RTÉ Rugby podcast: Munster survive, Leinster labour and a Sevens shutdown
First up, we look at how Munster are shaping up for the quarter-finals after their 30-21 win against Benetton secured them a spot in the Champions Cup next season.
We look at Leinster's prospects in the coming weeks, after they laboured to a 13-5 win against Glasgow Warriors, who they could yet meet again in a semi-final (24:40).
The podcast discusses what lies ahead for both Ulster (38:00) and Connacht (44:15), after they missed out on the play-offs.
And we also discuss the fallout from the decision to disband the Irish men's Sevens team (51:40).
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Irish Daily Mirror
3 minutes ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Eamon Dunphy column: Roy Keane is a bully, an unpleasant character, a little man
My starting point is the ending point of a doomed World Cup campaign. I was sitting in a television studio that night, analysing the game for RTE. Across the corridor, Keith Andrews was carrying out the same role for Sky Sports. The date was November 2017. Ireland were playing Denmark. The half-time score was 2-1 to the Danes, prompting the Irish management team of Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane to make the following calls; Wes Hoolahan replaced David Meyler; Aiden McGeady came in for Harry Arter. Carnage followed. Ireland started the game without a decent striker; they ended it without any structure. The final score was Ireland 1-5 Denmark. An embarrassment. Read more: Eamon Dunphy column: If Liverpool sign Isak and Guehi then the Premier League will be over before it begins Read more: Eamon Dunphy column: Mikel Arteta is becoming more graceless by the day - he should shut up and show some class I was critical of O'Neill and Keane that night and when I was subsequently told that Keith Andrews had also called the Ireland management out, I didn't bat an eyelid. 'He is just doing his job,' I thought. I knew Keith. I had worked with him. He is honest, confident and knowledgeable. The fact he was critical of a tactical blunder is a reflection of his say-it-as-he-sees-it nature. Now there is a difference between what Keith said about Keane and O'Neill that night and what Roy Keane has done to him subsequently. In an interview with the Sunday Independent, Keane said: 'I've heard a lot of bullshitters over the last 10 years, and Keith Andrews is up there with the best of them.' His old pal, Martin O'Neill, recently joined in when asked about Andrews' suitability for the Brentford job. 'It is not as easy as sitting in a pundit's chair and criticising someone, who, in all honesty, had a much better career than he had,' said O'Neill of Andrews, referencing the fact Keith played 'at the bottom end' of the league when O'Neill was 'winning the European Cup'. As an example of pure football snobbery, O'Neill hit the jackpot with that remark. Whereas Andrews was analytical of their management, O'Neill and Keane made their criticism personal. Keane made another snide remark last weekend ahead of Brentford's opening game against Nottingham Forest. Andrews was someone 'who talks a good game', he said, the implication being that he does not, in effect, speak with consideration. Well, that's where Keith differs from Roy Keane. Roy Keane Because it is Keane who is a bullshitter. What's more, he is a bully. Now, behaving that way didn't do him any harm when he was a player. Both his team-mates and his opponents danced to his tune. Yet while that led to his greatness as a player, the continuation of that behaviour in his post-playing days has seriously diminished his credibility as a person. Look at what he has become, a caricature of himself, doing television ads which play on his intimidating nature, one where he frightens a window cleaner, another where he is rude to a barista. Let's call this out for what it is. He is glorifying bullying in these ads. He is doing them for monetary gain, making a few quid out of his persona. There's no class in that. Nor is there any class in going after a young Irish coach who is starting out in his managerial career. Given his status as a serial Premier League winner, someone who was a superb player, Keane should be bigger than this. And so should O'Neill. Neither man forgot the criticism they received without ever accepting the fact they did a bad job when they were with Ireland. They should, as a former captain and a former manager of Ireland, want to see the national team do well and to see Irish players and managers excel. Let's face it, there has been a huge shortage of Irish managers in the Premier League. The fact a new one has just arrived should be a cause for celebration, or at the very least, hope. What if Andrews turns out to be an excellent choice? Think of the doors that could open for emerging Irish players. Think of the future. We could have our next Ireland manager here. Instead we have someone with status, which Keane undoubtedly has as a former United captain, criticising Andrews from the off. That's seriously undermining because the Brentford board will hear those comments as will their players and fans. Words do have an impact, especially when they come from a man of Keane's standing. I don't consider him a pleasant character at all. As a television analyst, there is no depth to his commentary; and in terms of his personality, he is clearly thin-skinned. And that's before we address the hypocrisy. Both he and O'Neill were critical of pundits when they were in charge of Ireland. Yet they deliver their criticism from a pundit's chair - Keane at Sky, O'Neill at Talksport. Why do they feel the need to attack Keith Andrews? Is it because of what he said eight years ago? Seriously? The game where Andrews called them out ended in a 5-1 defeat. What did O'Neill and Keane expect after that drubbing? A statue outside the Aviva? For two men who had outstanding playing careers, each winning the European Cup, they should be big enough to wish Keith well. I certainly hope he succeeds, especially as the circumstances are so difficult, Brentford having sold their three best players across the summer. As for O'Neill and Keane, I wish they'd just go away. Both are behaving like little men. 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The 42
28 minutes ago
- The 42
Minnie Hauk wins Yorkshire Oaks for Aidan O'Brien
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Irish Daily Mirror
33 minutes ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Santa Clara v Shamrock Rovers LIVE blog of the ECL 3rd round qualifier 1st leg
It's a reflection of how successful Shamrock Rovers have been since their 2010 League title breakthrough that they are bidding for European group stage football for the fourth time since 2011. Their two meetings over the next seven days with Santa Clara, who finished fifth in the Portuguese League last season, will determine if they are successful in their attempt. The Hoops left Dublin Airport on Wednesday morning, buoyed by the news that their manager Stephen Bradley's son Josh had rung the bell in Crumlin Hospital just the day before to signify that he had been give the all-clear after three years of treatment for cancer. Rovers, who came back from 1-0 down from their away leg defeat at Ballkani to demolish the Albanian side 4-0 in Tallaght last week, can't afford as careless an opening leg performance this time with a €3.7m group stage prize on the line. Santa Clara are a strong outfit with 17 Brazilians in their squad and that will focus the minds of Bradley and his players as they prepare for a contest in warm conditions of around 21-22 degrees for the 7pm local time kick-off (8pm Irish time, streamed live on LOI TV). Rovers will also have to deal with a bigger pitch than usual, but in typical fashion Bradley sought to make that a positive on the eve of the game. 'You could be coming here and saying we're playing on a really, really small terrible astro and that's a different ball game altogether," he said. "We usually like big pitches because it gives you space to play. 'We've played many, many games away from home in Europe and the players are well used to different types of scenarios, so it's not an issue. 'I think you can see how comfortable the players are in these situations and different arenas now. I've always enjoyed the night before this – to give the players a little feel when they're on the pitch and just getting used to the surroundings.' 19:22 Michael Scully The Hoops keep faith with Rory Gaffney leading the line after his two-goal salvo last week in Tallaght. There was speculation that Graham Burke would start but the veteran and his teenage colleague Michael Noonan are kept in reserve. Aaron McEneff, who has recovered from injury, is also named on the bench for the visitors. Connor Malley, as expected, misses out due to an injury he suffered a week ago, while Jack Byrne didn't travel as he remains in Stephen Bradley's bad books. 19:18 Michael Scully Your Hoops XI to line out to take on Santa Clara this evening#RoversInEurope || @sharp_security — Shamrock Rovers FC (@ShamrockRovers) August 21, 2025 19:16 Michael Scully Everyone involved in Irish football was moved by the video showing Josh Bradley ringing the bell in the Crumlin Hospital ward on Tuesday evening and his dad, Stephen, spoke to Mark in Dublin Airport the following morning ahead of Rovers' 2,300km trip to the Azores. Here's the article. 'The best news' - Stephen Bradley reacts to son Josh's all-clear after three-year battle with leukaemia 19:11 Michael Scully Mark McCadden is in the Azores for us and in the piece below he spells out in this piece how much money is on the line for the Hoops in this two-legged encounter. "This time around, UEFA have earmarked just over €300million in prize money for the Conference League," wrote Mark. "And once again Rovers can add to their bank balance if they qualify for the league phase by picking up wins and draws". What's at stake as Shamrock Rovers bid for another UEFA prize money bonanza 19:05 Michael Scully The Hoops arrived close to an hour ago and their preparations are underway We've arrived#RoversInEurope — Shamrock Rovers FC (@ShamrockRovers) August 21, 2025
