Latest news with #DarraghÓSé
Irish Times
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
The hard road can help in revitalised football championship
There was, says Darragh Ó Sé, some consolation for Galway's footballers after they were beaten by Dublin at the weekend. As he suspects their manager Pádraic Joyce might have said to them, 'it could be worse, lads – we could be Mayo!' On top of that, the game will help them become 'battle-hardened' for the challenges ahead, Dublin, Armagh and Donegal all 'stress-tested' too the past few weekends. 'When you hear fellas saying Kerry must be laughing at all these other counties killing each other, I honestly think it might be the other way around.' 'Football is having a great season to date,' writes Seán Moran, enough to create 'unease in the heart of Hurling Man' . The Football Review Committee's tweaks having made the game better for players and spectators, the championship producing three 'riveting' provincial finals. The hurling hasn't been half bad either, especially in Munster, Jeffrey Lynskey analysing Limerick's 'devastating' display against Cork . Dublin and Galway could do with a performance of that quality when they meet in the decisive final round of the Leinster championship on Sunday, Gordon Manning looking ahead to the 'Micheál Donoghue derby' . Gordon also heard from the Dublin camogie camp ahead of tomorrow's Special Congress vote on the skorts issue . 'If one girl gives up this sport because of a skort, that's one too many in my opinion,' said Dublin manager Gerry McQuaid. READ MORE In rugby, Gordon D'Arcy laments the decision of the IRFU to scrap its men's Sevens programme , but 'although that choice may feel like a step backwards, it is a pragmatic and ultimately necessary one in today's economic climate,' he writes. If that decision hasn't gone down too well in some parts, neither has the picking of a Thursday for Ireland's opening 2026 Six Nations game away to France. David Gorman brings us some of our readers' reaction to that scheduling, one suggesting that 'if you were planning on turning off attendees from the sport you couldn't have devised a better scheme than this farce of fixtures'. In soccer, Gavin Cummiskey heard Republic of Ireland manager Carla Ward reaffirm her commitment to the job , revealing that she turned down the offer of a job in England's Super League a few weeks ago. 'When I say I am in, I am in,' she said at the unveiling of her squad for the Nations League games against Turkey and Slovenia. Johnny Watterson, meanwhile, talks to former boxing world champion Bernard Dunne about his RTÉ radio show in which he has revealing conversations with some of the biggest names in Irish sport. And in cycling, Shane Stokes previews the 70th edition of the Rás Tailteann which gets under way in Drogheda today, former champions, a very young Irish team and 13 squads from abroad among those competing in the event. TV Watch: Ireland play the West Indies in the first of three one day internationals in Clontarf (TNT Sports 2 from 10.30am). This evening, Kilkenny and Dublin meet in the Leinster under-20 hurling final (TG4, 7.25) and Spurs and Manchester United square up in the Europa League final in Bilbao (Premier Sports 1 and TNT Sports 1, 8.0). 'This is 16th against 17th in the Premier League , a battle of two sides who have won one of their past 10 league games,' writes Jonathan Wilson. But? It offers the winners the not inconsiderable prize of a spot in next season's Champions League, with all the financial benefits that will bring.
Irish Times
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Health of Dublin football splits opinion and a warning for Leinster
Are rumours of the Dubs' demise a bit on the exaggerated side? Darragh Ó Sé believes so. Since their defeat to Meath on Sunday, people have been talking like 'they're dead in the water' . Darragh doesn't buy that for a second. Once all their players are fit and fully charged, they could, like your average Tesla, be motoring. And if you thought it would be tricky to fit Jim Gavin and Elon Musk in to the same column, think again. Seán Moran is less convinced that they'll be bouncing back any time soon. 'Realistic Dublin followers have known for some time that their team won't be challenging for Sam Maguire this year ,' he writes. Worse, 'it's hard to see too many of last Sunday's line-up featuring in future All-Ireland successes.' Dublin half forward Seán Bugler begs to differ , telling Gordon Manning that he remains convinced that they have enough quality to be contenders this year. And he's not concerned about today's draw for the group stages of the championship , even if the Dubs end up in the 'proverbial Group of Death'. Which they could – how does, say, a group with Kerry, Armagh, Dublin and Cork sound? Petrifying. Gordon takes you through how the draw will work Gordon also talks to Dublin hurler Seán Currie who admits that his second-half penalty at Parnell Park last Saturday did not cross the line , the award of a goal leaving Wexford none too pleased. Is a VAR-style aid for the officials the solution? Currie says a firm 'no'. READ MORE Jeffrey Lynskey, meanwhile, brings you a tactical analysis of last weekend's games , reckoning that unless Clare, beaten by Waterford, improve on their shooting rate and free-taking success, 'the road ahead in Munster could prove an unforgiving one'. The Meath footballers get a mention in Gordon D'Arcy's column today when he looks ahead to Leinster's Champions Cup semi-final against Northampton . Leinster might be sizzlingly hot favourites, but if they don't get their mindset right, 'they will be introduced to sport's glorious unpredictability'. Gordon was on the Leinster team that beat Northampton in the 2011 Heineken Cup Final, among his opponents that day Phil Dowson, the current Northampton coach . Johnny Watterson asks Dowson if he recalls that day. 'Big time,' he says, although he'd probably like to forget – his side led 22-6 at half-time, and lost 33-22. Louise Quinn, the third most capped Republic of Ireland international of all time, had her ups and downs through her career too, but on announcing her retirement from football on Tuesday, she reflected on her many highs, none more memorable than that appearance at the World Cup finals. And in horse racing, Brian O'Connor reports on the opening day of the Punchestown festival when Marine Nationale completed a Champion Chase double , following up his victory at Cheltenham last month. And Brian previews today's action, the highlight the Gold Cup . Galopin Des Champs finished runner-up the last two seasons. Third time lucky? TV Watch : There's more racing from the Punchestown festival on RTÉ 2 this afternoon (3.30-6.30), the Gold Cup (at 5.30) the big one, and this evening TG4 has live coverage of the Ulster under-20 final between Donegal and Tyrone (7.30). Half an hour later, Barcelona and Inter Milan kick off in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final (RTÉ 2, Premier Sports 1 and TNT Sports 1), Paris Saint-Germain having got the better of Arsenal in the first of the semi-finals last night.
