Latest news with #PaulOConnell
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
John Kiely and Limerick eye seventh successive Munster crown
There was, of course, no end of disappointment in the Limerick camp when Cork ended their 'drive for five' last summer in the All-Ireland semi-finals, but manager John Kiely felt some relief too. Even when he went to Mass, there was no escaping the county's fixation with it. ' We'll pray for the five-in-a-row and we'll move on down to the more important matters of life and death,' people would say to him. 'It's definitely no harm that it's finished with,' he tells Seán Moran. Mind you, the focus now is on seven Munster titles in a row, Cork their opponents in Saturday's final. Gordon Manning looks at the contrasting manner in which the two teams go about racking up their scores , 'Cork largely dealing in the currency of goals, Limerick profiting from their long-range shooting'. After last month's 16-point trouncing by Limerick, Ciarán Murphy has a notion that Cork would settle for 'a defeat by three points or less' on Saturday and aim to build on the performance as they enter the quarter-final route in the championship. 'Lose the battle, win the war.' In rugby, 11 uncapped players have been named in the 32-man Irish squad for next month's games against Georgia and Portugal , Johnny Watterson hearing from interim head coach Paul O'Connell about his selection. And Johnny also has news that the Sharks are unlikely to face any sanctions for their jiggery-pokery during that shoot-out against Munster, URC chief executive Martin Anayi pointing to 'what he saw as the positive aspects as the matter', namely social media interest and the game being 'the most viewed highlights on YouTube we've ever had'. READ MORE In golf, how annoyed was Rory McIlroy when his driver was deemed non-conforming at the US PGA Championship last month? Very. 'Pissed off,' in fact, Philip Reid bringing news from McIlroy's pre-Canadian Open press conference when he broke his recent media black-out. James McDermott, meanwhile, has a look at the talent that Senegal will bring to Dublin for tomorrow's friendly against the Republic of Ireland, their squad containing a fair helping of players who finished their club seasons with medals draped around their necks. In his America at Large column, Dave Hannigan brings us the story of the Massapequa Soccer Shop in Long Island which, for five decades, catered for local devotees of the game. It is now closing its doors, though. And after Irish Times readers were invited recently to nominate Ireland's greatest Irish sportsperson of all time, Paul Doyle was left scratching his head. 'Everyone overlooked the right answer,' he writes, ' it is remarkable that not one person nominated this Dubliner '. Who? Eoin Morgan. 'Do we deny Morgan his Irishness because he played most of his career with England,' he asks. TV Watch : There's no end of golf on your screens today, with plenty of Irish in action. Conor Purcell is in the field for the KLM Open in Amsterdam (Sky Golf, from noon), Lauren Walsh, Anna Foster, Annabel Wilson, Sara Byrne and Canice Screene will be in action at the Tenerife Open (Sky Sports+, from 12.30), and Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry and Séamus Power will be on duty at the Canadian Open (Sky Golf, from 5pm). And this evening, Spain meet France in the Nations League semi-finals (Virgin Media Two, 8.0), Portugal already through to the final after beating Germany last night.
Irish Times
4 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Which Ireland players will step up for the summer squad while the Lions are away?
It may be URC semi-final week, but the rugby news cycle has been dominated by events away from Leinster. Connacht have pulled off a big-name managerial signing by securing the services of Stuart Lancaster, while Paul O'Connell has named his Ireland squad for the summer tour of Georgia and Portugal. With the Lions contingent away in Australia, this tour will be vital for plugging the gaps and filling areas of weakness as we start to inch towards another World Cup. Gerry Thornley joins Nathan Johns to discuss all this while looking at why Leinster's URC playoff run appears to be struggling to capture the public imagination. Produced by John Casey.
Irish Times
5 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Craig Casey to captain Ireland for summer Tour
Craig Casey will captain Ireland for this summer Tour to Georgia and Portugal. Interim head coach Paul O'Connell announced his 32-man squad for next month's games. Munster scrumhalf Casey takes over the captaincy in the absence of Caelen Doris, who is out of action due to a shoulder injury he sustained in Leinster's Champions Cup semi-final defeat to Northampton at the start of May. O'Connell, deputising as head coach while Andy Farrell and Simon Easterby are on British & Irish Lions duty, named 11 uncapped players for the two-match tour. READ MORE Ireland will play Georgia in Tbilisi on July 5th before facing Portugal in Lisbon on July 12th. There are first call-ups for Alex Kendellen, Darragh Murray, Paddy McCarthy, Stephen Smyth and Hugh Gavin, while Tom Ahern, Michael Milne, Shayne Bolton, Nathan Doak, Ben Murphy and Tommy O'Brien return to the Ireland squad hoping to earn debut caps. Ulster's James McNabney, Jude Postlethwaite and Zac Ward will also join the squad as training panellists. 'After only recently returning from long-term injuries, Iain Henderson and Rob Herring were not considered for selection to allow them to focus on a full preseason programme, while Robbie Henshaw was not available due to injury,' a statement from the IRFU said. Our Summer Tour squad captained by Craig Casey! 🟢 — Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) Ireland will also be without the 15 players included in the Lions squad for the Tour to Australia. O'Connell's squad will link up for a training camp in Dublin before departing for Tbilisi on July 2nd and the match day squad for the game against Georgia will be announced on July 3rd. The IRFU added broadcast details for both fixtures will follow once they are confirmed by the host unions. 'I'm delighted to announce the Ireland squad for the summer Tour and I believe we have a strong blend of youth and experience for what will be a trip into relatively uncharted territories this July,' O'Connell said. 'Georgia have made great strides in recent years, and they have made significant investment in their rugby programme which has established them among the leading emerging sides in international rugby. 'Under the experience of Richard Cockerill (Georgia head coach) they have built on a traditionally strong forward unit with a talented backline and they will provide a tough test for us. 'Portugal showcased their attacking prowess during the Rugby World Cup 2023 and Simon Mannix is a coach I know having worked with him previously (at Munster). They play with confidence and we're expecting another tough test,' O'Connell added. 'In welcoming the squad, I would like to congratulate Craig (Casey) on his selection as captain. He is a real leader with a strong personality and it is a huge personal honour for him and an opportunity that I know he will relish over the coming weeks.' Ireland squad for Test matches against Georgia and Portugal Forwards (18) Hookers: Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Tom Stewart (Ulster), Stephen Smyth (Leinster). Props: Jack Boyle (Leinster), Tom O'Toole (Ulster), Michael Milne (Munster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster), Paddy McCarthy (Leinster). Locks: Ryan Baird (Leinster), Cormac Izuchukwu (Ulster), Darragh Murray (Connacht). Backrows: Cian Prendergast (Connacht), Gavin Coombes (Munster), Max Deegan (Leinster), Tom Ahern (Munster), Nick Timoney (Ulster), Alex Kendellen (Munster). Backs (14) Scrumhalves: Craig Casey (Munster, capt), Nathan Doak (Ulster), Ben Murphy (Connacht). Outhalves: Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Jack Crowley (Munster), Ciarán Frawley (Leinster). Centres: Hugh Gavin (Connacht), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster). Outside backs: Jimmy O'Brien (Leinster), Jamie Osborne (Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster), Calvin Nash (Munster), Tommy O'Brien (Leinster), Shayne Bolton (Connacht). Training panellists: James McNabney (Ulster), Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster), Zac Ward (Ulster). Fixtures (all Irish times) Saturday, July 5th: Georgia v Ireland, Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi, 6pm Saturday, July 12th: Portugal v Ireland, Estádio Nacional do Jamor, Lisbon, 7pm
BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Casey captain as Ireland pick 11 uncapped players
Ulster scrum-half Nathan Doak is one of 11 uncapped players named in Ireland's squad for July's matches with Georgia and Portugal. The inclusion of 15 Ireland internationals in Andy Farrell's British and Irish Lions squad has opened the door for Ireland hopefuls. Paul O'Connell will lead Ireland in the absence of Lions coaches Farrell and Simon Easterby, and Munster scrum-half Craig Casey, 26, is set to captain the team for the first Ahern, Michael Milne, Shayne Bolton, Ben Murphy and Tommy O'Brien have all had experience in the senior environment but have yet to be capped at that level. Alex Kendellen, Darragh Murray, Paddy McCarthy, Stephen Smyth and Hugh Gavin are the other potential debutants and have earned call-ups after impressing in the United Rugby Championship and the Emerging Ireland squad, which toured South Africa in September. After missing out on Lions selection, Jack Crowley and Sam Prendergast are set to battle it out for the staring fly-half jersey for is the youthful nature of Ireland's 32-strong squad, prop Finlay Bealham and centre Stuart McCloskey are the only players included over the age of and Doak join team-mates join prop Tom O'Toole, hooker Tom Stewart, versatile forward Cormac Izuchukwu, back row Nick Timoney and wing Jacob Stockdale in the Ulster trio of James McNabney, Jude Postlethwaite and Zac Ward have been included as training panellists, but hooker Rob Herring and second row Iain Henderson have not been named as they have recently returned from centre Robbie Henshaw has missed out of selection after being sidelined through injury. O'Connell, who won 108 Ireland caps as a player, said the tour "presents an opportunity" for fringe players to impress the coaching set-up."I believe we have a strong blend of youth and experience for what will be a trip into relatively uncharted territories this July," he said."A number of players have been really close to selection in recent times and it's important that everyone grasps the challenge that's ahead of them.""Every moment on the training field and across the two-match Series will count and there's a great opportunity for players to step up and impress."O'Connell added that Georgia have made "great strides" in recent years and he is expecting "another tough test" with Portugal, who Ireland will face for the first added that scrum-half Casey "is a real leader" and warranted his selection as captain for the tour. "He is a real leader with a strong personality and it is a huge personal honour for him," O'Connell added."It's an opportunity that I know he will relish over the coming weeks." Ireland squad and fixtures Forwards: Tom Ahern (Munster), Ryan Baird (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Jack Boyle (Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster), Gavin Coombes (Munster), Max Deegan (Leinster), Cormac Izuchukwu (Ulster), Alex Kendellen (Munster), Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Paddy McCarthy (Leinster), Michael Milne (Munster), Darragh Murray (Connacht), Tom O'Toole (Ulster), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), Stephen Smyth (Leinster), Tom Stewart (Ulster), Nick Timoney (Ulster).Backs: Shayne Bolton (Connacht), Craig Casey (Munster), Jack Crowley (Munster), Nathan Doak (Ulster), Ciaran Frawley (Leinster), Hugh Gavin (Connacht), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Ben Murphy (Connacht), Calvin Nash (Munster), Jimmy O'Brien (Leinster), Tommy O'Brien (Leinster), Jamie Osborne (Leinster), Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster).Training panellists: James McNabney (Ulster), Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster), Zac Ward (Ulster).FixturesSaturday, 5 July: Georgia v Ireland, Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi (kick off 18:00 BST)Saturday, 12 July: Portugal v Ireland, Estadio Nacional do Jamor, Lisbon (kick off 19:00 BST)
Irish Times
5 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Ireland casting its net broad and wide to land winning squad for Tbilisi and Lisbon
Ireland will dive deeper into their depth chart than perhaps they've ever done before when the squad for the upcoming Tests away to Georgia and Portugal is announced on Wednesday, given the unavailability of 15 Irish members of the Lions squad, the retirement from international rugby of three centurions, and injuries. It was noticeable that, in addition to naming a 36-man squad and four 'development players' for the Six Nations, the Irish management cast their net broad and wide in calling up all of 13 players at various junctures during the championship. This was presumably, in part, with this summer's tour in mind and should thus give some pointers to the composition of the squad that Paul O'Connell and an interim coaching ticket will take to Tbilisi and Lisbon. The squad will number somewhere in the 'early 30s', which will be considerably more than its average age bearing in mind the likely inclusion of several uncapped players for this two-Test tour. There will still be a sprinkling of experienced players, possibly including Iain Henderson, but the captaincy is more likely to go to Craig Casey or Cian Prendergast. READ MORE Some areas will be stretched more than others, an example being the frontrow, with two Irish hookers and two Irish props named in the Lions squad and Cian Healy having retired. Beyond the Oz-bound Dan Sheehan and Rónan Kelleher, there is no obvious hooker in addition to Gus McCarthy and, presuming he is picked, Rob Herring. That said, Dave Heffernan and Tom Stewart have previously earned seven and two caps respectively while Lee Barron should also be in the conversation. One of the byproducts of Andrew Porter's durability and the continuing faith in Healy, as against Tadhg Furlong's injury-plagued season, is that more tightheads have been exposed to the Irish squad environment and Test rugby than looseheads. Jack Boyle is the one loosehead to have been tried, which may mean Tom O'Toole reverting to that side of the scrum given Finlay Bealham and Thomas Clarkson were supplemented by Jack Aungier's call-up in the Six Nations. Michael Milne's fast-tracked switch from Leinster to Munster has been beneficial for both him and his new province, and should see him come under consideration. Irish secondrow depth has been tested by the Lions' selection of Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan and Joe McCarthy. Diarmuid Mangan and Darragh Murray were called up in the Six Nations, but the former looks the likelier bet to join Henderson, Ryan Baird and the fit-again Cormac Izuchukwu among the locks after the latter's strong finish to the season with Ulster. Connacht's Ben Murphy. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho Also missing from O'Connell's calculations will be four backrowers in the Six Nations, namely the Lions duo of Jack Conan and Josh van der Flier, the injured Caelan Doris and the retired Peter O'Mahony. Most likely in anticipation of a scenario like this, James McNabney, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes, Max Deegan, Thomas Ahern and Nick Timoney were all called up during the Six Nations. Craig Casey's return to fitness and form is timely, and he is likely to be joined by the Connacht duo of Caolin Blade and Ben Murphy, another Six Nations call-up and admired by Andy Farrell and his Ireland coaching team. Another Connacht scrumhalf, Matthew Devine, was coveted by Ronan O'Gara at La Rochelle but that move was blocked and, along with Fintan Gunne, he ought to also enter the conversation. [ Ireland to open 2026 Six Nations campaign against France on a Thursday night Opens in new window ] The outhalf picture remains unaltered by the Lions squad whereas with Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose Australia-bound, interestingly Hugh Cooney and Cathal Forde were called up in the Six Nations. Presumably Robbie Henshaw, if fit, and Stuart McCloskey could be part of this expedition but this looks like an opportune time to perhaps invest in Jude Postlethwaite and Hugh Gavin. Although the starting Irish back three of Mack Hansen, Hugo Keenan and James Lowe also made the Lions cut, Ireland's depth chart among the outside backs actually doesn't look as shallow as appeared to be the case not so long ago. In addition to resident squad players in Jamie Osborne, Jimmy O'Brien and Calvin Nash, the Six Nations call-ups for Shayne Bolton, Jacob Stockdale and Tommy O'Brien were a reward for their form and look like they were other pointers toward this squad. Whatever the make-up, the squad's unveiling will only serve to heighten the value of this summer's mini tour to face unfamiliar but highly motivated teams ranked 11th and 18th in the world. Possible Ireland squad Forwards Hookers: Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Lee Barron (Munster), Tom Stewart (Ulster). Props: Jack Boyle (Leinster), Tom O'Toole (Ulster), Michael Milne (Munster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster), Jack Aungier (Connacht). Locks: Iain Henderson (Ulster), Ryan Baird (Leinster), Cormac Izuchukwu (Ulster), Diarmuid Mangan (Leinster). Backrows: Cian Prendergast (Connacht), James McNabney (Ulster), John Hodnett (Munster), Gavin Coombes (Munster), Max Deegan (Leinster), Thomas Ahern (Munster). Backs Scrumhalves: Craig Casey (capt) (Munster), Caolin Blade (Connacht), Ben Murphy (Connacht). Outhalves: Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Jack Crowley (Munster), Ciaran Frawley (Leinster). Centres: Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), Hugh Cooney (Leinster), Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster), Hugh Gavin (Connacht). Outside backs: Jimmy O'Brien (Leinster), Jamie Osborne (Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster), Calvin Nash (Munster), Tommy O'Brien (Leinster), Shayne Bolton (Connacht).
