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BACK IN THE PROMISED LAND 🇪🇺

Bohemians are back in Europe with a bang as they pin Gibraltar side St. Joseph's 2-0 thanks to a Douglas James Taylor spot kick and a Connor Parsons header to see off a convincing performance to take to the away leg. The atmosphere was absolutely incredible with a great vibe around Dalymount Park as the Gypsies returned to the European stage for the first time in 5 years! ⚫️🔴

Apologies for the delay in photos and videos! If you would like any of the photos shoot me a message! 🤝

THE TITAN OF TALLAGHT RETURNS 🤩

Just a week after returning to Ireland, Pico Lopes will make his grand return to Shamrock Rovers next Tuesday as the Hoops announce his return to the squad for the vital European second leg against Maltese champions Floriana! ☘️

The Rovers are 2-0 down on aggregate going into the game and can't afford to concede another, so having their captain back will be a monstrous boost, especially given the wave he is on after Cabo Verde's successful World Cup campaign. What a tie in store for the Tallaght crowd next week and expecta hero's return for Lopes when the team's line out! 💪

Can Stephen Bradley's side turn it around and stay in the Champions League qualifiers with Pico back? 👀

📸 John Lee Photography

WOW 😳

Ringmahon Rangers were received their punishment today following their failure to play their cup fixture against Bohemians, a decision that went viral for all the wrong reasons just last week! On top of a 5 year ban from competing in the most prestigious competition in club football, they have also received a ban from the Intermediate Cup a competition in which they have been doing extremely well in as of late, and a €5,000 fine! 😬

The reason cited for not fulfilling the fixture was down to the game clashing with the expected participation of Cork in the All-Ireland Hurling Final and with the World Cup Final all on in the same day, with the club believing this congestion would see a poor attendance at the game. Cork have since been knocked out of the All-Ireland Hurling Championship by Galway... 🫢

The game would also have to have been played in St. Colman's Park in Cobh due to a ruling that Rangers weren't allowed to play in their own ground, a strange decision to this day given the fact they have played cup games at home before against LOI opposition! 🤔

Regardless, it is a brutal punishment for the Cork side for not fulfilling their fixture. Justified in your view? 👀

📸 Jamie

AN ATTACKER'S NIGHTMARE 😱

Ladies and gentlemen, this might be the best thing I've seen in a long time... 😭

Séan Gannon, who had a great game in Shelbourne's friendly against Scottish champions Celtic, won a free chainsaw. Yes, you are reading that sentence correctly. He won a chainsaw as his Man of the Match award thanks to Chadwicks, the Reds' main sponsor. Reckon he'll take up some carpentry after he hangs up the boots? 😅

I must say there are few things that terrify me to the core in this world. But the player who has more league titles than most teams in the league now equipped with a chainsaw has to be up there. 🪚

What a cop by the Shels defender. Simply the greatest league in the world. 🇮🇪

NOT SO HAPPY MILESTONE 😕

Its a poor start to the European campaign for the champions who ran out 2-0 losers in Malta against Maltese league winners Floriana! Not only will the Rovers be down two goals going back to next Tuesday's game in Tallaght, but they will also be without the suspended Matt Healy who faced a red card on the hour mark! On Stephen Bradley's 10th anniversary of managing the Hoops too! 😬

Its a bit of a mountain to climb already on the Champions Path for Shamrock Rovers, but we've seen stranger things happen! Can they turn it around next week? ☘️

Over to you tomorrow Bohemians and Derry City! 👀

WHAT A MOVE 👏

Eoin Kenny has completed a move to Portsmouth in the English second tier! 📝

Kenny has been an integral part of the Dundalk squad since 2024 and the 20 year old has played a massive part in their rebuild since their relegation in 2024! The young attacker has come on leaps and bounds since his breakout season and has been a standout for the Lilywhites so far this season with 5 goals and 5 assists. You can only imagine he will challenge for a first team spot on England' south coast! 💪

Best of luck over there Eoin! 🏁

STUCK IN THE ROUGH 😬

Athlone are currently in 8th but still absolutely in the mix for a playoff finish sitting just 4 points off the top 5, but there is no doubt their recent run of form has stunned their push. Conor Barry will oversee the management position while the club look for a new first team manager with the experiences Ian Ryan today departing the job. With the club clearly believing change is needed after a very poor run of results for a team that should definitely be aiming for a playoff finish given their personnel! 👀

The right move for the Midlanders and if so, who would you get in to take then for the rest of the season? ⬇️

BIT O'A BOOST 🔴

Jamie McGonigle has signed for Sligo rovers on loan until the end of the season! 📝

The 30 year old frontman scored 28 goals for Derry City in 92 appearances and was a regular in the Derry City team under Ruadhri Higgins including grabbing himself an FAI Cup winner's medal in 2022! McGonigle is a seasoned signing and a big name Sligo definitely needed after a poor start to the season. They needed goals and they may just have found them! 👀

Happy out Sligo fans? ⬇️

OH GOD... 😭

Jonathan Afolabi has signed for Shamrock Rovers! 📝

The 26 year old has returned to the league after 2 years away and to Shamrock Rovers for the first time since he was an academy player! The striker made his name in the league for Rovers' arch rivals Bohemians when he signed back in 2022 where he scored for fun before departing for Belgium! This signing was rumoured for some time with Bohs also in the mix for his signature last season but it appears the Hoops have won the race for the out of contract striker. Bradley is now spoiled for choice up top for the rest of the season with the following players now under contract! 🤯

Jonathan Afolabi ✅️
Michael Noonan ✅️
Aaron Greene ✅️
Graham Burke ✅️
John McGovern ✅️
Rory Gaffney ✅️

Well this is an interesting. Happy out Hoops fans? 😅

A DEPARTURE AND A RETURN 👀

It looks increasingly likely that Eoin Kenny is on his way out of Dundalk with major interest from the UK. It looks like English second tier side Portsmouth are the frontrunners for the 21 year old's signature having had a fantastic last two seasons at Oriel Park! Kenny didn't feature in Dundalk's lineup at all on Friday in their 2-1 loss to Shelbourne in Tolka Park which fuelled speculation of an imminent departure! 😕

Sligo Rovers are looking to majorly strengthen their side after a poor start to the season in the northwest and a name that has been cropping up recently for the Bit O'Red is Jamie McGonigle of Coleraine. McGonigle was a regular in the Derry City side until 2024 when he departed for the NIFL side. The 30 year old is out of contract in 2027, so it looks like it will be a loan move for Sligo but it would be a serious boost to Russell's front line after Mai Traore departed last week! 🔴

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📸 Kevin Morrison