We had not seen Roy Keane get too worked up at Euro 2020 yet. The Swiss got his blood up, though. While many football fans were fawning over Italy – the first team to secure a spot in the knock-out stages – Keane and Gary Neville were distracted with their exasperation for Switzerland. Italy won […]

5 years ago

If it was not for a power outage, the discovery may have never been made. Geoffrey Mujangi Bia had two different loan spells in England and has two international caps with Belgium. The 30-year-old, who played Championship football with Watford and two seasons of Premier League football with Wolves, must have been cursing his luck […]

5 years ago

We all knew what was coming… As soon as we saw ITV announcing Roy Keane, Gary Neville and Patrick Vieira as part of their pundits panel for Euro 2020, we all knew the clash at the Highbury tunnel would come up. For the uninitiated, Keane went gunning for Vieira in the tunnel of Arsenal’s old […]

5 years ago

Life comes at you fast. For Everton fans, of late, it has been absolutely flying. Rafa Benitez could be set for an interesting and somewhat spiky return to Merseyside. As the 2020/21 Premier League season wrapped up, Everton supporters were lamenting a flagging finish that saw them miss out on Champions and Europa League football. […]

5 years ago

The championship’s all-time top scorer looks set to miss out on Mayo latest All-Ireland tilt. Mayo fans would have been fearing the worst about Cillian O’Connor, on Sunday, as he limped off during the Division 2 semi-final win over Clare. Mayo’s victory will see them return to Division 1, next year, but it came at […]

5 years ago

We back, baby! The SportsJOE 12 o’clock quiz is kicking off with some Euro 2020 pundits before paying homage to Cristiano Ronaldo and taking a spin around some big footballing venues. Come join us.

5 years ago

International goals No.105 and 106 in the bag. More, undoubtedly, to come. Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe both put on shows at Euro 2020 today. The France star was perpetual motion, constantly buzzing about the pitch and causing the Germans headaches. Ronaldo was out of Portugal’s Group F clash with Hungary for long periods and […]

5 years ago

“It was more of a nibble than a bite!” France vs. Germany has served up some classics over the years, and this Euro 2020 group game had a bit of bite, courtesy of Antonio Rudiger. The Chelsea defender was tangling with France midfielder Paul Pogba, late in the first half, when he inexplicably decided to […]

5 years ago

The French player suffered a concussion, broken ribs and lost three teeth. Roy Keane was a class operator in his playing days, but he was well versed on lumping into a tackle or making a reducer if he felt the situation merited it. The former Manchester United and Ireland captain was sent off 13 times […]

5 years ago

“He’s got that bit of arrogance about him.” Cristiano Ronaldo was having one of those rare games against Hungary. He was knocking on the door, but it was not caving in. Chances came and chances went, but the Portuguese legend was stranded on the (albeit incredible) tally of 104 international goals. Ronaldo turns 37 in […]

5 years ago

One benefit of the ill-fated end to the PRO14 season is that the Scots, Irish and Welsh players are not being flogged up until departure day. The first Lions XV of the 2021 tour schedule will have a very celtic feel to it. While the Premiership and Top 14 competitions rage on, the PRO14 will […]

5 years ago

He’s a big man, but there is a certain grace there. Between mid March and early May, many of us had a crack at selecting our British & Irish Lions squads. Chris Harris featured in a few, but no-one was overly confident he would make the final cut. The Gloucester centre has 28 caps for […]

5 years ago

The former Gloucester and Bristol star passed away at the weekend. Before he took questions on his first full day of training at the British & Irish Lions camp, in Jersey, Chris Harris paid tribute to the late Jack Adams. Adams, who played centre in the Premiership for Gloucester and Bristol, passed away at the […]

5 years ago

A not-so-subtle dig. “Not one day has passed when I’ve regretted it,” Damien Duff declared back in February of this year. “I would have been unhappy with myself if I’d stayed.” The former Ireland attacker was speaking to RTE, earlier this year, about his decision to step down from Stephen Kenny’s national team coaching set-up. […]

5 years ago

“Look, these lads are aware of the situation.” Cian Healy, Keith Earls and Johnny Sexton are all centrally contracted with the IRFU but been given the summer off by Ireland coach Andy Farrell. Eager to use the summer Tests against Japan and the USA to look at new players and combinations, Farrell has excused the […]

5 years ago

“It will be a great opportunity to see can this group perform at this level.” It goes to show the depth of talent on these shores that many are still cribbing about players excluded, with 37 players named in an Ireland squad, seven more on Lions duty and three senior players given the summer off. […]

5 years ago

A clear decision has been made. Johnny Sexton looks set to sit out a considerable stretch of time after being excused from Ireland duty this summer. Sexton has not played since sustaining a concussion against Exeter Chiefs in early April and he may not see on-field action against until Leinster’s pre-season schedule in August. The […]

5 years ago

The two lads have a combined age of 81, now, but could probably still do a decent job of it. It has been over seven years, now, since Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic played together in the heart of the Manchester United defence. Most United fans opt to forget that uncomfortable final season they had, […]

5 years ago

There are 11 uncapped players in the squad. Andy Farrell has named a 37-man Ireland squad for this summer’s two-Test spin against the USA and Japan. Leinster lock James Ryan will captain the side. Harry Byrne, Tom Daly, Fineen Wycherley, Paul Boyle, Gavin Coombes and Nick Timoney are the big call-ups that spring off the […]

5 years ago

“I found it uncomfortable viewing the match, at times.” Richie Sadlier was not the only one feeling uncomfortable, on Saturday night, as Denmark’s players attempted to park the trauma of seeing teammate Christian Eriksen’s collapse, only hours before, and try to finish a football match. The Danes were put in an incredibly tough position, on […]

5 years ago

Brought to you by Gillette – Put your Best Face Forward with our new and improved blades. “When Stephen Jones struck it, I thought it was good.” For Irish rugby supporters, there is no closer call than the drama that unfolded at Millennium Stadium on March 21st 2009. Ireland went into a title decider against […]

5 years ago

“I’d like to see a bit more of Ireland this summer.” Fineen Wycherley is eager to see more of the place whenever his never-ending season finally does wrap, but he may have to wait a while longer. Gavin Coombes too. Around this time last year, SportsJOE caught up with Wycherley down at his parents’ place […]

5 years ago

“The reality is, this has been a really stressful time, both for our players and our staff.” The reality is, David Nucifora and the IRFU only had so much money and contracts going around. Still, many fans will look at the quality players departing their province, this summer, and wish that more could have been […]

5 years ago

Fans will be able to live-stream all 137 matches. A three-year deal to show all Champions League matches, via live-stream, has been announced today. While RTE will still be showing one live game each Tuesday, and another broadcaster for a Wednesday match is set to be confirmed, Irish fans looking to watch any and all […]

5 years ago

“We got everyone we set out to get.” IRFU Performance Director David Nucifora is confident the union did all they could, financially, to retain Munster and Ireland star CJ Stander The Australian, now in his seventh year with the IRFU, made the claim at his end-of-season briefing with the media, this morning. While the union […]

5 years ago

We’ll have the biggest slice, cheers. In 2020, we started up The SportsJOE 12 o’clock quiz as a way of keeping you on your toes and connected to sport during uncertain times. You have played our 12 o’clock quiz in huge numbers and we’ve loved putting them together. To mark our 366th quiz, we’ve put […]

5 years ago

What are the odds? Shortly before Naomi Osaka announced she would be withdrawing from The French Open, Petra Kvitova suffered a freak press conference accident that has now ended her tournament. There has been a lot of focus on the women’s singles championship at Roland Garros, this year, after Osaka refused to take part in […]

5 years ago

Kelly played three games in Ireland U20’s pandemic-curtailed 2020 Six Nations campaign. Dan Kelly is enjoying an impressive season with Leicester Tigers, and his form may soon be recognised with an international call-up, for England. Born in Manchester, and only turning 20 on June 16, Kelly played three times for Tigers last season but has […]

5 years ago

No Johnny Sexton again, but hardly surprising as he has not featured for Leinster since April 10. Sean O’Brien may yet get his wish – Tomos Williams could be a Lion before the summer is out. Back in early May, hours after Warren Gatland’s 2021 British & Irish Lions squad had been announced, Adam Jones […]

5 years ago

Time to flip the script. While England, Wales and Scotland fans have all been debating their squad selections for Euro 2020, Ireland are preparing for an end-of-season dart against Andorra and Hungary. It has been a tough time, of late, for the Irish team and their fans but Stephen Kenny has given his squad an […]

5 years ago

“I’m sorry for the remix!” The SportsJOE 12 o’clock quiz is coming at you with all the energy of Patrice Evra belting out a Wonderwall remix on a sunny Monday morning! Navigate a tricky opening round well, and you could be set for a big score. Good luck!

5 years ago

“Sure it was a success – we beat England!” Back in 2017, England were coming to Dublin with a Grand Slam on the line. Eddie Jones’ men had won the lot in 2016 and were seeking to repeat the dose at the Aviva Stadium. Ahead of the game, former Munster and Ireland outhalf Ronan O’Gara […]

5 years ago

“I’m no Joe Wicks… “ Anyone that sees Anthony Joshua in person, on TV, throwing bombs in the ring or follows him on social media, can clearly see he is a gym rat. The four-title world champion is impressively built and he prides himself on maintaining a top physique, even when he is not deep […]

5 years ago

“He might just be throwing us some bait, I’m not sure.” Warren Gatland lay some big, burly cards on the table, on May 6, when he selected Bundee Aki and Chris Harris as two of his three out-and-out centres. Robbie Henshaw, who is expected to start in midfield, is the other dedicated centre while Owen […]

5 years ago

Some big calls in here. In a months’ time, the 2021 British & Irish Lions squad will depart for South Africa for the eight-game tour. Eight Irish players will be pushing hard to make the Lions XV. There are eight Irish players in the Lions’ 37-man squad, and there could be another couple called up […]

5 years ago

We are in for some crackers, here. The condensed nature of the Allianz National League meant that just about every single game, on Saturday and Sunday, had multiple permutations. A point here or there had the potential to tear up scripts and toss everything on its’ head. As it all turned out, in Division 1 […]

5 years ago

GALWAY 1-15 DUBLIN 2-16 Brian Howard is a hell of a player. The Raheny man is one of the finest players of his generation, but he found himself in reserve for a lot of 2020 and Dessie Farrell put his stamp on the winning side he inherited from Jim Gavin. We were left with fleeting […]

5 years ago

CLARE 1-18 CORK 0-22 “We’re dogs,” declared Cathail O’Mahony. “Dogs that fight in a pack. So we just kept our pack going and we kept our county going.” Anyone that watched O’Mahony deliver those rousing words, back in August 2019, would have marked his card. This guy was one to watch. The Mitchelstown forward spoke […]

5 years ago

“He grabbed his opportunity and never looked back.” World Player of the Season for Antoine Dupont, in our House of Rugby awards, but Robbie Henshaw and Tadhg Beirne may yet mix it with the France scrumhalf for the World Rugby accolade if they continue their good form on British & Irish Lions duty. With the […]

5 years ago

“And I took that personally.” The SportsJOE 12 o’clock quiz is taking particular focus on Chelsea, after their big European triumph, and marking the one-year anniversary of The Last Dance ending on Netflix. See how close you can get to full marks…

5 years ago

“Nobody knows what I’ve been through.” Jason Quigley defeated Shane Moseley Jr in Las Vegas, on Saturday, to win the vacant WBO-NABO middleweight title and vault into the title picture against the division’s top dog – Demetrius Andrade. Quigley has endured a frustrating 12 months after going through fight camps only for bouts to be […]

5 years ago

The two boys knocked a bit of craic out of this. This will not be the last time we hear of Lions and hobbits. We are still over a month away from the British & Irish Lions setting off for South Africa, on their eight-game tour, but anticipation is still bubbling away. The Lions squad […]

5 years ago

You can tell you the guy lives and breathes his rugby, and everything about the Boks. If you did not know how the relationship worked between Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber before, a 40-minute Zoom chat would quickly get you up to speed. Nienaber is the head coach of the Springboks, but Erasmus is the […]

5 years ago

“Let’s have a listen.” It was a night of wistful looks, big embraces and hearty singing as the lights came down on Thomond Park for the 2020/21 season, and a host of big names – including CJ Stander and Tommy O’Donnell – bid farewell. Munster defeated a game Cardiff Blues side 31-27 to keep their […]

5 years ago

MAN UNITED 1-1 VILLAREAL (Villareal win 11-10 on penalties) Gerónimo Rulli rules in Gdansk. The full Manchester United ratings are a mixed bag after Villareal stunned the big dogs with a penalty shoot-out win. United goalkeeper David De Gea will carry the can – after his penalty shoot-out nightmare – but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has […]

5 years ago

All levels of pretence have been flung out the window. Bryson Dechambeau and Brooks Koepka do not like each other. Sure, they can be civil. They can say nice things about each other’s games in press conferences. They can be in the same Ryder Cup team. They can even pose for corporate, gimmicky shots when […]

5 years ago

“Well, where do I start?!” Sean O’Brien welcomed his old Leinster, Ireland and Lions teammate Robbie Henshaw to the latest House of Rugby show, this week, and may have been hoping to embarrass him with some old tales. Showing the sort of nous and dexterity that has served him well this season, Henshaw soon turned […]

5 years ago

‘Stash Vegas!’ The 2021 British & Irish Lions squad have met up in England today in their first proper engagement together since Warren Gatland picked them to tour South Africa, on May 6. The 37 lucky players and Gatland’s coaching and backroom staff are having a two-day event to get up to speed ahead of […]

5 years ago

“What’s wrong with expressing a bit of joy around the game?!” The SportsJOE 12 o’clock quiz is flinging them hot and fast today. You better be ready, or you could find yourself scrambling. God speed!

5 years ago

“Yeah, White Chocolate!” Conor Murray and Finn Russell would be the ideal combination to keep the Springboks on their toes, this summer. Ever since he first broke into the Ireland team, Murray has never been too far away from Johnny Sexton. In all Tests – for Ireland and the Lions – Murray has 85 starts. […]

5 years ago