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Irish Independent
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Munster Hurling championship: Cork v Waterford, Limerick v Clare – follow all the action as it happens
Live | Niall McIntyre Welcome to GAA championship live blog with hurling's Munster and Leinster championships the main focus of today's action. It promises to be another day of drama. Follow all the action around the grounds here. Just now Game on in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. 3 minutes ago Frank Roche in Tullamore: OFFALY 3-15 ANTRIM 1-16 Salvation for the Offaly hurlers - but where to next for Antrim and their manager, Davy Fitzgerald? Not for the first time this summer, the beleaguered Saffrons paid a heavy price for their indiscipline as they lost to a jittery Offaly and paid the ultimate price – demotion to the Joe McDonagh Cup. And yet, in the circumstances, the hosts made life incredibly difficult for themselves as they retained their Leinster senior status and demoted Antrim in the process. They had all the elements, literally and metaphorically, in their favour when they led by 2-9 to 0-11 at half-time. They had the backing of a second half gale and an extra man, an advantage they had held from the seventh minute after Antrim defender Niall O'Connor was sent off. Referee Michael Kennedy flashed a straight red after consulting with his umpires, GAA+ replays indicating a stamp on Offaly danger man Charlie Mitchell. That four-point interval lead had stretched to six by the 44th minute, but Offaly then endured a horrendous 20-minute scoring famine. For a while, it appeared as they were playing with treacle in their boots and – even against the wind – 14-man Antrim slowly started to believe, cutting the lead to a goal shortly beyond the hour. Mitchell, who had a strong shout for Man of the Match, gave home fans some belated reason to cheer with a superb point from the stand side touchline. But then, in the next play, Antrim went on the offensive and after a surreal bout of pinball in the Offaly goalmouth, James McNaughton buried to the net for a 65th minute goal that left just a point in it. Offaly must have been fearing the worst when Brian Duignan's goal chance was blocked by Stephen Rooney. But then sub Eoghan Cahill's clever pass from the left touchline located Killian Sampson in space, and he nailed the most important goal of Offaly's season. A Duignan free completed the scoring, but Offaly can be thankful that they didn't suffer the consequences of a desperately poor second half that yielded just 1-6. Much earlier, they had looked firmly in the box seat after Mitchell released Duignan for a smartly finished goal inside 90 seconds; and then when Dan Ravenhill drilled home a low 14th minute penalty awarded for a foul by Conor Boyd on Mitchell. 12 minutes ago The Munster games are next up at 4.00 with Waterford and Cork fighting for their lives. Cork need to win to qualify for the Munster final while a win would see Waterford take third place. 29 minutes ago Full-time in Parnell Park, and Galway hold on for a five point win to book their place in the Leinster final. 30 minutes ago Conal O'Riain hits Dublin's third goal, after good work from Ronan Hayes, leading to a few anxious final minutes for Galway. 33 minutes ago Sean Currie buries a 21 yard free to the back of the net for Dublin, cutting Galway's lead to seven with five to play. 35 minutes ago Killian Sampson responds instantly with a goal for Offaly, and that should see them home, leading by four with four to play. 36 minutes ago Goal for Antrim's James McNaughton. They cut Offaly's lead to one point with five to play. 43 minutes ago The fourteen men of Antrim are hanging in grimly in Tullamore, cutting the gap to four with ten minutes to go. 43 minutes ago Brian Concannon hits his fifth point of the day to move Galway nine clear with ten minutes left to play. 49 minutes ago Galway restore their six point lead with a point from distance from Tom Monaghan. 53 minutes ago Cian O'Sullivan cuts the gap to five but Conor Whelan responds instantly for Galway. 55 minutes ago Jack Grealish comes in for Daithi Burke, who was on a yellow card. 56 minutes ago Offaly are six ahead in the relegation decider in Tullamore. 58 minutes ago Galway surge five clear after points from Cathal Mannion and Conor Whelan. The momentum has swung in their favour with Dublin struggling against the breeze. Today 10:00 AM Galway surge three clear in Parnell Park, after points from TJ Brennan and Conor Whelan. Today 09:55 AM Chris Crummey responds for Galway after a clever pass from Rian McBride. Live Blog Software
Irish Daily Mirror
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Donegal v Armagh brawl slammed as Gardaí forced to intervene
Gardaí were forced to intervene as a brawl broke out following Donegal's Ulster final win over Armagh on Saturday. There were ugly scenes at the final whistle after Donegal edged out Armagh by a single point after extra-time. Niall O'Donnell was the hero for Jim McGuinness' men as he kicked what the winning point with two minutes to go in extra-time, with Donegal closing out the game to become the 100th winner of the Anglo Celt Cup as they won by 2-23 to 0-28. A brawl broke out following the final whistle in Clones as members of both sides were involved and Gardaí were forced to step in. Speaking after the game, McGuinness said on the unsavoury scenes: 'I don't have a perspective on that. It's not nice to see. It shouldn't happen. I was giving my daughter a hug at the time. I didn't see what happened, but it shouldn't be in the game.' GAA disciplinary officials are now expected to review footage of the incident, with suspensions possible. The row broke out as fans made their way on to the pitch after the game. Meanwhile, Michael Murphy told how days like Saturday are why he decided to come out of inter-county retirement. "Ulster is always our bread and butter, it's always our thing, for so many years we could never win them," he told RTE after being named the Man of the Match. "It's just brilliant to get back in again and just the heart and the desire of them lads out there today, the people in Donegal in general. "There were times when we were in (the game), we were out and we were back in and back out, but it's just great that we got out on the right side of it there today." He added on Armagh: "Listen, Armagh are an absolute incredible side, they're an absolute credit. They're All-Ireland champions, they've been in Ulster finals the last number of years. "They're a brilliant side. It's not the last we're going to see of them this year."
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Genius' Yamal dazzles again for Barcelona in epic duel with Inter
FC Barcelona's Lamine YAMAL celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the UEFA Champions League soccer match between FC Barcelona and Inter Milan at Stadio olimpico Lluis Companys. Andrea Amato/Ipa Sport / Ipa-Age/LiveMedia-IPA/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Inter Milan's Denzel Dumfries may have been named Man of the Match with his two goals and one assist but it was Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal everybody was talking about again after the teams' 3-3 draw in a Champions League semi-final for the ages. Comparisons to Lionel Messi were aplenty after the 17-year-old had dazzled once more, not only scoring an important goal but tormenting the Inter defence throughout the night and hitting the crossbar twice. Advertisement 'They already have the same fear of Yamal as they do of Messi," Spanish sports paper Marca said. In England, Manchester City striker Erling Haaland said on Snapchat that "this guy is incredible." The Inter camp was also impressed, as not even doubling up against Yamal worked. "Lamine is the kind of talent that comes along every 50 years. I've not seen a player like him for years," coach Simone Inzaghi said. Defender Alessandro Bastoni named Yamal "the best player in the world. He makes it all look so easy." Yamal's classy goal in the 24th minute to ignite Barca's comeback from an early 2-0 deficit made him the youngest scorer in a Champions League semi-final at 17 years 291 days, the latest of many age records in his career. Advertisement At least as remarkable is that the match was already his 100th for the club, two years and one day after his debut as a 15-year-old. Yamal won Euro 2024 with Spain and has three titles with Barca, La Liga in 2023, and the Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey this year, far more than Messi had at the same age. Barca lead La Liga this season and can win the Champions League for a treble which their coach Hansi Flick achieved with Bayern Munich in 2020. Flick named Yamal "special" and "a genius." "He showed us the way because making it 2-1 was really important. He's a fantastic player and you see his quality in big games. It's great to have him here," Flick said. Advertisement But the coach quickly also praised his whole team after the comeback from 2-0 and 3-2 down. "They gave everything and we can be proud. We played well and kept our style and picked ourselves up after conceding twice," Flick said. Barca must now win at San Siro on Tuesday to reach the May 31 final in Munich, and another Lamine gala could help in this respect. "The second leg is still to come and we have to win it. It's a final before the final. We have 90 minutes to get to the final, our objective. We have a chance," Flick said.
The South African
28-04-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Springboks: Two generational stars continue to shine
The Springbok coaches have already made it clear that as they head into the 2025 season, numerous opportunities will be afforded to 'next gen' talent, while some seasoned veterans will need to accept playing a little less in order to ultimately extend their careers. It's with this in mind that the continued rise of Stormers flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu must be leaving the Springbok coaches to lick their lips in anticipation of what he could do on the Test stage this season. Just over a week ago he he produced a simply sensational performance in what was an all-time top-tier hat-trick display against Connacht. The dynamic playmaker then backed that up with another vibrant display this past weekend as he scored 26 points in an emphatic victory for the Stormers over Benetton. After an unfortunate run of injuries, Feinberg-Mngomezulu now appears to be at the peak of his powers, and every indication suggests that the Springbok have an incredibly special one-of-a-kind superstar on their hands. MORE TO SMILE ABOUT FOR SPRINGBOKS Just as Feinberg-Mngomezulu has made it clear that he will be making a big play for the Springbok No 10 jersey this season, there has also been a timely surge in performances from Bulls front rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels. The 23-year-old is another youth prodigy who now truly seems to be coming into his own, having recently produced one standout performance after another for the Bulls. His stunning Man of the Match performance against Glasgow on Friday night served as a timely reminder that the Springboks won't have to look too far when it comes to settling on a replacement for Steven Kitshoff after his unfortunate retirement. THE BOKS HAVE A BUSY SEASON AHEAD: TBC: vs Barbarians, TBC, TBC 5 July: vs Italy, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria 12 July: vs Italy, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha 19 July: vs Georgia, Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit 16 August: vs Australia, Ellis Park, Johannesburg 23 August: vs Australia, DHL Stadium, Cape Town 6 September: vs New Zealand, Auckland 13 September: vs New Zealand, Wellington 27 September: vs Argentina, Kings Park, Durban 4 October: vs Argentina, London 1 November: vs Wales, Cardiff 8 November: vs France, Paris 15 November: vs Italy, Turin 22 November: vs Ireland, Dublin *SA Rugby are working on adding two more Tests for the Springboks, likely to be against Japan and Portugal HOW MANY GAMES DO YOU THINK THE BOKS WILL WIN? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news. Meanwhile, here is an important reminder on ticket sales for the Springbok men's game against Argentina in the Rugby Championship at Twickenham in October. Ticket sales Tickets are on sale via and England Rugby, starting from just £55* for adults and £28* for Under-16s. Hospitality packages are also available on (*booking fees apply)
CAF
01-04-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Witbooi: "We never gave up" – South Africa prodigy inspires comeback win over Egypt
Published: Monday, 31 March 2025 In a night that showcased nerves of steel and a winning mentality, 16-year-old Emile Witbooi emerged as South Africa's heartbeat and hero, guiding his side to a breathtaking 4-3 comeback victory over Egypt at the TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations in Casablanca. 'It was an intense match, but we showed real character to come back and win,' said Witbooi, who was later named Man of the Match. 'I'm happy with our first game – the team stayed composed in tough moments and that gives us confidence going forward.' Witbooi orchestrated the comeback masterfully, playing with maturity well beyond his years. From a perfectly-weighted assist to the decisive winner, the Cape Town City FC midfielder dominated proceedings with vision, poise and precision. Witbooi steals the show The Kimberley-born playmaker stamped his authority early in the match, delivering a pinpoint left-footed assist for South Africa's opener. But it was his all-important winner that sealed his night – and the game – in spectacular fashion. 'I love having the ball, organising the play, and helping my teammates get into the right positions,' said the soft-spoken Witbooi. 'We kept our composure and took our chances. This win reflects our mentality – we never give up.' A leader in stature, not in size At just 1.60m tall, Witbooi may not tower over opponents, but his footballing IQ, calmness under pressure, and ability to dictate the rhythm of the game made him the most influential figure on the pitch. His leadership qualities were evident as he rallied his teammates when they trailed 3-1. With the North Africans pressing hard, Witbooi calmly pulled the strings in midfield, helping South Africa claw their way back. Statement performance This victory not only gave South Africa three crucial points but sent a resounding message to the rest of the tournament: Bafana's U17s are here not just to compete – they're here to contend. And at the heart of their campaign could be Witbooi, whose brilliant opening performance suggests the youngster might just be one of the standout players of the competition.
