With Cork City languishing in mid-table, the memories of the glory days still an aftertaste in people’s mouths and attendances dwindling; things looked dyer for the Leesiders just a couple of seasons ago. In stepped John Caulfield, a club legend and record goalscorer. With blood and vinegar City captured the city and county’s imagination through their never-say-die attitude and constant impassioned …
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In part two of our interview with David Knowles (part one can be found here) of Accelerate Performance Coaching – a company trying to increase the amount of Irish youth players making it as professional footballers – we discuss what type of players the business takes in and coaches, the educational and psychological side to football and how APC are also helping to coach …
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Galway United have announced the signing of ex-Chelsea trainee Tomi Saarelma. The 26-year-old winger joins the EA Sports Cup finalists from his home club in Finland, FC Lahti; the same club from which Chelsea acquired his services as a schoolboy in 2005 on a two-year scholarship. There, he made 35 appearances, scoring on three occasions for the Chelsea under-18 squad. However, he …
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At 6:10pm last Sunday, RTÉ Two screened, for the 957th time, a James Bond movie – Octopussy, rated three stars. By the time the opening credits had finished, Richie Towell already converted a penalty in a heated contest between two of the best teams in the country right now, Dundalk and Cork City. Admittedly, the match itself was probably no …
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In the second instalment of a new feature on Pundit Arena, Niall Newberry looks back at the time two ex-Premier League players signed for Dublin City and when a former World Cup-winning goalkeeper joined St. Patrick’s Athletic. _____ Gordon Banks to St. Patrick’s Athletic, 1977 When you think of Gordon Banks, the likelihood is the first thing that pops into your mind is that save …
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UCD join Shamrock Rovers in the second round of the Europa League qualifiers while St. Patrick’s Athletic and Cork City crash out after disappointing losses to Skonto FC and KR Reykjavik, respectively. Rovers were the first Irish side to book a place in the second round after a comprehensive 3-0 win at home over Luxembourg’s Progres Niederkorn, and the Hoops are now joined …
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From having under two weeks to put together a brand new team ahead of the 2010 League of Ireland campaign to being on the brink of progressing past KR Reykjavík of Iceland tonight in a Europa League qualifier, Cork City Football Club have come an incredibly long way. Copa90 travelled to Leeside last week as the Rebel Army played out the …
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A much-improved Drogheda United comfortably beat Galway United on Friday evening in a game that also saw the Boynesiders keep their first clean sheet since the opening game of the season. _____ Analysis It took nearly 20 minutes for the first real chance of this game to come about, as a Galway attack was brilliantly stopped by Byrne. Drogheda then countered …
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Shamrock Rovers headed to Cork looking to claim their first three points over the Leesiders in four games. A second consecutive 0-0 draw this season was the result however, with neither side being able to pull away in a pulsating game. _____ Analysis In a first half that flew by, it was certainly Shamrock Rovers who would’ve been happier with their …
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With 18 goals scored across six Premier Division games last weekend, we’ll certainly be hoping for more of the same again this time around. Although there were 13 goals scored in just two games last Friday night, one of the most outstanding results would have to be Trevor Croly’s lowly Bray side picking up a valuable, and largely unexpected three …
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Ex-Sligo Rovers boss Paul Cook has taken over at Portsmouth following a successful stint at Chesterfield. According to The Guardian, Pompey ‘met a release clause in Cook’s contract,’ which meant he could leave the Spireites. The 48-year-old has been tasked with turning around the fortunes of a club which has fallen from the dizzying heights of the Premier League just five years …
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Drogheda claimed their first victory in nine games with a win over manager-less Bray Wanderers tonight. _____ Analysis It was the home side who had the best chance to open the scoring on seven minutes as Daryl Kavanagh saw his header saved by McGuinness after the young Bray keeper had parried a Jason Marks free-kick. Drogheda were left to rue …
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Bray Wanderers captain David Cassidy will be player/caretaker manager of his side as they travel to Louth to take on his former club Drogheda United. There had been uncertainty as to who would take charge of the Seagulls for the trip to United Park tonight following the departure of caretaker manager Maciej Tarnogrodzki yesterday but we now know that the …
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We’ve reached the first 1/3 of the season, and like death and taxes, the one thing you can count is that Stephen Kenny’s Dundalk have continued their relentless form. They remain one of just two sides unbeaten thus far, the other being Shamrock Rovers. The Lilywhites have scored the most goals (28) and conceded just five, making them the most …
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On Friday night, Johnny McDonnell’s Drogheda United, who haven’t won a game since the second week of March, host Bray Wanderers, a side which has conceded 16 goals in their last three games. Johnny McDonnell’s side come into this game looking to put back-to-back defeats to Longford Town and Shamrock Rovers behind them. The Boynesiders haven’t won a game since they …
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After just over a month at the helm, Bray Wanderers’ caretaker manager Maciej Tarnogrodzki has stepped away from his post. After taking over from Alan Mathews, Tarnogrodzki looked to be lifting Bray out of the mire they were in back at the beginning of April but recent results have sent the Seagulls backwards yet again. A statement released this afternoon by …
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With the news that the draw for the quarter-finals of the Setanta Sports Cup – which was due to take place today – has been postponed question marks surround the positives of staging the tournament at all. According to the BBC, the reasoning behind the postponement is said to surround fixture scheduling problems. Linfield have pulled out of the competition …
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Former Cork City stalwart Neal Horgan speaks with ex-Ireland international John Herrick about the rich history the League of Ireland has and how this legacy must have a role to play in shaping Irish domestic football’s future. The League of Ireland receives its fair share of criticism. Many commentators, including myself, have been focusing on the need for radical change within the …
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