Kickboxer Adam Tierney has the world at his feet after winning national gold
ADAM TIERNEY, who is pictured proudly displaying his WAKO (Olympic Kickboxing) national gold medal, has made a huge impact on the Irish kickboxing scene on his first year as a Senior competitor.
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RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
Hayley Nolan hoping for rub of the green after challenging year
Unplugging herself from a season that ended in relegation with Crystal Palace, Hayley Nolan walked parts of the Camino with her family - a fitting choice for a player who's shown perseverance, determination and genuine faith in herself over the years. Nolan played every game in the Eagles' Championship-winning campaign in 2023/24, but her dream first year in the Women's Super League was soured by injuries; a shoulder problem sidelined the Kildare native until December, then a training ground knock in February set her back a few more weeks. Still, the 28-year-old defender showed her quality whenever she got on the field, and was rewarded with a new Palace deal in January. Now, she's back in the Republic of Ireland squad for the first time in over two years, desperate for a chance to shine in the friendlies against the USA on Friday (2am) and Sunday (8pm). "I know it's part and parcel of being a footballer but when you work so hard to get an opportunity to play in the WSL and then you suffer a shoulder injury that keeps you out until Christmas and follow it up with another injury in February, I think it's fair to say I didn't have the best of luck," Nolan reflected. "To play for Ireland is the dream for any footballer and for me, pulling on the Irish shirt, there is no better feeling. Mentally, it has been really difficult for me being injured, I wouldn't wish it on anyone. It is a really difficult time, especially when you have massive ambitions and goals to help Palace and to help Ireland, but I am fit and healthy now... I have to make sure I take this opportunity." "I know my strengths and what I can offer." This week is a full-circle moment for Nolan whose last appearance for her country actually came in the States back in April 2023, when Vera Pauw brought the Girls in Green to Missouri and Texas. Given Diane Caldwell, Niamh Fahey and Louise Quinn have all retired, there could be room for an experienced centre-half in Ward's plans; indeed the head coach has said on several occasions she wants more leaders in the dressing-room. "I'm really looking forward to it," Nolan said. "I want to help the squad push on, we have massive ambitions of (World Cup) qualification and that's the goal of the team. "I have had a few conversations with Carla, stayed in contact but I've been injured and it's hard to put yourself up for selection when you're not fit and healthy. I played the last six games of the WSL and performed well and It has merited this call-up and me getting in. "I know my strengths and what I can offer and I think that can help the team a lot and that is what I am here to do." Nolan has been a guiding voice for two younger compatriots at Palace: Izzy Atkinson - released by the club a few weeks ago - and Abbie Larkin. Their presence has helped Nolan as much as she's helped them; a little Irish cohort to lighten the mood during the trickier times. "I'm smiling because I love those girls, so much talent from both of them," Nolan said. "It has been great to have them there at Palace for last 18 months, wonderful for me, it has been like a taste of home. "When you go into the changing room and see Abbie and Izzy, they are always in good spirits and I'm hopeful that I am a mentor to them. They have great talent, you can see Abbie in the last camp, how much talent she has. "Izzy's another tremendous talent, I think everyone knows that. There's a lot of possibilities there for Izzy. When she came into Palace and we got promoted, she had a great time there. I'm really looking forward to seeing where her future takes her. She's back in (Ireland) camp now too and I'm sure that she's hungry as well to show what she can do at this stage." As for the Camino, a chance to tune out, walk on and catch up with the family was warmly embraced. "We did about 20k a day, my family did the entire walk. I was supposed to be off so I only did half of it. "I'm the youngest and it's difficult because we all have different jobs and as a footballer I don't get that much time off. So we just said we would take this opportunity to get away as a family and do something different. "I absolutely loved it. I've two older sisters and it was the first time in a long time to spend a good period together with them. It was good craic. I've never done anything like it, normally it is just the beach or pool and you don't get to spend real time together. Whereas you have no choice when you're walking."
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Ireland star Finn Azaz ‘wants to play at highest level' with World Cup in mind amid transfer links with Premier League
FINN AZAZ knows the further he goes at club level, the further he will go with Ireland. The star turns from the Advertisement 2 Finn Azaz addressed links with the Premier League Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile 2 He scored 12 goals and provided 11 assists for Middlesbrough in the Championship Credit: Getty Images - Getty That was in keeping with the form he showed for Boro that saw him score 12 goals and provide 11 assists in 45 Azaz's performances have made him a wanted man. Under contract at Boro — who yesterday appointed Advertisement Read More on Ireland MNT But he also admitted that he has ambitions to play in a top league, and it does not need to be said that playing at a higher level would advance his Azaz said: 'I'm playing at a high level now. The Championship is a really competitive league and it's a really good league. I think it's ranked sixth or seventh in Europe . 'I've got a contract with Boro of course, my focus is on pre-season at the moment. 'I'm really happy at my club. I've had a great year. I've got a lot of respect for everyone at the club and it's been amazing for me the last 18 months here. I had a great season personally so obviously I want to keep developing and my ambition is to play at the highest level. Advertisement Most read in Football 'Whether that be the 'I'm fully aware that there's a lot of Premier League players in the Irish team and I'm looking at the qualifiers and the World Cup next summer . Heimir Hallgrimsson surprised with birthday gift from Ireland fans during warm-ups for Luxembourg friendly 'I'm fully aware that you want to be playing against the best players week in, week out, to be in the best position possible for the 'In international football , the physicality of the opposition is sharper, it's better. There are higher quality players. Advertisement 'Look at 'People are sharper in the mind, quality is higher. 'It's a massive step up but I want to be playing at the highest level and I've got to prove myself at the highest level to show that I can play at that highest level. 'I felt confident and I felt comfortable in terms of level I'm at. I am still having to prove myself at international level. I feel like I have now. Advertisement 'But I'm not going to sit here and say that I've nailed down that position which I don't think is the case. But I always believed in myself and the target was to be a starter in that team and be one of the main players in terms of going forward and creating things. That's been my target for the last two or three years to be in that position, I believe that I could do it. 'And that's still the aim to become that player and to be starting in that position every game.' HOME AWAY FROM HOME Azaz, 24, has looked at home on the international stage in his seven caps to date, and could easily fit into a continental side with what he terms 'comfortable' French and Spanish. Indeed, he acted as Spanish translator for his pals on his recent holiday in South America that included visiting Machu Picchu, while he still alternates monthly between swotting up on the two languages. Advertisement The former 'I wasn't looking at like, 'I want to play abroad', but I was just like, these are great skills to have and a lot of people are really jealous of it now, to be honest. 'In terms of moving abroad, all I'd say is that I'm happy now, but I'd be comfortable if the right opportunity arose. 'I'll be fully focused on pre-season. I'm not going to give a lot of my energy to things that are out of my control.' Advertisement
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Mike Prendergast: 'Guys will listen to Craig Casey because he's incredibly dilligent'
Being a former scrum-half, and a current Munster coach, Ireland's attack coach could be expected to give a biased assessment of Craig Casey's credentials as the national side's captain for the upcoming two Tests in Georgia and Portugal. Yet the growth witnessed at first hand in his fellow Limerick man's game and leadership presence, both on the pitch and at their province's High Performance Centre, over the last two seasons gives Mike Prendergast a uniquely informed perspective on which to inform his optimism that the 26-year-old will prove to be an excellent choice by tour head coach Paul O'Connell to captain his country. Casey's emergence as a frontline number nine for Munster has softened the blow that the departure of Test centurion Conor Murray for an overseas swansong next season might otherwise have been felt and a strong tour under O'Connell and in the absence of British & Irish Lions tourist Jamison Gibson-Park should confirm him as the heir apparent to the Ireland starting scrum-half berth. For now, though, as Ireland continue their preparations at the IRFU HPC in west Dublin for next week's trip to Tbilisi and the July 5 Test against Georgia, the Irish assistant — one of four Munster-born coaches in camp alongside O'Connell, defence coach Denis Leamy and Connacht's scrum coach Collie Tucker — has been impressed by Casey's development to this point. 'I just think the more exposure, the more game time he played, you could see his calmness was coming into the game,' Prendergast said. 'Technically, he's a very, very good nine. He's got a very good kicking game. He's got a very good passing game. His ability to, when we want to play a high-tempo game, we talk about our nines being stuck to the ruck. I think in terms of his fitness, playing at that level week in, week out, he's made nice steps forward as a player. 'Obviously, his professionalism and his leadership and everything is always growing. I think just overall, his calmness and his ability in terms of his decision-making is really pushing on. He's turning out to be a fine scrum-half at the moment.' What has not changed in Casey, though, has been his approach since coming into the latest Ireland camp ahead of Test cap number 19 on Saturday week. 'I don't think I've seen anything different in the last few days, no, for us with Munster,' Prendergast said. 'He would be one of our leaders. He's full of energy. He's a student of the game. 'His leadership, guys will listen because he's a guy who is incredibly diligent. He's all over his stuff and you always want people to follow that. So he hasn't been any different than what he would be down in Munster. Craig Casey was appointed Ireland captain by Paul O'Connell. Picture: Ben Brady/Inpho 'Obviously through the week and through next week that will ramp up from his point of view, I would imagine. But he brings a really good calmness to people as well. It's great to have him as one, within the squad and two, as a captain. So he has all the leadership qualities that you ask for from a person.' Casey is one of six Munster players whose last game time will have come five weeks before the Georgian Test. The seven Ulster players and six Connacht men will have had an extra week off given their URC campaigns ended with the last round of the regular season while the 12-strong Leinster contingent will be a mere three weeks out from the URC Grand Final success over the Bulls at Croke Park. The newly-minted title-winners in the group rolled into camp as champions a week after the rest of the squad gathered but Prendergast is confident their efforts to catch-up have been accomplished. 'Fortunately enough, we had a couple of weeks as a staff. Our URC, in Munster was finished, so we had a bit of downtime. We were able to connect and meet up and obviously plan as much as we could for when we came in. And then, obviously, we came in on Thursday and we came in in a full group. 'The Leinster boys obviously didn't have too much time off, but they have a good pep in their step after winning the competition. So, there's good hunger, there's a good will around the place, there's a good vibe around the place, and we're really looking forward to these two games. Nor does the attack coach believe rustiness will be a factor in Tibilisi and that the objective of squad cohesion has already been achieved in order to hit the ground running on July 5. 'I think they will because they're been given an opportunity to play with their country. There's some guys obviously that have a number of caps, but there's a lot of guys here that aren't capped. There's some guys with a few caps to their names. 'So, any time you get an opportunity to go and represent your country, especially where the Irish team are in terms of standing in world rugby, I think it's a huge honour for all of us players, for all of us coaches to represent your country. 'You can see the hunger out of all the lads there, and rightly so, because it's a great honour and you're representing your country in two Test matches potentially.' Prendergast also provided an update on Calvin Nash's fitness. The Six Nations-winning wing, capped 10 times by Ireland, brought an ankle injury into camp last Thursday but the Ireland assistant said: 'Calvin was limited, he returned to training today (Tuesday) so we had a full deck to choose from. 'Fortunately all our lads have come in in good shape and raring to go.'
