The Big Interview: Eimear O’Brien (Longford/Longford Slashers) – Media West Ireland – February 8 2025

‘Winning the All-Ireland in Croke Park definitely made up for any sort of disappointment’

By Daire Walsh

While there is a long road ahead of them, Eimear O’Brien has acknowledged that challenging for League and Championship promotion is the ultimate goal for the Longford ladies football team in 2025.

When the Longford Slashers star first established herself as a starter back in 2018, the O’Farrell County were operating in Division 3 of the Lidl National Football League and in the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate football Championship. The Midlanders remained active participants in these competitions for a number of seasons, before eventually suffering relegation from both in 2023.

Last year saw Longford missing out on the knockout stages of the TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship and Lidl NFL Division 4 – competitions they previously won in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Although challenging at the business end of the former is a major ambition for the summer time, Brian Farrell’s side will be fighting tooth and nail to book a spot in the Division 4 semi-finals at the end of March.

“There are teams that are in Intermediate Championship that are playing Division 4 or vice versa, Junior and playing Division 3. There is very little between Junior and Intermediate, and Division 3 and Division 4. The teams are nearly interchangeable, so there’s definitely no reason why we can’t be back up there playing Division 3 and Intermediate,” O’Brien said.

“We’re really targeting the Championship this year. There’s players who will come back in later on, and we’ll have even bigger numbers. We really are targeting mainly Championship, but the League semi-final is there to grab. So we’ll obviously aim for it.”

Despite losing out to Sligo at Cloonacool Community Park last Sunday, Longford remain in the reckoning for a knockout spot thanks to emphatic victories at home to Derry and Kilkenny in the opening two rounds of this year’s Division 4. Ahead of their meeting with Fermanagh at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park tomorrow afternoon (throw-in 2pm), the O’Farrell outfit occupy second place in the fourth-tier table.

Having missed out on their three games to date due to a combination of injury and being away, O’Brien is hopeful this weekend will see her playing her first competitive game since being named captain of Longford for the 2025 season. Suffice to say – after previously serving as vice-captain for several years – the experienced defender is delighted to be taking on a key leadership role in the county set-up.

“It’s a huge honour to be selected as captain. You feel like you’re really respected by the manager and the players. You also just feel like you’re obviously a good role model for younger players as well. It’s a big deal to be named county captain.

“I’m also probably one of the older players on the team. We’re quite a young team and I’ve probably been one of the longest around. It definitely will help and knowing the girls as well helps too.”

Whereas she is still striving for success at inter-county level, O’Brien has already accumulated a significant collection of medals in the club game.

A Junior county Championship winner with Longford Slashers in 2017, she played a starring role when the Farneyhoogan outfit claimed Intermediate Championship honours a year later. Slashers have continued to go from strength to strength since then and last October saw them picking up their sixth successive Droplink Senior Championship title in the O’Farrell County.

Yet undoubtedly the crowning glory for the club in modern times was their triumph over Mullinahone in the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship final of 2022. The first All-Ireland Ladies Club Final to be played at Croke Park – it was followed by a senior showdown between Kilkerrin-Clonberne and Donaghmoyne on the same day – Longford Slashers defeated their Tipperary counterparts on a score of 4-11 to 2-8 with O’Brien producing a typically committed performance in defence.

“It’s probably the biggest highlight, it was amazing. Playing in Croke Park is where every player wants to be, up on the big stage. Especially with family around you. A football team are probably some of the closest people in your life. Winning a massive thing like that is huge.

“It was very, very special. The year before we were so disappointed having lost the Leinster final, but I think winning the All-Ireland in Croke Park definitely made up for any sort of disappointment.

“It took us a while to get out of Junior. We were a very, very young team. Then when we won the Junior, at that stage we were knocking on the door for so long. We were playing division one football while playing Junior, it was nearly in our heads. Once we got over that hurdle, we knew we could push on and we did.”

Away from football, O’Brien has a busy job working as a medical scientist at St James’s Hospital in Dublin – a role she has held for the past three years.

Working and living in the capital means she has to commute up and down to inter-county training on a regular basis. However, with a number of others on the panel in the same boat, O’Brien doesn’t have any trouble striking a balance between her job and her commitments to Longford.

“There’s a good few in college who are based either in Dublin or Maynooth. There is a few in Galway as well, I think, but there’s a few of us working in Dublin. There is a good few commuting up and down,” O’Brien added.

“I love my job. I’m lucky with the lab I work in. I’m working microbiology, I work mostly routine hours. For weekend shifts, there is less staff on. It’s easier to change it, so it does work well for football. I can get off for games and training. Longford luckily is not too far away. It’s an hour and a half each way in the car.

“Thankfully James’s is on the N4. I head straight down from work if I’m working, so it’s not the worst. Luckily I’m from the town, so we normally train near enough there. I can go home and get a bit to eat before I head down to the pitch and then come back up that night. It’s not too bad. I’m close enough that I can still do that.”

Posted in Ladies GAA | Comments Off on The Big Interview: Eimear O’Brien (Longford/Longford Slashers) – Media West Ireland – February 8 2025

U20 Six Nations Championship Preview: Scotland V Ireland – The Irish Times – February 8 2025

Ireland under-20s look to get back on track as they face ‘physical’ Scottish side

Ulster hooker Henry Walker feeling less ‘spooked’ on his second Six Nations campaign

Daire Walsh

Under-20 Six Nations: Scotland v Ireland, Hive Stadium, Edinburgh, Saturday, 7.45 – Live RTÉ 2

Ireland encountered a physical challenge in their opening game of the tournament, and Henry Walker is anticipating something similar when they face Scotland in the second round of the Under-20 Six Nations at the Hive Stadium in Edinburgh on Saturday (kick-off 7.45pm, live on RTÉ2).

Following a 19-3 defeat to defending champions England at Musgrave Park last Thursday week, Neil Doak’s side will be looking to get their campaign back on track in the Scottish capital this weekend.

Coming in to their clash with the English on an unbeaten run of 15 games in the tournament, dating back to the first round of the 2022 Six Nations, Ireland ultimately came up short after conceding four penalties and a penalty try over the course of the action.

Scotland also suffered defeat in their opening game of this year’s tournament, with Italy getting the better of them on a final score of 22-10. Yet even though you have to go all the way back to 2015 for the last time they tasted victory over Ireland in the tournament, Ulster hooker Walker is expecting the Scots to pose a significant threat.

“We always know they’re going to be physical. I played them last year at the end of the Six Nations and they were a very physical side. Obviously this year they’ve got another crowd of big lads,” Walker remarked on Thursday. “They’ve got the likes of Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, Reuben Logan. They’re big lads and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”

While Alex Usanov is marked absent because of an injury he sustained in the opening stages of the England game – which is also set to rule the Leinster prop out for the remainder of the tournament – the rest of the Irish pack from that opener is retained for their first away trip of 2025.

There are also a couple of changes in the Ireland back line, with Gene O’Leary Kareem and Daniel Green indirectly replacing Eoghan Smyth and Derry Moloney, the latter missing out on selection owing to a broken finger.

As he alluded to above, Walker is currently in the middle of his second Six Nations campaign, having played in four of the five games in last year’s tournament. Whereas he admitted to feeling somewhat “spooked” for his debut appearance against France a little over 12 months ago, the Queen’s University player is now feeling much more at ease in this age grade.

“There’s a few other lads in the squad that were involved [in 2024] and it just helped me settle this year. Calmed the nerves a little bit, because it can spook you. Obviously my first game against France I was a little bit spooked, but having those players that played before around you really does settle the nerves,” Walker added.

“I feel like I want to be that player this year to help those lads through it, those tough times. You just have to get the head down and keep moving forward.”

SCOTLAND: J Brown; G Rogers, J Ventisei, K Yule, F Watson; M Urwin, N Cowan; O McKenna, J Roberts, O Blyth-Lafferty; C Moss, D Halkon; C Lindsay, B Allen, R Logan.

Replacements: S Stephen, J Shearer, J Stewart, B Godsell, O Duncan, H Patterson, R Wolfenden, N Moncrieff.

IRELAND: D Green; C Molony, G O’Leary Kareem, C Fahy, C Mangan; S Wisniewski, C Logan; B Bohan, H Walker, A Mullan; M Ronan, B Corrigan; M Foy, B Power, E McCarthy.

Replacements: C Magee, P Moore, T McAllister, D Walsh, O Minogue, W Wotton, D Hicks, E Smyth.

Posted in International Rugby, U20 Six Nations Rugby | Comments Off on U20 Six Nations Championship Preview: Scotland V Ireland – The Irish Times – February 8 2025

Sigerson Cup Semi-Final: UCD V TU Dublin – Independent.ie – February 5 2025

UCD need penalties to edge out TU Dublin and make Sigerson Cup final

UCD 1-7 TU Dublin 0-10 (AET – UCD win 5-4 on penalties)

Daire Walsh

Ben O’Carroll was the match-winner at the National Games Development Centre in Abbotstown on Wednesday night as his crisp finish from the spot secured a penalty shootout win for UCD over TU Dublin at the end of a tense Sigerson Cup semi-final encounter.

After Daire Cregg and TU Dublin sharpshooter Jordan Morris traded points during the early exchanges, UCD ultimately led 0-3 to 0-1 at the end of a largely uneventful opening half of normal time after Roscommon’s Cregg and Aaron Lynch found the range with consecutive scores.

Although Lynch’s second point of the contest increased UCD’s cushion on the resumption, TU Dublin were back on level terms when substitute Darragh Lovett (free), Joe Prendergast and Danny McCartan fired over unanswered scores.

UCD regained the initiative when goalkeeper Killian Roche kicked a superb long-distance point from play, but a second successful Lovett free later forced the game into extra-time.

Even though they registered a fortuitous goal on 64 minutes when a speculative shot by defender Ryan O’Toole was knocked into the net by TU Dublin netminder Jack Rodgers, UCD required a point from a mark by Barry McNulty to ensure they had a chance of triumphing on penalties.

After both teams found the net four times each from seven shots, Morris dragged an effort wide to leave UCD on the brink of sealing a showpiece spot. Despite missing an earlier effort, O’Carroll drilled the ball beyond the reach of Rodgers to book his side a final place against either Ulster University or DCU.

Scorers –UCD: R O’Toole 1-0, D Cregg 0-2 (1f), A Lynch 0-2, K Roche 0-2 (1 ‘45’), B McNulty 0-1 (mark). TU Dublin: D Lovett 0-4 (4f), C Reilly, J Prendergast, J Lundy, D McCartan, J Morris, O Brooks 0-1 each.

TU Dublin: J Rodgers; C Reilly, M Nolan, N Carolan; D Fee, C McKeogh, J Prendergast; D Rooney, S Hanifin; S Reynolds, J Lundy, D McCartan; J Morris, C Fee, S Jones. Subs: O Brooks for Morris (30+3-h-t), D Lovett for Brooks (h-t), O Brooks for Rooney (51), Morris for McCartan (76).

UCD: K Roche; R O’Toole, M Stone, C McMorrow; D Gilmore, C Drumm, D McElearney; C Bolton, P Duffy; C Egan, B McNulty, D Moriarty; D Cregg, L Breathnach, A Lynch. Subs: S Callinan for Gilmore (29), B O’Carroll for Breathnach (h-t), M McNally for Moriarty (41), P Honeyman for Lynch (48), D McEntee for Cregg (53), S Forker for McMorrow, L Costello for Egan (both 71).

Referee: B Tiernan (Dublin).

Posted in Colleges GAA | Comments Off on Sigerson Cup Semi-Final: UCD V TU Dublin – Independent.ie – February 5 2025

Lidl National Football League Division One Follow-Up Report: Meath V Mayo – Media West Ireland – February 4 2025

MEATH 4-9 MAYO 2-6

Vikki Wall hailed as ‘super role model’ after two goal return inspires Meath LGFA to win over Mayo in Division 1

Mayo’s manager lamented their decision making in key moments
Daire Walsh

SHANE McCORMACK says returning role model Vikki Wall is a massive boost to Meath.

AFLW star Wall was back with the Royals for the first start since an All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Kerry in July 2023 and bagged 2-1 against Mayo yesterday to make it two wins from two in Division 1 of the Lidl NFL.

And boss McCormack beamed: “It’s great to have Vikki back. She has been training extremely hard since Christmas.

“We played a couple of challenge matches but she got her chance and took it. You can see that little bit of a lift, especially with the 14 new girls.

“She’s a super role model as well as a lot of the girls there.”

Wall made her presence felt early in this one and with Ciara Smyth (two), Kerrie Cole and Meadhbh Byrne all on target, the Royals were four points clear at the end of the opening quarter.

And even though Sinead Walsh cancelled out a free from Smyth to finally get Mayo up and running in the 21st minute, Meath reinforced their authority when Wall found the net moments later.

Posted in Ladies GAA | Comments Off on Lidl National Football League Division One Follow-Up Report: Meath V Mayo – Media West Ireland – February 4 2025

Updated National Hurling League Odds Piece: Gambling.com – February 4 2025

GAA Betting: Who Are The Contenders For 2025 National Hurling League Title?

By Daire Walsh

It was another weekend of intense action, and with round three of the competition just around the corner, betting sites are looking at who the main challengers are for this year’s National Hurling League.

Having begun the 2025 season with an emphatic victory over Galway seven days earlier, Tipperary are now sitting at the summit of the NHL Division 1A table courtesy of their 1-22 to 0-19 win over Wexford.

Their maximum return from the opening two games of the season leaves them a point in front of Cork – who followed up an earlier victory against Wexford by sharing the spoils with Limerick in Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Saturday evening.

In the wake of losing out to Tipp in the first round, there was pessimism surrounding Galway ahead of their visit to Kilkenny on Sunday.

Yet, with Declan McLoughlin helping himself to a brace of goals, the Tribesmen earned a morale-boosting triumph on a final score of 2-19 to 1-19.

Cork And Limerick Inseparable Favourites

After their high-octane start to 2025, Cork will receive a bye this weekend from the seven-team Division 1A.

This could affect their odds with betting apps come Sunday evening, but the Leesiders are neck and neck with provincial rivals Limerick in the National Hurling League betting.

In the eyes of Bet365, both Munster counties are 9/4 to come away with the top-tier NHL title.

There appears to be little to separate the teams at the moment and this was reflected in their meeting in Cork at the weekend.

Despite the adverse conditions, 23,402 spectators passed through the turnstiles to see a compelling derby unfold.

While Adam English and Patrick O’Donovan led the way for Limerick with four points apiece, a 10th point from Darragh Fitzgibbon rescued a draw for Cork right at the death.

Tipperary Are Potential Dark Horses

Tipperary have won three All-Irelands since last winning an NHL crown in 2008, but their recent summer hurling form has been somewhat dubious.

It has been an encouraging start to the year for the Premier, but Sunday’s visit to Limerick in the Gaelic Grounds will be a major litmus test.

Ace marksman Darragh McCarthy (1-7) was one of 12 scorers for Tipperary in their win over Wexford, and a similar spread might be required if they are to beat Limerick.

Another victory would further underline their league title credentials, but for the time being, they are rated as third favourites for Division One at 11/2 with BoyleSports.

Kilkenny Still In Contention

Even though they came up short to Galway on their home patch last weekend, Kilkenny remain in the running for a 2025 league crown at 6/1 with GAA betting sites.

Eight points down deep into the second half, the Noresiders registered 1-6 without reply – their goal coming from Eoin Cody – to move a point clear of the Tribesmen inside the final quarter.

The westerners did eventually reinforce their authority with four unanswered points, but Derek Lyng’s Cats had shown plenty of fight during an entertaining second half.

A visit to Wexford on Saturday night gives them a chance to get their campaign back on track, and Lyng may well be targeting this year’s competition after losing the last two finals to Clare and Limerick.

Clare And Galway Neck And Neck

Even though they are the reigning National Hurling League and All-Ireland champions, Clare (8/1) are only fifth favourites ahead of their meeting with Galway (10/1) at Pearse Stadium on Saturday.

Clare were idle last weekend after losing to Kilkenny in the opening round of the league, and it remains to be seen how beneficial this might prove to be on Saturday.

What is intriguing about their clash with Galway is that, whereas the Banner are still missing a number of their All-Ireland winning side, Tribes boss Micheal Donoghue has opted to use a huge amount of players across his team’s two games thus far in the league.

He is clearly looking to identify new talent within the county, which makes it very difficult to gauge what kind of line-up he will select in a given week.

After the Tipperary game, the prospect of a major challenge in the NHL seemed highly unlikely, but another win this weekend could dramatically change things.

Wexford Well Out Of The Reckoning

Meanwhile, it has been a difficult start to 2025 for Wexford, who are currently rooted to the foot of the Division One table following their aforementioned defeats to Cork and Tipperary.

Their performance against the latter was a significant improvement on their performance against the former, with Cian Byrne amassing seven points from their final tally of 0-19.

Yet Wexford are missing a number of experienced performers for various reasons, and it is showing at the moment.

You have to go all the way back to 1973 for the Slaneysiders’ last top-division triumph in the NHL and 1993 for their last appearance in a Division One final.

The odds of them ending this long barren spell are rated at 100/1 at best.

Posted in Gaelic Games, Hurling | Comments Off on Updated National Hurling League Odds Piece: Gambling.com – February 4 2025

Updated Six Nations Championship Odds Piece: Gambling.com – February 4 2025

Six Nations Betting Odds: Who Will Win This Year’s Championship?

By Daire Walsh

Following a fascinating opening weekend that saw the last two winners of the tournament making bright starts, betting sites are once again giving their considered takes on who the main challengers are for this year’s Six Nations Championship.

Ireland, France and Scotland were the winners in round one of the tournament, and the Green Army and Les Bleus lead the early betting markets.

There is plenty more rugby to be played, however, so the odds are sure to change many times in the coming weeks.

Ireland, France And Scotland Triumph

Title holders for the last two years, Ireland began life under new interim head coach Simon Easterby with a 27-22 triumph over England at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

Under the watchful eye of main supremo Andy Farrell – taking a sabbatical from the side to concentrate on his duties with the British & Irish Lions – the Irish did find themselves 10-5 behind at the interval in Dublin.

Yet with Bundee Aki, Tadhg Beirne and Dan Sheehan all crossing the line to supplement a first-half effort from Jamison Gibson-Park, Ireland emerged with maximum points from a tense duel with their arch-rivals.

Some might see this display as a statement of intent from the Irish, but the same could be said about 2022 champions France, who secured an emphatic 43-0 win against Wales in Saint-Denis on Friday.

Antoine Dupont was returning to the Six Nations after taking a break in 2023 to focus on his commitments with the French 7s, and he played a pivotal role as Les Bleus convincingly put Warren Gatland’s men to the sword.

Meanwhile, Scotland avenged their round four reversal to Italy in last year’s tournament by seeing off the Azzurri at Murrayfield Stadium.

Huw Jones registered a hat-trick of tries in a 31-19 bonus point success for the Scots.

France Slight Favourites

In advance of the opening round, many betting apps viewed France and Ireland as joint-favourites for this year’s Six Nations.

Their respective wins last weekend keep both of them very much in the mix, but the French are slightly ahead of their Irish counterparts in the betting stakes ahead of their visit to Twickenham Stadium to face England this Saturday.

With William Hill, France are currently rated as 11/10 favourites to get their hands on the Championship crown for the first time since 2022.

It seems extraordinary given their rich pedigree in the tournament, but that success three years ago is the only one Les Bleus have enjoyed in the past 15 years.

Yet with the aforementioned Dupont continuing to play sparkling rugby, many see Fabien Galthie’s charges as not only likely winners of the championship but also of a Grand Slam.

Ireland Hot On France’s Tails

However, if any team is going to bring a halt to their title march, then Ireland look to be best placed to do so amongst the remaining contenders.

Winning a third consecutive Six Nations would be a major achievement for the boys in green and they will go into Sunday’s away trip to Scotland with plenty of confidence.

The battle between Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley for the out-half berth in this Irish team remains a fascinating one and the latter will be hopeful of getting the nod after helping his country to close out last Saturday’s tie in impressive style.

At 11/8 with William Hill, Ireland may not be the current favourites for the Championship, but they are very much in the reckoning for the top prize again.

England Dark Horses After Loss To Ireland

While a Grand Slam and a Triple Crown have now been eliminated from the equation, England are still in contention for an overall Six Nations success.

However, last Saturday’s defeat to Ireland put them on the back foot, and another loss to France this weekend would likely leave them with too much of a mountain to climb.

Yet, being back at Twickenham will help Steve Borthwick’s side on Saturday.

With the 10-12-13 axis of Marcus Smith, Henry Slade and Ollie Lawrence capable of offering them attacking momentum, the tournament’s most successful team can’t be dismissed lightly.

That said, the odds of 11/1 available with several rugby betting sites suggest they are currently dark horses at best heading into round two.

Scotland Outsiders Despite Positive Start

The same could be said about Scotland, despite the fact they are level on points with both France and Ireland in the Championship standings – and ahead of the latter on score difference.

It is widely acknowledged that Gregor Townsend’s Scots are capable of beating any team in this competition on their day but lack the consistency to sustain a title challenge.

Additionally, Ireland have won their last seven clashes against Scotland in the Six Nations and will be expected to extend that winning run this weekend.

Although a first victory since 2017 over their Celtic cousins would leave them in a nice position, the Scots are available at just 12/1 with BoyleSports at the time of writing.

Nonetheless, UK bookmakers are giving far more consideration to a Six Nations triumph for Scotland than they are for either Wales or Italy – who will get the round two action underway at Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Saturday afternoon.

Wales And Italy Out Of The Reckoning

Even though some bookies are siding with either Wales or Italy as distant fifth favourites for the Championship, several others – including Spreadex – are offering 500/1 on both of them for an unlikely title success.

While Wales have won the Six Nations on six occasions since the tournament expanded in 2000, they are currently at a low ebb with just two wins in their last 16 Championship outings.

Warren Gatland has also overseen 13 consecutive Test losses in his second spell as Welsh head coach.

Following a heavy opening-round defeat to France, his troops will have their work cut out to overcome Italy on Saturday.

The Italians are coming into this year’s Six Nations on the back of picking up two wins and a draw in the 2024 Championship.

There was plenty of encouragement to take from their first-round loss to Scotland – finding themselves on level terms in the 46th minute before the Scots regained the initiative.

They are still some way off forging a serious challenge for top honours.

Posted in International Rugby | Comments Off on Updated Six Nations Championship Odds Piece: Gambling.com – February 4 2025

Updated National Football League Odds Piece: Gambling.com – February 4 2025

GAA Betting: Who Are The Favourites To Win The National Football League?

By Daire Walsh

After another compelling weekend of action, betting sites are once again examining who the main contenders are for the 2025 edition of the National Football League.

While Kerry and Donegal were playing for the first time in this year’s competition, the remaining teams in Division One of the National Football League have now had two outings under the new rules for Gaelic football.

Although it remains the subject of intense debate and discussion, it was felt that last weekend’s fare served as a strong advertisement for the significant alterations that have been made to the game.

Round Two Winners Scoring Freely In NFL

Kerry, Galway, Armagh and Donegal all registered massive scoring tallies last week.

Galway in particular took advantage of the new scoring arc that awards a team two points if they manage to split the posts from a distance of 40 metres or greater, with seven such efforts helping them to establish a strong foothold in their clash with provincial rivals Mayo.

Not every rule change has been met with universal approval, but a consensus is beginning to grow that Gaelic football is slowly becoming a more enjoyable spectacle for players and supporters alike.

Despite this originally being set aside as a fallow week for the National Football League, this weekend will see refixed encounters across Divisions 1, 2 and 3 – following their earlier postponements when Storm Eowyn was taking a firm grip on the nation last month.

In the top division, Kerry and Donegal will meet at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney on Saturday afternoon with both teams hoping to make it two wins from two in this year’s NFL.

Galway New Favourites With Bookmakers For A League Triumph

From the six teams in Division One that have already played a brace of games, 2024 All-Ireland senior football championship finalists Galway are presently the only team with a 100% record.

This might explain why the Tribesmen are now 11/4 favourites with Bet365 for a Division One league success, though there has been plenty of evidence in their wins to date over Armagh and Mayo to suggest they are capable of a springtime triumph.

Across those victories, Galway have kicked no fewer than 10 two-pointers with the long-range prowess of Shane Walsh and Cillian O Curraoin providing the platform for Padraic Joyce’s men to defeat their fellow westerners Mayo on a final score of 0-26 to 0-16 in Castlebar last Sunday.

They will next be in action against Derry in Celtic Park on February 15 and another win in that game would further strengthen their title credentials.

Whereas other counties have experimented thus far in the NFL, Galway’s first 15 in the Mayo game featured 10 players that started last July’s All-Ireland final defeat to Armagh.

In comparison to the injury crisis he was dealing with this time 12 months ago, Joyce has a strong hand to pick from at the moment.

Donegal And Kerry Very Much In The Mix For Football League

Even though they had delayed starts to 2025, Donegal and Kerry began their Division One campaigns in fine style last weekend.

Daire O Baoill and Oisin Gallen shone for the former in their 0-20 to 0-16 success at home to Dublin, while three late goals from Paul Geaney (two) and Donal O’Sullivan gave Kerry a dramatic 5-15 to 1-24 victory against Derry in Celtic Park.

This will substantially increase anticipation for the forthcoming showdown between Donegal and the Kingdom this weekend. Both sides as joint second favourites for an NFL title at 10/3, but this could change if either team comes out on top on Saturday.

All-Ireland Champions Armagh Remaining In Contention

After losing out by six points to Galway in the opening round, Armagh served up a timely reminder of their quality by defeating Tyrone on a scoreline of 1-23 to 0-18 in the Athletic Grounds on Saturday.

The new football rules don’t curtail the influence of the roving goalkeeper and Orchard County netminder Ethan Rafferty took full advantage of this by kicking 0-5 in the win over the Red Hand – including a brace of two-pointers.

Andrew Murnin (1-4), Conor Turbitt (0-4) and Ross McQuillan (0-3) also made strong contributions as Armagh picked up their first points of the year. Though they are slightly down the pecking order, Kieran McGeeney’s charges remain available at 15/2 for an NFL victory.

Dublin And Tyrone Seen As Outsiders For A League Crown

Despite only losing last year’s final on a penalty shootout, Dublin are currently seen as outsiders for a league final triumph at 8/1.

The news that Jack McCaffrey, Paul Mannion and Michael Fitzsimons are unlikely to return to a set-up that has already lost Brian Fenton and James McCarthy suggests team manager Dessie Farrell is going to continue with a rebuilding phase for the remainder of the 2025 league.

Con O’Callaghan will return to the squad in the coming weeks following his heroics in the club championship with Cuala, but evidence to date indicates this could be a mixed campaign for Dublin.

Although their second game of the league ended in that eight-point reversal to Armagh, Tyrone are a slightly bigger price than Dublin for the National Football League at 10/1 with GAA betting sites.

Their opening round win over Derry means they are still very much amongst the chasing pack and their odds could shorten by achieving some more positive results in the coming weeks.

Derry And Mayo Not Seen As Major Challengers

Defending champions Derry were much improved against Kerry last weekend after coming up short to Tyrone on their first day out in 2025, with new manager Paddy Tally gradually finding his feet in the Oak Leaf hotseat.

Yet two losses from two leaves has put pressure on the Ulster county and their current odds of 80/1 with BoyleSports suggests that a second successive Division One crown might be out of reach.

Mayo have generally been very competitive in the National Football League over recent years, but consecutive defeats to Dublin and Galway has them facing the threat of relegation in the early stages of 2025.

The likes of Jordan Flynn, Aidan O’Shea and Patrick Durcan are still to return to the fold, but even though they will undoubtedly make them a better team, the green and red are also outsiders for a league success from their current vantage point with bookies odds as long as 50/1.

Posted in Gaelic Football, Gaelic Games | Comments Off on Updated National Football League Odds Piece: Gambling.com – February 4 2025

Lidl National Football League Division One: Meath V Mayo – Ladiesgaelic.ie – February 3 2025

Wall back with a bang as Meath chalk up second win

Lidl National Football League

Meath 4-9

Mayo 2-6

By Daire Walsh

The returning Vikki Wall bagged 2-1 at Pairc Tailteann, Navan on Monday as Meath made it two wins from two in Division 1 of the Lidl National Football League with an impressive triumph over Mayo.

Whereas Saoirse Delaney and Bree Hession were late inclusions on the Mayo team, former TG4 Senior Players’ Player of the Year Wall was added to the Meath side for her first start since a TG4 All-Ireland senior football championship quarter-final defeat to Kerry in July 2023.

The multi-sport exponent made her presence felt in the early moments and with Ciara Smyth (two), Kerrie Cole and Meadhbh Byrne all finding the target, the Royals were four points clear at the end of the opening quarter.

Even though Sinead Walsh cancelled out a free from Smyth to finally get Mayo up and running in the 21st minute, Meath reinforced their authority when Wall drilled the ball to the opposition net moments later.

Yet Mayo were back in contention when Walsh claimed a superb solo goal of her own on 26 minutes and despite temporarily losing the MacHale Rovers attacker to injury arising from an incident that led to Wall being yellow-carded, Maria Cannon converted a close-in free to leave the westerners just three points adrift (1-5 to 1-2) at the interval.

Walsh was back in time to narrow the gap at the start of the second half with a place-ball strike from distance, before Meath regained a firm stranglehold when a Smyth point was supplemented by a green flag finish from Cole – who had bagged a brace of goals in her county’s opening round win over Tyrone.

However, Walsh was proving to be a real thorn in the side of the Meath defence and she rattled the net for a second time on 38 minutes via a neat one-two with Hession. This meant the Royals were three in front upon Wall’s return to the field of play and this cushion remained intact after Mayo midfielder Erin Murray and Smyth traded points.

This advantage was then doubled when Wall hammered home from a tight angle in the wake of Mayo defender Ella Brennan being sin-binned for a foul on the Dunboyne ace, and even though Walsh continued to lead the way for the visitors, a fourth goal off a counter-attack by raiding wing-back Niamh Gallogly helped Meath to ease over the line.

Scorers – Meath: V Wall 2-1 (0-1f), C Smyth 0-6 (3f), K Cole 1-1, N Gallogly 1-0, M Byrne 0-1.

 Mayo: S Walsh 2-4 (0-4f), M Cannon 0-1 (f), E Murray 0-1.

 MEATH: R Murray; A Sheridan, S Wall, N Troy; N Gallogly, MK Lynch, C Millington; A Cleary, V Wall; M Thynne, O Sheehy, C Smyth; M Byrne, M Farrelly, K Cole. Subs: K Bermingham for Sheehy, E Moyles for Thynne (both 41), K Newe for Troy (46), O Callan for Farrelly (53), C Lawlor for Byrne (58), M Collins for Cole (59).

MAYO: R Dyar; E Brennan, S Lally, D Caldwell; S Delaney, S El Massry, H Reape; E Murray, A Geraghty; L Wallace, A Gough, C Durkin; M Cannon, S Walsh, B Hession. Subs: K Doherty for Walsh (30-h/t), K Doherty for Wallace (36), K Sullivan for El Massry (46), C Whyte for Hession (47), A Fitzpatrick for Gough (48), M Sheridan for Delaney (53), S McNulty for Sullivan (55), J Mortimer for Murray (58).

Referee: Kevin Phelan (Laois).

Posted in Ladies GAA | Comments Off on Lidl National Football League Division One: Meath V Mayo – Ladiesgaelic.ie – February 3 2025

The Big Interview: Charlene Tyrrell (Leitrim/Mohill) – Media West Ireland – February 1 2025

Leitrim intend to be serious competitors in Senior Championship says Charlene Tyrell

Ladies Football: “We’re obviously not looking forward to games ahead in the senior championship as just making up the numbers. We intend to compete and be serious competitors”

By Daire Walsh

While she briefly contemplated the idea of retirement, Leitrim’s Charlene Tyrell has admitted the prospect of playing in the TG4 All-Ireland senior football championship was one of many reasons why she decided to extend her inter-county career into 2025.

Having made her debut as far back as 2003, Tyrell was in the starting line-up when the O’Rourke County defeated Wexford to claim an All-Ireland intermediate title four years later. After returning to the fold in 2020 following a near decade-long absence, Tyrell went on to feature at full-back at the age of 38 last August when the Connacht side secured another second-tier crown with a thrilling final win over Tyrone at Croke Park.

Leitrim did enjoy a couple of senior campaigns in the wake of their intermediate success of 2007, but circumstances dictated that Tyrell didn’t play for them at the grade. With Jonny Garrity’s side set to compete in both the Connacht and All-Ireland senior championships later this year, Tyrell will finally get an opportunity to sample life at the highest level of ladies football.

“There was a period after all the celebrations and everything had settled down, and I sort of enjoyed not having anything to do. I had considered ‘God, will I go back?’, but once I got back to training, the desire is there and the love is there. Mainly to get out of Division Four, first and foremost, but really excited to play senior championship this year,” Tyrell explained.

“It will obviously be one competition at a time, but really excited to be playing against some of the best teams in the country and see how we fare. I haven’t played senior championship with Leitrim, so it will be really exciting.

“We’re obviously not looking forward to games ahead in the senior championship as just making up the numbers. We intend to compete and be serious competitors. Hopefully we can establish ourselves as a senior team and stay up in the senior ranks. By the time I retire, hopefully I’ll be leaving Leitrim in a better place. Leaving a nice little legacy behind.”

Aside from those All-Ireland intermediate championship triumphs 17 years apart, the other national title Tyrell has won in the colours of Leitrim is a Lidl National Football League Division 4 crown from 2010.

The Mohill defender and her inter-county colleagues have been pushing hard for a second success in the latter competition, but the past four years has seen them suffering a brace of reversals at both the semi-final and final stages of Division 4.

Despite losing their opening game of this year’s league to Fermanagh, Leitrim will just need to finish in the top-four at the end of the group phase in order to advance to the knockout rounds of NFL’s fourth-tier. Although last weekend saw their proposed clash with Wicklow being postponed, the O’Rourke women will be back in action this Sunday against Derry in Kiltubrid.

Both teams that qualify for the Division 4 decider will automatically gain league promotion for 2025 – which wasn’t the case when they lost NFL showpieces in 2021 and 2023 – but Tyrell is adamant Leitrim will be aiming to come away with the top prize if they get that far.

“Last year we lost out in the semi-final stages, which was completely heartbreaking, the nature of that loss. I think that will haunt me forever, but last year ourselves and Fermanagh flew through the group stages and topped the group.

“We were well ahead on points and I’m not sure if a little bit of complacency set in, so we’re definitely a lot more focused this year on what we want to achieve and it’s to win Division Four. It’s not to just be promoted, it’s to win it, but we’ll take that one game at a time. We’ll look forward now to next weekend and tick off that box.”

When Leitrim lost to Limerick in a Lidl NFL Division 4 semi-final on March 24 of last year, Tyrell found herself coming up against Roisin Ambrose. Fast forward a little over 10 months and she is now joining forces with the Treaty joint captain as an ambassador for DFI Beds – who were unveiled on Thursday as the official Sleep partner of the LGFA.

“When I was asked, I actually wasn’t entirely sure what I was saying yes to! It’s great to be involved and represent Leitrim. It’s great coverage for us as well. It’s lovely to be involved and to be asked.

“I’ve only ever sort of met Róisín on the pitch. I never met her off the field, so it’s lovely. That’s what football is all about too. It’s not just about playing on the field, but it’s about making friends outside the football side of things and outside the county. It’s lovely, she’s a great girl. We had good fun now doing some of the photographs that you’ll see appear!”

In addition to all the above and her day job as a sports therapist, Tyrell has also been kept busy in recent months with her role as a mental health facilitator for the Movember Ahead of the Game campaign that is jointly run by the GPA, the GAA and Movember.

Given she has spoken so openly about her own personal struggles in the past, Tyrell was delighted to get involved in this campaign and has found it extremely rewarding to date.

“I just go around to the clubs around Connacht, delivering mental health workshops to underage teams and parents and coaches as well. I only started that in September, so that’s lovely. I love doing that,” Tyrell added.

“It’s definitely something I wish I had when I was younger, because it wasn’t until I was in my early 20s and had my son [Noah] that I suffered myself with postnatal depression. Didn’t know even what it was at that age when it came on me. To give the kids the understanding of the signs and symptoms, and to reach out and to talk.

“I think it’s something that we get great feedback from the players and the coaches, that they’ve a better understanding that your mental health is your health. It’s not two separate things, your mental health and your physical health, it’s all one. It is vitally important.”

  • Leitrim’s Charlene Tyrell was speaking as DFI Beds were announced as ‘Official Sleep Partner of the LGFA.’
Posted in Ladies GAA | Comments Off on The Big Interview: Charlene Tyrrell (Leitrim/Mohill) – Media West Ireland – February 1 2025

Ireland Build-Up To England Home In Six Nations Championship: Simon Easterby – The Irish Sun – January 31 2025

Easterby rising for Ireland

By DAIRE WALSH

SIMON EASTERBY is ready to send Ireland into battle against England and admits it is a “privilege” to oversee the latest era of Irish rugby.

The former international flanker has stepped up to interim head coach, with Andy Farrell taking time out to focus on leading the Lions.

Easterby’s maiden selection sees out-half Sam Prendergast handed his Six Nations debut.

It is a baptism of fire for both with England coming to the Aviva Stadium in the opener.

Easterby does not know where tomorrow’s blood-and-thunder battle will rank in his career just yet.

However, he lists it as a special achievement.

The 49-year-old said: “I haven’t really thought about it in those terms.

“I know I’ve been around a while. I made my debut in the year the Six Nations formed but it’s special. I was fortunate as a player but I have been as a coach, being part of this group and the progression of Irish rugby.”

His first task is turning over the side that denied Ireland a Grand Slam last year, with the hosts aiming to win a third championship on the spin.

Easterby purred: “I feel very privileged to be doing this but it’s probably been a long time in the process of different experiences that I’ve had.”

The Yorkshire native in England who – along with his brother Guy – qualified to play for Ireland through their Dublin mother.

Easterby lined out in four successive Six Nations victories against the country of his birth from 2004 to 2007.

For the former blindside flanker, tomorrow’s back-row battle at Lansdowne Road is exciting.

The inclusion of Leinster trio of Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris ensures there will be cohesion at the base of Ireland’s pack.

Baird was called in as cover when Tadhg Beirne had to move to the second row after Joe McCarthy took a “nasty blow” to the head in training on Wednesday.

Steve Borthwick has named Curry twins Tom and Ben at blindside and openside respectively.

The English back row is completed by Saracens’ Ben Earl.

Easterby believes the selection of the Curry brothers offers a clue of how the opposition will approach the game.

He said: “I didn’t expect England would select them both and Ben Earl in the back row.

“They’ve done something similar before, with Tom Curry, Earl and Sam Underhill.

“Ben and Tom are both fabulous players who have been playing very well for Sale and they understand their strengths and how they play with each other.

“They have not done it in a starting Test before but they have been in a 23 together.

“It poses other threats in terms of what they bring to the game.

“But it also signals a little bit about how England want to play the game.”

Ben Curry added: “We know that Ireland are a good team, especially at home.

“But we both want to keep coming at them – and if we’re good enough on the day they might hopefully think there’s more than two of us!”

Posted in International Rugby | Comments Off on Ireland Build-Up To England Home In Six Nations Championship: Simon Easterby – The Irish Sun – January 31 2025