TRIBUTES ARE POURING in for 2009 All-Ireland winning captain Darran O’Sullivan following his retirement from inter-county football on Tuesday. O’Sullivan is now the fourth Kerry player to retire since the end of their 2018 championship campaign, joining a group which includes Kieran Donaghy, Donnchadh Walsh and Anthony Maher. The four-time All-Ireland winner was renowned for his … Continue reading "‘Blistering pace’,’a defender’s nightmare’,’an eye for goal’ – Tributes pour in for retiring O’Sullivan"

LEADING REFEREE CONOR Lane says that the reaction in refereeing circles to the proposed new rules in Gaelic football has been “very positive”. The 2018 All-Ireland SFC final man in the middle hasn’t been involved in any of the trial matches thus far but says that the feedback has been optimistic. Recently, the GAA’s standing committee … Continue reading "‘The feedback is very positive’ – Top referees welcoming proposed rule changes"

IN AN EVENTFUL off-season that saw James Horan and Liam Sheedy reappointed as county managers, the news that Stephen Rochford is set to join Declan Bonner’s backroom team in Donegal may be the most surprising of the lot. Former Mayo manager Stephen Rochford Source: James Crombie/INPHO Rochford declared back in mid-August that he was remaining … Continue reading "Donegal to snap up the man who came closest to taking down this Dublin team"

FOR THE MOST part, Galway enjoyed a successful season in 2018. They went through their first top flight league campaign in seven years unbeaten up until the final defeat to Dublin. Kevin Walsh’s side won back their Connacht crown and advanced to the Super 8s where they enjoyed a victory over Kerry in Croke Park to … Continue reading "Comer still ‘bitterly disappointed’ Galway didn’t put it up to Dublin in semi-final"

AS HE ATTEMPTS to stifle the impact of Nenagh Éire Óg in the battle to be crowned Tipperary senior hurling champions, John O’Keeffe can reflect on his previous input into the development of some of their rising stars. In a former career O’Keeffe, the Clonoulty-Rossmore captain and Portlaoise-based garda, worked for the Tipperary county board … Continue reading "‘I’m now disgusted I taught them so much! I knew those boys were destined for good things’"

CORMAC COSTELLO’S DREAM performance off the bench in the 2016 All-Ireland final was seen as a coming of age performance by the Whitehill Colmcilles man. Then aged 22, he clipped over three points against Mayo to haul Dublin over the line, finishing the final as the joint-top scorer from play.  Costello was a minor All-Ireland winner … Continue reading "‘If I can push the team over the line, I’ll gladly do it’: Costello content with supersub role"

DARRAN O’SULLIVAN THIS week became the latest Kerry footballer to announce his inter-county retirement, following Anthony Maher, Donnchadh Walsh and Kieran Donaghy out the Kingdom exit door.  Kerry legend Tomás Ó Sé feels Donaghy may have had another year in him, particularly given the proposed new mark rule that may come in for next year’s … Continue reading "‘If I had it back now, I would have gone again’: Ó Sé on retiring a year too early"

WHEN NORMAL TIME ended in July’s epic All-Ireland semi-final between Cork and Limerick, Daniel Kearney was lying in the dressing-room in Croke Park. He had limped off in the 60th minute yet was nudged back into the action as extra-time resumed. By the 85th minute Kearney had to accept his afternoon was done, succumbing to … Continue reading "‘I probably I should have put my hand up and said I’m not able to come back on’ – Cork’s hurling learning game"

IT WAS THIS day last week that Dublin camogie star Eve O’Brien delivered a passionate argument for change. Dublin defender and 20×20 ambassador Laura Twomey. Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO She had a lot to get off her chest, and felt that many camogie players would agree with her thoughts. The Na Fianna defender called for change, … Continue reading "‘It’s frustrating. There needs to be change’ – Dublin camogie captain echoes team-mate’s calls"

CONOR MCDONALD CAN sense what a seismic occasion it is for the people of Gorey this week. For the first time the Naomh Éanna club will have a direct involvement on Wexford senior hurling final day. Six years after plying their trade in junior ranks, they have climbed up to be within one victory of … Continue reading "Conor McDonald: ‘The town is going a little bit mental at the moment. Everyone is just raring to go.’"