But which dug-out will Kevin McStay be in? Mayo are currently without a manager or management team, but they now have a game to circle on the calendar and aim for. The men’s 2018 inter-county season wrapped up on Sunday with Dublin’s All-Ireland final win over Tyrone. Behind the scenes, GAA officials were already hard […]

8 years ago

Lord have mercy. “Hi, it’s Bryson, Phil and Tiger. Happy to be on the US team. Let’s go kick some butt over there.” With those chilling words from Bryson Dechambeau, Phil Mickelson’s uneasy stare and Tiger Woods’ beaming smile, the USA’s three wildcard picks for the 2019 Ryder Cup were announced. Captain Jim Furyk has selected […]

8 years ago

Some going. One of the takeaways from this year’s championship has been the size, strength and speed of this Dublin team. It is nothing new to look upon this champion team with a sense of awe. They rarely falter, tire, panic or lose. But seeing them next to their markers from Galway and Tyrone – […]

8 years ago

The streak continues. Brian Fenton has yet to lose a championship game for Dublin and his list of achievements is stacking up dangerously: 4 All-Irelands 4 Leinster titles 3 national leagues 2 All Stars (soon to be 3) The 25-year-old would look to have the greatest CV in football until you take a look at Ciarán […]

8 years ago

Ireland are down one midfield tyro. James McClean looks set to spend a spell on the sidelines after he posted a picture of his arm in a cast. The Stoke midfielder was included in Ireland’s 26-man squad for games against Wales and Poland, on Monday, but looks to have picked up a bad knock. On […]

8 years ago

“No matter what happens lads, keep going, keep going, keep f**king going. Keep going!” So begins a sweeping, evocative package put together for the Boston GAA finals that featured Dublin star Diarmuid Connolly in the day’s main match, between Donegal Boston and Wolfe Tones. The video was beautifully put together by Rachel O’Driscoll. She played, […]

8 years ago

No way in the world he was sitting this one out. On August 5, Conor Meyler fractured his leg in a Super 8s win over Donegal. On September 2, four weeks later, he started the All-Ireland final and was tasked with trying to bottle magic in the ominous shape of Brian Fenton. On the Friday […]

8 years ago

The Aston Villa defender says his ‘conscience is clear’ over the horror tackle that broke Seamus Coleman’s leg. Neil Taylor went to win the ball from Seamus Coleman, and do so with force, but he made a hames of it and left the Ireland captain in a crumpled heap. Coleman’s leg snapped on impact and […]

8 years ago

“We had a great homecoming in 2003. We had a better one in 2005, but I think 2008 surpasses them all!” – Brian Dooher, Tyrone captain, 2008. 10 years on from Dooher’s homecoming speech at Healy Park, Tyrone returned from another All-Ireland final but without the Sam Maguire. Still, there were reasons to be cheerful. […]

8 years ago

A popular choice. Tyrone went to the well at Croke Park but it was not to be. 0-5 to 0-1 up against Dublin, a four-minute implosion saw them fall 0-5 to 1-3 behind and you could see them deflate; to wilt. They had come out of the red corner swinging haymakers and connecting with a […]

8 years ago

This is highly concerning. Harry Arter is fully fit, playing regularly for Cardiff City and, for the foreseeable future, out of the picture for Ireland. Despite not having the likes of Robbie Brady and James McCarthy available for selection, Ireland are doing without the services of a proven Premier League midfielder for the upcoming games […]

8 years ago

This is the second time in a few weeks the Donegal captain has made the claim. Tyrone may have offered a glimpse of how it must be done. Michael Murphy and Donegal have settled on the only way teams have a chance of stopping Dublin on ‘The Drive for Five’. Jim Gavin’s men overcame a […]

8 years ago

No sign of Harry Arter, who is fit and has played the last three league games for Cardiff. Martin O’Neill has trimmed his Ireland squad for the upcoming games against Wales and Poland. If the big news, last week, was O’Neill leaving the contemplative Declan Rice out of his 31-man squad, Arter’s absence will generate […]

8 years ago

A big improvement on last season’s number. The new football season – and the steam train approach of the Uefa Nations League(!) – can only mean one thing…. a new Ireland jersey. New Balance and the FAI are into the early days of their kit deal and they, in our opinion, went with a safe […]

8 years ago

Good shout here by the Mayo man. You got the sense that Tomás O Sé was banging the Stephen Cluxton drum on The Sunday Game. Lee Keegan, at least, got in a word for a few of the lads that missed out. The pundits’ panel butted heads to come up with their Football Team of […]

8 years ago

“Thanks to the hotel for the shower!” Jack McCaffrey went viral after the 2017 All-Ireland final. The Dublin half-back is doing it all over again. This time, he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. After last year’s All-Ireland win, McCaffrey gained some fans for his scene-stealing faces and waves in the […]

8 years ago

Heading up the escalators with a drink in your hand and an All-Ireland winners’ medal in your kit-bag. Dublin are the football champions of Ireland again after they defeated a spirited Tyrone team 2-17 to 1-14 at Croke Park to clinch the four-in-a-row. Jim Gavin’s men have not lost a championship game since August 2014. […]

8 years ago

Loni Uhila, welcome to Paris! It was a frustrating, sapping return to competitive action at the U Arena for Racing 92 but Donnacha Ryan and Simon Zebo gave them a couple of decent memories. Racing were absolutely savaged by Clermont Auvergene in their second Top 14 game of the season, with Greig Laidlaw chipping in with 17 points […]

8 years ago

Having played during the Super 8s, and trained with the squad for the second half of the summer, the Dublin forward is in line for his sixth winners’ medal. With Dublin only announcing their All-Ireland final starting 15 on Saturday morning, it was unclear whether Bernard Brogan would be involved or not. Just after 1pm, […]

8 years ago

The Dublin captain was very gracious about Tyrone but made a pointed remark to the naysayers. Stephen Cluxton raised the Sam Maguire for the sixth time in his illustrious career and had a few words for those that think the deck is stacked in Dublin’s favour. The Dublin goalkeeper, like his teammates, overcame a slow […]

8 years ago

DUBLIN 2-17 TYRONE 1-14 Dublin are All-Ireland champions for the fourth year in a row after coming back from four points down to break Tyrone hearts. The reigning champions got off to a slow start but a crucial penalty call, 17 minutes in, turned their fortunes and they blitzed Tyrone either side of half-time. Mickey […]

8 years ago

“It was my first 15s game in a few months and I loved every minute of it.” Shane Daly first came to the reckoning as a hard-hitting centre with Ireland U20s and got to the World Rugby U20 final with the likes of Andrew Porter, Max Deegan and Johnny McPhillips. In that side’s incredible victory […]

8 years ago

Early days yet but it was interesting to see the outhalf deferring to JJ Hanrahan. Once a Munster man, always a Munster man. That was Johann van Graan’s take on Joey Carbery’s Munster debut after his side’s 38-0 clattering of Cheetahs in the Guinness PRO14. The 22-year-old entered the fray at Thomond Park to a […]

8 years ago

Sean O’Brien finishes his round of interviews and heads into an unoccupied office at Bearing point’s Dublin headquarters to change out of his Leinster top and into something a little less conspicuous. About a half an hour beforehand, he had been out on a rooftop terrace with Rob Kearney and Robbie Henshaw, posing for pictures […]

8 years ago

The Champ Champ is coming back to The Octagon without his two belts, and they expect him to tow the line? Conor McGregor is six weeks out from his fighting return to the UFC. ‘The Notorious’ has attended a couple of live events but has not fought since he starched Eddie Alvarez at Madison Square […]

8 years ago

CARDIFF 32 LEINSTER 33 Leinster began the defence of their Guinness PRO14 title with a nerve-jangler at Cardiff Arms Park. Trailing 29-14 after 50 minutes of their league opener, against Cardiff Blues, the champions found it within themselves to turn this one around. Leo Cullen’s men were indebted to their wider squad in last year’s […]

8 years ago

There was always a chance of this happening once Celtic were dumped out of the Champions League. Celtic and Moussa Dembele were never destined to last long together. Having arrived from Fulham in 2016, the French striker hit the ground sprinting and scored 32 goals in 49 appearances. In the summer of 2017, he was […]

8 years ago

GAA players are an odd lot!

8 years ago

“He does what he wants.” – Sergio Ramos on Ronaldo. There was a helicopter waiting a ready to take Cristiano Ronaldo to Nice, and on to Monaco. Thursday evening saw Real Madrid and Croatia star win the Uefa Men’s Player of the Year. Having won the ‘Golden Ball’ for best player at the 2018 World […]

8 years ago

The game is afoot. Sunday will see Tyrone make their first All-Ireland football final appearance in 10 years and they could not have asked for a tougher team to welcome back to the big stage at Croke Park. Dublin are going for four-in-a-row against Mickey Harte’s men. You would be hard pressed to find someone […]

8 years ago

Munster fans will get a glimpse of what could be a very exciting back three combination at Thomond Park this weekend. The Guinness PRO14 returns to our TV screens (eir Sport and TG4) on Friday and Saturday, with three of the four Irish provinces at home. Many Ireland internationals will be drip-fed into action over […]

8 years ago

Clear your schedules, or just fling them out the window. For many of us, life is returning to normal after a summer that actually featured extended periods of sun. We all got our fair share of Vitamin D (sunshine) over the past few months so there should be no guilt about staying indoors this weekend […]

8 years ago

No Declan Rice in England’s latest squad but time may yet tell. Gareth Southgate has named his first England squad since the World Cup and there is a return to the fold for Luke Shaw and Adam Lallana. In years, and games, to come, those players may be joined by West Ham teenager Declan Rice. […]

8 years ago

In the fight game, we are so used to parties from both sides snarling at each other. Javier Mendez is backing his fighter to win at UFC 229, have no fear about that, but that has not stopped him from saying nice things about his opponent. Nurmagomedov’s first lightweight defence will be against a man […]

8 years ago

What a way to kick off the Guinness PRO14 season. Leinster begin the defence of their PRO14 title at the Cardiff Arms Park (7:35pm Friday, live on eir Sport) and they have named a team with nine internationals. Leo Cullen and Stuart Lancaster are able to call on Rhys Ruddock, Adam Byrne, Luke McGrath and […]

8 years ago

Life moves on, and rugby moves on even faster. Sam Warburton was forced to retire from rugby, earlier this year, at the age of 29. While many players hanging their boots up before 30 would be left with a sense of ‘what if’, the Welsh flanker retired having captained his country at two World Cups, […]

8 years ago

UFC miss a trick as plans for McGregor-Nurmagomedov showdown are revealed. “Is McGregor’s trash-talk enough? It’s completely unnecessary!” We never thought ‘The American Gangster’ Chael P. Sonnen would try to convince a fighter to steer clear of trash-talk but that was his take on Wednesday. Conor McGregor’s UFC 229 title fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov is […]

8 years ago

LK1 is now looking forward to flying like an eagle. Loris Karius’ thoughts will now turn to helping Besiktas in the Turkish Super Lig and reaching the latter stages of the Europa League. The German’s new club are in Europa League action on Thursday night as they take on Partizen, at home, after drawing the […]

8 years ago

The end is in sight but could yet be delayed a while yet. Four Six Nations titles (including two Grand Slams), two Lions tours, four league titles, four European Cups and a Challenge Cup. In October, all going well, Kearney by bypass the 200 caps mark for Leinster. He is currently Joe Schmidt’s No.15 in […]

8 years ago

The Ulster and Ireland legend will be on the other side of the camera this season. This time last year, SportsJOE sat down with Tommy Bowe for a chat in Dublin. New season, new hope. Bowe was invigorated after a decent pre-season and even had a couple of run-outs at inside centre. A couple of […]

8 years ago

The Carlow native must be itching to get out there. Sean O’Brien is occupying a weird middle ground and surely can’t wait to get out on the pitch again. The Leinster flanker has not played since December but, such is his talent, he should be on the plane for the 2019 World Cup. So, as […]

8 years ago

We may be without Conor Murray for some time. Conor Murray is the dominant scrum-half in Irish rugby. The Alpha 9 and the man Munster and Ireland fans have so many hopes pinned on. The 28-year-old has barely looked back since establishing himself as Munster’s first-choice No.9 back in early 2011. Declan Kidney was so […]

8 years ago

One hopes Declan Rice is avoiding any and all forms of media for the next while, until he makes a decision on his international future. The West Ham star is currently deliberating whether to declare his intentions to play for England or continue on with his international career with Ireland, and add to the three […]

8 years ago

Big news coming out of the west. Stephen Rochford has resigned as Mayo manager citing a lack of support from county board executive. The Examiner’s John Fogarty put out the statement from Rochford. Stephen Rochford steps downs as #Mayo manager. Statement: #GAA pic.twitter.com/eWUPk0qKGm — John Fogarty (@JohnFogartyIrl) August 27, 2018 The statement read: “After a […]

8 years ago

The actions of the former Manchester United and Rangers goalkeeper definitely sparked a reaction. Roy Carroll took a personal stance on Saturday, ahead of Linfield’s game with Cliftonville, when he refused to partake in the pre-match hand-shakes. While the rest of the Linfield players extended their hands to the Cliftonville squad, the Northern Ireland international […]

8 years ago

The Match of the Day host did not let this one slide. Declan Rice has played three international games for Ireland but could yet end up switching allegiances to England. Gary Lineker will gladly accept him into the fold. London-born Rice was left out of Ireland’s squad for upcoming Nations League fixtures with Martin O’Neill […]

8 years ago

Between May 2001 and September 2012, Tottenham faced Manchester United 25 times and won 0 games. They drew five and lost 20. When Alex Ferguson arrived from Aberdeen in November 1986, he inherited a side that had their fair share of trouble from Spurs. It took him a few years to get a handle on […]

8 years ago

2016 and 2017 ended in heartbreak. 2018 was different. Donegal Boston didn’t even make it to the Boston Senior Football Championship finals in the last couple of years. Several of their squad would have headed along to ‘Field A’ in Canton and watched on from the stands. Last year it was Shannon Blues beating Aidan McAnespies. […]

8 years ago

And there was a class bus ride to the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick too. Paul Carmody must have sensed there was something special on the cards before he set off from Dubai. The Limerick native was heading back the 7,764 kilometres from Dubai to Dublin to catch the All-Ireland Hurling Final when he pressed ‘record’ […]

8 years ago

In the end, Tottenham ended up keeping their powder dry and money in the bank. Talk of transfers was always going to resurface ahead of Manchester United’s Monday evening Premier League tie with Tottenham. With both clubs making summer enquiries about each other’s players, there will be an added layer of intrigue at Old Trafford […]

8 years ago