Features

They say that lightning never strikes twice, but try telling that to Naomh Éanna, Glengormley, Ireland’s most attacked sports club. The thriving dual club located on the outskirts of Belfast made headlines around Ireland last year when their senior footballers embarked on a journey that saw them claim a maiden Ulster title followed by a trip to Croke Park for …

Despite becoming the first Irish athlete in over two decades to qualify for a world 1500m final Ciara Mageean hasn’t yet reflected on what was one of the fastest races in the event’s history. Just don’t tell her coach Steve Vernon that! “I haven’t and don’t tell Steve I haven’t yet, that’s on my plan of things to do,” jokes …

Once obtaining a solid grounding for myself in journalism working with the BBC, like so many other young Irish people, I fled for pastures new. After two years of living and working in Thailand, I returned to Ireland equipped with a ballsy Dublin blade (nordie for girlfriend), ready to take on the world. A few days spent in the capital …

“In order to achieve and progress, that’s the attitude you need to have, to never be satisfied. That’s my mentality when I compete, I want to literally raise the bar every time,” – Jordan Lee. It’s easy to forget you are speaking to a 19-year-old when in the company of Jordan Lee such is the conviction in what he says …

“If we took MMA out, I could’ve still written a book.” ‘A Renaissance Man’ is defined as a person whose expertise spans a significant number of various subject areas. Paddy Holohan fits the bill but doesn’t necessarily concur with the term. “I see it as resilience,” he explains, “and I’m proud of my resilience.” Most know Holohan as one of …

For quite a few years, I’d a buddy that I considered to be completely crazy. In a good way of course, but the inclination was built on the extent of his allegiance to Drogheda United. When the going was very good, he’d turn away weekends with us in the pubs and clubs, and save his wages so he could go …

The fallout from Ireland’s disappointing 2019 Rugby World Cup campaign will continue between now and the 2020 Six Nations as IRFU Performance Director David Nucifora conducts a thorough review of the campaign by interviewing players and coaching staff.  There are multiple theories being submitted to explain Ireland’s decline in 2019; a stagnant gameplan, an over-the-top, all-encompassing focus on breaking the …

Certain words come to mind when you think of Brian Cody; success, ruthlessness, a boundless drive. In short, he’s a winner.  It’s a reputation he has developed and earned in his 21 years in charge of the Kilkenny senior hurling team. During that time, the 65-year-old has overseen 11 All-Ireland victories, 15 Leinster championship title victories and has won nine …

Four weeks out from the fight I was in the SBG Concorde car park and my phone rang. It was Dr Mick Molloy. He discussed my back injury and told me that he was trying to organise an appointment for me to see a specific consultant. Then he mentioned that when he was going through my files, there was a …

I try and I try and I try… This column has repeatedly gone down the road of condemning those who choose to compare sports because as previously stated, it is futile and pointless. However, it’s hard not to get enraged as fans from all sides of the sporting spectrum come together in the pursuit of slating one another. With the …

It’s worse that it gets. Not long ago claiming to be the best about, Ireland’s stock slides as if October 24, 1929. By now there’s a debate to be had around if they are even in the top four in their own hemisphere. From world beaters and contenders, part of the narrative around their latest exit involved running into a …

Ireland face the prospect of an Aviva Stadium double header next month when the Boys in Green take on New Zealand in a friendly before their crucial Euro 2020 qualifier against Denmark. The Danish clash may be the game everyone understandably has their eye on, but the New Zealand friendly may represent a strong opportunity for certain players to stake …

On Monday, Irish striker Troy Parrott found the net four times as Tottenham’s U19s demolished Red Star Belgrade 9-2 in the UEFA Youth League. The 17-year-old was in irresistible form as Spurs’ youngsters tore their Serbian counterparts to shreds. Parrott was at the forefront as he took his record to five goals from three games in the competition. His achievement …

Ireland’s track record reads like the plot to a ‘Carry-On’ film when it comes to sporting bodies, such is the way we are guaranteed to become embroiled in some sort of PR disaster year on year. The Olympic Council of Ireland (formerly OCI, now OFI) embarrassed the nation amid the ticketing scandal in 2016. John Delaney’s use of the FAI …

There were a spectacular handful of seconds caught on television on Saturday morning. With a little over 78 minutes gone in the World Cup quarter-final, and the scoreboard in the corner of the screen reading New Zealand 41 -14 Ireland, the camera zoomed in on Joe Schmidt. He looked a brutal combination of exhausted and stunned, the colour draining away …

Draws and dramatic late winners. Just another weekend of county final action.  Twenty different county championships were up for grabs this weekend across both codes. The Derry football final saw a 41-year drought come to an end while one Dublin footballer got in on the act, yet again, in the hurling championship. In Cork, one of the GAA’s great clubs …

Leona Maguire has seen more of the world than most other 24-year-olds but as the old saying goes there’s no place like home.  A golf prodigy, the Cavan native left rural Ireland at just 18 for pastures new in North Carolina and Duke University. With her degree now in the bag, Maguire’s attentions are fully focused on professional golf. So …

We’ve beaten the All Blacks on two of the last three occasions, but this Irish team are going to need to return to the form of 2018 if we’re to have any chance of making it three from four, writes Darren Cave. A subject I’ve been outspoken about in the past is the importance of Johnny Sexton to Ireland, and …