Fiona Coghlan has done a hell of a lot for her country. For nearly 12 years, she served Ireland. Three World Cup campaigns, beating New Zealand in one en route to the semi-finals, and the nation’s first ever Grand Slam as captain tops a CV littered with team success, individual honours and a downright devotion […]

7 years ago

On Monday, we put the question out on Instagram. Who should Ireland play at full back next? There’s not exactly a lack of options but there’s not one standout right now either. https://www.instagram.com/p/BtdxW4KBBxf/ Still, despite the six candidates, the same word kept firing through. “Zebo.” “Zebo.” “Where the f**k’s Zebo?” Although he might be in […]

7 years ago

No Irish player has made the RugbyJOE team for round 1 of the Six Nations. Ireland were comprehensively beaten by England in Dublin, Wales went to Paris and got their campaign off to a great start while Scotland cruised to a comfortable win over Italy before Conor O’Shea’s side ran in a couple of late […]

7 years ago

Compiled by Daragh Ó Conchúir Cork 3-08 Waterford 0-10 FIRST-HALF goals from Amy O’Connor (two) and Saoirse McCarthy were vital as All-Ireland champions Cork were able to see off a doughty Déise challenge to prevail by 3-8 to 0-10 at Cork Camogie Grounds. Paudie Murray’s outfit remain on top of Group 2 with three wins […]

7 years ago

Compiled by Declan Rooney Mayo 2-11 Tipperary 0-12 Mayo launched their Lidl NFL Division 1 drive with victory as a 1-6 haul from full-forward Rachel Kearns saw them past Tipperary at Swinford Amenity Park, while Westmeath claimed the spoils against Monaghan in Mullingar. Kearns was inspirational for the westerners, while Grace Kelly also hit the […]

7 years ago

“All the hurdles on the potentially rocky road to Dublin had been cleared with impressive ease.” England came to Dublin on Saturday afternoon and emerged with a convincing victory over Ireland. Eddie Jones’ team won 32-20 at the Aviva Stadium, ending Joe Schmidt’s chances of winning back-to-back Grand Slams in his final Six Nations campaign. […]

7 years ago

England centre Manu Tuilagi smashed Ireland winger Jacob Stockdale with a no arms clean out during his side’s 32-20 win over Ireland at Lansdowne Road on Saturday. Tuilagi formed an effective partnership with Henry Slade in the English midfield as the visitors steamrolled their way past Joe Schmidt’s side but the Leicester Tigers inside back […]

7 years ago

Matt Williams wasn’t in the mood for pulling punches on Saturday night. In a sobering night for Irish Rugby, anyone getting carried away about World Cup talk had their coughs softened as England showed up in Dublin and delivered a masterclass. Physically and tactically, Ireland were dominated as the Grand Slam champions got their Six […]

7 years ago

DONEGAL 1-11 DUBLIN 1-7 By Daire Walsh CAPTAIN Karen Guthrie produced an outstanding performance at Croke Park on Saturday night to give Donegal an opening round triumph over defending champions Dublin in Division One of the Lidl National Football League. The Glenfin ace (who finished with 1-4) was a deserved recipient of the Player of […]

7 years ago

A belter of an opening day to the Dublin Racing Festival. Here is your report to each Saturday’s three big races from Daragh Ó Conchúir as well as a summary of the rest of them. Apple’s Jade routs rivals in the big one Apple’s Jade has routed a high-class field to become the first mare […]

7 years ago

“Enjoy your future now before it’s too late.” Those are the powerfully poignant words of Doddie Weir, a rugby giant, a Scottish icon, a great man. At the age of just 48, Weir is living with the adverse reality of his motor neurone disease diagnosis but, still, he is an inspiration. Despite the horror of […]

7 years ago

And there it goes, another transfer window. No Harry Redknapp, no flight trackers, no 1am surprises and not even a purple dildo in sight on Sky Sports News. Deadline day came and deadline day went and, when all is said and done, only three of the Premier League’s top six got involved in any bit […]

7 years ago

By Daragh Small Almost two decades on from her inter-county debut, Sligo defender Jacqui Mulligan is back hoping to make the difference in 2019. Last year she took a year out to explore the world, and after she watched her team-mates exit the TG4 Intermediate championship to Tyrone once again, the St Farnan’s clubwoman thinks it’s […]

7 years ago

By Daragh Small Donegal senior manager Maxi Curran is hoping that 2019 is the year that his squad can bridge the gap to Cork and Dublin and claim some national silverware. Donegal can be immediately benchmarked when they travel to Croke Park this Saturday evening (5pm) to face the Lidl Ladies National League Division 1 […]

7 years ago

Wednesday night lights. It’s come to this, do or die. Only one will advance and who worse to deny you than one of your fiercest rivals? DIT and UCD put their dreams on the line on Wednesday night in Belfield with the prize of The Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup quarter-final awaiting the victor. After stumbling […]

7 years ago

By Daragh Small She’s just buzzing to get back into it again. CORK defender Eimear Meaney says she is thrilled with Ladies Football’s progress and that Cork’s aim is to get back to Croke Park in 2019 in order to bury the memories of the disappointing TG4 All-Ireland Senior Final defeat to Dublin last September. […]

7 years ago

Sock game is strong. Don’t for a second tell us it’s a coincidence. Don’t even try and claim that you just pick up a pair of socks willy nilly and let them sit on you whatever way they want. We’re above that at this stage and we can see right through those lies anyway. Some […]

7 years ago

This year marks the 10 year anniversary of Ireland’s 2009 Grand Slam. Tommy Bowe collecting Ronan O’Gara’s crosskick and sprinting clear of the Welsh defence to score in the Millenium Stadium is one of the most iconic moments in Irish Rugby history. Nine years later and Ireland repeated the feat by running the table in […]

7 years ago

Anything over 16/20 is a good score

7 years ago

Camoige round-up by Daragh Ó Conchúir St Martin’s 0-11 Inniscarra 0-5 NINE points from Chloe Foxe propelled St Martin’s to the final of the AIB All-Ireland Senior Club Camogie Championship as a result of a 0-11 to 0-5 win over Inniscarra at WIT Carriganore. They will face the considerable task of attempting to dethrone an […]

7 years ago

The big guns are taking care of business. Camogie Division One League round-up by Daragh Ó Conchúir Galway 1-14 Tipperary 1-6 CARRIE DOLAN shot 10 points as Galway got their Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League Division 1 campaign off to a flying start with a 1-14 to 1-6 win over Tipperary at The Ragg. Defending champions […]

7 years ago

Another important weekend for Rafa Benitez. Or is it? Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle United have a home tie against Watford in the FA Cup and they may be one club who would cherish a victory in the competition. But is it in Newcastle’s best interests to do well. Conventional wisdom says they would be better off […]

7 years ago

Now it’s just going too far. Come and have a look if you like, sample some of the products even, but just don’t take Mata away. Whilst Thursday’s rumour mill brought good news for the Old Trafford faithful with the talk that they were beating Spurs to one of Holland’s most promising attackers, there’s inevitably […]

7 years ago

Brought to you by NiQuitin Not a bad way to motivate yourself to quit smoking. Giving up smoking is no mean feat. As big a mountain it might seem at the start, having the right people around you is half the battle. In association with NiQuitin, we want to get people to team up and quit […]

7 years ago

Over half of the nominees are Irish. Eight Irish players have been nominated for the EPCR European Player of the Year award. Leinster trio Sean Cronin, Tadhg Furlong and Garry Ringrose, who helped the province win the Champions Cup in 2018, are nominated. As are Munster and Ireland stars Tadhg Beirne, Joey Carbery and Peter O’Mahony. Ulster’s Jacob […]

7 years ago

Anything over 15 is a great score here…

7 years ago

Every media outlet should have a daily Sam Allardyce slot. It’s nothing to do with any activity in the transfer market but he felt the need to point out on talkSPORT that he wanted to sign Pierre Emerick Aubameyang when he was manager at Everton. I saw him first, sort of thing. Allardyce provided typically […]

7 years ago

Is there anything better than the transfer window? Gossip, rumours, hearsay. The same thing over and over again, just worded differently. Tell-tales, tittle-tattles, Chinese whispers. If a month that does its very best to suck the life out of football fans by the shameless shoehorning of the FA Cup ever needed another dimension of talking […]

7 years ago

By Jackie Cahill Brilliant stuff. THE Ladies Gaelic Football Association is pleased to confirm the full list of 13 confirmed ‘double-header’ fixtures during the 2019 Lidl National League campaign. The Lidl National Football League Fixtures will provide curtain raisers to men’s Allianz Football League games involving the host counties. The LGFA has managed to secure […]

7 years ago

Marcus Rashford is back. But whoever doubted him? After another great weekend for Manchester United, the return of Rashford to the form that first suggested he could be one of the most exciting players in English football has Manchester United fans excited. Is this resurgence simply down to the exit of Jose Mourinho or should […]

7 years ago

Harry Kane injured. Lucas Moura injured. Son at the Asian Games. Dele Alli a concern. Llorente, beta. Who you gonna call? Andy Carroll is the only number Tottenham Hotspur can think of dialling. Despite playing just 25 league games in the last two seasons and managing to hit the net just three times in that period, Spurs are said […]

7 years ago

N’Koudou’s pinpoint cross provided a stoppage time assist for Harry Winks on Sunday. It’s fair to say that Georges-Kévin N’Koudou has become something of a forgotten man at Tottenham – as his tweet on Sunday night suggested. The 23-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Burnley but has found first team […]

7 years ago

By Daragh Ó Conchúir The camogie is back. Cork 0-10 Tipperary 0-7 ALL-IRELAND champions Cork survived an extremely stern examination from Tipperary to get their Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League Division 1 campaign off to a winning start, 0-10 to 0-7 at The Ragg. Tipp are looking to build on a progressive 2018 under Bill Mullaney, […]

7 years ago

By Phillip Dillon The football world can move extremely fast sometimes. Six months ago, Gonzalo Higuain was the starting striker for Juventus, scoring 23 goals to help Massimo Allegri’s side to their fourth domestic double in a row. In July 2018, Juventus signed Cristiano Ronaldo and Higuain was forced out of the club to make […]

7 years ago

Westmeath have won the 2019 O’Byrne Cup with a decisive 1-12 to 0-10 win over Dublin at Parnell Park. Dublin edged their way past Meath in the semi-finals with a free taking competition win over the Royals last weekend but came up short against Westmeath with half-forward Ger Egan smashing home the game deciding goal […]

7 years ago

Manchester City have been linked with a move for Leicester City left-back Ben Chilwell. The club spent a whopping £49 million pounds on Benjamin Mendy before last season but the France international has suffered two serious knee injuries during his time in Manchester and manager Pep Guardiola wants to strengthen his depth at the position […]

7 years ago

It’s safe to say Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has lifted the mood at Old Trafford. Anthony Martial has become the first Manchester United player to state their support for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to be offered the manager’s role permanently. Solskjaer was appointed as caretaker manager in December, replacing José Mourinho until the end of the 2018-19 season. […]

7 years ago

By Philip Dillion. This could be a big chance for him. Tottenham’s top-four hopes could have taken a massive blow with the news that Harry Kane is ruled out until March at the earliest after damaging ligaments in his ankle. Heung Min Son could also potentially miss five Spurs’ games if South Korea reach the […]

7 years ago

By Philip Dillon Harry Wilson is arriving. On Wednesday night, Derby went to Southampton for the final set of 3rd round FA Cup fixtures. Frank Lampard’s side had a goal ruled out in the first half by VAR and in the second period found themselves 2-0 down with 15 minutes to go. Game over? Nah. […]

7 years ago

This only makes us even more excited for Super Bowl LIII. It really doesn’t matter what sides make it to the Super Bowl. It’s always special, and brings together hardcore NFL fans and casual supporters of the sport. The reason for that it’s almost always a classic. Down through the years, there has been no […]

7 years ago

By Philip Dillon A few months have passed since Conor McGregor was dismantled by Khabib Nurmagomedov in the main event of UFC 229. The former two weight champion has recently been linked with a return to the boxing ring against former sparring partner Paulie Malinaggi. Malinaggi has had a long running grudge with McGregor over […]

7 years ago

It’s almost that time of year again… For most people, January is a month of feeling sad over the fact that Christmas is over. For NFL fans, Christmas comes on the first Sunday of February. Since the first Super Bowl in 1967, it has been an annual tradition for US families as much as it […]

7 years ago

By Philip Dillion. Aaron Ramsey is close to completing a deal to leave Arsenal to join Juventus on a free transfer. This situation is all too familiar for Arsenal fans who have seen so many of their star players leave on free transfers or at discounted prices due to being in the final year of […]

7 years ago

By Philip Dillon. The “Babyface Assassin” has brought a new lease of life into a Manchester United squad that appeared to be a lost cause upon his arrival. United were eight points behind Arsenal before Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first match as caretaker manager. Six games later, they are on the same points as Arsenal and […]

7 years ago

Brought to you by Budweiser Who’s up for a trip to Atlanta? If last year’s 41-33 victory for the Philadelphia Eagles over the New England Patriots was anything to go by, Super Bowl LIII will be a classic. While we still don’t know what teams will be playing on Sunday, 3 February, it’s always the biggest date […]

7 years ago

By Philip Dillon. Manchester United were victorious against Tottenham at Wembley in what was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s biggest test to date as caretaker manager. United’s goal came from a counter-attack set in motion by a misplaced pass from Kieran Trippier. Paul Pogba played a superb ball through to Marcus Rashford who made no mistake in […]

7 years ago

By Philip Dillon Liverpool were victorious this weekend away to Brighton after two defeats on the bounce. The Premier League leaders scraped a 1-0 victory at the Amex Stadium thanks to a Mo Salah penalty and the only key thing to take from the game is that Liverpool won. They won in a tough game […]

7 years ago

Remember the days when money actually mattered to football clubs? Remember when Alan Shearer went for £15m and you were trying to get your head around the sheer enormity of the transfer fee? Then Newcastle doubled it and then some for Andy Carroll, Jordan Ibe got bought by Bournemouth for £18m and the game just […]

7 years ago

Declan Rice keeps getting better. The West Ham player scored his first goal for the club in their 1-0 victory over Arsenal on Saturday, but he also demonstrated that he is going to be a player many clubs will covet. On The Football Spin, Paddy McKenna and Dion Fanning discuss Rice’s progress. Dion explains why […]

7 years ago

“The road to undisputed is on.” Katie Taylor’s next fight has been announced and it is a big one. Taylor will take on Rose Volante, the WBO lightweight champion, in Philadelphia in March. Katie’s promoter Eddie Hearn announced the bout on Twitter on Friday evening. I’m over the moon to confirm contracts are signed for […]

7 years ago