“Anything can happen.” Those were the words of Thomas Barr after his semi-final run of 48.99 got him into the mix in Thursday evening’s European Championship 400-metres hurdles final, in Berlin. Hours before his final run, Barr felt compelled to respond to some of the well wishers before heading to the stadium to lace up. […]

8 years ago

They might just have won the transfer window

8 years ago

“United are, for me, the biggest football team in the world of football.” Paul Merson was getting into a right tizzy as the Premier League’s summer transfer window headed towards its’ 5pm closure. The former Arsenal and England midfielder was on deck for Sky Sports as the broadcaster tried to keep the hype and excitement […]

8 years ago

For a save as good as this, it deserves to have John Mullane dialled up to 11! 72 minutes on the clock. Scores level at 1-26 apiece. Seamus Harnedy teed up with a hand-pass and Limerick defenders spilling back, more so in hope than in expectation. It was all on two men – Harnedy vs. […]

8 years ago

His final act of note for Liverpool was to leave Manchester United’s Fred on his rump. Back in 2013, Liverpool swooped in for Valencia’s U18 captain and a player capped 15 times by Spain’s U17 side, captaining them on five occasions. Real Madrid were said to be monitoring the situation but Pedro Chirivella headed to […]

8 years ago

The 24-year-old featured in six games as Croatia reached their first ever World Cup final. Jose Mourinho is hopeful of signing two new players before the transfer windows closes, and the Premier League season begins. The Manchester United boss was cut a sullen figure during his side’s pre-season tour of the United States and a […]

8 years ago

Eamon Dunphy is no longer in the employ of RTÉ and he is finding it liberating. Never one to hold his tongue for too long, on subjects that stirred him, the former Millwall and Ireland footballer has launched a couple of broadsides at RTE since he announced his departure during the week. Dunphy, who has worked […]

8 years ago

Geoff Scully was a busy man. There are only a handful of games, each year, that Sky Sports and RTE broadcast simultaneously. Both broadcasters must have been happy, then, with the hurling fare served up by Clare and Galway at Croke Park in the first All-Ireland semi-final of the year. The Banner and The Tribesmen […]

8 years ago

The Clare County Board will need to hold a raffle to cover the GAA’s fine for these actions. At half-time of the pulsating All-Ireland semi-final clash between Clare and Galway, Michael Lyster and the RTE panel were made sing for their supper. Gone are the days, now, of a quick turnaround at half-time. What used […]

8 years ago

Seemed like a good idea at the time. The experience of coaching a new team against your home county, and one who you led to two All-Irelands, can’t be easy. Sure, Ger Loughnane wanted to turn Clare over, but it was tougher to get fired up for than, say, playing Tipperary or Kilkenny. Loughnane joined The […]

8 years ago

Even in his wildest dreams, the Ireland underage goalkeeper must not have envisioned this one. Playing with the likes of Salah, Mané, Shaqiri and Fabinho against Manchester United in front of around 100,000 supporters at the Michigan Stadium. That is the reality for Caoimhin Kelleher as his pre-season with Liverpool’s senior squad takes another interesting […]

8 years ago

He made 11 appearances for Manchester United in Louis van Gaal’s final season at the club. In another world, had events taken a different turn, Cameron Borthwick Jackson could well have been in Russia this summer. If a statement about Scunthorpe United’s latest loan signing seems outlandish, just look were Trent Alexander Arnold and Andrew […]

8 years ago

The Cork native has added a few nice attacking wrinkles to the Crusaders game. Ronan O’Gara will get his first ever taste of a Super Rugby final after helping the Crusaders to a comprehensive 30-12 victory over Hurricanes in Christchurch. Just over seven months at his new posting, the Crusaders backs coach must have been […]

8 years ago

Absolutely brilliant news! The GAA and the organising committee of the Liam Miller Tribute match have released a joint statement confirming the game will take place at Cork GAA headquarters Páirc Uí Chaoimh on September 25. The match, which will be played in honour of the late Manchester United, Cork City and Ireland midfielder, was originally […]

8 years ago

The medics have spoken and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is happy to take their word for it. Although it did not surface until after Liverpool’s 3-1 Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid, footage of Sergio Ramos clattering Loris Karius in the box did not look good. Had Ramos not already knocked Mo Salah out […]

8 years ago

“Joe was an expert on periodic brilliance.” Joe Canning made his breakthrough into the Galway senior hurling panel when he was 19 but it wasn’t always easy, nor rosy. Séamus, Frank, Davy, Ollie, Ivan, Deirdre and Joe Canning are right up there with the most successful GAA siblings in the history of the game. They come […]

8 years ago

‘The Eagle’ was not impressed with McGregor’s deleted tweet. It’s not clear whether Conor McGregor was gathering the cavalry to head to Canada or planning on a trip to Calgary, Canada but his Thursday morning tweet did not stay up for long. Khabib Nurmagomedov certainly spotted it anyway. The UFC lightweight champion was in Alberta […]

8 years ago

For Ruby Walsh, getting back in the saddle at the Galway Races will be a welcome return to the life he never planned but now can’t live without. Walsh is set to race again at the Galway festival from next Monday after coming back from the 18th major injury of his career. The Kildare native […]

8 years ago

“Sooner than later” That is the hope of UFC president Dana White about a lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and the man he replaced as undisputed champ, Conor McGregor. Back in April, not long after McGregor and Cian Cowley were involved in attacking a bus in the Barclays Center loading bay, White had that […]

8 years ago

We can imagine the scenes at Old Trafford if this deal gets over the line. A rival Premier League club wants Marcos Rojo and they are willing to pay UP FRONT… Manchester United’s transfer activities have been pretty tepid so far this summer – Fred, Digo Dalot and Lee Grant – but some serious wheels […]

8 years ago

“If you criticise somebody and they turn things around – and go from being folders or quitters to winners – your admiration is bigger.” Ger Loughnane faced the music but at least he did it on home turf. The GAA Hour paid a visit to Ennis ahead of the All-Ireland Hurling semi-final between Clare and […]

8 years ago

Opportunity knocks for the 19-year-old. Caoimhin Kelleher is in line to start for Liverpool against Manchester United in front of 100,000 football fans in the United States. The Liverpool goalkeeper, who has already featured in pre-season games against Blackburn and Manchester City, is set to face United from the start, on Saturday, at the Michigan […]

8 years ago

Official confirmation may come before the weekend is out. The Liam Miller Tribute Match may yet take place at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, On September, if a GAA meeting planned for Saturday can reach a way ahead. Last week, news hit that organisers of the event – planned to raise money for the family or the late […]

8 years ago

“I want to leave.” Anthony Martial is not the only one who has had enough of life at Old Trafford under Jose Mourinho. Most Manchester United fans will admit to being concerned at the club’s lack of serious summer transfer moves. Sure, Brazilian midfielder Fred has arrived in but he has only been joined by […]

8 years ago

It was only a matter of time. Liverpool may have splashed £167m on their summer transfers but the powers-that-be are keen to make some money back. Danny Ings and Lazar Markovic have been told they can look for new clubs, as has Divock Origi. The Reds may also look to move one of their three […]

8 years ago

The sharp-shooters and go-to guys of the championship summer. 10 players from 8 counties. 269 points scored (15 goals and 224 points) shared between them. We are giving you three minutes to guess all 10 top scorers from the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship this summer. If the quiz is not displaying properly for you, you can play […]

8 years ago

Tit. For. Tat. Rangers started it. Celtic have responded. Earlier this month, Rangers announced that they would be reducing its allocation for Celtic fans heading to Ibrox for away games this season. The Scottish club are now limiting away fans from Brendan Rodgers’ side to 800 for the two Premiership games in 2018/19. Celtic kept […]

8 years ago

‘The Notorious’ discovered his legal fate at the King’s Court in Brooklyn. Conor McGregor’s legal team entered a guilty plea on his behalf during his court appearance today. The Dubliner made the plea with regard to disorderly conduct after he was charged with criminal mischief, misdemeanor assault and menacing and reckless endangerment after the bus attack at […]

8 years ago

Alisson could want to get his Liverpool career started sharpish. 19-year-old Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher made another outing for the senior side on the club’s pre-season tour of the United States. Having made an appearance against Blackburn Rovers, last week, the Cork native got another chance to impress in the friendly victory over Manchester City. […]

8 years ago

“Part of the job is trying to bring in the best players you can get.” Jurgen Klopp is definitely giving the impression that Liverpool will start 2018/19 with three frontline goalkeepers. Alisson Becker has arrived from Roma for a world-record fee (for a goalkeeper) of £62.5m. He is set to start the season as Reds […]

8 years ago

Nothing against the young Dublin star at all, but he could do with a break. 1-4 vs. Wicklow 0-2 vs. Longford 0-2 vs. Laois 0-0 vs. Longford 0-0 vs. Tyrone For Con O’Callaghan, this summer, it has been a case of diminishing returns and performances. As a 21-year-old, last season, the Cuala clubman scored 2-20 […]

8 years ago

Picking up right where he left off. Mohamed Salah is back and scoring goals. Sadio Mané is also back, and also scoring goals. Liverpool defeated Manchester City 2-1 in the International Champions Cup (that fancy-sounding crop of pre-season fixtures) and two of their returning stars made an impact. Leroy Sané opened the scoring for City […]

8 years ago

This is inevitable, but no less fun. José Mourinho would not have appreciated Jurgen Klopp sticking his oar in, back in July 2016, when Paul Pogba signed for Manchester United. The French midfielder was signed from Juventus for £89.3m and Klopp mounted his high horse. “If you bring one player in for £100m and he […]

8 years ago

“That’s not a free! Sure the guy fell down!” Mayo stars Diarmuid O’Connor and Conor Loftus are over in Chicago playing with St Brigid’s after their county’s All-Ireland exit. The two lads have linked up with their former All-Ireland under-21 winning teammate Brian Reape and are in the thick of another cup quest. Sunday saw them […]

8 years ago

This sets up a tantalising, top of the table clash this Sunday. Diarmuid Connolly is three for three after helping Donegal Boston to another league win at the weekend. The St Vincent’s forward, who opted out of inter-county action this championship summer, is flying it now at his new club. They took on Connemara Gaels […]

8 years ago

Watch your back Sergio Romero. David De Gea…. never mind. Manchester United’s pre-season tour of the United States has been oddly low-key and has struggled for much buy-in from the local fans and press. It is strange to see United almost go under the radar – attendances have been poor and the games have been […]

8 years ago

The levels of abuse Loris Karius has been subjected to over the past three months has been utterly depressing. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp spoke enthusiastically about new goalkeeper Alisson Becker’s desire to start training and playing with the club as soon as possible. Alisson may not be tossed into action straight away but playing on […]

8 years ago

The world was gripped by Tiger’s quest for 15. In the end, it was a nerveless 35-year-old from Turin, Italy that got the job done. Francesco Molinari was 14 when Tiger Woods won his first Major. On Sunday, at Carnoustie, the Italian teed off with the American shortly after 2pm and out-performed him to claim […]

8 years ago

MONAGHAN 1-17 KERRY 1-17 What a finish in Clones. What a finish from David Clifford. Holy Good Lord! Kerry looked dead, buried and lamented as they trailed by four points in injury time but The Kingdom live to fight another day. Eammon Fitzmaurice men were on the brink of being knocked clear out of the […]

8 years ago

KILDARE 0-16 GALWAY 0-19 Daniel Flynn was absolutely crestfallen but he did himself no favours. It was only last weekend that we were gushing about the Kildare forward’s performance and goal against Monaghan at Croke Park. One week on and the Lilywhites star will be cursing himself after a silly red card at Newbridge. Kildare and […]

8 years ago

Reversing the hairdryer. Alex Ferguson insists whatever he said to players in the Manchester United dressing room was all business; never personal. The legendary United manager was infamous for his half-time and full-time rant in the dressing room. Mark Hughes called it ‘The Hairdryer’ and just about every player that came through the club, when […]

8 years ago

In fairness to the locals, Sky Sports did start playing ‘Three Lions: It’s Coming Home’ as his intro. Harry Kane has decided to spend some of his off-season in Dundee. There is lots to see and do, of course, in Dundee (Tay Rail Bridge, fudge-making, Broughty Castle… and more) but Kane is up in Scotland for […]

8 years ago

This is Liverpool’s best chance to win the Premier League in years. In 2008/09, Liverpool went on a stunning run, from March 2, of 10 wins in 11 games and picked up 31 points of a possible 33. Along the way, they humbled Manchester United 4-1 at Old Trafford after falling 1-0 behind early on. […]

8 years ago

Can you just imagine what Brian O’Driscoll and Ma’a Nonu could do in midfield together? Reports in New Zealand, this weekend, suggest Ma’a Nonu could be in line for a third, and presumably final, stint at Auckland Blues. After three years of storming around Europe with Toulon, the 36-year-old is in line to see out […]

8 years ago

The Roscommon boss admitted he got “agitated” during a flashpoint in his side’s loss to Donegal. Coming up on half-time in Roscommon’s Super 8s clash with Donegal, McStay was livid that an apparent kick on one of his players had not been spotted by the match officials. The Rossies manager admitted, post-match, that the referee […]

8 years ago

Manchester United have not exactly set the transfer world alight this summer. Having finished second in the league, albeit 16 points behind champions Manchester City, Jose Mourinho was expected to get the go-ahead for another spree. The likes of Gareth Bale, Robert Lewandowski, Rahael Varane, Danny Rose, Harry Maguire, Samuel Umtiti, Alex Sandro and Toby Alderweireld were […]

8 years ago

Looks incredible! Dublin and Ryan ‘Ricey’ McMenamin have a long, storied, occasionally bloody history. The former Tyrone star always brought his ‘A’ game – playing and trash-talking – whenever he took on the Dubs. During a cracking live recording of The GAA Hour in Cookstown, ahead of Tyrone and Dublin’s Super 8 clash in Omagh, former […]

8 years ago

Ahhh, this clears absolutely nothing up. Ever since news broke that the GAA had informed organisers of a fundraising match in memory of Liam Miller that Páirc Uí Chaoimh was off limits, the association has taken flak from all sides. A charity match, honouring Miller and raising money for his bereaved family, will take place at […]

8 years ago

Back in April, Trent Alexander Arnold told a great story about Liverpool’s first day of pre-season training for 2017/18. Liverpool, like many clubs, run their players hard in the early days of pre-season and many of the squad find it tough. Mo Salah was absolutely loving it. “The first day was just a running session,” Alexander-Arnold […]

8 years ago

“We did have a conversation, leading into the game, saying, ‘Look, if anything kicks off here, no-one is going to back down’.” Dublin were geared up for battle, in 2006, when they landed in Omagh for a National Football League encounter with reigning All-Ireland champions Tyrone. It had been 11 years since Dublin had last […]

8 years ago