Author: THEJOHNANTONIOBLOG

GALWAY HEAD INTO 2017 as the reigning Connacht champions, but the enduring memory for the Tribesmen is their quarter-final collapse to Tipperary. Tipperary stunned Kevin Walsh’s side in the last eight clash at Croke Park, running out nine-point winners to make the semi-finals for the first time since 1935. Source: Tommy Grealy/INPHO For Galway, much…

AFTER WEEKS OF speculation, Kevin McStay has been ratified as Roscommon manager for the next two years, with an option for a further 12 months. Click Here: The former RTÉ pundit was joint-manager of the county last season, but after Fergal O’Donnell resigned from his position, questions were raised about the Mayo man’s future within the county setup. Previous…

Home One Zero conference co-founders Ross O’Dwyer, Rob Hartnett and Richard Barrett. Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO Sunderland are reportedly keen on bringing Ireland internationals Robbie Brady and Shane Long to the club to strengthen their squad ahead of a likely relegation battle in England’s Premier League. Disgraced former cyclist Lance Armstrong has sensationally withdrawn from tomorrow’s One…

THE NOMINATIONS FOR the eir Sports Book of the Year prize have been revealed. In its second year running, the inaugural award was won by former Dublin footballer John Leonard with Dub Sub Confidential in 2015 and a 20-strong longlist has been announced this evening. Included are books from ex-Ireland and Munster rugby captain Paul…

FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ATTENDANCES have fallen by an average of more than 7,000 per game over the last 10 years, new figures released by the GAA show. A total of 788,746 fans attended the 60 games (not including replays) played in the provincial championships and All-Ireland series in 2016. This average crowd of 13,146 per match…

THE GAA HAS issued revised proposals for a Gaelic football championship restructure in what appears to be an attempt to appease critics of the original ideas revealed in August. However, the latest document released by GAA director general Paraic Duffy is persisting with a round-robin stage for the last eight of the football championship, to…

FORMER LOUTH PLAYER Colm Nally says Dundalk’s dominance of the national soccer scene has left local Gaelic football teams with a battle to win over the hearts and minds of talented teenagers. Several Louth minor footballers have quit the game to play underage soccer for Dundalk, according to Nally, with a view to ultimately making…

ALL-IRELAND WINNING DUBLIN football coach Jason Sherlock has downplayed the issue of Dublin’s enormous backroom team and highlighted the role that volunteers have played in their incredible run of success. Sherlock, a former Dublin star forward, was among a 23-strong group of backroom team members photographed on the Croke Park pitch after their All-Ireland final…

SECOND HALF GOALS from Thomas Hill and Ross Mulcahy ensured Moyle Rovers edged tonight’s Tipperary SFC quarter-final against Aherlow Gaels by a score of 2 – 11 to 0 – 13. File photo: Ross Mulcahy in minor action for Tipp in 2013. Source: James Crombie/INPHO Rovers, playing without the Dubai-based Peter Acheson, had to come…

Home Peter O’Mahony and Rassie Erasmus speak to the media at UL. Source: Niall Carson Munster’s Champions Cup game against Glasgow Warriors will go ahead as planned on Saturday. The province’s captain, Peter O’Mahony, was understandably emotional as he paid tribute to Anthony Foley in Limerick. Seamus ‘Banty‘ McEnaney is back in inter-county management after…