Pat Fenlon looks for stability as hotshot Miele signs new deal
Shamrock Rovers manager Pat Fenlon feels that continuity in the dressing-room is essential if the club is going to be a force again, and has moved to address that issue by agreeing a new contract with rising star Brandon Miele.
The ex-Newcastle trainee suffered in England with injuries and came back home to follow in the footsteps of Keith Fahey and Richie Towell by lining out for Bluebell United to build his confidence and fitness before signing a deal with the Hoops.
Miele (21) has scored 11 goals this season, including a late winner in Tuesday's win over Bray, and Fenlon says that keeping hold of young players with his quality is necessary.
"We've got two or three of the younger players we're looking to tie down and Brandon is the first one we've got done," said Fenlon.
Improved
"He's been very good this season, he's improved, so we want to hold onto our better younger players.
"It (continuity) is very important. Especially at a club like this where there have been a lot of changes. We do have a good blend of youth and experience but I think the time has stopped for chopping and changing.
"You look at the teams we play every week and you think 'he's played for Rovers, he's played for Rovers, he's played for Rovers.' We want to stop that and try and build something as a group.
"At the end of every season players leave and come in but I don't think there's going to be a huge change around. We don't have loads of money either to throw at it so it's important we try and bring a few through."
Miele is enjoying life in Dublin 24 and thinks the Hoops can step up to seriously challenge for the title in 2016.
"We've a lot of good players, a lot of talent, but we need a little bit more desire and drive," he said.
Fenlon wants the out-of-contract members of his squad to prove they deserve a deal by finishing this season on a high. Third-placed Rovers still have work to do to book a European place, with Galway visiting this evening.
The Tribesmen are immersed in the battle at the bottom and striker Enda Curran is anxious to put the disappointment of last Saturday's EA Sports Cup defeat to St Patrick's Athletic behind him.
"We've got another six cup finals to go so we've got to pick ourselves up and go again," he stressed. "We've seen other teams picking results against the bigger clubs and that's what we have to do."
Meanwhile, a Dundalk employee can push his hometown club closer to the title if he gives Cork City some problems at Turner's Cross, but young attacker Ciaran O'Connor says his priority is helping loan club Derry City steer clear of relegation.
Second-placed Cork are 11 points behind Dundalk with a game in hand and if they drop points tonight then Stephen Kenny's side will travel to Limerick tomorrow knowing that a win will give them the opportunity to claim the title in Tallaght on October 9.
"Firstly, I have to concentrate on keeping Derry up - that's why I came here," says O'Connor, who has scored twice in five games since moving north. "I can do Dundalk a favour as well.
"I am contracted to Dundalk next season. He (Kenny) has said that I'm part of his plans and he sees me making a big impact next season.
"Whether he sticks to that or not I don't know. I just have to concentrate on what I'm doing at the minute and that's putting the ball in the net for Derry City."
Boyle warns Dundalk will face fight to keep hold of star assets
Andy Boyle believes it is inevitable that Dundalk's star players will attract attention over the winter but says the lesson of this year proves that Stephen Kenny will be able to cope if that scenario comes to pass.
The loss of last term's top scorer Pat Hoban was viewed as a massive negative for the Lilywhites' chances of retaining the title for the first time in their club's history.
However, they are almost within touching distance of doing so, holding an 11-point gap at the top of the table with five matches left to go.
Kenny feels that Boyle, his defensive linchpin, should be attracting interest along with attacking stars Richie Towell and Daryl Horgan. The player himself is modest about his own prospects, yet he knows that clubs across the water will be monitoring their assets.
"I'm sure there will be interest for players from overseas," says the Dubliner.
"I can't tell you if anything is going to change but if we can keep this group of players together I think we can be successful for a long time."
Improving
"We are improving. I think our technical ability definitely came up this year. It's something that we've tried to bring to a different level - a lot of people (also) talk about our fitness levels.
"Losing our biggest players would be hard to replace but I'm sure it's something the manager will have legislated for," continues Boyle, who was speaking after being voted onto the special League of Ireland cover for EA Sports' FIFA 16.
"The best players in the league do obviously go across, but we've got a manager who's able to recruit very well as we've seen.
"A lot of players when they first came to the club probably wouldn't have been household names in the league and have gone on to do alright."
Another possibility is interest in the manager himself, given the manner in which he has revived the fortunes of the Louth club. He did have a stint with Dunfermline which didn't go to plan but the centre-half doesn't think that should count against him.
"Stephen has done an unbelievable job and I'm sure it's been recognised throughout football," he says.
"It would be a massive thing if we lost him but it's something at the moment that we can't think about. I think he's contracted for at least another year. If we can keep him for as long as we can that's the main thing."
It was a bad day in Scotland for an ex-League Of Ireland boss, however, as Motherwell sacked former Sligo supremo Ian Baraclough.
Late Miele strike gets Rovers back into winning groove
Shamrock Rovers 1 Bray Wanderers 0
A thumping late free-kick from Brandon Miele brought Shamrock Rovers a laboured first win in five games.
Defeat was harsh on Bray who frustrated Rovers for most of the game at Tallaght Stadium until the redeeming moment of a dour encounter arrived on 88 minutes.
Miele, upended on the edge of the area by Bray defender Niall Cooney, stepped up to blast the resulting direct free-kick through the wall to the net.
The win moves Rovers five points ahead of St Patrick's Athletic in the race for third place and a guaranteed Europa League spot.
A poor crowd made for a muted atmosphere as Rovers struggled to impose themselves on a well-organised Bray side.
It took a sluggish Rovers 23 minutes to show any real menace with Bray left-back Michael Barker snuffing out the threat of Mikey Drennan as he tried to latch onto Damien Duff's through ball.
Rovers' first real shot in anger arrived a minute later when Miele (right) was off target from distance.
Indeed, Bray had the only shot on target during a decidedly dour first half.
John Sullivan fed Chris Lyons in the inside right channel with the little striker dipping around Max Blanchard to bring a tip-over save from Barry Murphy with a crisp right-footed drive.
With Bray continuing to look the more dangerous side, Blanchard got tighter to deflect a shot from Graham Kelly out for a corner on 34 minutes.
Hugh Douglas got his head to Ryan McEvoy's delivery to glance his effort well wide.
Thankfully, there was a trifle more impetus to the game on the resumption.
Rovers 'keeper Murphy made a comfortable save from Hanlon's weak shot before Drennan ran through to bring a more telling stop from Peter Cherrie at the other end on 52 minutes.
Cherrie was worked again just past the hour mark to get a vital touch to tip the ball over the top after Gavin Brennan cut in on the right to work the Bray 'keeper with a stinging left-foot effort.
Bray remained well in the game, though, and carved perhaps their best opening on 70 minutes.
Cassidy found himself in space on the right to put over a low cross to the near post which McEvoy, at a stretch, toed narrowly wide.
Shamrock Rovers - Murphy; Madden, Kenna, Blanchard, D O'Connor; G Brennan, McCabe (R Brennan 90), McPhail (Cregg 72), Miele; Duff (North 67); Drennan.
Bray Wanderers - Cherrie; Douglas, Cooney, McNally Barker; Cassidy, Kelly, Sullivan, McEvoy, Hanlon (Wixted, 83); Lyons (Scully, 80).
Ref - Paul Tuite (Dublin)
PosNamePTSP
Friday, 25 Sep 2015
| ||||
Premier Division
Cork City | Derry City | |||
Premier Division
Drogheda United | Bohemian FC | |||
Premier Division
Shamrock Rovers | Galway United | |||
Saturday, 26 Sep 2015
| ||||
Premier Division
Limerick | Dundalk | |||
Premier Division
Longford Town | St. Patrick's Athletic | |||
Premier Division
Sligo Rovers | Bray Wanderers | |||
Friday, 18 Sep 2015
| ||||
Premier Division
Dundalk | Drogheda United | |||
Premier Division
Bohemian FC | Longford Town | |||
Premier Division
Derry City | Shamrock Rovers | |||
Saturday, 19 Sep 2015
| ||||
Premier Division
Bray Wanderers | Limerick | |||
Tuesday, 22 Sep 2015
| ||||
Premier Division
Shamrock Rovers | Bray Wanderers | |||
1
Dundalk6928
2
Cork City5827
3
Shamrock Rovers5428
4
St. Patrick's Athletic4927
5
Bohemian FC4328
6
Bray Wanderers3128
7
Longford Town2928
8
Derry City2828
9
Galway United2627
10
Drogheda United2628
11
Sligo Rovers2427
12
Limerick2328
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