Kilkenny forward Billy Ryan and three-time All-Star Huw Lawlor. Former Kilkenny midfielder Andy Comerford has issued a plea for Huw Lawlor and Billy Ryan to return from their travels and rejoin the senior fold with the Cats. Comerford was scathing in his criticism of Kilkenny after their sobering league defeat to Galway a fortnight ago, … Read more
Waterford found a few diamonds in the rough and despite league disappointment can cause a shock in championship Waterford manager Peter Queally. Photo: Paul Phelan/Sportsfile My travels took me to the States last weekend for a wonderful few days in the company of Galway hurling club Boston. Myself and former Galway hurler David Burke were … Read more
Kilkenny’s Mikey Butler is tackled by Galway Conor Whelan during their Leinster SHC Round 1 match in April. Photo: Seb Daly/Sportsfile When Galway joined Leinster in 2009, the hurling world expected them to become the team to regularly challenge Kilkenny. Since then, however, they’ve won the Bob O’Keeffe Cup just three times. Kilkenny’s tally in … Read more
Michael Verney in Celtic Park: Nicely poised in Celtic Park after Walsh solo goal It’s beautifully poised here in Celtic Park with Derry leading Galway 1-11 to 2-6 after a feisty opening half in their All-Ireland SFC clash. Derry scorched ahead early on with Conor Glass immediately cancelling out Rob Finnerty’s goal as the Oak … Read more
Mark Coleman of Cork in action against Kyle Hayes of Limerick during the 2024 GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-final. Photo by John Sheridan/Sportsfile Seconds out, round two. Let’s hope this ends up being an actual contest, one befitting the storied history of the Munster hurling final. After a complete mismatch in their round-robin clash, … Read more
Waterford’s Seán Walsh is tackled by Cork’s Cormac O’Brien (left) and Seán O’Donoghue during their Munster SHC Round 5 clash at SuperValu Páirc Ui Chaoimh. Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Football is the main event and hurling the sideshow this season. Ireland’s beautiful game needs two outstanding provincial finals to change the balance of power back in … Read more
Cork’s Alan Connolly of has his helmet grabbed by Limerick’s Diarmaid Byrnes during the Munster SHC Round 4 match at TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick last Sunday. Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile The final round of the Leinster Hurling Championship has thrown up a de facto semi-final between Galway and Dublin, a relegation play-off between Offaly and … Read more
Limerick manager John Kiely, right, and Cork manager Pat Ryan shake hands after their Munster championship joust last year. Photo: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile Richie Bennis, the last manager to lead Limerick to an All-Ireland senior hurling final before the days of plenty under John Kiely, ponders the gargantuan battle that awaits on Shannonside. Limerick have all … Read more
Munster SHC Round Robin Round 3: Tipperary 4-18 Clare 2-21 Tipperary’s John McGrath celebrates after the Munster SHC round 3 match against Clare at Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg in Ennis. Photo: Ray McManus/Sportsfile On a warm early summer’s evening at Cusack Park, the reign of All-Ireland hurling champions Clare hung by a thread so bare … Read more
John McGrath of Tipperary celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal against Limerick last month. When Tipperary last played Clare in Ennis two years ago, they went on a goal splurge. It was Liam Cahill’s first game in charge and as manager he made clear the value he placed on seeing a net explode. Source … Read more