Derry City manager Tiernan Lynch remains defiant in the face of pressure as his side prepare for Friday night’s trip to a Shelbourne side also under the cosh from their fans after an indifferent start to the Premier Division season.
As reported by the Irish Sun and other outlets and after a 2-2 draw at Dundalk last weekend, Lynch is confident that Derry can end a seven game winless run at Tolka Park, a sequence of events that has led to calls for Lynch’s sacking.
Lynch however is confident his team will turn their fortunes around - and his - and said: “I think that the best indicator of a team is how hard they work. They certainly don’t need to be coaxed day in, day out to do the work.
“Even in Dundalk, we were hugely disappointed with the second goal that we conceded to let them back into the game. The first goal was 25-30 yards out, and being hyper-critical we probably could have got to the ball a bit quicker.
“You see the work ethic in that group of boys and throwing themselves in front of the ball. There’s bits and pieces we need to do better in both boxes but they’re things we’re just working on on a daily basis to try and put right.”
Bohemians boss Alan Reynolds will put club before country and release star midfielder Dawson Devoy for Ireland’s summer camp in Spain next month if it means the Meath native will win his first senior international cap.
Reynolds and Devoy first worked together with the Irish Under 21s and the Dalymount supremo is ready to do without Devoy if Irish boss Heimir Halgrimsson calls him for the training camp and a friendly against Grenada in Murcia on May 16th.
Ahead of Friday night’s big Dublin derby at Shamrock Rovers, The Irish Independent’s Aidan Fitzmaurice quotes Reynolds as saying: “I’m a bit old school in this. I think it would be a fantastic honour for any League of Ireland player to get called up. I wouldn’t be one for standing in his [Devoy] way if selected, but obviously if we have games, then it’s different,” says Reynolds.
“Closer to the time we can see but I just would love to see him get capped for his country. I think he deserves it. We’ll see if he’s selected.”
Robbie Keane may be the frontrunner to become Celtic manager in the summer but right now he is only interested in retaining the Hungarian league title with Ferencvaros according to Scotland’s Daily Record.
Ferencvaros returned to the top of the NIB1 table with a 2-1 win over Puskas Academy earlier this week and can take a major step towards another championship with a win at second placed Gyor on Sunday, who are level on points with just four games remaining this season.
The Record reports that Keane is focussed on the remaining four games. After the midweek win, he said: “The boys showed real character to turn the tables with two quick goals. I think at this level of the league there are ups and downs, but the most important thing is to win today.
“Everything in football depends on mentality. I expect a very tough match against Gyor, away from home, as our opponent has had a good season so far.”
Gianno Infantino has again stated categorically that Iran will play at the World Cup finals in America this summer with the FIFA President saying they will be there ‘for sure’ according to reports.
The 42 website carries the story with Infantino quoted as telling broadcaster CNBC that: “Iran is coming for sure. We hope that by then the situation will be a peaceful situation, that would definitely help.
“But Iran has to come, they represent their people, they have qualified, the players want to play.”
Iran are due to play two games in Los Angeles and one in Seattle in the World Cup in June.
Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva has confirmed to his Instagram account that he will bring the curtain down on his nine-year stint with the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.
The BBC Football website quotes Treble winning Silva as saying: “What we won and achieved together is a legacy that will forever be cherished in my heart. The Centurions, the domestic quadruple, the Treble, the four in a row and much more. It wasn’t that bad.”
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