“Someone smack him!” Conor McGregor has a bit of a love/hate relationship with the press at the best of times, but this particular question at the UFC 264 press conference, really got to him. With both McGregor and Dustin Poirier on stage, trash talking to each other and answering questions to promote their rematch tomorrow […]

4 years ago

“In the build up to the last fight you were unusually kind to Dustin.” Conor McGregor has had some of the most memorable press conferences in UFC history. More often than not he comes out on top – the quick wit, the suit, the strut, the sunglasses, the attitude – McGregor controls the whole room. […]

4 years ago

“There are some people who just won’t take no for an answer.” The last thing you want after a defeat is strangers coming up and telling you where you went wrong – especially in a pub where they have a bit of dutch courage in them. Inter-county managers probably have it the worst however, because […]

4 years ago

England fans only get to experience the euphoria of elite knockout football every few years, so it’s understandable that they have reached new levels of unbearable excitement. For GAA fans though, we have knockout action all summer and there’s no VAR, nil nils, penalty shoot-outs or that absolutely infuriating chant about bringing something home. The […]

4 years ago

“I’m getting carried away with myself.” ITV commentators Sam Matterface and Lee Dixon, just about managed to keep it together during the 90 minutes between England and Denmark. However, when Raheem Sterling went down after a tackle that had as much impact as your contactless debit card tapping the bartenders machine on a night out, they […]

4 years ago

“Do you think that affects me more than the hurt that we feel in the dressing room? Do you honestly think that?” Tempers normally fly high after games, especially when the side you’re managing is on the losing end. Players get the brunt of it normally, but every now and again, a journalist maybe asks […]

4 years ago

“Stephen has obviously lifted Sam Maguire seven times now, so maybe it is time for somebody else.” Dublin progress to the next round of the Leinster Championship after beating Wexford, but all of the talk is around Stephen Cluxton’s decision to step away from the squad. Strangely enough, Dubs manager, Dessie Farrell has stated that […]

4 years ago

“Our hand passes were sloppy.” Winning and getting over the line is the only thing that matters, right? Wrong. The performance does matter, because that’s what you are building on for the next game, so if your team wins but looks disorganised or complacent, then that will be brought into the next game. It’s an […]

4 years ago

“This is really, really, bad. It does not look good.” It seems every week, the talisman player for each county is suffering an injury. We saw David Clifford limp off after scoring a rocket of a goal against Clare, then we saw Michael Murphy with his hamstring on ice after being subbed off against Down. […]

4 years ago

Dublin haven’t been in a Leinster final since 2014. The boys in blue are in flying form this season, but even after their impressive win over Antrim in the quarter-final, nobody really thought they were going to beat this Galway side. On paper, Galway looked to be in a different class, but it was only […]

4 years ago

Dublin 1-18 1-14 Galway Sky Sports coverage of the GAA in recent years has been, by and large, respectable. However, the cardinal sin for Irish sports stars, is when the media refer to them as English or British, in an attempt to claim them as their own. You can at least understand the mistake though, […]

4 years ago

“A female would maybe get away with saying something to a female than maybe the other way around.” The Antrim ladies’ football team has gone from strength to strength this year, and last week dismantled Derry in the Ulster Junior final. The woman in charge of this success is Emma Kelly, who only last year […]

4 years ago

“I don’t even want to laugh at that” Italy defeated Belgium in a thrilling game, that displayed everything that’s wonderful about the sport. One of the best and most exciting players on the pitch was Ciro Immobile. He was in dazzling form and really put on a performance. However there was one moment, where his […]

4 years ago

The game was in the balance, sitting at 2-1 in favour of the Italians, but Belgium were on the attack and looking dangerous. Romelu Lukaku has been on scintillating form this tournament and had already gotten on the score sheet when he slotted home Belgium’s penalty in the first half. So there is nobody in […]

4 years ago

Spain defeat 10 man Switzerland on penalties to secure their place in the semi-finals. One of the major talking points was Remo Freuler’s red card which many felt was a harsh decision and left the Swiss fighting for dear life to hold back the barrage of Spanish attacks. Freuler had a heavy touch on the […]

4 years ago

“The more energy you put into external cues for how good or indifferent you are, the less beneficial it will be to the team.” We often talk about the internal things around the GAA that have changed the game in the last decade or so, such as tactics and systems, but externally, there are constantly […]

4 years ago

“I was better at Gaelic than soccer.” When you see Seamus Coleman captaining Everton and Ireland, it seems pretty obvious in hindsight that choosing soccer over Gaelic football was a no-brainer. However, when the Donegal native decided to give the former a proper go, it certainly wasn’t as obvious a choice at the time. Coleman […]

4 years ago

“Would you deprive yourself chicken wings to play better or is it this a psychological thing?” It wasn’t long ago that a fry before a match, followed by a night of sinking pints post-game was the norm in the GAA. It was a part of the culture, the togetherness and you weren’t really at a […]

4 years ago

From the hills of Donegal to captaining his country and Everton, Seamus Coleman is one of the best sporting success stories to come out of Ireland. His determination, work rate and modesty are key components to his longevity at the premier level of soccer but, before he was leading out the Toffees at a packed […]

4 years ago

“Hopefully it’s not too bad, just a wee bit of tightening up.” Donegal got off to the perfect start in the championship, blowing Down out of the water and out of Ulster. However, much like Kerry and their talisman David clifford, Donegal didn’t leave the game completely unscathed. Captain Michael Murphy, was already nursing a […]

4 years ago

“My focus is to play and perform for Sunderland for as long as I can.” Aiden McGeady has signed a new one-year contract with Sunderland, when just 12 months ago it looked like his career with the black Cats was over. The Irish winger was hooked out on loan with Charlton Athletic in 2020, but […]

4 years ago

“Four points in the first eight minutes just set the whole tone for the game.” David Clifford’s injury scare might be the talking point after Kerry’s comfortable win over Clare, but the performance of Sean O’Shea in the full forward line is what should be grabbing everyone’s attention. Usually at centre-half forward, the change of […]

4 years ago

“So now it’s gotten to the stage where, even if there is pressure on the corner back, the goalkeeper’s looking to give it to him. It’s madness” The term, ‘delusions of grandeur’ comes to mind when you see lesser teams try to mimic top tier counties’ styles of football when playing against them. If you […]

4 years ago

Suddenly, that sub 30-minute run after work doesn’t feel as rewarding as it once did. Belfast’s record-breaking speedster, Emer McKee, made all of the headlines just a couple of months ago when she broke the 5km world record time in her age group. Given the fact she’s only 12 years old, has broken a world […]

4 years ago

Kerry 3-22  1-11 Clare Kerry did what was expected of them and completely took Clare apart in their championship opener. It was a one-sided affair early on, but Clare weren’t without their success. Sean O’Shea was the man of the match, scoring 1-7 and linking up brilliantly with the Clifford brothers, really stamping his place […]

4 years ago

Slig0 0-12  3-23 Mayo It was one-way traffic in the Connacht Championship opener, as Mayo dismantled Sligo to progress to the next round. With Cillian O’Connor out for the season due to an Achilles injury, the big question in May was ‘how are they going to replace the sharp shooter?’ Not only is O’Connor the […]

4 years ago

The Greenlough forward isn’t always the first name that springs to mind when you think of this Derry team, but he epitomises everything good about the Oak Leaf county this season. There’s no getting away from the fact that Shane McGuigan is the main man in this Derry team. He is the focal point, the […]

4 years ago

“They’re certainly not squad-wise, at that level.” Ulster football may boast the most competitive championship and arguably is the most entertaining, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s at the highest standard. The National League this year chewed up most Ulster teams and spat them out. Outside of Derry and Antrim, none of them can really […]

4 years ago

“Remember during PE in 2011 when you said we would never win the league? Well, I bet you feel pretty silly now! Sorry to hear about you and Sinead by the way.” Of course it would be the year that Liverpool are absolutely miles clear in the league that a global pandemic comes and shuts […]

4 years ago

“You’ve got to stick to the tactics you have.” Donegal, Tyrone and Galway have been on the wrong side of some high scoring games in recent months. The usually formidable and airtight defence of these teams seems leaky, disjointed and unsure of themselves at times. However, does that mean you just scrap the plan and […]

4 years ago

Yeah, the Euros are cool, but did you know championship is starting this weekend? It’s here folks, championship weekend, is here. All year players have been busting themselves for this moment. They spent winter running outdoors in the rain, lifting freezing weights in their unheated sheds, and enduring Zoom session after zoom session, and with […]

4 years ago

“I don’t even think there is a debate.” GAA fans are blessed right now to have two outstanding forwards both playing at the top of their games, in the two top teams in the country. One has already won everything there is to win in the game and stepped up on those occasions to do […]

4 years ago

“I see that the team is not reaching him.” Jose Mourinho didn’t have his most successful spell as a manager with Spurs, but one thing he did manage to do, was get the best from Harry Kane. Kane won the Premier League Golden Boot last season, with most of his goals coming under Mourinho’s management, […]

4 years ago

“Maybe in the past it’s something that has maybe crept in.” Slaughtneil, Glen, Ballinderry, Bellaghy, Magherafelt, these are all big clubs in Derry and the rivalry that they have with one-another is absolutely fierce. It’s the reason why the Derry championship is so competitive and enjoyable to watch. The quality is high and the battles […]

4 years ago

The hair, the passion, the suit, the touch – Roberto Mancini has it all and we can’t get enough. The Italy manager is exactly what we all THINK we look like, when we dress sharp for a wedding or grow our hair out despite being reminded by your wife that you’re over 40 and barely […]

4 years ago

“I know it sounds daft; one international game, 20 years old, but we will miss him tomorrow night.” Chelsea and Scotland midfielder, Billy Gilmour, has tested positive for Covid-19. The young prospect who put in a man of the match performance against England on Saturday night, will now have to isolate for 10 days, meaning […]

4 years ago

Before Graeme Souness was a silver fox, with glittering new teeth and a charming smile, he was a midfielder who had fantastic vision and passing range. The former Liverpool captain reveals what the most important thing he learned at his time at Anfield was, and why England need to learn it if they are to […]

4 years ago

“He gives them so many options, but with his ability he’s bound to do that.” France may have been 1-0 down at half-time to Hungary, but Kylian Mbappé was still the shining light in the match. The PSG’s strikers quick feet, turn of pace, skills and speed are on full display and you wonder how […]

4 years ago

Derry play Offaly  in the Division 3 final and although the proud footballing county boasts a rich history of higher honours and accolades, it is a significant step in the right direction. The oak leaf county have been in footballing wilderness in recent years, disbanded, disjointed and disorganised at times. When Rory Gallagher was appointed […]

4 years ago

“He looks a Shadow of himself.” England drew 0-0 with Scotland, making it the first ever nil-nil game at Wembley, but in truth, they were lucky to get out of there with a draw. At full-time, the ITV pundits were discussing what went wrong for the English and in particular, Harry Kane. While Ian Wright […]

4 years ago

Keane didn’t have any sympathy for the English. It finished 0-0 but Scotland are definitely the happier of the two teams and despite an early chance from John Stones, who glanced a free header off the post, England were way off the pace tonight. Roy Keane didn’t hold back in his opinion of the performance […]

4 years ago

“You must be really courageous to do that.” Shooters shoot, defenders defend and keepers make saves… it is the natural order of things and it shouldn’t be disturbed, otherwise chaos would assume on the footballing world. When you look at the Croatia team, the talent that is dripping from it, with the names they have […]

4 years ago

“All these things can help if you’re able to congregate them into one sport.” We all have a second or maybe third sport that we try our hand at here and there. Maybe it’s a boxercise class, a bit of 5-aside or the odd game of tennis in the park. Few people however, have represented […]

4 years ago

“Why do they revert into this shell of a tactical formation? I just can’t get my head around it.” Is just winning enough, or is the manner in which you win important? Managers and coaches will certainly tell you that it’s all about “getting over the line” or just “getting the job done”, but for […]

4 years ago

Every country will prepare for the Euros differently, but this is quite out there. Every new and adventurous training drill is looked on with suspicion by those who are too afraid to try new things, but eventually what was once strange, becomes the ordinary. Perhaps that will be the case for North Macedonia with their […]

4 years ago

“Sometimes you’re so invested in it, just being forced to step away from it for a while helped.” As you can imagine, a top inter-county level hurler like Lee Chin is completely immersed in the sport of GAA. In recent years, the continuous treadmill of matches has been a constant in his life and stopping […]

4 years ago

“Going on from the first game where they were very impressive, Paul Donaghey’s gone off form completely, and Conor McKenna’s form right through the league has been desperate.” The word “crisis” has been thrown around a lot in GAA circles this season. The snappy league with very little pre-season, COVID restrictions, new management teams not […]

4 years ago

“Celtic are really struggling to break them down.” When you reach the legendary status that Ronnie Whelan has reached, you are allowed to get away with certain things. However, the fact that he kept referring to the Scotland side as “Celtic”, may raise a few eyebrows, or provoke some angry fist-waving from fans who would […]

4 years ago

“Mayo don’t do anything half pace or three quarter pace, they never slow down.” If Jim McGuinness’ Donegal side in 2011 were the most defensive, negative and toughest team to break down, then James Horan’s Mayo side has to be the antithesis of that. They are completely, solely and totally attack orientated in their approach, […]

4 years ago

Derry will take on Offaly for the first chance of silverware this season In a weird structure of the league, we have a collection of “joint winners” which makes about as much sense as having your nose sticking out of your mask when you go shopping – pointless. As Pat Spillane mentioned on The Sunday […]

4 years ago