Latest news with #Tribesmen
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Cathal Mannion sounds warning to Galway teammates ahead of Leinster hurling final after putting injury hell behind him
GOING under the knife during the off-season has paved the way for Galway's Cathal Mannion to look sharper than ever. Having been an All-Star in 2015, a second award could be on the cards a decade later if the Ahascragh-Fohenagh forward carries his form into the All-Ireland series. 2 Cathal Mannon of Galway in attendance at the Leinster GAA Senior Hurling Championship Final preview media event at Croke Park Credit: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile 2 Cathal Mannion in action for Galway against Dublin Credit: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile Mannion, 30, has been the driving force behind the Tribesmen's run to Now in his 12th season on the senior inter-county beat, the secondary school teacher has been achieving top marks since addressing an injury that plagued him for far too long. Mannion made his 60th Championship appearance in last month's win over He said: 'My Achilles was at me for three years probably and then I was getting other injuries from that. Read More on GAA 'As a player, it's hugely frustrating when you can't get a run, so I had probably two years of just on-and-off injuries. I got a bit of a procedure done in the winter and it's definitely helped and cleared it up. 'You're putting all your weight on it so as a result I was pulling hamstrings and so on. You couldn't get a run, you'd feel you're coming back and then you'd get another setback. I'm delighted to have it behind me hopefully.' In their bid to rebound from a hugely disappointing 2024 season, He added: 'When you're missing large chunks of the season, you come back way hungrier. And probably as you get older, you know what you can and can't do. Most read in GAA Hurling 'It's just experience, I suppose. This is the time of year you want to be right and perform the best you can.' Ensuring that his contribution is manifested on the scoreboard has seldom been a struggle for Mannion who has hit 1-21 from play in his six competitive outings this season. 'Like something out of the French Revolution' - RTE GAA pundit Donal Og Cusack slams Dublin star's reckless swipe But his overall tallies have swelled since he was invited to venture into unfamiliar territory as a placed-ball specialist. Mannion admitted: 'Even for my club I didn't take too many frees — an odd time here and there. They just said, 'Will you take them?' and I said I would. 'I started to practise them a lot and started putting more time into them. Frees are important and particularly as the season goes on you need to be scoring the frees, so I'll try to continue to keep improving.' Galway's average margin of victory was 17 points as they overcame And they maintained the winning habit last time out, avenging the season-ending defeat of last summer by beating However, And Mannion is sending a black and amber warning to his team-mates ahead of this weekend's trip to HQ. He reflected: 'We didn't perform as well as we wanted to against Kilkenny the first day. The result reflected that. 'We had Offaly the week after, which was probably a good thing as regards you move on fairly quickly. 'We got a few wins and it gives you a bit of momentum but Kilkenny on Sunday will be a bigger challenge than what we faced earlier this year.' For Mannion, a third Leinster medal — and a first in seven years — is on the line. The 2017 All-Ireland winner also likes the look of the direct ticket to the last four of the race for the Liam MacCarthy Cup. He added: 'We haven't many Leinster titles in our panel so it's definitely one we're going after. 'Obviously you have a prize of a Leinster final, but you also have a prize of going forward to an All-Ireland semi-final.'
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- General
- RTÉ News
Rising stars raising Galway's standards, says Cathal Mannion
Cathal Mannion believes that Galway's crop of young players have helped to drive on the Tribesmen to higher standards, as they prepare for their Leinster SHC final showdown with Kilkenny. Kilkenny are chasing six Leinster titles in a row against Micheál Donoghue's Tribesmen, who haven't lifted the Bob O'Keeffe Cup since 2018. The Cats will go into the final as the favourites once again, particularly given they've already beaten Galway in the competition, running out 3-24 to 0-21 winners back in April. However the Tribesmen recovered from that disappointing start to finish level with Kilkenny on points in the round-robin table and with a slightly stronger points difference. Under manager Donoghue, Galway appear to have rediscovered their killer instinct and Mannion has been pleased with the way his side have bounced back from that opening day defeat to Kilkenny. "Obviously Micheál and his team bring a lot of expertise to it and they demand a very high standard every day," he said. "We didn't start as good as we wanted, but we got a reaction as far after that. We're still only in a Leinster final which was our aim so we have to prepare as best we can. "We'll prepare like any other game, but we know it's going to be a bigger challenge than what we faced already this year. "You know if you want to win any title at this level, you're not going to get it easy. Kilkenny are the standard bearers in Leinster for the last couple of years so it's up to us train, get up to that level and see where it takes us." Part of Galway's success story - apart from Mannion's own career best form - has been the introduction of new blood to the squad with the likes of Anthony Burns and Declan McLaughlin catching the eye when given an opportunity. For Mannion, having young players coming through not only adds to the squad's depth, but drives the more established names to higher standards. He said: "You need young lads coming through every few years and you know, even lads that are in their 20s, they're putting their hand up now and you need that. "As with any of the good teams or best teams in any sport, you need competition because that gets the best out of everyone and that's what we're hoping to get. "We have Anthony Burns, he played the last day, has played a few games up until now and he's been very good at inside forward and he has a good goal threat obviously for us. "You have younger lads in who are on the fringe of the teams, the likes of Rory Burke and lads that are really pushing for a starting spot. I've no doubt before the end of the year some of them lads, younger lads, will win, see game play." Watch Limerick v Cork in the Munster SHC final live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from 5.15pm Saturday. Follow a live blog on and the RTÉ News app and listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport.
Irish Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
All-Ireland winning captain lauds Stephen Cluxton 'generosity and selflessness'
Galway football legend Ray Silke shared a glowing review of Stephen Cluxton after his Dublin side edged past the Tribesmen in a thriller in Salthill last weekend. In a letter to the Irish Times, the former Corofin man described the Pobal Parnell club man as "a credit to [himself] and also to the culture of generosity and selflessness in the Dublin football squad." This was due to Cluxton staying out after full-time for over an hour to greet Dublin and Galway fans alike on the pitch. "Over 70 minutes after his team had defeated Galway last Saturday in Pearse Stadium, Stehen Cluxton was still signing autographs, shaking hands with supporters from both teams, giving his time to young children and smiling warmly for a never-ending queue of people looking for pictures with him," wrote Silke. "That a man with nine senior All-Ireland medals - most collected as team captain - and who has played with his county for over two decades was content to stand in the searing sun on a hard pitch after playing a Championship game to facilitate FAA supporters is a credit to Stephen and also the culture and generosity and selflessness in the Dublin football squad. "Eventually a member of the Dublin backroom team had to come over and give him the eye, which said 'Stephen, we need to get going." Silke, whose nephew Liam lined out for Galway last weekend, was reminded of his teacher's word to him as a child, saying "I recalled my national schoolteacher (Mrs Quinn) from 45 years ago telling her third class a really central rule for life: 'While it is nice to be important, it is more important to be nice.'" He added: "It's clear Mr Cluxton lives by the same truism." The Galway legend would know a winner when he sees one, with his 1998 season being one of the best possible. He completed a senior championship double, first on St. Patrick's day with Corofin, and later on that year as captain of the Galway side that beat Kildare to lift Sam. Cluxton was busy in Pearse Stadium on Saturday, with the 43-year-old making an excellent stop to deny Shane Walsh in the first half. The evergreen netminder has had to manage his minutes in the last few months and years, missing out on most of this year's league campaign before returning for Dublin's Leinster SFC defeat against Meath in the semi-final stage. Dessie Farrell has been looking to blood an heir to his throne since he took the Dublin job in 2019 with Evan Comerford and Hugh O'Sullivan impressing in spells, but Cluxton shows no signs of abdicating just yet. To keep going at his age at the highest level of football takes some doing, and he has been given his flowers for it, with many labelling him as the game's greatest stopper.
Otago Daily Times
21-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Gang mum had 2kg of meth delivered to home
By Al Williams, Open Justice reporter 'Delete all of your conversations and stop ringing and calling people Mum; you're going to put us all in jail bro, they've already got the big KO in jail, we're trying to get him out.' That's what Tribesmen MC gang member Michael Erikson told his mother Sherryn Elizabeth Erikson as they arranged for close to 2kg of methamphetamine to be dropped off and picked up from her Auckland home. Erikson was referring to Tribesmen national vice president Ricky Michael Te Rangi Poa, also known as big KO, Sarge and Rick, in the message. Poa was at the helm of the multimillion-dollar methamphetamine, cocaine and money laundering operation based out of Christchurch. But it all came to an end when Poa, along with 10 co-defendants, including the Erikson family, were caught up in a police investigation code-named Operation Italian Sky. It was then revealed that Sherryn's home in Blockhouse Bay had been used as the key dispatch point for large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine. It was a family operation with Michael working alongside his brother Jaxxon Erikson to manage receipt of the drugs from their cousin and Sherryn's nephew, Jordan Rapana. A family affair Rapana collected the drugs in Auckland and took them to Christchurch on commercial flights and tow-trucks. Michael and Jaxxon would organise the onward sale and distribution of the drugs, with Michael very closely connected to the principal offender and the operation's main beneficiary - Poa. Michael would then return to Auckland with large quantities of cash to pay for subsequent shipments. Another courier involved in the network was Tramayne Rauhihi, who was also responsible for delivering cash to Auckland and returning to Christchurch with the drugs. He would complete the deliveries using tow trucks associated with a co-defendant who cannot be named. Sherryn allowed them to use her home on multiple occasions as a drop-off and collection point for wholesale kilogram quantities of the drugs. A 'cog in the machine' Sherryn, 52, was sentenced for her role in the network this week. She appeared in the Christchurch High Court facing charges of permitting a premises and vehicle to be used for supplying meth and cocaine. The court heard she was a 'cog in a machine'. Crown prosecutor Will Taffs said the offending was elevated due to its nature, tied in with financial gain, and the variety and class of drugs. 'There has been financial gain here, this is not drugs in the glove box, culpability is attached because of financial reward.' While Sherryn was paid for her involvement, Justice Lisa Preston said she did not gain a significant amount compared to those involved in the underlying offending. Taffs said he accepted the financial reward she received was minimal compared to the overall value of the drugs going through her property. The summary of facts showed she received six payments between March 2022 and July 2023. The payments were made by her sons, her nephew and one of his associates. That included an electronic transfer of $1350 from Jaxxon in March 2022, one of $1250 from Michael in February 2023, one of $600 from Rapana's associate in March 2023, one of $1000 from Jaxxon in April 2023, and a cash payment of $800 from Rapana in June 2023. Rapana had messaged Michael clarifying that he was being paid $2500 and Sherryn was being paid $800 for their respective involvement in a delivery on the same day. On July 18, 2023, she received an $850 electronic payment from Michael, the same day that a delivery of 1.97kg of methamphetamine was intercepted by police at Christchurch Airport. Rapana was arrested at the time. Taffs told the court it was a significant operation of which she was a smaller part. The summary said Michael told an associate in August 2023 that he needed $15,000 taken to his mother's house. About two weeks later he told the same associate that he needed meth and cocaine collected from her house. The associate went to the house to collect the drugs. On October 3, 2023, Michael contacted his mother and discussed that a quantity of meth would be delivered to her address. He said that he had 'someone dropping something else as well and you will need to put those two things together and put them somewhere safe till I've got someone.' He also told her to 'delete all of your conversations and stop ringing and calling people Mum; you're going to put us all in jail bro, they've already got the big KO in jail, we're trying to get him out.' Rauhihi was subsequently directed to collect the meth from her house and collected 1.987kg of it in a black shopping bag. The package was intercepted by police later that day. Background issues Defence lawyer Marie Taylor-Cyphers said her client had a less serious financial gain than her co-defendants. She asked the court what Sherryn may have been aware of and her mental state at the time of the offending. Justice Preston said it was a difficult submission based on Sherryn's guilty plea and the summary of facts. Taylor-Cyphers said there were features of dislocation between Sherryn and her whānau, substance dependency issues similar to the ones she had grown up with. 'If her upbringing had not involved these features, would she be standing here today?' While there was no excuse, and a guilty plea had been entered, how Sherryn got to this point in her life was relevant, Taylor-Cyphers said. Her background had shaped her choices, she said. She had made an effort while on bail, completing a rehabilitation programme, she had reconnected with whānau, including an auntie, 'and put it to good use'. Taylor-Cyphers said Sherryn had learned about putting in firmer boundaries in terms of her sons. A profound sense of shame Justice Preston said the transfer of money from her sons was out of proportion, given her involvement and her offending was lesser than theirs. 'The offending would have occurred regardless of your knowledge.' However, she was more than a passive bystander, the judge said. 'By permitting the wholesale supply for many months, you were clearly a trusted cog in that distribution network, this came about at the behest of your sons and nephew, it would have occurred regardless of you, but you were connected to an extremely serious drug operation over a period of time between 2022 and 2023.' The culpability was in the quantity of drugs and the time period, the judge said. A contributing factor had been her poor decision-making, informed by her background, Justice Eaton said. 'You have faced many challenges, including abuse, loss of your parents, solo parenting and your own substance abuse. 'I am satisfied your relationship with your sons has contributed, you express a deep sense of remorse, you say this has been a deep painful lesson and you realise the damage meth has done to your whanau and community. 'I sense you express a profound sense of shame.' Juston Eaton said Sherryn had been on bail for 18 months, subject to curfews. She was assessed as low risk of reoffending and home detention would achieve the purpose of sentencing, the judge said. The Crown did not oppose home detention, and a suitable address was available at a home in Blockhouse Bay. Justice Eaton convicted and sentenced her to nine months' home detention, telling her to travel to Christchurch Airport and return to the Auckland address.
Otago Daily Times
21-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Gang mum sentenced for role in multi-million-dollar Chch drug operation
By Al Williams, Open Justice reporter 'Delete all of your conversations and stop ringing and calling people Mum; you're going to put us all in jail bro, they've already got the big KO in jail, we're trying to get him out.' That's what Tribesmen MC gang member Michael Erikson told his mother Sherryn Elizabeth Erikson as they arranged for close to 2kg of methamphetamine to be dropped off and picked up from her Auckland home. Erikson was referring to Tribesmen national vice president Ricky Michael Te Rangi Poa, also known as big KO, Sarge and Rick, in the message. Poa was at the helm of the multimillion-dollar methamphetamine, cocaine and money laundering operation based out of Christchurch. But it all came to an end when Poa, along with 10 co-defendants, including the Erikson family, were caught up in a police investigation code-named Operation Italian Sky. It was then revealed that Sherryn's home in Blockhouse Bay had been used as the key dispatch point for large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine. It was a family operation with Michael working alongside his brother Jaxxon Erikson to manage receipt of the drugs from their cousin and Sherryn's nephew, Jordan Rapana. A family affair Rapana collected the drugs in Auckland and took them to Christchurch on commercial flights and tow-trucks. Michael and Jaxxon would organise the onward sale and distribution of the drugs, with Michael very closely connected to the principal offender and the operation's main beneficiary - Poa. Michael would then return to Auckland with large quantities of cash to pay for subsequent shipments. Another courier involved in the network was Tramayne Rauhihi, who was also responsible for delivering cash to Auckland and returning to Christchurch with the drugs. He would complete the deliveries using tow trucks associated with a co-defendant who cannot be named. Sherryn allowed them to use her home on multiple occasions as a drop-off and collection point for wholesale kilogram quantities of the drugs. A 'cog in the machine' Sherryn, 52, was sentenced for her role in the network this week. She appeared in the Christchurch High Court facing charges of permitting a premises and vehicle to be used for supplying meth and cocaine. The court heard she was a 'cog in a machine'. Crown prosecutor Will Taffs said the offending was elevated due to its nature, tied in with financial gain, and the variety and class of drugs. 'There has been financial gain here, this is not drugs in the glove box, culpability is attached because of financial reward.' While Sherryn was paid for her involvement, Justice Lisa Preston said she did not gain a significant amount compared to those involved in the underlying offending. Taffs said he accepted the financial reward she received was minimal compared to the overall value of the drugs going through her property. The summary of facts showed she received six payments between March 2022 and July 2023. The payments were made by her sons, her nephew and one of his associates. That included an electronic transfer of $1350 from Jaxxon in March 2022, one of $1250 from Michael in February 2023, one of $600 from Rapana's associate in March 2023, one of $1000 from Jaxxon in April 2023, and a cash payment of $800 from Rapana in June 2023. Rapana had messaged Michael clarifying that he was being paid $2500 and Sherryn was being paid $800 for their respective involvement in a delivery on the same day. On July 18, 2023, she received an $850 electronic payment from Michael, the same day that a delivery of 1.97kg of methamphetamine was intercepted by police at Christchurch Airport. Rapana was arrested at the time. Taffs told the court it was a significant operation of which she was a smaller part. The summary said Michael told an associate in August 2023 that he needed $15,000 taken to his mother's house. About two weeks later he told the same associate that he needed meth and cocaine collected from her house. The associate went to the house to collect the drugs. On October 3, 2023, Michael contacted his mother and discussed that a quantity of meth would be delivered to her address. He said that he had 'someone dropping something else as well and you will need to put those two things together and put them somewhere safe till I've got someone.' He also told her to 'delete all of your conversations and stop ringing and calling people Mum; you're going to put us all in jail bro, they've already got the big KO in jail, we're trying to get him out.' Rauhihi was subsequently directed to collect the meth from her house and collected 1.987kg of it in a black shopping bag. The package was intercepted by police later that day. Background issues Defence lawyer Marie Taylor-Cyphers said her client had a less serious financial gain than her co-defendants. She asked the court what Sherryn may have been aware of and her mental state at the time of the offending. Justice Preston said it was a difficult submission based on Sherryn's guilty plea and the summary of facts. Taylor-Cyphers said there were features of dislocation between Sherryn and her whānau, substance dependency issues similar to the ones she had grown up with. 'If her upbringing had not involved these features, would she be standing here today?' While there was no excuse, and a guilty plea had been entered, how Sherryn got to this point in her life was relevant, Taylor-Cyphers said. Her background had shaped her choices, she said. She had made an effort while on bail, completing a rehabilitation programme, she had reconnected with whānau, including an auntie, 'and put it to good use'. Taylor-Cyphers said Sherryn had learned about putting in firmer boundaries in terms of her sons. A profound sense of shame Justice Preston said the transfer of money from her sons was out of proportion, given her involvement and her offending was lesser than theirs. 'The offending would have occurred regardless of your knowledge.' However, she was more than a passive bystander, the judge said. 'By permitting the wholesale supply for many months, you were clearly a trusted cog in that distribution network, this came about at the behest of your sons and nephew, it would have occurred regardless of you, but you were connected to an extremely serious drug operation over a period of time between 2022 and 2023.' The culpability was in the quantity of drugs and the time period, the judge said. A contributing factor had been her poor decision-making, informed by her background, Justice Eaton said. 'You have faced many challenges, including abuse, loss of your parents, solo parenting and your own substance abuse. 'I am satisfied your relationship with your sons has contributed, you express a deep sense of remorse, you say this has been a deep painful lesson and you realise the damage meth has done to your whanau and community. 'I sense you express a profound sense of shame.' Juston Eaton said Sherryn had been on bail for 18 months, subject to curfews. She was assessed as low risk of reoffending and home detention would achieve the purpose of sentencing, the judge said. The Crown did not oppose home detention, and a suitable address was available at a home in Blockhouse Bay. Justice Eaton convicted and sentenced her to nine months' home detention, telling her to travel to Christchurch Airport and return to the Auckland address.
