football
Aidan Forker: 'It only becomes special if you win it'
By John Harrington Aidan Forker has learned the value of channelling the emotion of sport in the most productive way. It wasn’t an overnight process. Earlier in his career there were a couple of times he saw red that he still looks a bit rueful about when he recalls them.
20 HR AGO
hurling
The Big Interview - Anthony Daly
By Tom Stakelum
As the 2024 GAA All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final comes into view, the Rebel Army and the Banner battalion are preparing for battle. It’s been 11 years for Clare and 19 years for Cork. A long time coming you might say.
How about 81 years? This was
Thursday 18 July 2024
feature
It's all about the journey for Patrick Horgan
By John Harrington
It’s the Monday after Cork have beaten Limerick in the All-Ireland SHC semi-final, and we’re in Páirc Uí Chaoimh for their All-Ireland Final media night.
Patrick Horgan walks into the auditorium with the sort of easy, confident stroll that evokes a Hollywood gunslinger entering a saloon.
He
Thursday 18 July 2024
football
Coaches behind enemy lines
By Tom Stakelum
Then: Kieran Donaghy, Four Time All-Ireland SFC Winner, 2006 Footballer of the Year, Kerry footballing icon, their ‘Star’.
Now: Kieran Donaghy, all of the above, AND Armagh Senior Football Coach. As the ‘Stacks’ man preps the Orchard charges to ambush his Kingdom, there will be a familiar
Friday 12 July 2024
football
Laverty fully invested in Down passion project
By John Harrington
Anecdotal stories probably only give a flavour of the commitment that Conor Laverty is currently giving to Down football, but they tell a tale nonetheless.
The day-to-day business of managing the county’s senior footballers must be onerous enough, and yet the grapevine hums with sightings of Laverty
Friday 12 July 2024
football
John O'Mahony always kept the faith
By John Harrington
The reaction to John O’Mahony’s sad and untimely passing last Saturday has underscored two truths – that he was a very decent man, and one of the most innovative managers in the history of Gaelic football.
I had the good fortune of getting to know ‘Johnno’ in
Monday 8 July 2024
hurling
Age brings perspective for once obsessive Hegarty
By John Harrington
Gearoid Hegarty had the unfortunate distinction of being the only Limerick player who started last year’s All-Ireland Final who didn’t end the year with an All-Star nomination.
You could argue that was harsh considering how well he played in the All-Ireland series, but he clearly paid for
Saturday 6 July 2024
football
Brian Howard happy to pay it on
By John Harrington
He’s an eight-year veteran of the Dublin senior football team, so you almost do a double-take when Brian Howard mentions he’s still only 26.
There’s a good chance he’s only at the mid-point of his career, so by the time he finally hangs up his boots his
Friday 28 June 2024
feature
The wisdom and wit of Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh
By John Harrington
The outpouring of love, respect, and sadness since news broke of Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh’s passing on Tuesday spoke volumes of the man.
How did the broadcasting legend manage to make such an equally positive impression on those he met and those who only connected to him through
Thursday 27 June 2024
football
Derry GAA connecting the dots with joined up thinking
By John Harrington
Any county hoping to improve their level would do well to take a close look at the Derry GAA Coaching and Games Development model.
The county minor footballers contest another All-Ireland semi-final this Saturday and if they go on to win a third All-Ireland title in five
Thursday 20 June 2024
hurling
Richie Stakelum reflects on day Dubs skinned the Cats
By Tom Stakelum
As the Dublin hurlers look to capture a first Leinster senior hurling crown in 11 years, we talk to Richie Stakelum who in 2013 was part of Anthony Daly's Dublin management team that landed a first championship scalp of the Cats in 71 years.
How did you,
Friday 7 June 2024
hurling
Dublin's next-gen hurlers are making their mark
By John Harrington
20 of the 37 players on the Dublin hurling championship panel that will contest Saturday’s Leinster Hurling Final against Kilkenny have played at this level for three years or less.
16 of them have been brought in to the fold by manager Micheál Donoghue since he took
Friday 7 June 2024
hurling
Faith renewed in Offaly hurling
By Kevin Egan
It’s Sunday afternoon, and the sun shines down on joyous scenes in Glenisk O’Connor Park. Something between six and eight thousand people have come to greet the Offaly U-20 hurlers and welcome the James Nowlan Cup to the county for the first time, and while it’s not
Tuesday 4 June 2024
hurling
‘U20 Starlets to Senior Stars’
By Tom Stakelum
Here we shine a light on five of our U20 starlets who have burst onto the Senior stage in recent years.
Craig Morgan (Tipperary)
First up in our ‘Starlets to Stars’ is the tight marking, no nonsense defender, Craig Morgan. The Kilruane MacDonagh’s clubman has risen to
Friday 31 May 2024
hurling
Donegal captain Gartland happy to take responsibility on young shoulders
By John Harrington
When Conor Gartland was appointed Donegal senior hurling team captain for the 2024 season at the age of 20, he set a new record.
He became the youngest ever Donegal senior team captain, beating the previous record set by a certain Michael Murphy who Jim McGuinness made
Friday 31 May 2024
hurling
Karl Hatton is proud to be a Rainbow Gael
By John Harrington
Two years ago Karl Hatton was in the crowd watching the Dublin LGBTQ+ Pride Festival march when a group of Na Gaeil Aeracha (The Rainbow Gaels) GAA club members strode happily past.
He remembers it now as lightbulb moment, the realisation that perhaps he could after all
Wednesday 29 May 2024
hurling
Derry hurling club St. Finbarr's show what's possible
By John Harrington
For proof that hurling can blossom in every part of this country given the required care and attention, look no further than St. Finbarr's hurling club in Derry.
Founded just seven years ago, they now field teams at every level from U-7.5 to senior, have strong links
Thursday 23 May 2024
hurling
'The Epic Origins of Hurling' uncover game's hidden history
By John Harrington
We all know that hurling is something uniquely Irish, a real cultural artefact of this island.
But it’s something we often take for granted rather than ask the questions ‘how?’ or ‘why?’
Many people will know it’s part of our mythology thanks to tales of Cúchulainn, and
Wednesday 22 May 2024
football
Wexford captain Coleman doing his family proud
By John Harrington
It really is true that you never know what someone else is going through.
Wexford football team captain Liam Coleman attended the launch of the Tailteann Cup this week in Croke Park and he couldn’t have been more accommodating.
He was thoughtful and forthcoming in his interviews
Thursday 9 May 2024
football
Record-breaking Foley as hungry as ever
By John Harrington
If you didn’t know Darragh Foley, you might have expected him to ride off into the sunset after Carlow’s season ended in 2023, content with a record-breaking inter-county career spanning 14 seasons.
After all, last year he became the county’s highest ever scorer, with a monstrous tally
Wednesday 8 May 2024
football
Clare footballer Ikem Ugwueru hopes to inspire others
By John Harrington
It’s quite common nowadays for sportspeople to have something of meaning written on a wrist strapping or even the back of their hand before they go out to compete.
It could be a key performance indicator they’re chasing, a message that refocuses them in a moment of
Tuesday 30 April 2024
feature
Neil McManus hopes Unionists will come to embrace Gaelic games
By John Harrington
In a way, Neil McManus is a child of The Troubles.
He grew up in Cushendall on the North Coast of Antrim, but his family is originally from a mainly Protestant area of Belfast
Such were the intimidatory times, they were among thousands of Catholics who felt
Friday 26 April 2024
football
Life lessons helped make Padraig O'Hora a pillar of his community
By John Harrington
SuperValu really couldn’t have picked a better ambassador for their #CommunityIncludesEveryone campaign than Mayo footballer, Padraig O’Hora.
A proud Ballina man, he’s also a hugely positive influence in the wider community through his work with the Mayo Mental Health Association and Youth Work North Connacht.
His role
Wednesday 24 April 2024
football
David Clifford: 'Your life can't be lived by whether you win or lose a game'
By John Harrington
Earlier this year the Kerry football team’s performance coach, Tony Griffin, described David Cliford as ‘Jordan-esque’ in terms of his attitude to try to continually better himself.
The Jordan he compared him to was basketball legend, Michael Jordan, whose mantra was that he could accept failure, but
Tuesday 23 April 2024
hurling
Sean O'Donoghue happy to fight his corner
By John Harrington
How does someone end up playing as a senior inter-county hurling corner-back?
It’s hardly something the average hurling mad youngster aspires to be.
When they’re pucking a ball against a wall and lost in reverie it’s far more likely they’re dreaming of banging in goals for their
Saturday 20 April 2024
hurling
Unique Whelan is Galway's go-to guy
By John Harrington
There’s no mistaking Conor Whelan on a hurling pitch.
The left hand on top of a natural citóg, the hunched running style, the slightly looping but very effective striking action, the in-your-face bouldness, the clinical finishing.
He’s always been something a little bit unique ever since he
Thursday 18 April 2024
hurling
Ruairí Ó Mianáin has high hopes for Derry hurling
By John Harrington
Derry hurler Ruairí Ó Mianáin has all the hallmarks of a young man keen to get places as quickly as he possibly can.
Last year he was the star of the Derry U20 hurling team that beat Roscommon in the All-Ireland ‘B’ Final when he scored 1-5
Thursday 11 April 2024
football
Eamonn Murray happy to be a guiding hand for Cavan footballers
By Paul Keane
When Raymond Galligan was appointed Cavan manager at the age of just 36, he figured he could do with a wingman.
The players would clearly need to be coached so he recruited Tyrone's Stephen O'Neill and former Mayo coach James Burke for that task but given his
Friday 5 April 2024
football
Football's sleeping giants Down are on the up again
By John Harrington
This is a good week for Down football.
Their senior team play Westmeath in the Allianz Football League Division 3 Final on Saturday, and earlier in the day their minors play Derry in the Ulster League Final.
A good chunk of their senior panel are graduates of
Wednesday 27 March 2024
feature
New York GAA see gains in underage development
By Áine Hourican
The development of underage Gaelic games within New York City is an exciting point of growth for the stateside Irish community. A volunteer-based organisation that promotes Irish heritage and culture, the GAA in New York is an outlet for both Irish natives and Irish-American children to connect
Monday 25 March 2024