Jack O'Toole

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  • Rory Beggan explains why he’s not a fan of the new kickout rules

    Rory Beggan explains why he’s not a fan of the new kickout rules

    “I don’t understand. Are players going to rush back into their zones with a minute to go when they’re a point up? Monaghan goalkeeper and All Star nominee Rory Beggan has said that he does not understand why the GAA are looking to alter rules around the kickouts after the Association’s decision earlier this month to […]

    8 years ago

  • Analysis: Why Jack Conan deserves to start for Ireland next month

    Analysis: Why Jack Conan deserves to start for Ireland next month

    Jack Conan has had a relatively tough time establishing himself as an international rugby player. The Leinster number eight made his Ireland debut against Scotland in a 2015 Rugby World Cup warm up game but has made just eight appearances for the national team since then, four of which have come against Tier 2 opposition. […]

    8 years ago

  • IRFU aim to win at least nine trophies by 2023

    IRFU aim to win at least nine trophies by 2023

    The IRFU are aiming to win at least nine different trophies by 2023 as part of their Strategic Plan. The union aim to win two or more Six Nations titles, two or more European titles, two or more PRO14 titles and a semi-final finish at both the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cups. Meanwhile in […]

    8 years ago

  • IRFU not concerned with Irish Rugby’s reliance on Leinster to produce players

    IRFU not concerned with Irish Rugby’s reliance on Leinster to produce players

    IRFU Performance Director David Nucifora has said that he does not have a problem with other provinces taking players from Leinster to add to their squads. In total, 30 of the 92 players involved during the last round of interprovincial derbies earlier this month came through either the Leinster sub-academy or academy system. Players like […]

    8 years ago

  • IRFU give rough timeline on Joe Schmidt’s contract situation

    IRFU give rough timeline on Joe Schmidt’s contract situation

    IRFU chief executive Philip Browne has said that the union will have a better understanding of Joe Schmidt’s future at end of next month’s Autumn internationals. Schmidt’s current contract with the union runs until after the 2019 Rugby World Cup and New Zealand Rugby chief Steve Tew has highlighted the Ireland head coach as a […]

    8 years ago

  • The clubs that have the most county championships in Ireland

    The clubs that have the most county championships in Ireland

    13 club championships were decided across the county over the weekend. Castlerahan won their first Cavan senior football championship with a one-point win over Crosserlough, Cargin edged Creggan in a one-point game to claim the Antrim championship while Crossmaglen Rangers won their 44th county championship with a six-point win over Ballymacnab at the Athletic Grounds. Crossmaglen are […]

    8 years ago

  • Seamus Coleman fires back at Keith Andrews over Ireland critcism

    Seamus Coleman fires back at Keith Andrews over Ireland critcism

    Republic of Ireland captain Seamus Coleman has said that Ireland international Keith Andrews ‘didn’t always make things happen’ for the national team when he played for Ireland. Andrews was stinging in his critcism of Ireland following their 1-0 loss to Wales on Tuesday with the Sky Sports pundit claiming that it’s been one ‘it’s been […]

    8 years ago

  • East Kerry v Dingle match marred by pitchside brawl

    East Kerry v Dingle match marred by pitchside brawl

    Paul Geaney and his cousin Michael Geaney put on a show in Dingle’s 4-13 to 0-12 win over East Kerry in the Kerry Senior Football Championship on Sunday but the match was ultimately marred by a pitchside brawl. Geaney scored a hat-trick of goals for Dingle while cousin Michael added a fourth for the six-time […]

    8 years ago

  • Castlerahan win first ever county championship and put an end to finals duck

    Castlerahan win first ever county championship and put an end to finals duck

    There’s a fine line between persistence and insanity. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Persistence is the fact of continuing in an opinion or course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition. The Castlerahan players have probably flirted with both ends of that spectrum over […]

    8 years ago

  • Watch: Sean O’Brien comes off the bench and scores a cracking try

    Watch: Sean O’Brien comes off the bench and scores a cracking try

    Leinster flanker Sean O’Brien has had to endure a horrid couple of years with injuries but he showed against Toulouse on Sunday that he can still be a force for the European champions. With Leinster trailing 14-6 after some early penalties from Thomas Ramos and a try from France winger Maxime Medard, O’Brien pounced on […]

    8 years ago

  • Katie Taylor slams Cindy Serrano’s husband for his verbal abuse

    Katie Taylor slams Cindy Serrano’s husband for his verbal abuse

    Katie Taylor retained her WBA and IBF female lightweight titles on Saturday with a convincing unanimous decision win over Cindy Serrano. The victory marked Taylor’s fourth successive title defence and brought her professional record to 11-0 but the win was somewhat soured by verbal abuse aimed at the Wicklow woman from Serrano’s coach and husband Jordan […]

    8 years ago

  • Clondalkin basektball prospect commits to Division 1 college team

    Clondalkin basektball prospect commits to Division 1 college team

    17-year-old power forward Aidan Harris Igiehon attracted offers from more than 30 top universities across the United States before eventually committing to three-time NCAA champions the Louisville Cardinals. Harris’ performances for Abbey Seals Dublin Lions attracted the attention of leading basketball scouts and he was offered a scholarship by Lawrence Woodmere School, in New York, back in 2014. […]

    8 years ago

  • Two Mayo clubs look finally set to receive J.P. McManus funding

    Two Mayo clubs look finally set to receive J.P. McManus funding

    Caiseal Gaels hurling and Ballyvary hurling finally look set to receive their portion of the €100,000 J.P. McManus donated to every Gaelic Games county board in Ireland last month. McManus’ €3.2m donation follows Limerick’s recent All-Ireland Hurling Championship win over Galway with the wealthy businessman serving as a long time sponsor of Limerick GAA. Caiseal claimed last […]

    8 years ago

  • Dublin forward tearing it up against the Underdogs

    Dublin forward tearing it up against the Underdogs

    Skerries Harps forward Stephen Smith is enjoying some season. Smith had Na Fianna defenders tripping over themselves last month with a personal haul of 1-7 against the Mobhi Road based club in a hard fought 1-12 draw. Dublin defender Jonny Cooper struggled to lay a hand on him that day and Smith produced a similar […]

    8 years ago

  • Jonny Cooper captains Dublin team to play the Underdogs

    Jonny Cooper captains Dublin team to play the Underdogs

    Dublin defender Jonny Cooper captains the Jacks side to play the Underdogs on Friday night. Cooper leads a largely inexperienced side against the Underdogs who named their side earlier on Friday with Longford forward Colm Flynn captaining the development team. After being named as skipper, Flynn called upon his teammates not to fear this Dublin side, […]

    8 years ago

  • Former Mayo manager Stephen Rochford joins Donegal

    Former Mayo manager Stephen Rochford joins Donegal

    Former Mayo manager Stephen Rochford has joined Declan Bonner and the Donegal senior county football team. Rochford resigned as Mayo manager earlier this year after his side failed to advance to the All-Ireland quarter-final group stages. The former Mayo captain brought the county to back-to-back All-Ireland finals in 2016 and 2017 and will now join […]

    8 years ago

  • Liverpool players were ‘astonished’ that Chelsea paid a record fee for Fernando Torres

    Liverpool players were ‘astonished’ that Chelsea paid a record fee for Fernando Torres

    Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has said that his ex-teammates were astonished when Chelsea agreed to pay a then British record fee of £50 million for former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres. Torres scored 56 league goals in his first three seasons at Liverpool after moving to the Merseyside club from Atletico Madrid but saw a […]

    8 years ago

  • eir Sport return to GAA with club final rights

    eir Sport return to GAA with club final rights

    eir sport will broadcast the Limerick Club Championship Hurling Final live on Saturday next, October 27. eir return to the GAA after previously broadcasting numerous county championships including the earlier rounds of the Limerick Senior Hurling Championship. Na Piarsaigh will defend their county title against Doon under the floodlights at the Gaelic Grounds from 7.30pm. The […]

    8 years ago

  • ‘I think this Leinster team are better than the back-to-back champion teams’

    ‘I think this Leinster team are better than the back-to-back champion teams’

    Former England international Andy Goode has said that he thinks that Leo Cullen’s  Leinster side are a better team than the Leinster sides that won back-to-back Heineken Cups under Joe Schmidt. Leinster won the 2011 title against Northampton in Cardiff and then defended the Cup against Ulster the following year with a convincing over their […]

    8 years ago

  • Martin O’Neill’s win percentage pales in comparison to predecessors

    Martin O’Neill’s win percentage pales in comparison to predecessors

    Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill has the second lowest win ratio of the last six Ireland managers. Ireland were relegated from their UEFA Nations League group on Tuesday following a 1-0 loss to Wales in Dublin. A second-half free-kick from Harry Wilson was the difference between the two sides at the Aviva Stadium and […]

    8 years ago

  • The certainties and the outside shots for Ireland’s November international squad

    The certainties and the outside shots for Ireland’s November international squad

    The Irish provinces made a brilliant start in Europe last week with Leinster, Ulster and Connacht all edging out wins at home while Munster fought bravely in Exeter to snatch a draw against the Premiership leaders. Leinster led the line with a dominant 52-3 win over Wasps last Friday and Leo Cullen’s side look poised […]

    8 years ago

  • Floyd Mayweather wants rematch with Conor McGregor after Khabib fight

    Floyd Mayweather wants rematch with Conor McGregor after Khabib fight

    Floyd Mayweather Jr. has said that he would like a rematch with former UFC Lightweight champion Conor McGregor after he fights Khabib Nurmagomedov. Mayweather fought McGregor last August in the highest grossing pay-per-view fight of all time but now the undefeated American wants to fight Nurmagomedov and McGregor in a second fight. Nurmagomedov called out […]

    8 years ago

  • Liverpool suffer yet another injury blow during international break

    Liverpool suffer yet another injury blow during international break

    Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita withdrew from Guinea’s African Cup of Nations qualifier with Rwanda on Tuesday with a thigh injury. Keita has been used sparingly since moving to Anfield this season and will now be added to a growing injury list that includes Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Sadio Mane. Salah picked up a […]

    8 years ago

  • John Cooney won over the Ulster players with Ruan Pienaar joke

    John Cooney won over the Ulster players with Ruan Pienaar joke

    Baz & Andrew’s House of Rugby, Together with GUINNESS  Ulster scrum-half John Cooney has made a huge impression since moving to Belfast at the start of last season. The former Leinster half-back swapped Connacht for Ulster last year and went on to win the Bank of Ireland Ulster Player of the Year, the Ulster Rugby Supporters’ Club […]

    8 years ago

  • Khabib’s manager threatens John Kavanagh and calls McGregor a prostitute

    Khabib’s manager threatens John Kavanagh and calls McGregor a prostitute

    Khabib Nurmagomedov’s manager Ali Abdelaziz has threatened Conor McGregor’s coach for a tweet he aimed at Nurmagomedov for not wanting to fight during Ramadan, the most sacred month of the year in Islamic culture where Muslims fast, abstain from pleasures and pray to become closer to God. Kavanagh told young fighters to choose their religion wisely […]

    8 years ago

  • Irish MMA fighters sound off on Joe Brolly for ‘bloody freakshow’ criticism

    Irish MMA fighters sound off on Joe Brolly for ‘bloody freakshow’ criticism

    A host of Irish MMA fighters have fired back at Sunday Independent columnist Joe Brolly for his criticism of mixed martial arts following UFC 229 earlier this month. The popular GAA pundit claimed in a piece titled ‘Joe Brolly: The time has come to call a halt to the UFC’s bloody freak show’ that the UFC […]

    8 years ago

  • Four-time Kerry All-Ireland winner retires from intercounty football

    Four-time Kerry All-Ireland winner retires from intercounty football

    Four-time All-Ireland winner Darran O’Sullivan has announced his retirement from intercounty football. O’Sullivan won 10 Munster titles, four All-Ireland championships, three National League titles and an All Star award in 13 seasons with the Kerry senior footballers. He made his debut in Kerry’s 2005 All-Ireland final defeat to Tyrone and thanked then manager Jack O’Connor […]

    8 years ago

  • Jordan Pickford says his blunder would have led to a ‘soft’ penalty

    Jordan Pickford says his blunder would have led to a ‘soft’ penalty

    England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has said that his second-half blunder against Spain would have been a soft penalty if referee Szymon Marciniak had awarded Rodrigo a foul during England’s 3-2 win over Spain on Wednesday. England took a 3-0 lead into half-time in Betis thanks to a two goal brace from Raheem Sterling, who ended his […]

    8 years ago

  • Eric Dier sprints over 20 yards to clatter Sergio Ramos

    Eric Dier sprints over 20 yards to clatter Sergio Ramos

    Tottenham defensive midfielder Eric Dier received a yellow card for a rash challenge on Spain defender Sergio Ramos during England’s Uefa Nations League tie in Betis on Monday. England took a 3-0 lead into half-time thanks to a two goal brace from Raheem Sterling, who ended his three-year goal drought in an England shirt with […]

    8 years ago

  • Liverpool receive more bad injury news during international break

    Liverpool receive more bad injury news during international break

    Liverpool winger Sadio Mane has reportedly broken his left thumb while training with the Senegal national team. Reds centre-back Virgil van Dijk had already been sent back to Liverpool from Holland camp with a persistent rib injury following the oranje’s 3-0 win over Germany on Saturday, while last season’s top scorer Mohamed Salah was forced off with […]

    8 years ago

  • Daniel Cormier weighs in strongly on McGregor and Khabib rematch

    Daniel Cormier weighs in strongly on McGregor and Khabib rematch

    UFC Heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier has said that he can’t see Conor McGregor troubling teammate Khabib Nurmagomedov in a rematch. Nurmagomedov defeated McGregor at UFC 229 in Las Vegas earlier this month to retain his Lightweight title with the undefeated Russian submitting the former two-weight world champion with a fourth-round neck crank. McGregor has immediately […]

    8 years ago

  • Ronnie O’Sullivan blasts England Open venue and claims it smells of urine

    Ronnie O’Sullivan blasts England Open venue and claims it smells of urine

    Five-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan has said that the K2 Leisure Centre in Crawley is a ‘bit of a hellhole’ after his opening round England Open win over Kurt Maflin on Monday. The defending champion began his title defence with a convincing win over Maflin, wrapping up the 4-1 victory in just over an hour, but […]

    8 years ago

  • Ronan O’Gara says there are ‘Messi like’ expectations on Joey Carbery

    Ronan O’Gara says there are ‘Messi like’ expectations on Joey Carbery

    – Baz & Andrew’s House of Rugby, Together with GUINNESS – Former Munster fly-half Ronan O’Gara has said that there needs to be a degree of patience with Joey Carbery this season and that he is still developing as an out-half. Carbery moved to Limerick from Leinster during the summer and has made a great […]

    8 years ago

  • Ryle Nugent to return to commentary booth for November internationals

    Ryle Nugent to return to commentary booth for November internationals

    RTE’s former head of sport Ryle Nugent will return to the commentary booth for Ireland’s November internationals next month. Nugent will lead Channel 4’s coverage of Ireland’s tests alongside former Ireland captain Jamie Heaslip. Channel 4 won the UK territory rights for the games from Sky Sports last month and will provide live coverage of Ireland’s […]

    8 years ago

  • Ulster open to bringing back Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding

    Ulster open to bringing back Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding

    Ulster Operations Director Bryn Cunningham has said that he is open to the idea of Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding returning to the club. Jackson and former Ulster teammate Stuart Olding both had their contracts with Ulster Rugby revoked earlier this year following an Ulster and IRFU internal review after both men were cleared by a […]

    8 years ago

  • Ulster may have found a future star at full-back in Michael Lowry

    Ulster may have found a future star at full-back in Michael Lowry

    Just over a year ago Michael Lowry was captaining RBAI to their third successive Ulster Schools Cup final win. Lowry played fly-half and James Hume played centre and both would graduate and enter the Ulster academy where they endured mixed fortunes. Hume would go on to play for Ulster A and eventually the senior team […]

    8 years ago

  • ‘I have no sympathy for him’ – O’Gara and Jennings on Freddie Burns howler

    ‘I have no sympathy for him’ – O’Gara and Jennings on Freddie Burns howler

    Former Leinster captain Shane Jennings has said that he has no sympathy for Bath fly-half Freddie Burns after he squandered a late chance to score a match winning try for the Premiership side against Toulouse on Saturday. Bath were trailing Toulouse 22-20 in the final five minutes of their Champions Cup opener at the Rec […]

    8 years ago

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov responds to 50 Cent’s $2 million Bellator offer

    Khabib Nurmagomedov responds to 50 Cent’s $2 million Bellator offer

    Rapper and actor 50 cent has made a $2 million offer to UFC fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov to go and join rival promotion Bellator. Nurmagomedov had his UFC 229 purse withheld by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, pending a “full investigation” for his role in a melee following his submission win over Conor McGregor in Las […]

    8 years ago

  • Johnny Sexton pulls off remarkable between the legs pass to assist James Lowe try

    Johnny Sexton pulls off remarkable between the legs pass to assist James Lowe try

    Johnny Sexton channeled his inner Carlos Spencer with a spectacular no look pass to James Lowe for his second try against a hapless Wasps side at the RDS. Leinster began their Champions Cup defence by wrapping up a four-try bonus point win against Dai Young’s side with Lowe scoring twice in a 52-3 rout in […]

    8 years ago

  • Leinster flanker Rhys Ruddock floors referee Romain Poite in back play

    Leinster flanker Rhys Ruddock floors referee Romain Poite in back play

    Leinster flanker Rhys Ruddock was a late injury replacement for teammate Dan Leavy in the Blues’ 52-3 win over Wasps at the RDS on Friday. Ruddock came in as a late call up for the injured Leavy, who was a late scratch from the game with a leg complaint, and he certainly made his presence […]

    8 years ago

  • The 190-year-old trio that helped save a London championship match

    The 190-year-old trio that helped save a London championship match

    St. Brendan’s had just 12 players turn up for their London reserve football championship match with Round Towers last month after several players failed to show on the morning of the game.  Brendan’s have been in Greenford, a large suburb in the London Borough of Ealing in west London, since 1956 and reserve manager and club secretary John Bo […]

    8 years ago

  • Joe Schmidt tells great story about coaching box mishap at Twickenham

    Joe Schmidt tells great story about coaching box mishap at Twickenham

    Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has said that a gust of wind was responsible for Ireland reverting to short line-outs in their Grand Slam win over England at Twickenham earlier this year. Ireland secured their first Grand Slam title since 2009 with a 24-15 victory over Eddie Jones’s side back in March in a game […]

    8 years ago

  • How Conor Murray became Irish Rugby’s most important player

    How Conor Murray became Irish Rugby’s most important player

    “There were two standouts in my time with the Munster academy, as close to certainties as we could make out, and that was Peter O’Mahony and Conor Murray. The two of them came through and they only had a blur in the A team. They went straight from the academy into the senior team, and […]

    8 years ago

  • Stephen Ireland secures club future by signing new deal

    Stephen Ireland secures club future by signing new deal

    Former Ireland international Stephen Ireland has signed for championship side Bolton Wanderers. Ireland was released by Stoke City at the end of last season after five injury plagued seasons at the Britannia Stadium where he played just 70 games in all competitions. The 32-year-old trained with championship side Bolton Wanderers during the summer but failed […]

    8 years ago

  • Louis Saha rips Paul Pogba for putting pressure on Jose Mourinho

    Louis Saha rips Paul Pogba for putting pressure on Jose Mourinho

    Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha has criticised compatriot Paul Pogba for putting pressure on manager Jose Mourinho after claiming that his side should attack more following their 1-1 draw with Wolves. Pogba encouraged Mourhino to let United “attack, attack, attack” in a post-match interview with Sky Sports and was later stripped of the vice-captaincy […]

    8 years ago

  • Eamon Dunphy on Roy Keane: I think Saipan changed him

    Eamon Dunphy on Roy Keane: I think Saipan changed him

    Former RTE soccer pundit and journalist Eamon Dunphy has said that he thinks that Roy Keane’s exit from Saipan at the 2002 FIFA World Cup changed him. Keane famously left the Republic of Ireland national squad at the tournament after a training ground row with then manager Mick McCarthy. The issue was highly divisive at […]

    8 years ago

  • Brendan Schaub not buying poor excuse for Khabib’s cage attack

    Brendan Schaub not buying poor excuse for Khabib’s cage attack

    Former UFC Heavyweight Brendan Schaub said that Khabib Nurmagomedov’s background does not excuse him from jumping out of the cage and attacking Conor McGregor’s team following his submission win over the Dubliner at UFC 229 on Saturday. Nurmagomedov successfully defended his Lightweight title with a dominant victory over McGregor but soured the win when he […]

    8 years ago

  • Former featherweight champ Jose Aldo wants Conor McGregor rematch

    Former featherweight champ Jose Aldo wants Conor McGregor rematch

    Former UFC Featherweight champion Jose Aldo has called for a rematch with Conor McGregor following the Dubliner’s submission loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 on Saturday. Nurmagomedov successfully defended his Lightweight belt against McGregor with a dominant display in Las Vegas to extend his professional record to 27-0 with the victory. Former interim Lightweight […]

    8 years ago

  • Analysis: James Lowe has become indispensable and Leinster’s ever improving defence

    Analysis: James Lowe has become indispensable and Leinster’s ever improving defence

    Leinster winger James Lowe notched his 13th and 14th tries in the Blues’ 30-22 win over Munster on Saturday and the New Zealander increasingly looks like an immovable part of the European champions backline this season. Leinster scored 119 tries last season and Lowe accounted for 10 of those scores and he already has four […]

    8 years ago