RTÉ Rugby podcast: Focus turns to Women's Rugby World Cup
The panel discuss Ireland's warm-up defeat to Canada and assess where the team are ahead of their opening Pool C game against Japan on 24 August.
We ask who was unlucky to miss out on squad selection and would some late additions disrupt harmony in the panel.
The analysts give their prediction on how Ireland will get on at the World Cup.
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Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
North Cork set to host 2025 National Youth Cycling Championships
Sliabh Luachra Cycling Club, in partnership with Fermoy Cycling Club, will stage the prestigious two-day event this Saturday and Sunday. The championships were officially launched at Fermoy's Corrin Mart, attended by Michael O'Connor and Steve McGrath (Fermoy CC), Anthony Tancred, Richard Cleverly and Tim Murphy (Sliabh Luachra CC), Theresa Finn (Executive Secretary, Women's Commission Cycling Ireland), and Danny Curtin (Chairman, Munster Cycling Board). The All-Ireland competition is expected to draw large numbers of riders, officials and support teams to the region. All routes have been approved by Cycling Ireland, the national governing body. Saturday's action begins at 10am in Knocknagree with the Time Trial and Road Races. The village, fresh from a major tidy-up by the local Tidy Towns group, will host Race HQ at the newly renovated Knocknagree Community Centre. The Tidy Towns team will also run a pop-up café to raise funds for local projects. Sunday's Criterium will take place from 10am on a fully closed-road circuit at Fermoy Mart, offering a safe and spectator-friendly setting. Organisers have thanked Cork Co-Operatives Mart for the use of the Corrin facility and urged all attendees to co-operate with stewards and race officials. Local contenders include Fermoy CC's in-form Max McGrath and Shane O'Brien, while Sliabh Luachra CC's Muireann Fenton, Caroline Collins and Patrick O'Sullivan will be chasing podium places. Both clubs have long championed youth cycling in Ireland, encouraging participation. 'This event reflects our shared commitment to developing young riders and securing the future of Irish cycling,' said Tim Murphy of Sliabh Luachra CC. The championships return to Cork for the first time since 2016, when they were hosted by O'Leary Stone Kanturk. Recent editions have been staged in Waterford, Donegal, Westmeath, Antrim and Armagh.
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
New Clare GAA manager vows to ‘support the players' amid Munster SFC format fall-out as he sounds off on strike threat
Four counties came out swinging against the controversial change NO SEED OF DOUBT New Clare GAA manager vows to 'support the players' amid Munster SFC format fall-out as he sounds off on strike threat NEW Clare football boss Paul Madden is prepared to back his players amid the fall-out over the decision to seed the Munster SFC. Representatives from the Clare, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford panels have voiced their opposition to the move, which will ensure Kerry and Cork are kept on opposite sides of the provincial draw for 2026. 2 Paul Madden has been appointed Clare football manager Credit: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile 2 He gave his thoughts on the controversial change to the Munster senior football championship Credit: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile They are now 'evaluating potential next steps in response', as outlined in a statement issued by the Gaelic Players Association. And former Banner ace Podge Collins claimed it is a 'very realistic' possibility that those counties will refuse to partake in the provincial championship as a means of protest. Madden is currently in the process of putting together a backroom team, having had his appointment as successor to Peter Keane announced on Tuesday night. He told SunSport: 'We're in Division 3 and it's going to be a fairly steep learning curve for me and whoever comes in with me. 'I would hope to have people involved who have been there and done it before. 'There's obviously a lot of controversy around the seeding for the Munster Championship next year and it is what it is. I support the players in their viewpoint. From my perspective, if we're scheduled to play a game, we'll turn up to play that game and we'll go out to win it, whoever it may be against.' Clare's journey to a fourth consecutive Munster final, as well as a place in the revamped All-Ireland series, could potentially be made more hazardous by the new seeding system. On the prospect of strike action, Madden said: 'I'll have to speak to the players first as I'm still only beginning to settle into the role. 'I think at this stage, the format is laid out for 2026 and I don't think it's going to change, whether we sit out and protest or not. 'My job will be to prepare the team as best I can for every game we play. And I'd like us to play as many games as we can. Inside Sharlene Mawdsley's 'delicious' yet atypical Tenerife holiday with GAA star boyfriend Mikey Breen 'If we go out and get promoted from Division 3, we won't have to worry about anything. 'But from the players' perspective, the four counties are really disappointed by the ruling. 'The Clare players are obviously the ones I'm concerned about and if they have a very strong opinion on something, I'll certainly do my best to support that wherever I can.' Following consecutive one-year reigns under outside managers, supporters will hope that the appointment of a Clare man is a step towards long-term stability. Keane took charge for 2025 following the departure of fellow Kerry native Mark Fitzgerald. Madden, who led Éire Óg Ennis to three Clare SFC titles before stepping down at the end of last season, has been handed a three-year term. He said: 'I obviously would have had dealings with Mark Fitzgerald and Peter Keane because we had maybe between seven and ten players from Éire Óg on the county panels. 'I had a number of conversations with Peter Keane over the last 12 months, certainly at the start of his tenure. They're both really good football guys. Good guys with huge experience. 'Look, the reality is that coming to another county with huge travel involved, it's going to be a challenge. 'I know county managers cite that as a reason why they depart, but it is a factor. 'There are positives coming from outside as well because you can get into your car and go home, so you don't have to listen to criticism that may come your way. But that's all part and parcel of it. 'For me personally as a Clare man, I'm honoured and delighted to be chosen to take on this role and I'll endeavour to give it my best shot. 'I do believe that there's a cohort of talented footballers within the county and that there's a very good structure in place in the underage systems. 'That means there'll be a continuous conveyor belt of talent coming through for the years to come — I'm fairly convinced of that.'
The 42
8 hours ago
- The 42
Gutsy Ireland hold Germany to draw but unable to reach EuroHockey semi-finals
Ireland 0 Germany 0 IRELAND PRODUCED AN impressive performance to hold Germany to a draw in their final pool stage match but were unable to progress to the EuroHockey semi-finals. Playing against the tournament hosts, and world number six side, Ireland needed a two-goal win in order to advance in Monchengladbach. They fell short after creating several chances throughout the clash. Mikayla Power won a penalty corner which was well saved and cleared before Emily Kealy advanced to win a penalty stroke in the first quarter. Advertisement Hannah McLoughlin stepped up to take the set piece, and saw her effort saved by Julia Sonntag. Ireland had another penalty corner in the closing minutes of the opening quarter, but McLoughlin was denied again. FULL TIME: IRL 0 - 0 GER An immense effort from our IRL Women in our final pool stage match. The better side on the night, but we settle for a draw against the hosts. The result sees our IRL Women progress to the Crossover matches where we will meet Scotland and England in our… — Hockey Ireland (@irishhockey) August 13, 2025 Ireland maintained their intensity in the second quarter, creating plenty of chances from turnovers. But a strong German defence kept them at bay as the sides went into the half-time break on level terms. Germany were reduced to 10 players with a green card after a foul on Sarah McAuley. And while Ireland made use of the numerical advantage, Germany broke through for a shot on goal which was saved by Elizabeth Murphy. Two late green cards for Ireland's Roisin Upton and Niamh Carey meant Ireland were down two players for the remaining minutes but the tie was still scoreless by the end of the third quarter. Ireland continued to hunt down the two-goal target but were unable to break the deadlock in the final quarter. They will now play Scotland and England in two final crossover matches in Monchengladbach to close out their EuroHockey Championship 2025 campaign. 'We went toe-to-toe with Germany in front of a home crowd,' Ireland Head Coach Gareth Grundie said after the game. 'We certainly had our opportunities; I think if one had gone in in the first quarter it certainly would have put them under pressure. 'I think the damage was probably already done on Monday against France. If we had come out of that game with a result, then Germany needing to win tonight would have given us a real opportunity.'
