Armagh even stronger with the return of Rian O'Neill
'Cry me a river, boys,' says Darragh
. When this side has the chance to become the first from Armagh to retain Sam Maguire, 'do you want to sing a sad song or do you want to go after back-to-back All-Irelands?' That's them told.
There might have been a tear or two shed in the Waterford hurling camp after their defeat by Cork last weekend ended their championship season even before summer arrived. Seán Moran reckons manager
Peter Queally's suggestion that hurling follow football's example
by having an All-Ireland series after the provincial championships might be worth a look.
Gordon Manning, meanwhile, talks to
Kerry captain Cáit Lynch
about her second coming for the All Ireland football champions, following a spell living in the Netherlands, and Ciarán Kirk hears from Meath captain Aoibhín Cleary who's hoping to lead her county to their third All Ireland in five years before she sets off for Australia to play for Richmond in the AFLW.
In rugby, Gordon D'Arcy looks at
Leinster's desperate need to finish their season on a high
, 'having morphed into the 'nearly men'', by winning the URC. 'There's one caveat. How badly do they want it,' he asks.
READ MORE
Munster's last URC trip to South Africa wasn't the most fruitful, ending in defeats by the Stormers and Sharks. They are, then, hoping for a happier outcome when
they return to Durban to take on the Sharks again
in Saturday's quarter-finals. Gerry Thornley talks to interim coach Ian Costello ahead of the game.
And just to get you in the mood for this summer's Lions' tour,
Luke McLaughlin reminisces about his trip to Australia in 2001
when the hosts recovered from losing the first test to take the series 2-1 against Graham Henry's side. Luke has a warning for Andy Farrell's current crew: 'Be warned: the Aussies still hate losing, and are sure to indulge in a spot of Lions-baiting, too.'
In football, Gavin Cummiskey looks back on
an English season that had a fair few more lows than highs for Irish players
, to the point where there might be as few as seven of them playing in the Premier League next season. Caoimhín Kelleher will, more than likely, leave Liverpool in search of regular game-time, while Evan Ferguson's career is in need of a serous reboot.
And in racing, the career of 'arguably the best stayer seen in Europe for decades' came to an end on Tuesday when
Kyprios was retired after aggravating an old injury
, Brian O'Connor hearing from his trainer Aidan O'Brien. 'He's been the most incredible horse, he had an incredible mind to go with his incredible ability,' he said of the two-time Ascot Gold Cup winner.
TV Watch
: TNT Sports continues its coverage of the French tennis Open (from 10am) and cycling's Giro d'Italia (from 11.30am) today, and at 7.30 this evening, TG4 has the under-20 All Ireland football final between Louth and Tyrone. Half an hour later, Chelsea and Real Betis kick off in the Conference League Final (TNT Sports 1).
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Irish Independent
3 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Kaedyn Kamara's late strike against Waterford sends Cork City into FAI Cup quarter-finals
The 19-year-old Preston North End loanee headed in the 80th-minute winner, although this victory owed just as much to Matthew Murray's sensational full debut. The 17-year-old winger scored against Celtic in their July friendly at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. He waited just one minute and 47 seconds to find the net in front of 2,112 fans at Turner's Cross. Murray's mazy footwork caused all sorts of trouble for the visitors throughout. With his final act, he won the free-kick for Kamara's goal. Evan McLaughlin assisted both. Murray's dream start began by securing possession in his own half before City worked the ball down the left flank. McLaughlin's inviting cross beat the three Waterford centre-backs, who flocked to Seani Maguire, and Murray dashed in at the back post to poke home. The youngster exhibited his sky-high confidence soon after with a couple of stepovers before delivering a cross. Waterford almost grabbed an instant equaliser as Ronan Mansfield flashed wide from a free-kick. Ryan Burke came closer again with a ferociously dipping volley. Conor Brann reacted quickly to tip over. In the 22nd minute, they got level. Freddie Anderson blocked James Olayinka's attempt, but Kyle White put the ball back into the mixer. Again, the visitors won the first header. While Pádraig Amond's effort was stopped by Rory Feely, it fell for Tommy Lonergan to tap into an empty net. The Munster Derby is fast becoming the 21-year-old's favourite fixture, netting in each of their last three clashes. He celebrated by shushing the Shed End. They almost snatched the lead early in the second half. Conan Noonan's defence-splitting pass was collected by White. He got his finish past Brann, only for Anderson to divert it away with a goal-saving block. But it was Kamara who glanced home his first senior goal for the winner into the Shed from McLaughlin's delivery, and the super sub came up with the final block to seal the victory. CORK CITY: Brann; Nevin (Kamara 59), Anderson, Feely, Kiernan; Crowley, McLaughlin (S Murray 82); M Murray (Lutz 79), Nelson, Fitzpatrick; Maguire. WATERFORD: McMullan; McDonald, Mansfield (Faal 82), Burke; Horton (Miles 73), Rossiter (Glenfield 85), Olayinka (McMenamy 85), White; Noonan (Coyle 73); Amond, Lonergan.
The 42
4 hours ago
- The 42
Kamara's late winner sees Cork past Waterford
Cork City 2 Waterford 1 Stephen Barry reports from Turner's Cross KAEDYN KAMARA WAS the Munster Derby hero as Cork City grabbed a late victory over Waterford to advance to the FAI Cup quarter-finals. The 19-year-old Preston North End loanee headed in the 80th-minute winner, although this victory owed just as much to Matthew Murray's sensational full debut. The 17-year-old winger scored against Celtic in their July friendly at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. He waited just one minute and 47 seconds to find the net in front of 2,112 fans at the Cross. Murray's mazy footwork caused all sorts of trouble for the visitors throughout. With his final act, he won the free-kick for Kamara's goal. Evan McLaughlin assisted both. Crucially, the victory extends City's momentum, which they will hope can resurrect their Premier Division survival prospects. Alex Nolan's absence created the opportunity for Murray to start, while Ger Nash welcomed David Odumosu and Seán Murray back to the bench after lay-offs. Advertisement With Andy Boyle injured, John Coleman also called upon a teenage talent in Ronan Mansfield. Hours after the signing of Muhammadu Faal was announced, the six-foot-five ex-Worthing forward made his Blues debut off the bench. Matthew Murray's dream start began by securing possession in his own half before City worked the ball down the left flank. McLaughlin's inviting cross beat the three Waterford centre-backs, who flocked to Seani Maguire, and Murray dashed in at the back post to poke home. The youngster exhibited his sky-high confidence soon after with a couple of stepovers before delivering a cross. Waterford almost grabbed an instant equaliser as Mansfield flashed wide from a free-kick. Ryan Burke came closer again with a ferociously dipping volley. Conor Brann reacted quickly to tip over. In the 22nd minute, they got level. Freddie Anderson blocked James Olayinka's attempt, but Kyle White put the ball back into the mixer. Again, the visitors won the first header. While Pádraig Amond's effort was stopped by Rory Feely, it fell for Tommy Lonergan to tap into an empty net. The Munster Derby is fast becoming the 21-year-old's favourite fixture, netting in each of their last three clashes. He celebrated by shushing the Shed End. Waterford's Thomas Lonergan celebrates. James Lawlor / INPHO James Lawlor / INPHO / INPHO Lonergan lashed his next effort over, and the home fans were back in full voice after 25 minutes to protest the club's ticket prices. The Shed unveiled a 'Fans not customers' banner, while chanting '€25, you're having a laugh'. City began to grow into the game with three Josh Fitzpatrick shots, two of which were turned away for corners. The winger also teed up Kitt Nelson for a shot, which resulted in another corner. The Blues dealt with those deliveries, although one of those set pieces brought a penalty claim. Mansfield was booked for pulling down Feely, but referee Rob Hennessy deemed the incident had occurred just before McLaughlin took the corner. McLaughlin also fired two attempts at Stephen McMullan before the half-time break. City created a better opportunity from their first corner of the second half, but McMullan gathered Darragh Crowley's header. At the other end, Conan Noonan's defence-splitting pass almost sent Waterford into the lead. White collected it in acres of space and got his finish past Brann, only for Anderson to divert it away with a goal-saving block. Fitzpatrick launched another four efforts. He came close with a replica attempt of his goal against Galway United, only to miss the far post. Murray fizzed a shot just past the top corner, while Lonergan whipped a free-kick wide. But it was Kamara who glanced home his first senior goal for the winner into the Shed from McLaughlin's delivery, and the super sub came up with the final block to seal the victory. CORK CITY: Conor Brann; Harry Nevin (Kaedyn Kamara 59), Freddie Anderson, Rory Feely, Matthew Kiernan; Darragh Crowley, Evan McLaughlin (Seán Murray 82); Matthew Murray (Charlie Lutz 79), Kitt Nelson, Josh Fitzpatrick; Seán Maguire. WATERFORD: Stephen McMullan; Rowan McDonald, Ronan Mansfield (Muhammadu Faal 82), Ryan Burke; Grant Horton (Josh Miles 73), Jordan Rossiter (Sam Glenfield 85), James Olayinka (Dean McMenamy 85), Kyle White; Conan Noonan (Trae Coyle 73); Pádraig Amond, Tommy Lonergan. Referee: Rob Hennessy (Limerick).
RTÉ News
4 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Love is Blind UK hosts: 'People are just sick of the swipe culture'
Netflix's hit dating show Love is Blind UK is back for a second season with husband and wife duo Matt and Emma Willis at the helm, who say the massive popularity of the series is partially down to people being jaded by online dating apps and "swipe culture". The series began in 2020 in the US, where there have been eight seasons, and spawned a host of international spin-offs, including Brazil, Sweden, Mexico and Japan, with the UK edition premiering last year. The second season of Love is Blind UK sees UK and Ireland-based singletons choose someone to marry "sight unseen" after a whirlwind period of dating in Pods, where an opaque wall separates the contestants. Speaking to RTÉ Entertainment, Emma Willis, best known for presenting Big Brother, Celebrity Big Brother and The Voice UK, said she was "super excited" to be back for another run. "I'm pumped and ready to see who walks down the aisle!" she said. "I love it. I feel like we're just peeping through the window of someone's personal life. It's great." Her husband and co-presenter, Busted star Matt Willis, agreed wholeheartedly. "You know, I think we're both very much into love," he said. "We love watching our friends fall in love. Emma's the matchmaking queen, if she can match anyone up, she will. So this is kind of a perfect job. It's just a really great thing to be part of." "It's lovely to watch it in the flesh as well. We get to watch it all unfold," Emma continued. "We have the best job on in it really, because we see them at the beginning, we dip in along the way and then we see them again a year later to see how's it's gone and if they're still together." The first season of the UK version of the series stood out as the contestants, for the most part, seemed to be in for the right reasons, and not, say, to achieve a certain type of overnight fame. For Matt and Emma, what do they think draws people to apply for the show in their droves? "The thing we hear again and again is that people are just sick of the dating world," Matt said. "It's a very different terrain out there to when I met Emma, you know, and I can't imagine it. "And look, for some people, it's really working, some people are finding love on the apps and they definitely are a good thing. But I think a lot of people are just so sick of this 'swipe culture'. "They want to find something true, want to find something real, want to know the other person wants it to. And this is that show." "Going on emotion rather than visuals, I think it's something really special," Emma agreed. The physical barrier of the wall really does seem to lead to intense bonds forming quickly between the contestants. It's something that's difficult to imagine as a viewer. "There's something about that Pod," Matt said. "When we went in there, it's this glowing purple wall that you stare at and fall in love with. And I get it!" "It's really calm and the air is warm, it's that kind of perfect temperature to make you feel comfortable and it's really peaceful," Emma interjected. "There's no external noise. So when you think about yourself being in a pod where you could hear your own breath, it's like that. But the only thing you can hear is one other person. It's mad, really isn't it? "Once you go in one, you can understand how they let their guard down, because you can't see any cameras either." Despite becoming acquainted with the contestants, they weren't able to call who might end up together after the Pods. "I was really surprised," Matt said. "I made a list of people, I started to match them up and had a piece of paper with lots of names written down. I got it way wrong! Nothing was right." "Yeah but you've done that on visuals haven't you!", Emma teased. "I try not to, you can't guess," she added. "You can't meet a bunch of people for the first time for 10 minutes and then look at their picture and go 'Oh, they're gonna be together, they're gonna be together.' Matt loves that game!" As for what people might expect this season - the hosts didn't hold back. "There is lots of beautiful romance, and there is drama," Emma said. "It's a gentle start and then it really kicks off. That's all I'm going to say." "It's a slow builder," Matt observed, before promising plenty of "gossip juice". "It's pure people watching, isn't it?" Emma commented of the enduring love for the series. "And I think there's nothing nicer than watching people fall in love. "I know everybody likes drama and controversy, but watching a love story unfold in front of your eyes - that's pretty special. We all love rom-coms, don't we? Whether you admit it or not, this is like a very long rom-com." And as for advice for anyone considering applying for the third season of the Netflix dating series? "If you're apprehensive, just do it, give it a go," Emma said. "Please go in there with good intentions and be open, be open to the process. And be open to the person or the people that you're talking to. "I know that is much easier said than done for some people but if you're gonna go into something like this then go in open and ready to immerse yourself." "And I'd say don't play it cool," Matt added. "That's a killer piece of advice for most of life. Just show them who you are, don't try to be someone else."
