Very poor form. When Stephen Kenny left his role as Ireland boss in 2023, Stephen Bradley was an obvious candidate to replace him, given his success with Shamrock Rovers. Speaking with Off the Ball, Bradley revealed that he was initially ‘approached through back channels’, before a meeting with then FAI CEO Johnathan Hill, and then […]

1 year ago

He didn’t hold back. Thomas Tuchel and England were brought swiftly back down to earth after suffering a 3-1 loss to Senegal, and days after a dodgy 1-0 win away to Andorra. On punditry duty was Roy Keane, and he didn’t hold back in his assessment of veteran fullback Kyle Walker, currently on loan at […]

1 year ago

Poor judgement. When Luxembourg rocked up to the Aviva Stadium in March of 2021 to face Stephen Kenny’s Ireland side in a World Cup qualifier, few gave the minnows a chance. But they came away with a shock 1-0 win, in what was probably the low point of Kenny’s reign. The man who got the […]

1 year ago

Well that’s that then. GAA president Jarlath Burns has reiterated his stance on whether he will run for Áras an Uachtaráin. With the reign of Michael D. Higgins coming to an end, Burns has been mentioned as a possible successor, given his success in his current role, and was even 33/1 at the bookies to […]

1 year ago

Not where they want to be. On paper, a relatively easy, 37-19, win for Leinster against Glasgow this afternoon, but the home side earned it with a dogged showing from minute one until minute 80. Player of the Match Ryan Baird typified the Leinster performance, as well the likes of Tommy O’Brien, Jamie Osborne, and […]

1 year ago

It doesn’t make much sense. Paul O’Connell has named his Ireland rugby squad for the upcoming summer tour of Georgia and Portugal. It is officially a 32-man squad, but is really 35, as once again Ireland have named a number of training panellists. The addition of training panellists has, rightfully, been questioned in the past […]

1 year ago

He came out strong…. South Africa captain Siya Kolisi has come out in support of Sharks teammate Jordan Hendrikse after the URC shoot-out incident during their quarter-final against Munster on Saturday. With the sides level after 80 minutes, the game went to extra-time, and after a charged-down drop-goal attempt from Jordan Hendrikse just before the […]

1 year ago

They didn’t go down easy. Munster were knocked out of the URC play-offs in epic fashion yesterday in Durban. They went out on their shields, as they always seem to do in the biggest of games, against the Sharks, in a game that literally went right to the wire. With the sides level after 80 […]

1 year ago

Hurling folk are not happy. New York have won their very first Lory Meagher title, defeating Cavan this evening by 4-17 to 2-17 at Croke Park. Last weekend’s semi-final in the fifth-tier of the All-Ireland was the first time New York had played championship hurling since 2006. Nicely for them, they were propelled straight into […]

1 year ago

He’s not a happy camper. Once again, Waterford’s championship is over before the All-Ireland series has begun, having finished last in the Munster SHC. Unfortunately for the Déise and Clare, and the likes of Wexford in Leinster, there is no back door into the All-Ireland. Waterford legend John Mullane has slammed this change in the […]

1 year ago

A sad week for the club. Sheelagh Foley, the mother of late Munster and Ireland icon, Anthony Foley, passed away last Wednesday, as did Michelle Payne, the wife of former player and team manager, Shaun Payne. Former No 8, Foley, is one of the most iconic players in the province’s history, and died while he […]

1 year ago

RIP. Former Clare underage star, Éanna Rouine, tragically passed away on Tuesday morning. The youngster played football for his county at minor level in 2021 and was a member of the Under-20s panel from 2022 to 2024. He represented his school, Ennistymon CBS, helping them to a provincial double in 2023, and his club Ennistymon […]

1 year ago

RIP. Denis Kealy, 43, died from injuries suffered in a single-vehicle collision with a tree on June 24, 2023. He was married to Charlene Kealy, was a father to three children, and played football for Meath and his club Dunshaughlin. He played a significant role in his club’s ‘Golden era’, during which they won an […]

1 year ago

This would be a huge loss. While most of the attention was on the seniors defeating Donegal on Saturday, Tyrone may have unearthed a gem in Joel Kerr. The youngster won man of the match in the Ulster Minor Football Championship final, as the Red Hands achieved a 2-11 to 1-8 win over Cavan, with […]

1 year ago

Fortunate…. Cork host Waterford this afternoon at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in the Munster SHC. It’s a winner-takes-all clash with the victor advancing to the All-Ireland quarter-finals, while the Rebels have a chance to make the provincial final. At the time of writing, it is nip and tuck between the sides, and the Déise are lucky […]

1 year ago

They are not too pleased. There were multiple, tantalising All-Ireland SFC clashes this afternoon and evening, yet none were shown or are being shown on terrestrial television in Ireland. And just two are streaming on the official streaming service, GAA+; Louth vs Monaghan and Donegal vs Tyrone. A further kick in the teeth is that […]

1 year ago

The Limerick hurling star was in court. Limerick hurler Kyle Hayes appeared in Limerick Circuit Criminal Court yesterday, where a judge confirmed his community service instead of the three-month jail sentence. The All-Star was given an 18-month suspended jail term for a violent disorder conviction following an incident outside Icon nightclub in Limerick in 2019. […]

1 year ago

An outstanding performance. Limerick dished out a serious hammering to Cork this afternoon, which went some way to easing the pain of their loss to the Rebels in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final. There were a number of classy performances for the the Treaty in their 3-26 to 1-16 win at the Gaelic Grounds, with Adam […]

1 year ago

A tough one for Mayo. Cavan defeated Mayo at MacHale Park this afternoon, 1-17 to 1-14, in their opening game of the All-Ireland round robin stage. It puts Mayo in a perilous position already, as Cavan would have been considered the weakest team in a group that also includes Tyrone and Ulster champions Donegal. Thankfully […]

1 year ago

Stephen Bradley was rightly incensed. Shamrock Rovers were victorious in their away trip to Waterford on Friday, winning 3-1 in their League of Ireland clash. Ahead of tomorrow’s LOI game against St Pat’s, Hoops boss Stephen Bradley slammed the racist abuse aimed at his 16-year-old star, Victor Ozhianvuna. The youngster has represented Ireland at Under-15s […]

1 year ago

It’s an incredible film. The Iron Claw tells the story of the famed Von Erich wrestling family through the eyes of the second-oldest son, Kevin, as he navigates a career in the sport, a cruel and overbearing father, and multiple tragedies along the way. The film was released to critical acclaim in Ireland in 2024, […]

1 year ago

He has laid into the IRFU. Former Ireland sevens star, Terry Kennedy, has blasted the IRFU over their axing of the men’s sevens program. Kennedy is considered Ireland’s best ever player in the short-format version of rugby, and won the World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Year award in 2022, before taking time off […]

1 year ago

Did they go over the top? Despite losing out to Louth in the final of the Leinster SFC, Meath arguably had the biggest achievement of the competition with their semi-final win over Dublin; the first time the Sky Blues had been beaten in Leinster since 2010. But the win in Portlaoise mattered not two weeks […]

1 year ago

RIP. Garda Kevin Flatley sadly died due to injuries suffered after he was knocked down by a motorcycle while operating a speed checkpoint in Dublin yesterday. A service will be held at Dublin Castle this evening for the father-of-two, which will be attended by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. He has been described by colleagues as […]

1 year ago

A difficult decision. Brian O’Driscoll is arguably Ireland’s greatest ever Lion, playing in four tours from 2001 to 2013, and eight tests in total. As such, he is in a good position to make a few Lions selection calls. Following the announcement of the 38-man squad, BOD has gone and picked his preferred first-choice XV […]

1 year ago

Fierce rivals. Donegal were once again the victors in the Ulster SFC final, beating Armagh by 2-23 to 0-28 after extra time in Clones. However, their back-to-back title win was slightly tainted by a brawl between players at full time, which kicked off after a player from the Armagh bench punched a Donegal player who […]

1 year ago

A huge melee in Clones Donegal retained their Ulster SFC crown yesterday with a 2-23 to 0-28 win over Armagh, in another classic in Clones. Like last year, the game went to extra time, but was not won on penalties. At full time, a brawl between the two sides and their benches ensued, ignited when […]

1 year ago

15 is the score to beat, and a €100 Amazon Gift Card is up for grabs this week. Welcome to week 115 of the SportsJOE Friday Pub Quiz. There are 20 questions and four different categories. This week, there is a round looking back on the past week in sports, a general knowledge round, a round on Premier League […]

1 year ago

A Lions legend, lending a hand. When Johnny Sexton was added as a coach to Andy Farrell’s Lions backroom team, there were eyebrows raised by some over the influence he might have over players. The Ireland icon has only been coaching since helping out with the Irish team during November, and he has also had […]

1 year ago

Shocking news Fiji rugby player, Josaia Raisuqe, has while on the way to training after being hit by a train, according to reports from France. The Castres winger represented Fiji 7s in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Top 14 side, Toulouse, paid tribute to him on X: “Toulouse were shocked to learn of the death […]

1 year ago

Pretty harsh. Safe to say that Sam Prendergast’s reputation and Lions hopes took a serious dent after Leinster’s Champions Cup loss to Northampton on Saturday. The Leinster out-half was comfortably outplayed by his opposite number, Fin Smith, with his poor tackling starkly visible in the lead up to three of Northampton’s tries. However, in his […]

1 year ago

He is a former captain. Aidan Nugent, a member of Armagh’s All-Ireland winning squad from last year and a former captain of the side, appeared in Armagh Magistrates’ Court today, facing four counts of sexual offences. The offences are alleged to have occurred on an end of season trip to Miami on November 17, 2024, […]

1 year ago

The rule has been described as ‘archaic’ The Chair of the Oireachtas Sports Committee, Labour TD Alan Kelly, has raised the issue of mandatory skorts in camogie. The Camogie Association is under intense scrutiny following a protest at the Leinster semi-final, where Dublin and Kilkenny players arrived wearing shorts instead of the mandatory skorts last […]

1 year ago

So unlucky. Galway won a fourth Connacht SFC title in a row this evening, beating Mayo by 1-17 to 1-15 in a classic in Castlebar. The Tribesmen were up by as much as eight points in the first half, playing with a strong win at their backs, but Mayo pulled it back level at 1-13 […]

1 year ago

Same old story for Leinster. Another year, another massive underachievement for Leinster in the Champions Cup. Starting in 2021, Leinster have lost out in either the semis or finals in the last five editions of the Champions Cup. For three years in a row it was La Rochelle, last year it was Toulouse, and this […]

1 year ago

15 is the score to beat, and a €100 Amazon Gift Card is up for grabs this week. Welcome to week 114 of the SportsJOE Friday Pub Quiz. There are 20 questions and four different categories. This week, there is a round looking back on the past week in sports, a general knowledge round, a round on Premier League […]

1 year ago

What a group of players!! With the 2025 Munster SHC in full swing, we have had a go at picking the best 15 since 2000. It is an absolutely cracking side, with many unlucky to miss out. The county breakdown is as follows: 6 Limerick, 3 Waterford, 3 Tipperary, 2 Cork, 1 Clare. SportsJOE’s Munster […]

1 year ago

Disgraceful behaviour if true. Naomh Pádraig Celtic supporters club have hit out at far-right protestors for an alleged attack on them at the weekend. The group were celebrating Celtic’s Scottish Premiership title win in a pub on Eden Quay, when, reportedly, a group who been at a large anti-immigration demonstration, entered the establishment. According the […]

1 year ago

The Armagh boss wasn’t too pleased. While the new rule changes to Gaelic football have been an overwhelming success, mid-season tweaks caught some by surprise, according to GAA president Jarlath Burns. After week five of the National Football League, the new rules were looked at and assessed, and changes made where necessary. One of the […]

1 year ago

He has earned the right to talk himself up. The most talked about player in rugby over the last couple of months has been England and Northampton openside, Henry Pollock. He is an athletic freak for a 20-year-old, with pace, power, and abrasiveness that is up there with the best backrows in the world. Highlights […]

1 year ago

It’s set up for an amazing summer of Gaelic football! The draw has been made for this year’s All-Ireland SFC round-robin phase, with 16 teams still left to battle it out for the Sam Maguire. It is a fairly open tournament this year, even more so after Dublin’s defeat to Meath in the Leinster SFC […]

1 year ago

Willie Mullins and Galopin Des Champs have competition. The Punchestown Gold Cup takes place later today, with Willie Mullins’ two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Galopin Des Champs, the heavy favourite at evens. Next up is Spillanes Tower at 3/1, trained by Cork’s James Joseph Mangan and ridden by Mark Walsh. However, legendary Irish jockey, Ruby […]

1 year ago

Not ideal… Ireland’s Six Nations interim head coach, Simon Easterby, has been handed a significant driving ban and fine. The Welsh-born, former Ireland player, was driving over the 70mph speed limit on a dual carriageway in Cornwall, England. According to the BBC, Easterby, who lives in Wales, appeared before Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on Monday. It […]

1 year ago

A cheeky dig from the Dublin legend. The GAA story of the weekend was Meath’s Leinster SFC win over Dublin in Portlaoise, with the Royals becoming the first side the defeat the Sky Blues in the competition since they did so themselves back in 2010. As it was in 2010, Meath will once again face […]

1 year ago

He couldn’t resist… Both Pat Spillane and Joe Brolly were very positive on the current state of Gaelic football, following the first few rounds of the provincial championships. The fellow Irish Independent writers, and All-Ireland winners, both penned columns which were full of praise for the fresh excitement in the sport which has been initiated […]

1 year ago

Aluko spoke in an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour. Earlier this week, former England striker Eni Aluko said that Ian Wright and other male broadcasters risk blocking female pundits of opportunities. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, Aluko says Wright must be aware of how much he is working in the women’s […]

1 year ago

He’s received a huge fine. Chris Eubank Jr has missed the weight ahead of his grudge match against Conor Benn tomorrow night. The 35-year-old weighed in 0.2lb over the 11st6lb limit on his first attempt at weighing in before failing again the second time. The weigh-in took place at a London hotel this afternoon. Eubank […]

1 year ago

How to watch Eubank Jr vs Benn This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission on any sales generated from it. Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn will finally face off in the ring at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Saturday and fans in Ireland can watch the fight for a discounted […]

1 year ago

15 is the score to beat, and a €100 Amazon Gift Card is up for grabs this week. Welcome to week 113 of the SportsJOE Friday Pub Quiz. There are 20 questions and four different categories. This week, there is a round looking back on the past week in sports, a general knowledge round, a round on title-winning Liverpool […]

1 year ago

Leinster’s head coach sticks up for his new signing. Naturally, when it was announced that Rieko Ioane would be joining Leinster next season, fans could not wait to bring up his previous spat with club-legend Johnny Sexton. In his autobiography, Sexton wrote that Ioane had said “Don’t miss your flight tomorrow. Enjoy your retirement, you […]

1 year ago