Latest news with #StephenKenny
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Shamrock Rvs could land all-Ireland tie as UEFA narrow down potential opponents
Shamrock Rovers have learned of their potential opponents in Wednesday afternoon's Europa Conference League draw - and the Hoops could join Shelbourne in landing an all-Ireland tie. NIFL Premiership side Cliftonville could face the Hoops if they see off Gibraltar outfit St Joseph's. That is one of five potential ties awaiting the Hoops, who could also face opposition from Luxembourg in FC UNA Strassen. They could also meet the winners of the first qualifying round clash between Floriana of Malta and Welsh side Haverfordwest County. Also opposite them in the draw are the winners of La Fiorita 1967 (San Marino) and FC Vardar (Macedonia), and Croatians NK Varaždin. 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. St Patrick's Athletic have also discovered the five opponents they can be drawn against if they win their first qualifying round tie against FC Hagelmann, including Danish side Silkeborg, whose qualification robbed Drogheda United of their European spot this summer under UEFA's multi-club ownership rules. Stephen Kenny's side would face a tough second round clash against one of Sparta Prague (Czechia), Charleroi (Belgium), Riga FC (Latvia), Silkeborg (Denmark) and the winners of Nõmme Kalju (Estonia) v FK Partizani (Albania). Champions League representatives Shelbourne will also feature in the Europa Conference League draw on Wednesday, as the losers of their tie with Linfield will drop into UEFA's third-tier competition. They are on the unseeded side and are opposite the losers of the following ties: The New Saints FC (Wales) vs KF Shkëndija (Macedonia) FCI Levadia Tallinn (Estonia) vs FC RFS (Latvia) FK Žalgiris (Lithuania) vs Hamrun Spartans FC (Malta).
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
St Patrick's Ath boss delivers verdict on Jake Mulraney struggles this season
St Patrick's Athletic boss Stephen Kenny says he is confident that winger Jake Mulraney can rediscover the form he showed last year. Mulraney hasn't had the same impact as he did after Kenny's arrival midway through the 2024 campaign, when he finished the year with seven league goals in 31 appearances. The former Hearts, Atlanta United and Orlando City man also dazzled in Europe last summer, scoring twice in the Saints' run to the Europa Conference League play-offs. However, it has been a difficult campaign so far for the former Hearts and Atlanta United man and he has yet to score in 19 league outings. Kenny said: 'Obviously he hit phenomenal heights last year. He's not hit those heights this year. It's difficult to assess why, but he is a quality player, and there's no doubt about that. 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. 'So he just has to continue to work harder, work hard, because he was very bright in training last week. 'When he came back after the break, he was very bright and he showed a high technical level in training and looked like he was really pushing to start. 'So it's just finding the opportunity to find his level again. I'm confident he will do that in time.' It's also been a tricky time for Pat's, with Monday's 1-0 defeat at home to Shelbourne ending a year-long unbeaten record at home. With just one win in their last five league games and three in their last 12, they have fallen 12 points behind leaders Shamrock Rovers. According to Kenny, they need to tighten up at the back, with only the bottom three clubs - Waterford, Cork City and Sligo Rovers conceding more so far this season. 'Obviously we scored a lot of goals,' said Kenny. 'Up to last week or the week before,we were sort of second top scorers in the league, we scored plenty. 'But we conceded a couple of, a two-all draw, and we conceded some, we're conceding too many probably. 'We should have taken our chances to really do it (against Shelbourne), so it's not been a good weekend for us. 'But we can't dwell on it, because we've got to dust ourselves down for Galway on Friday, Derry on Monday.'
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Deflected strike provides Shelbourne with badly needed win against similarly underwhelming St Pat's
ST PAT'S suffered their first home defeat in 12 months as Shelbourne drew level with them on points. Ali Coote's deflected 10th minute shot was enough to claim the points with the home side better after the break but lacking the guile to find an equaliser. Advertisement 2 Shelbourne's players were delighted to get back to winning ways 2 But for Stephen Kenny it was another frustrating evening It ended a run of 22 matches - 17 in the league - without a home loss since Dundalk won here on June 3 last year. Neither side came into this game in particularly good form, both collecting five points from their previous four matches. It could be argued that both had raised expectations to unreasonable levels last season, Shels by winning the league and St Pat's by ending the campaign with nine straight wins. But, whether fair or not, there has been an air of disgruntlement around both teams, but more so with St Pat's. Advertisement Read More On Irish Football With two managers looking for a reaction, Damien Duff looked the more likely to obtain it early on. Jake Mulraney and Aidan Keena had been brought into the starting XI in place of Zach Elbouzedi and Mason Melia after Friday's disappointing draw against Drogheda. Neither did a whole lot in to justify their inclusion with Keena not getting a sniff of goal, bar when he was unable to get a clean connection on a deflected cross. There were flashes from Mulraney but no end product. Early on, a threatening run came to nothing as he tumbled out of play with his complaints that he had been fouled by Evan Caffrey falling on deaf ears. Advertisement Most read in Football Live Blog Exclusive Breaking Later, he covered serious ground before laying it off to Simon Power but looked to have run out of steam as he did not keep moving in search of a return pass. If their attacking left a lot to be desired then their defending for the opening goal in the 10th minute left a lot to be desired, even if there was a wicked deflection. Chelsea launch Club World Cup campaign with 2-0 victory over LAFC in Atlanta Mark Coyle surged forward before running into traffic. Harry Wood then laid it off to Caffrey on the right. With no defender in close proximity, Caffrey had the time to take a touch to tee himself up to pick out the unmarked Tyreke Wilson at the far post with a pinpoint cross. Advertisement The temptation might have been for WIlson to have a go himself. Instead, he had the presence of mind to cut it back to Ali Coote who unleashed a shot which changed direction after hitting Tom Grivosti to leave Joseph Anang with no chance. KENNY REACTION Presumably, that played some part in Stephen Kenny's decision to whip off both of his full-backs, Anto Breslin and Ryan McLaughlin, along with Mulraney at half-time. McLaughlin had been involved in St Pat's only chance in the first half with a good run down the right. Advertisement The deflection on Power's cross made it awkward for Keena. Jay McClelland had a go but his effort was charged down for a corner. Shels might have gone 2-0 up had Boyd tried to take a touch rather than meet Caffrey's cross first time with his scuffed volley going wide. The introduction of Melia gave the Shels defence more to contend with, evidenced by the teenager being fouled twice within seven minutes of coming on but referee Paul Norton was unmoved when Keena went to ground in the box when Paddy Barrett held him at bay. The ex-Sligo Rovers striker did manage to get a shot away a few minutes later but Conor Kearns was able to, comfortably enough, gather at the second attempt. Advertisement Later, Kearns got to a Power cross before Keena did and, when Elbouzedi looked set to pounce on the loose ball, Caffrey got his toe there first and the danger was cleared. Jamie Lennon went close from 20 yards with Kearns again proving his worth to deny Barry Baggley late on whilst almost making an easy save when opposite number Joseph Anang got his head on an injury-time corner. SUN STAR MAN: Evan Caffrey (Shelbourne) ST PAT'S: Anang 6; McLaughlin 5 (Sjoberg 46, 6), Redmond 6, Grivosti 6, Breslin 5 (Baggley 46, 6); Lennon 6, McClelland 5; Power 6, Leavy 6 (Elbouzedi 71, 7), Mulraney 5 (Melia 46, 6); Keena 5 (Carty 85, 4). Advertisement SHELBOURNE: Kearns 8; Bone 6, Barrett 7, Ledwidge 7; Caffrey 8 (Gannon 75, 6), Coyle 7, Lunney 6 (Kelly 70, 6), Wilson 7 (Norris 75, 5); Wood 6, Coote 6 (Chapman 60, 5); Boyd 7 (Martin 70, 6). REFEREE: P Norton (Dublin) 6
Irish Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Miss Ireland 2025 shares the one thing her famous dad always told her
Newly crowned Miss Ireland Caoimhe Kenny has told how her famous football dad Stephen Kenny encouraged her to chase her dreams. On Saturday night, the 24-year-old was crowned the 77th Miss Ireland at a ceremony in the Knightsbrook Hotel in Trim, Co Meath on Saturday night. The Co Louth native, from Blackrock, told how much of an honour it is being Miss Ireland 2025. She said: 'It is an honour. I fully believe in myself. I put the work in over the past several months. I felt confident I can do it but at the same time, the women I shared the stage with are all so incredible and they all have incredible stories and in that moment, it really can be anyone's to take. 'The judges are looking for different things and who they feel should represent Ireland at Miss World. I was the lucky one. On that day, they felt I was the right person for that job, and they believed in me. My parents are so incredibly supportive and so is my dad. If anyone has shown me to go and chase dreams, it's my dad. My dad, when he was a young child and said he wanted to be a football manager, his parents believed in him. They carried that forward with me. They were 100 per cent behind me and supportive.' The Brown Thomas beauty buyer admitted that while she doesn't like to tell people who her famous dad is, she doesn't shy away from the family connection when she meets people. 'I would never go forward with 'I'm the daughter of Stephen Kenny' but at the end of the day, that is who my dad is and I'm proud of that. 'I have a lovely loving relationship with him. I would never try and hide it. But obviously I want people to know that I have a story too and I want people to get to know me and see beyond that. But I wouldn't try to hide that. I wouldn't change my parents for the world.' But she joked that with all the chaos around the Miss Ireland finals, she forgot about Father's Day on Sunday. 'I woke up on Sunday morning and realised it was Father's Day. I said to him, 'That's your Father's Day present'. I had it in my head that it was Father's Day and usually I'm on the ball with the presents and the cards but just this one weekend, I think I was caught up in what I was doing. But he found that amazing. He definitely enjoyed that comment,' she said laughing. Caoimhe, who has been a dancer since she was five years old, is one of Siobhán and Stephen Kenny's four children, along with siblings Eoin, Neave and Fionn. She is also a volunteer with Save Our Homeless Dundalk and Hygiene Hub Louth. 'The big part of Miss Ireland and Miss World is your beauty with a purpose projects so that's all about your reason why you want to be Miss Ireland. For me, that's the work that I do in my community and that is Save Our Homeless Dundalk and Hygiene Hub Louth. I'm very proud to volunteer with them. 'For me, volunteering in my community keeps me incredibly grounded. I realised and learned that you don't need to live someone's struggle to stand with them, you just need the courage to show up and the will to act. For me, it's inspiring other people that they could make a difference and be a voice to the unheard. 'Every single one of us has a part to play in society. That's the message I want to bring forward to Miss Ireland. We all have a responsibility. The likes of homelessness….it can happen to anyone. If it can happen to anyone, the help must come from everyone. 'That's the message I want to bring. We can all have a positive impact. You don't need to be powerful to create change – you just have to care enough to try.' The winner of Miss Ireland receives a modelling agency contract and a host of prizes before jetting off to represent Ireland next year on the international stage at the Miss World Festival.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
I learnt to deal with abuse watching dad handle hate as Ireland boss – I want to follow his footsteps & be a role model
THE daughter of ex-Ireland manager Stephen Kenny has told how he helped her deal with tackling online abuse as she chased her dream of becoming the next Miss Ireland. 6 Stephen Kenny and his daughter Caoimhe Kenny celebrated the Miss Ireland win Credit: Brian McEvoy 6 Caoimhe said there were tears backstage Credit: Instagram @caoimhekenny1 The newly crowned beauty queen, who will be representing The Caoimhe told 'You just need to remind yourself that you're brave to put yourself out there. 'Negative things that people may have to say, they might just not be brave enough to put themselves out there like you are. You just need to own it and embrace the positive. 'Because for every few bad comments, there's hundreds of positive ones and those are the ones that you need to focus on.' She added: 'I think anyone who's in the public eye is going to be subject to scrutiny. Sometimes it's not fair but it's just the way that the world is.' Finalists from across the country put their best foot forward in a bid to grab the crown at the Knightsbrook Hotel on Saturday night. The star-studded audience also included former Miss Irelands Rebecca Maguire, Lauren McDonagh, Aoife Walsh and Anne Marie Gannon. Current Miss Universe Ireland Sofia Labus, Caoimhe told how her dad was 'absolutely' an inspirational role model growing up. Love Island legend Sharon Gaffka stuns in see-through dress at Miss Universe pageant She said: 'He's always taught me to be myself and chase after my dreams. 'That's exactly what he did, and he succeeded at it. I'm very proud to call him a dad. 'In my eyes, and I'm sure so many other people's, he did his country incredibly proud and dedicated his life to football in Ireland. 'So that's what I hope to do now, is to make Ireland proud at Miss World and follow in his footsteps.' EMOTIONAL NIGHT After scooping the title, Caoimhe told how some tears flowed backstage, and that her dad was over-the-moon with her win. She continued: 'He's absolutely delighted. He couldn't have been prouder. 'My family was all there on the night. That moment when I won, I looked down the room and I seen them all from the corner of my eye. 'They were standing up and cheering and it just reminded me why I was there and that support behind me. 'Everybody was chuffed for me. They could see how much it meant to me and the work that I've been putting in. I think they were just delighted for me.' CHILDHOOD CHALLENGES The 24-year-old, who volunteers at Save Our Homeless Dundalk and Hygiene Hub Louth, discussed how everyone faces their own challenges. Caoimhe discussed how she moved 'around a lot as a child' when her dad was working with different teams. She said: 'I went to several different schools. It was just trying to embrace that change. 'But I didn't look at it as a challenge and rather looked at it as an opportunity to meet new people and experience a new place.' PAGEANT GOALS While the beauty queen played football and The talented mover wowed judges with a stunning lyrical dance performance at the final. Caoimhe told how she had started working towards bagging the Miss Ireland title last year. 'In my eyes, and I'm sure so many other people's, he did his country incredibly proud and dedicated his life to football in Ireland." Caoimhe Kenny And after nabbing first runner up in Miss Universe Ireland, Caoimhe set herself a new goal. She said: 'I think that really fuelled something inside me and it made me realise that through this platform and 'I couldn't think of a dream I'd had that was bigger than representing Ireland in Miss World.' 'GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT' Caoimhe gushed that winning Miss Ireland is the 'greatest achievement' of her life. She said: 'Representing Ireland at Miss World is a once-in a lifetime opportunity, and I'm determined to make it count. 'I will use this platform to be a voice for change and a role model for young girls like me, girls who dream to make a difference, showing them that kindness, courage, and purpose can lead to real impact.' The Miss Ireland contest, dating back to 1947, has helped accelerate former queens careers, including Caoimhe added: 'I grew up in a small town in Buncranan, Co 'If you were to say one day I'm going to be Miss Ireland, you might have not believed it. 'But it just goes to show that ordinary girls can become extraordinary women.' 6 Caoimhe said it's a dream to represent Ireland like her dad did 6 Former Miss Ireland Rebeccca Maguire crowned Caoimhe Kenny on Saturday night Credit: Brian McEvoy 6 Rosanna Davison was crowned Miss World 2003 Credit: REUTERS / HO / Miss World Organisation 6 Miss Ireland dates back to 1947 Credit: Brian McEvoy
