We are now into must-win territory and Munster are on the verge of yet another final. Benetton Treviso, everyone’s favourite second team, come to Limerick this weekend with a place in the final four at stake. Munster will go into the quarter final clash as firm favourites but the Italian outfit have taken some big […]

7 years ago

Either way this result falls, there could be an awkward moment or two at the party. John Cooney has a European Cup final appearance with Leinster and a PRO12 victory with Connacht, but he has truly settled at Ulster. All that is missing is some silverware, and a massive house-warming party. Cooney has been at […]

7 years ago

“He’s an aggressive full back that would solve that problem, for sure.” That was the ringing endorsement, by Dublin legend, of Rory O’Carroll on The GAA Hour, earlier this month. O’Carroll returned from a spell abroad, in March, and is back playing his club football with Kilmacud Crokes. The fullback has three All-Ireland winners’ medals to […]

7 years ago

Jack Carty could well have been lining out for Southampton with Shane Long at the weekend. Instead, he’s preparing for knock-out rugby up in Belfast. Modest enough as he may be, Jack Carty was a triple threat growing up. Carty played minor football for his county, Roscommon, and was only denied an All-Ireland by an […]

7 years ago

This would be a huge step-up for the Ireland underage star. In Dara O’Shea, West Brom have a promising defensive prospect. The Dubliner was signed up by The Baggies a few seasons back and was loaned out to the lower divisions to get some first-team experience. After a decent spell with Hereford Town, scoring five […]

7 years ago

Fastest in Connacht since they started collecting the data, and you’d struggle to find a faster player anywhere in the country. Kieran Marmion is as lively and committed as they come. The Connacht and Ireland scrumhalf has been hampered by an ankle injury, and surgery, this season but he is looking back to his best. […]

7 years ago

Sexton or ROG? David Wallace or Sean O’Brien? Bundee Aki or Gordon D’Arcy? There is nothing like a debate of pure subjectivity to get the juices flowing. When it comes to greatest of all-time conversations, no matter how good you think your argument is, there will always be folks that steadfastly stick to their guns. […]

7 years ago

As much as it may pain him, Ed Woodward may be getting on the phone to Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy a couple of times in the coming months. Right now, as so many sides are doing, Manchester United are at work on their transfer targets for the summer. United transfers are going to dominate many […]

7 years ago

Between these 10 players, they have missed 150 decent goalscoring chances. With a couple of full rounds of Premier League fixtures to be played, this season, 28 players have scored 10 goals or more. Mo Salah, Sergio Aguero and Sadio Mane are duking it out for the golden boot but that race could have been […]

7 years ago

“Nails! Would knock ****ing s**t outta ya!” The calls had been strong to get Joe Marler back. Those calls were heeded, and Marler produced the goods again. The Harlequins star joined host Alex Payne and former England captain Mike Tindall on JOE UK’s House of Rugby and was as combative, testing and compelling as his show debut. […]

7 years ago

Manchester United’s squad is due for some considerable change this summer. This time last year, Jack Grealish was being strongly linked with a move to Tottenham. 12 months on and the former Ireland underage star is again being linked with a move to a Premier League team. On this occasion, as part of a reported […]

7 years ago

The Liverpool boss was not having a bar of it. Jurgen Klopp acted swiftly to assure Liverpool fans that Roberto Firmino’s season was not over and, while he was at it, he cut down a rumour about his relationship with star forward Mohamed Salah. Klopp was speaking with the BBC after his Reds side defeated […]

7 years ago

There was a lot of hand-wringing when Leinster signed the Aussie ahead of the 2017/18 season. Scott Fardy had played a World Cup final at blindside and many feared – with merit – that Leinster would be blocking their up-an-coming back rows by lumping the Wallaby into the selection mix. Leinster assured us all that […]

7 years ago

Nemanja Matic received a rating of 0/10 from Manchester Evening News following his side’s 4-0 loss to Everton. In his assessment of the Serbian’s performance in the Manchester United midfield, Samuel Luckhurst wrote: ‘Played as though quick sand was beneath the pitch. Pedestrian throughout.’ Following the game, United’s heaviest defeat in three years, Matic came […]

7 years ago

Johnny Sexton had not played for Leinster for 113 days but it hardly looked like it. Such is the nature of modern rugby – injuries, Test windows and player management – that Leinster only get to field something resembling their best XV about six times a season. On a resplendent Sunday at the Aviva Stadium, […]

7 years ago

It was the final question – the kicker – that got him. Sean O’Brien is into the final straight of his Leinster career. He does not have many games left, and he knows it. There were two striking observations at the end of Leinster’s 30-12 Champions Cup semi final win over Toulouse – this was […]

7 years ago

“The beast is only just starting to purr!” There was a moment of playfulness and cunning, around 51 minutes, that summed up James Lowe. Leinster were attempting to force themselves over the Toulouse tryline after their rolling maul attempt had come up short. A pile of bodies, red and blue, littered the breakdown with forwards […]

7 years ago

As Sinead Kissane began her interview with Johnny Sexton, the Aviva Stadium erupted. The first 40 seconds of Sexton’s post-match chat with Virgin Media was drowned out as the Leinster fans acclaimed their main man. This was Sexton’s first game since looking a frustrated shell of himself at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, last month. Any fears […]

7 years ago

LEINSTER 30-12 TOULOUSE Leinster versus Saracens at St James’ Park, Newcastle is going to be a cracker. The two best sides in Europe will contest the 2018/19 Champions Cup final, next month, after Leinster joined Saracens by outclassing and outworking Toulouse at the Aviva Stadium. Leinster’s ‘Drive for Five’ looks in good shape and they […]

7 years ago

The Welsh journalist was not one bit impressed with the behaviour of Munster fans at The Ricoh Arena. On Saturday, during the Champions Cup semi final between Munster and Saracens, sections of the crowd booed and heckled Billy Vunipola. The practice followed on from the Premiership game between Bristol and Saracens, the weekend before, when […]

7 years ago

“It’s been a tough week for him.” That dote, Billy Vunipola opened himself up to a storm after taking to social media, last week, to like and then defend controversial posts from Australian star Israel Folau. The Saracens and England No.8 liked a Folau post that claimed sinners, which to his mind included homosexuals, were […]

7 years ago

SARACENS 32-16 MUNSTER Munster landed one decent blow but they were outpointed and outclassed by a Saracens side that were on a whole other plane. Munster captain Peter O’Mahony, speaking in Bordeaux last season after Racing had eliminated his side in the semis, said he was sick of learning lessons from defeats. The lesson today […]

7 years ago

“It’s fine, it’s fine, I’ve won three Heineken Cups, so it’s fine.” Gordon D’Arcy could not resit the playful dig at Andrew Trimble as the former Ulster star questioned Leinster’s patchy form since the turn of the year. Since 2009, Leinster have won four European Cup titles and the drive for five continues at the Aviva […]

7 years ago

The winners’ cheque for the RBC Heritage is a whopping $1.24m. A week after missing the cut at The Masters, Shane Lowry is back on top form in the USA. The Offaly native took a first round lead at the Harbour Town Links Course, South Carolina, on Thursday, and he built on that lead in […]

7 years ago

It could have been athletics or football, but rugby proved the winner after an extremely late dash. Whether it was running for Tullamore College, his school, or the local Tullamore Harriers, Jordan Conroy always had pace to burn. He has a couple of All-Ireland titles for sprinting and was the lad to watch at the […]

7 years ago

It is not often that you get to sit with one of Ireland’s best players for 20 minutes and just pick his brains on the game. Conor Murray did not disappoint. As we walk into the basement room to set up for our interview, Conor Murray is crammed into a blue-lit booth, behind sound-proof glass, […]

7 years ago

Ireland came close to qualifying for the tournament before home defeats to Norway and The Netherlands softened our collective cough. The Women’s World Cup is coming to Irish TV this summer, and on two free-to-air broadcasters. Last summer’s World Cup in Russia enthralled the Irish nation, despite our non-involvement, as France defeated Croatia and England […]

7 years ago

The heels are dug in. Israel Folau may soon be playing his club rugby in Japan or Europe but, first and foremost, he says he now lives for God. That is his immediate future. The Australian rugby star has had his playing contract with the Waratahs, his club, and the Wallabies, his country, terminated after […]

7 years ago

This claim was left buried for almost a decade. Clive Woodward is not letting this on-the-record claim, in a supposedly confidential report, from Dean Richards go unchallenged. 10 years ago, Harlequins brought the game into disrepute when winger Tom Williams (pictured below) bite down on a fake blood capsule, which he had hidden in his […]

7 years ago

“It’s been Liverpool TV for the past month!” Between now and Sunday, April 28, Manchester United have four games that could yet define their season. Gary Neville is convinced they have to play it smart with their squad. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s initial bump has plateaued but the winning streak he was responsible for has got […]

7 years ago

Two silver linings to this cobalt cloud. Munster do battle with Saracens at The Ricoh Arena this weekend, in the Champions Cup, and they need every soldier fit. Life doesn’t always flow so, however. On Monday afternoon, following a press briefing at Munster headquarters, the province released the following fitness update: ‘Keith Earls will be […]

7 years ago

“I’m good. I’ll go home and I’ll get ready for Charlotte in a couple of weeks time and get ready for that and then obviously the PGA at Bethpage.” It was almost as if Rory McIlroy was trying to lift the spirits of the press corp, not long after he signed off for a -5 […]

7 years ago

They lay it on thick at Augusta National. Not long after Jim Nantz of CBS had tried his best to entice a tear-drop down his cheek, Tiger Woods stepped into the media tent to face a horde of hungry reporters. Masters champion for the fifth time. Over the course of 45 minutes, Woods fielded 34 […]

7 years ago

“Calmness.” Calmness, gum and his trusty 8-iron. Those were three of the main ingredients in Tiger Woods’ remarkable Masters victory at Augusta. The 43-year-old won his first green jacket since 2005 as he rolled back the years with a display of vintage class. Woods told reporters that the constant gum-chewing was to suppress a raging […]

7 years ago

God but this was a tough watch. Francesco Molinari played like a man destined to win the 2019 Masters. For 65 holes, he was the golfer with the scrambling, putting, game-plan and temperament to win his first green jacket. Then, on the 12th hole, a wheel came off. He found the water at that dreaded […]

7 years ago

“Yeah buddy.” Patrick Reed and Tiger Woods may become friends after they both hang up the golf shoes. Right now, they are both driven competitors with healthy egos. There is no shame in that. Golf is such an individual pursuit – even with big backroom teams, in support, and knowledgeable caddies – that you need […]

7 years ago

“I’m in uncharted territory. Because no one’s ever had a fused spine hitting it like I’m hitting it.” Those two sentences, spoken after the PGA Championship in 2018, show what Tiger Woods is dealing with. Woods finished second in the year’s final Major after pushing Brooks Koepka all the way to the 18th hole at Bellerive. […]

7 years ago

Tiger Woods has won the US Masters. 14 years on from his last US Masters triumph and 11 years since his last major win, Tiger Woods is back in the big time. He closed out his final round like with military precision to end up on -13 and to win the tournament by one shot. […]

7 years ago

‘An afternoon that defied words, and certainly logic’. So declared The Guardian, back in September 2001, when Ireland stunned a star-studded side from The Netherlands to help chart a course to the 2002 World Cup. On the same day Moby opened for U2 at Slane Castle by playing ‘My Lovely Horse’, a lad nicknamed Trigger rocked […]

7 years ago

Four men, two wars. The UFC has two new champions, and the fact that they are ‘interim’ will mean little to Dustin Poirier, Israel Adesanya or the legions of fans that saw they claim stunning victories. UFC 236 may not have been the most stacked card in the promotion’s history but there were two tasty […]

7 years ago

Masters officials have taken the expert advice on-board. Masters Sunday is one of the best sporting spectacles and, for golf fans in Ireland and the UK, has delivered so many classic moments that have rewarded us for shunning an early night. Be it Greg Norman’s meltdown, Phil Mickelson’s awkward leap, Tiger Woods’ chip on 16 […]

7 years ago

Bristol are now closer to Harlequins in fourth than they are the relegation spots. Pat Lam’s Bristol Bears did what Munster will be aiming to do at the Ricoh Arena, next weekend, and beat Saracen. Former Leinster outhalf Ian Madigan proved the late hero for Bristol in a game that drew a lot of focus […]

7 years ago

The West Ham and England midfielder built on his reputation as a ball-player and an assured presence in his side’s unfortunate loss to Manchester United. Declan Rice was one of the best players on show, at Old Trafford, but he still left the pitch on the losing side. Manchester United had Paul Pogba’s penalty-taking abilities, […]

7 years ago

Live by the driver, die by the driver. “Hitting bombs!” That is what Phil Mickelson has vowed to do as he chases his fourth green jacket at The Masters. ‘Lefty’ headed into the final two rounds at Augusta National just three shots off the four-men tied for the lead at -7. Mickelson hit an opening […]

7 years ago

It all kicked off. “The game is over. The game is OVER!” That was the cry coming from a few of the Connacht players as jubilation quickly turned to consternation. Connacht beat Cardiff Blues 29-22 at The Sportsground to secure Champions Cup rugby for next season, and tee up a Guinness PRO14 quarter-final with Ulster. […]

7 years ago

CONNACHT 29-22 CARDIFF BLUES If you want a player to sum up Connacht’s fighting spirit, look no further than Kieran Marmion. 24-10 to the good with 20 minutes to go, Connacht looked well placed to secure themselves Champions Cup rugby for next season. The Westerners had three tries, through Caolin Blade, Gavin Thornbury and Jack […]

7 years ago

Expect the lads to be signed up on lucrative chewing gum sponsorship deals soon enough. Tiger Woods. Phil Mickelson. Rory McIlroy. -6. -5. Level par. This year’s Masters leaderboard is absolutely crammed with talent. There are Major winners and in-form players all over the shop, with a host of usual suspects lining up for a […]

7 years ago

“I just picked my target, I stepped up, and I just made a committed swing. And the way golf works, and the way I’ve always done.” So said Rory McIlroy after he ended a 53-week wait, last month, to win The Players Championship at Sawgrass. The Northern Irishman had come close to wins earlier this […]

7 years ago

“He would absolutely kill people, and he’d do it with a smile on his face.” As rugby families go, the Tuilagis are right up there as one of the most talented, and fearsome. Manu Tuilagi is back doing wonders for Leicester and England and he is prospering on a path forged, and scythed, for him […]

7 years ago

ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK!! Back in September 1998, Louis van Gaal brought a Barcelona side to Old Trafford that were reigning La Liga champions, and who would go on to retain their league title. Manchester United had been pipped to the Premier League title by an upstart Arsenal side, but Alex Ferguson had strengthened by bringing […]

7 years ago