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Connolly signs new deal with Brighton

Republic of Ireland international Aaron Connolly has signed a new four year deal with Brighton and Hove Albion the club have announced.

The 20 year old had a superb debut season in the Premier League and has now put pen to paper to extend his stay at the club. In all Connolly made 27 appearances in the season scoring three goals. Two of which came against Tottenham and then against Burnley on the final day of the season. He made his Republic of Ireland debut a week after scoring that brace against Spurs. His debut came off the bench against Georgia, before starting three days later against Switzerland.

The Galway man told the clubs website that he was thrilled to extend his stay at the club. He said, “This season has been unbelievable at times and obviously the Tottenham game when I scored twice was a big moment for me. But then I had the dip where I didn’t get the goals which was tough to take”. He continued, “But to get one against Burnley on the final day of the season and to go into the break knowing I have scored another goal since Spurs was a great feeling. I am just looking forward improving even more next season.”

Seagulls manager Darren Potter also got praise from Connolly. He said, “Without the manager I don’t think I would have played any Premier League games for Brighton by now,”. Connolly said he now wants to repay that faith next season and score more goals which would make himself happier. He said, “I owe a lot to him and I want to repay that faith that he has shown in me next season. The trust he has put in me is a huge bonus even without the goals, so if I can score regularly next season it will make me even happier.”

GAA: Hurler of the Year odds 2020

With GAA action back for the time been at least. I have decided to look further down the line to the All-Ireland Hurling Championship and the latest odds on hurler of the year for 2020.

Patrick Horgan of Cork is the current favourite for the award. The Glen Rovers man has had a couple of good seasons and only for Cork not reaching the final last year he would have won it in my opinion. He is currently 8/1 to scoop the award. Kilkenny’s TJ Reid is never to far away from the top of the list when it comes to these awards. The Ballyhale man has won it all in the game at 32 years of age but I am sure he wouldn’t mind adding another hurler of year award to go on the mantelpiece. Reid is also 8/1.

Aaron Gillane is next at 10/1 for Limerick. If Limerick are to make it all the way to a final then Gillane will be key. He is an expert at free taking and also comes up with the goals. Joe Canning is next in the betting. The Portumna man won the award in 2017, if Galway do go all the way Canning’s name will sure to be mentioned. He is currently 12/1. Seamus Callanan is next in the betting. He had a super 2019 guiding Tipperary to an All-Ireland title win over Kilkenny. He scored a goal in every game along the way to. The 31 year old Drom and Inch club man scooped the award in 2019. Who is to say he won’t in 2020?

Cian Lynch 16/1 of Limerick is next in the betting. He won hurler of the year in 2018 after helping Limerick to a first All-Ireland title in to their first title in 1973. If Lynch is hurling well Limerick will be going well that’s for sure. Brendan Maher 16/1 was named club hurler of the year for 2019/20. Maher helped his club Borris-Ileigh to an All-Ireland club final only to lose out to Ballyhale. A passionate hurler always gives 100%. Cathal Mannion of Galway is another player that has to be considered. The 25 year won an all-star in 2015 and is capable of leading the Galway side from midfield or half forward.

Lee Chin had an amazing 2019 helping Wexford to a first Leinster title in 15 years in 2019. The 27 year old Faythe Harriers club man possesses skill, accuracy and a physical presence all the signs of a top inter-county hurler. A big 2020 awaits the Wexford town man. He is currently 20/1. Noel McGrath has been an outstanding hurler over the past 7 or 8 years for Tipperary. The Loughmore/Castleiney club man has 3 All-Ireland’s and 3 all-star awards. He pushed Seamie Callanan close for hurler of the year in 2019 that’s for sure. McGrath won young hurler of the year in 2009. At 25/1 he could be worth a few quid.

Other players that have to be considered include Clare hurler Tony Kelly at 28/1. The Ballyea man won the 2013 hurler and young hurler of the year so he has to be a candidate especially if the Banner are going well.  Austin Gleeson had a poor 2019 by his standards but is still one of the best in the game. The Waterford man won the hurler and young hurler of the year awards in 2016. One to watch for sure. Other players that have to be considered include David Burke, Daithi Burke, Declan Hannon and Alan Cadogan.

 

 

Second Apprentice title for Robbie Dolan

Kildare jockey Robbie Dolan has won a second Metropolitan Apprentice Premiership title in Sydney, New South Wales, joining an elite group of young riders to claim the title twice.

The Irish rider, who achieved 31 wins this current season, took to social media to comment on his success, stating:

“(It) was an honour to win this title once and I have worked very hard on my riding to win it again, I would like to thank my boss Mark Newnham and manager Wayne Harris for all the support and guidance and also a shout-out to the jockeys in the room for all the help along the way, to my partner Christine Duffy for keeping me level headed on the good days and cheering me up on the bad days I couldn’t have done it without you.”

Dolan was reared in horse racing as his maternal grandfather, Peadar Matthews, won two classics as a jockey, while his father Bobby was a jockey and worked with Dermot Weld, where he looked after Grey Swallow, who won the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.

Having worked in Ireland with Paul Deegan and Adrian Keatley, Dolan was advised by his coach Warren O’Connor to try his luck Australia in 2016, and has now go on to win two apprentice titles since moving there.

Dolan, who last year achieved 48 winners, has followed the example of Kerry-born British Champion flat jockey Oisín Murphy in recent times by giving popular post-race debriefs on Twitter.

Irish jockey Louise Day rides treble in Sydney

Roscommon apprentice jockey Louise Day secured the first winning treble of her career at Warwick Farm Racecourse, a south western suburb of Sydney, earlier this morning.

On a heavy track, the 25-year-old rode Matowatakpe for Bjorn Baker in the three-year-old handicap, and then partnered Joe Pride’s promising Brutality to win the fourth race on the 7-race card.

The treble was achieved for Day, and a double for trainer Pride, when four-year-old Threeood defied a wide run to win the Fillies’ and Mares Handicap, the penultimate race at Warwick Farm.

Day recently relocated to Sydney and underwent two-weeks of isolation to enable her switch from the north to the metropolitan region under Racing New South Wales’ Covid-19 restrictions.

The Strokestown-born rider has been based in Newcastle, New South Wales, with trainer Kris Lees, since late in the 2016-17 season and she has ridden over 120 winners in total.

Last season Day rode 40 winners and so far this season has achieved more than 50 race successes.

Steel Bull wins Group 3 Molecomb Stakes for Michael O’Callaghan

Steel Bull justified 2/1 favouritism for trainer Michael O’Callaghan and jockey Colin Keane with an impressive win in the Group 3 Markel Insurance Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood this afternoon.

The grey son of Clodovil was making just his second career racecourse appearance in the five furlong race for two-year-olds, having made an eye-catching winning debut at Naas a week ago.

Entering the final two furlongs, Steel Bull had a wall of horses in front of him but the Irish-trained runner made rapid headway under Keane to move into a challenging position a furlong from home. The eventual winner overhauled the Kevin Ryan-trained 16/1 shot Ben Macdui (Kevin Stott) half a furlong out and went on to score by a comfortable three-quarters of a length. Internationaldream, trained by England-based Irishman Richard Fahey and ridden by Irish-born jockey Paddy Mathers took third at 50/1, a further length and a half behind the second.

The winning handler, Michael O’Callaghan, speaking from his base at The Curragh said:

“Colin was as good as ever – he is top-class and has done a great job on him. Obviously, we have a nice horse on our hands, thank God. We had a little bit of interest in him after winning his maiden but, at the end of the day, it was a five-furlong maiden and he had to go and prove he could do something like that. I don’t own him myself – I am involved with my father and another man called John Fleming.”

Colin Keane who, like O’Callaghan, was having his first Goodwood success, commented:

“Looking at the replay of Steel Bull winning his maiden, he won it very well and when I was talking to Michael beforehand, he was very confident that he would have a lot of speed. He showed a very good turn of foot. He puts his head down and tries very hard. I would imagine he is a horse who is going to keep progressing. I think he would get an extra furlong, because he settles. He is a nice colt.”

The top-class Irish rider continued:

“It was an unknown as to whether he would handle the track, but he’s a very straightforward horse. He handled it very well. I had to wait, but the lads beforehand were very adamant he had a good turn of foot, and that’s what I was hoping and hanging on to, and when I got out, he did have it. When you are on a horse like this, it makes it easy for you. He travelled everywhere and, when I gave him a squeeze, he picked up very well.”

2.45pm Group 3 Markel Insurance Molecomb Stakes 5f

1 Steel Bull – Michael O’Callaghan and Colin Keane 2/1f

2 Ben Macdui – Kevin Ryan and Kevin Stott 16/1

3 Internationaldream – Richard Fahey and Paddy Mathers 50/1

10 ran
Time: 58.59s
Distances: ¾, 1½

Nominees for 2019 ‘Three’ FAI International Awards

The nominees for the 2019 ‘Three’ FAI International Awards have been announced.

Due to the outbreak of Covid-19, the Awards ceremony was originally postponed from earlier this year and will not take place due to social distancing protocols remaining in place.

This is the 30th year of the Awards and celebrates the performances of players in the previous international season.

The ‘Hall of Fame’ and ‘Special Merit’ recipients will be announced next week along with the winners of each category.

2019 ‘Three’ FAI International Awards

Senior Men’s International Player of the Year
David McGoldrick
Enda Stevens
Glenn Whelan

Senior Women’s International Player of the Year
Katie McCabe
Denise O’Sullivan
Louise Quinn

Young International Player of the Year
Alan Browne
Josh Cullen
Callum Robinson

‘Three’ International Goal of the Year
Conor Hourihane v Georgia
Lee O’Connor v Sweden
Troy Parrott v Sweden

Under-21 International Player of the Year 
Aaron Connolly
Lee O’Connor
Dara O’Shea

Under-19 Men’s International Player of the Year
Jonathan Afolabi
Will Ferry
Lee O’Connor
Under-19 Women’s International Player of the Year
Sadhbh Doyle
Megan Mackey
Róisín McGovern

Under-18 Men’s International Player of the Year
Adam Idah
Jason Knight
Oisín McEntee

Under-17 Men’s International Player of the Year
James Furlong
Joe Hodge
Andrew Omobamidele

Under-17 Women’s International Player of the Year
Shauna Brennan
Éabha O’Mahony
Jessica Ziu

Under-16 Men’s International Player of the Year
Colin Conroy
Ben McCormack
Gavin O’Brien

Under-16 Women’s International Player of the Year
Kerryanne Browne
Della Doherty
Aoife Horgan

Under-15 Men’s International Player of the Year
Evan Ferguson
Glory Nzingo
John Ryan

Under-15 Women’s Schools International Player of the Year
Aoife Cronin (Scoil Pól, Kilfinane)
Ellen Molloy (Presentation Secondary School, Kilkenny)
Jessie Stapleton (Palmerstown Community School)

SSE Airtricity League Player of the Year
Jack Byrne (Shamrock Rovers)
Seán Gannon (Dundalk)
Chris Shields (Dundalk)
Intermediate Player of the Year
Alan McGreal (Crumlin United)
Dave O’Leary (Avondale United)
Conor Tourish (Letterkenny Rovers)

Junior International Player of the Year
Jordan Buckley (Usher Celtic)
Seán Guerins (St Michaels)
Kieran McDaid (Buncrana Hearts)

Colleges & Universities International Player of the Year
Dean Kelly (IT Carlow)
Maurice Nugent (NUI Galway)
Rob Slevin (University College Cork)

Schools International Player of the Year
Brandon Bermingham (St Mary’s Diocesan School, Drogheda)
Josh Honohan (St Francis College, Rochestown)
Niall O’Keefe (De La Salle College, Wateford)

Football For All International Player of the Year
Laurence Bryan (Street League)
Thomas Donogher (Powerchair)
Dillon Sheridan (Cerebral Palsy)

FAI to receive Covid 19 relief funding

The FAI is to receive €1.2 million from FIFA as part of the Covid 19 relief plan which has been approved by the Bureau of the FIFA Council.

The overall plan will see €1.28bn available to all of FIFA’s 211 member associations. It includes all confederations and looks at helping the different football associations with their financial situations due to the Covid 19 pandemic. A grant of 1 million dollars is available to each association, with 500,000 also allocated towards the women’s game in each country. RTE Sport that the money will be available from January 2021.

Details were also announced that could help Associations with loans. FIFA announced that member associations will be able to apply for loans amounting to 35% of audited annual revenues. However, this can only be up to €4.25 million. FIFA released a statement on Wednesday confirming the news and stating what the funds will be used for. They said, the funding is to help with “the restart of competitions, the implementation of return-to-play protocols, the participation of national teams in competitions, the hiring and re-hiring of staff, the maintenance of football infrastructure, and general administration and operating costs”.

Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA said, “This relief plan is a great example of football’s solidarity and commitment in such unprecedented times,”. Mr Infantino continued, “I would like to thank my colleagues of the Bureau of the Council for approving the decision to move forward with such an important initiative for the benefit of all member associations and confederations.”

SSE Airtricity League Premier and First Division Fixtures

With the SSE Airtricity League Premier and First Division restarting on Friday, July 31, here are the fixtures for both divisions from Friday July 31 to Tuesday, August 4 inclusive.

SSE Airtricity League – Premier Division

Friday, July 31

Derry City v Sligo Rovers
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, 5.45pm
Referee: Paul McLaughlin
Assistant 1: Mark Gavin
Assistant 2: Darragh Keegan
Fourth Official: Damien MacGraith

Dundalk v St. Patrick’s Athletic
Oriel Park, 7.45pm
Referee: Rob Harvey
Assistant 1: Wayne McDonnell
Assistant 2: Rob Clarke
Fourth Official: Derek Tomney

Saturday, August 1

Shelbourne v Waterford
Tolka Park, 2pm
Referee: Ben Connolly
Assistant 1: Allen Lynch
Assistant 2: Emmet Dynan
Fourth Official: Alan Carey

Shamrock Rovers v Finn Harps
Tallaght Stadium, 5pm
Referee: Neil Doyle
Assistant 1: Darren Carey
Assistant 2: Brian Fenlon
Fourth Official: Adriano Reale

Sunday, August 2

Cork City v Bohemians
Turner’s Cross, 5pm
Referee: Seán Grant
Assistant 1: Trevor Cotter
Assistant 2: Eoin Harte
Fourth Official: Ray Matthews

Monday, August 3

St. Patrick’s Athletic v Derry City
Richmond Park, 7.45pm
Referee: Rob Hennessy
Assistant 1: Emmet Dynan
Assistant 2: Shane O’Brien
Fourth Official: Ben Connolly

Tuesday, August 4

Finn Harps v Shelbourne
Finn Park, 5.45pm
Referee: Damien MacGraith
Assistant 1: Alan Sherlock
Assistant 2: Declan Toland
Fourth Official: Michael Connolly

Sligo Rovers v Waterford
The Showgrounds, 7.45pm
Referee: Derek Tomney
Assistant 1: Rob Clarke
Assistant 2: Darren Corcoran
Fourth Official: Marc Lynch

SSE Airtricity League – First Division

Friday, July 31

Athlone Town v Wexford
Athlone Town Stadium, 7.45pm
Referee: Michael Connolly
Assistant 1: Alan Sherlock
Assistant 2: Declan Toland
Fourth Official: Eoghan O’Shea

Bray Wanderers v Cobh Ramblers
Carlisle Grounds, 7.45pm
Referee: Gavin Colfer
Assistant 1: Darren Carey
Assistant 2: Paul Norton
Fourth Official: Mark Moynihan

Galway United v Cabinteely
Eamonn Deacy Park, 7.45pm
Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan
Assistant 1: Dermot Broughton
Assistant 2: Eoin Harte
Fourth Official: Jason Mannix

UCD AFC v Longford Town
The UCD Bowl, 7.45pm
Referee: Alan Patchell
Assistant 1: Conor Fitzgibbon
Assistant 2: Shane O’Brien
Fourth Official: Rob Dowling

Sunday, August 2

Shamrock Rovers II v Drogheda United
Tallaght Stadium, 3pm
Referee: Adriano Reale
Assistant 1: Wayne McDonnell
Assistant 2: Chris Campbell
Fourth Official: Alan Carey

Monday, August 3

Longford Town v Bray Wanderers
Bishopsgate, 7.30pm
Referee: Marc Lynch
Assistant 1: Allen Lynch
Assistant 2: Ciaran O’Reilly
Fourth Official: Eoghan O’Shea

Galway United v Athlone Town
Eamonn Deacy Park, 7.45pm
Referee: Oliver Moran
Assistant 1: Dermot Broughton
Assistant 2: Darren Corcoran
Fourth Official: Damien MacGraith

Cork City most popular side for WATCHLOI Premier Division

Cork City currently leads the WATCHLOI Premier Division table ahead of the season restart this Friday. 

Launched last week, WATCHLOI is the SSE Airtricity League’s first-ever streaming platform and season passes went on sale at watchloi.ie at €55 for supporters in Ireland and €69 for the rest of the world.

WATCHLOI has received a fantastic response so far with #GreatestLeagueInTheWorld supporters signing up for the service ahead of the season restart on Friday, July 31.


With supporters able to select their preferred club when purchasing, Cork City supporters currently top the WATCHLOI table, which represents paid subscriptions only and not season ticket holders, closely followed by Shamrock Rovers fans. Bohemians supporters are also performing strongly in third spot with Sligo Rovers also backing their club to make up the top four.

WATCHLOI is the perfect way for supporters to support their club with revenue created set to go to each club and with over 55+ matches set to be on the platform, it is also great value.

WATCHLOI Premier Division Table

1. Cork City
2. Shamrock Rovers
3. Bohemians
4. Sligo Rovers
5. St. Patrick’s Athletic
6. Shelbourne
7. Dundalk
8. Derry City
9. Finn Harps
10. Waterford

Defoe suffers fatal injury on gallops

Roger Varian’s Group 1-winning grey Defoe suffered a fatal injury on the gallops this morning.

In a tribute to Defoe on his trainer Roger Varian’s website, it states:

“It is probably not a safe assumption that only those who were closely connected with the horse will be heartbroken that he has left this life. Although not large in stature Defoe had the heart of a lion and his adoring fans from around the world will no doubt join us in mourning his loss and celebrating his achievements.”

Defoe pictured with his trainer Roger Varian (left), jockey Andrea Atzeni and owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum (right).

The six-year-old Irish-bred was owned by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, was trained at Varian Stable in Newmarket, and had been ridden in most of his races by Andrea Atzeni.

Having won just one minor race as a two-year-old, the son of Dalakhani (from whom he inherited his grey colour) won four consecutive races as a three-year-old including the Listed Glasgow Stakes and the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes.

In 2018 Defoe won the Group 3 John Porter Stakes and the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes and was gelded at the end of that year.

He claimed his only Group 1 success as a five-year-old when taking the Coronation Cup at Epsom, beating Kew Gardens, who had won the Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster the previous season. Defoe went on to register a win in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, a victory that would ultimately turn out to be his last.

Defoe beating Kew Gardens in the 2019 Investec Coronation Cup at Epsom.

Last March he suffered a short-head defeat in the Group 2 City Of Gold at Meydan, UAE, with his long term target having been the Group 1 Sheema Classic three weeks later, on Dubai World Cup night. That meeting was abandoned however following the coronavirus outbreak.

Referring to Defoe’s final race at Royal Ascot in June, today’s statement from Varian Stable said:

“It is a great sadness that Defoe’s final race came at an eerily empty Royal Ascot where he ran an admirable race to finish third in the G2 Hardwicke Stakes, a scene that was a world away from those jubilant celebrations with Sheikh Mohammed Obaid in the winner’s enclosure twelve months previously.”

Defoe won a total of nine races from 22 career starts, and claimed £809,192 in prize money. In the 2019 World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, Defoe was given a rating of 118, making him the 78th best racehorse in the world.

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