It is not all on one man, but you really have to feel for him. It was a tough watch. Ronan Kelleher played his first game of the season, last weekend, against Tonga so a game against reigning world champions, South Africa was always going to be a huge step up. The Leinster hooker started […]

2 years ago

From the outside, looking in, that selection picture looks clearer. With five dropping out, Tom Stewart coming back in, Jeremy Loughman called in as loosehead cover and Diarmuid Barron flown over to Bayonne, we put the current Ireland World Cup training squad at 40. Jacob Stockdale and Ciarán Frawley missing out on Samoa selection hints […]

2 years ago

“He is flying around the place.” Tom Stewart is getting his big chance, Diarmuid Barron is up to speed on team calls, Rob Herring is backing up his Ulster teammate and both the Leinster hookers are in good nick ahead of the World Cup squad announcement, according to the Ireland head coach anyway. Andy Farrell […]

2 years ago

“He’s unbelievably talented, and he’s flying.” There is a great Sportsfile snap, taken a day before the All Blacks were defeated, last November, of the Ireland players knocking great craic out of Dan Sheehan and Rónan Kelleher being late for the official match-day squad photo. The likes of James Ryan, Caelan Doris and Ryan Baird, […]

4 years ago

“It was still a bit disappointing that I didn’t get a run-out.” As much as he loved being part of the British & Irish Lions squad [twice] in the summer, you can easily read that Ronan Kelleher has a couple of gnawing regrets. March to July 2021 were a tumble dryer of emotions for the […]

4 years ago

“He certainly wasn’t frustrated. He was delighted with himself.” Ronan Kelleher will have returned from his two week stints with the British & Irish Lions determined to get back with the big boys some day. That day may yet come again before the summer is out. The Lions have three fit hookers, at present, but […]

5 years ago