TWO DOWN, THREE to go in the group stages of the Allianz Hurling League. It’s still early days as the various divisions take shape but we’ve already been provided with some early-season clues as to how counties are shaping up. Tipperary are the Division 1A pace-setters with two wins from two and in Division 1B, … Continue reading "Winners and losers – Who’s flying or struggling after start of Allianz hurling league?"

Click here for more of The42′s Ireland v England anniversary series > WAS HE NERVOUS beforehand? Of course. How could he not be? It’ll be a decade next Friday since Nickey Brennan took his seat in Croke Park for a seminal sporting occasion. As GAA President there was nothing new in being present at a … Continue reading "‘It was a spectacular day for the GAA, for sport in this country and for Ireland in general’"

ONE OF THE most striking statistics from last weekend was the poor conversion rate from penalties in the Allianz Hurling League. TJ Reid: MIssed penalty Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO Of the six games that took place across the top two tiers, six penalties were awarded and just two resulted in goals. Donal Burke (Dublin) vs Cork … Continue reading "Poll: Does hurling’s penalty rule need to be changed?"

THE 2017 EDITION of AIB’s ‘The Toughest Trade’ is due to hit our screens next month, and we’ve been given an interesting teaser of what to expect when Lee Chin takes on ice hockey and Michael Murphy dabbles with rugby. The two-part documentary involves two GAA players swapping sports with professional athletes, who come over … Continue reading "TV dates have been confirmed for this year’s ‘Toughest Trade’ in a new trailer"

KILKENNY GREAT EOIN Larkin has clarified statements he made over the weekend, regarding his county’s dismal performance in the Allianz Hurling League. Larkin published a Tweet after Kilkenny’s 2-19 to 0-12 defeat to Clare, which marked their second consecutive loss in the campaign and leaves them at the bottom of Division 1A. Not good enough from … Continue reading "‘I certainly wasn’t slamming any of the younger lads’: Eoin Larkin clarifies frustrated tweet"

THERE’S MIXED NEWS for the Clare hurlers with one All-Ireland winner set to take a year out on medical advice while another player from the 2013 triumph has rejoined the squad after a spell travelling. The Clare management have revealed that Conor Ryan – an All-Star winning midfielder in 2013 – will not be playing … Continue reading "Clare All-Ireland winner to take year out on medical advice as All-Star full-back returns"

WESTMEATH REFEREE ALFIE Devine says taking charge of last Sunday’s Allianz Hurling League Division 2B clash between Meath and Derry is what his late brother Donal would have wanted. Devine bravely officiated the game in Navan – just two days after Donal was laid to rest. Westmeath GAA was plunged into mourning when Donal, a … Continue reading "‘Donal wouldn’t want us missing out’ – hurling ref takes charge of game two days after brother’s funeral"

THE CLUB PLAYERS Association have again hit out against the new GAA ‘Super 8′ proposals to revamp the All-Ireland senior football championship. Croke Park will host GAA Congress next weekend. Source: Tommy Grealy/INPHO The proposals will be voted on this weekend at the 2017 GAA Congress in Croke Park but the club players group – … Continue reading "GAA club players group slams ‘Super 8’ football proposal and hits out at RTÉ coverage"

WESTPORT MANAGER DAMIEN Loftus has confirmed that the knee injury suffered by Kevin Keane in his club’s All-Ireland Intermediate football final win on Sunday will end his season. The highly-rated full-back was stretchered off the field after just 11 minutes and Loftus confirmed this morning that it was an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury meaning he will … Continue reading "From All-Ireland success to injury heartbreak – Kevin Keane ruled out for 2017"

PARAIC DUFFY’S PLANS to revamp the All-Ireland senior football championship received a major boost last night when Tipperary voted to support the GAA Director-General’s proposals at Annual Congress – having originally shot them down. Click Here: Australia Rugby Shop Liam Kearns and his Tipperary players at last year’s Munster football final. Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO Delegates … Continue reading "Tipp footballers against GAA’s Super 8 proposal but county still voted last night to back it"