IF DIARMUID O’KEEFFE has learned anything from being an intercounty hurler during the rolling lockdowns of the past year, it is an increased admiration for athletes in individual sports. The Wexford player will finally get going with his team next Sunday afternoon with their league opener against Laois. Over the past twelve months, the 2019 … Continue reading "‘Running on the roads around Wexford town, I was genuinely broke up’ – From lockdown to hurling"

LIMERICK’S ALL-STAR winning defender Sean Finn believes hurling referees face a tough challenge in enforcing the new sin-bule rule as the league is set to commence this weekend. The new rule is aiming to tackle specific cynical fouls when goal scoring opportunities are stopped within the 20-metre line or the arc. A penalty is awarded … Continue reading "Sin bin challenge, hurling v rugby in Limerick and All-Ireland glory with a difference"

REIGNING ULSTER CHAMPIONS Cavan will travel to Omagh to face Tyrone on Saturday, 10 July, and get their provincial title defence underway at the quarter-final stage. Mickey Graham’s side will face the Red Hand — now managed by Feargal Logan and Brian Dooher — in the last eight at 4.30pm that evening, with full championship … Continue reading "Holders Cavan face Saturday evening trip to Omagh as Ulster championship fixture details confirmed"

GAA UNDERAGE COUNTY teams have been given the green light to resume collective training from next Monday 10 May. Counties have been informed by the GAA today that training is permitted for both 2020 and 2021 minor and U20 squads, on a full contact basis. Games will then be allowed from Monday 7 June for … Continue reading "GAA U20 and minor county sides can return to training from next Monday"

Cork’s Patrick Collins and Waterford’s Billy Nolan. Source: INPHO IN JUNE 2014, the spotlight fell on both hurling goalkeepers in action in Thurles. Anthony Nash had been the All-Star winner for the previous two years, an illustration of his prowess with Cork. Stephen O’Keeffe was establishing himself with Waterford, two years after making his senior … Continue reading "Who will step forward for Cork and Waterford hurlers as new goalkeeper era begins?"

TOMMY DUNNE WAS Tipperary’s All-Ireland winning captain in 2001 and the Toomevara player won three All-Star awards during a glittering hurling county career. In the following extract from ‘Tipperary: Game Of My Life’, he reflects on that 2001 All-Ireland final win over Galway. *********** WHEN I WAS a child I used to say a prayer … Continue reading "‘I was sick of getting beaten with Tipp all my life and it wasn’t going to happen today’"

CAVAN CAMOGIE MANAGER Jimmy Greville says the logistics of the association’s controverisal proposed 2021 fixture plan will “never work” and says that his side does not want to be in a position where they may not fulfill league games. Cavan manager Jimmy Greville. Source: Lorraine O’Sullivan/INPHO The Camogie Association has been heavily criticised in the … Continue reading "‘It’ll never work… The last thing the players want is not to play next Saturday’"

WEXFORD MANAGER DAVY Fitzgerald has named his side for tomorrow’s Division 1B National Hurling League clash against Laois. The Yellowbellies welcome Seamus ‘Cheddar’ Plunkett’s side to Wexford Park, with throw-in set for 1.45pm and live coverage available on TG4. Fitzgerald opts for a much-changed line-up from the side that crashed out of the championship after … Continue reading "Davy Fitz and Cheddar Plunkett name sides for tomorrow’s Wexford-Laois clash"

Limerick 0-20 Tipperary 0-20 RETURN WAS THE key word of the day. A return to competitive hurling in 2021, a return to action on their home turf for All-Ireland champions Limerick and a return to Tipperary’s difficulties to get a win over their Munster neighbours. Tipperary’s Jason Forde and Limerick’s Darragh O’Donovan. For long stretches … Continue reading "Forde hits 0-14 for Tipperary but Limerick recover for draw with late Reidy point"

BETWEEN LAST YEAR and this one, Brian Cody has probably endured more hurling-free weekends than he did in the rest of his 66 years combined.  Kilkenny manager Brian Cody. Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO On the back of the worst disrupted GAA season since the First World War, Cody couldn’t get his players back together on the … Continue reading "‘It’s just great to be out there’ – you could tell Brian Cody missed it"