Former Ireland star Enda Stevens has called on Republic boss Heimir Hallgrimsson to give youth a chance when he names his squad today for the upcoming training camp in Spain that includes a friendly against Grenada.
Capped 26 times by his country, Stevens is now back for a second spell at Shamrock Rovers where he is playing alongside talented teenagers including Victor Ozhianvuna, Michael Noonan and Adam Brennan.
Hoops boss Stephen Bradley has repeatedly called on Hallgrimsson to bring 17-year-old Ozhianvuna in his plans for the Murcia trip or the end of season games at home to Qatar and Canada while Bohs head coach Alan Reynolds wants to see his midfielder Dawson Devoy involved in next week’s training camp.
Stevens, now 35, is happy to back the calls for youth to be given a chance when Hallgrimsson goes public with his first post-Prague squad today.
He told the Irish Mirror: “They [Rovers’ teenagers] do seem like men. And the way they approach it, they are confident, they are gamey, they are not shy, they don’t play within themselves.
“They stick their chests out, they want to go out there and be the best players on the pitch, and it’s excellent to see. You have got to work for your opportunity. You look at Vic, you look at Michael and Adam as well, and they are putting in the performances to get recognition.
“Why not give them a chance? There is no World Cup now, there are a lot of games to be played; friendlies and that. So you might as well give them a chance and see how they get on.”
FAI Director of Football and former Shamrock Rovers CEO John Martin is set to be asked by the media to publicly explain the contractual issues that prompted Michael Noonan’s family to make a complaint to the English FA.
The Sunday Times reports, via its Ireland football correspondent Paul Rowan, that Martin is scheduled to host a briefing on the FAI’s strategy for football at the Aviva Stadium on Wednesday.
Rowan writes that Martin will also be given the opportunity by Irish football journalists to clarify his role in the contract saga involving teenage Shamrock Rovers striker Noonan.
The paper first reported earlier this year that Noonan’s family had made an official complaint to the English FA re his English agent David Moss over transfer details included in the contract which came to their attention after a move to German side Hoffenheim failed to materialise.
Shamrock Rovers have since self-reported details of the contract to FIFA with the initial report in the Sunday Times prompting a statement from the club around the deal agreed between Moss and Martin, in his then role as CEO.
The initial Rovers statement said: “When the chair and the board became aware of these agreements in August 2025, independent legal advice was sought, and Fifa was proactively engaged to discuss. The process with Fifa is ongoing and the FAI has been notified.”
The English FA confirmed to the Sunday Times that they had received the complaint from the Noonan family but said it is now a matter for the FAI. Both the FAI and FIFA declined to make any comment to the paper.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will fight on in the title race despite Monday night’s 3-3 Premier League at Everton, a result that hands the initiative back to table toppers Arsenal.
A 97th minute leveller from Jeremy Doku may just have kept City in contention but Guardiola was honest enough in his post match interview with Sky Sports to concede favouritism to Arsenal.
“Really good performance,” Guardilla told Sky Sports. “We played an outstanding first half. It was so difficult with their physicality.
“Second-half, they made a step up. We didn’t have as much control and we gave away the goal. After that they come back and make a proper English game, so aggressive in the duels.
“We take the point and until it’s over, we’re going to continue. Everton away is always difficult and I give credit to them for their composure and aggression.
“It’s better than a loss. We played to win. It just shows what the team are. We tried and we have done it. It’s not in our hands. Before it was in our hands. Now, no.
“We have to do it in our four games that we have in the Premier League. It will be quite similar against Brentford. We will see what happens.”
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has labelled their defence of the Premier League title as ‘unacceptable’ and urged his team-mates to ensure Champions League qualification before their poor season comes to a close.
Beaten 3-2 at Manchester United on Sunday, Liverpool can still confirm CL qualification with four points from their remaining three league games against Chelsea, Aston Villa and Brentford.
The BBC reports Van Dijk as saying post the United defeat: “I’m not here to make excuses. It’s been a very disappointing season, an unacceptable season, and it’s tough. We shouldn’t feel sorry for ourselves whatsoever.
“We have to work and turn this around and make sure that next season these things don’t happen. It’s not Liverpool. But we have three games left and the realisation has to come from ourselves, as a group and as players, to make sure that we are in the Champions League because of the impact of it for the financial side for the club.
“But also because we want to be playing against the best teams in Europe. It’s not easy. But we keep going.”
Saints boss Stephen Kenny wasn’t a happy camper as he left Sligo’s Showgrounds with a point in the bag and question marks over the penalty decision that led to the equaliser from Archie Meekison.
Rovers scored from the spot just before half-time to cancel out Kian Leavy’s opener but Kenny was aggrieved by the decision of referee Marc Lynch to penalise Luke Turner for his clash with Carl McHugh.
Kenny told the Irish Sun: “The game has turned on that decision. The lads feel a bit let down by it as it totally changed the flow of the game.
“We probably could have had two frees of our own in the lead-up. They were blatant ones. The Sligo player is on the ground when Luke makes contact with him. We feel it’s harsh.”
Shamrock Rovers were the big winners on Monday as they beat Drogheda 4-1 in Tallaght. That result moves them three points clear of Pats at the top of table with Bohs scoring late in a 2-2 draw with Shels to stay in third spot.
