“It’s the first Champions League game Liverpool have lost this season but we got there. We’ll enjoy it. Not too long as we have Chelsea coming up but, yeah, we’ll enjoy it.” 62 minutes into Liverpool’s semi-final second leg and they were 7-4 up on aggregate. Still, given the recent goal-glut that has swept Europe […]

8 years ago

Liverpool are heading to Kiev for the Champions League final while Roma are left to reflect on the fact they conceded seven goals in 115 minutes during their two-legged semi-final. Roma threw the kitchen sink at Liverpool in the second leg of their last four clash and scored four goals. The only problem was, and […]

8 years ago

Sale have also found themselves linked with Wallabies fullback Israel Folau in recent weeks. Paddy Jackson looks set to be playing his rugby in England’s Aviva Premiership next season. The former Ulster outhalf is available on the free market after being axed from his provincial contract with the IRFU. The contract of Jackson and teammate […]

8 years ago

Now that Ulster have a head coach sorted, the focus will turn to his backroom staff and strengthening the squad further. One of those spots in the squad may yet be filled by another Leinster player, with Joey Carbery and Ross Byrne mulling a move up the M1. Ulster will have John Cooney, Marty Moore […]

8 years ago

Salah was also named the PFA Player of the Year last week

8 years ago

The former Manchester United forward makes a good point about Jose Mourinho’s management style. Michael Owen grew up as an Everton fan, spent his formative football years as a young Liverpool scoring sensation and had three seasons at Manchester United. He insists he is just happy watching, and commentating on, good football now but his […]

8 years ago

John Muldoon and Donncha O’Callaghan both got the fairytale finishes to their careers than so few professional rugby players are lucky to get. For every player like Muldoon and O’Callaghan that gets to run out on the pitch knowing this will indeed be their final game, another slew face retirement in treatment rooms, training fields, […]

8 years ago

The German kit manufacturer will make all the Leinster Rugby gear for the next five seasons. Leinster will move away from Canterbury and have their rugby gear made by adidas from the beginning of 2018/19. According to a Leinster release ‘the famous three stripes will adorn all match day, training and leisure wear’. The sponsorship deal […]

8 years ago

Many football fans who attended games as youngsters may still have match programmes from those early games in their house. Growing up, and going to games at Croke Park or Lansdowne Road, match programmes were a huge part of the match-day experience. You would skip the intros from presidents and sponsors and get right to […]

8 years ago

Pre-season friendlies aside, Robbie Brady ended up making just one senior appearance for Manchester United. Having been spotted at the age of 16, playing for St Kevin’s Boys, Brady was signed up by United and placed into their academy system. He made his debut for the Reserves three months later and toured with the senior […]

8 years ago

The Leinster squad is so stacked right now that they could head into 2018/19 without bringing in outside replacements for Isa Nacewa, Jordi Murphy, Richardt Strauss and Jamie Heaslip and still do well. The Leinster production line has spewed out some serious gems over the past few seasons and many of them have taken steps […]

8 years ago

If the last game of the regular Guinness PRO14 season was an audition for the Champions Cup final, several Leinster players failed. Leo Cullen and Stuart Lancaster brought 12 Ireland internationals [8 Grand Slam winners] to Galway at the weekend and left with a resounding defeat. Connacht waved off John Muldoon with a superb 47-10 […]

8 years ago

The official announcement arrived not long after Scotland confirmed he was on his way. Ulster Rugby confirmed, on Saturday, that they had recruited a new head coach and that he had been their first-choice pick after an extensive, worldwide search. Ulster team manager Bryn Cunningham told the BBC, down at Thomond Park, that the new […]

8 years ago

Jack Carty was off the pitch at the time so he would not have minded too much that John Muldoon stepped up for a conversion. The Connacht outhalf was called ashore after 63 minutes, with his side 33-3 ahead, but captain Muldoon stayed out until the end. Such was the ease at Connacht’s victory that […]

8 years ago

Shane Delahunt has timed this run well. The Birr native had his best game of the season in Connacht’s final involvement in 2016/17. Kieran Keane’s men had long been condemned to another season of Challenge Cup rugby by the time Leinster arrived in Galway for the last match of the regular Guinness PRO14 season. By […]

8 years ago

“He’ll be back… he’ll be back.” The elderly Connacht supporter was in the thick of a farewell thrall, his wife beside him. Almost 20 minutes after the match had ended, John Muldoon had finally made his way through the gap at The Clan Terrace and had his right arm raised in salute to the baying […]

8 years ago

What a way to finish your Connacht career. John Muldoon bowed out after 17 seasons at Connacht by helping his home province to an emphatic 47-10 victory over Leinster. The Connacht captain played all 80 minutes in his side’s final game of their Guinness PRO14 season and even kicked the final conversion after Caolán Blade […]

8 years ago

CONNACHT 47-10 LEINSTER Their season is over a few weeks earlier than they would have liked but at least Connacht can reflect on Sportsground victories over Munster, Ulster and now Leinster. John Muldoon can reflect on a great career and a 100% goal-kicking record! Rugby fans from the west converged on the Galway dog-track to […]

8 years ago

When Dana White first made the claim, we felt it was just the fight promoter in him. “Conor tells me, ‘I want Floyd Mayweather then I want f***ing Khabib in Russia’. How do you not love him? How do you not love Conor McGregor? Amazing.” That was UFC president Dana White last summer, ahead of […]

8 years ago

Conor McGregor has been such a force of good in the life of Craig Rankin. Rankin believes MMA has given him renewed purpose and drive in recent years. The 24-year-old was born with Spina Bifida, a condition, which he explained in his blog Being Disabled in Mixed Martial Arts, has caused his right leg to be paralysed “from […]

8 years ago

There goes a racing great. Katie Walsh was supposed to ride in the bumper at Punchestown today but, as with so many parts of horseracing, there were some late changes and she found herself with another mount. The 33-year-old was actually third in line to ride Willie Mullins’ Antey in the 2-mile Novice Hurdle but, […]

8 years ago

The easy answer would have been to simply agree and say, ‘Yes’. It would be a stretch to say Liverpool’s defence is now sorted but it is in much better shape than it has been in some time. Sure, Dejan Lovren is still in there. The Croatian is still capable of a rickett every now […]

8 years ago

Can’t argue with that. Jurgen Klopp spent much of his press conference, ahead of Liverpool’s game with Stoke, answering questions about Steven Gerrard. The former Reds captain is currently coaching the Liverpool U18s but speculation has been rife that he is about to be announced as the new Rangers manager. Graham Murty has been holding […]

8 years ago

Donnacha Ryan’s last game for Ireland looks set to be the rousing Six Nations victory over England in March 2017. He would have liked more caps but he accepted that a move to France would do his Test chances no favours. Joe Schmidt will tell you that there is no hard and fast rule but […]

8 years ago

Down at Young Munster, they’ll tell you just how good Earls was. How fierce he was. A real talisman. “That’s all I remember as a youngfella, is going to his games.” Before Keith Earls ran out in Munster red, his father Ger had the honour. Ger Earls was a Young Munster flanker of ferocious regard […]

8 years ago

Johnny Sexton called him “insane”. Keith Earls described him as ‘a freak’. To James Downey, he is “super-human”. Robbie Henshaw returned 10 weeks after shoulder reconstruction to dominate the midfield – and plenty of collisions – for Leinster in their Champions Cup semi-final victory over Scarlets. Henshaw dislocated his shoulder in the act of scoring […]

8 years ago

“Perception is often reality.” Stuart Lancaster was building something good, as England head coach, until it all turned sour on the biggest stage in rugby. Having beaten the All Blacks in 2013, and gained another couple of impressive scalps, England failed to turn big results into winning runs and trophies [barring a 2014 Triple Crown]. […]

8 years ago

Kevin Lee, Eddie Alvarez and Dustin Poirier are making their plays for a shot at the UFC lightweight belt. The return of the former ‘Champ Champ’ would blow all the pretenders and contenders out of the water. Conor McGregor has a court date in Brooklyn, stemming from the Barclays Center bus attack, on June 14 […]

8 years ago

Rangers are getting set for a serious assault on the Scottish Premiership next season. Brendan Rodgers and Steven Gerrard could be reunited, on at least four occasions, next season. The former Liverpool manager and captain may well be facing off against each other as respective bosses of Rangers and Celtic. Speculation has been mounting that […]

8 years ago

“We can’t have that in our game.” Conor Murray will have been disappointed that he put himself under the spotlight but Viremi Vakawata has little to be proud of here. Racing put up one hell of a fight against Munster, on Sunday, as they out-muscled, -thought and -classed them in Bordeaux. They got in Munster’s […]

8 years ago

In the lead-up to Racing 92’s Champions Cup semi final with Munster, Laurent Labit was not letting his players get off the training field without getting their act together. Professional rugby teams have got to the stage, now, where the block off training sessions to work on specific areas of the game. You get one […]

8 years ago

“I think if Racing didn’t have Donnacha Ryan yesterday we probably would have won” – Keith Earls (The Hard Yards) Keith Earls was looking on from the right wing as Munster prepared for a set-piece strike that would, it was hoped, get them back in the game against Racing 92. Munster were trailing 7-0 after […]

8 years ago

Guess the Manchester United player… 4 Premier League titles 1 Champions League 1 World Club Championship 1 League Cup 1 Community Shield 181 appearances over eight seasons It certainly seems like the CV of a player that got the most out of his footballing talent. That same played left United at the age of 26 […]

8 years ago

Jurgen Klopp remaining on terra firma here. Mother of God, Mo Salah is having a cracking season. Chelsea supporters must be asking how their club allowed Salah to leave for just €15m back in 2016 after the Egyptian registered his 42nd and 43rd goals of the season – and his 12th and 13th assists – […]

8 years ago

If either of these scores had have been allowed to stand, Munster may have staged a great European escape. The Irish province lost their Champions Cup semi-final 27-22 to Racing on Sunday with substitute hooker Rhys Marshall’s disallowed try chalked off after he had used referee JP Doyle to shield his way to the line, […]

8 years ago

Keith Earls insists that Munster would have beaten Racing 92 in the Champions Cup semi final had Donnacha Ryan been on their side. Ryan was, instead, on the Racing side and the winning side in Bordeaux. Johann Van Graan’s men arrived to the game in top form but they were blown off the park in […]

8 years ago

Neither Joey Carbery nor Ross Byrne will be eager to leave Leinster and you can hardly blame them. When IRFU Performance Director David Nucifora spoke, earlier this season, about increasing player movement across the provinces, you could have forgiven Byrne or Carbery to have missed the news. Byrne was enjoying an extended run in the […]

8 years ago

An even split between Munster and Leinster. The list of nominees for the Rugby Players Ireland end of season awards have been announced. Reflecting the fantastic season enjoyed by Ireland and the excellent , dual trophy campaigns of Munster and Leinster, two of the four provinces dominate the nominees. Keith Earls and Conor Murray are […]

8 years ago

If Johnny Sexton had made this claim last April, there may well have been scoffs across the press conference room. Saturday at Lansdowne Road and James Ryan was, not for the first time this seen, a bloody colossus. The Leinster lock topped the chart for carries and tackles and scored a vital first half try. […]

8 years ago

Donnacha Ryan will tell you, to this day, that he never wanted to leave Munster. It broke his heart to do so. At the beginning of last season, and all the way up until Christmas, Ryan was expecting to be offered a decent, two-year deal by the IRFU that would take up up to the […]

8 years ago

When Munster showed some fight in the second half, it almost resulted in a trip to the sin-bin Munster head coach Johann Van Graan would later tell BT Sport that Racing 92 started the Champions Cup semi final like ‘a train on fire’. That would be a sight to see but Racing were even more eye-catching […]

8 years ago

RACING 27-22 MUNSTER Munster’s dreams of reaching the Champions Cup final were mercilessly dashed by a rampant Racing 92 side in Bordeaux. Teddy Thomas scored twice and set up an easy try for Maxime Machenaud as the French side burst out of the blocks to stun Munster. Munster found themselves 21-3 down after 22 minutes […]

8 years ago

It is a jersey that means so much to Manchester United fans, and Alex Ferguson was well aware of its power and mystique. In American sports, clubs and franchises often retire jersey numbers in tribute to legendary players. In football, jersey numbers generally live on and new players either live up to the challenge or […]

8 years ago

Back in my day… Colin Calderwood was a tough nut when he used to patrol the football pitch. The former Tottenham and Scotland defender’s style of play was very much of the no-nonsense variety and he gave just as good as he got. He got involved in coaching when he hung up his playing boots […]

8 years ago

The flanker has only started 18 Leinster games in the last three seasons and he is unlikely to feature again this season. Leinster have reached the final of the Champions Cup without Sean O’Brien, Josh van der Flier, Jamie Heaslip or Rhys Ruddock in their back row. Jordi Murphy, who started at No.8, is off […]

8 years ago

It is a shame that he felt he could not openly express his gratitude on social media, however. Alexis Sanchez will forever remain grateful for the faith Arsene Wenger showed in him. While he was part of an extremely good Barcelona team, Wenger made a move for Sanchez in 2014 and sought to build his […]

8 years ago

Leinster treated us to a dominant show on the Lansdowne Road pitch and then followed it up in the post-match press conference. Following their 38-16 dusting of Scarlets, Leinster rolled out Leo Cullen, Johnny Sexton and Rob Kearney to face the press. Cullen, who was battling in the trenches with Kearney and Sexton, is now […]

8 years ago

First Jacob Stockdale, now Jordan Larmour, Ahead of Leinster’s Champions Cup semi-final with Scarlets, Dan Leavy was asked about Johnny Sexton’s famous habit of barking orders out on the pitch. The flanker replied: “Johnny gives out to everyone, every week… about everything!” The Leinster outhalf, who captained them in the 38-16 victory over Scarlets, is […]

8 years ago

The Leinster out-half had the room in stitches with some of his post-match comments. Johnny Sexton enjoyed another successful outing as Leinster captain as he led the province to a Champions Cup final, scoring 18 points along the way. Leinster battered Scarlets 38-16 and Sexton was at the heart of most of their best moves. […]

8 years ago

A relentless masterclass from Leinster as the exacted punishing revenge on a Scarlets team that stunned them in a PRO12 semi-final last season. Leinster are off to Bilbao for the 2017/18 Champions Cup final after hammering Scarlets 38-16 at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Tries from James Ryan, Cian Healy, Fergus McFadden, Scott Fardy and […]

8 years ago