Colman Stanley

Author description

Colmán is the lead writer with SportsJOE, covering the GAA, football and golf, with a special interest in rugby. Whether it is an in-depth analysis of the best young Irish rugby talents, or a live blog covering all the big moments from some of sport's most iconic events, he has got you covered. Past experience includes working at the Irish Sun, Balls.ie and Extratime.ie. When he's not writing, you can find him watching the latest HBO mini-series, whipping up a spaghetti aglio e olio, or togging out for his beloved Stillorgan-Rathfarnham RFC.

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  • The SportsJOE Friday Pub Quiz: Week 122

    The SportsJOE Friday Pub Quiz: Week 122

    Another week, another quiz! We are back with our weekly sports quiz, the first of 2026. 2026 has not disappointed so far, with mad happenings in the Premier League, another bumper World Darts Championship, and some cracking club GAA. Have a go and see how well you have been paying attention to the latest sports […]

    3 months ago

  • Five provincial transfers that Irish rugby needs to make happen

    Five provincial transfers that Irish rugby needs to make happen

    Let’s make these happen! In light of the news that Ciarán Frawley is on his way to Connacht, here are five more interprovincial transfers we would like the IRFU and provinces to push through. Jack Boyle – Leinster to Ulster While Leo Cullen and Leinster would not be on board with this transfer, it would […]

    3 months ago

  • Our Under-25 Ireland rugby XV highlights the amount of talent in the country

    Our Under-25 Ireland rugby XV highlights the amount of talent in the country

    Some future stars in here! Ireland are at a crossroads in terms of selection for the Six Nations; they need success in the tournament for cash reasons and momentum, but they also must continue to blood the next generation of players with an eye on the 2027 World Cup. Should head coach Andy Farrell choose […]

    3 months ago

  • We selected our 36-man Ireland squad for the Six Nations

    We selected our 36-man Ireland squad for the Six Nations

    LETS GO! With Ireland kicking off their 2026 Six Nations campaign against France on February 5, and head coach Andy Farrell naming his squad next week, SportsJOE have picked the men we would entrust with the mission of regaining Ireland’s crown. Front row Ireland’s loosehead options have been decimated, with Andrew Porter and Paddy McCarthy […]

    3 months ago

  • Pep Guardiola reveals the aspect of GAA he admires most to Galway boss

    Pep Guardiola reveals the aspect of GAA he admires most to Galway boss

    A great insight. Pep Guardiola and Pádraic Joyce is the meeting we didn’t know we needed until now. The Galway boss revealed that he met the Manchester City manager recently and was lucky enough to have a candid chat with the tactical maestro. He explained: “No, look, it’s just one of those things. “I was […]

    3 months ago

  • Quiz: How well do you remember Ruben Amorim’s Man United tenure?

    Quiz: How well do you remember Ruben Amorim’s Man United tenure?

    Some toughies in here. So with Ruben Amorim sacked as manager of Man United, we thought it fitting to make a quiz dedicated to his tenure. Some of the questions are on the easier side – to give you lads and lassies a bit of confidence – but there are a handful of tricky ones […]

    3 months ago

  • Big names in line to take over at Celtic after Nancy sacking

    Big names in line to take over at Celtic after Nancy sacking

    They need help badly. Celtic have sacked manager Wilfred Nancy after a disastrous a 33-day reign which saw him lose six out of eight games, with the last straw coming in their 3-1 loss to Rangers on Saturday. Martin O’Neill’s successful interim job, which preceded Nancy, now looks even more impressive. Thankfully for Celtic fans, […]

    3 months ago

  • Westmeath hit back at Kilkenny after Walsh Cup fixture farce

    Westmeath hit back at Kilkenny after Walsh Cup fixture farce

    The blame game has started. The Walsh Cup quarter-final between Westmeath and Kilkenny descended into chaos on Sunday as Kilkenny refused to play. The game, which was originally scheduled to be played at The Downs GAA grounds, was switched at 11.30am due to pitch concerns because of poor weather. This meant players were redirected to […]

    3 months ago

  • Quiz: Name every player to get a hat-trick for Ireland

    Quiz: Name every player to get a hat-trick for Ireland

    100% is nearly impossible! In honour of Troy Parrott’s iconic hat-trick against Hungary in November, we have made a quiz dedicated to the men who have scored hat-tricks for Ireland. From way back in the ’20s all the way up to last year, men have been bagging three goals in a game for the Boys […]

    3 months ago

  • SportsJOE’s Ultimate Pub Quiz of 2025

    SportsJOE’s Ultimate Pub Quiz of 2025

    It’s finally here! This is the one you have all been waiting for, it’s our bumper Pub Quiz of 2025. If you think you know your Irish sport well think again. You’ll have to be an expert in GAA, rugby, football – women’s and men’s – and everything in between. From McIlroy’s heroics at Augusta […]

    4 months ago

  • Quiz: Premier League team nicknames for 2025-26

    Quiz: Premier League team nicknames for 2025-26

    This is a testy one! Ok, so most of you know the obvious nicknames of the big teams, but how well do you know smaller sides? Give our latest Premier League nickname quiz a crack and let us know on social media how you get on. Good luck! Best Irish betting offers right now – […]

    4 months ago

  • Quiz: Can you name the 20 Irishmen with the most Premier League goals

    Quiz: Can you name the 20 Irishmen with the most Premier League goals

    This is brutally tough! It is fair to say that Ireland have produced a lot more great defenders in the Premier League era than strikers. This is what makes our latest quiz so hard, with some surprising names popping up! So see if you can delve deep into your Premier League knowledge and name as […]

    4 months ago

  • Leo Cullen humbles Simon Zebo with stinging quip on Munster’s players

    Leo Cullen humbles Simon Zebo with stinging quip on Munster’s players

    Brutal from the Leinster boss. Leinster took revenge on Munster last night for their heavy loss earlier in the season, with a scrappy 13-8 win at Thomond Park. Defences reigned supreme in Limerick with both sides scoring just one try; Josh van der Flier for Leinster, and Dan Kelly for the home team. The result […]

    4 months ago

  • Quiz: Name the Premier League’s top 20 goal scorers of all-time

    Quiz: Name the Premier League’s top 20 goal scorers of all-time

    A biggie! We have yet another quiz for you, and this time it is a big one. The 20 players who have scored the most Premier League goals ever. Only legends make the cut, but how many can you name? Good luck! Best Irish betting offers right now – 18+, BeGambleAware

    4 months ago

  • Surprise Evan Ferguson swap deal to iconic Italian side ‘on the cards’

    Surprise Evan Ferguson swap deal to iconic Italian side ‘on the cards’

    Another twist in the Evan Ferguson tale. Evan Ferguson has enjoyed a mini resurgence in his Roma career, with a Europa League brace against Celtic and an improved performance against Como. However, he failed to start against Juventus, and was questioned once again by manager Gian Piero Gasperini. The boss said: “If I have to […]

    4 months ago

  • Irish fans overjoyed as Ciarán Frawley move out of Leinster confirmed

    Irish fans overjoyed as Ciarán Frawley move out of Leinster confirmed

    This is a good move for both parties. It has been reported that Leinster and Ireland star Ciarán Frawley will be moving to Connacht next season. Bernard Jackman revealed the news on the42’s Rugby Weekly Extra podcast, and it is understood that Frawley will be looked at mainly as an out-half with his new side. […]

    4 months ago

  • Legendary Italian manager sticks up for Ferguson after criticism from Roma boss

    Legendary Italian manager sticks up for Ferguson after criticism from Roma boss

    He has his back. Roma boss Gian Piero Gasperini was not particularly kind to Evan Ferguson in his post-match comments, following his side’s 2-1 loss to Juventus. Ferguson had to settle for a substitute appearance despite starting in the win over Como and scoring two goals in Roma’s 3-0 Europa League victory over Celtic. After […]

    4 months ago

  • Irish rugby’s highest ceiling XV

    Irish rugby’s highest ceiling XV

    We have some talent! With all the talent coming through in Irish rugby at the minute, we thought we’d celebrate it by putting together a XV of the players with the most potential. Loosehead prop – Paddy McCarthy From being one of the few unused players on this year’s summer tour to starring in the […]

    4 months ago

  • Quiz: Can you name the Spanish sides these Irish players played for?

    Quiz: Can you name the Spanish sides these Irish players played for?

    Another Irish-focused quiz. Over the years, not many Irishmen have taken the leap and gone to Spain to ply their trade. Of the ones that did, some had significant success, while others had more forgetful stints. A handful are iconic figures in Irish football, and the rest are more obscure names. Can you name the […]

    4 months ago

  • FIFA’s ‘cheap’ World Cup ticket announcement has not gone down well

    FIFA’s ‘cheap’ World Cup ticket announcement has not gone down well

    This has not gone down well. Following severe backlash, FIFA have announced new ‘Supporter Entry Tier’ World Cup tickets for qualified teams. These tickets will cost £45 ($60) and will be available for each of the 104 games at next summer’s tournament, including the final. They will be distributed to the football organisations for each […]

    4 months ago

  • Quiz: Top 20 Premier League players by all-time appearances

    Quiz: Top 20 Premier League players by all-time appearances

    A whopper teaser! This is a big one. The top 20 Premier League all-time appearances! So many legends, but not a huge amount of time, so you will have to be at your best for this one. You can also try our top 20 Irish Premier League players appearances quiz here. Good luck. Best Irish […]

    4 months ago

  • Quiz: Name the top 20 Irish Premier League players by appearances

    Quiz: Name the top 20 Irish Premier League players by appearances

    Get the thinking caps on! Over the years, there has been boat loads of great Irish players to grace the Premier League. But which ones make the top 20 by appearances? It’s a mix of legends and lesser known names, so you will have to be on top form to get over 15. Good luck! […]

    4 months ago

  • The SportsJOE Friday Pub Quiz: Week 121

    The SportsJOE Friday Pub Quiz: Week 121

    Another week, another bumper quiz! Welcome to another week of the SportsJOE Pub Quiz. If you missed last week’s or you want to try any other teasers from us just click here. This week is an action packed one, with rugby, football, GAA, and a bit of swimming covered as well after the Irish heroics […]

    4 months ago

  • David Clifford turns manager and guides team to Munster glory

    David Clifford turns manager and guides team to Munster glory

    He can do it all. St Brendan’s College, Killarney have won the Munster Post Primary Schools U17 ‘A’ Championship (the Frewen Cup) for the second year in a row. They beat out Clonakilty Community College by 3-7 to 0-15 in Banteer, with David Clifford as manager. The Kerry inter-county star is a PE teacher at […]

    4 months ago

  • The ultimate Champions Cup all-time XV

    The ultimate Champions Cup all-time XV

    An unreal team! With the 2025/2026 Champions Cup in full swing, we bring you the ultimate all-time XV for the competition once known as the Heineken Cup. Loosehead prop – Cian Healy (Leinster) Many of his performances from 2009 – 2013 were utterly devastating as he helped usher in a new age of lean and […]

    4 months ago

  • Eben Etzebeth reveals he was not gouged before red card against Wales

    Eben Etzebeth reveals he was not gouged before red card against Wales

    That clears things up. Eben Etzebeth has taken to social media to explain the incident at the end of South Africa’s 73-0 win over Wales which saw him red carded for an eye gouge on Alex Mann and subsequently banned for 12 weeks. There was speculation that the Springbok lock’s actions were a retaliation for […]

    4 months ago

  • 2026 World Darts Championship live hub: Follow all the action

    2026 World Darts Championship live hub: Follow all the action

    This is going to be epic! The 2026 World Darts Championship begins on December 11. Follow all the big stories right, for one of the year’s best and most entertaining sporting events. Best Irish betting offers – 18+, BeGambleAware

    4 months ago

  • Name these Premier League stars who played in the League of Ireland

    Name these Premier League stars who played in the League of Ireland

    A great one for Irish footy fans. For the fans of the Premier League and League of Ireland, this is the perfect quiz for you, and there’s also a few players from the old English First Division. Over the years many players have started their careers in the LOI, while others have gone to England […]

    4 months ago

  • Watch: Ireland hopeful Zac Ward rips up Racing 92 in Europe

    Watch: Ireland hopeful Zac Ward rips up Racing 92 in Europe

    What a performance! Ulster put Racing 92 to the sword on Friday with a 61-7 win in their Challenge Cup clash at Ravenhill. Starring once again was Zac Ward. He scored two tries, the second of which was a ridiculously good solo score, and we have put together a supercut of some of the winger’s […]

    4 months ago

  • Dingle win Munster SFC with last kick after hugely controversial call

    Dingle win Munster SFC with last kick after hugely controversial call

    Fans were not pleased. Dingle are the Munster SFC Club champions, after defeating St Finbarrs by 1-18 to 0-20 at Semple Stadium this afternoon, and will go on to face Ballyboden in the All-Ireland semi-finals. However, the game finished in controversial circumstances after a two-point free from Conor Geaney won the match with virtually the […]

    4 months ago

  • Big hooter change confirmed for 2026 Gaelic football season

    Big hooter change confirmed for 2026 Gaelic football season

    More rule amendments. Another big rule change is coming in for the 2026 GAA Gaelic football season. The Central Competitions Control Committee has approved the recommendation from the Football Review Committee to end Gaelic football games at the hooter. This had previously been the rule last season prior to the All-Ireland series, before the law […]

    5 months ago

  • Ronan O’Gara defends red-carded star after he himself was sent off

    Ronan O’Gara defends red-carded star after he himself was sent off

    An unusual situation. La Rochelle head coach Ronan O’Gara could be facing another suspension, after he was sent to the stands by referee Jeremy Rozier during La Rochelle’s 53-33 Top 14 loss to Pau yesterday. It was a crazy game from the get go, with Antoine Hastoy sent off after just 34 seconds when his […]

    5 months ago

  • James Ryan reveals reason he didn’t apologies to Marx for shocking clearout

    James Ryan reveals reason he didn’t apologies to Marx for shocking clearout

    Interesting. The transcripts from James Ryan’s disciplinary hearing have revealed some interesting details around the incident which saw him sent off in Ireland’s loss to South Africa two weeks ago. The Leinster lock was given his marching orders after dangerous clearout which saw him fly into a ruck with a tucked arm and make contact […]

    5 months ago

  • Alkmaar manager has stern response to Parrott after embarrassing paneka miss

    Alkmaar manager has stern response to Parrott after embarrassing paneka miss

    A tough outing. Troy Parrott was brought back down to earth on the weekend, after he missed a last-play penalty in AZ Alkmaar’s 1-0 loss to FC Twente. After a month where he wrote himself into Irish sport folklore with his five-goal heroics against Portugal and Hungary, it was a sobering moment for him, as […]

    5 months ago

  • The SportsJOE Friday Pub Quiz: Week 119

    The SportsJOE Friday Pub Quiz: Week 119

    Another week, another pub quiz! A very big welcome to another SportsJOE Friday Pub Quiz, with 15 questions on Irish and general sport from the past week and beyond. The Ireland rugby team’s loss to South Africa is a big topic, while the Premier League was back in action, with bad weeks for both Ruben […]

    5 months ago

  • Patrick Horgan debunks All-Ireland bust up myth with hilarious dig at teammate

    Patrick Horgan debunks All-Ireland bust up myth with hilarious dig at teammate

    Hoggy was in great form. As if giving up a six-point lead at the break to lose the All-Ireland final to Tipperary wasn’t enough, the Cork hurlers had to deal with sensational WhatsApp rumours of a half-time changing room fight. At the centre of the rumours was talisman and the now-retired Patrick Horgan, who was […]

    5 months ago

  • Can you name these obscure Ireland players from World Cup & Euros finals?

    Can you name these obscure Ireland players from World Cup & Euros finals?

    This is incredibly tough! In honour of Ireland qualifying for the play-offs for the 2026 World Cup, we have put together a seriously difficult quiz. This teaser takes lesser-known players from the squads who made the Euros in 1988, 2012, and 2016, and the World Cup in 1990, 1994, and 2002. Only true Ireland fans […]

    5 months ago

  • Just one Ireland player makes Opta’s team of the November Series

    Just one Ireland player makes Opta’s team of the November Series

    Well deserved. The well-renowned sports stats platform, Opta, have released their team of the Autumn Nations Series, based off of their Opta Index, which uses a number of key factors to objectively score a players’ performances in each game. The breakdown of the team is as follows: 4 England, 3 South Africa, 2 New Zealand, […]

    5 months ago

  • Ireland star get sent off for hugely dangerous neck throw in Cup win

    Ireland star get sent off for hugely dangerous neck throw in Cup win

    A clear red card. Crystal Palace’s Ruesha Littlejohn was sent off last night for a dangerous neck throw on an opponent during a 3-0 League Cup win over Leicester. The Ireland stalwart was involved in a scuffle between the sides before she suddenly grabbed hold of Hannah Cain’s neck and reefed her to the ground, […]

    5 months ago

  • Player ratings as Ireland go down fighting vs South Africa after five cards

    Player ratings as Ireland go down fighting vs South Africa after five cards

    The biggest game of the series. One of the maddest games that the Aviva will ever host, with South Africa eventually winning 24-13. Ireland fought well right to the end after getting four yellow cards and one red. Andrew Porter – 2 His scrum penalties first helped lead to a team yellow card, which sent […]

    5 months ago

  • Ireland vs South Africa: Live hub

    Ireland vs South Africa: Live hub

    This is the big one. Ireland take on South Africa this evening at the Aviva Stadium (kick-off, 5.40pm), in their fourth game of the Autumn Nations Series. After an undercooked performance in their loss to the All Blacks, Andy Farrell’s men were looked better against Japan, before putting Australia to the sword with a 46-19 […]

    5 months ago

  • Hallgrimsson calls for crucial Aviva change to give Ireland penalty advantage

    Hallgrimsson calls for crucial Aviva change to give Ireland penalty advantage

    This should have happened before. The main complaint about the Aviva Stadium over the years has always been its size, with the tiny north stand a reminder of of the 70,000-seater we could have had if planning permission had been granted. However, it does make for a cracking away stand, with the visiting supporters segregated […]

    5 months ago