A MAN IS standing on a bridge in Limerick, peering over the edge. Goalkeeping coach Noel Considine. Source: Noel Considine He’s jobless, homeless and down to his last €3. It’s Christmas Eve, 2013, a day he usually spends out shopping with his partner and his son. It’s their little annual custom. But today, he’s alone and … Continue reading "‘You either get sober, end up in jail or in a brown box. I wasn’t far away from any of them’"

Denise Gaule, Sarah Dervan and Grace Walsh have been included in our team of the year. Source: Photojoiner/Inpho THERE WERE SOME head-scratching moments to suffer through here. The camogie championship came to a dramatic conclusion last Saturday night, as Kilkenny banished the hurt of three consecutive All-Ireland final defeats to reign supreme again. It took … Continue reading "What would your Camogie All-Star team of 2020 be?"

THE LEINSTER MFC and MHC finals have been postponed until further notice due to the new Level 5 restrictions. Leinster GAA have confirmed that inter-county minor and U20 games are unable to take place after 27 December. Offaly are set to contest both minor deciders, with the hurling clash against Kilkenny initially fixed for 2 … Continue reading "Leinster minor hurling and football finals postponed due to Level 5 restrictions"

Updated Dec 26th 2020, 9:44 PM IT’S SO IMPORTANT to normalise talking about mental health. I think we have this culture, especially in Cavan, where people just say, ‘Ah, I’m grand,’ or, ‘I’m okay…’ ‘How are ya keeping?’ ‘I’m grand.’ We need to spend that extra couple of minutes talking to someone, especially now with … Continue reading "‘It was nearly a full-time job trying to mask what was going on behind the scenes’"

THE CHRISTMAS ADVERT for a popular chain of stores depicts an extraordinary historical event. A special game of football took place during World War 1 in 1914. Source: Sainsbury’s Youtube Channel The day is Christmas Eve, 1914 and the setting is the Western Front of World War 1. It’s often referred to as the Christmas … Continue reading "The strangers we meet along the way – sport is the one great leveller in life"

Updated Dec 28th 2020, 9:30 PM RONAN MCCARTHY HAS been reappointed as Cork senior football boss for a further two-year term, the Rebel County have confirmed.  McCarthy’s initial three-year term concluded after Cork’s Munster final defeat to Tpperary and he will now stay in place until the end of the 2022 season. McCarthy has added … Continue reading "Cork reappoint McCarthy for further two years"

Updated 16.15, 29 December BRENDAN BUGLER HAS been announced as the new manager of Offaly senior hurling side Birr.  The two-time All-Star retired from inter-county duty with Clare in 2017 and he most recently worked as coach with Wexford. Birr were beaten finalists in 2019 and remain among the frontrunners for the Sean Robbins Cup … Continue reading "Clare All-Ireland winner appointed as manager of Offaly’s Birr"

WATERFORD WILL HAVE to plan for next season’s hurling league and championship without All-Star goalkeeper Stephen O’Keeffe. O’Keeffe has informed Déise boss Liam Cahill and his management team that he will be unavailable for the upcoming campaign. “Stephen O’Keeffe has informed the Waterford management team he is taking some time out and will be unavailable … Continue reading "Waterford All-Star keeper Stephen O’Keeffe steps away for 2021 season"

JAMES SKEHILL WILL be a notable absentee from the Galway senior hurling panel for 2021 and beyond. The veteran Cappataggle goalkeeper announced his retirement from the inter-county game this evening on social media. “After 14 years playing with Galway I’d like to take this opportunity to announce my retirement from inter-county hurling,” he tweeted. “A … Continue reading "Veteran Galway goalkeeper James Skehill announces retirement"

“LOOK, YOU’LL BE on this panel but you need to lose two stone.” That sentence is one that will never be forgotten. Johnny McMahon, AKA Johnny Smacks of The 2 Johnnies. Source: Piaras Ó Mídheach/SPORTSFILE Johnny McMahon — better known now as Johnny Smacks from comedy duo The 2 Johnnies — was just 17 at … Continue reading "‘It’s scandalous that lads don’t feel comfortable in those jerseys’ – body image in GAA"