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 […]
“WAS THERE? I don’t listen to social media,” was 2018 All-Ireland SHC final referee James Owens’ initial tongue-in-cheek response when the sideshow in the build-up to the decider came up in conversation. The sideshow was of course James McGrath’s omission and his subsequent resignation. The day after it was announced that Wexford native Owens would […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]