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Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Former All-Ireland winning S&C Coach the latest to depart Connacht Rugby
After a season of upheaval and disappointment, Connacht Rugby are set to lose the services of highly rated Head of Athletic Performance, Mikey Kiely. It is understood that the Limerick man is set to vacate the role having joined the province in 2022. Previously with Ulster Rugby, where he was Senior Athletic Performance Coach, Kiely is perhaps best known for his role with the Limerick senior hurling team, where he was Strength & Conditioning Coach for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. During this time, the Shannonsiders won two All-Ireland titles, two Munster Championships and a National Hurling League. A key part of John Kiely's backroom team, the Ballybrown native played his part as Limerick won all nine championship games to collect those 2020 and 2021 Munster and All Ireland titles. Kiely, 36, first came to prominence with Clare's U21 hurling team in 2013 – working with the likes of Podge Collins, Tony Kelly and Shane O'Donnell as they won All Ireland honours. He then returned to his native Limerick and worked with a variety of inter-county sides before moving to the senior set-up, taking over from Joe O'Connor. As well as this departure, Connacht lost Pete Wilkins earlier this season. He stepped down as Head Coach, in April, before joining Italian outfit Benetton as their new attack coach earlier this month. In January, the westerners confirmed that Mark Sexton, their Attack Coach was departing the side at the end of the 2024/2025 season. Cullie Tucker concluded the season as Interim Head Coach, before Defence Coach Scott Fardy – the former Leinster and Australian lock – was next to leave the Galway-based side. This leaves Tucker and John Muldoon as they only two senior coaches still at the Sportsground. Last weekend, in more positive news Connacht announced that talents John Devine, Finn Treacy and Harry West have been awarded their first professional contracts. Connacht finished their 2024/2025 URC campaign in 13th place, having won six times in18 outings, while Racing 92 ended their Challenge Cup aspirations at the quarter-final stage. Under the stewardship of Andy Friend, they reached the 2022/2023 URC semi-final, but haven't failed to qualify for the knockout phase of the 16-team competition in the most recent two installments.
The 42
11-05-2025
- Politics
- The 42
In camogie the war rages on between those fighting for the past and those fighting for the future
JUST AFTER FIVE o'clock on Friday evening, less than 20 hours from throw-in of the Munster camogie Final, Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport Patrick O'Donovan took to the airwaves. The writing was on the wall for the camogie players of Cork and Waterford when the Minister stated that the 'Camogie Association are constituted properly. They haven't done anything wrong with regard to their rules and they have set a process in place in terms of changing them.' After six extraordinary days, countless headlines, and two pivots the Camogie Association were thrown a life buoy by the Minister. The Minister would not be interfering in the rules of the Camogie Association and the Minister would not force the Munster Council to play the Munster Final. The green light had been given to the Munster Council to postpone the game and ensure that there would be no camogie players winning Munster Championships in shorts. Everyone knows that if you need to put out bad news, you should put it out on a Friday night at ten past eight. Advertisement The Munster Council, no doubt boosted by this significant show of support from the Minister, penned a hasty statement 'in the best interests of all players and officials involved' and duly postponed the game. Those versed in camogie politics had been fearful of this outcome from Wednesday. Cork and Waterford had announced that they would follow their Leinster counterparts in wearing shorts for this game. A defiant Ashling Thompson had stated 'What we're going to do is wear shorts and if we're asked to return to the dressing room we won't. If that means abandoning the game and handing over the Munster title to Waterford, that's what we'll do.' Waterford were not found wanting and Niamh Rockett had responded immediately; 'We will be standing with Cork. We're willing to give up the chance of silverware.' Spooked by this united front, the Camogie Association attempted a throw of the dice to discourage the players from following through on their threat of wearing shorts in their Munster Final. On Thursday morning a Special Congress was announced for 22 May where a vote would be held on the introduction of a rule to allow players the option to wear skorts or shorts. Two hours later Irish Independent journalist Martin Breheny stated 'the war is over, it's how you settle the aftermath is the only matter left.' Those less versed in camogie politics understood this hurried Special Congress to be a formality. They assumed choice would now be the order of the day. Sitting here now, sifting through the joint statement of the Waterford and Cork Senior Camogie Panels issued yesterday, I wish the war was over. The decision by the Munster Council to postpone this game has impacted this group of players both physically and mentally. Those in the background will feel equally aggrieved. Meticulous planning by those personnel to ensure these players were at their peak for this game has resulted in sacrifices elsewhere. Next year the willingness to make these sacrifices will likely be impacted by this farcical decision and players will lose out again. Those personnel with the credentials to improve athletic performance, to improve the game of camogie as a spectacle, will likely retreat from an organisation hell bent on retaining power at all costs. It can only be assumed that the decision to postpone the game was an effort to retain power at all costs. Since news broke last Saturday that Dublin and Kilkenny had been forced to change out of their shorts for their Leinster semi-final there has been a chasm a mile long, which the Camogie Association has refused to step into. Over and over the Camogie Association has been unavailable for comment. Despite two pivots, the first offering discussion in 2026, the second confirming a Special Congress in two weeks, Camogie President Brian Molloy has not spoken in public about the issue, preferring instead the written word. Ard Stiúrthóir Sinead McNulty has also avoided the spotlight. It has been left to volunteers in the organisation, notably Chairperson of the Dublin Camogie Board Karl O'Brien to lead the way and O'Brien's leadership on this issue has been exemplary. The Dublin Camogie Board, recognising that the pitch is not the appropriate place to enforce this rule in the current circumstances, has simply told referees to allow games to proceed. When the dust settles in Dublin the respect shown to both the referees and players in the course of this debacle will ensure a prompt return to the business at hand. Related Reads Waterford and Cork camogie players label decision to cancel Munster final 'massive step backwards' Wexford camogie team still planning to wear shorts for Leinster final Camogie Association calls Special Congress to vote on motion over skorts controversy An old clipping from the Southern Star is circulating on social media today. Penned in September 1935 it was simply titled 'Girls In Shorts.' A West Cork priest was so vexed by young girls wearing shorts cycling through the town of Dunmanway that he took to the pulpit to denounce them as a 'disgrace to their sex.' He surmised that 'if they appeared again in such disgraceful attire, they deserved to be kicked off the streets.' It is surreal today to know that a pitch in Tipperary was silent for the exact same reason. The war rages on between those fighting for the past and those fighting for the future of 'one of the most ancient games in the world.'
Irish Examiner
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
'90s rivalry has cooled but Sheedy still knows what's up for grabs on Clare-Tipp fault line
Noel Sheehy's hurling career spanned the escalation of the Clare-Tipp rivalry. Now, he lives on its major fault line. The tenacious defender's 12 years of senior service began and ended with defeats to the Banner. In between, it yielded a pair of All-Irelands and All-Stars, plus five Munster Championships. The Silvermines stalwart has since relocated across the river to Killaloe and will be tuning in on Saturday from his wife's native Lahinch. 'It's funny because here in Ballina-Killaloe, it's almost like they're a twin,' says Sheehy. 'For soccer, they're Derg United. Outside of the GAA, it's almost one community. But you're either Ballina or Smith O'Briens. 'In the '90s, the rivalry was pretty hot. I remember in '97, we'd the back-door championship. They'd a physical door on the bridge on the Clare side just to remind the Tipp lads you got in the back door. 'I'd say the slagging was too much because the door went floating down the Shannon after a few days. 'It's not quite that intense at the moment,' Sheehy adds with a chuckle. The round-robin has been a curious time for the Clare-Tipp rivalry. Home advantage has not yet been brought to bear. The Banner have won on all three of their visits to Thurles in 2018, '22, and '24. Tipp have emerged from Ennis victorious in 2019 and '23. The latter win was their last victory in the Munster championship (four draws, five losses since then). Sheehy was among five Premier debutants back in 1986, the last time Clare enjoyed a championship win over Tipp at Cusack Park. On the same day that Diego Maradona punched the ball into the English net, Tipp were pickpocketed by a stirring Clare comeback. In those days, nine-point leads were usually watertight. Instead, Tipp's inexperience and Clare's bench caught up with them. 'I remember after the game,' says Sheehy. 'We'd won at underage all up along, and suddenly you're out of a championship. It didn't sit well. It seemed at odds with the journey we'd been on underage. 'Maybe it was an awakening, in a way, that we were in with the big boys now. 'I think it set the seeds for what was to come the following year. We knew we were better than this. All the talent was there. 'That spurred you on. No more than it spurred Clare on a few years afterwards in a Munster final that was a catalyst for Clare.' Sheehy sees similarities between their well of underage talent at that time and Tipp's recent minor successes. These rivals will meet again on Wednesday in a Munster U20 final. 'They've made huge strides. Saturday is a big test for them. And I think they'll relish it,' says Sheehy. 'But Clare are All-Ireland champions. You need to be very mindful of that. The way they played against Cork, that was reflected in their play in the second half. 'To get a result on Saturday would be massive for Tipperary. But they know what's in front of them. 'You're going into the lion's den here, more so even than going to Cork. Because we were going more in hope. Going into Ennis, everything is on the line. 'For either team, it's a watershed game. You've got to get a result of some form here. If somebody loses Saturday, it's curtains really. 'I know there's another game to go and anything can happen, but from a morale point of view, trying to lift guys for a final game where you need results to go with you… I'm not saying they won't, but this is the game. It'll be a cracker.' Following Sheehy's retirement in 1997, it took a while for the next Silvermines senior star to arrive. That man, Jason Forde, is now lining out for his 13th year in blue and gold. Scorer of 0-15 against Cork, Forde's influence will be especially vital in Darragh McCarthy's absence. 'I played with his dad and his uncles, but Jason is class, and has been since underage,' says Sheehy. 'It's lovely to see a guy from a small club doing so well, and to have that skill level is just phenomenal. He's a beautiful striker of the ball. 'It's a big game for him and a lot of pressure. But he's used to that. Water off a duck's back.'
