By Daragh Ó Conchúir Motivation is a very personal thing. When Lisa Casserly was playing soccer for Ireland, that was all she wanted to do and though she was a club Camogie player with Ballinderreen, it was a hobby. She smiles when thinking about a former Republic of Ireland teammate, who shared the experience of […]

7 years ago

By Daragh Ó Conchuir Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Championship Final Galway v Westmeath, 2pm, Referee: Andrew Larkin (Cork) There will be a lot of maroon on view in Croke Park with Galway involved in two Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Camogie Championships Finals and Westmeath the opposition in the Intermediate match. Interestingly however, it will be […]

7 years ago

Brought to you by AIG Insurance “Hurling is what people are about in this place.” There are more than 90 GAA clubs in Dublin alone, and all of them have one thing in common: people. These are the people who get up early at the weekends to paint the sidelines and cut the grass, or […]

7 years ago

The Welshman is arguably the first name on the Real Madrid teamsheet at the moment – and his lung-busting fitness levels are partly responsible Gareth Bale credits rowing with whipping him into shape in pre-season. The Real Madrid  and Wales star has since got involved at Rowbots, a London gym that combines rowing machine intervals with […]

7 years ago

By Daragh Ó Conchúir Any week in Kerry is a football week but when the Sam Maguire Cup is up for grabs, that applies to every second. Hurling is confined to a few in the north and Camogie, to the fewer again. Laura Collins’s late blooming is reflective of that dynamic, but also to the […]

7 years ago

Klopp laughed at the time and he’s still laughing now. The ‘Mane and Salah fight’, as it has come to be known thanks to Google keyword search, revolved around Liverpool’s two most prolific goalscorers arguing over who should’ve taken the shot against Burnley. Obviously, Sadio Mane was right to feel aggrieved that Salah didn’t pass […]

7 years ago

Liverpool have come a hell of a long way. You don’t have to go back too far to think of the fixtures that could trigger any fan on Anfield Road. Palace. West Brom. Villa. Burnley. Somewhere in the last two years, Jurgen Klopp has made Champions League finals a habit for Liverpool and 97 points […]

7 years ago

Let them play every week. Bad news? The Dublin club championship is postponed. Fantastic news? Dublin v Kerry will play again and we’re all alive for it. Five in a row celebrations are on ice as Dean Rock’s equaliser rescued Brian Fenton from his first championship defeat in five seasons. In 13 days’ time, the […]

7 years ago

Brought to you by SuperValu Daniel, who’s also worked as nutritionist with the Dublin football team, was helping a young GAA player get the most out of his diet. “Life is a game of inches.” If there is a bad time to incorporate the words of Al Pacino, we’ve yet to encounter it. If there […]

7 years ago

David Gough is loved for who he is at home. That home is Slane GFC. A proud club man, Gough is steeped in the history and family of the heartland of Meath and when he takes to the middle of Croke Park on Sunday to referee the All-Ireland final, he has an entire community rooting […]

7 years ago

It’s been a long time coming, a defence of Paul Pogba. In fairness, no-one really saw it coming – or necessarily wanted to see it coming – but it’s come on The Football Spin. On Thursday, Paddy McKenna was joined by Conán Doherty and Rob O’Hanrahan in studio to dissect Mick McCarthy’s Ireland squad and […]

7 years ago

Brought to you by Londis To celebrate the 2019 Londis All-Ireland Football Sevens this weekend, we’ve got Croke Park tickets for one lucky reader Most of the attention may (understandably) be on Croke Park this weekend, but that is by no means the only All-Ireland taking place. Since it first came into fruition in 1973, the […]

7 years ago

By Daragh Small Dublin 2-11 Cork 0-11 Dublin manager Mick Bohan says his side will have a big battle on their hands if they are to hold on to their crown when they meet Galway in the TG4 All-Ireland senior final at Croke Park on September 15. His side saw off the brave challenge of a […]

7 years ago

By Daragh Small Galway 2-10 Mayo 2-9 Galway manager Tim Rabbitt said that it has taken at least three years of hard work to get them back into the TG4 All-Ireland final for the first time since 2005. Rabbitt, who took charge this season having worked with previous manager Stephen Glennon, praised his charges for […]

7 years ago

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes in the traditions of Manchester United. But Ole Gunnar Solskjaer probably needs to reinvent the traditions of Manchester United if the club is to progress this season. Solskjaer said the season would be full of ups and downs. After the opening weekend win against Chelsea, United have been experiencing the downs […]

7 years ago

Footballers love pranks. Glenn Whelan was minding his own business until Kenwyne Jones put a brick through his car window… The history of English football, writes Wayne Farry, is dotted with teams that loved to prank both each other and, well, everyone else. Wimbledon’s Crazy Gang is probably the most famous example of this, thanks to […]

7 years ago

Traditionally, Manchester United are one of the biggest clubs in world football but tradition can only get you so far. The club have struggled in the post-Alex Ferguson years and have recently ditched their approach of trying to attract stars to the club, instead going after young, developing players like Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and […]

7 years ago

The final GAA Hour Hurling Show of the year. For the rest of it, hurling snobs will have to sit through football chatter for half an hour before the small ball breaks out. Or they can just skip through it. Each to their own. The lads left with a bang though. JJ stands up for […]

7 years ago

Training, balancing GAA and a personal life and tax breaks for the inter-county players. Chris Barrett is a man to listen to. On the latest GAA Hour football show, the Mayo defender joined Colm Parkinson in studio for an in-depth conversation about life as an elite Gaelic footballer. Barrett talked about the online meetings that […]

7 years ago

By Declan Rooney A hamstring injury is threatening her participation against Mayo in next Sunday’s TG4 All-Ireland SFC semi-final at Croke Park, but 14 years on from her last time supporting Galway at the venue, Fabienne Cooney is desperate to play her part. Cooney (28) sustained the injury at training in the week leading up […]

7 years ago

By Daragh Ó Conchúir Anne Dalton is relishing her new attacking role within the Kilkenny team but insists that she will gladly return to game-keeping once more if that is what manager Ann Downey requires of her in the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship Final against Galway on September 8th. Dalton holds the distinction […]

7 years ago

Five in a row for the first time ever. Or will they be stopped by their greatest rivals? The only other team to get this close. Kerry and Dublin is the fitting All-Ireland final and The GAA Hour has prepared a monster live show to prepare for the occasion. Bomber Liston, Jack O’Shea, Sean Lowry […]

7 years ago

Brought to you by  Reckon you know your Premier League legends? Ah, the Premier League. It’s a rare thing to find a sporting tournament that means so much to so many people all over the world. The jerseys, the players and the teams may change every year, but the excitement of it all never wanes. […]

7 years ago

“I wasn’t very good naturally at all. I had no GAA background, I had to start from scratch.” In all of Ireland’s Six Nations title wins over the past five years, writes Philip Dillon, the kick-chase and high ball reception have been key factors. Often used as a defensive tactic or a way to get the […]

7 years ago

By Daragh Ó Conchúir, from LIT Gaelic Grounds, Limerick Kilkenny 2-21 Tipperary 3-12 Moments after Kilkenny had accounted for a gallant but tiring Tipperary with a last quarter score rush, Ann Downey was enjoying the luxury of looking forward to watching the second Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship Semi-Final between Cork and Galway. The […]

7 years ago

By Daragh Ó Conchúir Galway 0-14 Cork 1-10 Galway’s development since Cathal Murray took over the reins after the 2018 National League has been incremental and obvious. An increased physicality was already notable last summer, though that could only have been more a reset of attitude, that would have been supplemented by subsequent winter work. […]

7 years ago

“This is a total and absolute disgrace. So it is.” Remember Donal Og Cusack went on the British remnants rant when he was trying to have a go at the critics of defensive styles in the GAA? Well, no, no-one knows what it really meant but we all remember. Joe Brolly got wind of it. […]

7 years ago

— By Daragh Ó Conchúir The moistening of the eyes comes as a bit of a shock and seems to take Edwina Keane by surprise too, as she battles the emotion emanating from the memories and continues talking. It is wonderful to see though, not in a sadistic sense, but as a reminder of the elemental […]

7 years ago

— By Daragh Ó Conchúir If she has heard it once, she has heard it a thousand times and it really grinds her gears. ‘You should transfer to a Senior club.’ ‘Your game will improve no end.’ ‘It will prepare you better for elite level Camogie.’ Even talking about it makes Amy O’Connor’s face screw up in […]

7 years ago

Eddie Jones has named his squad for the Rugby World Cup Included in the England line-up is one of the Gallagher Premiership’s star players, Exeter Chiefs centre Henry Slade. Alex Roberts of SportsJOE recently chatted to Slade on all things training, diet and motivation. Can you give us some specific training drills that only a […]

7 years ago

Please don’t come back to me in May to tell me you knew Alex Iwobi would bang at Everton A fair bit of business was done by Premier League clubs this season. Not as much as in recent years, but there were some big signings nonetheless – some shrewd, some questionable. For example, Arsenal signed two defenders […]

7 years ago

By Daragh Ó Conchúir And then there was only four. Kilkenny v Tipperary, LIT Gaelic Grounds, Limerick, 5.30pm This is one of the deadliest rivalries in Gaelic Games, and it is fantastic to see it played out on one of the biggest stage of the Camogie calendar once more. Kilkenny have, of course, been regulars […]

7 years ago

“We lose if women can’t play rugby.” In the build-up to the men’s Rugby World Cup, inspiration can be found in many forms. Rugby isn’t reserved for just men or women, it isn’t played by just Europe or Australasia and it sure as hell won’t be enjoyed by a little number of people when thousands […]

7 years ago

Brought to you by Centra It’s All-Ireland final time! Corbett & McGrath’s Big Build-Up is here for a massive preview of Tipperary v Kilkenny. Lar Corbett and Derek McGrath are in studio to discuss a number of things that include: Derek McGrath and the Waterford job Tipp using Jackie Tyrell’s words as motivation Colin Fennelly’s […]

7 years ago

By Daragh Ó Conchúir Niamh Lillis did not begin the year as Tipperary manager but she was a key member of Bill Mullaney’s backroom staff so there was no way the ambition would alter when she took over the hot seat after Mullaney stood down for health reasons early in the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Senior […]

7 years ago

Baz and Andrew’s House of Rugby was back for another week to review Ireland’s Rugby World Cup warm-up win over Italy, Joey Carbery’s injury and Johnny Sexton’s preparation. Barry Murphy is away to be there for the birth of his child but Jerry Flannery steps in and talks about Carbery’s suitability as a potential full-back, […]

7 years ago

Lampard’s welcome to hell, United are back, Raheem Sterling can’t be stopped. After all the transfer rumours, after all the deadline day drama and after all the anticipation, the Premier League is finally up and running as a new season gets underway. The table doesn’t look that new though. The more things change, the more […]

7 years ago

Compiled by Darragh Small and Declan Rooney Galway 1-12 Waterford 2-4 Galway manager Tim Rabbitt has urged his players to use the hurt of past defeats to end their silverware drought. Galway haven’t won the TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship since 2004, but they are back in the last four again where they face rivals Mayo, following […]

7 years ago

A movement to make a difference. 35 ladies footballers from Whitehall-Colmcille GAA club in North Dublin marched proudly onto the Croke Park pitch along with the 20 X 20 banner prior to Dublin and Mayo’s All-Ireland semi-final meeting on Saturday evening. Loud applause greeted their arrival as the Dublin and Mayo fans present acknowledged the […]

7 years ago

Compiled by Daragh Ó Conchúir The contestants for the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Premier Junior Camogie Final are known after Kerry accounted for Clare and Limerick defeated Clare in a double header at Cusack Park, Ennis. Kerry are hell bent on going one step further than last year, when they reached the Final for the first […]

7 years ago

By Daragh Small Mayo 2-12 Armagh 1-12 Goals in each half from Maria Reilly and Sarah Rowe, combined with a driving performance from the back by Danielle Caldwell helped Mayo book their place in the TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-final with victory over Armagh. Reilly’s goal was the difference at half-time while Mayo took a […]

7 years ago

By Daragh Small Mayo’s footballing twins Ciara and Clodagh McManamon had both played massive parts in the county’s victory over Donegal a fortnight ago, but on the bus home there was a massive shock in store as their next round opponents were unveiled. Cavan’s win over Armagh in the opening game of Group 1 looked to have sealed their progress to the last eight, but watching TG4’s live stream on their […]

7 years ago

Football is back, baby! Liverpool are on top of the league after a 4-1 mauling of Norwich and it’s over to you, Man City. Again. Already. The Football Spin went live straight after the game and there was lots to discuss. Liverpool v Norwich analysis Super League and the change of TV money A revisit […]

7 years ago

By Jackie Cahill Two coveted slots at Croke Park on August 25 are on offer for Armagh, Mayo, Galway and Waterford on Saturday, as the counties battle it out for the remaining semi-final places in the 2019 TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Senior Football Championship. There’s a quarter-final double-header at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park down for decision, […]

7 years ago

The best of rivals, the best of rivalries. Kilkenny and Tipperary. It’s hurling’s answer to Frazier and Ali, hurling’s version of Real Madrid v Barcelona. Only this is even better, this is even more visceral. Ever since Henry Shefflin’s penalty broke Tipperary hearts in 2009, there has been a common obsession between these two hurling […]

7 years ago

Five years ago, the man they call Slabhead was signed by Hull City for £2.5m. Harry Maguire had arrived in the Premier League even if he was being sent from Sheffield United with some begrudging remarks over his ability to cut it at that top level. In 2017, Leicester invested £12m in the centre half […]

7 years ago

Ah, the Community Shield. The curtain-raiser. The ‘nice day out for the family’. The ‘corporate shill of an event’. The ‘little more than a pre-season friendly’. The ‘there is a trophy at stake, though’ Show me a football fan, writes Kyle Picknell, that knows what to make of the Community Shield and I will show you […]

7 years ago

Waterford are looking for a new hurling manager. Paraic Fanning has stepped down as boss of the Deise after one year in charge. Fanning took over from Derek McGrath but, despite a decent league campaign, they failed to win a game in the Munster championship and, on Friday, Waterford confirmed his departure in a statement. […]

7 years ago

From Sonia O’Sullivan in Sydney to Katie Taylor in London. It hasn’t historically been as easy for female sportspeople to find female role models but some special ones broke through the wall. Louise Quinn remembers a TV being wheeled into her class in 2000 to watch the Sydney Games and a woman from Ireland walk […]

7 years ago

When Cheddar Plunkett is in full flow, there’s no stopping him. And you wouldn’t want to. On The GAA Hour hurling show, the Laois hurling legend picked apart lazy analysts for their all-too-basic criticism of the sweeper system and he spoke cogently about the struggle for referees and the idea of VAR. There was also […]

7 years ago