Home Blog Page 300

Rovers announce sports science initiative in local community

Unite, Shamrock Rovers and Spheros team up to bring the science of football home to Tallaght and Clondalkin

As part of its sponsorship of the Unite the Union Champions Cup, Unite has partnered with Shamrock Rovers and Spheros to provide an educational STEM resource to the Tallaght/Clondalkin community.

This ground-breaking resource introduces students to football and STEM education through hands-on, football-themed coding and mathematics activities.

Commenting, Unite’s Community Coordinator Rhona McCord said:

“Unite is delighted to launch this initiative with Shamrock Rovers and Spheros Sports as part of our sponsorship of the Unite Champions Cup.

“The programme will provide educational STEM resource to the Tallaght/Clondalkin community and builds on the Champions Cup theme of ‘Diversity, Equality, Community,’ which started in 2019 when Unite gave supports to children in Direct Provision engaged in football.”

This educational resource, which is unique on the island of Ireland, comprises six floormats designed as football pitches, together with 15 interactive robots programmed by the participants to perform tasks, such as playing football.

This develops skills in sport, maths, computer programming and coding. Five local teachers have been trained up to roll out this STEM education in the local community.

The programme will begin this September in schools across Tallaght and Clondalkin and is being formally launched on Tuesday, September 14th at 10:30 in Tallaght Stadium.

Among those attending the launch will be Shamrock Rovers head coach Stephen Bradley, who is himself from Jobstown, and midfielder Aidomo Emakhu from Clondalkin. Shamrock Rovers Academy Director Shane Robinson will also be present.

Shamrock Rovers F.C.’s Community Officer Tony O’Neill added:

“Community is at the heart of Shamrock Rovers Football Club and the club is continuously engaged in supporting and building relationships with the local community. Our schools’ programme has enabled hundreds of children from schools in the area to engage in physical wellbeing workshops, delivered by our community and academy coaches.

“I look forward to working alongside our team of volunteers implementing this engaging and inclusive project, providing coding classes for children in our partner schools. We are proud to work with Unite on this initiative.”

Balbirnie hopeful going into Ireland’s home ODI tests

Andrew Balbarnie has given a press conference in the warm-up for an important World Cup Super League game against Zimbabwe

There are thirteen teams taking part in the WCSL with each team getting to face eight countries in ODI tests.

The top seven ranked sides will automatically qualify for the World Cup in India 2023, while the remaining five teams will compete for two more places.

Speaking today, Balbirnie spoke on the late blow for the team after a Curtis injury. Shane Getkate will replace him in the squad for the test tomorrow morning.

“He’s an improving cricketer and he’s someone we like the look of. You know he’s had a few opportunities throughout the years but he’s a guy that’s always looking to improve. It was a no-brainer once Curtis got injured.”

The team has no other injuries other than Curtis so there will be nearly a full-strength Irish side to face Zimbabwe.

The Irish captain continued to talk about how his team has tried to prepare for these tests. There is not a lot of action for many of the players but they have had the chance to blow out in training during the week.

“A lot of us haven’t played a lot of cricket, there is not a lot of cricket to play unless you’re going to play club cricket to see what you get out of that, which is game time.”

“They’ve got a lot of experience in their lineup, guys who have played a lot of cricket … names like Taylor, Irvine, Williams, Raza, they’ve been there done that. We’re well aware of what they can bring to the table so we know we have to be on point.”

Ireland’s ODI squad

Andrew Balbirnie (Captain), Mark Adair, George Dockrell, Shane Getkate, Graham Kennedy, Josh Little, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, William Porterfield, Neil Rock, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young.

 

Upcoming Fixtures:

World Cup Super League series:

1st ODI – Ireland Men v Zimbabwe Men – Stormont, 10:30, 8th September

2nd ODI – Ireland Men v Zimbabwe Men – Stormont, start 10:30, 10th September

3rd ODI – Ireland Men v Zimbabwe Men – Stormont, start 10:30, 13th September

Sligo Rovers And IT Sligo Announce Plans For First Senior Women’s Team

Sligo Rovers, in partnership with IT Sligo, have announced new plans to form a senior women’s team for the first time, with a view to joining the SSE Airtricity Women’s National League from the 2022 Season onward.

IT Sligo has been a long-term partner with Sligo Rovers, offering support in training and sports scholarships to the senior men’s team over the past two years.

Now the Institute of Technology Sligo will extend sports scholarships to women’s footballers, giving them the opportunity to play at the senior level at Sligo Rovers.

The local League of Ireland side have an Under 17 and Under 19 team currently playing in the Women’s National Leagues and are now planning on establishing the first national league senior women’s football team in the Northwest region.

Announcing the new plans, Sligo Rovers Chairperson, Tommy Higgins said the partnership will allow elite women’s soccer players to participate at the highest level and gain an excellent academic qualification while playing:

“We are delighted to enhance our partnership with IT Sligo which has seen us create scholarships for our players over the last two years.

“Women’s football is something we are passionate about and we want to add to our existing Under 17 and Under 19 teams and incorporate a Senior team to compete in the SSE Airtricity Women’s National League.

“This is a big step for women’s football in the North West region and we hope it gives female footballers in the region something to work towards both educationally and in sporting terms”

Vice President Academic Affairs and Registrar of IT Sligo, Dr Michele Glacken said it offers equal opportunities for female soccer players;

“IT Sligo is delighted to support the development of a Women’s National League team for the North West region.

“This partnership builds on our current successful Scholarship programme with Sligo Rovers and offers equal opportunities for female soccer players to succeed in their sporting and academic pursuits.

“As an Institute, our aim is to help attract and retain talent in the region. By supporting this initiative, we are helping provide a level playing field for girls, ensuring they don’t have to compromise when it comes to furthering their education and pursuing their sporting careers”.

Sligo Rovers U17 women’s coach and former Irish international, Emma Hansberry said the announcement will enhance women’s football in the Northwest:

“This is great news for all female footballers in this region. Coming from Sligo, there was always massive potential in the area and the North West region in general but there was no pathway or women’s senior team to look towards.

“This is something that has been missing and now with the partnership between Rovers and IT Sligo, it will enhance the women’s game all over the North West.

“The current group of players within the club are very excited and I know all female footballers in the region will be too”.

From 8th September, the institute is opening up additional places on a limited number of courses and encourage elite women’s soccer players, who are seeking an academic qualification to consider applying, with opportunities to avail of sports scholarships from IT Sligo.  

Ireland Squad Named For Rugby World Cup Qualifier

The Ireland Women’s national team squad has been named for the upcoming Rugby World Cup 2021 Europe Qualifier in Italy.

Head coach Adam Griggs has selected a 28-strong squad that will travel to Parma with the aim of reaching next year’s global tournament in New Zealand.

Griggs has included three uncapped players in his selection for the qualifying tournament in Parma, as Ireland prepare to go head-to-head with hosts Italy, Spain and Scotland for a place at Rugby World Cup 2021.

Lucy Mulhall, Sam Monaghan and Mary Healy are in line to earn their first caps for the side in Italy.

Mulhall is the Ireland Women’s Sevens captain and is set her first appearance for the country at 15s in the qualifiers.

Monaghan came through the IRFU’s IQ Rugby programme and she has trained alongside Mulhall with the side in recent weeks at the IRFU High Performance Centre.

Mary Healy has impressed with her performances in the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship for Leinster in recent weeks.

Ireland will face Spain in their opening game on Monday, 13 September (5 pm Irish time) before meeting Six Nations rivals Italy in Round 2 on Sunday, 19 September (2 pm Irish time) and Scotland in Round 3 on Saturday, 25 September (5 pm Irish time).

The top team will book a spot in Group B at Rugby World Cup 2021 and the runner-up will enter the Final Qualification Tournament.

Commenting on his selection, Griggs said: “This was a difficult selection process with the quality we have in the squad, however, we have selected players who have performed consistently well throughout our training camps in the HPC and earned this opportunity.

“It’s an exciting group including a good mix of experienced players who have been involved in big Test matches and understand the detail, preparation and intensity required to win at this level. We are looking forward to heading to Parma and fine-tuning our game for Spain first and foremost.

“While we can only focus on one game at a time, we won’t shy away from the end goal of this being a winner-takes-all tournament for participation at Rugby World Cup 2021. The players and staff are all highly motivated and focused on making sure we are successful as a group.”

Leinster Rugby And UCD Smurfit Executive Development Launch Course

Leinster Rugby and UCD Smurfit Executive Development have announced a brand-new three-day course: ‘Building and Leading High-Performing Teams’.

The course is intended to equip participants with insights and skills via examples from sports and business to build their leadership strengths and prepare themselves for greater challenges.

The co-designed course will take place from October 27 to 29 and will be delivered on campus at UCD Smurfit Executive Development with a site visit included to Leinster Rugby’s headquarters, and state of the art training facilities at Belfield, UCD.

The faculty team led by Helen Brophy, Director at Smurfit Executive Development, will include a number of Leinster Rugby’s leadership team

Head coach Leo Cullen and Dr Emma Burrows, Personal Development Manager at Leinster Rugby, will be on the team.

Building and Leading High-Performing Teams is designed for those with at least five years of professional experience from the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors.

Programme Director, Helen Brophy, Director at Smurfit Executive Development, said: “Through cross-functional team building and helping participants to develop an enhanced ability to build, lead, inspire and sustain high-performing teams, this three-day course places participants in settings and contexts that will change the way they experience leadership.

“Each day they will test new strategies and practical tools through hands-on experiences with instant feedback and participate in integrated sessions that connect course content to their real-world issues.”

Leo Cullen, head coach at Leinster Rugby, said: “I’m looking forward to the course. It is the first time that we have engaged in this capacity with UCD Smurfit Executive Development and it will be interesting for me to step back into a lecture theatre again but I am also looking forward to bringing the class back up to our head office and training centre in UCD.

“That ability to bring the class up here to our training base, to interact on-site and to discuss in detail some of the lessons that I, as a head coach, but also we as a professional sporting organization have learned over the years, will be invaluable.

“I’m also looking forward to what I and what we in Leinster Rugby can learn from the course participants and that shared experience is one that I feel we will all benefit from.”

Once completed, successful participants will be presented with their course certificates at a special awards ceremony at a Leinster Rugby home match in either the RDS Arena or Aviva Stadium.

Participants will also enjoy an exclusive ‘behind the scenes’ pre-match stadium tour, to see the Leinster Rugby team prepare in the build-up to the match, before taking their seat to enjoy the performance.

“The course will deliver a 360-degree learning experience, offering executives fresh insights on their professional and personal strengths. Individual and group exercises are designed to encourage leadership development beyond the classroom and action learning activities include recognising the importance of emotional intelligence and how to raise your EQ,” added Brophy.

To book your individual place or group booking please contact Maria Keany on +353 1 716 8059 or email maria.keany@ucd.ie.

Cork GAA Announce McCarthy Departure

Cork GAA have confirmed in a statement that Ronan McCarthy has stepped down as Cork Senior Football manager following recent discussions with board officers.

A meeting between the Cork GAA Executive and Ronan McCarthy on Monday night saw the former decide not to extend McCarthy’s term into the final year of their two-year agreement.

It is understood that McCarthy was interested in staying on next year and also wanted an extension until 2024.

McCarthy was in the role since 2017 and was at the helm in the Rebel County for four seasons.

McCarthy had served as a selector and coach for a total of three years previous to taking the top job in the county.

The Douglas native won Division Three of the Allianz National Football League in 2019 with the side.

Cork went unbeaten on their way back to Division Two but McCarthy failed to take them back to Division One.

Four successive Munster final defeats culminated with a 4-22 to 1-9 thrashing at the hands of rivals Kerry in what was McCarthy’s last game in charge.

On top of this, the side only reached the business end of the All-Ireland championship once under the former inter-county player when they came last in their Super 8s group in 2019.

County Chairperson Marc Sheehan said “Ronan has been an outstanding servant to Cork GAA over many years, and I would like to thank him both personally and on behalf of Cork for all that he has done.

“We wish Ronan, his selectors and backroom team all the best in their future endeavours and thank all involved for an immeasurable contribution over a number of years.”

All in Cork GAA wish to thank Ronan sincerely for his decades of service to GAA at all levels in the county, as player, coach and manager.

A process will now be put in place for the appointment of a new manager.

Willie Maher The Favourite For Tipperary Senior Hurling Job

Willie Maher is now considered as the leading contender to succeed Liam Sheedy as manager of the Tipperary senior hurlers, according to the Irish Examiner.

Maher guided the county minors to an All-Ireland title in 2012 and was manager of the U21 side from 2015 to 2017 but the latter tenure yielded no reward at provincial or All-Ireland level.

Maher was also a selector at Waterford under Derek McGrath in his first season and managed Cuala to two senior Dublin titles in 2019 and 2020.

He is currently part of the Bennettsbridge backroom in Kilkenny – the side produced a shock win over Ballyhale Shamrocks at the weekend.

The 42-year-old was linked with the senior job before Liam Sheedy returned for his second term as boss in 2018.

Sheedy won the All-Ireland in the first season of his second term with the side but two quarter-final exits in the next two years have left a lot to be desired.

Recently, Wexford GAA announced that they had hired Darragh Egan as their new senior hurling manager.

Egan is a former Tipperary hurler and was a selector at Tipperary under Liam Sheedy in his second stint with the Premier County.

The 35-year-old has also coached the Tipperary under-16 hurlers, a job he held previous to his role as a selector.

Egan stepped away from his role with Tipperary when Liam Sheedy brought an end to his second tenure in charge of the 28-time All-Ireland champions.

The new Wexford coach has also won two All-Ireland titles as a player on the Tipperary and brings the 11 years of experience he has as a player to the Model County.

Egan’s role with his club Kildangan GAA has seen the side rise from the junior championship to become the county’s senior champions last year.

If the appointment of Egan by Wexford is anything to go by, success matters for an inter-county hire – Maher has experience with success.

Report: Ronan McCarthy Leaves Cork

Report: Ronan McCarthy Leaves Cork

It is understood that Cork senior footballer manager Ronan McCarthy has left his post according to reports.

It has been revealed that a meeting between Cork GAA and McCarthy took place on Monday night where a Cork GAA executive decided not to extend McCarthy’s contract into another year after an original two-year agreement.

It is understood the McCarthy was hoping to stay on as manager and was eager to improve on Cork’s lacklustre finish to their championship season after being dismantled by Kerry in the Munster final.

It is believed that McCarthy had requested an extension on his already established agreement with Cork GAA, which would have brought him up to 2024 as the manager was rejected last night and confirmed by Cork officials today.

While some players in the panel have shown respect and satisfaction with McCarthy and his backroom staff since his arrival as a coach. Cork GAA executives have had enough and have decided to let McCarthy go.

Report: Ronan McCarthy Leaves Cork

Under McCarthy, Cork retained their Division 2 Allianz League status this year, but being hammered by Kerry in the Munster final, losing 4-22 to 1-9 in Killarney.

His highlight as Cork manager was throwing Peter Keane’s Kerry in last year’s Munster semi-final last year with a dramatic last-minute goal. They ultimately lost in the final to Tipperary at Páirc Ui Chaoimh.

After four seasons in charge of the Cork senior football team, McCarthy has a 50% winning record in all competitions. In League and Championship, he has won 18 of his 36 games, losing 17 and drawing one.

A search for the new Cork manager will be already underway, with Bobbie O’Dwyer, who was in charge of the Cork minors who captured All-Ireland success in 2019 already in contention.

For more news and stories on all things GAA, click here.

Could Rudiger leave Chelsea next year?

German defender Antonio Rudiger has yet to agree a new deal with Chelsea with only a year left on his contract

Now with the transfer deadline day over and done with, clubs will now focus on contract renewals.

Chelsea has been quick to keep their stars at the club with defender Andreas Christensen very close to a new contract so far.

The London club’s main worry is their German center-back Antonio Rudiger. The 28-year-old has already rejected a previous contract offer due to it falling ‘well short of expectations.’

The 6’2” German was integral to the club’s achievements last season and some of Europe’s biggest teams will be keeping tabs on this ongoing situation.

Teams such as Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and PSG have already shown interest in the defender. In England, Tottenham Hotspur were looking to buy the player before but that deal will likely never happen.

The Blues are just off one of their most successful seasons in recent history after beating Manchester City for the Champions League title. A major reason for that success was because of manager Thomas Tuchel’s trust in his defense.

Rudiger has become a fan favorite since joining the club from Roma in 2017. Last year he made 19 starts and scored a goal, mainly after the arrival of the new boss.

He has also become the new mainstay in his national team after playing in their four Euro 2020 matches this summer.

This year he started in Chelsea’s opening three wins as well as their Super Cup triumph as he begins the season on a perfect run.

With many more good years ahead of him, the Blues will be fools to not lock down his signature. With other European giants sniffing around they will want to hurry up.

 

Manchester United v Newcastle United – Preview, Lineups, Betting, TV Coverage

Manchester United v Newcastle United will go head-to-head on the Gameweek 5 of the 2021/2022 Premier League season.

This game will be an interesting game for both teams. The last time these two sides met was last February where Ole Gunnar Solsjkaers side came out 3-1 victors. Man United also took 6 points from 6 from Newcastle in the 2020/2021 season.

Manchester United Retrospective

Things are looking very brightly for Man United so far this season. A great transfer window that saw marquee names Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane brought in. But, it was the return of Cristiano Ronaldo that has catapulted United into red-hot title favourites.

Defensively and Attacking-wise, United look strong and if they manage to keep their form going steadily along, they will be hard stopped.

Newcastle United Retrospective

Steve Bruce is under pressure at Tyneside, a relatively average transfer window with one ”big money” signing in Joe Willock, they are still without a win this season.

While they may struggle in this game, they do have winnable games for the remainder of September and October to notch points up on the board.

Date, kick-off time and venue

This game between Manchester United and Newcastle United will kick off at 3 pm BST (British Summer Time) on Saturday, September 11, 2021, at Old Trafford.

Where to watch Manchester United v Newcastle United

The game will not be televised live on any UK channel.

Manchester United v Newcastle United team news

Marcus Rashford is still recovering from shoulder surgery, while Phil Jones, Alex Telles and Eric Bailly are all out.

Edison Cavani is set to make a return to action.

Martin Dubravka, Jonjo Shelvey, Isaac Hayden Paul Dummett and Callum Wilson are all in a race against time to be fit for this game after picking up knocks.

Manchester United v Newcastle United prediction

Both sides are the polar opposite in terms of form and quality. Man United are still unbeaten this season with 2 wins and 1 draw with their last league game saw them overcome Wolves 0-1 with a Mason Greenwood winner.

Newcastle looked void of ideas and should be truly outclassed here. Expect them to defend in droves.

Prediction: Manchester United 5-1

Predicted Line-Up

Manchester United XI – (4-2-3-1)

D, Gea, L. Shaw, H. Maguire, R. Varane, A. Wan-Bissaka, S. McTominay, Fred, P. Pogba, B. Fernandes, J. Sancho, C. Ronaldo

Newcastle United XI – (3-5-2)

F. Woodman, F. Fernández, J. Lascelles, F. Schar, J. Murphy, J. Willock, S. Longstaff, M. Almirón, M. Ritchie, C. Wilson, A. Saint-Maximin

Manchester United v Newcastle United – Preview, Lineups, Betting, TV Coverage

Betting Odds

Manchester United To Win: 1/6

Draw: 6/1

Newcastle United To Win: 13/1

For more news and stories on all things, Premier League click here.