Four games, four wins. Irish rugby is bouncing back after another World Cup squib. One of the benefits of being eliminated at the quarter final stages (again!) of the World Cup is that the four Irish provinces are able to welcome back many of their big internationals. There were wins for Connacht and Ulster at […]

6 years ago

East Kerry 2-14, Dr. Crokes 1-7 There will be no return to Croke Park, and no tilt at a third All-Ireland club title, for Dr Crokes. East Kerry, inspired by Darragh Roche and Clifford brothers, David and Paudie, had too much in the tank for Crokes and claimed the Kerry club football championship at a […]

6 years ago

Manchester United 3-1 Brighton Aaron Connolly will be hoping to take the frustration of this game out on New Zealand later this week. There was a moment in the 92nd minute, just after he had slid to clear the ball and prevent Anthony Martial another shot on goal, when Shane Duffy bent double and tried […]

6 years ago

“We all had players and teammates that were superhuman at 17 or 18 and then, for one reason or another, they fell away. You have to keep focused.” Stephen Hunt earned 39 caps for Ireland over a six year period and he cherishes each and every one. For a player that had been plying his […]

6 years ago

“Ronan O’Gara sent me a really nice message. That really stood out for me.” Devin Toner and Ronan O’Gara only played together for Ireland on three occasions but they were in the same national squad training camps for three seasons. O’Gara, coaching since his 2013 playing retirement, has often spoke highly of the Leinster lock […]

6 years ago

A fitting end to a season of redemption and reward for Jack Byrne. After struggling at Wigan, being shipped on from Oldham and having failed to impress enough for a permanent offer at Kilmarnock, Jack Byrne was at a loss. One of the most promising players of his generation, and a product of the Manchester […]

6 years ago

“It was a complete shock.” Even now, a little over two months on, Devin Toner is at pains to talk about it. The Leinster lock kept his counsel during the entire World Cup, after he missed out on Ireland’s 31-man squad, but with life moving on and the focus back on the provinces, he is […]

6 years ago

MUNSTER 22-16 ULSTER Rory Scannell and Andrew Conway were the two star men for Munster. At least one of them made the plane to Japan. Munster made hard work of it against a dogged Ulster side but they got the Guinness PRO14 victory that should put them in good stead before the Champions Cup dominates […]

6 years ago

The 22-year-old travelled to Galway as 24th man but was drafted in at late notice. Leinster only put the word out about an hour to kick-off at The Sportsground but there had been an inkling, for Jimmy O’Brien and his teammates, that there may be a late change to the starting XV. Robbie Henshaw had […]

6 years ago

Just like Conor McGregor before him, ‘The Eagle’ is struggling to convince the UFC to book him into a title fight on home soil. You can have star power, drive pay-per-view numbers and be a UFC champion but Dana White and the rest of the promotion’s brass want the very biggest fights on American turf. […]

6 years ago

Make them hurt, make them yours. Within the rules. The within the rules part has often been ignored by many Springboks over the years but, as mottos go, it is a striking one. ‘Maak hom seer, maak hom joune, binne die reels’. That is the motto for one schools side in South Africa but, for the […]

6 years ago

“There was a spell from 2009 to 2015 where it’s you and the Gooch.” In modern-day GAA, compliments don’t get much higher than that. They definitely don’t. Such were the levels that Bernard Brogan reached. The four-time All Star joined Colm Parkinson for a special episode of The GAA Hour, a week after announcing his inter-county […]

6 years ago

Katie Taylor is being lined up for three big fights in 2020. After edging one against Delfine Persoon in her last fight, Katie Taylor was a more comfortable winner against Christina Linardatou last weekend. Taylor claimed the WBO super lightweight belt after defeating the Greek boxer by unanimous decision at the Manchester Arena. Linardatou was aggrieved […]

6 years ago

The risk/reward of strapping Joey Carbery up and sending him to Japan is biting Munster Rugby. We may never know how former Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt planned on using Joey Carbery in the World Cup, and in the warm-up matches. Carbery started his season brightly against Italy, back in early August, but badly turned […]

6 years ago

The three lads all agreed on seven players. It got messy thereafter. The 2019 World Cup is in the history books and South Africa are the world champions until we all reconvene at France 2023. All that remains is to decide upon the team of the tournament. For some reason, World Rugby again opted not […]

6 years ago

“I’d be thinking, ‘Oh f***, where has my life gone?!’ And then to see Felix then going on to win a World Cup, I was like, ‘Oh GOD, what have I done?!’” In truth, Jerry Flannery could not be happier for his friend, and former work colleague, Felix Jones. He could not be prouder. Less […]

6 years ago

“He don’t want this sh**. You know he doesn’t want this sh**.” Eating away on a pizza roll, with the ‘BMF’ belt resting beside him, Jorge Masvidal reflected on what has been a year of fortunes changed and fortune blooming. The Florida native is 34-years-old and has just fought his 38th MMA contest but he […]

6 years ago

“How much does this mean to you?” the Springbok head coach was asked. Rassie Erasmus’ answer was about 90 seconds in length and he did not take his gaze away from the William Webb Ellis trophy. In fairness to the World Cup bauble, it is some piece of kit. Ireland have been trying 32 years […]

6 years ago

What a performance by the 27-year-old openside. Heading into this World Cup final, we all marvelled at England’s young back row duo of Tom Curry and Sam Underhill. We told ourselves that Billy Vunipola had the potential to win the game on his own, if he hit form. Pieter Steph Du Toit blew them away. […]

6 years ago

The Harlequins tighthead prop was having a superb World Cup but did not last long in the final. Kyle Sinckler has proved himself to be one of the world’s best No.3s over these past two months but he only lasted two minutes of the final in Yokohama. A sickening, accidental collision with England teammate Maro […]

6 years ago

South Africa could become the first time in World Cup history to lose a game in the tournament and still win the Webb Ellis trophy. One learned soul observed, near the end of the first half of the second World Cup semi final of the weekend, that England and New Zealand had served up a […]

6 years ago

Finish 2019 on a high and Katie Taylor can look forward to at least three blockbuster bouts in 2020. In November 2016, Katie Taylor shrugged off the disappointment of the Rio Olympics and set her sights on becoming a professional world champion. Within a year, the Bray native had won the WBA lightweight title. By […]

6 years ago

“We know what we have to do against Denmark and we will look to the tried and the trusted to win that game.” With that, Ireland boss Mick McCarthy taketh away. In the next breath, he giveth. “But who knows what will happen against New Zealand,” he said. “Maybe someone will take their chance in […]

6 years ago

“Sign the damn deal, let’s get this done.” Despite having his hopes of a life-changing fight against Conor McGregor dashed, last summer, Donald Cerrone is confident his will be the opponent for The Notorious’ latest UFC comeback. Cowboy has the most career wins in the UFC but has faltered, four times [thrice in WEC], whenever a […]

6 years ago

THE RASSIE EFFECT – Dressing room beers, physicality, adding layers and getting the best out of his star winger. He was only at Munster 20 months but Rassie Erasmus had a profound effect on the place. Jerry Flannery can still recall several of the senior Munster players approaching the South African, six months in, and […]

6 years ago

39 players have the cut, but expect more… cuts. Mick McCarthy has named a healthy dollop of players in his provisional Ireland squad for the upcoming games against New Zealand (friendly) and Denmark (Euro 2020 Qualifier). The Ireland boss has recalled Robbie Brady and Shane Long to his squad while there are a number of […]

6 years ago

To us, first-come, first-served would be the best way to continue operating. From next year on, registration for the 2020 Dublin Marathon will occur through a lottery system instead of the first-come, first-served online process, it has been confirmed. Race organisers state that the decision ‘was made as a result of the increased demand for […]

6 years ago

One more time, with feeling. If you watched Rory Best leave the field at Tokyo Stadium, earlier this month, as the All Blacks ran rampant and thought, ‘It can’t end this way’, then you were right. The former Ulster and Ireland captain will lace up his boots one more time, next month, and line out […]

6 years ago

On March 17th 2018, Ireland went to a freezing Twickenham and won a Grand Slam on enemy turf. Joe Schmidt had his game-plan on the nose, Jacob Stockdale was causing chaos, Tadhg Furlong was creating tries with deft passes and both James Ryan and Dan Leavy had ushered in a new era. For Eddie Jones, […]

6 years ago

Classic Gatty, in fairness. Whether his teams win, lose or draw, Warren Gatland always speaks from the heart. He ruffles a lot of feathers, doing so, but the Welsh fans love him for it. Gatland led his Wales side to their second World Cup semi-final in eight years but they fell short against South Africa […]

6 years ago

Rassie Erasmus was torn when the South African Rugby Union came back to him a second time with an improved offer to become Springboks boss. Rassie Erasmus wanted to make a long-term impact and Munster but it looks like his tough decision, two years ago, was the correct one. This is what it means to […]

6 years ago

Still no joy for Danny Care or Dan Robson. One week out from the World Cup final, Eddie Jones has summoned a player, from England, who only made his Test debut at the age of 26 and who has zero international starts to his name. Veteran Gloucester scrum-half Will Heinz pulled his hamstring in his […]

6 years ago

Club GAA in south west Dublin will be humming after this set of results on Saturday. The Dublin football club championship final will be played out between Thomas Davis and Ballyboden St Enda’s after a day of high drama at Parnell Park. Earlier in the day, Colm Basquel registered 1-4 for Ballyboden as they came back […]

6 years ago

UFC president Dana White used three exclamation marks, so it must be true. Nate Diaz broke the spirits of many UFC fans when, on Thursday, he took to social media to announce he would not be fighting Jorge Masvidal. The Stockton native is slated to fight Masvidal for the specially-commissioned ‘Baddest Motherf*****’ [BMF] belt at […]

6 years ago

‘Shag’ wasn’t standing for this. Accusing a New Zealand team of a lack of hunger is a brave move, but the reporter – having watched England dominate the now-dethroned world champions – must have felt like it was a valid question. Steven Hansen certainly did not see it that way. For the first time since […]

6 years ago

Wouldn’t we have all slept a little easier if New Zealand had put England to the sword? We could have told ourselves we just faced a juggernaut. “Once you put New Zealand under pressure, they become very, very human.” Gordon D’Arcy, on eir Sport after England had dumped New Zealand out of the World Cup, […]

6 years ago

Whenever you manage to beat New Zealand, these moments go down in folklore. Owen Farrell has handled this one perfectly, from pre-match to post-match, all the while playing on one leg. Facing the New Zealand ‘Haka’ presents certain challenges for some teams. For others, it is an opportunity to lay down a marker or pay […]

6 years ago

NEW ZEALAND 7-19 ENGLAND The world champions were left shell-shocked by a revved up England side. Maro Itoje was immense but Sam Underhill and Tom Curry backed him to the hilt. England will go into the 2019 World Cup final as deserved favourites after dismantling New Zealand in Saturday’s semi, in Japan. With ‘Swing Low, […]

6 years ago

“We need footballers.” Ireland will benefit greatly when James Lowe becomes Irish-qualified, but they can’t afford to hang about. One of the best two players at Tokyo Stadium, last Saturday, were Joe Moody and Brodie Retallick. A loose-head and a lock. Of the starting packs, New Zealand’s passed 29 times, including four offloads. Ireland’s pack […]

6 years ago

Some players, with their records and performances under Schmidt, pick themselves. Joe Schmidt arrived back into Dublin on Tuesday evening and tried to take as much of the blame for his side’s World Cup quarter final exit as he could. The missed tackles, dropped balls, overruns and failures to find touch were not on him, […]

6 years ago

We are nine months out from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics but two Irish golfers appear to be certain locks. Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy going for a Team Ireland gold and silver finish. Whatever the order, the entire island of Ireland would bite several hands off for that. There can be a maximum of four […]

6 years ago

Paul O’Connell, Fergus McFadden, a huge magnum of champagne, a $5,000 bar tab and 25 lads from Tullow out on the tear. As blow-outs go, this was pretty epic. Paul O’Connell and Fergus McFadden set the tempo but they soon had back-up. Hip surgery cost Sean O’Brien his opportunity to play at his third World […]

6 years ago

“It’s a bit daunting and scary, and very much out of my comfort zone.” The past few months have been strange for Sean O’Brien. He is still contracted up with the IRFU until the end of the World Cup [early November] so has been rehabbing his hip [post surgery] at his stomping ground – Leinster […]

6 years ago

“Locally, in Ulster, everybody looks up to Rory. They always have… he’s not just a leader. He’s a guy everyone gets on well with and, culturally, he’s right in the middle of everything.” Ulster Rugby has already said its goodbyes to Rory Best. Irish fans, and players, would have preferred to bid farewell to their […]

6 years ago

“Anyone who thinks that, in 2018, Joe Schmidt said, ‘This is it. I’m not going to evolve how we play and I’m going to freeze this moment in time’, is naive.” We may learn in time that Joe Schmidt had a Joey Carbery masterplan all along, but we never got to see it in his […]

6 years ago

England is not claiming this plucky golfing prospect! Brian O’Driscoll and Rory McIlroy tried to shake off the disappointment of Ireland’s World Cup exit by taking part in a charity golf game in Japan. The Irish sports stars teamed up in a Pro-Am competition in the Japan Skins game, on Monday, and raised a heap […]

6 years ago

When Joe Schmidt took over from Declan Kidney, in 2013, he inherited a team ranked 8th in the world. Andy Farrell won’t have it quite so bad, but there is serious work to be done. Les Kiss took Ireland on a tour of North America, that summer, but the wins over lower ranked USA and […]

6 years ago

The final numbers are in, and few of the Ireland squad come out looking great. Over the course of the World Cup campaign, in Japan, Opta Sports has been tracking the team and players statistics of Ireland. These Ireland stats don’t read fantastically well, but a few players do come out in credit. Joe Schmidt’s […]

6 years ago

It will soon be time to fully re-engage with the Guinness PRO14 and Champions Cup but, for today, let us look to Ireland’s future. Soldier Field in 2016. Lansdowne Road in 2018. Tokyo Stadium in 2019? In the end, it was not to be for Ireland. Not long after helping New Zealand to a 46-14 […]

6 years ago

Joe Schmidt, Rory Best and Greg Feek are all gone. Rob Kearney may be the next man to follow that trio out the Ireland ‘exit’ door after 13 seasons of service for the national team. Sean Cronin will be 37 by the time the next World Cup rolls into France. There is always a period […]

6 years ago