Owen Cowzer

LOI is brimming with talent young and old - get out and see them while you can MASON MELIA should be seen in the flesh here before he leaves — as should Cathal O’Sullivan and Victor Ozhianvuna. But the League of Ireland’s . . . err . . . old boys club are must-see too. Jack B…

And a golden age for flair players www.thesun.ie/sport/151042...

LOI is becoming the Late Late Show - fans leaving games early should know better THE press box at most League of Ireland grounds gives you a good view of those who decide to depart early. They tend to be agents, scouts, rival managers and their staff and the odd pundit. Other t…

Column: Don't leave early www.thesun.ie/sport/151028...

John Delaney's reappearance was blast from the past, but FAI needs new approach GOLF does not do it for me — but while you were all watching The Masters and talking of time warps, I could empathise. After all, I had just seen that the Irish Examiner had a story about a rare pu…

Column: Golf, John Delaney, and changing the Irish football eco-system
www.thesun.ie/sport/150713...

LOITV must persist through Premier Sports teething problems as it's the future LOITV has been a big deal for anyone who follows the League of Ireland. And it is why the technical difficulties that have beset the platform on three Fridays out of seven this term brewed up a sto…

Column on LOITV...sounds like the technical problems are hopefully behind them
www.thesun.ie/sport/150331...

Band behind new TV ad 'thrilled to be associated with League of Ireland revival' THE new TV ad for beer brand Rockshore’s link with the League of Ireland has hit supporters differently. It is not just that it focuses on fans instead of players, but the choice of song . . .  Giv…

Spoke to the Sultans of Ping's Morty McCarthy about 'Give Him A Ball (And A Yard Of Grass)' in the Rockshore LOI ad, the League of Ireland and, mostly, Cork City www.thesun.ie/sport/149599...

LOI needs support from government now - football can't afford any more spoofing NO one likes a spoofer. And that is why most throw their eyes to heaven when they hear the Government is winning the battle over housing supply. Everyone either knows from personal experience that …

Column: No one likes spoofing www.thesun.ie/sport/149558...

LOI's growth creates problem for clubs that they'd have dreamt about years ago THE away day is a big part of football fandom. Is there anything better than seeing your team win at a rival’s ground, out-singing their fans for 90 minutes and chanting while they trudge out as yo…

Column: The away ticket problem that is a headache for everyone www.thesun.ie/sport/148785...

LOI's so-called 'Dublin bias' is nonsense - look at how Waterford are thriving DUBLIN refs, Dublin media, or just plain old ridden rock solid by Dublin. The first-ever instalment of the League of Ireland in 1920 was Dublin-centric with all eight teams from the capital, which …

Column: Good things beyond the Pale www.thesun.ie/sport/148374...

Irish football would be in healthier state if more politicians matched Michael D A 4-0 loss to Slovenia — as the recently departed former manager tweets quotes from a book read by every teenager who thinks they’re clever — is not a great way to start the new women’s season. But…

And the women's season starts tomorrow with the President's Cup...and a last chance for Michael D Higgins to present 'his' trophy www.thesun.ie/sport/147973...

LOI has grass ceiling preventing it from more growth, even Rovers aren't immune “WHY illuminate bogs?” That was the question posed by the late, great Ray Treacy in the early 1990s when the League of Ireland was getting floodlights. Sky Sports broadcasting the newly-created Pre…

Column: The grass ceiling for the LOI
www.thesun.ie/sport/147964...

I took year out from football to see the world but I'm back under ex-Ireland ace CONOR LEVINGSTON stepped off the football merry-go-round last year to see the world and do the ‘Lap of the Gap’. And he reckons it was the best decision he ever made as he makes his return this sea…

Chat with Conor Levingston, who is back with Wexford after a busy year out of the game finishing his degree, travelling, and running a couple of marathons www.thesun.ie/sport/147836...

Bohs vs Rovers showed what's possible for LOI - but also how far still to go THE derby clash of Bohs-Rovers at the Aviva Stadium showed what is possible for the League of Ireland — but also how far there is to go. It was a special day as a record 33,208 supporters attended …

Column: The Aviva showed what is possible for the League of Ireland — but also how far there is to go www.thesun.ie/sport/147590...

Grant says his Bohemians tattoo won’t fade - but he’s all in with Rovers now DANNY GRANT has a tattoo on his lower right leg of a child looking out from Dalymount Park.  His links to Bohemians are literally part of him even after he crossed the city divide to join Sham…

Danny Grant says his Bohemians tattoo won’t fade – but he’s all in with Shamrock Rovers now www.thesun.ie/sport/147230...

LOI's return welcomed by all - even if it won't take long for some to be fed up THIS weekend is as good as it gets. The floodlights will be on, the chip van will be where it should be, there will be fresh toilet roll in the jacks and the broken seat your mate stood beside but …

Column: This is the best day of the year, when everyone has hope www.thesun.ie/sport/147180...

Shamrock Rovers CEO insists UEFA prize money will be spent wisely THERE are at least 6,410,622 reasons why Shamrock Rovers are in a good place going into tomorrow’s Conference League play-off tie with Molde. But Hoops chief executive John Martin’s job…

Chat with Shamrock Rovers CEO John Martin about what the Hoops' European run and prize money can do for the club www.thesun.ie/sport/147061...

I grew up in drug-ravaged Dublin area, football helped me, now I'm taking on LOI WAYNE GROVES freely admits that having one of the 20 biggest men’s football jobs in the country was not an ambition. The Longford Town manager’s only aim when he got into coaching was to keep kids …

Sat down with Longford Town boss Wayne Groves at the league launch where he told me his fascinating story that has taken him from inner city street leagues to the LOI www.thesun.ie/sport/146804...

Melia & Ferguson success stories shouldn't paper over cracks in Irish football EVAN FERGUSON was 18 years, two months and 13 days old when he scored his first Premier League goal on December 31, 2022. Mason Melia will be 28 days older than Ferguson was then come January 1 nex…

Column: When Mason Melia becomes a Spurs player, he will be older than Evan Ferguson was when he scored his first Premier League goal...that both are going to the top should not hide the need to improve the pathways www.thesun.ie/sport/146768...

Stephen Kenny urges vital League of Ireland change to help 'next Mason Melia' STEPHEN KENNY believes Mason Melia has all the attributes to go all the way – but he is unsure if his seven-figure transfer fee is a watershed for the League of Ireland.  Melia, 17, this…

Stephen Kenny believes Mason Melia has all the attributes to go all the way - but he is unsure if his seven-figure transfer fee is a watershed for the League of Ireland
www.thesun.ie/sport/146597...

LOI pundits reveal all that goes into covering games as Virgin deal to rise tide THE League of Ireland revolution is being televised. Virgin Media have signed up to show a game a week and LOITV covers the rest — as the league now has the exposure it could only dream of five yea…

Ahead of the LOI season, I spoke to a few behind the mic or in the pundit's chair about their preparations www.thesun.ie/sport/146364...

LOI attendances on the up but fans do need to remember there's long way to go SIZE MATTERS – at least that is what social media will tell you. The latest example came this week when a video from Virgin Media’s launch of their League of Ireland coverage. Cork City’s Eva…

Column: If size matters, being LOI big is not a good brag www.thesun.ie/sport/146366...

Wood feels Shels can scale Everest again after altitude training in pre-season HARRY WOOD and his Shelbourne pals have done pre-season altitude training to ensure they are ready to conquer their Everest again. Wood scored the title-winning goal last season against Derry City …

Harry Wood believes Shelbourne can scale Everest again after Damien Duff pulled out altitude training in pre-season
www.thesun.ie/sport/146234...

Stephen Kenny gives injury update on Melia as St Pat’s boss rules out signings STEPHEN KENNY has completed his winter shopping — with his priority now ensuring everyone is fit for the start of the season. St Patrick’s Athletic are well into their pre-season training regime an…

Stephen Kenny gives injury update on teenage sensation Mason Melia as St Pat’s boss rules out any more transfer signings
www.thesun.ie/sport/145831...

Shelbourne new boy reveals surprising aspect of Duff's recruitment tactics ELLIS CHAPMAN revealed that the only surprise about his Shelbourne move was never knowing when Damien Duff was going to FaceTime. Midfielder Chapman swapped Sligo Rovers for champions Shelbourne ov…

Ellis Chapman revealed that the only surprise about his Shelbourne move was never knowing when Damien Duff was going to FaceTime www.thesun.ie/sport/145772...

Programme for Gov is encouraging for Irish footy - But FAI must fight for goal THE draft Programme for Government is 162 pages long and is full of repetition. It uses the word ‘examine’ 86 times, will ‘review’ 120 topics, ‘consider’ another 50, ‘assess’ a further ‘20’, ‘work …

Column: It is good that academies are among the 317 topics the Government will ‘examine’, ‘review’, ‘consider’, ‘assess’, ‘explore’ or ‘work towards’...but the pressure has to kept on so they deliver www.thesun.ie/sport/145561...

Carla Ward opens up on taking Rep of Ireland job and balancing life as a mom CARLA WARD remembers how Christmas 2023 led her to step away from club management – and how Christmas 2024 led her to take the Ireland job.  Ward, 41, has taken charge of the Girls in Gr…

Carla Ward remembers how Christmas 2023 led her to step away from club management - and how Christmas 2024 led her to take the Ireland job www.thesun.ie/sport/145456...

FAI 'encouraged' as Government to 'explore' help for much needed LOI structure THE new draft programme for Government promises to “explore” support for football academies. Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the independents have published their agreement to form a Government, which i…

Government to "explore" how to support LOI academies, plus the other details on sport in the draft programme for Government
www.thesun.ie/sport/145361...

My career was cut short at 25 - But coaching in LOI has been the silver lining SEÁN RUSSELL remembers the conversation that settled in his mind what it was going to take for him to be a successful coach. The words of wisdom came from Stephen Rice, Ireland’s Under-21 assistant…

Chat with Seán Russell on being foreced to retire at 25 and now taking his first job in senior football with Women's Premier Division side Treaty United
www.thesun.ie/sport/145136...

From Robbie Keane to Conor McGregor - inside Irish football's wild start to 2025 IRISH football is a mad place — but the start of the year is normally the closest you get to a quiet time. League of Ireland clubs are back in pre-season with the start too far into the future to b…

Column: This is normally the quiet week www.thesun.ie/sport/145075...

'My son is Leeds fan but my family will be watching me face them in FA Cup' ANTHONY O’CONNOR does not have to leave his own home to realise the first competitive meeting of Harrogate Town and Leeds United will be a big deal. The Corkman told SunSport: “My eldest son is a b…

Chat with Cork man Anthony O'Connor on Harrogate, their derby with Leeds United on Saturday, and his 17 years in the UK
www.thesun.ie/sport/144946...

I'm an Ireland U21 ace aiming for an FA Cup giant-killing at Anfield v Liverpool CONNOR O’BRIEN admitted the only thing for Accrington Stanley to do is milk it. League Two strugglers Accy face Premier League leaders Liverpool at Anfield in the FA Cup on Saturday when Ireland Un…

Ireland Under-21 defender Connor O'Brien admitted the only thing Accrington Stanley can do with the build-up to face Liverpool is milk it www.thesun.ie/sport/144925...