Latest news with #StephenBradley
Irish Times
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley wary of threat posed by Cork City's livewire attackers
It's first versus last at Tallaght Stadium on Friday evening as Shamrock Rovers look to strengthen their hold on top spot in the Premier Division when Cork City visit Dublin 24. Unbeaten in 10 games, with seven victories in their last eight, Rovers are in cruise mode and enjoying their best form of the campaign. Stephen Bradley's side sit nine points clear at the summit, albeit with two games more played than second-placed Bohemians , who they meet at Dalymount Park on Monday in a mouth-watering top-of-the-table clash. Conversely, these are worrying times for Cork City, who are bottom of the league, two points adrift of Sligo Rovers and an alarming 10 points behind third-from-bottom Waterford. They travel to the capital on the back of last Friday's 2-0 home defeat to Bohemians. Manager Gerard Nash is still searching for his first win since taking charge four games ago. With no victory in eight and just two from 19 all season, Cork are in a battle to avoid relegation for a third time in six seasons. READ MORE 'The task is huge. We are in a fight, we know that,' said Nash after last week's defeat. 'We have 17 games [remaining] and we have to be better. The players care and we need to show fight and spirit now, starting in Tallaght.' The Leesiders held Rovers to a 1-1 draw at Turner's Cross early last month. Bradley is fully respectful of the challenge they bring despite the 29-point gap between the sides. Cork City's Sean Maguire was singled out by Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho 'When you have (Seán) Maguire, Djenairo Daniels and Cathal O'Sullivan, their attacking threat with those three is as good as any in the country,' said the Rovers manager, whose only injury absentee is defender Adam Matthews. 'Seán Maguire's movement is very similar to (Waterford's) 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.' [ Shelbourne end St Pats' unbeaten home record thanks to Ali Coote goal Opens in new window ] Having gone second in the table last week, Bohs manager Alan Reynolds brings his team to his native Waterford as they strive to make it three wins on the bounce to maintain their momentum ahead of hosting arch-rivals Rovers on Monday. 'Waterford are a good side,' said Reynolds, whose team has won nine of their last 12 games since languishing second bottom of the table at the end of March. Bohemians celebrate after Rhys Brennan's goal against Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium on April 21st, which helped turn their season around. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho 'They had a great record against us last season and they've beaten us already at Dalymount this season, so it's another game where I think we're going into it with something to prove.' Shelbourne welcome Derry City to Tolka Park with manager Damien Duff warning his players not to be distracted by next month's Champions League clash with Linfield . 'Your league form is what gets you to Europe. Don't take your eye off that,' said Duff. 'The lads need to realise they have to be on form individually to be in contention to start or play in Europe. That's very different to just being motivated by the occasion. 'It has to be collective and it has to carry. Build the form, attack the league, take that to Europe.' Friday's fixtures (all 7.45pm) Premier Division Drogheda United v Sligo Rovers Galway United v St Patrick's Athletic Shelbourne v Derry City Waterford v Bohemians Shamrock Rovers v Cork City First Division Athlone Town v Finn Harps Dundalk v Treaty United Kerry FC v Bray Wanderers UCD v Cobh Ramblers Wexford v Longford Town
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.'
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
‘I think we're going to run into more problems' – Stephen Bradley fears Drogheda's Euro heartache is worrying trend
Stephen Bradley believes Drogheda United's emotive European expulsion may prove to be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to problems with multi-club ownership.
The 42
2 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
Shamrock Rovers face potential All Ireland derby with Cliftonville in UEFA Conference League
SHAMROCK ROVERS WILL play the winner of Irish League side Cliftonville and St Joseph's of Gibraltar in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League. Stephen Bradley's side were parachuted from the first-round pots yesterday to this afternoon's draw after Drogheda United's expulsion from the competition on multi-club grounds was upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Monday. Advertisement The League of Ireland club will play the first leg away followed by the return in Tallaght Stadium as they bid to reach the league phase of the competition for the third time under Bradley. If St Patrick's Athletic overcome Lithuanian side FC Hegelmann they will join Rovers in the second round with a tie against either Kalju of Estonia or Alabania's Partizani. Shelbourne's potential opponents in the second qualifying round of the Champions League have also been confirmed. Should Damien Duff's men come out on top in the All Ireland derby with Linfield in the first round then they will face Qarabag. The Azerbaijan outfit are seasoned European operators and have played in the group/league stage of the Europa League in nine of the past 11 seasons. They reached the Champions League in 2017/18 and Conference League in 21/22 in the other two campaigns. However, a defeat to the Irish League champions would mean Shels face either FK Žalgiris (Lithuania) or Hamrun Spartans (Malta) in the second qualifying round of the Conference League.
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Shamrock Rovers' Conference League opponents confirmed with second Dublin/Belfast pairing possible
Breaking | A second all-island European tie could be on the cards next month with Shamrock Rovers to play either Cliftonville or Gibraltar's St Joseph's for a place in the Conference League third qualifying round. Having taken Drogheda United's spot and received a bye to the second qualifying round, Stephen Bradley's men could come up against the north Belfast outfit, as the Premier Division leaders aim to become the first Irish side to make it to the League Phase without coming through the champions route.
