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Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
'He is definitely a student of the game': Bradley wishes Andrews well in Brentford gaffer role
'I'm sure he's cursing me' joked a jovial Stephen Bradley when speaking about his match winner from Friday night, Rory Gafffney. The 35-year old sprung from the bench to net a crucial winner against a stubborn and talented Waterford side, showing reactions of a player half his age to capitalise on a Stephen McMullan error as the Northern Irish man failed to gather Danny Mandroiu's stinging effort, allowing Gaffney to tap home. And his gaffer is fully aware of the frustration his experienced and reliable front man justifiably feels. ''He should have started tonight, I'm sure he feels the same,' admitted Bradley. 'He was brilliant here against Cork City last Friday. 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 tonight, 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.' That huge win restored Rovers ominous lead at the top back to 11-points over Bohemians and Derry City in the title race, with the gap nine points prior to kick off, and The Hoops boss feels his side are in a good place with an healthy lead going into what promises to be a crazy July, adding: 'That's why it (Friday's) win was an important one, it was important we got three points. "We go to Sligo Rovers, FAI Cup and then into Europe so we're in a position that i would have taken your hand off at the start of the year so 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 fully focus on what's to come and not looking at what's around the corner. They were excellent tonight and its a nice lead to have.' Bradley was quick to praise his players who bounced back from Monday's Dublin derby defeat that brought an end to their 11-game unbeaten run but insists, as always, that its just about themselves. 'The thing that disappointed me on Monday was not losing the game, but our performance in the game.' said the 40-year-old. '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 really high level and you take that, but we don't accept Monday. "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, 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.' On the same day Rovers stretched their lead at the summit, a fellow Dubliner was handed the reigns in the Premier League at Brentford in a somewhat surprising move, but did not come as a shock to Bradley who had started his pro-licence with Andrews before the latter having to defer to the following year due to work commitments. 'Yeah it's great. 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 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 today, and I hope it goes really well. That's what we want, we want our managers managing at the highest level, and in England, that's the highest level. As well as being proud of a fellow Irish manager at the top table in English football - the first Irish Premier League manager since Chris Hughton in 2019 - he was insistent that the former set-piece coach got the job on merit, adding: 'I think Brentford have always been bold and brave in what they've done. "We all look at Frank now as an established, really good manager but he wasn't always. He was an assistant, he was involved in the B team. 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 Rob Rowan (Brentford technical director who died aged just 28 in 2018) who sadly passed 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. I think they have made this decision with their eyes open and that should fill you with confidence if you're Keith. "I can only imagine the amount of managers who would have wanted that job, so the fact they have gone straight for him is a massive vote of confidence. They have obviously seen something that they really, really like which is good."
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
What time and TV channel is Clare v Waterford on today in the All-Ireland final?
Clare and Waterford will face off in the All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship final, with glory on the line for both teams. It's a Munster showdown for the All-Ireland title as both sides aim to rectify past mistakes, with Clare having previously lost to Waterford in the Munster championship, and Waterford missing out on the provincial crown to Cork last month. The Banner emerged victorious from a tough battle against Cork in the semi-final, winning by 0-27 to 1-22 in what was considered an upset. The Déise journeyed to Wexford for their semi-final, defeating Kilkenny by 3 points to secure their spot in the grand finale, thanks in part to scoring 1-6 to no score from Kilkenny in a 10-minute second half spell. Here's what you need to know about the game: Thurles hosts this evening's game. The game is due to begin at 5.15pm. The game is being shown live on TG4. Streaming is available on the TG4 Player/Website.
Irish Examiner
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Joxer's long-term plan comes together for Waterford
Waterford manager James 'Joxer' O'Connor always believed that his minor hurling project would produce results in year three. At the end of 2024, he only had one championship win to show from nine games. 'I'm pig-headed like that to be honest with you! If I think something is going to work, I'll stick with it. I believed that I had the players to win. At no stage did I say to myself 'you know what, I made a bad decision here, I should get out.' Never. If anything, I was more bull-headed after last year.' The position wasn't on his radar whatsoever until county board chairman Sean Michael O'Regan made an enquiry three years ago. 'He was the man that set this ball rolling. He rang me one day and asked me would I be interested. To be honest, it was one thing I never envisaged myself doing. I always saw myself as an adult trainer. I thought I might be too hard on younger lads. "In fairness to Sean he said 'we'll give you everything you need to do this job.' The man stood over it 100%.' The board stayed loyal through thick and thin. 'There were some tough days. It wasn't all plain sailing by any means. The first year, we won no match. The second year, we won a game and this year, we're in an All-Ireland. I'm delighted that they've stuck with me and hopefully, we'll have silverware at the end of it.' An All-Ireland minor title would be the pinnacle of his coaching career. Back in 2011, he helped Carrigtwohill to their first Cork senior hurling title in 93 years. The Lismore man recently led Fr O'Neill's and Shamrocks Ballyhale to All-Ireland club finals but lost both. "Three All-Irelands in six years is not bad going. All I have to do now is win one! I'll be happy then.' The question on everyone's lips after the semi-final win over Kilkenny was: what happened the team bus? 'I'm not really going to go into it. A bit of a logistics problem. We got to the match, we kept our timeframe that we set which was brilliant. If anything, it took away a bit of the pressure.' The backroom team brought the starting 15 up in cars from Carriganore. 'We shoved them into the cars and off we went! The bus was late in coming and they picked up the rest of them. They were 40 minutes behind us. Fellas were amused going up in cars with the management. It was funny for the lads. They enjoyed it; I probably didn't! The main thing is we won. Once we win, I don't care what way we travel.' Will they go by bus or by car this time around? 'We'll plan for the bus but we'll have the cars ready if needs be!' Sean Power was Waterford minor manager the last time the Irish Press Cup crossed Rice Bridge in 2013. Seven days out from the final against Galway, he also had to deal with a stroke of bad luck. 'All of them got new gear. William Hahessy got new boots, new socks, everything. The Sunday before, he went out just to hit a few balls and run around and he twisted his ankle in his garden. William Hahessy was central to everything we did at number two. So, Hahessy's ankle was out like a balloon on the Sunday. Brendan McCann was our team doctor. McCann looked at it and very soon after he said 'No way in a week will he be ok.' "We said we'd do a fitness test on the Thursday. Peter Hogan was the baby of the group, he was just gone 16. We put Peter on Hahessy to run him and twist him and turn him. Brendan McCann said 'I'll eat my hat if he passes this, lads.' Peter went at him and William Hahessy tore into him like William Hahessy does at corner back. I remember Kieran O'Gorman turning and saying 'Doc, I hope you brought red sauce to eat your hat!' Sure enough Hahessy was ready for Sunday.' The homecoming was unforgettable. 'Monday on the Mall in Waterford was incredible. It's something that will stick with me to the day I die. When we went over the bridge into Dungarvan that night, in the dark, it was like the Wild West! It was like a rock concert!' Twelve years on, the Mount Sion man will be on co-commentary duty for WLR alongside Kieran O'Connor. 'I see a lot of similarities. I see a group of forwards that are lethal. A very exciting team, they play with a bit of purity that we like to see. The semi-final was as good a game as you would see at any grade."
The Irish Sun
14 hours ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Super substitute Rory Gaffney sends Shamrock Rovers 11 points clear at top of Premier Division with win over Waterford
RORY GAFFNEY came off the bench to give Shamrock Rovers a huge three points in their bid to regain the Premier Division title. The hosts had looked to be steamrolling their way to the trophy by going 11 games unbeaten before falling to defeat in the 2 Rory Gaffney scored the winner for Shamrock Rovers against Waterford Credit: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile 2 Shamrock Rovers are not 11 points clear at the top of the Premier Division Credit: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile But Stephen Bradley's men got back on track thanks to Gaffney's second-half finish. Before the match, Bradley claimed the Bohs loss could prove to be a 'kick up the a***' for his men. And this seemed the case as his side went close to opening the scoring within the first five minutes. Graham Burke got to the endline before standing up a deep cross to the back post to Danny Grant. Read More on Shamrock Rovers The wing-back chested the ball down under pressure before hitting the foot of the near post, with his effort somehow staying out. Having been sidelined since April with a calf problem, Andy Boyle was welcomed back to the He was booked for hauling down Michael Noonan near the halfway line as the teenager — 18 years his junior — looked to be clear through on goal. In his first trip to Tallaght as Blues boss, John Coleman made one enforced change to the side that drew 2-2 at home to champions Shelbourne on Monday, with Conan Noonan unavailable against his parent club. Most read in Football And his side responded well to the early onslaught. Wing-back Jesse Demspey found space down the left and cleverly cut back to the edge of the area into the path of James Olayinka. Shamrock Rovers snap up Northern Ireland Under-21s goal-getter as Stephen Bradley gives exciting verdict Attempting to sweep the ball home, his strike was well turned away by Ed McGinty before Josh Honohan cleared under pressure. Both sides exchanged strikes from range as they sensed an opener was within touching distance. Honohan's right-footed curler, as he cut inside from the left, was brilliantly tipped around the post by Stephen McMullan at full stretch. The impressive Olayinka then showed awareness to turn two men and drill a powerful effort straight into McGinty's midriff. The visitors fashioned one of the clearest chances to break the deadlock just after the half-hour mark when Tommy Lonergan got in behind the Rovers rearguard. Dan Cleary came across to force the frontman wide, leaving poacher supreme Pádraig Amond free inside the six-yard box. But with the angle against him, Lonergan opted to go himself, shooting straight at McGinty as Amond looked on in disbelief. TEN OUT OF TEN The hosts, roared on by the majority of the 4,014 in Tallaght Stadium, continued to prod for an opening but were met by a well-organised sea of blue that carried a threat on the break. With nothing between the sides as the second half wore on, the introduction former PFAI award winners Jack Byrne and Gaffney showed the strength in depth at Bradley's disposal. Seeing them coming into the mix also lifted the crowd. And Gaffney took just ten minutes to have a crucial impact. The 35-year-old rolled back the years as he showed lightning-quick reactions to race on to a spill by McMullan — who had initially failed to hold a stinging Danny Mandroiu strike from 25 yards — and tap home with 15 minutes to go. Rovers pushed for a second and Maxim Kovalevskis, impressive again off the bench, showed great feet to cut inside and square to Gaffney. But he saw his thunderous effort bravely blocked to safety . Rovers held on for what could be a pivotal win in the title race as attention turns to another European adventure and the start of an FAI Cup tilt over the month of July. SUN STAR MAN Danny Mandroiu (Shamrock Rovers) SHAMROCK ROVERS : McGinty 7; Cleary 7, Lopes 8, Grace 7: Grant 7 (Kovalevskis 76, 7), Watts 7 (Gaffney 65, 9) Healy 7, Mandroiu 9 (Nugent 88, 7), Honohan 7; G Burke 7 (Byrne 65, 7), Noonan 7 (O'Neill 88, 7). WATERFORD : McMullen 7; Boyle 7, Leahy 7, Burke 7 (Coyle 80, 7); Horton 7, McDonald 7 (McMenamy 69, 7), Glenfield 7, Olayinka 8, Dempsey (White 71, 7): Lonergan 7, Amond 7. REFEREE : P Norton (Dublin) 6.
Irish Times
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Shamrock Rovers gain ground on challengers with 1-0 win over Waterford
League of Ireland: Shamrock Rovers 1 (Gaffney 74) Waterford 0 Shamrock Rovers extended their lead at the top of the League of Ireland to 11 points after battling to a 1-0 home win over Waterford . The deadlock was broken by a tap-in from veteran Rovers striker Rory Gaffney, after a long-range shot slipped out of goalkeeper Stephen McMullan's hands in the 74th minute. Although an entertaining game, both sides played with three centre backs and defences dominated as clear-cut chances were hard to come by. Gaffney appearance off the bench on 65 minutes proved critical, providing the only goal of the evening. The first glimpse of action came in the fourth minute when a ball over the top found Tommy Lonergan in space, but the angle was too tight for Padraig Amond to finish. READ MORE In the fifth minute some clever Rovers interplay set Graham Burke free on the left flank, and his cross found Danny Grant at the far post. Despite having plenty of time to get the shot off, Grant's close-range effort hit the post. Rovers dictated the early goings, with Danny Mandriou and Burke getting on the ball and looking to find runners in behind. Wing backs Grant and Josh Honohan were constantly looking beyond the Waterford defence. The visitors started to liven up then, with midfielder Olujimi James Ayodele Olayinka drawing a fine save from Edward McGinty, and Honohan did well to stop Padraig Amond getting to the rebound. At the other end, Waterford goalkeeper Stephen McMullan produced a brilliant save of his own, tipping a curling effort from Honohan just around the post. Rory Gaffney in action for Shamrock Rovers. Photograph: James Lawlor/Inpho In the 25th minute Burke was fouled on the edge of the box. He rolled the free off to Mandriou, who blazed his effort over the bar. Olayinka again stung McGinty's gloves, this time with a long range effort, after beating his man with a graceful turn. Neither side could take control of the rhythm of the game for very long and soon Lonergan found himself in behind for Waterford's clearest chance of the half, but McGinty did well to prevent the ball going under him, saving the shot with his foot. At half-time, Rovers' patient build-up had given them most of the possession, although their attack was lacking incision. John Coleman's side on the other hand would have been happy to have played their way into the game after a quiet start. The small pocket of Waterford fans in Tallaght Stadium would have had their hearts in their mouths when Noonan applied pressure to McMullan, but the goalkeeper just managed to poke the ball away from the striker. Rovers and Waterford both had half-chances early in the second half. Most of Rovers' good play came through Burke, who set up Watts and Honohan for shots at goal, before coming off for Jack Byrne in the 65th minute. The hosts started to pile on the pressure from there, putting on another striker in Rory Gaffney, who could have put his side ahead but for some fantastic defending by Boyle, blocking a goal-bound effort. Only minutes later though, Gaffney did put Rovers into the lead. Danny Mandriou had a pop from distance which McMullan spilt badly, and the striker tucked the rebound into the net. Substitute Maxim Kovaleskis was a bright spark on the right wing, the 17-year-old setting up Gaffney for another chance. Although Waterford pushed for an equaliser late on, they could not create a clear opportunity. The result sees the Hoops extend their lead at the top of the table after second-place Bohemians drew with Sligo Rovers. The result at Dalymount saw Sligo gain a point on Waterford in eighth, eight points above the relegation play-off spot. SHAMROCK ROVERS: McGinty, Grant (Kovaleskis, 76), Lopes, Grace, Cleary, Honohan, Healy, Watts (Gaffney, 65), Mandriou (89), Burke (Byrne, 65), Noonan (O'Neill, 88). WATERFORD: McMullan, Horton, Burke (Coyle, 80), Boyle, Leahy, Dempsey (White, 71), McDonald (McMenamy, 68), Glenfield, Olayinka, Lonergan, Amond. Referee: Paul Norton. Attendance: 4,014.
