Latest news with #Connacht
BreakingNews.ie
11 hours ago
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Sinéad Regan says it is Sligo's time to deliver
Sligo captain Sinéad Regan says Sligo can compete with anyone as they prepare for the start of the All-Ireland junior championship. Sligo goes into the All-Ireland on the back of a positive Division Four campaign, which saw them reach the semi-finals. Advertisement The campaign included a victory over fellow Connacht side Leitrim, who won the Intermediate All-Ireland championship last season. After a close defeat to Fermanagh, who also won an All-Ireland last season, Regan sees no reason why Sligo can't compete with the best. "There is nothing between a lot of these teams. In the last couple of years, we seem to be on the wrong side of narrow defeats in the championship. "The fact that we got over the line against Leitrim this year, and we put it up to Fermanagh in the semi-final, shows we are not a million miles off. Advertisement "This year, we are trying to take the positives from what those teams have done. You look at Leitrim, a small county like ourselves - our neighbours - they did absolutely amazing, winning the intermediate and progressing to senior." A group containing Derry, Limerick, Kilkenny, and Louth, Sligo's All-Ireland hopes have often been ended in close encounters and crucial moments. Under new management, game management and control have been focal points. For Regan, it may not be a case of now or never, but she is keen for this year to be the year of success for Sligo. Advertisement "In the last couple of years, we have been there or thereabouts, but we just can't get over the line. "This year, we want this to be our year. We want to get over the line. Every year, we say 'next year,' but we want this year to be our year. "There are a few girls now who have been around for a couple of years with no silverware, and there are only so many 'next years.' "It is the little things and the fine details we have been trying to work on. Something like starting games slowly has been an issue in the past, so we are trying to get off to a good start, find consistency in games, and see out games. "With the new management this year, they come with fresh ideas."
Irish Independent
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Cian Tracey: Summer tour will shine a light on next generation of Irish rugby talent
Opportunity knocks, as interim head coach Paul O'Connell prepares to name his squad for games in Georgia and Portugal This weekend's URC quarter-finals will make for uncomfortable viewing for Connacht and Ulster, who are left to rue their poor seasons – the effects of which will be felt next year too after both provinces failed to qualify for the Champions Cup. Not competing at the business end of the league campaign also means that certain Ireland hopefuls will miss out on what would have been a final opportunity to stake their claim for inclusion on the upcoming summer tour to Georgia and Portugal.
Otago Daily Times
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Night of lasts for the Landers
It was a night of lasts. Last game. Last place. And last match for Sam Gilbert in the Highlanders colours. He is off to Irish club Connacht at the end of the NPC season. The Highlanders are off to assess where the season went wrong. The 41-24 defeat to the Chiefs in Dunedin tonight has left them stranded in last place. The season could have been a lot different had they been able to reverse a few of those seven games they lost by seven or fewer points. Chiefs lock Tupou Vaa'i nabbed a hat trick in stand-out performance for the visitors, who were blasted out to an 19-0 early lead. Highlanders loosehead Ethan de Groot coughed up an early turnover and the Chiefs probed away four of five minutes until eventually, they found a way around the defence. It was brilliant too. Etene Nanai-Seturo gathered in a chip kick and linked up with centre Daniel Rona, who set off for the line but passed back inside to Samipeni Finau to score. The competition front-runners were back lining up another conversion a few brief minutes later. Vaa'i barged over and then grabbed a double when he pounced on a mistake and ran in from 45. It was 19-0 in under quarter of an hour. Thoughts turned to the Chiefs' 85-7 romp against Moana Pasifika last weekend. Thoughts turned to how quickly the end of the season could come for the Highlanders. Sixty-five minutes and counting. But the Highlanders rallied and were rewarded. They went close when Jonah Lowe made some yards down the right and Veveni Lasaqa put in a grubber. Damian McKenzie scooped it up but got caught by Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens in the in-goal. The Highlanders kept the Chiefs pinned in their 22 and de Groot crashed over from a tap kick 5m out. There was no stopping the big Southlander. Chiefs tighthead Reuben O'Neill picked up a yellow card moments for an untidy cleanout on Jack Taylor. He made contact with the head. The Highlanders exploited the advantage. Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkins, Tanielu Tele'a and Taniela Filimone combined beautifully down the left. That created some space on the right and Tavatavanawai powered over to close the gap to five points at halftime. The home side was caught napping early in the second spell. Hooker Bradley Slater rumbled free from a maul and passed to halfback Xavier Roe who had a clear run to the line. The Chiefs threatened to score twice more, but the Highlanders added the next points through the boot of Cameron Millar. But replacement back Manasa Mataele stretched the lead again with a try out on the left. The Chiefs had wriggled their way into the red zone and floated the ball wide to the unmarked finisher. Gilbert scored a try to create some late drama. But Vaa'i collected the ball from a short drop gone wrong to nab a hat trick right on fulltime. And the Chiefs left with what they game for - four points and with pole position intact ahead of the playoffs. The win came at a cost. Chiefs midfielder Quinn Tupaea was injured midway through the first half and transported from the field. Super Rugby Pacific The scores Chiefs 41 (Tupou Vaa'i 3, Samipeni Finau, Xavier Roe, Manasa Mataele tries; Damian McKenzie 4 con, pen) Highlanders 24 (Ethan de Groot, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Sam Gilbert tries; Cameron Millar 2 con, pen, Gilbert con) Halftime: 19-14.
The Irish Sun
21 hours ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘Sent by angels' – Tyrone GAA star and wife overjoyed after birth of baby daughter with rare name
DARREN McCurry and wife Ria welcomed baby daughter Renn into the world earlier this month. They did by sharing a cute close-up image on Advertisement 2 The couple shared her name alongside this heartwarming image Credit: @riamccurry and @dazzlerdarrenmc 2 McCurry will be in action tomorrow when Tyrone take on Mayo in Omagh The caption revealed Renn's date of birth as it read: "Renn McCurry 08.05.2025. Truly sent by angels above." The post generated a tonne of well-wishers from friends and family alike. Dee hailed: "Massive congratulations to you both, delighted for yous!" Meanwhile Cathryn added: "Ah Ria I am just over the moon for you!! Your perfect little bestie for life! Congrats girl." Advertisement Read More On GAA Finally, Michelle gushed: "Congratulations to you both on your precious new arrival!" The 2021 All-Ireland winner will be lining out for the Red Hand this weekend as they look to build on They're now in a commanding position to get out of their group as this weekend sees their designated home game come against a Mayo side at a low ebb after Unfortunately, Mayo will also be without boss Kevin McStay for the foreseeable future as Advertisement Most read in GAA Football On Monday the Mayo county board confirmed he would be handing over control to assistant and former manager Stephen Rochford. In a unified statement, McStay said: 'Mayo GAA Board and I are in strong agreement that current Assistant Manager / Head Coach Stephen Rochford will lead our preparations for upcoming games. Tipperary GAA star 'had to do live apology on RTE' the day after cursing during All-Ireland interview - "We are blessed to have a man of Stephen's calibre and, as a valued member of the management team for the past three seasons, he ensures continuity. "While I will not be on the training field or on the sideline on match day, I will be with management and players in spirit every step of the way." Advertisement Mayo GAA chairman Seamus Tuohy expressed support for the 63-year-old. He said: 'We extend our best wishes to Kevin and thank him for all his work to date. "We look forward to him returning to the role as soon as it is practical for him to do so. "We also stand fully behind Stephen and everyone involved in the set-up." Advertisement "Mayo GAA will be making no further statement on this matter and would ask that Kevin and his family be afforded privacy at this time." Prior to that shock loss to the Breffni, Mayo had come very close to winning the Connacht final against neighbours Galway. However, their old failing of not being able to close out games from winning positions reared its ugly head once again as
RTÉ News
a day ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Nigel Dunne: Galway resilience set for major test in Derry
Offaly great Nigel Dunne believes Galway's response against Derry on Sunday will speak volumes about the level of resilience within the Tribe camp as they aim to finally end their long wait for the Sam Maguire. They haven't won an All-Ireland football title since 2001 but have lost finals to Kerry and Armagh under Pádraic Joyce's watch. Galway entered the 2025 championship arena as one of the favourites and despite completing a Connacht four in a row, a home loss to Dublin in their All-Ireland group opener has left them under pressure ahead of their visit to the Maiden city. Dunne, who brought a 15-year inter-county career to an end earlier this month, feels a real test of character awaits them this weekend. "It's far from a gimme and the only point Derry got in the league was in Celtic Park against Galway," he said on the RTÉ GAA podcast. "The last 12 minutes against Armagh (for Derry), it's all about how Derry are going to frame it - 'look we finished really strongly, we created five or six goal chances, we've turned a corner, we've stopped the rot'. "Even though they didn't get the win, they finished strongly against a mean Armagh side. "Galway's confidence will probably be a little bit on the floor but in all truth they were slightly unlucky, that game could have gone either way. "It's how they react to it now because this is a Galway team that hasn't gotten over the line for Sam Maguire so they don't have that resilience to lie back on. "You're talking about two teams with everything to fight for. This is going to be the game of the weekend as far as I can see because there's such jeopardy, whoever loses that's probably their year over." For Dunne, there's forever an uncertainty over the Galway line-up from week to week and he believes it may be having a detrimental effect. "If all things are equal and both teams bring their best, Galway will win. "From an outsider point of view looking at Galway, I find it incredibly infuriating that – and it's nobody's fault and we're talking about extremely gifted players - (but) there's always injury concerns over Shane Walsh, Damien Comer, Seán Kelly. You're talking three of their best players, three of the best players in the game. There's always, are they fit or are they not? "That seems to be the case for a few years now. If I was a Galway supporter you'd always be on edge with them and I'm often wondering does that noise filter through to the players. "I think you need a fully fit Shane Walsh to win an All-Ireland but it's always is Shane Walsh fit. They need to get him fit, they need to do whatever it is to get him to the source of these problems."
