This Sunday, Mayo face Donegal in Ballybofey in a crucial relegation clash. And they’ll be doing it without key duo Cillian O’Connor and Lee Keegan after confirmation that they will miss this weekend’s Division 1 encounter. Keegan is recovering from a suspected dislocated shoulder while O’Connor injured his hamstring in the defeat to Tyrone. Captain […]

8 years ago

Shock defeat. Rory McIlroy’s recently recaptured sense of euphoria was shattered on Wednesday evening as he was beaten by American Peter Uihlein in their group stage match in the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play Championship at Austin Country Club. McIlroy, who on Sunday returned to the winners’ circle with a stunning victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, […]

8 years ago

He wants to keep his options open apparently. Martin O’Neill has pumped new blood into his Republic of Ireland squad for the friendly against Turkey, but one face who turned down the chance of turning out in green was Liam Kelly. O’Neill has confirmed that the Reading midfielder rejected a call-up to the Ireland squad, […]

8 years ago

Shut up and take my money. As the World Cup slowly but surely comes into view, adidas have whet our appetite with some of the colourful kits that will be on display during the quadrennial footballing extravaganza. The countries are: Germany, Russia, Spain, Belgium, Japan, Sweden, Argentina and Mexico. They’re away kits, yes, but they […]

8 years ago

It doesn’t sound good. Keith Earls enjoyed an outstanding Six Nations campaign for Ireland but it ended on a sour note. The Munster wing had to be helped from the field at Twickenham after sustaining an injury during the victory over England. While he is still to undergo a scan to determine the full extent […]

8 years ago

Cian Healy looked down and out at one stage. Ahead of the 2015 World Cup, the Leinster man had signed medical sign-off papers to retire from the game. The Lions and Ireland loosehead prop had surgery on a disc in his neck and the nerve damage left him without the use of his right hand. […]

8 years ago

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. We can only guess at how most of the Manchester United players reacted to news that the club had beaten Manchester City to signing Alexis Sanchez. Marcos Rojo though, it seems, was not thrilled at the prospect. The Argentine defender, currently on international duty, has opened up […]

8 years ago

Is he serious? Jeremy Guscott thinks Ireland do not have any world class players. Despite clinching the Grand Slam with a convincing 15-24 win over England at Twickenham, the BBC analyst is not getting swept away in the achievement of Joe Schmidt’s side. Ireland’s dominant Six Nations campaign has attracted widespread praise for the current […]

8 years ago

Jack Grealish he is not. Declan Rice is fully committed to playing for the Republic of Ireland, ruling out the possibility of him switching allegiances to England. The London-born centre-half is due to make his Ireland debut against Turkey on Friday evening having been called up to Martin O’Neill’s squad for the first time. While […]

8 years ago

On 19 March 2017, Derry lost one of its favourite sons. Ryan McBride, the Derry City captain, passed away in his sleep at the age of 27, sending shockwaves throughout the city and the Irish footballing community. There is a popular perception of footballers as warriors, but nobody fit that description as naturally as McBride. […]

8 years ago

It took a mammoth shift. But Ireland did it. They brought it home. Five wins from five and a Grand Slam to go along with the Six Nations title and Triple Crown. Nine years on from that famous triumph in 2009, Ireland are the indisuputable force in world rugby. As Brian O’Driscoll mentioned in his post-match […]

8 years ago

He’s the talk of the town. At times, when the League of Ireland isn’t at its pulsating best, you can essentially just player watch. When football fans from across the globe flock to see Real Madrid or Barcelona, they can be excused for becoming transfixed by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi respectively. After all, they […]

8 years ago

This was always going to happen. The ruthless, cut-throat world of social media tore straight into Eddie Jones after his England side failed to stop Ireland from winning the Grand Slam at Twickenham. England fell to a third successive defeat, losing 15-24 to Joe Schmidt’s men to bring the curtain down on a championship that […]

8 years ago

Brilliant. On Friday night, it was reported that the RFU were going to paint the Twickenham pitch markings blue. With the Met Office issuing an amber weather warning with an 80% chance of snow, it seemed like a perfectly reasonable decision. With a strong, icy wind, the temperature was always going to plummet but Jacob […]

8 years ago

Ireland got off to a flyer in Twickenham. Garry Ringrose set Joe Schmidt’s men on their way to a Grand Slam with an opening try after just six minutes. From the line-out, Johnny Sexton launched a kick into the swirling wind in the stratosphere. With the breeze whipping, Anthony Watson went up to claim it. […]

8 years ago

He was reportedly caught speeding. Republic of Ireland and Sunderland midfielder was reportedly involved in a car accident on Saturday. According to unconfirmed social media reports, the former Manchester United man was caught speeding by Northumbria Police, with images of him being escorted into a police car surfacing on Twitter. Gibson was previously banned from driving […]

8 years ago

We’re not supposed to be panicking until from 2.45pm onwards. But Ireland fans watching the build-up to Grand Slam Saturday on TV3 probably started having heart palpitations when they saw their pictures disappearing. Virgin Media Ireland customers tuning in to watch coverage of England v Ireland from Twickenham were left scrambling when the service confirmed […]

8 years ago

Michael Obafemi has been named in the squad. Southampton striker Michael Obafemi has been included in Republic of Ireland U19 manager Tom Mohan’s squad for the upcoming triple-header of UEFA European Championship Elite Round qualifiers. There has been speculation recently that Obafemi, the 17-year-old Dublin-born forward, may declare for Nigeria, but continuing to represent Ireland is […]

8 years ago

Hmmm. James Haskell has said that England’s perceived status as the most-hated team in rugby is down to the British Empire. Haskell has been recalled to Eddie Jones’ side as they look to prevent Six Nations champions Ireland from clinching the Grand Slam at Twickenham. The experienced Wasps flanker said that England’s history is ‘easy […]

8 years ago

He addressed the players following United’s defeat to Sevilla. Jose Mourinho is willing to shoulder the blame for Manchester United’s Champions League exit, if recent reports are to be believed. United crashed out of Europe to Sevilla following a 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford, with Mourinho coming in for heavy criticism for his characteristically pragmatic […]

8 years ago

He’s been on fire for Middlesbrough recently. In this uncertain, World Cup-less landscape, Ireland fans need hope. It’s been four months since Christian Eriksen tore Ireland’s defence a new one, but the memory remains remarkably painful. It was followed by intense speculation over Martin O’Neill’s future and news of Daryl Murphy and Wes Hoolahan retiring. […]

8 years ago

Not great for England. England’s preparation for the visit of Ireland to Twickenham on St Patrick’s Day suffered a setback after it emerged that key duo Dylan Hartley and Elliot Daly are still struggling with the injuries picked up in the defeat to France. Hartley and Daly sustained calf and foot injuries respectively and, although […]

8 years ago

“They’re playing like individuals.” It was always going to be worth listening to Roy Keane’s take on Manchester’s United’s spineless performance which saw them unceremoniously dumped out of the Champions League. United fell to Sevilla at Old Trafford, losing 2-1 after a scoreless draw in Spain in the first-leg left matters poised rather precariously. Jose […]

8 years ago

The first time we’ve seen this clip. In the week building up to Ireland’s trip to Twickenham, footage has emerged showing Eddie Jones talking about ‘the scummy Irish.’ The footage in question dates back to July last year, when Jones was a speaker at the FUSO Talks, a kind of TED talks style lecture on […]

8 years ago

We’re expecting very few changes. This is it. Ireland are four from four in this year’s Six Nations, leaving a date with old adversaries England at Twickenham on St Patrick’s Day to determine whether or not Joe Schmidt’s men will deliver just the third Grand Slam in Irish history. Following the 28-8 win over Scotland […]

8 years ago

He’s one of the most highly-rated forwards in Europe. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is plotting to bolster his striking options in the summer with a move for RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner, according to reports. The Germany international, who turned 22 earlier this month, has established himself as one of the most clinical finishers in […]

8 years ago

Interesting. When you’re England and you’re trying to stop Ireland from clinching a Grand Slam at Twickenham, you’ll do anything possible to get an edge. Yet, it’s still surprising to hear that Eddie Jones invited one of the match officials for Saturday’s clash with Ireland to referee England’s training session on Tuesday. According to The […]

8 years ago

The Sevilla defeat was the excruciating nadir of Alexis Sanchez’s time at Manchester United We had been warned. But perhaps, in the whirlwind of excitement that accompanied Manchester United stealing Alexis Sanchez from under Manchester City’s noses, we just didn’t want to listen. Yet here he is, traipsing around Old Trafford, desperately trying to rescue […]

8 years ago

First, a confession. I belong to the rapidly diminishing brigade of Jose Mourinho admirers. The truth is simple. Ever since I watched on, tears streaming down my face, as he gallantly galloped down the touchline at Old Trafford as Porto crushed Manchester United’s European dreams for another season, I have always been fascinated by him. […]

8 years ago

“Clearly I did not have the right.” Ivan Savvidis, the gun-toting PAOK president who stormed the pitch during his side’s Greek Superleague match against AEK Athens, has issued an apology for his part in the chaotic scenes that has brought football in the country to a standstill. The Russian oligarch, one of Greece’s richest men, […]

8 years ago

“Ireland have the greatest fly-half pair in world rugby.” If  BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly podcast is anything to go by, England would love to have Conor Murray in their side. The influential scrum-half has, like many of Ireland teammates, enjoyed a fine Six Nations tournament. Having been a member of the U20 squad when Ireland […]

8 years ago

Conlan called them ‘fucking cheats’ at the time. Michael Conlan’s excruciating defeat to Russian Vladimir Nikitin in their bantamweight quarter-final at the 2016 Olympics was widely condemned as a farce at the time. Despite dominating the bout from the outset, the Belfast fighter lost by unanimous decision. After being robbed of his dream, Conlan was in no […]

8 years ago

Ireland have the chance to win the Grand Slam on St Patrick’s Day. It has, of course, been a monumental team effort. With injuries causing their fair share of havoc, Joe Schmidt has been forced to explore the resources available to him to keep the Ireland squad fit and fresh. There have been a number […]

8 years ago

He has a lot of strength. It’s easy to hate Manchester City because they’re so good, but it’s impossible to feel the same way about David Silva. The Spaniard, so long City’s creative mastermind, sparkled at Stoke on Monday night as he netted a brace in a 2-0 win, moving Pep Guardiola’s side to within […]

8 years ago

He’s cautious of describing Dublin as a ‘great team’ at the moment. Legendary football manager Mick O’Dwyer doesn’t place Jim Gavin’s Dublin in the pantheon of greats. Not yet. While the doyen of football management concedes that Dublin are head and shoulders above the rest currently, he will not call them ‘great’ until they ‘hammer’ […]

8 years ago

Yes, he’s still going (for now). Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has announced that he will retire from football at the end of the season. The legendary Ivorian, 40, is currently with MLS side Phoenix Rising but feels it is ‘time’ to hang up his boots, hinting that he may seek to take up a […]

8 years ago

In the end, 12 points was the difference between Dublin and Kerry. If possible, though, that scoreline was flattering for Kerry. On a day when Ciarán Kilkenny shone and Cormac Costello made his return, the Kingdom were given a harsh and sobering reminder of the gulf between Dublin and the rest. Dublin Kerry always comes […]

8 years ago

Massive win for Limerick. It was going so well for Galway at half-time. As the Tribesmen and Limerick trudged off after the opening 35, Galway were sitting pretty with an eight-point advantage, 1-15 to 1-7. Cathal Mannion had been particularly impressive, scoring 1-4 from play after just 28 minutes. Jason Flynn had enjoyed a productive […]

8 years ago

What a game. Celtic extended their lead atop the Scottish Premiership to nine points after edging Rangers 3-2 in a thrilling encounter at Ibrox. It was an Old Firm to savour, a match brimming with the usual intensity but delivering impressive football and masterful finishes to complete a scintillating semi-final in Glasgow. Celtic triumphed but Rangers […]

8 years ago

Ireland are Six Nations champions. While we’ll have to wait another week to see if they can deliver the Grand Slam, it still feels good to say they are champions. However, it gets even sweeter. With Ireland beating Scotland and England losing to France on Saturday, Joe Schmidt’s men will officially move above England into […]

8 years ago

Brilliant. With Ireland clinching the Six Nations title and England falling to a whimpering defeat to France, there weren’t too many smiling faces in the BBC studio on Saturday evening. John Inverdale seemed to be on the brink of breaking down while Jeremy Guscott looked as disinterested as an eight-year-old sitting through Mass. Paul O’Connell […]

8 years ago

Saturday was a shameful day for West Ham United Football Club. Not only were the Hammers sucked further into the Premier League’s relegation dogfight after a 3-0 defeat at home to Burnley, animosity towards the people running the club took over. There were ugly scenes. Some fans managed to elude stewards at the London Stadium […]

8 years ago

He was immense against Scotland. Johnny Sexton has been in the Ireland set-up for a decade. In a team chock full of emerging prospects, he, along with the likes of Rory Best and Rob Kearney, stands out as an elder statesman in this current crop. However, while Best and Kearney played a more prominent role […]

8 years ago

This is surely only going to end one way. West Brom manager Alan Pardew turned on his own players after they fell to a 4-1 defeat at home to Leicester City. The Baggies, who are beginning to look increasingly adrift at the foot of the Premier League table, took the lead through Salomon Rondon but […]

8 years ago

Toxic. West Ham’s troubled season plumbed new depths on Saturday as furious fans took it upon themselves to confront players during the 3-0 defeat to Burnley at the London Stadium. Goals from Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood (2) ensured that David Moyes’ men were well beaten on the pitch but, not for the first time, […]

8 years ago

One hell of a man. After some stout Scottish defending allowed Greg Laidlaw kick them into a three-point lead, Ireland came roaring back in an absorbing clash at the Aviva Stadium. Jacob Stockdale intercepted Peter Horne’s pass and sprinted away for Ireland’s first try before grabbing another one on the stroke of half-time as Joe […]

8 years ago

The FA chief executive, Martin Glenn, sees a fire and reaches for the gasoline. On Sunday, Glenn was discussing Pep Guardiola’s much-publicised yellow ribbon, which the Manchester City manager has worn in support of politicians who have been imprisoned in Catalonia following the independence referendum there in October. Having been the FA’s chief executive for […]

8 years ago

Nice. You can rely on Mary Immaculate College for two things: being pretty damn good at hurling and producing really great tops. At the start of the 2017/18 season, we were quite taken by the jersey for this year’s Fitzibbon Cup, a cracking, tight-fitted top that bore the traditional red and blue colours of the […]

8 years ago

We’re back in business. After an entire weekend’s worth of football and hurling fixtures fell foul of the adverse weather conditions, we’re up and running and can look forward to the GAA league season reconvening. The CCCC has announced the details for the rescheduled fixtures for all of the league games that were postponed this […]

8 years ago

Encouraging news. It’s set to be a huge week for Ireland and it has started with some reasonably positive news. The IRFU released a squad update Monday lunchtime, confirming that Iain Henderson and Tadhg Furlong are both back in full training ahead of the crunch clash with Scotland this Saturday. Henderson and Furlong missed the […]

8 years ago