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MAY 2003 NEWS ARCHIVE

WE’RE NOT A DIRTY TEAM

Source: Evening Herald - Saturday May 31st 2003 - Journalist: Gerry McDermott

Shelbourne boss Pat Fenlon has angrily denied suggestions that the eircom League leaders are a dirty team, writes Gerry McDermott. The Reds have zoomed five points clear at the top of the Premier Division after beating Shamrock Rovers in an explosive Dublin derby at Tolka Park last night. “We didn’t play well tonight, but we picked up the points and showed a lot of character,” said Fenlon. A 41st minute goal from Stephen Geoghegan was enough to deliver the victory, but Shels played the entire second half with ten men after top scorer Jason Byrne was red carded on the stroke of half-time. Byrne was sent-off after an incident with Rovers left back Richie Byrne and is the third Shels player in two games to have seen red. But Fenlon quickly dismissed any thoughts that his side have a mean streak in them. “One of them was warranted, the other two weren’t, as far as I’m concerned,” he said. “Years ago people said we were too soft, now people are giving out that we have people being sent off. We are not a dirty team. We haven’t got a discipline problem and never had. We have got honest fellows working very hard.” And then took a justified swipe at the media who have ignored Shelbourne when it comes to the eircom Player of the Month Awards. “I am here 12 months and we haven’t picked up one Player of the Month Award it just baffles me. Maybe you might start thinking we are a decent side now and start giving awards to individual players,” blasted Fenlon. With the transfer window opening tomorrow Fenlon has moved to strengthen his side by signing David Rogers, a left back and centre half. Dessie Baker has returned from his loan spell at UCD while Fenlon is still waiting on a response from West Ham’s under-21 international defender Clive Delaney. Last night’s result leaves Shamrock Rovers trailing Shels by six points but manager Liam Buckley remained defiant afterwards. “We have to take it on the chin. We are six points off them now but we are only a quarter way into the season so there is still a lot of games to go,” he said.

THESE PEOPLE SHOULD BE ROOTED OUT

Source: The Star - Saturday May 31st 2003 - Journalist: Paul Lennon

Shamrock Rovers manager Liam Buckley blasted referee Paul McKeon after his side’s 1-0 defeat to Shelbourne at Tolka Park. McKeon failed to award the Hoops a first half penalty after David Crawley pulled Tony Grant to the ground inside the penalty area. In a match that saw Reds’ striker Jason Byrne red carded along with manager Pat Fenlon. “I’m very disappointed that the referee did not award what was a clearcut penalty, that’s the second time this has happened to us in a couple of weeks,” said Buckley. The manager also lashed a small number of his own fans who threw missiles onto the pitch. “These people should be rooted out of our supporters and not allowed to attend the matches,” added Buckley.

REDS RULE THE ROOST

Source: The Star - Saturday May 31st 2003 - Journalist: Paul Lennon

HOOPS FUMING AS GEOGHEGAN’S WINNER EARNS TEN-MEN SHELS A CRUCIAL VICTORY

Shelbourne 1 Shamrock Rovers 0

Ten men, no manager but three precious eircom Premier League points for Shelbourne at Tolka Park last night. An encounter that threatened to boil over on and off the pitch in a fractious first half ended with Pat Fenlon’s men five points clear of the pursuing pack. Throw in champions Bohemians single goal defeat at St. Patrick’s Athletic and it was more than a satisfying 90 minutes of endeavour by the home side. But strip back the various and intriguing layers of this game and it wasn’t all sweetness and light. Jason Byrne’s red card for an attempted head butt, Fenlon’s banishment for arguing with the fourth official, the failure by referee Paul McKeon to award Rovers a blatant penalty and the throwing of missiles on the pitch by Hoops’ lunatic fringe mean that we have not heard the last about this game. Five weeks ago Alan Kelly failed to award Rovers a clear spot-kick when the same player was hauled down by Simon Webb in the Dalymount derby with Bohemians.

EXTRA

That decision arguably cost the dominant visitors two points as Kevin Hunt went on to snatch a last minute equaliser for the champions. So this latest blunder by officialdom will rankle wit Rovers although their failure to take advantage of the extra man meant that they can hardly argue with the outcome. After a reasonably lively opening the 13 minutes of controversy that brought the first half to a close began with the extraordinary decision of McKeon not to award the Hoops a 33rd minute penalty. Tony Grant raided deep into the Shels’ box and was clearly brought crashing to the ground by left-full David Crawley. McKeon was well up with play but amazingly glanced to his assistant Joe O’Brien for guidance. With no immediate indication forthcoming from the line, McKeon pointed in the direction of the six-yard box or was it the penalty spot? But the man in black then decided to award a corner after a second and equally baffling consultation with O’Brien. Livid Rovers’ players, management and fans threatened to go in to orbit and a senseless fan then vented his anger by throwing a glass bottle in the direction of O’Brien. By the 41st minute the visitors themselves found themselves a goal down as wily old Stephen Geoghegan crafted a strike from nothing as he reacted quickest to guide Owen Heary’s smartly delivered pass beyond the advancing Ryan. Cue another fusillade of bottles from the Riverside stand with one going menacingly close to hitting Ollie Cahill. McKeon was now struggling to contain the game. But then he booked Shane Robinson and almost immediately dismissed Jason Byrne for his attempted head butt in the direction of Richie Byrne whom he squared up to. Now it was the turn of the home bench to go ballistic but they could have no complaints for McKeon was left with no option but to red card Byrne under the game’s laws. Deep into the three minutes of added time Shels boss Fenlon found himself sent out of the dugout when the fourth official Paul Tuite called McKeon’s attention to comments from the Red’s bench. So for the second time in as many games, Shels found that they had two personnel sent off and that will concern Fenlon.

BID

With the advantage of the extra man, Rovers boss Liam Buckley pushed right full Stephen Gough into midfield and Stephen Grant into a three pronged attack in a bid to exploit the numerical difference. However, Rovers’ response was subdued and Shels comfortably dealt with their threat. The closest the Hoops came was when a 30-yard screamer from Stephen Grant clipped the top of the bar in the 66th minute. Shels introduced fresh legs in the shape of striker Ger McCarthy and Stuart Byrne and the changes thwarted Rovers’ hopes of engineering an equaliser. The final whistle brought further protests from half a dozen unruly Rovers fans who had to be restrained by security personnel from attacking referee McKeon.

Shelbourne: Williams, Heary, Doherty, T. McCarthy, Crawley, R. Baker (Rowe 87), Morgan (S. Byrne 80), Cahill, Hoolahan, J. Byrne, Geoghegan (G. McCarthy 60).

Shamrock Rovers: Ryan, Gough, Palmer, McGuinness, R. Byrne (Colwell 76), Robinson, Keddy (Tracey 87), Reynolds (Kelly 87), S. Grant, T. Grant, Fitzpatrick.

Referee: P. McKeon (Dublin).

CLASH OF THE TITANS

Source: Dublin Daily - Thursday May 29th 2003 - Journalist: Ciaran O’Raghallaigh

SHELBOURNE V SHAMROCK ROVERS

Ciaran O’Raghallaigh assesses the mind games ahead of one of the most eagerly awaited match-ups of the season so far.

Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers meet in Tolka Park tomorrow night in what could have been billed ‘Battle of Midway’. Rovers’ midfielder Alan Reynolds has been a revelation since his move from Cork and, in Stuart Byrne and Wes Hoolahan, the Shelbourne midfield possesses, in equal measures, the artisan and the artist. It could be a memorable battle – although unless Pat Fenlon is indulging in some Alex Ferguson-type mind games, it might not even take place. While Liam Buckley will take a full midfield compliment to Tolka Park, the meaty midfield battle seems likely to be given a rain-check according to Shels’ boss Fenlon, who is suffering selection problems ahead of the big match. Up to six first-team players will miss out claims Fenlon, forcing him to use the full depth of his squad. “Where to start?” said Fenlon. “Jim Gannon and Jim Crawford are both suspended and Richie Baker is out injured. Stewie Byrne is only recovering from an injury and unlikely to play and Wesley Hoolahan came back from the under-21 meet-up with a hamstring strain, so it will be an interesting line-up to say the least.” Liam Buckley’s Hoops are only missing the injured Trevor Molloy, and welcome back Liam Kelly and Jason Colwell, but it is the Shels line-up that intrigues Buckley most, with the belief that his counterpart is up to the infamous mind games. “Pat said they’re out? Well I’d be very surprised if all those lads miss out on Friday. Stewie Byrne, I heard, was going to be on the bench anyhow so with the suspension of Jim Crawford I think he’ll start. I really doubt that Wesley Hoolahan will miss out and I believe Kevin Doherty will also start. And what’s with Richie Baker? I doubt he’ll miss the game.” Buckley insists that he’ll wait until kick-of time to judge the Shels line-up but he has insisted that the Reds’ squad is strong enough to cope with any changes necessary. “Even if the lads don’t play, then Tommy Morgan and Ollie Cahill are available and that’s as strong as they would probably be in the first place. Pat has a full-time side, they’re top of the league, unbeaten, and he has built a squad to compete for the whole season. I won’t be put off with claims that person is out or this person is suffering from this. I’ll wait and see what the team turns out tomorrow night.” Regardless what happens on the Tolka Park’s physio table this week they will have to stop Alan Reynolds, who Buckley claims has been a ‘major contributor’ to his side’s start to the season. “He was the best player in Cork last season and he has been excellent for us so far. He is a very good passer of the ball as well as being a strong tackler and I think a lot of people miss that.” But even if others have missed it, there’s little doubt that the Shels players are well aware of the damage Reynolds can cause. But whether they’ll be able to stop him is another matter.

STATATTACK

Jason Byrne is looking to end his goal drought. After netting seven in the first five games of the campaign, the former Bray striker has failed to score in the last three.

Shelbourne will be looking to get back to winning ways at Tolka Park. They have drawn their last two games at the Drumcondra venue – Bohemians (2-2) and St. Patrick’s Athletic (2-2). In fact they have drawn four of their last five games, a statistic that needs to improve.

Rovers have yet to win on their travels. After drawing at St. Patrick’s Athletic (1-1), Bohemians (1-1) and Longford Town (0-0), they lost 2-0 at Waterford United at the RSC.

The five goals they scored against Derry City last Friday was the most any side has managed this season.

Shelbourne’s six-match summary WDDWDD

Shamrock Rovers six-match summary WDWDLW

LIFE OF A ROVER

Source: Dublin Daily - Thursday May 29th 2003 - Journalist: Ciaran O’Raghallaigh

BUCKLEY BRINGS KEDDY OUT OF HIS SHEL

James Keddy tells Ciaran O’Raghallaigh how Shamrock Rovers play just like the Brazilians – if you score one –we’ll score two.

James Keddy has experienced life in both the red and white of Shels and the green and white of Rovers. But ask him to compare his time with the two clubs that face each other tomorrow night in Tolka Park and the answer becomes a rather fittingly colourful answer. Playing for Rovers it seems is like playing for Brazil while his time at Shels is best compared to the Arsenal team of old. As part of Dermot Keely’s double-winning Shelbourne side of 1999/2000 Keddy remembers ‘about 12’ games where they won 1-0, echoing the former famous chant of the Gooner’s support, whose team perfected the art of the narrow victory. But he’s now with Liam Buckley’s swashbuckling Rovers side whom he likens to more to the Brazilian side’s ethos of ‘score one and we’ll score two’. “Liam was an attacking player and Dermot was a centre-half in his time so they’re very different styles. Liam is a lot more open in terms of going out and attacking the opposition and going for the win. I enjoy playing that type of game; playing freely. It’s like when you played when you were a kid: ‘If you score one, we’ll score two’. It’s not as if Liam neglects the defensive side of things though. Alan Reynolds is more of a sitting midfielder and he does that job very well.” A job well done tomorrow night could see Keddy’s Rovers join Shels at the summit of the eircom League Premier Division table, but the winger refuses to believe a win would mean anything more than three points. “It would be nice to beat them but the League will only really start after the second round of games. It is only the same three points that we’d get for winning any other game, but it would be nice to be on top. They’re a full-time outfit and going well so it would be a boost.” Keddy gave his own midfield case a boost last week when he scored a hat-trick in the 5-1 victory over Derry City. Keddy regularly contributes between four and six goals to his club each year from left-back and is already Rovers’ joint top scorer this season. “Shelbourne are a lot more attacking now to be honest. When I was there we won about 12 games by 1-0, I think. There was a lot of good players there at the time. Pat Fenlon, Paul Doolin, Stephen Geoghegan and Pat Scully to name a few. They were really good pros, and then there was myself and Richie Baker playing on the wings. Any team that wins the double has to be a good side but I think the current side are a lot more attractive. Pat has them playing a good style and that is very different to what Dermot (Keely) has us playing.” Fenlon’s side has indeed served the team well this season. His side is unbeaten in eight games with an average of almost two goals a game putting them top of the goal-scoring charts. Jason Byrne is also the league’s second top scorer but the opposition are not concerning Keddy at present. Byrne will play tomorrow night but there has been some fears raised over possible injuries to Shels’ star midfielder Richie Byrne and Wesley Hoolahan. “It will be interesting to see what teams lines up against us alright. But whoever plays, they will be good players that’s for sure. They are a big club and have a strong squad of 18-20 professionals so it will be a good team no matter what.” Should Rovers maintain their positive early start to the season, they’ll probably qualify for Europe once more. On Tuesday their Intertoto Cup opponents were named as Polish side Odra Wodzislaw, and Keddy is relishing the games. “It’s really nice to play in Europe as you play against some of the best players from other countries. Hopefully we can learn a bit from our previous time in Europe.” Last season the Hoops lost both of their first round games to Djurgardens of Sweden but this season Keddy will be hoping for further progression. And he won’t mind whether Rovers win in Arsenal style or playing like Brazil.

ROVERS’ EURO OPPONENTS NAMED

Source: Dublin Daily - Wednesday May 28th 2003 - Journalist: Unknown

Shamrock Rovers’ Intertoto Cup opponents were today named as Odra Wodzislaw, UEFA confirmed yesterday. Rovers qualified for the UEFA qualification tournament after finishing third in last season’s eircom Premier Division, but had to wait until yesterday to find out which Polish team they would face. The Polish ‘1 Liga’ finished last weekend with Odra Wodzislaw ending the season in fifth place. Rovers will play the first leg away on Sa Saturday, 21st June with the second leg at Richmond Park on Saturday, 28th June.

ROVERS READY FOR POLISH FRONT

Source: Dublin Daily - Tuesday May 27th 2003 - Journalist: Gordon Manning

Shamrock Rovers are set to find out today who they will face in the first round of the Intertoto Cup when the Polish FA submit their nominated two teams to UEFA. There are currently three teams in contention in Poland’s 1 Liga with Legia Warszawa, Odra Wodzislaw and Polonia Warszawa likely to produce the opponents for the Hoops. The games will take place in Poland on June 21/22 with the return leg in Richmond Park 28/29 June.

COUSINS FINISHES JOB AT HOME

Source: Dublin Daily - Tuesday May 27th 2003 - Journalist: Gordon Manning

Shamrock Rovers 1 UCD 2

Tony Cousins came out of retirement to hit the goal that clinched Shamrock Rovers’ place in the quarter-finals of the League Cup, where they will play St. Pats. Cousins, now Rovers’ under-21 manager, had retired due to a serious knee injury at the start if last season, but reconsidered for the League Cup campaign. The former Irish under-21 international looped a header to the net from a Jonathan Prizeman free-kick on 68 minutes to equalise John Martin’s first-half opener for College. Substitute Alan Gallen did shoot home a winner on the night for UCD to give their first victory of the season, but it was not enough as they lost out on goal difference.

ROVERS HEAD FOR BELFIELD ON A HIGH

Source: Dublin Daily - Monday May 26th 2003 - Journalist: Ciaran O’Raghallaigh

Shamrock Rovers travel to Belfield tonight on League Cup action in high spirits following their 5-1 hammering of Derry City last Friday night. Rovers will again treat the game as an opportunity to give fringe players a run out but if Liam Buckley’s changes work as well as they did at the weekend he should be confident of a positive result. Stephen McGuinness and James Keddy made unlikely positional appearances but both performed admirably with Keddy netting a hat trick from his new midfield role. Barry Ryan also proved a hero when he saved a penalty at 1-1 in what was the turning point of the game. The Hoops now lie third in the league only three points behind leaders Shelbourne who slipped up in Cork on Friday ahead of this week’s visit to Shels. But for now it’s the League Cup in Buckley’s sight and the knowledge that a draw with UCD will see them into the second round of the League Cup following their 3-0 victory over Bray Wanderers. Hoping to stop them will be UCD boss Paul Doolin, who will be back on the bench tonight. The situation has been forced upon him by the injury crisis currently gripping the club with Sean Finn (knee) and Alan Mahon (Achilles) unlikely to play again this season. “The fact that I was on the bench will tell you how short we were,” said Doolin. “We are down to the bare bones and if I have to play I will.” UCD need to beat Rovers by two goals to progress to the last eight and Doolin is anxious for his side to continue their improvement after halting their depressing seven-match losing sequence against St. Pats. “We still have a chance of getting through and that is what we will be aiming to do,” he said. Former UCD defender Clive Delaney, an interested observer at Belfield on Friday has hinted that he is more likely to return to his old job as a trainee accountant with Pricewaterhouse Coopers than pursue a full-time career in football following his release from West Ham last week. “I’m keeping an open mind about everything,” he said. “Ideally I’d like to get fixed up with another club in England. But if nothing happens on the football front in the meantime I can go back to my old job.”

ROVERS STAR MAKES A MOVE

Source: Dublin Daily - Thursday May 22nd 2003 - Journalist: Peter Breen

RICHIE RELISHES CENTRE SWITCH

Shamrock Rovers fans have got used to seeing last season’s left –back Richie Byrne battling in the centre this term. He tells Peter Breen how he’s coped with the switch. Shamrock Rovers’ versatile defender Richie Byrne is in a confident frame of mind ahead of his side’s clash with Derry City at Richmond Park tomorrow night (7.45pm). Since signing for the Hoops in the summer of 2000 from Belvedere, the talented left-footer has been a mainstay in both Damien Richardson and Liam Buckley’s sides. Byrne is enjoying an extended run in the team at the heart of the Rovers defence alongside Terry Palmer. Though it isn’t a position that he’s overly familiar with, he believes that his best is yet to come. “I feel that I’m coping reasonably well at centre-back, but I also enjoy playing at left-full and on the left-hand side of midfield from where I can attack. I enjoy going forward and I feel more comfortable there,” he admits. Looking back to last weekend’s defeat at the RSC against Waterford, Byrne is quick to accept the blame for conceding the Blues’ second goal. “I learned a costly lesson when I lost possession for their second goal at the edge of the box. Though I’m still finding my way at centre back, you have to keep your head for 90 minutes and a careless loss of concentration cost us that goal,” he says. “The first goal didn’t appear to be fully over the line but it was a difficult call for the linesman. I think that they (Waterford) will do very well this season. So far they seem to have caught a lot of teams on the hop and when the second series of games comes around a lot of sides will be more wary against them. They’ve a few guys from England and are very strong at the back.” When Byrne’s contract was nearing completion last season, Sheffield United were said to be after the Dubliner. He would still like a move across the water. “I think that the interest from Sheffield United came about because I was about to become a free agent. Being involved with the Ireland under-21 team might well have sparked a bit of interest, but it was no more than that really. Every player wants to play at the highest level. If that means going over, then so be it. I’m enjoying life at Rovers and there’s a lot of excitement around the place with stadium situation hopefully reaching and end,” he continues. “There’s always a chance of me going over because the standard in the eircom League is improving all the time. Clive Delaney, for example, was 23 when he joined Wes Ham on a short-term deal last, so age isn’t a big an issue as it used to be.” Byrne also believes that there is a lot of talent emerging from the current crop of Rovers starlets. “I think that Caffo (Paul Caffrey) is one of the best players I’ve ever seen. In training he’s sensational and he looked composed when he came on as a substitute last week. Martin Cramer is also a talented footballer and he’s putting a lot of pressure on Keith Doyle and James Keddy at left-back.” The competition at the heart of the Rovers rearguard is of more immediate concern to Byrne. With Pat Deans and Stephen McGuinness currently recovering from injury – chomping at the bit, Byrne is all too aware of what is required. “My job is to make sure that I keep on performing. A lot of people under-estimate Terry Palmer but he’s vital to the team and his work goes unnoticed. Stephen Gough has been excellent at right-back as has Keddy on the left. Barry Ryan has been excellent in goal also. I think we’re working well as a unit and hopefully we can continue. ”Byrne, meanwhile, is under no illusion as to where Derry’s strengths lie. “Liam Coyle is a serious threat but I think that the game will be won and lost in midfield. Our wingers are very important to us and I think the like of Shane (Robinson) and Stephen (Grant) will have big roles to play.” Manager Buckley is pleased with the young defenders form. “Richie is developing nicely and he has an excellent attitude, is strong in the air and is a very assured performer at the back for us. We’re very please with Richie and he’s played a huge part in our sound defensive record this season.”

CRAMER CAPTAIN DELIGHT

Source: Dublin Daily - Tuesday May 20th 2003 - Journalist: Unknown

Martin Cramer Shamrock Rovers is delighted after being named captain of the eircom League under-21 team competing at the Four Nations Inter-League tournament in Wales. The Irish side, which is managed by Tony Cousins, play their first game against England at Merthyr Tydfil tonight (7.30pm) followed by games against Scotland at Haverfordwest on Thursday (7.30pm), and the host nation Wales, at the same venue, on Saturday (3.30pm). “It’s a great honour for me to be given the captaincy,” acknowledged Cramer (20). “It took me by surprise when Tony told me. To be honest, I expected someone else to be given the job. But I’m not complaining. To play for your country, at whatever level, is one thing. To be the player that captains the side is a feather in your cap, an added bonus.” England, Scotland and Wales are fielding senior sides at the tournament but Cousins believes his team will give a good account of themselves. “My lads are mainly 18 or 19 years old but it will be a great experience for them and I am sure they won’t let anyone down.”

ROVERS PUT TRUST IN FORMER WORLD CUP REF

Source: Dublin Daily - Monday May 19th 2003 - Journalist: Ciaran O’Raghallaigh

BUCKLEY HAPPY TO PUT HIS FAITH IN FOLEY

Shamrock Rovers’ boss Liam Buckley insists that he trusts former World Cup referee Eddie Foley’s decision after he awarded a controversial goal against his side in last Friday’s defeat to Waterford. Foley judged that Rovers keeper Barry Ryan had crossed the goal line with the ball and referee Eddie Foley awarded a goal, much to the protestation of the keeper and many of the travelling support. “I haven’t seen it on TV but I have to give the linesman the benefit of the doubt for now. I was 50-60 yards away so I can’t really say whether it was in or not, but the linesman was 10-15 yards away too so it’s a dodgy call. But I’ll wait until I see it on video. A lot of people who were on the same side as the linesman said it definitely wasn’t in. Barry protested about it too but that only got him booked.” It was a goal that Buckley admitted he had never seen the likes of before but he admitted that the second goal was one he wished he’d seen as rarely. Richie Byrne failed to release the ball quick enough on the edge of his own box, allowing Vinny Sullivan a clear path to goal, and he made no mistake firing under Ryan. “I’m very disappointed,” said Buckley. “We gifted the two goals to them and the second one was very poor defensively.” To make matters worse Jason Colwell was sent off for an off-the-ball incident, but again Buckley will wait to see video evidence before condemning the player. “Their player checked Jason and he then checked him back. The referee only saw it when Jason did it though and it seems unfortunate. Again though I’ll wait to see it on the TV then I can comment on it a bit more.” Waterford’s victory added Rovers to their growing list of scalps put them up to second in the table behind Shelbourne. While many have been surprised by the Blues’ performance, Buckley insists it was no shock to him: “Jimmy has been speaking of a place in Europe since the opening day of the season So I don’t think it should be such a surprise. They’ve beaten us, Drogheda, UCD, Pat’s and drawn with Cork, so if that form up they will be there at the end of the season. But it’s a long season and we’ve to play them three more times, so hopefully we can reverse that scoreline.”

BLUES LEAVE HOOPS REELING

Source: The Star - Saturday May 17th 2003 - Journalist: Unknown

Waterford City 2 Shamrock Rovers 0

Waterford United and Shamrock Rovers served up a scintillating Premier Division clash in front of 4,000 at a packed RSC last night. A goal in each in half clinched the points for Waterford and the victory sweeps the Blues above Cork City into second place in the table behind leaders, Shelbourne. United went ahead on the half hour thanks to a highly controversial goal. Thomas Hughes crossed from the end line on the right and while goalkeeper Barry Ryan clasped the ball to his chest he appeared to fumble it slightly. Then the assistant referee, to the fury of the Rovers’ players and fans, adjudged that Ryan had stepped back over the line and awarded a goal to Hughes. A minute before half-time, the other assistant referee spotted an off the ball foul by Jason Colwell on Hughes and Colwell was given a straight red card. The Blues extended their lead after 53 minutes. Richard Byrne’s mistake put Vinny Sullivan in the clear and he kept his nerve to coolly drill the ball past the advancing Ryan. Earlier, Kevin O’Brien and Gary O’Neill had shots on target for United but Rovers almost opened the scoring on eight minutes when Shane Robinson headed wide from six yards. Robinson had the ball in the Waterford net on 51 minutes but referee Ian Stokes awarded a free out for a foul on goalkeeper Connor by Tony Grant. Brian Mallon’s last-ditch tackle denied Grant a chance of a goal after 61 minutes as the visitors continued to threaten. A minute later Robinson mis-kicked as he attempted to lob Connor who found himself stranded just inside the area.

Waterford United: Connor, Hughes, Frost, Mallon, Byrne, O’Brien, Mulcahy (Cosgrove 45), Reilly, Waters (Rockett 86), O’Neill (Murphy 79), Sullivan. Subs not used: Leahy, Morris.

Shamrock Rovers: Ryan, Gough, Keddy, Colwell, Palmer, Byrne (Doyle 86), Robinson, T. Grant, Kelly, (Caffrey 45), Reynolds (Deans 82), S. Grant. Subs not used: Treacy, Lacey.

Referee: Ian Stokes (Dublin)

ROVERS HAVE A LOT DONE, BUT THERE IS MORE TO DO

Source: The Irish Times - Tuesday May 13th 2003 - Journalist: Emmet Malone

After waiting so long to hit upon a strategy capable of getting them into their new home in Tallaght, it’s hardly surprising to see that Shamrock Rovers are moving quickly to build on the tremendous progress made since club representatives first met with Ben Dunne a little over three weeks ago. Dunne’s technical people were out on the site yesterday, sizing up a site that should be the subject of a planning application within a matter of months, and club officials will sit down with representatives of South Dublin County Council by the end of the week in order to discuss their proposal to put a 40,000 square foot leisure centre on what was, until a few years ago, part of a council owned park. That Rovers have suddenly started to unlock the commercial potential of the site is, of course, good news for a club that has struggled for several years now to generate anything like the money they needed to build even a modest facility on the land they were handed by the council. On the face of it, though, it is not necessarily a cause for celebration amongst SDCC officials who, had they really wanted a commercial developer to come in and build a major leisure centre or, for that matter, a publican to run a couple of new bars, probably could have come up with a more profitable way to do it than by using Rovers as middlemen. At last week’s press conference, where the €2 million Ben Dunne deal was announced, mention was made of the potential for further partnerships. But the development of a cluster of business enterprises – all with a leisure aspect to them, of course, so as to avoid any zoning difficulties – around a small football stadium could presumably become a bit of an embarrassment for the people who handed over the prized piece of land in question for use as a sports facility with almost no strings attached. Rovers officials make the point that the overall package will be a good one for both the local authority and for the people of the local area. They believe that as long as the money from the commercial side of the development continues to be reinvested in the club’s facilities there should not be a problem and so any future money making projects are likely to be specifically linked to the particular investments in the club’s infrastructure. Nevertheless there is, within the club, an awareness that care must be taken over the months ahead not to antagonise either the council or the locals, some of whom put considerable energy into opposing the original planning application. Before the end of the year Rovers would be in a position to reapply for planning permission, something that would potentially pave the way for more than six midweeks games that are presently allowed for and an increase in the number of seats beyond the 6,000 currently envisaged. Club officials, however, want to avoid the perception by outsiders that they are being greedy and it is possible that with the funding required to get them on site, possibly within six months, they will put any further development on hold until, as Rovers Chairman Tony Maguire has put it, “we can show people that we can be good neighbours”. They will of course, need all the goodwill they can generate for, while considerable work has been done in establishing a Tallaght identity for the club since the mid-90s, the senior team’s links with the area are still rather vague. Acquiring a locally bases schoolboy section by effectively taking over Tallaght Town has gone well and the upshot is that a substantial number of locals now identify with the club to one degree or another. But for all of the confident predictions that the move to a permanent new home will mark the return of the good times for the Hoops there is still no guarantee that the crowds will turn out to see eircom League in an area that has a proud tradition of producing quality footballers but very little of getting along to watch games. The locals might have protested for a shopping centre and a hospital over the years but League of Ireland football was conspicuously absent from their list of demands. Few doubt the potential, though. What is clear is that a huge amount of work remains to be done if the Rovers relocation really is to prove a long-term success.

BUCKLEY HALF TIME ‘BUST-UP’ NOTHING

Source: Dublin Daily - Tuesday May 13th 2003 - Journalist: Ciaran O’Raghallaigh

Shamrock Rovers boss Liam Buckley has claimed that his side’s match against Longford was so bad that it forced reporters to make a mountain out of a molehill. Commenting on yesterday’s media reports of a ‘half-time bust-up’, Buckley said it was nothing that hasn’t happened in every other ground this season. “ As far as I’m concerned it’s dead and buried,” said Buckley. “There was nothing in it at all, no punches, no brawl, nothing. The reporters there probably made something out it because the game was so crap,” he laughed. “The referee didn’t say anything about it nor did the linesmen, because I went down the tunnel with them taking issue about something I didn’t like from the game. What happened was one of our lads went to Avery John complaining about the tackle on Trevor Molloy. Their lads turned around then and spoke back but there was no fighting or anything like that – this happens at every game.” Trevor Molloy was carried from the pitch after 25 minutes following a late tackle by Avery John that sparked fury from the Rovers bench. Longford boss Alan Matthews insisted that the tackle was hard but fair, and urged Buckley to look after his own players and staff rather than worry about Longford’s players. But Buckley’s claim is likely to ease the war of words between the two camps and hopefully allow the teams to focus on football and not external issues, as Brian Kerr appealed for at the start of the season. The good news for Rovers fans however is that the results of Trevor Molloy’s x-ray yesterday showed that his ankle was not broken. Buckley said: “It’s badly bruised but there’s nothing broken thankfully. I’m not sure if he’ll be ready for next week and he will definitely not train for the next couple of days.”

WAR OF WORDS

Source: Evening Herald - Monday May 12th 2003 - Journalist: Unknown

Shamrock Rovers and Longford Town are engaged in a war of words after Saturday’s scoreless draw between the two boiled over. A first-half tackle by Town defender Avery John on Trevor Molloy sparked the bust-up in the tunnel after the half-time whistle involving some of the backroom team from both clubs. “It was a two-footed tackle over the top and Trevor’s ankle is like a balloon,” said Rovers boss Liam Buckley. Town boss Alan Matthews said: “Liam should concentrate on keeping control of his backroom staff as opposed to making comments about our players.”

LEAGUE TO PROBE TUNNEL BUST-UP

Source: The Star - Monday May 12th 2003 - Journalist: Unknown

Football chiefs are set to investigate a half time bust-up in the tunnel during Saturday night's sterile eircom Premier Division draw at Flancare Park. Players and members of the management teams of Longford Town and Shamrock Rovers exchanged blows and verbal abuse as they made their way to the dressing-rooms. Up to 10 people were involved in the incident that wasn't witnessed by referee Anthony Buttimer or his three officials. But that won't prevent eircom League president Brendan Dillon and general manager Tommy Allen from launching a probe in line with the League's welcome clampdown on poor discipline by clubs.

FURIOUS

The catalyst for the ugly confrontation was Avery John's 21st minute challenge on Hoops striker Trevor Molloy that left him writhing in agony on the ground before being substituted. From the press box at the back of the main stand John's challenge appeared legitimate if pretty robust and the referee - less than 15 yards away - agreed. But Rovers boss Liam Buckley was furious and didn't hold back on the final whistle. "It was a two footed tackle over the top and Trevor's ankle is up like a balloon," blasted Bucko. "He's not the first fellow that this has happened to,” added Buckley who was almost as livid about Buttimer's decision to rule out Terry Palmer's headed goal for climbing on an opponent just short of the hour. "I can guarantee you that anybody who scores from a corner in the penalty box has their hands up because they are competing for the ball," declared Buckley. "I've climbed for many a goal myself and you've got to get off the ground. But he wasn't climbing all over the Longford player. But home supremo Alan Matthews dismissed Buckley's claims on both counts. "He should try to look after his own team and concentrate on keeping an eye on them and perhaps his assistant manager," said Matthews when questioned about John's tackle. "I suggest that Buckley should concentrate on keeping control of his back room staff as opposed to making comments about our players. "It wasn't a free kick-it was a hard tackle and I hope the chap isn't badly injured. They've got a couple of shrinking violets in there themselves. "I thought Brian Kerr made a valid point when he asked managers not to use the media to have a go at rival clubs and managers. But it's obviously fallen on deaf ears.

PITCH

"And as far as the disallowed goal goes, it was a free kick because Palmer pushed our man." At least Matthews and Buckley agreed on one thing - the awful state of the pitch that rendered good football impossible. "The pitch was absolutely crap and how are we supposed to attract people back to the game if the surface is like that," asked Buckley. "The pitch is shocking and I make no bones about it," admitted Matthews. "But they've invested money in a new draining system so hopefully by the start of the second round of games it will be back to the previous standard. "There's too much sand on it so they're bringing in a truck load of worms next week to burrow through and allow the water to drain through." Town rightly argue that they were prevented from working on their pitch during February as they had to host the Ireland-England schoolboy game. It may seem churlish to criticise a club that has transformed what was once little more than a rural field into one of the best football arenas in Ireland in three years. However, the League must take a tough stance on the state of surfaces just as they are with other facets of the game. For the record, Palmer's header appeared within the rules while Liam Kelly should have scored with his close range header on the stroke of half time and was denied by the woodwork in the second half. Town would have claimed the points had Eric Lavine not endured an off day-shooting weakly into Barry Ryan's arms in either half-while sub Shane Barrett had a late effort blocked.

BOSS BUCKLEY’S ANGER AS ROVER DENIED WINNER

Source: Dublin Daily - Monday May 12th 2003 - Journalist: Unknown

Longford Town 0 Shamrock Rovers 0

Managers rarely listen to the media or ask them for opinions but when it comes to disputed goals it’s often the guys at the laptops and behind the cameras that can furnish the fact required by the inquiring gaffer. Pat Dolan did it when his side visited Richmond Park and conceded a late goal and now Terry Palmer’s disallowed goal against Longford Town has made Liam Buckley breach the press box. “I’m very disappointed by the decision not to allow Terry’s goal,” Buckley said. “I will wait until I have seen it on the television but the lads in the press box all seemed to think it was a clear-cut goal. The Longford defender wasn’t complaining much either so I’m disappointed. That could have been the winner for us. I asked the referee why Terry’s goal was not given and he’s said that it’s because Terry was climbing over the defender. Now most headed goals that are score in the box will not be clean headers, and I don’t think Terry was climbing at all.” The referee was not the only one to get a dressing down from Buckley – the poor surface in Flancare Park also came in for some criticism. “I’m very disappointed indeed with the pitch, some managers have already complained about it and I’m just another on that list. I can’t understand how the pitch can be that bad, they only play one game there every two weeks so it’s baffling that the surface can be that poor.” While the surface was poor, the game was poorer, according to Buckley. Of course the two are linked. However the surface was not to blame for the terrible challenge on Trevor Molloy by Avery John that has left the Hoops man facing an x-ray today. “The tackle from Avery was disappointing. He went through the ball and straight through Trevor too. He will need an x-ray on his ankle today, and we’re hoping it’s not too serious. It could be a ligament problem or a chipped bone.”

HOOPS NEWS BRINGS KENNY MARC OF RELIEF

Source: Irish People - Sunday May 11th 2003 - Journalist: Unknown

Feelings of agony and ecstasy engulfed the mind of Shamrock Rovers stalwart Marc Kenny on Friday morning. As news broke that work on the club’s new stadium in Tallaght would recommence, he felt like he had found a penny but lost a pound. Kenny has devoted the bulk of his career to the Hoops and found it a bitter-sweet moment as Rovers chiefs announced that their new ground in Tallaght is finally nearer completion. The players, the fans and indeed the whole of Tallaght have waited years for this moment. Yet Kenny can only manage a wry smile as he comes to terms with the fact that having waited so long for this day, he won’t be around for the final piece of the jigsaw. Work will restart on the new stadium, which is located just 200 yards away from The Square shopping centre, in the coming weeks. Millionaire Ben Dunne of Dunnes Stores fame has agreed to inject €2m into the project, leaving the club with a manageable €3m loan from the bank left to service. The plan now is to have the ground open for the final three games of the season next October. But Kenny, the former Liverpool midfielder with the golden right boot, is currently on the transfer list at the club and doesn’t expect to be around. “It will be a historic day for the club but unfortunately I don’t think I’ll have any part in it,” he admitted. “I joined the club back in 1995 and there was always talk about a new stadium but as the years rolled by it grew frustrating for everyone.”

PAINFUL

”Now it’s actually going to happen, and not another false dawn, it’ s painful to think that I won’t be part of it. I still see myself as Shamrock Rovers through and through.” Bringing Ben Dunne on board was a huge coup for the club. The tycoon has also agreed to finance a new stand at one end of the ground in return for permission to build his own on-site leisure centre. Mick Kearns is the long suffering Project Manager of the venture and admitted: “This is the end of 17 years of hell since the club left Milltown. Finally Shamrock Rovers Football Club will return home in October and it won’t be a day too soon.” Rovers have been on the road since the club’s directors opted to sell Glenmalure Park in Milltown to housing developers back In the late 1980s.

YOU CAN COUNT ON ME IN A CRISIS

Source: Irish Sun - Saturday May 10th 2003 - Journalist: Neil O’Riordan

Tony Cousins has told Shamrock Rovers boss Liam Buckley: “You can count on me as back-up in times of crisis. Cousins appeared to have finished as a Rovers player at the start of last season when he moved to Bray Wanderers, especially when he then quit without playing a game for his new club because of a persistent knee injury. But he returned to Rovers immediately to become manager of their under-21 side and, in their League Cup tie against Bray on Wednesday, he put on his boots and came off the bench for a run-out.

PROBLEMS

The 33-year-old – who has scored 92 goals in 272 eircom League appearances – is unlikely to be called upon when the Hoops take on Longford Town at Flancare Park tonight but says he will be available for the rest of the season if needed. Cousins said: “It was brilliant to play again because it wasn’t something I expected but because we were a couple of players short, Liam asked me to go on the bench. And because Tony Grant has had a couple of injury problems, he did not want to play him for the full game so he gave me a run. It was a bit ironic that it was against Bray after what had happened but Liam rang Pat Devlin out of courtesy the night before to explain the situation so he didn’t get a shock when he saw me come on as a sub.” Cousins had called time on a career which saw him play for Dundalk, Liverpool, Bohemians and Rovers because of cartilage problems in his right knee. The ex-Irish under-21 international underwent surgery every year for three years in a bid to get himself right but eventually decided that he had had enough. He explained: “When I decided to quit, I did nothing at all for about six months but I started to out on weight which was annoying me so I started doing a bit of training. I played a couple of behind-closed-door games for Rovers and then the situation arose where Liam asked me if I would get involved for the match against Bray. I am not going to set myself any targets in terms of breaking into the first team. That is not my aim, I will just be there if I am needed. I enjoyed the game on Wednesday. I had no pain during the game or when I woke up the following day but whether that would be the case if I went at it hammer and tongs is a different matter.

STAKE

“I am, however, going to try to keep myself fit and if it was a thing that we were, say, three or four strikers down then I would be happy to step into the breach. I am sure that Liam would ask me to play if that happened when the team were doing well and there were points at stake. I think he would turn to me because of my experience. That would make more sense because it wouldn’t be fair to throw in a 17-year-old who had never played before.” Similarly, Buckley has no plans to make Cousins a regular, which is understandable when he has Stephen Grant, Trevor Molloy, Liam Kelly and Glen Fitzpatrick at his disposal. But with eircom League clubs facing up to 50 games in a season which runs for just six and a half months, he is grateful for all the fit bodies he can muster. And he believes, there could be an unexpected twist in Cousins’ playing career, just as there was in his after he became Brian Kerr’s assistant at St. Pat’s in 1995. Buckley recalled: “Tony reminds me of myself a few years ago after I had gone to St. Pat’s as Brian’s no. 2. I was training away and Brian asked if I fancied playing. If I was quite honest, I didn’t but did end up playing and had reasonable success that season. We won the league and we got to the FAI Cup Final. Because Tony is training with the first team, he is in reasonably good condition. Realistically, he is not going to be in the first team. But we are going to have some amount of games. Without tempting fate, we are going to have more than 40 games. And we could even be looking at 50 squeezed into 30 weeks which is going to be tough, So Tony could be an asset”

A DUNNE DEAL FOR TALLAGHT

Source: Irish Sun - Saturday May 10th 2003 - Journalist: Neil O'Riordan

TYCOON BEN RESCUES SHAMS DREAM

Shamrock Rovers have pulled off the biggest supermarket sweep of all time – with Ben Dunne set to give them €2million and a 2,000 seater stand. The former supermarket tycoon – who headed up Dunnes Stores before a family row saw him leave – has come to the rescue of Rovers. The country’s most successful club had been racking their brains about how they could finally complete phase one of their stadium development. The projects cost had shot up from €3m to €9.5m.

REALISTIC

But a meeting with Dunne on Thursday has opened the possibility that they could move into Tallaght before the end of this campaign, although next season is more of a realistic target. Dunne – who owns a string of fitness centres – will seek planning permission to build one in the grounds of the stadium, paying Rovers €2m for the land as well as building a stand for nothing. They are also on the brink of completing a €300,000 per year deal to lease out their bar and restaurant facilities. The double deal will allow them to borrow the €5m they need to complete phase one, which will feature a 3,500 seater main stand. They hope that can be done within the next six months. The stand to be built by Ben Dunne is part of phase two of the development but could be erected by the end of 2004. A jogging track will also be installed around the pitch. At a press conference yesterday Rovers Chairman Tony Maguire beamed: “This deal is ground-breaking and breath-taking and it fits in with our idea to make the stadium a fitness and leisure mecca in South County Dublin. It will be called the Hoops fitness centre. It will be available for use for all our players and a 2,000 seater stand will be built for the club and we will receive €2m. Ten per cent of that will be paid upon contract-signing with the remainder due when we get planning permission.” Rovers claim that they do not envisage any problems with planning permission, despite the difficulties that dogged the project to date. Objections from both an adjacent school and a local residents’ group delayed construction and although An Bord Pleanála eventually gave it’s approval, costs rose dramatically because of a stipulation that they would have to build a second car park. But Maguire said: “I don’t see it being an issue. An objection against noise levels was raised before but that was rejected and I don’t see why it wouldn’t be now. As part of our second deal, Hugh O’Regan will run our bar and restaurant facilities and that was approved as part of the initial planning application. Our revenue streams outside football will increase dramatically and make it far easier to obtain the loan we need. Three out of four of our last games are in November and it would be lovely to think that the stadium would be ready. Things are going to have to move quickly now but that might be a little too soon.”

PROBLEMS

Rovers have permission to play only six games midweek during the course of a season. As Friday is regarded as being midweek, that could cause problems as to when they will play their matches but are hoping that might be reconsidered. Despite their good news, Roves insisted they will still looking to fill the remaining 100 vacant spots in their 400 club, whereby fans chip in €10 a week to help the club. When he was told he would receive no money for the team, manager Liam Buckley joked: “That’s Teddy Sheringham gone then.”

ROVERS STADIUM BACK ON TRACK

Source: Evening Herald – Friday, May 9th 2003 - Journalist: Paul Hyland

Shamrock Rovers have secured the finances necessary to develop Tallaght Stadium and work on the pitch has already begun. Endless delays caused by a shortage of finance and the complicated nature of the planning process has seen the project on hold for the last 18 months. But now, a sponsorship deal involving a city publican and the Hoops has been agreed that is expected to generate €300,000 a year for the next ten years in return for the rights to run the on-site outlets. Better still, it looks likely that Rovers are on the brink of securing the necessary guarantees they need to fund the full Phase One of the Tallaght development and turn the project into a flagship for the eircom League. “We are currently is discussion with a number of leading financial institutions. We would expect a conclusion of these negotiations towards the back end of May,” said Rovers Chairman Tony Maguire in his latest message to the Hoops fans. Sources suggest that Maguire and his Board are within touching distance of a deal and that success would create the right conditions for investment from a number of heavyweight Irish businessmen. The Tallaght project will represent the first stadium development from a greenfield site in this country in three decades. The news will come as a huge boost to Hoops fans, who have been forced to wander from venue to venue around Dublin as Rovers desperately sought a way to end the misery caused by the sale of Glenmalure Park in the late 1980s to a property developer.

DUNNE DEAL FOR ROVERS

Source: Dublin Daily – Friday, May 9th 2003 - Journalist: Ciaran O’Raghallaigh

Former supermarket tycoon Ben Dunne will be unveiled today as the mystery man behind a €2m investment in Shamrock Rovers Football Club. The massive deal will give Rovers the green light to complete their stadium development in Tallaght, 18 months after the club’s finances ran dry, leaving a half-finished concrete structure. Dunne a leading member of the business consortium involved in the deal, will formally complete the deal this morning and the club is set to announce it officially at a press conference at 1pm in the Plaza Hotel, Tallaght. It is understood that the substantial investment will give the group permission for further development on the site. Dunne currently owns Westpoint Health and Fitness Centre in Blanchardstown and who is planning to build a new gym in Terenure. The development in southwest Dublin has been on hold for the last 18 months due to financial shortages, and an earlier ground sharing proposal with a local GAA team won little support from the fans.

GROUND SHARING

The team currently play their eircom League matches at St. Patrick Athletic’s Richmond Park stadium in Inchicore and this is the news both fans have been waiting for. The club, Ireland’s most successful soccer team, endured a long battle for planning permission on the Tallaght greenfield site and has already spent approximately €4.1m on the development. When the 6,000-seater soccer stadium is completed, it is sure to be the benchmark to which every eircom League team will aspire and will allow manager Liam Buckley to compete with Bohemians and Shelbourne by building Rovers’ first professional team. It will be the fifth “home” pitch of Rovers since their Milltown ground was sold to property developers in the late 1980s with the RDS, Tolka Park, Morton Stadium, Santry, and Richmond Park all housing the Hoops at some stage.

IT’S BEN OF THE ROVERS

Source: Dublin Daily – Friday, May 9th 2003 - Journalist: Ciaran O’Raghallaigh

HOOPS SAVED: Ben Dunne rescues Rovers stadium plan with €2m investment.

Ben Dunne, one of Ireland’s most prominent businessmen, has invested €2m in Shamrock Rovers Football Club, enabling his leisure group to expand to Tallaght. Mr. Dunne, a multi-millionaire who owns Westpoint Health and Fitness Centre in Blanchardstown and who is planning to build a new gym in Terenure, now has the opportunity to create a purpose-built, facility on Rovers’ ground, 18 months after the club ran out of money to finish their Stadium. After a lifetime in the supermarket business, Dunne left the company after a bitter family row. He has kept a low profile in financial circles over the past decade, but his name has been hardly out of the headlines as he has been associated with numerous payments to politicians, including former Taoiseach Charles Haughey.

HOME BOYS IS JUMPING THROUGH HOOPS

Source: Dublin Daily - Thursday May 8th 2003 - Journalist: Ciaran O’Raghaillaigh

New Rovers winger Glen Lacey is thrilled to be making his mark on home soil and he tells Ciaran O’Raghaillaigh that he expects more players to follow in his footsteps back from Britain.<br>Would somebody at the FAI please give Shamrock Rovers a call? Now that eircom League PR man Darren Bernstein has left Merrion Square, the search need go no further to find someone to promote the domestic game. His CV shows that he has a passion for soccer, he’s Irish, he’s played for a Premiership club and is a devout fan of the eircom League. What more could they ask for? The person in question is 19-year-old Rovers player Glen Lacey. Lacey was one of the returning hordes of young Irish footballers that, having journeyed across the water to find fame and fortune in the English leagues, came home expecting disillusionment and disenchantment. Or so they say. But nobody told Glen to feel like that. The former Sunderland youth, who shone in last Sunday’s victory over Cork City, has made it clear he’s delighted to be in the eircom League and he’s spreading the word. “It’s brilliant here, I’ve been with Rovers almost a year and I honestly could not believe the standard when I came back first,” said Lacey. “When I knew I was not going to be staying at Sunderland some of my mates there were saying that there was no point in going back to Ireland. In England they have no idea about the league and I was being advised not to go back. Port Vale and Lincoln were interested but I was desperate to come home.” When he did return he played at Bohemians for a short spell before settling at Rovers where he recently made his first-team debut. “I was very surprised when I came home and I could not believe the standard and the physical nature of the play,” he said. “You need to be very fit for this league and if any of the lads in England ask me about it they only hear positive things.” Some of Lacey’s former team-mates at Sunderland include Irish youth players like Stephen Capper, Mark Rossiter and Keith Graydon. While the former pair hope to visit and catch a game in Richmond Park on their summer break, the latter could well be playing on Irish soil again following his release from the recently relegated side. “Stephen and Mark were probably my best mates when I was in England and we went everywhere together, so when they get back in the summer they’ll try to come to a game, and now that Keith is being let go by Sunderland there’s no reason why he can’t come back to Ireland,” said Lacey. “When I speak positively about the league to the lads in England, it’s a comfort to them. They ask me ‘Is it really that good?’ and when more like me say that it is I can see more of the young lads being happy to come home. There will be a few clubs looking at Keith when he’s free but he’ll be happy to come to Ireland no doubt.” Life in Ireland is comfortable for Lacey at the moment with a club perched near the top of the table and looking in good shape for a tilt at the title. The midfielder played his part in the victory over Cork City last week and he’s now out for more. “I crossed the ball for both goals we scored against Cork and I was very happy with my performance,” he said. “I was a bit nervous at the start of the game, as was to be expected on my first start, but after a while I started enjoying it and in the second half I really began to relax. Liam Buckley said he was delighted with me and it was good to beat a top side after we came so close to beating Bohemians in our previous game.” With Shane Robinson currently first choice on the right wing, Lacey may not be a regular in the Hoops side yet but he isn’t ready to shirk a challenge, especially since he’s travelled this far to find a home for his football skills.

PLAYERS MAN MAKES HIS CASE

Source: Dublin Daily - Thursday May 8th 2003 - Journalist: Robert Reid

STEPHEN MCGUINNESS: PFAI CHAIRMAN STANDS FIRM

PFAI chairman Stephen McGuinness has made a renewed plea to Ireland’s disciplinary chiefs to stop tying the eircom League up in red tape ahead of the association’s AGM at Liberty Hall this Sunday. A total of 39 players were banned from their club’s opening game of the season and he wants to see the current system scrapped. In a no-holds-barred attack the Shamrock Rovers defender has labelled the policy of carrying suspensions over from the previous campaign as “insane” and called for the “ridiculous” practice to stop. “The disciplinary system as it stands is unfair on everyone – the players, the clubs and the fans. It’s time for a change,” he said. “The PFAI is not trying to stick a gun to anyone’s head. We have the best interests of football in this country at heart. We just want some common sense to prevail – for everyone’s sake, not just the PFAI’s.” McGuinness was one of this season’s carry-over victims, and he wasn’t available for selection for Rovers opening league fixture against Drogheda, he wasn’t considered for the first team’s pre-season games either. An achilles injury also held up his progress and he said: “I’m not making a point for Stephen McGuinness per se. I represent all the players in my role as chairman of the PFAI. Liam Buckley needed to play his strongest team but my situation isn’t untypical, which is the worrying thing. My Rovers’ team-mate James Keddy, Cork’s George O’Callaghan and St. Pat’s Tony Bird were all in the same boat as well at the start of the season. Drogheda were without five players after being involved in the end of season play-offs. It happens season after season and it has to stop. A solution needs to be found – and soon.” McGuinness reckons a general amnesty might be the answer, or a return to the old system whereby clubs paid cash in exchange for getting rid of bans hanging over players. But he feels both solutions would need to be accompanied by certain provisos. “Players might feel that they have been granted a licence to kick everyone around them if they know the slate is going to be wiped clean. If there are deterrents that could happen, human nature being what it is,” he said. “There has to be some semblance of law and order. Also, paying off fines would be a lot easier for the bigger clubs and could lead to perceived inequities in the system. It’s hard to know what to do to be honest. I just wish there was a simple answer. However I do know that we cannot afford to continue the way we are. Changes need to be made but it’s a really hard one to solve. The first game of the season is so important to players. It can make or break your season. Maybe we should look at the English way of doing things. Having said that I’m not sure how they go about their business but we will be finding out.”

ROVERS ENJOY A TRIP TO THE SEASIDE

Source: Dublin Daily – Thursday, May 8th 2003 - Journalist: David Mervin

Bray Wanderers 0 Shamrock Rovers 3

Something had to give in this League Cup Group 5 fixture last night, with both sides unbeaten in their divisions. Liam Buckley’s men took a deserved lead on 23 minutes. Jonathan Prizeman floated in a free kick and the resulting scramble was prodded home by Tony Grant. The home side could have taken an early lead thanks to efforts from wing-back Paul Forsyth, whose free-kick crashed against the bar on 17 minutes. But Rovers looked the better side and secured the win on 64 minutes with a goal from Glen Fitzpatrick. Substitute Paul Caffrey made it 3-0 on 83 minutes.

PAT DOLEFUL

Source: Dublin Daily – Monday, May 6th 2003 - Journalist: Ciaran O’Raghallaigh

Shamrock Rovers 2 Cork City 1<br>Cork City boss Pat Dolan claims that his sides controversial defeat to Shamrock Rovers was a hard one to take, but he believes that their bad luck will even itself out over the course of the season. Dolan paced about the Richmond Park pitch half an hour after the final whistle seemingly awaiting a steward’s inquiry; somebody that would tell him that the late Rovers’ goal was disallowed. Of course nothing changed and the Robbie Hedderman own goal, as it was agreed upon in the referee’s room and the press box, meant that City had missed their chance to go to the top of the table. “The manner of the defeat was hard to take,” admitted Dolan. “I will watch the television replays and see if that clears it up. Michael (Devine) claims that he was pushed when he went to catch the cross but (Stephen) Grant got on to it. “I have to give full credit to my players though, they gave their all and put so much into it only to see us lose.” While Dolan was somewhat philosophical in defeat, he was positively gracious to the opposition despite the personal barracking he received from the home support: “We lost to an outstanding Rovers team. They will feel that they have been knocking on the door since the mid 90’s now and they will be confident of winning something this season. They had the better of the second-half and played some nice football too but I think a draw would have been a fairer result.”

CORK’S INCHICORE CURSE CONTINUES

Source: Dublin Daily – Monday, May 5th 2003 - Journalist: Ciaran O’Raghallaigh

Shamrock Rovers 2 Cork City 1

Pat Dolan had to be dragged from the pitch in the dying minutes of this passionate affair as Cork City’s Richmond Park curse continued yesterday – for the fourth time in a row, the Leesiders left Inchicore pointless. Goals from Stephen Grant and a late scrambled Robbie Hedderman goal continued Rovers’ unbeaten start to the season and brought Liam Buckley’s side within two points of the Premier Division summit. When Hedderman bundled home Glen Lacy’s cross with two minutes to go, it was too late for City to take anything from the game. And, in truth it was an undeserved winner, though the Hoops will point to their return as payback for their positive play. Stephen Grant scored an equally scrappy goal on the hour to drag Rovers back into the tie and cancel out John O’Flynn’s opener. The 21-year-old Cork hitman kept pace with Shelbourne’s Jason Byrne at the top of the goal-scoring stakes with his seventh goal in five games but ultimately it wasn’t to be enough, as the Leesider’s surrendered their unbeaten start to the season. The sodden surface at Richmond Park made it seem more like crazy soccer than Summer soccer early on the passes were straying and tackles flying. Shane Robinson and striker Tony Grant were the main changes for Rovers as Glen Lacy and Liam Kelly started – Kelly partnering Trevor Molloy up front for Rovers. And it was the Hoops’ front-men that had the early chances. After only 10 minutes, Trevor Molloy, had a good volley saved well by Devine in the Cork goal and Stephen Grant missed a glorious opportunity to take the lead on 18 minutes when he headed narrowly wide from a good position. However the first 20 minutes were pretty unremarkable thanks to a combination of some poor play and a surface, though lively in spots, that asked too much of some. The visitors took the lead on 22 minutes through John O’Flynn and it was a goal that owed as much to his own talent as the wet surface. A long kick-out by Michael Devine seemed innocuous enough, but Richie Byrne failed to deal with it and the ball fell to George O’Callaghan. He in turn fed O’Flynn on the edge of the box, and the on-fire frontman hit it first time and sent it sliding into the bottom right hand side of Barry Ryan’s goal. Rovers were stunned by the goal and immediately took some control of the game. Their passing was crisp and attractive but the final ball frustrated some of the Hoops faithful. Rovers were creating plenty down the right, but Glen Lacy and Alan Reynolds between them spurned a good chance on the half-hour mark, following a nice lay-back from James Keddy. After 32 minutes George O’Callaghan was the first player into the referee’s book following a reckless barge in the back of former teammate Alan Reynolds. After the break, Rovers came out with extra determination, and finally the goal game that seemed so unlikely to the frustrated crowd. Glen Lacy delivered a quality cross into a packed box and a Molloy deflection looped the ball onto the head of the onrushing Stephen Grant. The winger’s head was not very powerful but while Devine got a hand to it, he could not stop it from hitting the net.

Shamrock Rovers: Ryan, Gough, Keddy, Palmer, Byrne, Colwell, Reynolds, Kelly, Molloy, Lacy, Grant. Subs: Grant for Kelly 78mins, Deans for Lacy 89 mins.

Cork City: Devine, Bennett, Murray, O'Halloran, O'Flynn, O'Callaghan, Woods, Doyle, Cronin, O'Grady, Horgan. Subs: Hedderman for Woods 73 mins, P'O'Brien for O'Callaghan , Warren for Doyle both 77 mins.

LEESIDERS LAMENT

Source: Irish Daily Star – Monday, May 5th 2003 - Journalist: Mark McCadden

Shamrock Rovers 2 Cork City 1

Pat Dolan suffered a miserable return to Richmond Park yesterday, as Shamrock Rovers inflicted a first defeat of the season upon Cork City. The win sees the Hoops leapfrog Waterford United into third place, while it was an opportunity lost for the Leesiders to return to return to the summit ahead of Shelbourne. The host left it late to clinch a winner – Cork full-back Alan Bennett getting the final touch (hmmm…. just who had had they watching the game Ed?) as the ball emerged from a group of players. Substitute Tony Grant laid claim to the goal, although the debate a was raging in the home dressing room long after the final whistle as to who was the last Rovers player to connect with the ball. It was the introduction of Grant that raised one of the loudest cheers of the evening. He replaced Liam Kelly with seven minutes remaining. An early departure from Dalymount Park last week raised fears of another long-term injury for the striker, but a scan during the week cleared him for yesterday’s game. His presence will be vital in the upcoming games, as the Hoops look to get more goals on board. Five goals from five games is not the stuff of title contenders. (hmmm… the value of hindsight eh, answers on a postcard to be received no later than Friday, November 28th 2003 Ed!)

GOALS

Stephen Grant’s second in two games cancelled out an early John O’Flynn strike, but the goals need to start flowing for Buckley’s men. Trevor Molloy appears to be low on confidence at the moment. What difference would it have had to his season so far if his penalty against Drogheda United evaded the grasp of Gary Rogers? Buckley backed Molloy to end the goal drought to fire Rovers up the table. “Every striker thrives on goals,” said Buckley, “and they are going to come for Trevor. He’ll keep on working away. Trevor is a great player and I’ve no doubt that he’ll get his quota this season.” On form, Molloy is one of the hottest strikers in Ireland, but the tricks aren’t coming off at the moment, and with each miss, his head seems to drops further. (hmmm… the more I write this, the more I dislike this individual, Ed!) Contrast that with the explosive form of Cork City pairing John O’Flynn and George O’Callaghan, who between them now have ten goals in five games. The pair are burning a route to goal, and O’Flynn blazed a trail to the top of the goalscoring charts when he notched up his seventh in the campaign – one ahead of Shels sharp-shooter Jason Byrne. The rebel frontman took one touch off an O’Callaghan pass on 22 minutes, before shooting low into the far corner from 20 yards as Hoops keeper Barry Ryan slipped in his attempt to get to the ball.

IDOL

Former Turner’s Cross idol Alan Reynolds picked up the Shamrock Rovers player of the month award before kick-off and almost scored himself, only for his first-half effort to deflect wide. The hosts were level on 59 minutes when a Glen Lacy ran to the far post for Stephen Grant to head home, despite Devine getting a strong hand to the ball. (hmmm… obviously not strong enough eh Ed?) O’Flynn should have done better when he charged down on goal, but he fired his angled drive from the edge of the six-yard box over on 75 minutes. It looked as if the spoils would be shared until a Glen Lacy cross was headed goalwards by Grant and Bennett (hmmm… already enough said Ed!) could only help it in as he stretched to clear.

Shamrock Rovers: Ryan 6, Gough 7, Palmer 6, Byrne 6, Keddy 7, Lacy 6 (Deans 89), Colwell 7, Reynolds 8, S. Grant 7, Kelly 6 (T. Grant), Molloy 6, Subs not used: McGuinness, Tracy, O’Dowd. Goal: S. Grant 59, Benett o.g. 88. Booked: Molloy 69. Entertainment: 5.

Cork City: Devine 6, Bennett 6, Murray 7, Cronin 7, Horgan 6, Doyle 7 (Warren 81), O'Halloran 7, O'Grady 7, Woods 6 (Hedderman 72 hmmm...). O'Flynn 8, O'Callaghan 7. Subs not used: C. T. O'Brien, C. P. O'Brien. Goal: O'Flynn 22. Booked: O'Callaghan 32, Warren 90. Entertainment: 6

Attendance: 2,500.

Weather: Rain.

Referee: H. Whoriskey (Meath) 6.

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