“It was a weird one.” In early March, not many would have predicted Conor Murray as a safe bet for the 2021 Lions Tour. The ones predicting it would have done so with caveats. Ifs, buts and maybes. Even Murray himself admits he was having doubts. He had only started one game in the Six […]

5 years ago

“Although I believed it was possible, I can’t believe this happened!” The SportsJOE 12 o’clock quiz is celebrating the remarkable golfing achievement of Phil Mickelson, recalling The Miracle of Istanbul and hitting on all your favourite topics. Let’s see how close you can get to 20/20…

5 years ago

“I lost my train of thought, hearing that bulls**t” While many of us, like Sunday’s scenes on Kiawah Island’s 18th hole fairway, were getting swept up in Phil Mickelson’s remarkable march to victory, Brooks Koepka was almost forgotten. The four-time Major winner dislocated his right knee-cap, in early March, and did some ligament damage but […]

5 years ago

“It means the most as I had to work the hardest for this one.” Conor Murray had bigger issues on his mind, two months ago, as Ireland prepared to face Ben Youngs and England in their Six Nations closer. Ireland had beaten Scotland and Italy to get some wind behind their sails after opening losses […]

5 years ago

The only thing missing here is Slaven Bilić. Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira back together again and debating big football calls. Sign us up. We are still stopping a beat every time we see or hear ‘Euro 2020’ in relation this this summer’s European Championships. The merch and marketing demand we pretend it is not […]

5 years ago

“It was so much fun.” Shane Lowry and Padraig Harrington will be hoping organisers pair them up more often after they has a time of it at Kiawah Island, on Sunday. The Irish duo were in their respective elements as they went around the tough Ocean Course in dual rounds of 69, to finish in […]

5 years ago

“It hit me in the head… From there on, I hit a lot of really good shots.” Phil Mickelson knew what he needed. Back in 2017, when he made Tim Mickelson caddie, legions of golf fans bemoaned his separation from long-time bagman Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay. ‘Lefty’ was already in his twilight but was looking to […]

5 years ago

At the grand old age of 50, ‘Lefty’ has made golfing history. Lee Trevino, Nick Faldo… Phil Mickelson. Add the name of one of modern golf’s great entertainers to a list of men to win six Majors. Mickelson led the PGA Championship from mid-way through the second round, at Kiawah Island, and survived a couple […]

5 years ago

Donegal 1-20 Monaghan 4-11 Conor McCarthy scored a first-half hat-trick for Monaghan, at Ballybofey, but cut a frustrated figure in his post-match interview. Joe Brolly was paying close attention. Monaghan looked, for all money, to have Donegal beaten when they led by nine points at one point in the second half. Declan Bonner’s men rallied, […]

5 years ago

TOULOUSE 22-17 LA ROCHELLE “Damn right I’m proud of them,” said Ronan O’Gara, “but there’s no point in being second best.” There was much sympathy from O’Gara, the La Rochelle head coach, for his red-carded player, Levani Botia. La Rochelle were left rueing the first half red card received by centre Botia as they fell […]

5 years ago

“To be brutally honest, we bottled it.” When Alex Ferguson was boss of Aberdeen, he knew what he had to to if he wanted to win the Scottish league title – take down Celtic and Rangers. Ferguson did it three times during his tenure with the Dons and, 36 years on, remains the last manager […]

5 years ago

Liverpool have their Champions League destiny in their own hands. Heading into the final round of Premier League matches, Jurgen Klopp has Liverpool on the brink of securing a Champions League place. Depending on how the round 38 fixtures play out, they could even finish third. While that is nowhere near what Liverpool supporters would […]

5 years ago

“I don’t think anyone is at the level they’re at… That was outrageous!” Each and every British & Irish Lions Tour provides the time, space and opportunity for some new, lasting and, sometimes, unlikely friendships. Such is the laid-back nature of Tadhg Furlong, he is sure to be involved in a few blossoming bonds. The […]

5 years ago

“To be honest, it was the first time that the Irish supporters were behind me!” Philippe Saint-André is the last captain to lead a touring team to a Test Series victory over New Zealand. That rare feat was achieved in 1994, the year he got to tick another box by playing with an “amazing” Irish […]

5 years ago

Police Scotland are undertaking a criminal investigation of the incident. The home of Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell was badly damaged and three cars were burnt out after a reported petrol bomb attack on his property. The club, local fire service and Police Scotland have all confirmed the incident that, Celtic say, has left Lawwell’s […]

5 years ago

“No, obviously, I feel emotional about it.” Back in 2017, Mako Vunipola was looking forward to going on a Lions Tour to New Zealand with his brother, Billy. A broken arm ended up costing Billy Vunipola his place in the squad and it was a dream delayed. Four years on, and it may now take […]

5 years ago

‘Was a peaceful gesture, taken out of context’. Luke Shaw has offered to speak up on behalf of the Manchester United fan. Tuesday night at Old Trafford saw 10,000 supporters file into the ground to see United play there, in person, for the first time in 14 months. Given that Old Trafford had been subject […]

5 years ago

“Oh, ho, this is different, lads!” Gordon Strachan was like a red carpet for Alex Ferguson. He went, got the lay of the land and along came Ferguson, with his confident stride. The diminutive Scot arrived at Aberdeen in 1977 and made a name for himself before Ferguson, one year later, took over the reins. […]

5 years ago

“I don’t know what it is with the Irish and this Dublin 6!” It started out as a nice meal out at a city centre restaurant and ended up with ‘a big drama, someone getting carried into the hotel’ and 15 Australian players receiving knuckle-raps of varying forced. Back in 2013, the Wallabies were in […]

5 years ago

“He didn’t know what ‘no contact’ was. He was just smashing boys” Every team had a player, or two, that instantly lights up the place when they arrive. Be it their actions on or off the field, or on the way to the field, they create a buzz and leave folks shaking their head in […]

5 years ago

He can only laugh as he hears Sean O’Brien describes him as ‘a pain in the hole’. Back in early 2016, Tadhg Beirne was on the brink. Leinster would not be offering him a new deal and he could not get Munster to bite, either. Dogged by injuries and limited to sub appearances for his […]

5 years ago

Some big calls in here. Selected as a bolter for the 1997 British & Irish Lions Tour to South Africa, it is heartening to see Will Greenwood giving his backing to another precocious young talent to rip into the Springboks. Greenwood, a three-time Lion, is the latest big name to give his thoughts on the […]

5 years ago

We’re through the looking glass here, people. With the GAA back in a big way, The SportsJOE 12 o’clock quiz is choc-a-bloc with great questions that focus on more recent history. In tribute to Alisson Becker’s goal against West Brom, our records round is all about goal-scoring goalies. Good luck, and let us know how […]

5 years ago

“Stop, stop, STOP!” Andre Muniz is a runaway train, but it was Jacare Souza that got de-railed at UFC 262. It was not that long ago that Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza was mixing it with the likes of Robert Whittaker, Vitor Belfort and Yoel Romero at the top of the UFC middleweight division. The former Strikeforce […]

5 years ago

We could get ourselves a barnstormer in Brazil before the year is out. After 28 fights with, and 11 years in, the UFC, Charles Oliveira is the lightweight champion. ‘Do Bronx’ survived an almighty onslaught from Michael Chandler in the opening round as both men battled for the belt vacated by the retired Khabib Nurmagomedov. […]

5 years ago

Some set of players in here. We have a great La Liga quiz for you all that focuses on club legends and cult heroes. We are focusing on a range of players that did their thing in Spain from 1990 to 2010, but there is give and take of a few years on either side. […]

5 years ago

The signings would add some depth and quality in key positions. Many Manchester United supporters would have told themselves, after last weekend’s 3-1 win over Aston Villa, that three decent transfers would see them in a good position to challenge their rivals, Manchester City, next season. After a second-string XI succumbed to Leicester City, on […]

5 years ago

Some needless niggle from the Connacht scrum-half, but nice to see that fire. Kieran Marmion has only played once for Andy Farrell, since he took over as Ireland head coach, but he is showing signs of the player that Joe Schmidt relied on for a stretch. Connacht defeated Munster at Thomond Park, on Friday, for […]

5 years ago

Three football stars are in the Top 10. Although he would always prioritise winning UFC gold and cementing his legacy as a Mixed Martial Artist, Conor McGregor will be loving the latest piece of reportage from Forbes. Back in 2016, after he had become UFC featherweight champion but before the back-to-back fights with Nate Diaz, […]

5 years ago

“After the Six Nations Player of the Championship, you were a shoo-in!” Of all the possible Scottish selections for the British & Irish Lions Tour to South Africa, Hamish Watson and Stuart Hogg were bankers. Warren Gatland has always maintained that he cares not a jot for the nationality of players he selects for Lions […]

5 years ago

“Wow, what a generation.” Jürgen Klopp needed to double-check Marcus Rashford’s age before including him as the experienced head in an exciting crop of young English attacking stars. Klopp was at Liverpool’s Melwood training facilities for a press conference looking ahead to his side’s Thursday evening Premier League encounter with Manchester United. The Reds are […]

5 years ago

“Look you never know, do you?” Despite the fact that he was in 99.9% of our British & Irish Lions squads, before team manager Jason Leonard announced the 37-man troupe to the world, Tadhg Furlong had a nervous viewing experience. The squad announcement – replete with their hologram interviews and chats with a long list […]

5 years ago

Not for budging. Tadhg Furlong is gearing up for his second tour with the British & Irish Lions, and happy to have signed up with Leinster and Ireland for next season. After that? Who knows. Like Johnny Sexton before him, Furlong has signed up with Leinster and the IRFU for the 2021/22 season. Negotiations on […]

5 years ago

Rassie Erasmus has the perfect response to such bold predictions. The Lions are being called hobbits, the Springboks place atop the Test rugby rile has been branded an “illusion” and the forwards selected by Warren Gatland are going to get bullied. The Lions Test Series against South Africa is already simmering, and we are seven […]

5 years ago

“They don’t just play for the crowds. They play for the people back home. Siya Kolisi plays for those starving kids in places where he comes from. They have that internal motivation.” Now that the British & Irish Lions squad to tour South Africa has been announced, and the Springboks have announced warm-up games, the […]

5 years ago

Scottish rugby Twitter awakens… Adam Jones is a big fan of Stuart Hogg and Hamish Watson, but he can’t find room for them in his strongest Lions XV. With 37 players confirmed for the 2021 British & Irish Lions Tour to South Africa, some of the Test XV selections that were recently made have needed […]

5 years ago

“He was doing so good there!” Sean O’Brien may not have agreed with every British & Irish Lions squad selection, but he is loving the Sam Simmonds pick. O’Brien, a two-time Lion, was forced to rejig his Test XV to face South Africa, this summer, after Warren Gatland omitted Keith Earls and Garry Ringrose from […]

5 years ago

“I’ll take this one, straight away.” Bundee Aki may have been rated as worst of all 37 British & Irish Lions squad picks, by Stuart Barnes, but he has a big fan in Adam Jones. The former Wales and Lions tighthead was left as surprised as most of us, last Thursday, when Warren Gatland selected […]

5 years ago

“His recent performances reminded everyone why he is rated as one of the best tighthead’s in world rugby.” On Tadhg Furlong, former Wales and Lions star Adam Jones would go one further than David Nucifora. The IRFU Performance Director was waxing lyrical, earlier today, as news was confirmed of Furlong penning a one-year contract extension […]

5 years ago

“Everything aligned.” PGA Tour title number 19 confirmed, up to world number seven and heading to Kiawah Island, soon, to see if Rory McIlroy can win himself another USPGA trophy. Things are looking up. From the travails of March and April, as he tried to rejig his swing and rediscover his confidence, to the highs […]

5 years ago

Diamond in the rough. The SportsJOE 12 o’clock quiz is buzzing after the weekend return of GAA, some high-scoring rugby clashes and the winning return of Rory McIlroy. We’ll get you started, though, with some Simpsons sporting cameos.

5 years ago

Now we’re sucking diesel. Just when it looked like the 2020/21 Irish rugby season was petering out, we have some Test match rugby to look forward to, and in Dublin too. Ireland will have a couple of test encounters in July, and a chance to blood new players. Fresh on the heels of news that […]

5 years ago

“Ah, it’s got to be Johnny.” For Fergus McFadden, the omission of Johnny Sexton from the British & Irish Lions squad, on Thursday, was the biggest and most baffling of all. The Ireland captain had the start of his Six Nations campaign hindered by a concussion he picked up against Wales, which forced him to […]

5 years ago

A former Ireland bagman has the honour of resuming that role with the Lions. The Lions schedule has been adjusted, and a new opponent will face the tourists in their opening game, on July 3. The 2021 British & Irish Lions Tour to South Africa will have an added dash of green, as two familiar […]

5 years ago

Rack ’em up! Pool, Lions, football legends and GAA coaches. All that and more on Day 348 of The SportsJOE 12 o’clock quiz. Let’s see what ya got.

5 years ago

One would swear Warren Gatland had selected a club rugby trundler, instead of a 31-times capped Test player and Grand Slam winner. “Did we ever think that the name Bundee Aki would appear in a Lions tour party?” Let us say here that we were surprised when Bundee Aki, after Josh Adams, became the second […]

5 years ago

What a performance from ‘The Showstopper’. Heading into Bellator 258, some fight fans suspected Peter Queally was being fed to number two ranked lightweight title contender Patricky ‘Pitbull’ Freire. The Brazilian was chasing down his younger brother Patricio, who holds the lightweight belt. There was even talk of the title being vacated so 35-year-old Patricky […]

5 years ago

“Looking at our loose forwards, getting that extra number there is a guarantee of a back-up.” The last 24 hours have seen the words ‘left-field’, ‘shock’, ‘surprise’ and ‘bolter’ used in relation to three Lions call-ups in particular. While most of us accept we would never 100% call a Lions squad, those of us that […]

5 years ago

“Is this a gigantic two fingers to Eddie Jones and the English selectors?” Ah, yes, there it is. You did not have to wait long, on Thursday, to find someone slamming the table and asking what Warren Gatland was thinking with his Lions squad selections. Stephen Jones [quoted above] was asking tough questions but the […]

5 years ago

The opportunity has passed, for now. It has not yet passed entirely. When it became apparent that Warren Gatland would have to select versatile players for his 2021 British & Irish Lions squad, the odds of CJ Stander making the cut fell. The Munster and Ireland star was coming off another good Six Nations and […]

5 years ago