Latest news with #Bohemians
Irish Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
FAI Cup second round details: Kick-off times and venues as fixtures confirmed
The FAI have confirmed all the dates, times and venues for the second round of the FAI Cup. 32 teams will compete for a spot in the last-16, with League of Ireland Premier and First Division teams entering the competition at this stage. There are plenty of potential banana skin ties, with Killester Donnycarney among the non-league teams to draw League of Ireland opposition. They were paired at home to Bohemians, but that fixture will now be played at Dalymount Park. Holders Drogheda United begin the defence of their title at home to Crumlin United, while the final will take place at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday, November 9 at 3pm. 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. Bray Wanderers v Wayside Celtic (Carlisle Grounds) Cork City v Leicester Celtic (Turner's Cross) Drogheda United v Crumlin United (Sullivan and Lambe Park) Dundalk v Sligo Rovers (Oriel Park) Finn Harps v UCD (Finn Park) Galway United v Tolka Rovers (Eamonn Deacy Park) Kerry v Athlone Town (Mounthawk Park) Killester Donnycarney v Bohemians (Dalymount Park) Treaty United v Derry City (Markets Field) Waterford v St. Mochta's (RSC) Shamrock Rovers v Wexford (Tallaght Stadium, 8pm) Salthill Devon v St. Michael's (Drom*, 2pm) Bangor Celtic v Cobh Ramblers (Transport Club*, 3pm) Fairview Rangers v Shelbourne (Singland Park*, 6pm) Castlebar Celtic v Longford Town (Celtic Park*, 5pm) St. Patrick's Athletic v UCC (Richmond Park, 6pm) *Provisional and subject to approval
RTÉ News
10 hours ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
LOI preview: Cork at low ebb as Hoops keep motoring
Unreliability has been a fabric within this year's SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division but perhaps two of the more predictable sides will clash at Tallaght Stadium tonight. At points this season nearly all of the chasing pack to Shamrock Rovers have put together a period of form to indicate they could be challengers, or at least move into the European positions. The bottom two sides are the exception and undoubtedly the team sitting in the automatic relegation position have found it hardest in most recent times. Cork City have recorded just two wins in 19 matches and last week's loss to Bohemians was a real low point in their year. They make the journey to south Dublin tonight as huge outsiders against a team that are looking like coasting to the title. With no clean sheet all season, City have been consistent in letting goals in. The positive is they've scored in 16 of their 19 games so the problem is quite evident. How they attempt to solve it will ultimately decide their campaign and games such as this one may not prove decisive. The manner in which they succumbed to Bohs would have had alarm bells ringing for the Rebel Army watching on. Anything they can take from Tallaght would be a massive bonus. The Hoops are in juggernaut mode at the most crucial time of the season. With the games coming thick and fast, they have gone 10 without losing ahead of a double-round of matches over three days. Their lead is nine points and Monday's derby with Bohemians could really turn the title race into a procession. For now, Stephen Bradley wants his side to improve on a 1-1 draw against City in Turner's Cross. "I'm nearly sure I played against Ger (Nash) back in the day with Ipswich v Arsenal. I did a few courses with Ger also, he's a very good coach and I'm sure he'll do good things with Cork. You can see little things he's trying to change already, it won't happen overnight, but I'm sure he'll be very good there. I had a few conversations with Ger on those courses, he knows his football and he's clever, so I think he'll be very good at Cork. "When you have Sean Maguire, Djenairo Daniels and Cathal O'Sullivan, their attacking threat with those three is as good as any in the country. Seán Maguire's movement is very similar to Padraig Amond, very good and very clever, O'Sullivan is a very good young player and Daniels causes real problems so they must be respected and Cork as a team must be also." Adam Matthews is the only other absentee for the home side. Bohemians are the next in line to challenge the Hoops, with a match in Waterford their latest challenge. The Blues were on a winning run of four matches but have hit a minor slump, including a loss in Sligo last week where they struggled to create chances despite dominating the ball. Alan Reynolds is visiting his hometown club, with eight wins out of 10 games a remarkable turnaround in their season. One of those two loss came against this weekend's opposition where it was Waterford hanging on for victory. Reynolds feels he knows what to expect at the RSC: "Waterford are a good side. They had a great record against us last season and they've beaten us already in Dalymount this season, so it's another game where I think we're going into it with something to prove. "That means we need everyone to be at their very best once more if we want to keep the run we've been on going. "But as I said last week, we have a really determined group of players who keep pushing each other week in week out to get even better. "They've had the dark days at the start of the season and they've had the good days on the run we've been on over the past two months, and they are desperate to do everything they can to keep it going and to build on it." St Patrick's Athletic are at something of a crossroads in their season. With the European campaign to come, which has given them hope of putting a run together, their league hopes have taken a battering. Stephen Kenny is trying to inspire a performance ahead of a visit to Galway United. He said: "We've got to rally around, everyone, the players, the staff, and the supporters to get behind each other and the team. It will be difficult game in Galway, we've got to go down there and try to get a big result. We are capable of getting two results on Friday and Monday and we've got to aspire to do that. "Now is the time for us to show our strength in adversity. When I was Under-21 manager of St Pat's many many years ago in my first ever coaching job, the slogan around the club crest at the time was Ni Neart Go Cur Le Cheile, meaning "There's No Strength Without Unity" and that is still synonymous with the club now and that's an important thing for us to remember." Damien Duff and Tiernan Lynch have lots in common as Shelbourne host Derry City in Tolka Park. Both managers have used the quote "it is us against the world" in their media work in the last four days. Siege mentalities are one thing, but points on the board have proved elusive for both sides in recent matches. Shels received a massive lift by defeating Pat's last Monday, with Duff feeling it can be a springboard to move back towards the top four. He said: "We spoke about that break being a bit of a reset and a chance to draw a line under what's come before. Granted, it started with a poor result against Shamrock Rovers, but the lads are in a good place mentally. "There's brilliant togetherness in the dressing room, as you'd expect, and more importantly, there's belief. How can you not be excited with the games we have coming up?" Duff was referencing the Champions League clash with Linfield in July in that thought. Europe is the last thing Drogheda United want to hear about as Sligo Rovers visit Sullivan and Lambe Park. As the European draws took place this week, hearts broke in Louth after seeing dreams dashed. The late defeat to Aaron Greene's goal for the league leaders on Monday only added to their woes. Sligo visit Drogheda tonight looking to stay off the bottom of the table. Manager John Russell has brought in Seb Quirk from Accrington Stanley this week and more new arrivals are expected. The Rovers boss is hoping to build on their victory over Waterford: "There's a long way to go this season and we made sure the players' feet were kept on the ground this week. This is going to be a really tough game for us as Drogheda is a really tough place to go. "They create a brilliant atmosphere up there and you need big players and big voices to get through that. On the back of last week's win, we're really looking forward to this one."
Irish Examiner
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Alan Reynolds: 'I was happy the fans vented at me rather than them'
Fifty league games into his spell as Bohemians manager and Alan Reynolds couldn't be happier. Second in the Premier Division table, technically they could join leaders Shamrock Rovers at the summit by beating the Hoops next Monday and winning their two games in hand. Delivering a first league title to Dalymount Park since 2008 is a vision Reynolds refuses to countenance. He's not lacking in ambition, merely couched in the reality of the game's fickleness. Bohemians travel to his hometown club Waterford on Friday as the Premier Division's in-form team. They're riding high from winning five of their last six yet it's not long since the manager was facing the boo-boys. Losing six of the opening nine games conflated with a whimpering eight-placed finish last term. The outlook was bleak when on Easter Monday his own fans chimed with the Rovers chorus of 'you're getting sacked in the morning'. Bohs were trailing the best team in the country 2-0 in Tallaght until a seasonal resurrection of three late goals engineered a comeback win. It served to reignite their campaign, easing the pressure on a manager the Gypsies faithful have been slow in warming to. The temperature has changed from ice-cold to moderate and will likely require a trophy to emit heat but that's not his craving. At times, the stick was deeply personal. On occasions, it stretched beyond the confines of league grounds, with the authorities getting involved. Reynolds has been in management since Waterford appointed him as player-coach at 29. Most of his career was spent as No 2 to the likes of Stephen Kenny, Ruaidhrí Higgins, Keith Long, Jim Crawford, Liam Buckley and John Caulfield. Being in the frontline is a different animal. He's ultimately responsible and, as cutting as the flak was, he was prepared to be the punchbag instead of players. And yet never did he entertain the thought of quitting. Read More FAI to be hauled before State's Oireachtas Sport Committee 'Without a doubt, it was the most difficult stage of my managerial career,' he reflects on the barrage of abuse. 'It was tough at times for the players in Dalymount but I was happy the fans vented at me rather than them. 'It wasn't nice but I was glad to be the one taking it. That wasn't something that was said in the dressing room but it was clear. 'I'm glad I got the stick at this stage where I was able to dust myself down, saying 'right, let's crack on with this'. 'Not for a minute did I consider walking away. If the people above wanted to make that decision, so be it. 'Dalymount is known as a tough place to come but it became a tough place for us to play. That's now swung around.' He's just over 14 months in the job. The one plea made during last year's underwhelming opening campaign was for the patience of three transfer windows. Two of those are completed and he doesn't foresee much business required in the upcoming one, such is the contentment with his personnel. Crystal Palace have recalled his centre-back Seán Grehan from a loan deal but into his squad place will come Cian Byrne returning from a temporary stint at Galway United. 'We were impressed with our signings, and despite it being hard going early, I always believed in what we were doing,' he reasoned about moulding his team. 'Results have been good and so have the displays. 'People say things about the summer break but we worked really hard when we came back last week. 'We needed a break from seeing each other. They're young lads, have families and enjoyed the break, even if they had fitness programme results to submit. 'I felt the first-half performance at Cork City last Friday was the best since I've come in. We were 2-0 up but should have been out of sight. 'Nobody gave us a chance after the early results and it's hard to say we're eying the title. Still, we're within touching distance.' Their tilt will be strengthened by the returns from injury of former English Premier League striker Lys Mousset and Connor Parsons. Options will be expanded if the right contender arises after July 1. 'I always said three windows were required but after the first series of matches I thought I'd need more,' Rennie said, jokingly. 'I feel you need to improve in all windows. We'll see if something pops up but you'd want to be a good player to get into our squad. 'We like our group. All they lacked was a bit of confidence.' Read More Kylian Mbappe admitted to hospital with acute gastroenteritis
Irish Examiner
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Ger Nash seeking response from 'hurt' Cork City
Come 10pm last Saturday night, Cork City found themselves in the lonely position of 10th in the Premier Division table. City's defeat to Bohemians on Friday night, coupled with Sligo Rovers one-nil win over Waterford the following day ensured exactly that. The momentum built from a positive performance against Shelbourne prior to the mid-season break - albeit without the much-needed three points - was taken away in that loss to Alan Reynolds' Bohs, as City boss Ger Nash illustrated on Thursday. "I think we were hurt by Friday night, that's important to say," Nash said. "We felt we had built a little bit of momentum after the performance against Shels. I think it's probably the first time I've seen that confidence be affected, and that's something we had to address, we had to talk about." Stephen Bradley's Shamrock Rovers are next up on Friday night, with the visit of high-flying Drogheda and St Pat's to come next week. "I'm looking for a response on Friday night, we've spent a lot of time with the players this week - on the grass, off the grass - and I went to watch Drogheda and Shamrock Rovers on Monday, so we're prepared as well as we can be, and it's time for us to put in a performance now over the next week. It's imperative." A response is what is wanted by Nash and assistant David Meyler, and a response is what they so badly need. That response, for Nash, needs to consist of being defensively resolute, and having the bravery to play football as they did against Shels and during parts of the defeats to St Pat's and Galway United. "We have to be confident in who we are and what we are about," the 38-year-old said. "That's maybe something we didn't do in the Bohemians game in the first half-hour, where I think we were rocked a little bit. "As much as we are up against a really difficult opponent (in Shamrock Rovers), I think we really need to focus on us, and be the best version of us and give the fans the best version of us. "I think we showed that against Shelbourne in some aspects, and we need to get back to that level of performance, but importantly, we need to put a huge emphasis on getting points on the board over the next eight days, with three games to play." He added: "We need to stand tall, puff our chests out and represent this great club. As much as we're going to play a tough team, it has to be about us and what we are going to do to get ourselves out of the situation that we are in." Dutch winger Malik Dijksteel - who has been working his way back to full fitness after a lengthy injury absence - may feature more prominently on Friday after a number of appearances off the bench. Midfielder Rio Shipston will not make the clash with the table toppers, nor will Matty Kiernan, who is sitting his Leaving Cert. "Malik is one who has stepped up... he's in a better place than he was two weeks ago, so he's one that will be able to have more football."
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- 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.'"
