the posts before half-time. The Wexford threat from Oluwabiyi remained in the second half and he curled just wide on 54 minutes. Frustrated with labouring to put the game to bed, Bradley made five substitutions on 63 minutes with Dylan Watts, The latter brought a brave save from Martin with the keeper colliding with a post. Ed McGinty then denied Mike Rowe at the other end. Most read in Football Rovers finally got a second on 75 minutes as Mandroiu linked with Nugent to cross for Burke to show his composure from close range. Gaffney hooked in a third from almost on the goal line after Grace had nodded down Watts' corner and he then set up Mandroiu to sweep home the fourth in the 90th minute. SUN STAR MAN Victor Ozhianvuna (Shamrock Rovers) SHAMROCK ROVERS : McGinty 7; Grace 7, Lopes 6, O'Sullivan 7; J Honohan 6 (Watts 63, 6), Nugent 7, O'Neill 7 (Mandroiu 63, 6), Ozhianvuna 8; Byrne 6 (Healy 63, 6); Noonan 6 (Burke 63, 6), McGovern 7 (Gaffney 63, 6). WEXFORD : Martin 8; McCarthy 7, Larkin 7, McCourt 7, Crawford 7 (Browne 86, 6); O'Brien 7 (D Levingston 86, 6); Rowe 7, Harnett 6 (Haris 64, 6), McCormack 7, Oluwabiyi 8 (Flynn 77, 6); Dobbs 6 (Wasilewski, 77, 6). REFEREE : M Houlihan (Dublin) 6. 1 Victor Ozhianvuna scored a super goal on his full Shamrock Rovers debut Credit: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile
Irish Times
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
FAI Cup: Shamrock Rovers finally distance Wexford as bench deliver three-goal salvo late on
FAI Cup second round: Shamrock Rovers 4 [Ozhianvuna 8, Burke 76, Gaffney 84, Mandroiu 90] Wexford 0 Sixteen-year-old Victor Ozhianvuna capped his full Shamrock Rovers debut with a sublime first goal for the club as Stephen Bradley's side were made to work hard for their passage into the third round of the FAI Cup at Tallaght Stadium. While Ozhianvuna's early lead brought the promise of a comfortable victory, Rovers didn't put Stephen Elliott's First Division Wexford to the sword until the final 15 minutes with goals from substitutes Graham Burke, Rory Gaffney and Danny Mandroiu. Rovers head coach Bradley spoke of the importance of trying to win the cup for a 26th time this year. And while regaining their league title is Rovers' main ambition, the FAI Cup brings added incentive this season. The winners go into the 2026/27 Europa League first round, with a parachute into the Conference League second round if they are beaten, which carries a guaranteed minimum prize fund of €700,000, more than double what was previously on offer. READ MORE Eight points clear at top of Premier Division, with just one defeat in 14 games, Rovers made seven changes from their most recent competitive outing against Sligo Rovers, including starting debuts for Ozhianvuna and recent signing, striker John McGovern. Ably dealing with a confident start by Wexford, Rovers had to work hard to stamp their authority on the game, their first home tie in the competition in four years. Jack Byrne curled a shot wide before the small home crowd were treated to a terrific goal on eight minutes. Ozhianvuna came in off the left wing to position himself perfectly to meet Darragh Nugent's on-the-money cross to score a with a crisp first-time sidefoot volley. Beaten by winners Drogheda United in the semi-finals last year, Wexford belied their poor recent form of just one win in seven games to trouble Rovers when they got forward, with the pace of ex-Rovers academy and Ireland youth international Ajibola Oluwabiyi a promising outlet. But Rovers were always capable of stretching the visitors' rearguard with McGovern heading wide from Ozhianvuna's cross while Michael Noonan and Byrne worked Paul Martin between the posts before half-time. Rory Gaffney of Shamrock Rovers celebrates his goal with team-mates. Photograph: James Lawlor/Inpho Martin was soon to the rescue again with a couple of fine saves early in the second half to deny 16-year-old Noonan. The threat from Oluwabiyi very much remained as Rovers had a let-off on 54 minutes when the teenage winger cut inside Lee Grace to arc a shot just wide. Frustrated with labouring to put the game to bed, Bradley made no fewer than five substitutions at once on 63 minutes with Dylan Watts, Mandroiu, Burke, Matt Healy and Gaffney sprung from the bench. The latter, latching on to a Nugent cross, brought a brave save from Martin with the goalkeeper colliding with a post. That kept Wexford in the game as Ed McGinty soon had work to do to save from Mike Rowe. Rovers did finally kill off Wexford's challenge on 75 minutes, Mandroiu linking with Nugent on the right to cross for Burke to show his composure from close range. Eight minutes later, Gaffney hooked home from almost on the goal line after Grace had nodded down Watts's corner. Gaffney then set up Mandroiu to sweep home the fourth goal in the 90th minute. Holders Drogheda United had far too much at home to Leinster Senior League side Crumlin United as they eased through with a 5-0 victory. Second-half goals from James McManus and Jake Doyle-Hayes gave Sligo Rovers a 2-0 win at First Division leaders Dundalk. Bohemians were the biggest winners on the night with Collie Whelan scoring four times in a 7-0 rout of Killester-Donnycarney at Dalymount Park. Waterford beat Leinster Senior League champions St Mochtas 5-1 at the RSC while goals from Stephen Walsh and David Hurley saw Galway United past Tolka Rovers at Eamonn Deacy Park. Derry City won 5-1 at First Division Treaty United, with wins also for Finn Harps, Bray Wanderers and Kerry over UCD, Wayside Celtic and Athlone Town respectively. SHAMROCK ROVERS: McGinty; Grace, Lopes, O'Sullivan; J. Honohan (Watts, 63), Nugent, O'Neill (Mandroiu, 63), Ozhianvuna; Byrne (Healy, 63); Noonan (Burke, 63), McGovern (Gaffney, 63). WEXFORD: Martin; McCarthy, Larkin, McCourt, Crawford (Browne, 86); O'Brien (D Levingston, 86); Rowe, Harnett (Haris, 64), McCormack, Oluwabiyi (Flynn, 77); Dobbs (Wasilewski, 77). Referee: Mark Houlihan (Dublin). Attendance: 2,420. Other results: Bray Wanderers 3, Wayside Celtic 0; Drogheda United 5, Crumlin United 0; Dundalk 0, Sligo Rovers 2; Finn Harps 3, UCD 0; Galway United 2, Tolka Rovers 0; Kerry FC 2, Athlone 1 (aet); Killester Donnycarney 0 Bohemians 7; Treaty United 1 Derry City 5; Waterford 5, St Mochta's 1; Shamrock Rovers 4, Wexford 0.
The 42
25-06-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Waterford 'formally sanctioned' by FAI over alleged racist incident during Shamrock Rovers tie
WATERFORD FC HAS announced that the club has been 'formally sanctioned' by the FAI following an alleged racist incident which took place during their Premier Division game against Shamrock Rovers FC on Friday, 16 May. The target of the alleged comment was 17-year-old Rovers player Victor Ozhianvuna. An investigation was launched in the aftermath of the event at Waterford's home grounds in the RSC. At the time, the Blues released a statement expressing their disappointment and confirming that they are 'fully co-operating with the authorities on the matter'. The League of Ireland later revealed that they had also been made aware of the matter. The FAI today declined to reveal the sanction, citing confidentiality, though it is understood the FAI appreciated Waterford's handling of the incident and this was taken into account when the sanction was levied. Waterford FC have also revealed that an investigation 'remains ongoing' with An Garda Síochána. Advertisement The 42 has contacted An Garda Síochána for a statement on the investigation. The club's statement in full reads: 'Waterford Football Club can confirm the club has been formally sanctioned by the FAI following a racist incident that took place during our SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division game against Shamrock Rovers FC on Friday 16th May. 'Waterford FC stand side by side with the League of Ireland and our supporters in taking a zero-tolerance approach to tackling racism within the game. 'This investigation remains ongoing with An Garda Síochána. Waterford FC will remain in close support to An Garda Siochána in this investigation.' Comments are closed due to an ongoing investigation With reporting by Gavin Cooney
