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Irish Examiner
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Munster's Tadhg Beirne named Players' Player of the Year
Tadhg Beirne was named Men's XVs Players' Player of the Year at the Rugby Players Ireland awards at the Aviva Stadium on Wednesday night. The Munster second row beat competition from provincial teammate Tom Farrell and Leinster duo Caelan Doris and Jamison Gibson-Park, who were also nominated. Berine started every game for Ireland in this Six Nations, and has featured 16 times for Munster in his first season as the province's captain. Earlier this month, his form was rewarded with a place in the Lions squad for this summer's tour of Australia, while in February he signed a new two-year extension with the IRFU and Munster. 'I'm honoured to be named as the OCC Consulting Men's Players' Player of the Year," said Beirne. "It comes as quite a surprise given that Caelan, Tom and Jamison have all had brilliant seasons. To be chosen by my fellow Rugby Players Ireland members makes this award even more meaningful, and I really appreciate their support and acknowledgement.' The women's award was claimed by Leinster centre Aoife Dalton. The 22-year-old from Offaly has become a key player for Ireland. Amee-Lee Costigan, Niamh O'Dowd and Dorothy Wall were the others nominated. 'It's a very exciting time to be involved with this group of players," said Dalton. "To be recognised by them at such a crucial time for this team is hard to put into words. When I first came into camp, I could sense that something was beginning to build and I think we have started to see the fruits of that over recent months both collectively and individually, through the performances of my fellow nominees Amee-Leigh, Niamh and Dorothy.' Erin King won the Women's Young Player of the Year award while Sam Prendergast took the men's equivalent. Ireland and Leinster out-half Prendergast was presented with the award by his older brother Cian, the Connacht captain, who was a previous winner in the category. Two scores from the Six Nations were named the tries of the year. Dan Sheehan starting and finishing off a team move against England back in February won in the men's category. Anna McGann touching down to finish what was also a team move against Italy, one which sealed her hat-trick in the game, was named Women's Try of the Year. Eimear Considine, who retired from rugby in November after 10 years at the top level of the women's game in Ireland, won the Zurich Contribution to Irish Society Award for her contributions to mental health discourse. On behalf of the Irish men's team, Caelan Doris accepted the Moment of the Year award for Ireland's Triple Crown win in the Six Nations. Rugby Players Ireland Awards winners OCC Consulting Men's XVs Players' Player of the Year: Tadhg Beirne; OCC Consulting Women's XVs Players' Player of the Year 2025: Aoife Dalton; Nevin Spence Men's XVs Young Player of the Year: Sam Prendergast; Energia Women's XVs Young Player of the Year: Erin King; MSL Mercedes-Benz Ballsbridge Men's XVs Try of the Year: Dan Sheehan (v England); AIB Corporate Banking Women's XVs Try of the Year: Anna McGann (v Italy); Tritonlake Men's 7s Player of the Year: Dylan O'Grady; Tritonlake Women's 7s Player of the Year: Lucinda Kinghan; Zurich Contribution to Irish Society Award: Eimear Considine; Druids Glen Hotel & Golf Resort Moment on the Year: Ireland's Triple Crown Success (accepted by Caelan Doris.)
Irish Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Munster star's reaction to claiming RPI Player of the Year award from his peers
Tadhg Beirne admits he was surprised to be voted the RPI Players' Players of the Year from his peers tonight. Munster skipper Beirne, 31, saw off competition from his provincial colleague Tom Farrell plus his Ireland colleagues, the Leinster duo Jamison Gibson-Park and Caelan Doris. The Kildare man, who has been selected for his second British and Irish Lions tour, was unable to pick up his award in person at the awards ceremony in Dublin as he is with Munster in Durban ahead of Saturday's URC quarter-final against the Sharks. 'I'm honoured to be named as the OCC Consulting Men's Players' Player of the Year," said Beirne. "It comes as quite a surprise given that Caelan, Tom and Jamison have all had brilliant seasons. "To be chosen by my fellow Rugby Players Ireland members makes this award even more meaningful, and I really appreciate their support and acknowledgement.' Aoife Dalton was named the Women's XVs Players' Player of the Year after a big year for the 22-year-old. The centre is already a key figure in the Ireland side and will be hugely influential at the Rugby World Cup in England later this year. 'It's a very exciting time to be involved with this group of players," she said. "To be recognised by them at such a crucial time for this team is hard to put into words. When I first came into camp, I could sense that something was beginning to build. "And I think we have started to see the fruits of that over recent months both collectively and individually, through the performances of my fellow nominees Amee-Leigh (Costigan), Niamh (O'Dowd) and Dorothy (Wall).' Eimear Considine, who announced her retirement during the season, was recognised for her sporting legacy and longstanding contribution to mental wellbeing discourse. The Clare woman was presented with Zurich Contribution to Irish Society Award as Tackle Your Feelings kicked off its 10-year anniversary celebrations. Dan Sheehan's spectacular return to Test action after his ACL lay-off saw him score a try off the bench in the Six Nations victory over England. That effort earned him the Men's XVs Try of the Year, while Anna McGann was the winner of the Women's XVs Try of the Year for finishing off a sweeping team effort against Italy in the Six Nations. Erin King, who was ruled out of the Women's World Cup with a serious knee injury, was named as the Women's XVs Young Player of the Year. The Wicklow woman picked up the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year last November. Meanwhile, Sam Prendergast was named as the Men's XVs Young Player of the Year - with his brother Cian, Connacht's captain, on hand to present the Leinster and Ireland No.10 with the award. Dylan O'Grady was named as the Men's 7s Players' Player of the Year and Lucinda Kinghan the Women's 7s Players' Player of the Year. Ireland's Triple Crown success was named as the Moment of the Year with Irish captain Caelan Doris closing out the evening by accepting the award on behalf of his teammates. OCC CONSULTING MEN'S XVs PLAYERS' PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2025 Nominees: Caelan Doris, Tom Farrell, Jamison Gibson-Park OCC CONSULTING WOMEN'S XVs PLAYERS' PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2025 Nominees: Amee-Leigh Costigan, Niamh O'Dowd, Dorothy Wall NEVIN SPENCE MEN'S XVs YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2025 Nominees: Gus McCarthy, Ben Murphy ENERGIA WOMEN's XVs YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2025 Nominees: Ruth Campbell, Aoife Dalton MSL MERCEDES-BENZ BALLSBRIDGE MEN'S XVs TRY OF THE YEAR 2025 Dan Sheehan (v England) Nominees: Stewart Moore (v Stormers), Dan Sheehan (v Ulster Rugby) AIB CORPORATE BANKING WOMEN'S XVs TRY OF THE YEAR 2025 Anna McGann (v Italy) Nominees: Amee-Leigh Costigan (v England), Linda Djougang (v Wales) TRITONLAKE MEN'S 7s PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2025 Nominees: Niall Comerford, Mark Roche TRITONLAKE WOMEN'S 7s PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2025 Nominees: Hannah Clarke, Kate Farrell-McCabe ZURICH CONTRIBUTION TO IRISH SOCIETY AWARD 2025 DRUIDS GLEN HOTEL & GOLF RESORT MOMENT ON THE YEAR 2025 Ireland's Triple Crown Success accepted by Caelan Doris
Irish Times
7 hours ago
- General
- Irish Times
Noah Grimes and Eoin McElholm star as Tyrone secure back-to-back under-20 titles
All-Ireland under-20 football championship final: Tyrone 5-16 Louth 0-17 This was an evening that red-hot forward duo Noah Grimes and Eoin McElholm will not forget any time soon. Between them, the lethal attacking pair scored 4-10 to help secure back-to-back Dalata Hotel Group All-Ireland under-20 titles for Tyrone. Leading by just two points with 20 minutes to go in a terrific back and forth at Armagh's Athletic Grounds, the holders suddenly hit the afterburners and left Louth with scorch marks. They outscored Louth by 3-7 to 0-4 in that final third of the game and while the 14-point margin may have flattered them slightly, there was no denying their quality. READ MORE Grimes clinched the Man of the Match award with a thrilling 2-6 tally in front of 7,944 while senior talent McElholm was not far behind with his 2-4 haul. There was an impressive late cameo too from substitute Shea McDermott who contributed 1-1, helping to seal the Red Hand County's eighth title at the grade. Louth will kick themselves for failing to score a single goal despite three decent chances over the hour while eight wides and a number of score attempts that dropped short proved costly for them. But they will have no complaints about the result as Tyrone, with seven different scorers and an excellent display from Matthew Quinn, locked down back-to-back titles for the third time in the county's history. Louth, Leinster champions for the first time since 1981, played into a stiff first-half wind but created chance after chance in the opening quarter and will rue their errant kicking in this period. In the first 10 minutes alone, Louth kicked three points but also dropped three more score attempts short and booted another one wide. Two minutes later, another point attempt that dropped short, this time from Adam Gillespie, fell kindly for Tony McDonnell to get a shot away that was saved. The giant fear among the big Louth crowd that made the journey up the M1 was that they'd be made to pay for all the misses. And sure enough Tyrone snatched a goal against the run of play in the 15th minute. Grimes this time cut in from the right beyond Micheal Reid and blasted left-footed to the net. Noah Grimes is on 🔥 for — The GAA (@officialgaa) It tied up the game at 1-2 to 0-5 though Louth kept their foot down and continued to benefit from an aggressive press. Midfielders James Maguire and Sean Callaghan were dominant for Louth initially and a terrific Callaghan two-pointer in the 25th minute left them 0-8 to 1-4 up. Louth, who beat Mayo at the All-Ireland semi-final stage, weren't flattered by the lead but were also powerless to prevent the game suddenly swinging back in Tyrone's favour. Grimes, Ruairi McCullagh and Conor O'Neill added points before a Louth kick-out was intercepted by McElholm who fed Grimes for a second goal. It was a terrific finish as Grimes, unable to bounce the ball a second time after a neat dummy bounce, dropped the ball and finished it soccer style to the net. Tyrone now led 2-7 to 0-8 at half-time and stretched the gap to seven with points from McElholm and Grimes after the restart. Louth got it back to a two-point game when they sandwiched a Tadhg McDonnell two-pointer with a series of singles. Just like the first-half, Louth had opportunities to pull decisively clear but failed to convert 39th and 41st-minute goal chances. This time there was no coming back for Louth who were buried by an avalanche of Tyrone scores between the 40th and 46th minutes. McElholm burst through for two trademark goals, the first in the 43rd minute after Liam Og Mossey's spadework and the second three minutes later after a Conall Sheehy lay-off. Grimes, McElholm and Caolan Donnelly added points in the 2-3 blitz while sub McDermott popped up with a late 1-1. Tyrone: C McGarvey; B Hughes, J Clarke (0-0-1), Conor Devlin; C Donnelly (0-0-1), C Daly, F Nelis; Conan Devlin, C O'Neill (0-0-1); C Sheehy, L Og Mossey, M Quinn; N Grimes (2-0-6), R McCullagh (0-0-2, 1f), E McElholm (2-0-4). Subs: E Donaghy for Sheehy 53 mins, D Donaghy for Mossey 55 mins, S McDermott (1-0-1) for Conan Devlin 58 mins, L Lawn for McCullagh 60 mins. Louth: T Markey; K Martin, P Tinnelly, M Reid; Tadhg McDonnell (0-1-1), C McKeown, C McGinty; S Callaghan (0-1-1), J Maguire (0-1-2); S Lennon (0-0-1), C MacCriosta (0-0-1), P Grimes Murphy; A Gillespie (0-0-1, 1f), Tony McDonnell (0-0-2, 1f), D Dorian (0-0-1). Subs: B McKeown for Reid 43 mins, J McGlew for McGinty 50 mins, D Shevlin (0-0-1) for Dorian 50 mins. Referee: N Mooney (Cavan).
Irish Times
9 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Irish Times
Why James Lowe is determined for Cian Healy and Ross Byrne to leave Leinster with a medal this season
Maudlin is permissible as an emotion at this time of year. Players retire or move on to fresh challenges. Despite the promises, friendships are never exactly the same for those who depart. They can't be when a player is not among the group every day. Retirees often cite the camaraderie and dressingroom banter as aspects of their former life that they come to miss most. They stay in touch, but are not in touch with that daily working intimacy. It is therefore not a surprise that James Lowe alighted on two players, one from either category – Cian Healy who retires at the end of the season and the Gloucester-bound Ross Byrne – when speaking about Leinster's motivation in trying to win a United Rugby Championship title, the first step towards which is to beat the Scarlets at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday (3pm). 'When I look around the changing-room and the people who aren't going to be here next year, the two you obviously think of are Ross Byrne and Cian Healy. Some of the best days of your life are when you win silverware together,' the Leinster wing said. READ MORE 'For Ireland we have been able to do that in recent years, but we haven't been able to transfer that with Leinster. It doesn't mean that because you have won with Ireland you are going to win with Leinster. 'You still have to come back here and perform on the biggest of days and under the most amount of pressure. That's what we want to do. We can't let Cian Healy leave Leinster without another medal around his neck. It's not doing him justice; it's not doing Ross Byrne justice. Those boys watched Leinster at Donnybrook years and years ago.' Lowe also appreciates that it is the wider Leinster squad who have propelled the province to this point of the season in the URC, and for many they will not get a chance to play through the knockout phase should they progress to the final. He said it was one thing to be disappointed after losing a match, but quite another to look at the faces of those who did not even get the opportunity. Empathy builds a strong bond. Lowe learned a couple of other important life lessons over the weekend. Dublin Zoo is much bigger than he realised, armed with one buggy and two children, and that his son Nico probably needs a couple of footwork drills to keep him upright when given a taste of freedom. Lowe also got a first-hand appraisal of the sheer size of the circus that he would be joining as a Lion for the upcoming tour to Australia . The recent orientation day in London saw him 'introducing myself to people, like, three times a day. I was just, like, 'I'm so sorry I've got no idea who you are or what you do, but you're sitting there, and you look like I should introduce myself'.' There are 38 players in an official travelling party that will probably hit the 90-mark. Lowe's eloquent rebuttal of the criticism, from some quarters, of southern-hemisphere-born players wearing the red jersey hit its mark last week. But he demonstrated a lighter touch in getting all touchy-feely emotionally with erstwhile enemies and soon to be team-mates. 'It was awesome, though, even just to mix and mingle on a social level with players that on the weekend you hate. You genuinely have a serious hate for these people and then to meet them in a context of [the fact] we are on the same journey together [and] about to tour Australia. 'You need to break down these barriers because we're all in the same boat, going in the same direction and we want to succeed. It was cool in that sense.' To more pressing matters and a game against a Scarlets team that recently beat Leinster in Llanelli, west Wales. A superior kicking game was central to the Welsh club's victory. Lowe offered the 'skinny' on the Scarlets detail, saying: 'On paper the team is very good. The back three is young, but they are all international players. 'Their midfield is big and abrasive, ball in hand, able to put little kicks in. Nine and 10 axis, you have a 10 there that wants to ping corners and that's what they did.' The Scarlets won that kicking battle, so Leinster must come with a plan. 'That's how they beat us last time so it's about us as a back three trying to nullify that,' Lowe said. 'If we can take that away with good kick pressure and pressure at the ruck, make [Scarlets scrumhalf Gareth] Davies at nine have to scrap for everything, make it a real tough day for him, I think it will go a long way. 'If we force them into bad kicks or read cues as a back three, if we can shut down kick angles with good pressure, that can make our lives so much easier. We can look after each other.'
Wales Online
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
The Welsh rugby team sending a clear message to the WRU after all that's gone on
The Welsh rugby team sending a clear message to the WRU after all that's gone on The Scarlets are taking on Leinster in the URC play-offs this weekend Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel with his players (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency ) Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel says that his side can strengthen their position with a run in the United Rugby Championship play-offs amid all the uncertainty off the field in Welsh rugby. The west Walians are the only Welsh side in the URC play-offs, with a match against Leinster in Dublin this weekend. However, their run to the play-offs have been overshadowed by off-field events - with the Scarlets one of two teams, along with the Ospreys, not to have signed the new Professional Rugby Agreement. That has seen the Welsh Rugby Union begin the process to implement the two-year option on the existing PRA, putting the futures of the two west Wales teams at risk. However, as the Scarlets - back in the play-offs for the first time since reaching the final in 2018 - head to Ireland, Peel says the players haven't been too concerned about what has been going on in boardrooms. "I think within these four walls obviously, it's not really overshadowed it," said Peel. "I think that, for ourselves, we focus a lot on the rugby. Conversations have been happening here as well above our heads and we're up to date and up to speed with everything that's been going on. "But we've concentrated on the game in hand. For ourselves and the region as a whole, I think it's a great week to be part of." Should Welsh rugby find itself in the position where four teams does go down to three, a number of different factors will likely decide who goes. Quite simply, with the two west Wales clubs on a different financial agreement to Cardiff and Dragons, merely who is able to survive the coming years could determine it. But, were it to come down to looking at the four sides equally, the fact that the Scarlets are the only team in the play-offs could, in theory, count for something. "Yes, I suppose there is an argument for that," admitted Peel. "I think that there's a lot of things that will come into that meritocracy argument, I'm sure. "For us, we're a proud region and rugby means a lot to the people of our community. And I think that if there's anything that we can do to improve our argument - to highlight it - that is performing on the field. "That undoubtedly carries weight. It's about us representing this great club and region, really doing it to the best of our ability, and putting our best foot forward. "That's all we can do as staff and players. For me, that has always been a big part of of our culture. That has always been a big part of why we play the game here. "For me, it was a big part of why I wanted to come back. I've I loved it as a player and I've loved being part of it as a coach as well. "So I think that it's about representing this region to the best of our ability. "If we can go as far as we can in this competition, then that highlights what it means to us as a group, and what it means to our fanbase and stakeholders." Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. On whether on-field success should carry the most weight when it comes to deciding teams' fates, Peel added: "I can only speak from my perspective and I always want to be here as a successful rugby team. "I think that everything that carries off the back of that – the decisions – they are out of my hands. "All I can do, all we can do as a group, is put our best foot forward. "By us being successful, by us winning rugby games, that's the only currency we have as rugby players and rugby coaches." As for how the current situation would affect Peel in terms of building towards next season, the former Wales scrum-half was fairly relaxed as he kept his focus on the Irish province. "I think that those type of things will play out over the next couple of weeks and all we can do is concentrate on the here and now," he said. "The reality is that there are conversations going on above our heads at the minute and I know we're up to speed with everything. We have in our board to do the best best by this region. Article continues below "I think that all we can do as a group of players now is to continue playing as hard as we can and the other things will fall into place off the back of it. "As a group of players, we have an exciting weekend for us and the supporters. The board are obviously working hard on in the background."
