Owen Cowzer

Dublin's grip on LOI is beyond the pale - recent patterns are worrying DAMIEN RICHARDSON declared his team were being “shagged by Dublin… being ridden rock solid by people in Dublin”. And Roddy Collins complained that the Premier Division had become the M50 League. Th…

Column: The capital gains for Dublin
www.thesun.ie/sport/166369...

O'Donovan's been more of a Minister for Soundbites & Scapegoats than Sport THE bad and the ugly were seen at Oriel Park last Friday night — but that does not mean we have to ruin the good about the League of Ireland fan experience. Minister for Sport, Soundbites and Scape…

Column: Last week was bad and ugly, but don't lose the good of the LOI experience to please the Minister for Sport, Soundbites and Scapegoats
www.thesun.ie/sport/165989...

Politics & sport can't be separated - Irish fans have long supported Palestine THE Virgin Media TV cameras are at Oriel Park tonight for the Louth derby and you will probably catch sight of a Palestinian flag. That flag is always there. In fact, it earned Dundalk an €18,000 f…

Column: Demanding politics & sport be separated is gaslighting – football fans in Ireland have long shown support for Palestine www.thesun.ie/sport/165641...

SIPTU chief warns FAI of safety concerns around Ireland playing Israel THERE are at least six Israeli football clubs in the occupied West Bank. Israel calls the area disputed territory but the international community — including the USA — recognises the West Bank as P…

Politics and sport mix www.thesun.ie/sport/165391...

Kick-off for 'graveyard' LOI First Division takes place at an appropriate date IT is difficult to work out which is more fitting about the start date of the First Division. Valentine’s weekend because cynical fans become hopeless romantics . . . or that opening night is Frida…

Column: It is difficult to work out which is more fitting about the start date of the First Division.
Valentine’s weekend because cynical fans become hopeless romantics . . . or that opening night is Friday the 13th www.thesun.ie/sport/165301...

Truth about Como exit & overcoming 'worst injury I've had'...Kerrigan opens up LIAM KERRIGAN has revealed that he has more visitors this year compared to last. He laughed as he told SunSport: “Now that I’m back in Italy, people are visiting. Belgium mustn’t have been that att…

Chat with former UCD man Liam Kerrigan. Had options around Europe last year and could have stayed at Como, but chose to stay in Italy with Ternana
www.thesun.ie/sport/165013...

I'm a top LOI referee - here's everything that goes into our preparation WHO would be a referee? Start with who could be one. Not me nor the majority of fans who will visit League of Ireland grounds this season, anyway. SunSport met top LOI whistler Rob Hennessy to get …

Who would be a referee? Or who could be a referee? Met Rob Hennessy to hear about officials' preparation for the new League of Ireland season
www.thesun.ie/sport/164977...

Ex-LOI star reveals shock cancer diagnosis but declares 'I'm going to fight it' SOMETIMES what you were thinking of writing about and what you then end up writing about are different. A few weeks ago, I texted former Sligo Rovers goalkeeper Nicky Broujos wondering if he could …

A chat with the great Nicky Broujos
www.thesun.ie/sport/164679...

Ex-Ireland U21 ace 'couldn't move' with injury 'I never had feeling like before' TONY SPRINGETT insists he has ‘no time to waste’ after he slipped a disc following a coughing fit and was out for 18 months. The former Ireland Under-21 is now hoping to push his way into Heimir Ha…

Spoke to former Ireland Under-21 winger Tony Springett about his 18 month injury hell (potentially a result of a coughing fit), his return at Norwich City, and future ambitions
www.thesun.ie/sport/164339...

LOI Director gives breakdown of funding for League of Ireland clubs LEAGUE OF IRELAND clubs will trouser €3.1 million in FAI money in 2026 between grants, television money and grants.  The FAI yesterday confirmed the prize breakdown for this season that will s…

LOI director Mark Scanlon on prize money, grants, TV, LOITV, and academies www.thesun.ie/sport/164266...

Irish ace Shaughnessy loving his footballing adventure on far side of the world JOE SHAUGHNESSY had a decision to make last year — stick to what he knew or try something different. The Galway man was turning 33 and was settled in Scotland having spent all but one of the previo…

Chat with Joe Shaughnessy on swapping Scottish football for A-League side Newcastle Jets, the sun, good coffee, and early mornings
www.thesun.ie/sport/164230...

I can't represent Ireland at this Winter Olympics but will be there in new role SÉAMUS O’CONNOR knows Ireland’s athletes will be weak at the knees this week waiting for emails to see if they are going to the Winter Olympics. But he has already come to terms with how his own kn…

Chat with three-time Winter Olympian Seamus O'Connor on what Irish Olympic hopefuls are going through now, his disappointment at his knees ending his hopes of competing, and his new broadcasting job in Milano-Cortina
www.thesun.ie/sport/164132...

Ireland fans face ticket battle for Czech play-off as FAI handed tiny allocation IRELAND fans are facing ticket disappointment for the World Cup play-off with Czechia after the FAI received an allocation of just 1,024 tickets for the clash.  The Fortuna Stadium in Prague h…

Ireland fans are facing ticket disappointment for the World Cup play-off with Czechia after the FAI received an allocation of just 1,024 tickets for the clash
www.thesun.ie/sport/163968...

Ireland legend's brother returns to Derry City as Lynch hails 'impressive' ace PATRICK McCLEAN is back at hometown club Derry City for the third time after sealing a switch from Sligo Rovers. McClean, 29, was one of Tiernan Lynch’s top transfer window targets as Derry had a b…

Patrick McClean is back at hometown club Derry City for the third time after sealing a switch from Sligo Rovers
www.thesun.ie/sport/163937...

Ex-Irish U-21 ace has had winding road from Prem academy to League Two mainstay THE headline in the local Gazette and Herald last week said it all — ‘How Gavin Kilkenny became irreplaceable at Swindon Town’. Kilkenny, 25, shrugs off the praise but the stats speak for themselve…

Had a great chat with former Ireland Under-21 midfielder Gavin Kilkenny who is flying at Swindon Town after a few years when loan moves did not go to plan and he left the Premier League
www.thesun.ie/sport/163928...

Ex-Iceland reckons Hallgrimsson’s ruthless rule could work wonders for Ireland KARI ARNASON remembers that Heimir Hallgrimsson’s first rule with Iceland was the team had to stop toasting failure so the country could celebrate success. And the former defender believes that Hei…

Former Iceland star reveals why Heimir Hallgrimsson’s ruthless rule could work wonders for Republic of Ireland
www.thesun.ie/sport/162751...

Farrugia snubs LOI return to seal Dundee United move after Barnsley frustration SHELBOURNE have snapped up Cliftonville’s highly-rated defender Odhrán Casey for a League of Ireland record fee.  But they have lost out to Dundee United in their efforts to land former Shamro…

Shelbourne have snapped up Cliftonville’s highly-rated defender Odhrán Casey for a League of Ireland record fee www.thesun.ie/sport/163845...

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...