IT’S ALMOST SHOWTIME in Munster as the EirGrid U21 football championship begins this week. Cork begin the competition as holders, and are aiming to win the title for the sixth time in seven seasons. There are two quarter-finals down for decision on Wednesday, as a fancied Kerry team host Clare at Austin Stack Park in … Continue reading "9 players to watch in the Munster U21 football championship"

DECLAN BROWNE IS preparing for his first taste of championship football as an inter-county manager. Tipperary football great Declan Browne. Source: INPHO You might remember the Moyle Rovers star tearing it up as a senior footballer with Tipperary during his playing days, and winning All-Star awards in 1998 and 2003. Until Michael Quinlivan won one … Continue reading "From winning 2 All-Stars with the Tipperary senior footballers to the new U21 manager"

AS IF THE challenge of facing Kerry’s U21s tomorrow night wasn’t a tough enough assignment already, Clare will have to do so without Pearse Lillis as the Cooraclare man has been ruled out of the clash with a hand injury. Lillis picked up the injury while playing a hurling game for Ballyea over the weekend … Continue reading "Clare senior ruled out for U21 footballers and in doubt for Ballyea’s All-Ireland final"

CLARE’S BID FOR back-to-back Division 1 titles has suffered a blow with the news that Shane O’Donnell is set to miss the rest of the hurling league campaign. O’Donnell, who shot to prominence with a hat-trick in the 2013 All-Ireland final replay, has been ruled out “for a minimum of six weeks.” The news was confirmed … Continue reading "Blow to Clare’s Division 1 defence as O’Donnell set to miss rest of league"

ON FIRST ENCOUNTER with Mags D’Arcy, she comes across as a right joker. Wexford camogie star Mags D’Arcy. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO She’s that person in the room that everyone wants to talk to. The one that everyone wants to have a laugh with. And it’s no wonder. She’s a character. The Wexford goalkeeper won the hearts … Continue reading "‘Until the same respect is shown to the women’s game, nothing will change’"

Dublin teammates Bernard Brogan and Michael Darragh MacAuley will be in opposition. 2016 ALL-IRELAND club champions Ballyboden St-Enda’s will take on 2014 county finalists St Oliver Plunkett’s-Eoghan Ruadh in the pick of the first round ties in this year’s Dublin senior football championship. The game will pit Dublin team-mates Michael Darragh MacAuley and Bernard Brogan … Continue reading "2016 All-Ireland champions to face 2014 county finalists after Dublin senior football draw"

LAST JULY BRIAN Hurley was in Cork IT’s grounds in Bishopstown, playing in a training game with the Cork senior footballers. They were getting set for relaunch their season in the qualifiers after being stunned by Tipperary in Munster. Cork footballer Brian Hurley. Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO But Hurley’s season was about to come crashing to … Continue reading "‘I recall biting my hand on the floor’ – Cork’s Hurley returns 8 months after ripping hamstring"

St Brigid’s, Loughrea (Galway) 0-19 St Colman’s, Fermoy (Cork) 1-13 Jackie Cahill reports from University of Limerick CONOR MOLLOY LED the way with eight points as Connacht champions St Brigid’s Loughrea overturned a five-point deficit to book a place in the All-Ireland Post Primary Schools senior hurling A semi-finals today. St Brigid’s, co-managed by Galway … Continue reading "Galway captain sees his St Brigid’s team defeat Cork’s St Colman’s to reach All-Ireland semi-final"

Kilkenny CBS 3-9 Presentation College Athenry 0-15 Kevin O’Brien reports from Abbotstown GAA Centre of Excellence KILKENNY CBS WILL take on Our Ladys Secondary School Templemore in the Croke Cup semi-final after a thrilling three-point victory over Presentation College Athenry today. The beaten Leinster finalists trailed by 0-9 to 1-3 at half-time, but posted 2-4 in a rip-roaring … Continue reading "Cats minor Sean Bolger posts 2-2 as Kilkenny CBS rally to see off Athenry to book last four place"

TIPPERARY HURLER MICHAEL Maher, a five-time All-Ireland senior hurling winner with the county, has passed away at the age of 87 after a long illness. Maher was part of Tipperary’s renowned full-back line – dubbed ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ – alongside John Doyle and Kieran Carey. A member of the Holycross-Ballycahill club, Maher enjoyed Liam MacCarthy Cup … Continue reading "5-time Tipperary All-Ireland senior winner and member of ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ full-back line passes away"