Conan Doherty
The new era has begun. This is when Jose Mourinho is at his best. You know, the first two years of his reign before he starts flipping a lid. In fairness, this is the job the Portuguese man always seemed to want. From the outside, it never looked like he was planning on going back […]
10 years ago
A wounded animal is a dangerous animal. A Waterford animal is a deadly beast. In all the Tony Kelly hysteria of four weeks, the country got caught up in Clare-mania after the Allianz League final. They had built another side, a stronger side, and they were ready to compete for the All-Ireland again. Davy Fitzgerald […]
10 years ago
A leader of men
10 years ago
A red card. In a friendly. And he was lucky to get away with just a red card to be honest. Bruno Alves threw caution to the wind, he threw the word friendly in the trash, and he threw himself flying through the air and straight for the head of Harry Kane, studs first. With […]
10 years ago
Champions League penalty hero, Cristiano Ronaldo, just keeps getting worse. After he upset a large portion of the population for celebrating winning the European trophy for a third time, it has just been non-stop selfishness from him. He delayed his celebrations on the pitch so Real’s disabled supporters could get a picture with him Anything […]
10 years ago
No Seamus Coleman… We’re losing interest ourselves. If Martin O’Neill was to go on club form and base it on the stats, the Everton man – the country’s best player – wouldn’t make the team because of the games he missed at the end of the year. The Republic of Ireland finalised their 23-man squad […]
10 years ago
29 years coming to an end. Not even Alex Ferguson served Manchester United as long or nearly as well as Ryan Giggs but the Welshman looks to be headed for the Old Trafford exit doors. Having joined the club as a 14-year-old to go on and win 13 Premier Leauge titles, two Champions League trophies and […]
10 years ago
Unleash Shane Long. Okay, we’re in no position to be sniggering at Belgium drawing 1-1 at home with Finland in their final international friendly but at least we’re not alone in our pre-tournament cock-ups. Marc Wilmots’ side needed a last-minute Romelu Lukaku equaliser to rescue a draw against the Finnish and they did not look […]
10 years ago
I was in a taxi on the way home from the Ireland and Holland match on Friday night. “Where were you at tonight?” the nice taxi man elevated small talk to taxi talk. “I was at the Aviva for that Ireland match,” I was just about to ask him what time he was on ’til before […]
10 years ago
Worth a punt?
10 years ago
Get your jerseys sorted
10 years ago
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Martin O’Neill went with a conservative enough selection in the end. With the Euros just around the corner, he wasn’t going to start taking flamboyant risks and the injury of Harry Arter and the ongoing struggles of Robbie Keane and James McCarthy saw O’Neill go with what […]
10 years ago
Here it is, the squad that will represent Ireland at Euro 2016. Martin O’Neill has had to cut his panel to 23 for the final tournament in France and, ahead of the 11pm deadline on Tuesday night, he has submitted his chosen ones. Ireland take on Sweden on June 13 for their first game of […]
10 years ago
Ireland head for France with a 2-1 defeat to Belarus as their final farewell. Although it was only a friendly, Martin O’Neill abandoned the diamond formation that the team have been using since last June and it told throughout a disjointed first half. The side struggled through the opening 45 minutes and went a goal […]
10 years ago
A lot of men getting one last chance here
10 years ago
What a real shame. Harry Arter has pulled out of the Republic of Ireland squad. The Bournemouth midfielder has had to withdraw with a thigh injury and is almost certainly out of Euro 2016. Harry Arter has gone home and is more than likely out of the Euros. — SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) May 31, 2016 After […]
10 years ago
No more niceties. Martin O’Neill has to pick his best option and he can’t spare anyone’s feelings. Only one man can man the goals for Ireland at Euro 2016, only three can travel and the only saving grace with Rob Elliot’s injury is that it is one less player that the manager has to break […]
10 years ago
Looks unreal in slow-mo
10 years ago
Evergreen
10 years ago
Shane Long is licking his lips
10 years ago
Imagine the conversation in Bundoran this week. – Can you drop that prize up to the Tubuchi family? – Where are they at, the top of the road? – No, Hawaii… GAA club lottos are a wonderful thing. They’re the lifeblood of a parish’s fundraising efforts, and selling raffle tickets is what really makes some […]
10 years ago
Wow. If you’ve been living under a rock or had no idea of the magnitude of what Connacht did on Saturday, it meant a hell of a lot. It has woken up a province that has long since been kept silent and it has created a buzz all all over the rugby world. It started […]
10 years ago
No gloves, no positional sense, no desire to play in goals. Paul Courtney is a fine footballer. He was on the Armagh panel a few years back. As an outfielder. Both he and Charlie Vernon were renowned ball-players in their college days at Queen’s in Belfast. As midfielders. On Sunday though, Kieran McGeeney recalled the […]
10 years ago
The west is awake and the west is united. Pat Lam gets what it means to be a Connacht man. The manager speaks often about the five counties, about the people of the west, about his team’s success being shared by the entire province. They’re galvanised on the Atlantic coast and, with men like John […]
10 years ago
It is written. There’s paying your dues and then there’s John Muldoon. For 131 years, the west has been waiting to wake up. It feels like John Muldoon has been waiting longer than that for his just rewards. The Connacht captain was colossal again on Saturday as the Irish province clinched unprecedented Pro 12 success […]
10 years ago
The west is awake. Connacht are Pro 12 champions – it really happened – and, 13 years after they were trying to extinguish the club, Pat Lam will lead the western province through the streets of Galway on Sunday afternoon as heroes. As trailblazers. As winners. Try dismantling Connacht now. Try putting the west back […]
10 years ago
Are you pro Ronaldo or anti Ronaldo?
10 years ago
Since when was winning not enough? Playing hard, not enough? You have to wonder what goes through Pepe’s head. Apart from those bullets that seem to hit him every five seconds. Does he have such little confidence in the ability of his team mates that he has to constantly try to get opponents sent off? […]
10 years ago
11 – the number of Champions Leagues Real Madrid have now won. 5 – the number of penalties they put away in the shootout in comparison to Atletico’s four. 1 – the number of French managers that have won the Champions League. 9,724 – the number of times Cristiano Ronaldo has taken off his top […]
10 years ago
This is what football is all about. Atletico Madrid fans are a passionate bunch. Their manager is a passionate man and their team embodies the spirit of a proud club. Add that with an occasion like a Champions League final. Pit them with opponents like Real Madrid, the most successful club in Europe, the same […]
10 years ago
If I was taking a penalty in the Champions League final, I’d close my eyes, hit it the ball as hard as I could straight down the middle and hope for the best. I could live a thousand lifetimes and would never be good enough to hit a penalty in a Champions League final. Even if […]
10 years ago
John Muldoon has seen it all. He was coming through 13 years ago when there was talk of dismantling Connacht. He’s been there through the hard times and, now, through the good times, he is still the exact same. Still a leader, still a warrior, still a Connacht man to the very core. John Muldoon […]
10 years ago
Decent player, that Kevin De Bruyne fella. Decent team, those Belgians. A front six of Mousa Dembele, Marouane Fellaini, Dries Mertens, Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, and Romelu Lukaku looks menacing enough on paper as it is but then Kevin De Bruyne goes and does Kevin De Bruyne things. Belgium came from behind in their […]
10 years ago
He’s breaking the internet
10 years ago
Question one: Who’s better, Ronaldo or Messi? Nah, let’s not start that. Not this week at least. Cristiano Ronaldo is a legend of the game and he’s aiming for his third Champions League title on Saturday night. It has been a record-breaking career for the Portuguese man to get to here. It has been a […]
10 years ago
A thing of beauty
10 years ago
It was a game Ireland should’ve won but no-one seemed to care because they’re all going to France. Martin O’Neill’s men leaked an 85th minute goal to be held 1-1 by Holland despite controlling large spells of the clash. A first half Shane Long goal set Ireland on their way but they were eventually pegged […]
10 years ago
Two games from France. Martin O’Neill has named his second last team before he cuts the squad for Euro 2016. Only 23 players can board the Ireland plane for the tournament and, with the final two international friendlies here now, it is the last chance for some men to impress. Ireland take on the Netherlands […]
10 years ago
Aston Villa must have its head in the sand. On the same day that Manchester United appointed Jose Mourinho, on the same week Villa found themselves a new owner, they still didn’t bother to really do anything. Dithering for six seasons eventually cost them their Premier League status and dithering some more over who could […]
10 years ago
“Peter Harte could solo a ball across a tight-rope”
10 years ago
There’s a swagger about this team
10 years ago
What fuels blind faith? What makes us think that young seeds can grow to mighty oak? Connacht Rugby is on the verge of greatness. From nowhere, Pat Lam has assembled a team that has defied the odds, shook the continent and now stands on the brink of immortality. Only island rivals Leinster remain in their […]
10 years ago
Just one big myth fans are using to hold on to the old United
10 years ago
“Blaming the corner-forwards last Sunday doesn’t cut it as far as I’m concerned.” Kevin O’Donovan delivered an impassioned speech to the Cork County Board on Tuesday night and he finished to the sound of sustained applause. The county’s coaching officer stood up in the wake of Sunday’s tame loss to Tipperary and demanded that change […]
10 years ago
It’s been a tough ol’ slog for Daryl Murphy. 20 international caps have come and gone over the last nine years but he’s yet to hit the net for his country. The Waterford man has been banging them in for Ipswich but when he’s donned the green shirt, it just hasn’t happened. “I think I’ve […]
10 years ago
There’d be no arguments here
10 years ago
Nate Diaz is playing hard ball now. Straight from the school of Conor McGregor marketing, the American knows when he’s wanted and he knows his worth. Line them up on their knees with their hands out. I want them to beg me. pic.twitter.com/YCYf0QslNR — Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) December 20, 2015 They’re flying out to meet […]
10 years ago
Rory McIlroy has set himself up with a chance of winning the Irish Open heading into the weekend. The county Down native is one shot off the lead after two rounds and, despite failing to back up his frightening open day round of 66, he’s looking in fine form. Marc Warren finished the day six […]
10 years ago
