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Belfast Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Michael Duffy's bit of magic helps Derry City end a long wait
Duffy's seventh goal of the season was worthy of winning any game as he curled an unstoppable left-footed effort past Conor Kearns and into the top corner to earn Tiernan Lynch his first win in Dublin. The goal also got Derry back on track after a difficult spell, with this their first win in five League games. The visitors could have scored twice in the opening 10 minutes with Liam Boyce at the heart of each opportunity. There seemed no danger when Duffy dispossessed Jonathan Lunney near the halfway line, but Boyce spotted Kearns well off his goal line and went for it from 40 yards, with his effort beating the Shels goalkeeper but just flying wide of the open goal. Not even 60 seconds later, Boyce beat Kearns again after being put through on goal by Gavin Whyte. The striker raced through and brilliantly dinked the ball over the goalkeeper, but while the idea was right, the finish was lacking and it bobbled across the face of goal and wide. It was a chance Boyce should have taken. Shelbourne responded to those scares by coming close themselves at the other end when Harry Wood's corner was met with a powerful header from Sean Boyd, but his effort just flew over with Brain Maher beaten. It was a fairly entertaining game between two sides desperate for the points and Shelbourne should have taken the lead in the final 10 minutes of the half, with John Martin left in disbelief that he didn't put the ball in the net. Again Wood was at the heart of the danger for the hosts with his cross finding Paddy Barrett, who guided a header at goal with Martin attempting to guide it beyond Maher from close range, but the City goalkeeper did just enough to push the ball back onto the Shels man, with it deflecting wide for a goal kick. Derry started the second half very positively and Kearns was called into action within two minutes of the restart as he dived full stretch to push away a fierce effort from distance from Whyte. A defining 60 seconds in the game soon came to pass as a near miss at one end was followed by a goal at the other. Maher got off the hook when he came out of his penalty area and lost out to Sean Boyd, with Evan Caffrey's lobbed effort headed off the line by Kevin Holt. The Candystripes swiftly went down the other end with Duffy popping up on the right before he cut inside and curled a beautiful effort beyond Kearns and into the top corner to earn the visitors a valuable victory. Shelbourne: Kearns, Ledwidge, Lunney, Barrett, McInroy (Chapman 46), Bone, Caffrey, Norris (Coote 63), Wood (O'Sullivan 77), Martin (Odubeko 46), Boyd (Kelly 63). Derry City: Maher, R Boyce, Connolly, Holt, Todd, Cann, Winchester (Hoban 89), Diallo (Benson 62), Whyte (McMullan 62), Duffy, L Boyce (Mullen 62). Match rating: 8/10
Belfast Telegraph
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
‘Every year feels more like home': Belfast Giants winger confirms return for sixth season
A day after line-mate Scott Conway was announced as the first returnee for the new season, the 33-year-old American has followed suit to complete two-thirds of the Giants' dynamic top line that is rounded out by dead-eye winger J.J. Piccinich. An experienced operator who has iced in the Finnish Liiga and Sweden's second division, the Allsvenskan, former Giants captain Goodwin has signed back for his sixth season with the organisation where he has become a fan favourite. And they will be relieved to see the No.64 on the roster from the start of the season rather than making a mid-season return, the St Louis native having re-joined the team midway through the last two campaigns, scoring five goals and 33 points in 33 games as the Giants won the Elite League and Challenge Cup double. Goodwin has been a serial winner in Belfast, lifting three League titles, three Cups and a Play-Off crown, and was the man with the 'C' on his jersey when the Giants clinched the Grand Slam in 2023. As well as that, the Penn State alum is no stranger to helping put the puck in the net having scored 79 goals and 266 points in 230 games for the Giants, a role he will likely be expected to assume again in the upcoming campaign. 'I'm really happy to be back in Belfast for another season. Every year I come back, it feels more and more like home. There's something special about playing here – the fans, the city, the pride that comes with putting on that jersey,' said Goodwin. "I'm excited about the group we're building and the opportunity to fight for trophies again. I know what this club is capable of, and I want to be part of bringing more success to Belfast.' Goodwin first joined the Giants in the Covid-19-shortened 2019/20 campaign as a mid-season acquisition from Allsvenskan outfit Mora IK, following two years with Liiga outfit SaiPa, and he would then return to the club for the 2021/22 season, this time as captain. His first season as the team's leader would see him lift the League and Cup double, but his third season at the SSE Arena was both statistically and in terms of silverware his best, Goodwin notching 23 goals and 95 points in 68 games as the team swept all before them on their way to a stunning Grand Slam success. Despite his success in Belfast, the winger shocked most people when it was announced he would be moving to Spanish side C.H. Jaca for the following season, but he would return to the Giants in January 2024, almost helping them to Play-Off joy only for them to fall short against the Sheffield Steelers. But his third mid-season arrival, in January just past after taking some time away from the game, proved to be his most successful in Belfast, Goodwin proving to be a massive boost as the team regained their League title and clinched another Cup crown. 'Goody is a pro in every sense. He brings a calm, focused presence to the locker room and delivers in big moments. He's played a huge role in our culture since arriving and continues to lead by example every day,' added Giants head coach Adam Keefe. "We know what we're getting with him – consistency, character, and a guy who does whatever it takes to win. I'm very pleased to have him back with us.'
Belfast Telegraph
a day ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Tiernan Lynch urges Derry City to harness Dublin woes and turn fortunes ahead of Shelbourne battle
The former Larne boss suffered a baptism of fire back in February when his new team shipped three goals to Shelbourne in a dire first-half before a floodlight failure meant an hour-long half-time break and a later-than-expected road trip home. A lot has changed since that night, but City's troubles in Dublin remain with Lynch still looking for his first win there after four attempts. The Candystripes head to Tolka Park on Friday evening before returning to Dublin to face St Patrick's Athletic on Monday as they aim to halt a four-game winless streak which has left them 14 points in arrears of League leaders Shamrock Rovers. Lynch has endured difficult trips to Dublin so far, managing just one point from four games against Shelbourne, St Pat's, Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians. 'I don't think I'll forget any of my first games down in Dublin as Derry City manager,' he admitted. 'Even on Friday night, you're coming in at half-time probably annoyed and frustrated at decisions you feel were harsh. 'We need to find it in ourselves as a team and a group, we have to use them (decisions) to drive us forward, to not get frustrated but to give us the extra incentive to go and ram it down people's throats. 'I'm not sure we're quite there yet and that is something we need to get better at. It is us against the world, we shouldn't shy away from that. 'We should absolutely and utterly use that to galvanise and give us that extra incentive to make sure we go out and grind out results.' City can move above Shelbourne with a victory at Tolka Park on Friday night, and with two games in hand over a number of teams ahead of them, the League table at present is slightly imbalanced. 'Probably the big thing is we have daylight until a wee bit later and we'll not have to sit in the changing room for 45 minutes at half-time,' Lynch joked. 'We have to relish these experiences. We know it's going to be difficult; it's going to be hostile. 'Going to any of the clubs down in Dublin for Derry is going to be hostile, but we have to look forward to the game and I think we've trained very well all week. 'My job is to prepare the team as well as I can. The transfer window is just around the corner. 'Can we improve? It's probably the first window we've had the opportunity to maybe put a wee bit of our stamp on things.'
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Stephen Bradley axes Cliftonville friendly as Shamrock Rovers await Euro draw
STEPHEN BRADLEY revealed that a potential July friendly with Cliftonville had to be shelved because they sides may face each other in the Conference League. 2 Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley revealed that the club have shelved plans for a friendly against Cliftonville as they may meet one another in Europe 2 Stephen Bradley also opened up on why Drogheda United's UEFA heartbreak might be the first of many as club ownership models shift across Europe And with the Hoops inactive in the opening weeks of the month after receiving a first round bye due to He said: 'We've had a few of them from the North, and Cliftonville were one of them! So we won't be playing that one. We'll definitely play a couple of games around that time. 'We've had offers from away as well but a lot wanted you to travel which is not what we want at this time. 'We'll definitely stay local, whether it's up the north or staying here, we definitely won't be travelling (for friendlies).' read more on football Meanwhile, And he confirmed that one potential investor in Shamrock Rovers had raised it as a concern if they had put money into the Hoops. Trivela, who were doing the legal requirements to meet Most read in Football But Bradley reckons it will become more common in future, and pointed to Bournemouth investors Black Knight's interest in Rovers last year. He said: 'I think we're going to run into more problems like this. I think it's only going to become commonplace. The Real Madrid adidas home kit for 2025-26 season 'I know one of the companies that were looking to invest in here in the last while, that was one of the concerns. '(Black Knight), that was their concern with Bournemouth. Whether that would happen or not, none of us know but that was one of the concerns and rightly so. 'I think it's going to become commonplace around European football.' As Silkeborg finished seventh in the Danish league and the Drogs were ninth in the League of Ireland, it was the Irish outfit who forfeited their place under And Bradley has nothing but sympathy for the players, management and fans at Drogheda. He added: I'm just gutted for Kevin (Doherty), the players, the staff and the fans because they have done their bit. 'Because someone hasn't done their business right behind the scenes, without knowing it it's going to kill an opportunity for them. I'm gutted for them.'
Belfast Telegraph
a day ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
‘There's no place I'd rather be': Belfast Giants' leading scorer becomes first player to return for new season
Bringing back last season's leading scorer and a former Elite League Player of the Year Scott Conway represents a fantastic start to the Giants' off-season business, the 30-year-old centreman agreeing a one-year contract extension at the SSE Arena for his fourth season with the team. One of the deadliest finishers in the British game at present, the Basingstoke native netted a team-leading 33 goals and 74 points in 70 games last season, with his goal tally ranking fourth in the entire Elite League. Anchoring a line with linemates J.J. Piccinich and, for the latter half of the season, David Goodwin, Conway helped the Giants to the League and Challenge Cup double, scoring the vital tying goal in the game that won them the League title in Nottingham, and was named British Player of the Year and to the Second All-Star Team as well. 'There's no place I'd rather be. Belfast is a special city, and this organisation means a lot to me. From the moment I arrived, the fans have made me feel like one of their own,' commented Conway on his re-signing. "I'm proud to wear the Giants jersey and incredibly motivated to help bring more success to this club. We were pleased to win back two trophies last season, but it didn't end the way we wanted, so the hunger and fire are there – we've got unfinished business for sure.' Following a successful college career with Providence College, and two years in the pro ranks in North America, Conway first joined the Giants in the first season back after the Covid-19 pandemic and was an instant hit, rifling in 41 goals in 69 games that season on his way to a League and Cup double, scoring the League championship-winning goal in Sheffield, and a First All-Star Team nomination. If his first season was good, then his sophomore season at the SSE Arena was even better, Conway named the Elite League Player of the Year for helping the Giants win the Grand Slam thanks to his unstoppable form, bagging 53 goals and 113 points in 66 games as the team defended their trophies and then added the Play-Off title. That also included a star turn in the Giants' Champions League games that season, the 10-times capped Great Britain international scoring on home ice against both Davos and Ocelari Trinec, two European powerhouses. And he returned after spending the 2023/24 season away in Slovakia with Dukla Trencin to lead the Giants to more success last campaign, once again playing a significant scoring role in bringing two trophies back to the organisation. 'We're very pleased to have Scott back for the 2025/26 season. He's been a key part of our success in recent years, and his work ethic and leadership, on and off the ice, make him an invaluable asset to this team,' said Giants head coach Adam Keefe. "Cons is a proven competitor and having him commit to another season is a big statement about where we're headed and the standards we're setting from the outset.'
