Latest news with #Westmeath
Irish Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Kieran Molloy vows to make Galway a boxing capital ahead of Pearse Stadium bout
Kieran Molloy has vowed to make Kaisee Benjamin wish he did his homework when the pair clash at Pearse Stadium in Galway on 28 June. Molloy is unbeaten in 11 professional fights, and not only does he want to become a world champion, but he wants to take his county along for the ride. The 26-year-old flew in from London on Tuesday morning, where he trains with Charlie Beat, and went straight to the home of Galway GAA. He will be the headline act of the first event to be held at the Salthill stadium, and as he walked around the pitch and up the steps of the main stand, it was obvious that the enormity of the occasion was hitting him. The Oughterard man told the Irish Mirror: "I've been dreaming of moments like this since I was a kid. "I've been here for many big football and hurling matches. I've got a few great mates playing football now for Galway, Matthew Tierney and Johnny Heaney, they'd all be local lads from where I'm from, so I know what the atmosphere and the crowds are like here. "It's just huge now to be able to bring it back to the West of Ireland and have a first ever outdoor stadium. "This has been my vision. I really do believe that Galway can become an active hub for Irish boxing. We're making history with this show alone. "They've always had shows in Belfast and Dublin, and Galway's been missing out on all that. But on 28 June, people are going to set it for real and it's going to be very exciting. I think everyone is going to get right behind it. "It's brilliant to be able to bring a different sport to this venue." It was typical Galway weather for the press conference, a cold wind blowing and showers of rain. Indeed, Molloy's opponent Benjamin started to shiver as the fighters sat down to talk about the upcoming fight. And the Englishman, a former British title challenger, could be forgiven for wishing he were elsewhere as he revealed that he is on baby alert. "My last couple of fights haven't been my past, as I had stuff going on outside of the ring. But I have got that all sorted now. "I have a little girl on the way. The due date is the day after the fight, so I've got my wife eating prunes, dates and pineapples, everything to get it out earlier." He added: "I'm doing it for her, my unborn child. I'm doing it for her future and my future. "It's all or nothing for me." Experienced campaigner Benjamin (18-4-1) raised some eyebrows when he said that he had never seen Molloy in the ring. Asked how highly he rated the Galway man, he said: "To be honest, I've never seen him box. You might think I am being a bit naive, but that's the way I do things." Molloy was quick to respond to this revelation, saying, "Fairy play Kaisee for stepping in as the last seven or eight opponents have all pulled out for one reason or another, but I would recommend that you get studying before 28 June or you could be in big trouble!" The fight night is stacked with a brilliant undercard, including the likes of Belfast's Sean McComb, Westmeath's Joe Ward, and Hughie Fury, the cousin of heavyweight king Tyson, and a late addition to the bill. But there is no doubt that Molloy, who was joined at Pearse Stadium by a host of family and friends, will bring the star attraction as he looks to inspire a new generation of Galway boxers. He said: "When I started off boxing in the Oughterard Club, I was five years old, but I had dreams to fight here. "That's where it all started for me, and the great coaching I received, and all the fans travelling up and down the country, around Europe and around the world to watch me fight, it's all preparation for these nights, and I'm going to grab this with both hands. "I think everybody's in for a shock about how much noise this place is actually going to make on the night. "It's going to build a massive platform for Galway boxing. "In Belfast, you've got your Lewis Crockers and your Michael Conlons, in Dublin you've got your Katie Taylors, and in Galway it's going to be the Kieran Molloy show. We're going to build it massive."
Irish Times
8 hours ago
- General
- Irish Times
Carl O'Brien: ‘You've got this' - Leaving Cert tips for students and their supporters
It's almost here. Whether you're a student running over revision notes one last time or a parent/guardian doing your best to offer support, many households are feeling a mixture of nerves, pressure and hope on the eve of the State exams. The Irish Times Classroom to College newsletter is here to help: we've pulled together advice, tips and gentle reminders to make the coming weeks a little bit easier – for students and those cheering them on. Our guidance counsellor Brian Mooney has seen dozens of Leaving Cert classes come and go. He has distilled his wisdom into this guidance for parents and students on how to handle the exams. 'There is no need for parents to overhype the importance of the exams,' he writes. 'Students put themselves under enough pressure as it is.' READ MORE It's fair to say his advice is the polar opposite of this ... For students, the clock may be ticking but it's not too late to make a real impact. Whether brushing up on key concepts or calming exam nerves, a few strategic moves now can boost your confidence. We've gathered last-minute subject-by-subject tips for the Leaving Cert from seasoned teachers to help you stay sharp and steady. This year, students from Athlone Community College will be charting their exam highs and lows with daily student diaries. Peter McGuire spoke with them and found them to be focused, hopeful and surprisingly relaxed in advance of the exams. Our Leaving Cert exam diarists from Athlone Community College, Athlone, Co Westmeath. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill Not everyone is quite so calm. We were struck by the proliferation of 'extreme study' video diaries on social media. Study regimes include 5am alarms and 12-hour sessions . Any experts we spoke are far from convinced it is a route to success. Finally, our Leaving Cert parent Damian Cullen has written a funny, moving and uplifting column as his daughter prepares to take on the exams. Do, please, read it - it is well worth it. In the meantime, over the coming days we'll be providing daily reaction to the exams, help with navigating career choices and the CAO, as well as daily doses of encouragement and advice. We wish you all the very best of luck over the days and weeks ahead. - Carl O'Brien, Irish Times education editor How are we doing? If you are a parent/ guardian of a Leaving Cert student, we'd love to hear from you. Maybe you have a personal story to share, have a burning question or want to comment on the exams, CAO and further education applications process. Please click the link below to send us your questions or feedback: ingCert
RTÉ News
9 hours ago
- General
- RTÉ News
Team news: Saoirse Noonan set to make some Páirc history
Saoirse Noonan will create a bit of sporting history this evening after being named to start for the Republic of Ireland in their Nations League showdown with Slovenia at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Noonan will become the first sportsperson to play a competitive inter-county Gaelic football match and a full soccer international at the Leeside venue, having previously represented the Rebels at the Páirc in a league game against Westmeath. She'll partner Kyra Carusa up front as the Girls in Green go for broke against a side who hammered them 4-0 back in February. Ireland must win by four clear goals to top the group and go up to League A. If they fail to do that, Carla Ward's side will head for a two-legged promotion/relegation play-off in the autumn against one of the League A third-placed teams. Emily Murphy - the matchwinner against Turkey on Friday - comes into midfield in what looks like a 3-5-2 formation. Megan Connolly stays in the engine room with Denise O'Sullivan, while Abbie Larkin retains her place after a sprightly showing in Istanbul. Caitlin Hayes gets his first start under Ward, replacing Aoife Mannion who was withdrawn at half-time in Istanbul. Mannion is managing a slight quad injury. Louise Quinn is on the bench for the final time. The towering defender will retire after this evening's game. Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Anna Patten, Caitlin Hayes, Jessie Stapleton; Abbie Larkin, Denise O'Sullivan, Megan Connolly, Emily Murphy, Katie McCabe (Capt); Kyra Carusa, Saoirse Noonan
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Antrim to face Wexford in Tailteann Cup preliminary round
Antrim will play Wexford in the preliminary quarter-finals of the Tailteann Cup next Saffrons advanced to the knock-out stages with victory over London at Pairc Esler on Sunday as they finished as one of the best third place finished second in group four after they were beaten by Fermanagh on Sunday at Croke Ernesiders will enter the competition at the quarter-final stage after finishing top of the group, alongside Kildare, Wicklow and other preliminary ties see Offaly face New York, Sligo take on Carlow and 2022 winners Westmeath play dates, kick-off times and venues for all four preliminary quarter-final meetings will be confirmed on Monday. Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-final draw Offaly v New YorkSligo v CarlowWexford v AntrimWestmeath v Laois
The 42
2 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
Mo Nerney's double helps Laois to opening championship win
LAOIS, RELEGATED FROM the senior grade last year, got their TG4 All-Ireland intermediate campaign off to a winning start when they defeated Roscommon by 3-11 to 2-7 in Portlaoise. A goal just before the break from Mo Nerney, after Emily Lacey landed four points, helped Laois to lead by 1-8 to 1-5 at the interval, with Caoimhe Lennon getting the first of her two goals for Roscommon. Laois, winners of the TG4 All-Ireland IFC title three years ago, opened up a seven-point lead when Nerney got her second goal from a penalty and they pushed on from there with Lauren Kearney getting their third goal before Lennon responded for Roscommon with her second goal. Westmeath, who defeated Laois in the TG4 Leinster IFC final, got their championship campaign off to a winning start when they defeated Down by 2-9 to 1-10 at Ballynacargy. Westmeath, with Caoimhe Kilmurray and Sarah Dillon prominent, led by 2-5 to 0-6 at the end of the opening half. Down hit back with a goal from Niamh Rice early in the second half but Westmeath, with goalkeeper Aoife Temple saving a penalty, held on for victory. Advertisement Monaghan, beaten by Cavan in the Ulster semi-final, got revenge when they emerged 2-11 to 1-13 victors at St Tiernach's Park in Clones. A goal from Aishling Sheridan helped Cavan lead by 1-8 to 1-2 at the break, with Éabha Sherry converting a 12th minute penalty for Monaghan. Sherry got her second goal of the match after 40 minutes and with interval substitute Holly McQuaid hitting 0-5, four of them from play, Monaghan edged out their neighbours to claim victory. A strong opening half display laid the foundation for Clare's 5-12 to 2-6 win over Offaly in Ennis. Two goals from Ellie Hanrahan and one from Megan Downes saw them lead by 3-9 to 1-1 at the interval. They pushed on from there with Lucy Shanahan and Edel McNamara also finding the net in an impressive display. Meanwhile, the race for TG4 All-Ireland junior title also got under way this weekend with Sligo repeating their group win over Derry last year with a 2-11 to 2-4 win in Owenbeg. Limerick scored a facile win over Kilkenny while Antrim also proved far too strong for Longford. Results TG4 All Ireland Intermediate Championship Group 1 Laois 3-11 Roscommon 2-7 TG4 All Ireland Intermediate Championship Group 2 Westmeath 2-9 Down 1-10 TG4 All Ireland Intermediate Championship Group 3 Monaghan 2-11 Cavan 1-13 TG4 All Ireland Intermediate Championship Group 4 Clare 5-12 Offaly 2-6 TG4 All Ireland Junior Championship Group A Sligo 2-11 Derry 2-4 Limerick 7-23 Kilkenny 0-00 TG4 All Ireland Junior Championship Group B Antrim 4-15 Longford 0-5
