JIM GOODWIN EXPECTS to reap the benefits of Hibernian’s failed last-minute bid to sign Republic of Ireland midfielder Jamie McGrath.
The Buddies managed to hang onto their prize asset on the final day of the transfer window and, although Goodwin is resigned to losing him in the long term, he expects the player to offer full value to the team before then.
“I’m absolutely delighted that we managed to hold on to one of the best midfielders in the league,” Goodwin said. “That can only be a positive for us.
“I would imagine, off the back of two really good performances last week for the Republic of Ireland, Jamie would have a number of other options available to him, both in January and at the end of the season.
“There will be an offer on the table from us but we’re not stupid, we realise we don’t have the finances available to us that the likes of Hibs and some of the other teams down south have.
“For the time being, myself, the staff, the players and the supporters here will enjoy the benefit of having him here and Jamie, as I know only too well, will be the type of character who will knuckle down and get on with things and do his best for the team for as long as he’s here.”
Goodwin says he failed in a bid to add to his squad before the transfer window closed but was delighted to secure Australian full-back Matt Millar and Irish attacking midfielder Connor Ronan on a season-long loan from Wolves.
“Connor is a real quality player who will excite the fans,” Goodwin said.
“I think we have had a really good window. We managed to get a lot of our business done early. One or two fell by the wayside but I think overall we’ve got to be satisfied.”
Ronan has recovered from a foot injury that forced him to miss the last game of the season for Grasshopper Zurich and he could make his debut against Dundee United on Saturday.
“He’s not as up to speed as we would like and neither is Matt but they’re definitely fit enough to be part of things on Saturday and I’ll make a decision later on what the starting XI is going to be,” Goodwin said.
Saints are looking to break their duck after drawing two and losing two of their first four matches of the cinch Premiership season.
“We’ve not quite got going yet in the league,” Goodwin said. “We’ve had a difficult start but same time not been playing terribly bad either.
“We have to go into the Dundee United game full of optimism , be positive and believe that we’ve got enough to get our first win of the season.
“They had a great result and a great performance against Rangers but they will be disappointed with the Hearts result.
“They are a good side and they will obviously be coming here wanting to make amends for the result against Hearts.”
RTE can put in a request to change Sky’s game to 3pm. I doubt Sky would deny them if they did.
you really think Sky wulould back down? 7 clocks seems to be their favoured time.
The Sky deal hasn’t gone down well in rural parts of Ireland. It would be a travesty if a senior football provincial final was not on television. I wouldn’t think Sky would want to be the cause of that. It would be a pr disaster.
it won’t be the first time it’s happened. the only reason it’s an issue now is because of Sky.
No way sky will change the schedule for their competitors. This was always going to happen once sky got involved and for that I think the gaa sold out. To have one of their marquee games of the season not being shown on rte is a massive disappointment and a sign of what’s the come.
out of curiosity..suppose premier sports wouldnt get it either because of sky for us UK based people….
Well no surprise here. GAA make a mess of one of the biggest fixtures of the year and could now lose it to Sly Sports !!! Laughing stock…
This issue is known in advance. People are talking about asking Sky to change their timeslot, but why did the Munster council choose this time and date for the replay?
Would imagine in order to fill their own coffers.
Surely they will come to an agreement. Lets be honest, Nobody wins if a Cork v Kerry Munster final is replaced by Derry v Wexford!
This is crap. Sky have the rights to the 3B games. This is a replay that Sky don’t have rights to! So, so what if it clashes, RTE is an independent broadcaster who can surely broadcast whatever it likes at 7pm on Saturday as long as it isn’t the games it sold!!! RTE needs to cut the crap & show the Munster final
The Derry and Wexford supporters might beg to differ. This is what the GAA signed up for when they did the deal with Sky.
Is this OUR NATIONAL game – Are @RTEsport serious that they won’t broadcast a 7pm replay game because the greedy GAA sold rights to other matches to Sky Sports??
was the first game in killarney as well??