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from SIN Issue 10
LEAGUE OF IRELAND PREDICTIONS
Place-by-place: SIN’s SSE Airticity League Premier Division Predictions
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By Aaron Deering
The hustle and bustle of domestic season returned to our pitches last Friday as fans crowded around television screens to see their sides seeking a return to winning ways as the campaign roared into action.
Our own Aaron Deering sat down before matchday one to pen his thoughts on the season, and how he predicted each side would cope with this exceptional and unique season in Ireland’s top flight.
Bohemian F.C.
Keith Long and Bohemians had an exceptionally strong season last season, finishing runners up. The signing of Bastien Hery from Linfield was a shrewd piece of business by Keith Long and Bohemians as the midfielder was one of the standout players in the league when he previously lined out for Limerick and Waterford. Hery will add a lot of creativity for the Bohs midfield and give manager Keith Long more options to choose from especially after the loss of Daniel Mandroiu to arch-rivals Shamrock Rovers.
The main concern for Bohs this season will be the loss of striker Andre Wright. Wright who was Bohs top scorer with eight goals and named in the PFA Team of the Year last season will be badly missed. The loss of goals may prove pivotal to Keith Long and his side and I can only see them finishing outside the European places as a result.
6th – Derry City FC
Parkhouse
Declan Devine was understandably disappointed with his side’s performances last season as Derry City finished a lowly seventh. The main disappointment lay in attack, as the Candystripes only managed to score eighteen goals in as many games. The loss of the club’s joint top scorer from last season Walter Figueira to Sligo Rovers will be a devasting blow to Derry City’s attack this season just to add to the myriad of problems facing Devine.
New signing David Parkhouse will be the key player this season for Derry City as the former Sheffield United striker will be under a lot of pressure to add goals to the lacklustre Candystripes attack. One other player to watch is Irish midfielder Joe Hodge on loan from Manchester City and is a being tipped as having a big future in the game.
The Candystripes will find it tough this season and I can only see Declan Devine’s charges finishing outside the European places once again.
Drogheda United F.C.
Position finished last season: Promoted from
First Division Predicted Finish 8th Key Player: Dinny Corcoran
Drogheda United won last season’s SSE Airtricity League First Division title and will be a strong addition to this season’s Premier Division. Tim Clancy has added lots of Premier Division experience to his squad for a crack at the top flight, with Dinny Corcoran from Bohemians and Dane Massey from Dundalk just to name a few.
If the Drogs are going to stay up this season they are going to need goals and Dinny Corcoran’s signing from Bohemians will be hoping to add them for the Louth outfit. Corcoran had an injuryravaged 2020 but has good pedigree as a striker in the Premier Division. Drogheda United’s aim along with manager Tim Clancy’s main goal will be to stay in the division come the end of the season, and judging by the signings and the squad Clancy has at his disposal they should have more than enough to avoid the drop.
Dundalk FC
Position finished last season: 3rd Predicted Finish; 1st Key Player: Chris Shields
Dundalk’s recent win against Shamrock Rovers in the President’s Cup shows that regardless of the uncertainty surrounding the manager’s post and all the new signings that they will still be a force to be reckoned with.
Officially Shane Keegan is Dundalk’s manager, and with several new faces, Keegan will need to get the squad to gel quickly if he wants to his team to reclaim their Premier Division crown. Chris Shields is still Dundalk’s most important player as he offers protection to the back four along with precision passing to start attacks with. Central defender Sonni Nattestad looks to be an impressive signing with his totemic 6’6 height adding a physical presence to Dundalk’s back four.
Strikers Patrick Hoban and David McMillian ensure that Dundalk will remain strong in attack with wingers Michael Duffy and Patrick McEleney being well able to supply them from the wings.
Overall, I think Dundalk’s squad will be strong enough to reclaim the Premier Division title from a weakened Shamrock Rovers.
Finn Harps F.C.
Ollie Horgan and his Finn Harps team had a strong finish to last season’s Premier Division pipping Shelbourne by one point to finish eighth and above the relegation/play-off spot. Horgan has signed extremely well during the off season, with the addition of midfielder Will Seymore from Sligo Rovers and the return of central defender Ethan Boyle from Linfield being two standout signings.
Barry McNamee will remain a key player for Horgan and Finn Harps as he adds creativity once again this season to the Harps midfield. Midfielder Ryan Connolly is also an attacking option in midfield for Ollie Horgan. Horgan now has a very strong well-balanced team at his disposal, and I expect them to stay in the Premier Division comfortably this season.
Longford Town F.C.
Predicted Finish; 10th Key Player: Aaron Dobbs
Longford Town came up the hard way and beat Shelbourne in the Promotion/ Relegation play-off to ensure passage to the top table. Manager Daire Doyle has kept the majority of the squad that got them promoted with very few fresh faces.
One signing is Aaron Dobbs who has re-signed for Longford Town having spent last season with Shelbourne. Doyle will hope striker Dobbs will score enough goals to keep his side in the Premier Division. Longford Town will also need to be strong at the back to stay up and signing Aaron O’Driscoll on loan from Mansfield Town should help.
Unfortunately, Doyle and De Town will be up against it this season and I cannot see them beating the drop since most of the teams around them will be better equipped to deal with a relegation dogfight, thus seeing them prop up the table in 2021.
Sligo Rovers
Sligo Rovers finished last season in dramatic fashion, clinching European football on the last day of the season after beating Dundalk in Oriel Park. During the off-season Liam Buckley has quietly gone about his business and has added extra quality to his squad with the additions of Walter Figueira from Derry City and Jordan Gibson from St Patrick’s Athletic bolstering his attacking options
New signing Greg Bolger from Shamrock Rovers will be the key player though, and having won the league previously at Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick’s Athletic he adds a vast amount of experience to the Bit O’Red midfield.
The return of striker Romeo Parkes will boost the attack while young striker Johnny Kenny is one to watch with five goals from preseason. I forecast European football on the cards for Liam Buckley and the Bit O’Red again this season.
Shamrock Rovers
Position finished last season: 1st
Predicted Finish; 2nd Key Player: Roberto Lopes
Last season’s champions strolled home, winning the Premier Division by 11 points and finishing the season undefeated. The champions have been weakened though, losing the heart of their title winning midfield with Jack Byrne moving to APOEL Nicosia and Aaron McEneff heading to Hearts. Stephen Bradley has added Sean Gannon and Sean Hoare from title rivals Dundalk, but this wasn’t an area the Hoops needed reenforcing, as they had the best defence in the league last year, conceding only seven goals.
Other than Jack Byrne, Roberto Lopes was the standout player last year for the Hoops and was the crucial reason why they kept so many clean sheets with such a water-tight defence. Striker Rory Gaffney will have to provide an eagle eye in front of goals if the Hoops have any chance of winning the title again.
Overall though the loss of key players from last year especially Jack Byrne will mean that Stephen Bradley and his Shamrock Rovers team will find it difficult to defend their title.
St Patrick’s Athletic
St. Patrick’s Athletic had a poor season last year as Stephen O’Donnell’s side failed to secure European football even though many had tipped them as outside title contenders.
O’Donnell will hope that the signings of midfielder John Mountney and striker Ronan Coughlan from Sligo Rovers will be enough to secure European football this season. Robbie Benson will still be the central player this season as his creative play should only benefit the recent signings made by St. Pats. Chris Forrester will also be a key cog in the midfield for St. Pats, who on paper have arguably the best midfield in the league. Time will tell if what is on paper plays out on the pitch at Richmond Park.
O’Donnell and St. Patrick’s Athletic should have more than enough this season thanks to impressive signings to secure European football.
Waterford FC
Kevin Sheedy’s first job in management will be a daunting one as he tries to keep Waterford in the Premier Division. It is a mammoth task especially with many of the players who secured the impressive fifth place finish last season departing in the off season.
Many of the signings Waterford have made are young players on loan so players like veteran striker Daryl Murphy will be crucial if Waterford and Sheedy are to avoid the drop. Former Irish international Murphy will need to use his experience to get the goals Waterford will need to stay in the division. The job may prove to be a bridge too far for Sheedy as I can only see Waterford finishing near the bottom of the table.
With the League of Ireland back with a bang SIN columnist Aaron Deering predicts who the big winners and losers will be over Ireland’s top two tiers this year...
by Aaron Deering
Athlone Town A.F.C
Last season’s SSE Airtricity League First Division was one to forget for Athlone Town with a ninth-place finish and only a better goal difference saving them from the bottom of the table. The Town instead focused on the FAI Cup and were rewarded with a semi-final berth, but were knocked out by Dundalk, following an 11-0 thumping at Lissywollen. Looking at last season the Town’s biggest area to improve on is defence. The signing of Killian Cantwell from Bray Wanders, who made last season’s PFAI First Division Team of the Year is one potential solution to this issue. The Kilkenny native will add much needed experience to the Athlone back line. Kurtis Byrne, the former Waterford and Bohemians player will also be one to watch as he adds much needed Premier Division experience to Adrian Carberry’s squad. I think Athlone Town will have to settle for a place in the play-offs but the main goal for Athlone this season will get back to being competitive again.
Bray Wanderers FC
The Seagulls missed out on the SSE Airtricity League First Division title by one-point last season to winners Drogheda United. Bray would then miss out on any chance of promotion by losing the play-off semi-final to Galway United over two legs. The Seagulls had the best defence in the First Division last season conceding only 13 goals, four fewer than winners Drogheda United. I expect their defence to be just as strong this season with the signing of Sean Callan from Shamrock Rovers replacing Killian Cantwell. One big boost for Bray fans is the signing of Conor Clifford from Derry City. The former Chelsea FA Youth Cup winner will add much needed Premier Division experience to the Seagulls midfield. Gary Shaw’s goals will prove crucial if Bray are to mount any title challenge or promotion push. I think the SSE Airtricity League First Division will be more competitive this season so I can see the Seagulls challenging, but they will have to settle for a place in the play-offs.
Cabinteely FC
Cabinteely finished just three points outside the promotion play-off spots last season, and will hope to improve this season. Under the guidance of Pat Devlin, Cabinteely have been slowly progressing and are always competitive. The re-signing of Kieran Marty Waters was crucial for Cabinteely as the club’s record goal scorer he adds both goals and experience to the side. The 30-year-old will hope to improve on his four goals in 20 appearances from last season when he gets the chance this time around. One area of concern for Cabo last season was their defence, having conceded thirty-three goals in just 18 games last season. The signing of goalkeeper Adam Hayden from Bray Wanderers will hopefully improve the leaky Cabo defence. As mentioned before this season’s SSE Airtricity League First Division will be very competitive and I don’t see Cabinteely threatening any of the play-off spots this season.
Cobh Ramblers FC
The Rams finished last season just outside the play-off spots finishing level on points with Galway United on 27 points only missing out on a place in the play-off semi-final due to goal difference. The re-signing of Ian Turner is vital piece of business by Cobh as the former Cork City player adds huge experience to a very young Ramblers outfit. The midfielder also scored in crucial games against Galway, Athlone and Longford Town, so has an eye for goal in the big games. The Rams only scored 22 goals last season and Cobh fans will hope the signing of former Waterford FC striker Regix Madika will help add more firepower to the Cobh attack. The 20-year-old will bring plenty of energy to the Cobh attack but will need to hit the ground running if they are to have any chance of finishing in the play-off spots this year. I see Cobh Ramblers FC just missing out once again.
Cork City FC
Position finished last season: 10th in the Premier Division (Relegated) Predicted finish this season: 4th Crucial Player: Gearoid Morrisey
Last season was one to forget for Cork City as they finished bottom of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division and were consigned to the First Division. Since then, Colin Healy has gone for a mixture of youth and experience to try and guide his team back to the promised land. Players like veteran goalkeeper Mark McNulty and Gearoid Morrisey will be crucial to bringing experience and guidance to this youthful rebel side. It wasn’t too long ago Morrisey made his debut for Cambridge United against Manchester United back in 2016, and Morrisey will need to re find this type of form that saw him secure a move across the Irish sea if Cork City are going to challenge this season. The return of former fan favourite Steven Beattie was a shrewd piece of business by The Rebels and will add much needed experience to the side. I expect Cork City to be too strong for most of the First Division sides and a place in the play-offs should be on the cards.
Galway United
The Tribesmen had a late surge of form under new manger John Caulfield to finish in the play-off spots last season. Unfortunately for Galway United they lost out to Longford Town in the play-off final. Caulfield has recruited well in the off season and new signing Conor McCormack from Derry City is the exact type of signing that he needs if he is to guide the Tribesmen back to the top tier of Irish football. McCormack won two Premier Division titles and two FAI cups during his time with Shamrock Rovers, St Patrick’s Athletic and Cork City. Now that he has joined up with his former manager John Caulfield who managed him at Cork City, I expect McCormack to add much needed experience and steel to the Tribesmen’s midfield. Ruari Keating and Padraic Cunningham will need to have a good season up front if Galway United want to challenge for the First Division title. New signing Ronan Manning is another player to watch after an impressive season with Athlone last season. A runner up spot could await Galway but they could go all the way in the play-offs.
Shelbourne FC
Position finished last season: Relegated from Premier Division by
Promotion/Relegation Final Predicted finish this season: 1st Crucial Player: Yoyo Mahdy
Shelbourne looked comfortable for most of the Premier Division last season until a late run of poor form saw them drop into the relegation play-off spot which ultimately ended in defeat against Longford Town in the Promotion/Relegation Final. You could argue that Ian Morris has a better squad at his disposal this season than he did last year despite the club’s relegation to the First Division. New signings such as Brendan Clarke from St Patrick’s Athletic, Michael Barker from Bohemians, Kevin O’Connor from Cork City and Yoyo Mahdy from UCD have added real quality to the Shelbourne team. Mahdy will be the one to watch this season as he has added real firepower to the Shelbourne attack, having scored 16 goals in 18 games last season for UCD. Arguably Shels have the best squad in the division this season, so if they hit the ground running, they should claim the SSE Airtricity League First Division title.
Treaty United FC
Position finished last season: N/A New Team Predicted finish this season: 9th Crucial Player: Marc Ludden
The late confirmation of Treaty United as the First Division’s tenth team has meant that manager Tommy Barrett has had little time to prepare his side for the upcoming season. Not much is known about the team from Limerick as they are only a new team and have signed many players from junior football. Signings such as former Galway United player Marc Ludden will be very important for Treaty United if they want to be competitive in this division. Ludden will add First Division experience to the Treaty United squad and the defender will be needed at the back to try help the new side to the division. The goal for Treaty United this season will be to try and be competitive as they make their first appearance in this division. Not finishing bottom of the division will be a good season for the newbies in the league.
U.C.D AFC
Crucial Player: Paul Doyle
The students had a very strong season last season finishing 3rd eventually losing to Longford Town in the play-off semi-final. Andrew Myler has continued the tradition at UCD of The Students playing expansive and exciting football. Paul Doyle will be the key player for the boys from Belfield again this season. The 22-year-old was their Player of the Year last season. A lot will be surprised by my prediction for The Students this season, but the loss of top scorer from last season, Yoyo Mahdy to First Division rivals Shelbourne will be too much for the side to overcome. The Students will still be highly competitive this season, and it will not surprise me if they still end up making it to the play-offs even if it’s against the odds.
Wexford FC
Wexford finished bottom of the SSE Airtricity League First Division last season conceding 39 goals and only scoring 13, the lowest in the division. Manager Brian O’Sullivan has added experience to his side through loan deals with Kyle Robinson from St Patrick’s Athletic, Alex O’Hanlon from Shelbourne and Luke Turner from Aberdeen all joining on a short-term basis. O’Hanlon was a surprise signing as he was one of the more consistent players at Shelbourne last season. The 24 – year-old defender will hope to try shore up the Wexford defence this season by adding a wealth of Premier Division experience to the back line. The main goal though for both O’Sullivan and Wexford this season will be trying not to finish bottom again and to be more competitive, but I can’t see that happening with the limited squad O’Sullivan is working with.
Peamount pip Galway in Patrick’s Day pre-season clash
By Oisín Bradley
Whilst the youthful Kate Slevin converted a penalty late in the day to add a bit of drama to proceedings, it was a case of too little, too late for Galway WFC as their pre-season clash against Peamount United ended in defeat.
It was a game in which Billy Clery and co would’ve learned a lot about themselves as they went up against the best in the country, and their defending was exceptional in the first half despite conceding a late goal against Republic of Ireland international Aine O’Gorman.
Eleanor Ryan-Doyle’s side-footed finish in the 82nd minute looked to have the game wrapped up, however there was work to be done after Slevin put the minimum between the sides from the spot.
Galway kept knocking on the door in the dying echelons, however Peamount held firm for victory on the road in Terryland.
It was actually the hosts who had the first chance of the game as NUI Galway student Chloe Singleton snuck in behind the Peamount defence. Unfortunately, the resulting header was tame and Naoisha McAloon didn’t have to break sweat to collect the ball.
That was about as good as it got for Billy Clery’s women in Act One, who struggled to get any sort of rhythm as Peamount dominated the possession charts. That said, the hosts defending was astute, and they made sure that chances were at a premium for their visitors. 25 minutes in, there was some panic after Eleanor Ryan-Boyle fizzed the ball along the turf to Aine O’Gorman on the right wing. O’Gorman’s ball in was excellent, however a Claire Walsh mis-kick saw the ball turned behind.
A few minutes later, there were calls for a penalty for the Greenougue outfit after they believed the ball struck the hand of a Galway WFC’s Therese Kinnevy. However, these calls were waved away by the man in the middle, much to the chagrin of the Peamount bench.
Eleanor Ryan-Boyce found herself one-on-one with Galway goalkeeper Maja Zajc only moments later, and possibly could have taken an extra touch before firing goalwards. Her shot from just outside the box was easy for Zajc to see all the way, and she collected with consummate ease.
In games where chances are at a premium they need to be taken, and Stephanie Roche was likely cursing her luck as she just couldn’t get her right boot to a pinpoint cross from the left flank.
However, it was just before the changeover when disaster struck for the Westerners. A scramble from a corner saw the ball fall to the feet of Peamount captain O’Gorman. O’Gorman’s shot contained a touch of class, as she dinked the ball over both herself and the onrushing Zajc into the back of the net to break the deadlock.
The opening exchanges of the second half were the best of the game for the home side, who pushed Peamount back for the opening ten minutes. The hosts came out with a point to prove, immediately going about making the game more competitive, and there wasn’t much to split the sides in the second period.
Rachel Kearns tried her luck with a speculative attempt from 25 yards out which wasn’t too far off challenging McAloon. Another Kearns attempt mere seconds later was charged down by Claire Walsh at the back. 68 minutes in, the ball found the feet of Roche again, and whilst she got the shot off in this instance, the ball blazed over.
A few minutes after, the ball fell to Savannah McCarthy from a corner. McCarthy’s shot was low and caused Peamount keeper McAloon some issues as she was forced to get low and tip the ball around the left post. McAloon showed courage to come out and claim the ball from the resulting corner.
In the 82nd minute, the deficit was doubled via the right boot of Eleanor Ryan-Doyle. A preciselyplaced through ball from Rebecca Watkins found Ryan-Doyle, and whilst the chance was an easy one, the striker made no mistake, slamming home to push the lead out to two.
The reigning Women’ National League champions would’ve been forgiven for thinking the game was done and dusted then, but their fans would’ve been on the edge of their seats following a costly error with five minutes to go.
Kate Slevin’s free-kick was the cause of some consternation in the box for the Peas’ rear-guard, and once the ball struck a trailing arm in the area, the referee immediately pointed to the spot. Up stepped Slevin, last year’s Under-17 captain, who elected to go high with the penalty which rattled the net at some speed.
Galway WFC pushed hard to try and apply pressure to the Peamount defence, however their professionalism shone, and come the full-time whistle, it was a familiar feeling of victory for James O’Callaghan and his charges.
Galway WFC: Maja Zajc, Kate Slevin, Savannah McCarthy, Chloe Moloney, Therese Kinnevey, Chloe Singleton, Sinead Donovan, Tessa Mullins, Aoife Thompson, Rachel Kearns, Elle O’Flaherty.
Subs: Aoife Walsh and Elena Van Nieherk for Donovan and O’Flaherty(62’), Anna Fahy for Mullins(74’), Abbie Callanane for Thompson(81’).
All eyes turn to Cork City as WNL kick-starts again
By Oisín Bradley
SSE Airticity Womens’ National League Galway WFC vs Cork City
It’s often been said that absence makes the heart grow fonder, and that has certainly been the case for all affiliated with Galway WFC as they await the curtain raising on the 2021 Womens’ National League campaign.
It’s no easy opener for Billy Clery and his charges either, as the visit of one of the traditional big sides of the division awaits. Cork City have been one of the sides in and around the top half of the table in recent seasons, and three points on the board after Matchday one will be seen as top priority by both sides as they lock horns in an intriguing fixture for all involved.
It’s likely that the squad coming from the banks of the Lee will be a largely changed one, and somewhat of an unknown quantity given the wholesale changes that have occurred within Rónán Collins dressing room in recent months. Many of last season’s players have departed for pastures new, with the likes of Lauren Egbuloniu and last season’s captain Maria O’Sullivan all heading Stateside for 2021. Irish international Éabha O’Mahony is another who will be heading across the Atlantic in the Summer.
However, their biggest loss is without a doubt star striker Saoirse Noonan. Noonan was a phenomenal player in the green of Cork City, reaching the status of club top scorer by the age of 21. Her switch to Shelbourne will be a hammer blow to the system. The management team have expressed their intentions to give much of their talented under-age crop to the first team and give them their chance to shine at Senior level.
One team who has certainly not been shy of giving their youth players a chance to shine in recent years is Galway WFC. The majority of the Westerners side is built on youth, and in that respect nothing has changed. The latest in the conveyor belt of under-age talent is Kate Slevin. Slevin has shown her pedigree at underage level, captaining last season’s Under-17s to success, and has already displayed her ability in pre-season, slotting home a penalty against the reigning WNL champions Peamount United.
The new faces in the backroom team for the season are surely going to be a boost for Saturday’s hosts, in particular the addition of Dave Bell. Bell’s experience at the top table is immense, having guided Shelbourne’s ladies’ team to second in the league. The new assistant manager will be a huge help to Clery as he attempts to guide his new side to the summit of the league.
Whilst I believe that there may be enormous potential within this Cork City side, it may take them a few game-weeks to get their feet on the ground and for their squad to settle. Their pre-season form has shown glimpses of potential. However, there is no way of dressing up 6-0 and 4-0 defeats to Peamount Utd and DLR Waves respectively.
Despite this, I believe that Saturday’s clash will be a tight affair, and should Galway WFC have their house in order they’ll have just enough to win this one.
Verdict: Galway WFC
Last Clash:
FAI WNL, December 5th 2020 Cork City 2-1 Galway WFC
Recently departed sharpshooter Saoirse Noonan opened the scoring after 19 minutes in the last game of the Womens’ National League last season, making it a brace for herself before the changeover. Aoife Thompson scored late, late in the day to breathe a bit of life back into the game and give the Rebels a scare, but ultimately when the final whistle was blown, Galway were leaving Bishopstown empty-handed.
SSE Airtricity League First Division
By Oisín Bradley
Sports Editor
Galway United vs Shelbourne FC
It’s been a long time coming, but it’s a case of Friday Night Lights in Eamonn Deacy Park this Friday, as Shelbourne FC make the trip west to take on Galway United in the curtain-raiser for the 2021 League of Ireland First Division season.
It will have been 150 days since a ball was kicked in competitive action for John Caulfield’s men on home turf, and his side will have serious ambitions of being in and around the top of the pile come the final game of the season this time around.
The club have recruited well in the off-season, and the squad has been bolstered by the addition of some talented players, including the likes of League of Ireland veteran Conor McCormack and striker Padraic Cunningham returning to the fold. Such improvements have borne out on the pitch as well, with United holding their own against some highquality opposition in much of the pre-season fare in the build-up to matchday one.
In truth however, the proof will always be in the pudding when it comes to high-octane, competitive action, for United it will be no different, and the first game of the League campaign represents somewhat of a baptism of fire as perhaps the top sides in the division will provide a more than strong challenge.
The men from Tolka Park were a side capable of causing any side problems in the Premier Division, however life in the top flight can often be cruel and unforgiving, and a drop-off in quality from Shels saw them slip through the trap-door into the First Division once again. Thus, Ian Morris’ charges will likely be coming from the capital with a point to prove, and as a big player in the league, Galway United will represent a chance to make the statement that their stay in Ireland’s second tier will be a brief one.
Caulfield and his back-room team will be well aware of the fact that Morris and co. have had this game in their sights from the outset. However, Galway themselves have the tools at their disposal to make this game an intriguing and close affair. Up front, both Carlton Ubaezounu and Wilson Waweru are bright young talents who in 2020 matured into players capable of causing any defence in the League a few headaches.
The return of Stephen Walsh will see a dearth of experience added to the backline. However, everyone will need to be at the top of their game to stop Shelbourne’s wily dangerman Yoyo Mahdy.
United were one of the few sides that Mahdy failed to find the net against last season when he was at UCD. Mahdy’s scoring exploits saw him scoop a place in last season’s PFAI First Division Team of the Year, netting 18 times in as many fixtures. One suspects that it will take a mammoth outing to keep this prolific striker quiet for the full 90.
Whilst Shelbourne may have lost some good players at the end of last season, including the likes of Gary Deegan, their recruitment has been admirable, and a trip to play a team who have made steady progress in Galway United will be a good litmus test for them.
Fans watching from their homes can expect a tight and entertaining fare on Friday evening when the sun goes down and the floodlights flicker on, however I suspect that neither side will be able to get the upper hand in this one.
Verdict: Draw.
Last clash:
FAI Cup, August 28th 2020 Galway United 2-5 Shelbourne FC
Dayle Rooney opened the scoring for Shels from a free-kick in the 35th minute after Mikey Place spurned a golden chance from the spot for the hosts to go ahead. Enda Curran capitalised on a deflection into his path to level matters before Ryan Brennan edged the visitors ahead once again in a goal-fest.
That would be as good as it got for the hosts, with both Brennan and Rooney making it a brace for themselves before Aaron Dobbs put the icing on the cake to spell defeat for John Caulfield in his first game in the Galway United dugout, as well as his heaviest defeat as United manager.
Last Five Games:
GALWAY UNITED: L Galway United 1-2 Bohemians FC, W Longford Town 1-2 vs Galway United, D Galway United 1-1 Sligo Rovers, W Galway United 1-0 Finn Harps, L Galway United 1-2 Longford Town
SHELBOURNE FC: L Shelbourne FC 0-2 Sligo Rovers, W Shelbourne FC 4-1 Wexford FC, W Shelbourne FC 2-1 Shamrock Rovers, L Drogheda United 3-0 Shaelbourne FC, L Shelbourne FC 0-2 Bohemians
Key Player:
• Galway United: Conor McCormack • Shelbourne FC: Yoyo Mahdy
Galway men abroad: Pressure cranks up as internationals loom
By Oisín Bradley
As the top flights of English football are on hiatus and Ireland’s World Cup qualifiers get underway in Belgrade this Wednesday evening, the Boys in Green and their vociferous supporters will be awaiting kick-off vs Serbia with trepidation.
Stephen Kenny is currently facing something of a selection dilemma, with a myriad of players carrying injuries and forcing him to welcome some fringe players into the squad for this international break. Here, we’ll be casting our eyes over the role that we expect Galway’s Irish representatives to have across the two qualifiers this window, as well as how the Tribesmen have been faring for their club sides across the water.
Ryan Manning – Swansea City
Manning’s form in the last few weeks in the Championship has been exceptional, and Stephen Kenny’s decision to draft the once-capped full back into the squad needs no justification.
The Swans have enjoyed a resurgent spell in recent weeks, and Galwegian Manning has played an intrinsic role in their uptake in form in England’s second tier. Manning has played most of the minutes on offer, and was involved as his side got back to winning ways vs Stoke City.
His pinpoint cross found Connor Roberts in the box, who supplied an excellent first-time strike to level proceedings in a 2-1 win over the Potters.
A 2-1 win over Middlesbrough on their home turf followed, and once again Manning started the fixture before being replaced in the 73rd minute. The exGalway United man was relegated to the bench for a 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers , but returned for a 1-0 win away to Luton Town as well as a 3-0 loss to Bournemouth, playing every minute of each match.
Swansea are currently involved in the joust for automatic promotion into the Premier League alongside the likes of Norwich City, Watford and Brentford.
Daryl Horgan – Wycombe Wanderers
Whilst Horgan’s form at the minute may leave a lot to be desired, he remains a core part of the Ireland panel, and will likely be utilised as an impact sub for the Boys in Green.
Wycombe have been in absolutely torrid form this season, and Horgan is struggling to find any sort of routine goal contributions as his side have struggled to make an impact in their first ever Championship campaign. Horgan played 80 minutes of Wanderers’ 2-0 defeat to Watford, and came off the bench in a defeat to Stoke City, replacing Gareth McCleary.
A full 90 minutes followed, where Horgan and Wycombe suffered a 1-0 defeat to QPR on the road, before playing the full game in a shock 1-0 win for The Chairboys at home to Preston North End.
Wycombe currently sit nine points adrift of safety in the Championship.
Aaron Connolly – Brighton and Hove Albion
Aaron Connolly has struggled in recent weeks at the AmEx Stadium, and has missed out on both a 2-1 home loss to Leeds United and a 2-1 win over Southampton at St Mary’s through injury.
The striker has been out of contention due to a cracked rib believed to have been sustained in training, and has been unable to help his side escape their current rut of form which sees them teetering on the edge of the relegation zone.
Whilst there are doubts over Connolly’s availability for the first game of the break, there is every chance of him playing a part in the other two games before the resumption of club football.
Greg Cunningham – Preston North End
The form of Preston has dipped somewhat in recent weeks, and Greg Cunningham will feel particularly aggrieved given his recent of run of good form not reflecting on the scoreboard. Cunningham donned the captain’s armband for Preston North End as they travelled to the Den to take on Millwall, in a game that ended in a 2-1 defeat for Cunningham and his side.
Another full match followed for the Galwayman, and this time both Preston and Bournemouth had to settle for a share of the spoils. In the next two fixtures, Cunningham was forced out with an injury. Preston North End slumped to a 1-0 loss to Daryl Horgan’s Wycombe Wanderers, as well as a 3-0 hammering at the hands of Middlesbrough.
These losses are a massive blow to Preston North End, and while their poor run will likely not see them in any danger of relegation, it’s a stark reminder that if this team is to have any plans of improving, there’s still a long way to go.
Conor Shaughnessy – Rochdale:
It takes an exceptional run of form or injuries for a League One player to be taken into consideration for an international squad. Unfortunately for Conor Shaughnessy, neither of those things are the case at present.
The former Leeds United man was shown a straight red card for a scything challenge in the 77th minute a 2-0 loss to Hull City. While the red card was rescinded it made little difference to the fortunes of Rochdale, as they lost 2-0 once again, this time to Sunderland before repeating the trick against Shrewsbury.
Every point is crucial for a side in a relegation dogfight, and Shaughnessy and his side will have gotten quite the boost from a 2-1 win against the high-flying Lincoln City away at the LNER City. However, if they are to survive and propel themselves out of the relegation zone, then they need results to turn, and fast.
– SIN speaks to Donegal hurler Joe Boyle on playing your county’s second code.
By Oisín Bradley
Sports Editor
2020 was the most successful year in the recent history of Donegal hurling, as the Seniors captured a League and Championship double for the first time in their history.
Mickey McCann’s men were in red-hot form on both sides of the 230-day gap between fixtures, with a strong Allianz League campaign culminating with the men from the Hills securing the honours against Armagh on March 8th.
Some ring-rust was on show in the Nicky Rackard Cup clash with Longford on November 24th, but Donegal shook those shackles off convincingly as the competition progressed. When the full-time whistle blew, cheers filled the Croke Park air as they toasted a swashbuckling 3-18 to 0-21 final win over Mayo, with many in the panel hailing it as one of the crowning moments of their playing career.
However, you wouldn’t know it by looking around you.
On the same day, about 90 minutes up the road from Headquarters, Donegal’s footballers suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Cavan to relinquish their grip on the Anglo Celt. The upset dominated the bylines and back pages of media outlets within the county. In examining local media, you would find triple the coverage of that result than the one which yielded silverware hours earlier.
Joe Boyle scored 1-1 from wing half-back for the hurlers that Saturday in Croke Park. The Burt clubman has seen it all as Donegal hurling has made steady progress in slowly climbing the rungs. That said, for him there’s a lot more to be done.
“When I came into the county senior hurling team, I was still playing with the minor footballers, and at the time it was better to be playing for the Donegal minor footballers than the Donegal senior hurlers.
“Those days are long gone, but we’re still a predominantly football county who are trying to challenge for Sam Maguires and Ulster titles. There are more clubs coming in and it’s on the way up, but there’s a long way to go.”
The recent hurling past in the North-West is one which will likely strike a chord with many in other counties, where the ‘second’ code plays second fiddle to the dominant one. With stories of threadbare sides and ringing around for players on the morning of a game, you would find tales that read right out of the Junior B playbook.
“You would’ve heard stories from a while back of teams going to play an inter-county hurling game with 13 men on the bus. I’m not going back seriously long ago either; I had a lad texting me after the Nicky Rackard final talking about how things have changed since then. We were going around a few towns ringing men up to play.”
Boyle is a player who performs in both codes at club level, and also has won an Intermediate football title with Burt in 2016. For him, the atmosphere and the support surrounding their victory was notably different from the crowds for hurling clashes.
“I obviously value all the success in hurling, but the year we won the Intermediate it was very strange. There was a different feeling around it within the club because no-one expected it. The crowd in the O’Donnell Park stand was huge for the games.
“I could probably name 99% of the people that are going to a Donegal or Burt hurling game, whereas you would’ve got neutrals at the football final, you would’ve got families heading off to it.”
While the current state of play is streets ahead of the bygone days, parity in many counties isn’t quite there. The footballers’ dramatic upturn in status from making up the numbers in Ulster to one of the nation’s top sides has garnered much of the front and back pages.
However, the hurlers haven’t stood still and have proven themselves in their own right, earning their stripes in the battle for recognition. However, if the ‘second’ code is to kick on, a mixture of increased media coverage and underage coaching is vital per seasoned veteran Boyle.
“If you went into primary schools, they could name you 15 county footballers off the top of their head and they couldn’t name two hurlers.
“If you were to look around the county, as far as I know there’s one coach in the county dedicated to hurling. With the size of Donegal, that’s not good enough.
“You also look at media coverage. Someone looks at a cover of a ‘paper and sees Michael Murphy and Hugh McFadden. They obviously want to be like them and rightfully so, but a bit more promotion would be amazing.
“We’ve played in Croke Park. We’ve won an AllIreland medal, albeit at a lower grade, and at the end of the day, we’re playing to the best of our ability.”
Hot Cross Buns
For the Rolls 240 ml whole milk, warm 2 (0.25-oz.) packages active dry yeast 50 g caster sugar 75 g butter, melted 1 large egg yolk 1 tsp. vanilla extract 375 g plain fl our, plus more for kneading
Directions
1 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg 75 g dried currants, plumped in hot water then drained 1 tsp. lemon zest Egg wash, for brushing
For the Glaze
250g icing sugar 2 tbsp. whole milk 1/2 tsp. lemon zest
Step1. Combine milk, yeast and a pinch of sugar. Let sit about 20 minutes. Whisk butter, egg yolk and vanilla into the yeast mixture. In a large bowl, whisk together the fl our, remaining sugar, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Make a well in the centre of the fl our mixture and add the yeast mixture. Stir with a wooden spoon until the mixture is a thick, shaggy dough. Stir in currants.
Step 2. Turn the dough onto a heavily fl oured surface and knead until the dough is soft and elastic, 8 to 10 minutes. Shape the dough into a large ball.
Step 3. Grease the inside of a large bowl with butter and put the dough in the bowl. Cover with cling fi lm and let rise at room temperature about 1½ hours.
Step 4. Butter a 23 x 33cm baking pan. Turn the dough onto a lightly fl oured surface and pat it into a large rectangle. Divide the dough into 12 portions with a sharp knife or pizza wheel.
Step 5. Shape each piece into a roll, tucking the edges under, and place each roll seam side-down into the butter pan. Cover with cling fi lm and let rise in a warm place about 45 minutes.
Step 6. After the second rise, preheat oven to 190°C (170ºC fan). Brush tops of buns with egg wash. Bake until golden and puffy, 22 to 25 minutes.
