As the chaos unfolded, McGregor’s coach rushed into The Octagon to try protect his fighter. John Kavanagh must have experienced a tumult of emotions after the main event at UFC 229. Conor McGregor’s coach, and mentor, was cage-side as his man endured the toughest fight of his Mixed Martial Arts career. Khabib Nurmagomedov dominated the UFC […]

8 years ago

They sensed the end was near. Conor McGregor went to the championship rounds against Khabib Nurmagomedov but he did not go the distance. His corner did a fine job at keeping the Dagestani focused when he was not even sure what round he was heading into. Nurmagomedov put in a dominant display against the former […]

8 years ago

This absolutely infuriated Khabib Nurmagomedov. Why did Nurmagomedov completely lose the plot during and after his UFC 229 victory over Conor McGregor? There are a heap of reasons (some included below) but there were three incidents during the third round that drove him over the edge. Pre-fight reasons: McGregor’s Brooklyn bus attack McGregor calling his […]

8 years ago

Michael Bisping believes Khabib Nurmagomedov could be stripped of his UFC lightweight belt, be suspended for a long time and face criminal charges. Nurmagomedov defeated McGregor by neck crank (submission) in the fourth round of their main event at UFC 229. Dana White watched it all unfold from cage-side but his night was only getting […]

8 years ago

In fairness to the big Munster prop, he had put in one hell of a shift up to that point. Munster, like most sides in Europe in the past 18 months, must be sick of coming up against Leinster. Several of their key players had superb games and Leinster only purred in patches but they […]

8 years ago

The Munster captain looked like he’d had it up to his neck with trips to Dublin to take on Leinster. His words were very measured after Munster’s latest head-wrecker. Two big calls in the Guinness PRO14 clash between Munster and Leinster. Munster were on the wrong side of both of them. They could not complain […]

8 years ago

LEINSTER – 30 MUNSTER – 22 A few words of appreciation for James Lowe… what a bloody finisher! Leinster continued their recent dominance over Munster with a victory at the Aviva Stadium made comfortable by a match-defining and farcical call by referee Ben Whitehouse. With the score 20-12 to Leinster, early in the second half, […]

8 years ago

What a comeback. South Africa looked odds on to defeat New Zealand for the second game on the spin but they will still finish second in The Rugby Championship table. Rassie Erasmus has worked wonders with the Springboks since he took the helm ahead of the June Tests against England. South Africa won that series, […]

8 years ago

One suspects Conor McGregor will be getting a lot more money ‘under the line’. The Nevada State Athletic Commission has confirmed the disclosed salaries for all those competing at UFC 229 this weekend. Conor McGregor will earn a disclosed $3m for his lightweight title fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov, with no win bonus. ‘The Notorious’ gets this […]

8 years ago

“I’m reacting maybe a little bit emotionally but, to be honest, I don’t really care.” Gary Neville has launched an extraordinary broadside at Manchester United after reports broke on Friday night that the club was going to sack Jose Mourinho. Following sky Sports’ coverage of Brighton’s win over West Ham, Neville launched into a five-minute […]

8 years ago

Chris Hughton would surely allow the lads to let their hair down after this. Brighton got back on track in the Premier League with a 1-0 victory over West Ham United at the Amex Stadium. Shane Duffy was immense, yet again. Glenn Murray grabbed the matchwinner but it was Brighton’s back four that really helped […]

8 years ago

Win, lose or draw, Jose Mourinho may be on his way. Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho appears to be fighting a losing battle to hang onto his job after a wretched start to the season. United are 10th in the league, out of the League Cup and dropped points at home to Valencia in the […]

8 years ago

ULSTER – 15 CONNACHT – 22 This was not what Joe Schmidt wanted to see. Kieran Marmion did not need this. Nor did his province, country, Andy Friend or Schmidt. For the last 34 Test matches that he has been available for selection, Schmidt has started Conor Murray 31 times. Eoin Reddan started one of the […]

8 years ago

The young lad simply lives for scoring tries. Jacob Stockdale equalled a long-standing Irish try-scoring record last season and, 24 minutes into his Ulster return, he is on the hunt again. The 22-year-old had a delayed start to the season after suffering a hamstring tear in training. He was not expected back until mid October […]

8 years ago

“She was trying not to cry there.” Aspen Ladd is a fighter that could go all the way to the top, if she can only get a handle on her weight cuts. The 23-year-old from California is 6-0-0 in her professional MMA career and, at UFC 229, is set to take on Tonya Evinger, who […]

8 years ago

Ladies and gents, we’ve got a fight! Conor McGregor (154.5lbs) and Khabib Nurmagomedov (155lbs) have both made weight for their UFC lightweight title fight on Saturday. McGregor made us all wait a while but his team put that down to the Dubliner “sleeping in” in his Las Vegas home this morning. Ahead of the morning […]

8 years ago

It is one of the most distinctive sponsorship logos in the GAA and we’ll be seeing it a while yet. Cork GAA has received a significant boost after their sponsorship deal was extended until the end of 2020. Cork began their partnership with Chill Insurance back in 2013 and that deal was renewed again in […]

8 years ago

Nate Diaz did slap both men, but one was outside the Octagon. Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov both have colourful history with Nate Diaz. Twice in 2016, Diaz and McGregor had the fight world rapt with their headliner fights – and press conference antics – at UFC 196 and 202. The Californian submitted McGregor in […]

8 years ago

It has been a rough week for three-time Major winner Brooks Koepka. The US golf star was part of Jim Furyk’s strongly backed team that lost the Ryder Cup to Europe, struck a spectator at the event and was reported to be involved in TWO bust-ups with teammate Dustin Johnson. Koepka is at the Alfred Dunhill […]

8 years ago

Thank goodness both head coaches have rolled the dice and picked strong teams. 15 Ireland internationals will be on show at Kingspan Stadium, Belfast when Ulster welcome Connacht in Guinness PRO14 encounter (7.35pm, Kingspan Stadium, live on eir Sport) with a lot riding on it. Ulster suffered their first defeat of the season when they […]

8 years ago

McGregor feels he owes Diaz a rematch, as the Stockton native gave him one after UFC 196. Conor McGregor winced after FOX Sports presenter Karyn Bryant asked him if he had spotted any up-and-coming fighters in the UFC since he was away. “The game is full of bums!” McGregor was back in the four-ounce gloves […]

8 years ago

We told ourselves that the PRO14 would be different to the Top 14, but they are all playing under the same rules. Back in early September, Mathieu Bastareaud deliberately and callously took out Toulouse’s Christophe Samson, with a stiff forearm, at the bottom of a ruck and got a straight red card. Given his past […]

8 years ago

“Two of the best strikers in this sport – me and McGregor. That’s amazing.” The challenge was thrown out there by Conor McGregor on Monday. By Wednesday, Anderson Silva had hungrily accepted. The Brazilian ‘Spider’ versus the Irish ‘Gorilla’. Where McGregor is concerned, anything is possible. Having already claimed the UFC’s featherweight and lightweight belts […]

8 years ago

The phones must have been hopping down at the Notts TV studio… Roy Keane kindly gave up his time, contacts book and energy to help promote, and play in, the Liam Miller Tribute Match but he has kept a relatively low profile since his summer stint for ITV at the World Cup. The former Manchester […]

8 years ago

Ulster were back from a sapping trip to South Africa and were missing some key players but do you think Peter O’Mahony gave a toss? No bloody way. Munster needed a victory to get their Guinness PRO14 season sparked back to life after a couple of damaging away defeats. There were calls for ‘leaders’ to […]

8 years ago

Let’s get the obvious one out of the way – FRANCESCO MOLINARI = 10. The Ryder Cup trophy is staying in Europe and America’s record of not winning it away from home soil will, come 2022, stretch to 29 years. Thomas Bjorn’s men came from 3-1 down to win 17.5 to 10.5 and stun the […]

8 years ago

TJ Reid has met his nemesis. As first halves of hurling games go, the Kilkenny SHC quarter final clash between Dicksboro and Ballyhale Shamrocks had it all. TJ Reid’s name was stamped all over it, for good and bad reasons. The Kilkenny star was the star man for Ballyhale in their five-point win but he […]

8 years ago

“I was looking at him like I was about to light the room up like Phil in ’14.” For those that may not be aware of the reference from Team USA star Patrick Reed – Phil Mickelson famously launched into an attack on then Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson after his side’s defeat at the […]

8 years ago

“There’s no collar so it’s almost like a football jersey, we were saying… Feels pretty comfortable and if I’m lucky enough to give it a go out on the pitch that would be great.” Garry Ringrose was looking every part the established Irish international when, at the home ground of Old Belvedere RFC, we caught […]

8 years ago

A nice show of loyalty here, but Thomas Bjorn clearly won this battle. It all started so well for Rickie Fowler. Paired with Dustin Johnson in the fourballs on Day One, Fowler helped deliver a 4&2 victory. The morning session saw red across the board and only a late dip from Tiger Woods and Patrick […]

8 years ago

The temperature in the media tent went up a few degrees. Whenever they lose – and they’ve lost 9 of the last 12 Ryder Cups – the Team USA press conferences are always a compelling watch. So so many superstars, entourages, coaches, family members, friends and advisors in the American mix, winning can be crowded […]

8 years ago

The delivery of Nurmagomedov’s final line was scary. First off, Khabib Nurmagomedov looks to be training the A.K.A way. The American Kickboxing Academy is notorious for pushing its’ fighters hard coming into fight week and it often leads to injuries that see main events and top fights get postponed. From his interview with ESPN’s Brett […]

8 years ago

“The GAA Hour is going to follow Tony Brosnan’s career very closely this year.” So declared Colm Parkinson a little under a fortnight ago, after Brosnan scored 1-14 (1-11 from play) for Dr Crokes in the Kerry Senior Football Championship. The following day, Parkinson spoke about his impressive scoring return and what he brings to the […]

8 years ago

A winning return for St Vincents’ No.19. St Vincents have followed St. Judes, Ballyboden and Kilmacud Crokes into the semi finals of the Dublin Senior Football Championship, at the expense of Ciaran Kilkenny’s Castleknock. The northsiders reached the last four in comfortable style, at Parnell Park, after an iffy start. Castleknock led 1-1 to 0-0 in […]

8 years ago

“I don’t usually cry, but I couldn’t help it. What a week.” Sergio Garcia had some doubters heading into the 2018 Ryder Cup. Europe had even more. Thomas Bjorn assembled his team against an American unit that was the most star-studded of all time. Few predicted a European win, heading into this one, and fewer […]

8 years ago

The American golfing veteran was livid with this. Patrick Reed has put a lot of noses out of joint during this Ryder Cup. ‘Captain America’ was a Team USA in the last couple of Ryder Cups but he lost his two matches on Friday and Saturday. Talk on and off the course was that Reed […]

8 years ago

This was a lovely show of respect. There may be just four years between them, but Thomas has spent many years looking up to Rory McIlroy and seeing his as a trailblazer. Thomas defeated McIlroy on the last to win 1 UP and deliver the first point to Team USA. “JT!” McIlroy called as he […]

8 years ago

Team Europe’s talisman played like a dream off the tee and with iron in his hands. Rory McIlroy brought his singles match to the 18th but his match did not reach the green and, conceding a point to Justin Thomas, he had to give up a crucial point. He fought tooth and nail at Le […]

8 years ago

The USA’s biggest gamble of the 2018 Ryder Cup looks to have cost them dearly. At Gleneagles and again at Hazeltine, Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth made an ominous pairing. In foursomes and fourballs, the American duo complemented each other superbly and won some crucial points. 10 points won between them. In Paris, they didn’t […]

8 years ago

You didn’t have to be a Ryder Cup expert to know what Jordan Spieth was up to here. Spieth and Justin Thomas were the heroes for Team USA on Day Two of the Ryder Cup, in Paris. The Americans ended Saturday in a worse position than they began – 10-6 behind – but by sharing […]

8 years ago

…. and it found a teammate! Munster are without the scrum-half, and generalship, services of Conor Murray for the foreseeable future but, in Alby Mathewson, they have got a replacement that backs himself. Alby Mathewson has played Super Rugby, has lined out for Toulon and five Test caps for the All Blacks. In short, the 32-year-old […]

8 years ago

CONNACHT – 3 LEINSTER – 20 Leinster were deserving winners of a tense Guinness PRO14 clash with Connacht, in Galway, but the match was overshadowed by a quite horrendous head-stamp. Leo Cullen and Stuart Lancaster’s men avenged their heavy defeat at The Sportsground last season with Garry Ringrose and Sean Cronin getting tries that were […]

8 years ago

It certainly looked as if he knew what he was doing. First off, what a score from Garry Ringrose. Second off, Tadhg Furlong played this one well. Leinster came to Galway on Saturday evening and they were determined to, in the words of Johnny Sexton, avenge their 42-10 “humiliation” last season. Connacht went 3-0 ahead, […]

8 years ago

EUROPE 10-6 USA We are set up nicely (us Europeans), heading into the final day of the 2018 Ryder Cup. Jordan Spieth is definitely up for the fight. Having been 3-1 down to Team USA on Friday morning, Thomas Bjorn and his diligent dozen got down to business. They swept the afternoon foursomes and won […]

8 years ago

Whatever country he chooses, you can imagine Declan Rice having a handy international career. In the coming weeks, Declan Rice will confirm his intentions to play competitive internationals for England or Ireland. In the meantime, West Ham fans will continue to rejoice that their club picked him up when Chelsea, his former side, had their doubts. […]

8 years ago

Served this one up, nice and hot. Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter together on Ryder Cup weekend. That’s one hell of a feisty team. The European teammates had varying fortunes on Saturday morning – McIlroy winning with Sergio Garcia while Poulter and Jon Rahm lost in the final fourballs – but they were hoping to […]

8 years ago

“It’s in my blood now.” Ben Robinson would have been 22 now. It’s hard to predict what his life would be revolving around but rugby would surely figure strongly. We’ll never know, and neither will Peter Robinson, his father. Ben died, aged 14, back in January 2011 when he suffered brain injuries while playing for […]

8 years ago

Someone tell this lad that The Ryder Cup is a team game. Patrick Reed may well go out on Sunday and deliver a red point for America but there is a lot of team-work that needs to go into the tournament first. Reed was teamed up with Tiger Woods in the final fourballs pairing of […]

8 years ago

Full faith. Rory McIlroy was up against it going into the afternoon foursomes. The four-time Major winner had imploded on the final day of the PGA Tour Championship, last Sunday, and then hopped on a plane to Paris with the man that beat him, and everyone else – Tiger Woods. On Friday morning, at Le […]

8 years ago

George Lockhart and Conor McGregor have been good for each other. The diet and weight-cut expert has been behind some of McGregor’s more serene, controlled and successful trips to the scales. McGregor, in turn, has been a great advertisement for Lockhart as he is a model pupil. Their last weight-cut together was for the Floyd […]

8 years ago