Well what do you know about that? Just last week, Ulster schools football was the subject of a country-wide inquisition and the finding was that it’s the worst thing in the world. Abbey CBS spread out the blanket and there wasn’t much St Pat’s Maghera could do. “Stomach churning,” they said. “The rules simply have […]

7 years ago

And didn’t it work out well for Brian Howard. He passed up the chance to go on Dublin’s team holiday at the start of 2018 because he had an impression to make. They questioned his decision, they told him that the Dublin forward line was already a done deal and they wondered whether he was […]

7 years ago

If you’re not caught up in it, you’re missing out. Bookie offices are crammed with workers on their lunch break and students in their skinny tracksuits. The mad scramble to get a fiver down before the off has the whole country humming and buzzing about the place and once the money is on and the […]

7 years ago

The weather couldn’t really have been any worse for GAA. Not only wet, but freezing cold too and it was the camógs in Croke Park who beared the brunt of it. Hail, rain, sleet and snow – you name it, it poured down at some stage in Drumcondra. There was an iconic image of the […]

7 years ago

We talk about athletes leaving it all out on the track. Any time Ciara Mageean toes the line, it’s a given that in less than four minutes time, the Portaferry athlete is going to have every last fibre of her being planted into the tartan. That was again the case on Sunday night in Glasgow […]

7 years ago

Most clubs don’t win at all. A county championship is a faraway dream at the start of the year but that’s what it remains until the very end. All things considered, a win or two in the championship will keep them happy and once they stave away relegation, do you know what, they don’t really […]

7 years ago

Maurice Fitz, Dublin, 2001, down by the sideline. One of those ‘where were you’ GAA moments. The St Mary’s Cahersiveen man will forever be remembered for the swerving missile that followed and any time his name is breathed these days from Kerry to Dublin and everywhere in between, the minds and imaginations of Gaels will […]

7 years ago

Three games fell by the wayside but we still had plenty to shout about. Offaly 4-8 Carlow 1-10 Some thought Offaly mightn’t bother. They were in a relegation play-off regardless and the big one for them was always going to be next weekend. But that’s not the way Offaly think – in fairness, it’s not […]

7 years ago

Absolutely typical. After a week of glorious weather conditions that had most of us in t-shirts at lunch-time, soon as the weekend arrives and the throw-ins near, it all goes to pot. It has barely stopped raining from anywhere between Derry and Cork on this March Sunday morning and some pitches around the country just […]

7 years ago

Katie O’Connor couldn’t escape it. She was only a month old on that famous September Sunday of 1996, but she’s heard the stories right from the horses’ mouths. Her father George was the general in midfield on that luminous Wexford team that had them dancing at the crossroads and her uncle John was in the […]

7 years ago

Antrim hurler Neil McManus tells a good story. A couple of years ago, Offaly had Antrim away and that meant a journey to Casement Park. Right into the lion’s den. McManus will never forget one of the Offaly hurlers complaining to him after the game about the cold in the dressing rooms up there and […]

7 years ago

Camogie is the word in Gaultier these days. The little village tucked away in the sunny south east of Waterford are preparing for an All-Ireland intermediate final this weekend and the place is hopping and the people are buzzing. The camogie club is at the centre of it all. Gailltír aren’t complete greenhorns to this […]

7 years ago

The year is 2012 and Cormac Costello is the hottest ticket in Dublin. He’s the main man for the Dublin minor footballers and he’s the main man for the hurlers too. They coast to Leinster glory in both and the Whitehall-Colmcille gem is rampant. On they go, the Sky Blues cleaning out all before them […]

7 years ago

Only some players would have seen it, only the best would have pulled it off. Aaron Mulligan saw it alright. He saw the gap, saw the goalie creeping forward, he saw Ballybay Community College to the Ulster title. Ballybay Community College were in the O’Doherty Cup final against St Aidan’s Comprehensive of Cavan on Wednesday […]

7 years ago

It’s been a long time coming for the Dublin hurlers. The Dublin hurlers were competitive in 2018 under Pat Gilroy, without really beating anybody. Okay, so they defeated Laois and Antrim in the League but that’s hardly enough to set pulses amongst the capital city’s hurling following racing. Their performances improved in the championship, where […]

7 years ago

How could Cian Ward forget it? A free-scoring forward who didn’t usually have to give a seconds thought to the whereabouts of his marker, the year 2009 presented some new challenges for Meath’s 15. Dublin were changing the game at the time, their corner backs were rampant. Not content to sit in the shorts of […]

7 years ago

You could hear the racket being made in Phibsbourough all the way up in Ballymun. And you could stay going too. The Dublin Derby came to town on Monday night and both Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers fans were out in force. The hype and the expectation was building from early on in the day. By […]

7 years ago

Dublin destruct, Kilkenny still have Tipp’s number, Aishling Moloney is class. With every passing action packed weekend hammering home the point that the League is the best competition of all, these last few have been absolutely enthralling. From the Fitzgibbon Cup in Waterford IT to the League in Croker, this one just past was another […]

7 years ago

UCC reign supreme. After a month of tremendous midweek hurling, the Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup all came down to a weekend clash between UCC and Mary I in a splendid Waterford IT setting. The competition’s most successful ever college won handily to bridge a five year gap and that’s why they dominate this team of […]

7 years ago

How could anybody turn it down? Ronan O’Gara has settled in well to life as a coach down in New Zealand but just like in his playing career, the Cork man is still striving for more. His ambitious, competitive nature during his time as a fly half for Ireland and for Munster helped him to […]

7 years ago

Mark Kehoe was the man-of-the-match, Conor Browne was the winning captain but Shane Conway was the man in demand. ‘He has his own little escort,’ said one of the many Lixnaw folk in the crowd shortly after Conor Browne had lifted the Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup. ‘Jesus, everybody wants to talk to Shane…it’s the Shane […]

7 years ago

UCC 2-21 Mary I 0-13 Mark Kehoe had one of those days. The Klsheelan Kilcash youngster was unmarkable for UCC in the Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup final and his 1-4 haul from open play helped Tom Kingston’s side to a record 39th title. With the sun beating down on the Waterford IT arena and with […]

7 years ago

The stand in Waterford IT erupted. When Mark Kehoe picked up the ball on the 45 and out by the sideline, there didn’t seem to be much on. Seamus Downey looked to have him covered and there were a few other Mary I defenders back just in case. But Kehoe didn’t care about the men […]

7 years ago

Fitzgibbon hurling, grudge league games, a bonanza of a February weekend. The Allianz Leagues are hotting up. In the football, the Dubs could do with a win and who better to put it up to the champs than their nearest and dearest rivals. Mayo venture up to the lion’s den on Saturday night and James […]

7 years ago

It’s been a great month of Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup football. They’ll say its importance is weaning, they’ll say it doesn’t matter any more. The magic is still there though, and the smiles on Billy Morgan’s, Sean O’Shea’s and every UCC face in Portlaosie on a windy Wednesday night showed that. That winning feeling! The […]

7 years ago

A Cork legend, a GAA legend. He’s 74-years of age but it hasn’t worn off on him yet. The Gaelic football played in O’Moore Park on Wednesday night was a far cry from his first Sigerson Cup medal as a player back in 1965, but UCC manager Billy Morgan only lives for the challenges. Try […]

7 years ago

UCC 0-16 St Mary’s Belfast 1-9 UCC have won their 22nd Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup. A second half red card to Armagh man Aaron Boyle proved decisive as UCC stretched their legs late on to defeat St Mary’s Belfast by four points in the Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup final in O’Moore Park Portlaoise. The red […]

7 years ago

Tom Condon plucked one from the Kilkenny sky in the 67th minute. The Limerick crowd roared and the hair must have been standing on the back of Tom Condon’s neck. The momentum from his soaring jump dragged him forward at pace and if he wanted to look good and if he wanted that Limerick crowd […]

7 years ago

There is plenty of competition for the half-back line down in Kerry. Tom O’Sullivan, Tadhg Morley and Paul Murphy have been the first choice three in the League but after St Patrick’s day, that will all change. That’s because the sprightly Gavin White will be let loose in the green and gold from then on […]

7 years ago

Gaoth Dobhair needed a score and Kevin Cassidy was mad for the ball. Naoise Ó Baoill raced down the sideline and opened Corofin up. Kevin Cassidy was ready for road. Eamon McGee had a look and his full forward was out in front of his man, absolutely begging for the ball. McGee played the perfect […]

7 years ago

What’s a man like Tim O’Mahoney supposed to do? Tony Kelly shakes his hand just before throw in but from then on, Tony Kelly did what Tony Kelly does. The Ballyea maestro is named at centre forward but just like jack-in-a-box, there isn’t a hope of him staying where he is. He feints one way […]

7 years ago

Corofin are class, Crokes are coming, we’re set for a dream All-Ireland club final. The Limerick hurlers are the real deal, Wexford are showing signs while Tipperary, Kilkenny and Clare are all struggling. St Mary’s Belfast are afraid of nobody and Wednesday’s Sigerson decider should be a good one too. The weekend just past was […]

7 years ago

There’s no stopping Sean O’Shea. The UCC forward line are a little bit like Corofin when they get going. Nobody takes too much out of it, everybody is on the move and they’re all absolutely mad to get their hands on the ball. NUI Galway defended heroically for lots of their Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup […]

7 years ago

Getting the ball off the Corofin forwards is like trying to take a leg of chicken from a crowd of hungry dogs. You’re could have men stuck to the ball, to Burke, Leonard and Gary Sice but that means Lundy and the two Farraghers are running around the place like mad men. And there’s no […]

7 years ago

The Gaoth Dobhair greyhound. After being restrained for months, after a Christmas of waiting and after months of training and of challenge games, the greyhounds of Gaoth Dobhair and Corofin were finally let loose on the Páirc Sean Mac Diarmada sod in Carrick-on-Shannon on Sunday. And once the whistle went, the two teams took off […]

7 years ago

What’s a poor wing back meant to do? Donal Tuohy is blessed no matter what way he goes. A short puckout and the little buzzers like Colm Galvin, Jack Browne and Tony Kelly are in the money and on the run. A long one and the big boys, Niall Deasy, John Conlon and Peter Duggan […]

7 years ago

You’d have to go a long way to wind Peter Duggan up. He’s happy as Larry, he’ll tell you that himself and he goes with the flow without a care in the world.  What’s the point in taking things too seriously? Clare’s inconsistent form in recent years bothers him alright, Limerick IT’s recent exit from […]

7 years ago

Home of Ulster champions. Home of some of the finest landscape in the north west of Donegal. Home of the famous Teach Mhicí. Home of Gaoth Dobhair GAA. It’s been an emotional journey for such a closely-knit club that really is the centre of the universe in these parts. Fresh from making history as the […]

7 years ago

Club football. League hurling. Sigerson Cup. Wherever in the country you look and no matter what way you look at it, the weekend coming is one of the most action packed in a GAA calendar. After a long, painful break, the senior club football is finally back and it’s back with interest. Gaoth Dobhair, after […]

7 years ago

Mary I 1-18 NUI Galway 0-18 It turned into the Aaron Gillane show in Cusack Park. Mary I’s star man didn’t shoot the lights out in their Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup quarter final against CIT last week. NUI Galway must have known they were in for it in the semi. Rarely does a man like […]

7 years ago

Jamie Clarke talks and the whole room listens. A 25 minute chat feels like it was only ten and from the very first word, you’re hanging on the next one. He talks slowly, almost methodically and everything he says he means. This isn’t a man in a hurry, he seems to have all the time in […]

7 years ago

Kevin Kilbane has a bee in his bonnet. Declan Rice has declared for England and the world is still moving but Kevin Kilbane isn’t finished with him yet. Shortly after Rice’s well-worded statement that signalled his intention to play for England, Kilbane was right on his case. pic.twitter.com/L6Du9X8wNd — Declan Rice (@_DeclanRice) February 13, 2019 […]

7 years ago

Liam Silke is not a happy camper. For the second year in a row, he’ll miss out on a crucial Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup game for UCD. All because of some irresponsible, short-sighted and frustrating GAA fixture-making. Last year, he missed the final of this great competition. He picked up an injury in Corofin’s All-Ireland […]

7 years ago

Conor Browne knows well UCC were blessed. DCU took over their Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final meeting in extra-time. Darren Mullen scored a peach and James Bergin nailed a long-ranger. In truth, Eoin Roche’s men looked home and hosed. But then suddenly and from nowhere, their world came crashing down after a debatable call from […]

7 years ago

The Mary I Trench Cup team were training last night. They’re not sure what for. On Monday afternoon, the Limerick teacher training college received a letter with the fixtures for the semi-finals of the Trench Cup weekend. Going on the information of that letter, the defending champions won’t have a part to play in the […]

7 years ago

DCU Dóchas Éireann 0-22 UCC 2-17 DCU Dóchas Éireann will feel robbed. They took over their Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final against UCC in the closing stages but were ultimately outdone by a debatable refereeing decision to award UCC a late penalty. Cork man Chris O’Leary slotted it and that cruelly consigned DCU to a […]

7 years ago

David Burke is as honest as the day is long. He’s had better days than the one he had on Sunday. He’s won more breaking balls, he’s caught more puck outs, he’s delivered more defence slicing passes and he’s stroked more points. But on a day like Sunday, all that mattered was St Thomas’ getting […]

7 years ago

Brought to you by Electric Ireland Only in the Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup. A Thursday afternoon at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick and there isn’t a sinner in lectures. The Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup has come to town and the whole college is out to experience its magic. The best hurlers in the land, from Limerick’s […]

7 years ago

Ballyhale are unstoppable, Monaghan hurling is rising, Kerry are back. Here’s the team of the weekend. 1 Niall Morgan (Tyrone) For the second week in a row, say no more. Dochreidte! Scór den chéad scoth ag Niall Morgan! @TyroneGAALive @UlsterGAA #AllianzLeagues pic.twitter.com/GyvX2bkYWO — Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) February 11, 2019 2 David Sherry (St Thomas) Came […]

7 years ago

Peter Treanor is well used to it at this stage. All’s going well, his first sharp is as any of them and then he’s asked where he’s from and things change. Being a hurler from county Monaghan, they’re the conceptions you have to face every time you take a step outside of the county with […]

7 years ago