“Get out and say it” Clare may not have qualified but at least they redeemed themselves. Two terrible performances against Tipperary and Limerick had the whole county down and out. But against Cork they stood up. Men like Tony Kelly, Shane O’Donnell and John Conlon led like we know they can and by the end […]

7 years ago

Conor Cox has found a home away from home. He’s a Listowel man but the Roscommon connection is a strong one. His father Martin is an Éire Óg man and he used bring his son to Roscommon games as a young lad. He’s a proud man today. KING of the Rossies 👑👑@sportsfile 📸 pic.twitter.com/Xu0PqXa0Cp — […]

7 years ago

Sean Ronan, what are you even playing at? Cork have come from six down to lead by one and all the momentum is with them. Clare, with the Cusack Park crowd groaning and with their confidence weaning look a beaten docket. Sean Ronan from Kilmaley comes onto the pitch. He’s the first sub the Clare […]

7 years ago

Sean Cavanagh talked about it in his book ‘ The obsession.’ A young Tyrone player walked into the dressing room looking more bronzed than usual and hoping to get a bit of slagging going, Cavanagh remarked ‘Jeez lad, there’s a nice gloss of you.’ The dry response took him by surprise. “Yeah, I got the […]

7 years ago

Brought to you by Centra #WeAreHurling Every score matters. Clare and Galway learned that the hard way as score difference knocked them both out of the championship. For neutrals, the weekend just past was a feast of the very best things about hurling. Drama, thrills, spills, swings and lots and lots of roundabouts. Going into […]

7 years ago

You have to enjoy Davy Fitzgerald. You can dislike him, you can criticise his pettiness, his temper and you can give out about so many other things too. But there’s something about the man’s passion for hurling that just can’t be ignored. There’s something brilliant about it. A Saturday night in June and the Leinster […]

7 years ago

36 years old, still going strong. Conal Keaney defied father time with a colossal performance in Parnell Park that kept Dublin alive in this Leinster championship and sent Galway packing. Combative, fiery but extremely cool and clever, the Ballyboden St Enda’s supremo hit 0-3 from open play as he inspired his county to the win of […]

7 years ago

Wexford 1-18 Kilkenny 0-21 Holy mother of God. A late, great free from the heroic Lee Chin secured a draw for Wexford against Kilkenny and saved their bacon in the Leinster championship. The draw here knocked Galway out of the championship after they had lost to Dublin in Parnell Park. The scenes in Wexford Park, […]

7 years ago

Kerry 1-18 Offaly 1-16 That’s it. After all the premature proclamations, Offaly hurling has hit its rock bottom to date. They have been relegated to Christy Ring hurling after an impressive Kerry team outperformed them in Austin Stack Park on Saturday. Faithful fans will point to a pair of crucial refereeing decisions that undoubtedly altered […]

7 years ago

From the exciting first steps to a fork in the road. Back in 2011, Tipperary football was a land of promise, hope and giddy potential. A prodigious county minor team beat Dublin’s golden age and the future was blinding. A reluctant hurling following was finally convinced that football was something the county could excel at […]

7 years ago

Paul Coady stated Carlow’s case on Thursday evening. The mistreatment, the plight of the Joe McDonagh Cup counties, he’s had enough. He’s not the only one. Cheddar Plunkett has been banging the drum for weeks on end on The GAA Hour Hurling Show. Articulately, passionately, the Laois man’s measured, incisive and often witty analysis of […]

7 years ago

‘Jesus Christ’ says Frankie Dolan when Wooly Parkinson brings up the infamous 2002 ‘naked pool’ incident. It’s The GAA Hour Show live in Roscommon, it’s 17 years on and the St Brigid’s man says an interview only ventured down this road  once before. “You’ve some balls on you Wooly, I’ll give you that,” he laughs. […]

7 years ago

The knives are often out for Kevin Walsh. Critics go to town on Galway’s overly defensive system. They say the Tribesmen have no forward plan. The sight of a game-changing forward a la Ian Burke, Comer or Shane Walsh isolated inside admittedly, is an unwelcome one but Galway stalwart Sean Armstrong, who was in the […]

7 years ago

Derek McGrath experienced it, most GAA players have experienced it. You’re taken off. It could be for tactical reasons, it could have been the plan or it could well have been that you were playing useless but no matter what the story is, those close to you will deem it the latter. What else could […]

7 years ago

Ben Healy has Rolex wrists and eyes on the back of his head. 24-0 up and cruising towards a bonus point, Ben Healy sniffed out an opportunity. The phases were threatening to build around the try-line, Ireland wanted to put it to bed before half-time. Colm Reilly to Jake Flannerry, Jake Flannerry to Ben Healy. […]

7 years ago

Conor Whelan wasn’t always a bull-dozer. Back in his secondary school days playing with Gort, the Kinvara youngster was always the sharpest forward of the bunch but he was far from the biggest. With a game based on speed, both of foot and of touch, Whelan was pure dynamite and regularly racked up big tallies […]

7 years ago

The Republic of Ireland are far from blessed with creative talent. It sure is a blinking inconvenience that our two best players play in the one position but in the current state of affairs, even a slightly uncomfortable Matt Doherty would be an improvement. The Wolves right back didn’t see a minute of Ireland’s two […]

7 years ago

Republic of Ireland 2-0 Gibraltar Job done. Just about. From the moment Mick McCarthy’s instructions were heard louder than any other voice on Landsdowne Road, you just got a feeling this was going to be a long night. That was the very first minute of the game. Ten minutes later, we were well used to […]

7 years ago

Brought to you by Centra #WeAreHurling Here comes the fun. TJ Reid turned in one of the finest individual performances you’re likely to see in Nowlan Park but there were standout individual performances all over the place on another big weekend of hurling. In the Joe McDonagh Cup, Killian Doyle was the top dog scoring an unbelievable […]

7 years ago

TJ Reid was marking one of the best hurlers in Ireland on Sunday. And Padraig Mannion didn’t even have a bad game. 2-11, 2-5 of it  from open play. The Ballyhale Shamrocks ace turned in one of the most effective individual performances any hurling follower is likely to see in their lifetime on Sunday afternoon […]

7 years ago

It took a few seconds for the Kilkenny fans in Nowlan Park to realise that the final whistle actually meant the end of that game. With Darren Brennan’s last puck high in the sky, the Galway players jumped around the pitch delirious. Maroon fans clenched fists. A big collective sigh of relief filled the air. […]

7 years ago

The hurling championship is alive. Leinster championship Above is the state of affairs in Leinster with all the counties still in contention having one game left to play. Fixtures Saturday June 15 Wexford v Kilkenny, Wexford Park, 7.00 Dublin v Galway, Parnell Park, 7.00 Permutations Galway If Galway get a win or a draw against […]

7 years ago

Galway 3-20 Kilkenny 2-22 Galway are back on track. Despite a spirited late rally from 13 man Kilkenny, Galway held onto claim a Nowlan Park cracker by the bare minimum in the best game of the hurling championship so far. Brian Concannon, Cathal Mannion, Joseph Cooney and Daithí Burke were all outstanding for Galway who […]

7 years ago

By Francis Mooney Donegal 3-13 Tyrone 2-12 Donegal bagged three goals to claim north-west bragging rights as they got the better of Tyrone in their TG4 Ulster Ladies SFC preliminary round tie at Kingspan Breffni Park. Geraldine McLaughlin scored two goals and Niamh Hegarty also found the net as the defending champions progressed, but only after […]

7 years ago

Last year there was an excuse. The All-Ireland semi-final in 2018 and Aron Shanagher isn’t long back in full training. The Wolfe Tones club man tore his cruciate ligament back in November 2017 and is only really coming back into his own around now. He’ll be worth a few minutes. Points from Niall Burke and […]

7 years ago

Every Sunday morning is the same up in Glen Rovers. The pitch is a sea of youngsters. Their shouts and calls cut through the fresh, energising air. Sliotars thud off hurleys, the net rattles and the youngsters roar. This is the Sunday morning Street League and every second Glen child under the age of 10 […]

7 years ago

Man of steel Shane Duffy put in a performance for the ages in Telia Parken to help rescue a 1-1 draw for the Republic of Ireland against Denmark. It wasn’t quite Richard Dunne against Russia but it was still inspirational from the Derryman. No more than five minutes in had he a Danish attacker wincing […]

7 years ago

After a year of Galway supremacy, Kilkenny are favourites again. The absence of Joe Canning obviously has a big part to play in the Tribesmen going down to Nowlan Park this Sunday as 13/8 underdogs but even more telling is the Cats’ ability to keep such a consistently high level of performance. Consistently over the […]

7 years ago

If you have a point to make, make it clearly. If you have a job to pass on, pass it on with conviction. There’s no use in tip-toeing around the crux of it, no point in beating around the bush. Lar Corbett remembers his days hurling with Tipperary well. He recalls championship weeks like they […]

7 years ago

15 years on and Martin Reilly’s sporting life has come full spin. Cavan in the early 2000s and the youngster from Killygarry is the best young soccer player in the county. That mightn’t be saying too much in a place where Gaelic football rules but his move to Home Farm, and subsequent appearance on the […]

7 years ago

Dara McVeety was marking one of the toughest cookies in Gaelic football at the weekend. James Morgan of Crossmaglen. Hard as old boots and tighter than McVeety’s haircut, the Cavan forward wasn’t given an inch without a few belts in Clones. “McGeeney had to take him (Morgan) off, he’s all or nothing isn’t he, you […]

7 years ago

Eoin Murphy is not a good patient. Glenmore against Freshford in the Kilkenny intermediate League championship. It’s the second and final game of the April club month and both teams, two of the big players in this competition, are gunning for the win. Eoin Murphy is going well. Known as a goalkeeper outside of Kilkenny, […]

7 years ago

Brought to you by Centra #WeAreHurling Seamie Callanan has legends in his sights. The Clare defenders stand gazing. Seamie Callanan takes a few steps back. Jason Forde’s free looks to be sailing over but with a strong west of Ireland breeze blowing across Cusack Park, anything is possible. Off the post but the Drom and […]

7 years ago

“The rest of the Armagh lads looked hamstrung by fear, he just went out and played” Armagh and Cavan was a strange game. Two points and a man up with ten minutes left to play, Armagh should have been able to close it out. Too many of their players retreated though, looked for sideways passes […]

7 years ago

An Gaeltacht 0-12 Cill Chartha 0-11 A score worthy of winning any game. A last gasp stunner from Seamus O Muircheartaigh brought the house down in west Kerry as hosts An Ghaeltacht took the 2019 Comortas Na Gaeltachta by a single point. Having led the game for large periods, Donegal side Kilcar will feel hard done […]

7 years ago

In 22 years of adult football, Johnny Doyle never once missed a championship game. “I’d love to tell you that’s because I mind the body and eat all the right stuff,” he said with typical modesty on The GAA Hour Show recently. “No it’s a bit of a freak!. At times it was a bit […]

7 years ago

Sin Gleoite! All back and country roads led to the Dingle Peninsula on the Bank Holiday weekend and the west Kerry Gaeltacht has lived up to the billing. It’s Comórtas Peil Na Gaeltachta time and every Irish speaking and Irish culture seeking soul has made their way down to the most south westerly tip of […]

7 years ago

John McGrath has all day long. A masterclass from the McGrath brothers inspired Tipperary past a tepid Clare challenge in Cusack Park with the Premier County now looking towards a Munster final, while the Banner must ready themselves for a dogfight. There’s magic in those Loughmore-Castleiney wrists. With the gale behind them, Liam Sheedy’s men […]

7 years ago

Let’s just go back to 2017 for a second. Tadhg De Búrca was the most prominent sweeper in the country. Pauric Mahony wasn’t able to miss. Jamie Barron was running riot. Austin Gleeson was one of the best hurlers in the country and Stephen O’Keeffe was the best goalie. Fast forward two years and it’s […]

7 years ago

It’s 12 noon on the other side of the world. Real football weather. 25 degrees he’s told as he scans the shops for a new pair of boots. This is downtown Boston, it’s championship season and it’s a long way from Killarney. Dr Crokes man Tony Brosnan is preparing for the first round of the […]

7 years ago

Katie Taylor became the undisputed champion of the world on Saturday night, but no sooner was the verdict called as the inquest began. The Bray boxer was far from at her best in Madison Square Garden but at the end of 10 gruelling rounds, was awarded the judges decision by a narrow margin.  ’95-95 96-94 […]

7 years ago

The 19-stone Mexican no-hoper wasn’t even given a prayer. Drafted in as a late replacement after Anthony Joshua’s initial opponent Jarrell Miller failed multiple drug tests, Andy Ruiz Junior was quoted as high as 25/1 by bookmakers before this World Heavyweight title showdown. He was widely mocked for his physique, written off in almost every […]

7 years ago

Tony Kelly had it all his own way against Waterford. Playing centre forward but drifting like a barge, it was about as easy to predict as the Leinster football championship. But the Déise didn’t change a thing. Tadhg De Búrca sat back as he always does while Conor Gleeson and Jamie Barron played their own […]

7 years ago

Davy Fitz can be an angry man but he’s not a silly man. A prerequisite of inter-county management is a cool-head. With somewhere in between 20 to 80 thousand giddy and roaring supporters around you, it would be very easy to lose the head along with them. But to deliver team talks – both at […]

7 years ago

What are your memories of your first hurling session? Bend your back and put the two hands on the hurl. What are you still being told as a senior hurler? ‘Two hands!’ God forbid you fail to pick up the ball with your fancy Dan, one handed, cocky and lazy one handed attempt because if […]

7 years ago

Brought to you in association with Centra #WeAreHurling Far away in body but not in mind. For six months, Shane O’Donnell was over on the other side of the world studying for a PhD in Microbiology.  The Ennis youngster took off for a scholarship in Harvard, one of the most prestigious universities in the world […]

7 years ago

Carl Frampton knows what it’s all about. Saturday night and Katie Taylor bids to become the undisputed lightweight champion of the world. Delfine Persoon, the 43-1 Belgian stands in the Bray woman’s way as the two spearheads of the women’s lightweight division meet in Madison Square Garden. Persoon is Taylor’s closest rival in the division, […]

7 years ago

It might do them no harm whatsoever. It’s fair to say Chelsea’s preparations for the Europa League final have been far from ideal. From Reuben Loftus-Cheek getting injured in tiddlywinks over in America to Ngolo Kante’s ever-reducing chances of lining out. Eden Hazard is ready for the high road while Callum Hudson Odoi and Antonio […]

7 years ago

Mayo were caught out at the weekend. Aidan O’Shea and Matthew Ruane. Two monsters of men who will field ball from the heavens. Let them have it. In fairness, this isn’t just a Mayo problem, Colm Parkinson reckons it’s a problem for goalkeepers countrywide. The short kick-out. It dominates discussion, it earns praise, it’s seen […]

7 years ago

The good news for Mayo fans… “Cillian, Seamie, Fionn, and Donie Vaughan, they are probably just five or six days away so they are very close.” So said a downbeat James Horan after Mayo’s Connacht semi-final loss to Roscommon. On the evidence of Saturday evening, every aching body will be needed. None more so than […]

7 years ago