They are starting to find their groove. After the Lions’ 54-7 thrashing of the Western Force on Saturday, we have had a look at those who have moved up the pecking order and increased their chances of being involved in the tests, and those who have fallen off. Winners 1. Joe McCarthy The Leinster second […]

9 months ago

He’s not wrong. Leinster looked back to somewhere near their best in Saturday’s URC semi-final win over Glasgow. It was a performance that was tinged with anger and frustration at their failure in this year’s Champions Cup, and indeed in Europe and the league over the past four seasons, where they have failed to win […]

9 months ago

Scott Barrett took exception to some play by Ireland’s Joe McCarthy. Ireland versus New Zealand promised a whole lot more than what it delivered, but there were at least some flashpoints. One of which came just minutes into the game when Joe McCarthy and New Zealand second-row Scott Barrett found themselves in a fiery tussle. […]

1 year ago

LEINSTER 36-22 LEICESTER Leicester Tigers came flying out of the gates, at Aviva Stadium, but Jamison Gibson-Park, Dan Sheehan and Joe McCarthy had some swift, painful responses for them. Handré Pollard crashed over for a try after only five minutes of play, in Dublin. Ross Byrne responded with a penalty but Leinster were far from […]

2 years ago

“I was talking to Keith Earls, and he described him as a big child, full of energy and enthusiasm.” It is nearing the end of a Caelan Doris chat, with ourselves and a group of journalists, when someone brings up Joe McCarthy. The 25-year-old breaks into a big grin. “Yeah, he’s a great character. We […]

2 years ago

FRANCE 17-38 IRELAND Joe McCarthy justified all the faith shown in him by Andy Farrell, his coaches and his Ireland teammates as he moshed some big French operators on an historic night in France. The Leinster lock was given the No.5 jersey, ahead of James Ryan and Iain Henderson, when Ireland took on the 2022 […]

2 years ago