“Having one of the best in the world to emulate has been really good.” Craig Casey is in line to start for Munster when they start their 2020/12 Guinness PRO14 campaign on the road to Scarlets. With fellow scrumhalf only listed as an ‘outside chance’, by Johann van Graan to play in Week 2, opportunity […]

5 years ago

It thankfully got better after a shaky enough start. Josh van der Flier has dropped the pre-season moustache but is still rocking an impressive mullet when he sits down to chat with SportsJOE about the upcoming rugby season. Looking fresh in his Avonmore Protein Gold t-shirt, the Leinster and Ireland flanker shakes his head when […]

5 years ago

“He’s gone for the biggest fecker in the schoolyard.” Jurgen Klopp versus Roy Keane had us all sitting forward in our chairs on Monday night. The Liverpool boss was waiting for a post-match interview on Sky Sports when he heard the word ‘sloppy’ coming from Keane. Not privy to the earlier part of Keane’s post-match […]

5 years ago

The former Munster star is out of contract at the end of the new season. As Munster head into their first weekend of the 2020/21 season, Simon Zebo and his Racing 92 are looking forward to ending their 2019/20 campaign on a high. Such has been the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic that Racing […]

5 years ago

“It’s probably too simplistic to say that.” Back in 2012, Stuart Lancaster was head coach of England when they scrummaged Ireland to a pulp, on St Patrick’s Day for good measure, at Twickenham. Mike Ross was injured early on, during that hideous defeat, and battled on gamely for 30 minutes before being replaced by Tom […]

5 years ago

“I think it would be a good thing really for us.” Much of the talk, following Leinster’s Champions Cup elimination at the hands of Saracens, was about the Guinness PRO14 not providing a stern enough testing ground for Europe. The reality of Leinster’s plight is they lost a big element of the No.1 seed advantage […]

5 years ago

“We can’t wait for the sizeable Irish community within WA to see him pull on the Force jersey next season.” Rob Kearney will be packing his bags soon and getting ready to end his playing days under the blazing Australian sun. The former Leinster fullback, who may have also played his last game for Ireland, […]

5 years ago

“In good news… “ Leinster were focusing on the positives, today, as Robbie Henshaw was passed fit to play Dragons in the first game of the 2020/21 Guinness PRO14 season. As for Tadhg Furlong and Dan Leavy, though, the story has not changed much. Neither of Leinster’s international forwards have started since rugby restarted in […]

5 years ago

This one will keep you on your toes. For round 17 of the SportsJOE 2000s Football Quiz, we are going back to the 2000/01 season, looking at some of the Premier League’s fastest starts, transfer moves and finishing with the classic ‘Who Scored More?’ round. You’ll enjoy this. Most of it anyway! You can find […]

5 years ago

“Pick someone for a hidin’, Bob Chapek.” Conor McGregor insists he will challenge for world titles again, but the Plan B proposal from ‘The Notorious’ has a certain appeal to it. McGregor is off to box Senator Manny Pacquaio in 2021. Given the way 2020 has shaped up, so far, that news was met with […]

5 years ago

Start your week off as a winner. The SportsJOE 12 o’clock quiz is offering the opportunity to kick off your week by getting full marks. All you have to do is answer 20 questions correctly in a row. Q.E.D!

5 years ago

Newcastle United did not have a shot on goal until the penalty was awarded. Jose Mourinho did his best to keep a lid on his emotions after a late Spurs handball decision cost his side two precious points. Tottenham Hotspur should have defeated Newcastle by three or four goals. Instead, they ended up with just […]

5 years ago

“For people outside the province, they might not be aware of how good this guy is but I’m fully convinced he’ll play for Ireland.” On the few occasions I would be lucky enough to have a long chat with Ronan O’Gara about rugby, and Munster rugby in particular, he would mention Ronan O’Mahony and tell […]

5 years ago

Go for it! The latest offering of our SportsJOE 12 o’clock quiz covers a whole range of sports – GAA, football, rugby, basketball and snooker – but starts with a bang. We’re ringing the bell with a round dedicated to the runt in the Rocky pack. “My ring’s outside!”

5 years ago

“It’s one of the dirtiest things you can do.” On a night when Israel Adesanya added another chapter to his burgeoning UFC legacy and an Jan Blachowicz became light heavyweight champion, Dana White was fielding more Conor McGregor questions. The UFC president covered a number of topics in his press conference in Abu Dhabi, following […]

5 years ago

The Midas touch… and a few clangers. We have a football transfers quiz today that spans 35 years of the beautiful game, and a mix of good, bad and indifferent signings. We are giving the name of 16 managers and we want you to tell us the first signing they made after they took over. […]

5 years ago

“We got away with one.” Manchester United are trying to play themselves into form but they have looked nothing short of dreadful in their first two Premier League games of the season. The United team that roared back into the restarted 2019/20 season would have mopped the floor with Crystal Palace and Brighton. Instead, at […]

5 years ago

One of the teams is a giant of European football. We’ve got a football quiz for you, today, that will test your knowledge of European football. Can you name every top flight club, from Europe’s top five leagues, that begin with the letter ‘L’? We are looking for clubs in the top divisions of England, […]

5 years ago

“Sad about my season I must say.” We may yet end an insane year by beholding Conor McGregor boxing Manny Pacquaio, and what of it?! Back in January of this year, before he dispatched Donald Cerrone in just 40 seconds, Conor McGregor was planning 2020 like a season. ‘The Notorious’ had missed all of 2019 […]

5 years ago

“Nobody would love it more to see him win the Masters than me.” Heading into the US PGA, back in March, Rory McIlroy was enjoying a fantastic run of form. The Northern Irishman had top five finishes in seven events in a row and that included the HSBC World Championship. McIlroy looked to have regained […]

5 years ago

“I was communicating with him this morning. He’s good fun!” Paul McGinley is a West Ham fan and will have cursed Manchester United on many occasions, but getting the opportunity to meet Alex Ferguson was something he believes helped define him as a leader of men. McGinley has four European Tour wins, four Irish PGA […]

5 years ago

One answer is obvious but there are a few names that may catch you out. Until a cart-wheeling gunslinger arrived on the scene, Ireland’s top goalscorers teetered around the late teens and early 20s. If an Irish international had a hot qualifying campaign, they would suddenly find themselves within reach of the record. We are […]

5 years ago

“They are named in folklore so to be held in the same regard is something surreal.” Tommy Bowe played two seasons with Queens University, from 2002 to 2004, and believes that proving ground helped kick his game on to the next level. On Tuesday, he gratefully accepted an invitation from his old club side and […]

5 years ago

“I don’t get it. I don’t understand it.” UFC 254 will see lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov return to The Octagon for the first time since he defended his belt against Dustin Poirier in September 2019. Nurmagomedov is set to face number one contender Justin Gaethje after ‘The Highlight Reel’ dismantled previous top dog Tony Ferguson […]

5 years ago

One of the finest women’s players to wear the green jersey is coming back. Former Ireland captain Claire Molloy will rejoin the senior squad, next month, as Adam Griggs’ side finish out their delayed Six Nations campaign against Italy and France. Molloy, who works as an accident and emergency doctor in Cardiff, took a sabbatical […]

5 years ago

A few lads have staked claims, while others have faltered. Back in March, it was crystal clear. John Cooney had earned his chance for the home Guinness Six Nations game against Italy. That was the way of it. He would finally get a crack. Andy Farrell had stuck with the Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton […]

5 years ago

“That conversation stayed with me for the rest of my career at Man United.” Alex Ferguson was quick to let Rio Ferdinand the story. In July 2002, Manchester United paid a then record English fee £29m to Leeds United to take Ferdinand off their hands. It was an apt response to United finishing second to […]

5 years ago

How times have changed. Back in March, after the 2020 Guinness Six Nations game between Ireland and Italy was postponed, we looked ahead to their then-scheduled game against France, in Paris. Six months on and so much has changed that to put all the pieces of those crazy March and April weeks together. Back then, […]

5 years ago

“It’s a tough one to take but it’s not my first dark day in a Leinster jersey.” Johnny Sexton and Leinster are delegating the captain’s regular duties so we got to hear from a crestfallen Garry Ringrose at the Aviva Stadium, on Saturday, as night set in. While Sexton gathered the troops for a team-talk […]

5 years ago

“He’s taken advantage of where the game is at the minute.” For Bryson DeChambeau, Sunday was a coronation day at the US Open. For Rory McIlroy, time to reflect on where he fits in the modern game. DeChambeau hit only four of his final 21 fairways as he managed to out-think a Winged Foot golf […]

5 years ago

The American cyclist has been keeping a close eye on Ireland’s newest green jersey champion. Lance Armstrong is now a card-carrying member of the Sam Bennett club. All the way through the 107th edition of the Tour de France, Armstrong has been tracking the ups and downs on his podcast ‘The Move’. He is usually […]

5 years ago

“Oh, it’s just so amazing, this feeling. I can’t thank everyone enough.” Sunday in Paris and Sam Bennett roared to his second stage win of the Tour de France to clinch his green jersey triumph in style. Today’s SportsJOE 12 o’clock quiz is dedicated to the Irish cycling star. So grab your helmet, take your […]

5 years ago

The Irish cyclist had seven-time Tour de France champion Peter Sagan breathing down his neck all tour. Sam Bennett is the 2020 Tour de France green jersey winner after sealing his remarkable achievement in sprint finish style on the Champs-Élysées. The Carrick-On-Suir native had already clinched the green jersey, earlier in Stage 21, but drove […]

5 years ago

Sam Bennett branded himself into Irish sporting history, in Paris. What a finish that was. In the 67 years the green jersey has been handed out to the points classification winners at the Tour de France, only two Irishmen have won it. Both are Carrick-On-Suir men, Sean Kelly and Sam Bennett. Kelly claimed four green […]

5 years ago

As dramatic finishes go, all other contenders can kindly step aside. TG4 were getting some flak, today, for going with GAA coverage instead of the Tour de France finalé. There may be no arguments, now, after Kiladangan and Loughmore-Castleiney served up an all-time classic. Both sides went toe-to-toe and score-for-score at Semple Stadium, with a […]

5 years ago

Keep calm and quiz on. Our latest Liverpool quiz will test your knowledge of club legends, but you will be up against the clock too. Below are 15 footballers. We want to know the five that are Liverpool legends, and you have only 15 seconds to pick them all out. If the quiz did not […]

5 years ago

The former Bora-Hansgrohe Celebration teammates were rivals at this year’s event. Irish cyclist Sam Bennett will head up the Champs-Élysées, today, wearing the green jersey on the final day of the 2020 Tour de France. Barring an incredible series of events, the Carrick-On-Suir man will secure that jersey success and replicate the 1989 deeds of […]

5 years ago

“I’m not paying you for the player you used to be, I’m paying you for the player you are right now.” We are kicking off Day 183 of The SportsJOE 12 o’clock quiz with some Moneyball before we delve into a wide range of sports that should give you quite the test. Swing hard!

5 years ago

It was not supposed to end like this. Just a week before, Rob Kearney and Fergus McFadden had stood at the front of a small stage and raised the Guinness PRO14 trophy in front of their Leinster teammates. On Saturday, all they could do was offer a few commiserating words as their defeated colleagues trudged […]

5 years ago

LEINSTER 17-25 SARACENS Saracens ended Leinster’s 25-game winning streak, this season, as they marched on to the Champions Cup semi-finals. On this evidence, they will take some beating. A joke was already going around, after the 15-minute mark, about the 12th place Premiership team serving out a severe beatdown to the best the Guinness PRO14 […]

5 years ago

“I would definitely take up on that offer if it was possible.” If James Sugrue can get back to Ireland and pass all the necessary health checks, one hopes the Irish Open organisers can do him a major solid. Following their opening day pairing at the US Open, Lee Westwood spoke about how well Irish […]

5 years ago

Oh, to have been tuned in for that fan’s forum. When he was on House of Rugby, earlier this year, Jerry Flannery positively raved about Alby Mathewson. Having been on the coaching staff during the New Zealander’s stint at Munster, Flannery witnessed the force of nature and uplifting influence he was. Mathewson, you may recall, […]

5 years ago

We’re keeping this one inside the Premier League ropes. For round 16 of the SportsJOE 2000s Football Quiz, we are focusing on some of England’s biggest swingers – Premier League, cup competitions and Europe – in the past 20 years. A couple of curveballs in there so stay sharp.

5 years ago

“If you don’t have those factors then you won’t really be successful.” Over the course of their 23-game winning streak, this season, Leinster have conceded 10 points or less on 10 different occasions. They are as miserly in defence as they are expansive and devastating in attack. It is not reserved for the Guinness PRO14, […]

5 years ago

You’d hate to be the final 10 lads that don’t get picked. It may have taken a bit longer than in other rugby-playing nations but professional rugby is coming back to South Africa. The Covid-19 pandemic ensured South Africa’s Super Rugby sides would not get to finish the 2020 competition while the Cheetahs and Southern […]

5 years ago

Napoleon, flushing toilets and the US Marines. You rarely get your rote rugby answers at a Dan McFarland press conference. The Ulster head coach evoked the French military leader, New York Jets’ Rex Ryan and Major Brendan McBreen [Marine Corps] in the space of 10 minutes as he looked ahead to his side’s upcoming Champions […]

5 years ago

The man they call ‘Yogi’ has stepped forward to defend Stokes. Anthony Stokes has now parted ways with Livingston but he does so with a questionable, and very public, reference. On Tuesday, the Scottish Premiership side announced they had come to a mutual contract termination decision with the Republic of Ireland international. David Martindale, their […]

5 years ago

Take a deep breath, exhale, then dive in. We have a Man United quiz for you that will test your knowledge of club legends and your ability to keep calm under time pressure. Below are 15 footballers. We want to know the five that are Manchester United legends, and you have only 15 seconds to […]

5 years ago

“It sits in its own place as a part of the history of this club.” Tuesday, September 15 marked eight years since the tragic passing of Ulster player Nevin Spence and his former team, and teammates, were once again united in putting time aside to remember him. Spence was only 22 when he died in […]

5 years ago

You really have to hand it to Dan McFarland. He was not sugar-coating it today. We are three days out from Leinster defeating Ulster 27-5 in the Guinness PRO14 Final and just four days from the Ulstermen’s pick-me-up game against Toulouse. As challenges go, Ulster are right in the middle of a mighty one. McFarland […]

5 years ago