With his lead shaved to four shots on both Lee Westwood and Rickie Fowler going on birdie streaks, this was Lowry’s response. Shane Lowry was open enough to admit, on Saturday, that he would be dreaming of lifting the famous Claret Jug at Royal Portrush. The Offaly native started the final round of The open […]

7 years ago

This could be a big breakthrough year for the Republic of Ireland international. Troy Parrott is showing that he will not stand on ceremonies when he faces the best and brightest of world football. After some inclusions in senior squads last season, Mauricio Pochettino has advanced Parrott’s early career significantly by bringing him on the […]

7 years ago

The English golfer knows all about chasing a Major and feeling the heat. On nine occasions, Lee Westwood has either finished second or third in a Major. Facing the press on Saturday evening, after putting himself in position for another dart, the former world number one spoke about what tournament leader Shane Lowry will be […]

7 years ago

All of the “robbery” talk was outlandish and reactionary, but most fight fans wold acknowledge Katie Taylor was pushed to the brink by Delfine Persoon. Weeks after Katie Taylor had controversially edged Delfine Persoon to become undisputed lightweight champion, the Belgian declared, “The battle is not yet over.” Persoon was adamant that she had did […]

7 years ago

“I do the same things every person my age does.” Back in 2008/09, before he embarked on an unforgettable season, Brian O’Driscoll watched back on highlights of his best tries and performances to remind himself of what he was capable of. Shane Lowry has been doing something similar at The Open. Lowry leads a stellar […]

7 years ago

Shane Lowry is handling these packed out press conferences as well as the Royal Portrush links course, this week. Shane Lowry was fresh from a course record of 63 on the ‘new’ set-up at Portrush, when he faced the media to look ahead to what could be a day of destiny. The 32-year-old has roared […]

7 years ago

The USA striker came out to explain her actions to the media, again, as this odd wee story refuses to go away. Pinky finger raised, Alex Morgan mimicked sipping from a cup of tea after scoring a crucial World Cup goal on Tuesday. Four days on, the shockwaves are still being felt. Following the USA’s […]

7 years ago

How great it would have been to see the likes of Quinn, Campbell and Roche all in footballing action at the World Cup. Instead, after Ireland’s qualification campaign fell just short, we have had to content ourselves with the insights and opinions of Louise Quinn, Megan Campbell and Stephanie Roche as pundits. RTE and TG4 […]

7 years ago

Last seen as a centre midfielder for Republic of Ireland, in the dying embers of Martin O’Neill’s time in charge, Cyrus Christie could be off to sunnier climes. The 26-year-old had to wait a while for his Premier League debut but it arrived last season with Fulham. Cyrus Christie played 23 league games as Fulham […]

7 years ago

It was the fight both men wanted and the UFC wanted, but it never took place. Back in January, soon after Donald Cerrone dismantled Alexander Hernandez for his 35th professional MMA victory, Conor McGregor set the fight world a-quiver. For a fight like that Donald, I’ll fight you. Congratulations. — Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) January 20, […]

7 years ago

Mayo have defeated Down and Armagh to reach fourth round of the football qualifiers but a recent nemesis awaits. Down at the L.I.T Gaelic Grounds, on Saturday, the ladies footballers of Mayo and Galway will contest the Connacht final replay as a perfect opener for the men’s qualifiers clash. Mayo are one step away from […]

7 years ago

Throw Sean Longstaff into the mix and that would be five new arrivals at Old Trafford. We may yet be proved wrong, but it has always been our suspicion that Harry Maguire would not be joining Manchester City. As much as certain outlets reported City to be interested, the Leicester defender is not exactly a […]

7 years ago

“It was 2004 that you were absolutely off the charts.” 15 years ago, Westmeath were Leinster champions [Dublin knocked out in the quarters], Tyrone were looking to retain the Sam Maguire, Colm Cooper and Tomás O Sé were in peak form and Mayo were looking good for ending their All-Ireland drought. In the middle of […]

7 years ago

The Clara man finished with a birdie on 18 to leave the course smiling broadly. For the first three hours at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, there was not a single Irish name under par. Even Shane Lowry was struggling to get going. The likes of Wade Ormsby, Oliver Wilson and Martin Kaymer were […]

7 years ago

Shane O’Regan registered a 1-6 haul and claimed man-of-the-match but he was happy to share the limelight with his fellow forward. Back in 2017, Brian Turnbull was awarded Minor Hurler of the Year and was placed atop a watchlist in the Rebel County. Two years on and the Douglas forward is tipping along nicely. A […]

7 years ago

Leicester would potentially make a big profit and replace one quality defender and set-piece demon with another… from Derry. Brighton and Hove Albion are ripe for the picking, this summer. Shane Duffy and Lewis Dunk are the two players new boss Graham Potter cannot afford to lose. It is unfortunate, then, that Leicester City are […]

7 years ago

Four Americans make the cut and there is room for one special, French talent. We are up to our oxters in the 2019 Women’s World Cup and only three countries remain. USA reached the final by defeating England 2-1 and will face another European heavyweight, in the shape of a ruthless Netherlands, in Sunday’s showpiece. […]

7 years ago

Steph Houghton is having a fine tournament but her 2019 World Cup memories will always be tinged with regret. All tournament, Steph Houghton, Mille Bright and goalkeeper Karen Bardsley have handled what most countries have thrown at them. In the World Cup semi-finals, though, Bardsley missed out through injury, Bright was red-carded and Houghton missed […]

7 years ago

A former England star twice told beIN Sport that Alex Morgan could ‘celebrate any way she likes’ before claiming her goal celebration was “distasteful”. Megan Rapinoe and her tight hamstring were confined to the bench but USA teammate Alex Morgan was quickly found by the roving spotlight. One of the stand-out takes from the Women’s […]

7 years ago

“It’s a lunge; it’s desperate.” Alex Morgan was in the wars, before and after she evoked Boston Tea Party memories with her genteel beverage-sipping goal celebrations. Mille Bright was the one to dish out most of the punishment but Morgan took clatterings from Jill Scott, Nikita Parris and Steph Houghton too. When it was all […]

7 years ago

That’s one way to beat the world champions. The reaction from Ireland coach Dave Connell said it all. Lauren Kelly uncorked a drive from way outside the Brazilian box and that was all she wrote. Ireland kicked off their group section, in Naples, at the World University Games by beating the reigning champions Brazil 1-0. […]

7 years ago

Brian Fenton, Bernard Brogan, Damien Comer, ‘Bomber’ Liston, Conor Gormley and Lee Keegan. Just six names from a squad of 24 we compiled, last year, of county stars that had never played minor. There is a similar story in ladies football, and names that should inspire players that may have never featured in their county’s […]

7 years ago

“Let’s be honest, with 90% of managers, it is going to end wrong for you.” Kildare had the misfortune of running into a Tyrone team that may not be good enough to win the All-Ireland but are far too good to be in the qualifiers. Cian O’Neill may have emphasised the positives, on Saturday, but […]

7 years ago

“You see her kick it, and the ball is still rising and I’ve got my hands in the air and I know it’s going in.” If most other players intercepted a quickly taken goal-kick and, on instinct, lobbed the goalkeeper for a sweet goal, from 35 metres out, you might suspect it was a shot […]

7 years ago

The former Espanyol and Barcelona attacker was man of the match in the recent Under-21 European Championships final. Reports in Portugal claim Manchester United have been repelled, by Sporting Lisbon, after making an opening bid of £31 million for Bruno Fernandes. United are looking at bringing in more ‘exciting players’ before the season starts and Daniel […]

7 years ago

Shaun Murphy and Diarmuid O’Keeffe were nudged out of the Wexford dressing room by an amped-up Davy Fitzgerald. Get out then and chat to the press gang. As much as Shaun Murphy and Diarmuid O’Keeffe would have wanted to bolt the door and live in that triumphant moment all day long, they obliged and were surrounded […]

7 years ago

Fans of Cork and Laois will have to get along to Thurles on Saturday evening. The eight counties remaining in the qualifiers section of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship learned their fate on Monday morning. Cavan v Tyrone Meath v Clare Galway v Mayo Cork v Laois The county boards, GAA officials and the TV […]

7 years ago

Ireland and England will launch their kits in the coming days. World Cup jerseys are coming to town. We are still a few months out from the 2019 Rugby World Cup, in Japan, but most of the competing nations are into their pre-season campaigns. Each country is well cottoned on to the fact that they […]

7 years ago

From Ponsonby to Limerick, via Dargaville, Athy, Chicago and Dublin. Like many Kiwi kids, Joey Carbery only ever wanted to play rugby. He can’t remember when he first picked up a rugby ball – he was far too young for that – but it was rarely out of his hands thereafter. Having spent the first […]

7 years ago

The triumphant return of Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane last only five months. Martin O’Neill has ‘lost his job’ at Nottingham Forest. On a day Forest launched their new home jersey for 2019/20, some altogether bigger news has swatted it aside. But first, the jersey is a decent effort: A closer look at the 2019-20 […]

7 years ago

James Horan has been forced into a couple of these changes. Mayo take on Armagh in Castlebar on Saturday [7pm throw-in, live on Sky Sports] and Horan has made four changes to his team that defeated Down in round two of the Qualifiers. One of the changes is enforced by the wrist injury to team […]

7 years ago

If Arsenal fans are looking for a silver lining, any such move would give them a bit more cash to get Kieran Tierney from Celtic… Just under a fortnight ago, Manchester United were linked with what would be a surprise move for Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The story first came out on the UK airwaves […]

7 years ago

Good God Almighty. Joe Westerman is from another, altogether crazier, planet. “Oh… no. No, no, no, no, no, no, no!” That was the commentator’s reaction, over on Sky Sports, as Hull FC took on Hull KR in a full-blooded rugby league derby match. Late in the game, Joe Westerman took the ball into contact against […]

7 years ago

Take your ticket and join the queue of other people agreeing with Phil Neville. Most pundits and fans felt Norway would put it up to England in their World Cup quarter final, even without the self-exiled Ada Hegerberg. Lucy Bronze and her teammates had other ideas. Phil Neville’s England side had won all three of […]

7 years ago

No return to Ulster just yet. Many Ulster supporters were excited, back in May, when it was confirmed that Ruan Pienaar was leaving Montpellier after two seasons in France. Pienaar spent seven seasons with Ulster – making his debut in October 2010 – and was much loved at Ravenhill. There was consternation in the Ulster […]

7 years ago

Whatever Cristiano Ronaldo said to him after the Nations League final has worked a treat. Matthijs De Ligt has agreed personal terms with Juventus and a summer move now rests on the Bianconeri sorting a transfer fee with Ajax. Earlier this month, Ronaldo approached the defender after Portugal defeated The Netherlands in the Nations Cup […]

7 years ago

The terms of the move were agreed with club and player but a medical showed up a big problem. Celtic have to rejig their summer transfer plans after their move for Motherwell and Scotland U21 midfielder David Turnbull fell through. The Scottish champions had agreed to pay Motherwell £3.5 million [just under €4m] with an […]

7 years ago

20 points registered in a ridiculously good scoring return and yet John Murphy was the one that they rushed to after his extra time winner. Offaly’s senior hurling set-up is in a grim place right now. Without an All-Ireland in 21 years, a Leinster title in 24 years and now relegated to the third tier […]

7 years ago

“Imagine the two of them running in from the 45s for the throw-in!” Mayo take on Armagh in a do-or-die All-Ireland Qualifiers clash in Castlebar, on Saturday, and the fixture throws up one of the most anticipated midfield clashes of the season – Aidan O’Shea versus Jarlath Og Burns. James Horan has Seamus O’Shea and […]

7 years ago

Aaron Wan-Bissaka was at The Lowry hotel in Manchester on Wednesday night, and is expected at the Aon Complex for his medical, and to discuss personal terms. Manchester United are set to up their summer spending to £60m and add Wan-Bissaka to their squad for next season. The England U21 full back is set to […]

7 years ago

The higher you climb, the more people you need to give a cut of the cheque to. Michael ‘Gomez’ Armstrong once showed up back at his local pub, in Moston, Manchester, and put his fight cheque behind the bar to cover the tab for all those inside. The last bodies peeled out in the early […]

7 years ago

“I honestly believe that, in that region, they like Conor McGregor too.” Just as it looks like life in the UFC is moving on, we could return to the dark days of 2018 [April to October]. Dana White is all about hyping fights but it would be advisable to ask Conor McGregor to make alternative […]

7 years ago

There is a documentary coming out about that August 2017 fight between Mayweather and McGregor so we’ll see the full Malignaggi sparring footage. Two years ago, as Conor McGregor told the world he would bounce Floyd Mayweather’s head like a basketball, Paulie Malignaggi insisted he was next in line. The former welterweight world champion had […]

7 years ago

Ed Woodward would have had to line up seven new tyre sponsors, a salad sponsor and start pre-season tours in February to make this work. There are only three European clubs that could possibly hope to foot the bill for Neymar’s wages. He left one of them to join the other, and the third of […]

7 years ago

Kerry desperately in need of centre back to take control of defence. The Kingdom reached the Super 8s for the second year on the spin, after winning the Munster final, but every county they face will be looking closely at how Cork shredded their defence. Tomás Ó Sé claimed Kerry have now been “rattled” by […]

7 years ago

UFC 244 is already shaping up to be the biggest Mixed Martial Arts event of 2019. Colby Covington will have to get through one of the toughest fighters in the business to earn an invite to the year’s biggest pay-per-view showpiece. We already have the prospect of Conor McGregor returning to action, at Madison Square […]

7 years ago

Dublin may be going without a couple of attacking talents, but they still have a wealth of options and their defence is looking solid. There looks to be no return for Diarmuid Connolly, Colm Basquel is also set to head to the USA while Paul Flynn has retired. Still, Jim Gavin was able to go […]

7 years ago

“Big fights are going to happen, but there is so much bullshit that they are going to have to navigate.” Lou DiBella has been in the fight game for the past three decades and has, over the years, worked with big names such as Bernard Hopkins, Paulie Malignaggi and Andre Berto. If there a big fight […]

7 years ago

Katie Taylor is the biggest name in women’s boxing, but she could do with a big rivalry for her career to really take off. Right now, the likely candidates are Amanda Serrano, Mikaela Mayer and Jessica McCaskill, whom Katie Taylor has already beaten on her steady rise in the professional game. Promoter Lou DiBella is […]

7 years ago

Fans from four counties can start making plans around that weekend now. There are still 12 counties vying for the final four places in the 2019 All-Ireland quarter finals, or Super 8s. As provincial title winners, Donegal, Kerry, Dublin and Roscommon are already qualified and lying in wait. The draw for Round 3 of the […]

7 years ago