Couldn’t let us all have this one, could you. There were wet eyes all across this drifting lump of rock when Tiger Woods beat a stellar chasing pack to win his first Major in 11 years at a ram-rodded Augusta National. Tiger Woods, who had not won a Masters title since 2005, kept his nerve […]

7 years ago

“Hey mate. How’s things? Can I have your tickets for the weekend?!” No matter the sport, the moment a big game or occasion is on the horizon, the phone starts pinging. Roy Keane, in his first book, recalled how he was often running around Manchester sorting friends, family and strangers with tickets for matches on […]

7 years ago

‘Jesus, this looks incredible. I think I need to chance my arm at going over’. 11 appearances in for Ulster and Will Addison has found a home, and appreciative fanbase. In truth, he had it after his first outing for the province. Will Addison made his Ireland debut, two months after his first game for […]

7 years ago

WALES 25-7 IRELAND Wales are the 2019 Guinness Six Nations champions, and with a Grand Slam to boot. Joe Schmidt’s final Six Nations game as Ireland head coach happened to coincide with the worst performance during his six-year tenure. Wales scored early and never let up all afternoon in a raucous Principality Stadium, in Cardiff. […]

7 years ago

IRELAND 26-14 FRANCE Ireland beat the holy hell out of an ordinary France side to ensure they go to Cardiff next weekend still in with a title chance. Their comprehensive victory over Les Bleus, at the Aviva Stadium, laves them third in the standings but a win over Grand Slam-chasing Wales should put second-placed England […]

7 years ago

This game could still prove to be a title decider, and we’ve got a great line-up to set the scene. Following on from their rollicking live show at the Guinness Open Gate Brewery, back in November, Baz & Andrew’s House of Rugby is on the road again. The last live event helped tee up Ireland’s […]

7 years ago

Ireland could definitely do with the big man from George returning in super-quick time. By 5pm on Sunday, Ireland should know more about their chances in the 2019 Guinness Six Nations. Joe Schmidt’s men take on the French at Lansdowne Road on Sunday (from 3pm) but Wales and England may well have put them under […]

7 years ago

“I’d just love to see him getting a go.” Rob Kearney must have been one of the most content Irish players in Edinburgh after his winning return to the Irish team. 88 metres gained off 13 carries with three clean breaks and five defenders beaten. He almost put Chris Farrell away for a try but most […]

7 years ago

Keith Earls may yet be able to play through the pain barrier but there are genuine concerns over two Irish forwards. All of a sudden, Ireland have gone from having heavily stacked second and back-row units to looking to a man who was not in the original squad and another who has played only 70 […]

7 years ago

“He deserves it.” Later this week, Ireland are set to name their Guinness Six Nations squad for rounds one and two of the 2019 championship. Joe Schmidt has nine games left before the World Cup and the next five are the last competitive fixtures until they get to it in Japan. The coach will name an […]

7 years ago

“I think he’s having the season of his life, at this point.” Munster went to Connacht at the weekend without Conor Murray, CJ Stander, Chris Cloete, Dave Kilcoyne or Rory Scannell in their starting XV. They had Peter O’Mahony leading them out, however, and that was a great way to start. He was on the […]

7 years ago

Tadhg Furlong goes from strength to strength, to strength. He may have ended 2018 in a frustrating manner – yellow carded in Leinster’s loss to Munster – but, on the whole, it has been a year to remember for Tadhg Furlong. The Leinster and Ireland prop has won a Six Nations Grand Slam, Guinness PRO14 […]

7 years ago

Austin Healey joked that the reason there was so many Irish was that so many rugby fans from our humble isle had hogged the phone lines. Of all the team of the year selections, you would struggle to find ones without Cian Healy, Tadhg Furlong and Peter O’Mahony. Ireland won 11 from 12 Tests including a […]

7 years ago

“We got him a pair of chap-less leather pants, for some reason.” John Hayes must have looked some sight – a cross between his usual, fearsome self and an extra from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Rugby teams often go all out for two big occasions during the year – a pre-season bash and a […]

7 years ago

Hammer the hammer. How many times does one man have to be written off? Devin Toner is a player Ireland and Joe Schmidt just can’t quit. For every time Ireland have tried to move on without him – for every time he has been undervalued and written off – he has returned to prove his […]

7 years ago

“Brian, this is Baz & Andrew’s House of Rugby. Tell us the truth!” Andrew Trimble was not letting the two rugby legends off lightly. The former Ulster and Ireland winger sat down with Brian O’Driscoll and Tana Umaga for his first ever solo interview, as part of his co-host role with Baz & Andrew’s House of […]

7 years ago

The two best sides in world rugby are going head-to-head. It is only fitting, then, that the best rugby show in Ireland is having a big night of refreshing insights, bold predictions and great stories. Ireland face the world champion All Blacks at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, November 17 (5:30pm kick-off) and we’ve lined up […]

7 years ago

It was not an easy answer for Conor Murray to give but he did not shirk the task. When he was up in Dublin – as part of Pinergy’s #WeAre16 campaign – Murray spoke extremely well about why he had spurned offers to play Top 14 rugby in France and committed to Munster for three more […]

7 years ago

– Baz & Andrew’s House of Rugby, Together with GUINNESS – This was the news Irish fans always dreaded but it is better that it has happened now, rather than at the 2019 World Cup. Munster head coach Johann van Graan told reporters, at Munster’s Monday press briefing, that Conor Murray is unlikely to feature […]

7 years ago

– Baz & Andrew’s House of Rugby, Together with GUINNESS – The two lads packed an awful lot in for the first show of the new season. Baz & Andrew’s House of Rugby is up and running, with Barry Murphy (former Munster & Ireland) and Andrew Trimble (former Ulster & Ireland) taking the helm. Episode […]

7 years ago

Tyrone’s Michael McKernan had a fine year, but this is as close to a two-horse race that you can get. Back in 2017, Brian Howard was tipped for great deeds by none other than Diarmuid Connolly. Around the same time, the entire county of Kerry pushed their chips in behind David Clifford. 18 going on 19, […]

8 years ago

Some going. One of the takeaways from this year’s championship has been the size, strength and speed of this Dublin team. It is nothing new to look upon this champion team with a sense of awe. They rarely falter, tire, panic or lose. But seeing them next to their markers from Galway and Tyrone – […]

8 years ago

‘Yer man’s lost it! He’s finally gone!’ Kieran Donaghy has seen some big changes during his time on the inter-county scene. He enjoys the challenge of keeping up with the young guns but still gets a kick out of the diets some of his old teammates fell back on. The 35-year-old finished his 14th season […]

8 years ago

It’s finally, very nearly here! The 2018 All-Ireland Hurling Final is upon us and it’s earlier than usual. For those of you who can’t even wait for throw-in, Wooly and The GAA Hour crew are here to sort you out. We have a host of big names with big game experience. Anthony Cunningham won two […]

8 years ago

This definitely came out wrong. Paul O’Shea will definitely get some slagging for this one. Kerry’s Minor stars were pushed to the very brink by Monaghan in the All-Ireland semi-final but two points in injury time gave them a 1-16 to 2-11 victory. Dylan Geaney, David Mangan and O’Shea were all class for the Kingdom […]

8 years ago

We want you! It’s summer, it’s championship, and the nation’s biggest GAA show is on the road again. The GAA Hour is coming to Rebel territory this Thursday, June 28 to look ahead to the Munster Hurling Final between Cork and Clare. Both teams successfully made their way through the Munster Championship league stage and […]

8 years ago

What a great end to a thrilling Test Series. Irish rugby’s greatest ever season finished in winning style, at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium, as Joe Schmidt’s men defeated Australia 20-16 to claim the three-Test series. The Hard Yards looks back on a fantastic end-of-season tour as host Andy McGeady is joined by James Downey, Ulster & Ireland […]

8 years ago

We know the Irish scrum-half is well built, but how the hell did David Pocock fit into Conor Murray’s jersey?! Ireland and Australia played out a gripping contest at Allianz Stadium, on Saturday, with the tourists beating the hosts 26-21 to claim the series win. Two of the star performers in that series were Ireland […]

8 years ago

A healthy mix of Irish and Australian rugby stars to lend their thoughts on a cracking Test Series. Ireland kept their chances of a brilliant series win alive with a well-deserved victory over Australia, in Melbourne. Joining The Hard Yards to look back on that game, and preview the Third Test, are Kevin McLaughlin, James Downey […]

8 years ago

‘They’d better have a red button for Dan Leavy versus David Pocock!’ That was the take of The Hard Yards team as they anticipated Ireland pitching Leinster flanker Dan Leavy into a fearsome breakdown battle with Australian poacher-supreme David Pocock. The Wallabies flanker made light work of Ireland at the breakdown in the First Test and […]

8 years ago

That was a nice, 12-game winning streak while it lasted. Ireland’s 16-month unbeaten run came crashing to an unceremonious end, in Brisbane, as the Wallabies defeated Joe Schmidt’s side 18-9. Both sides now head to Melbourne for the Second Test and Ireland get an immediate shot at redemption. Andy McGeady was joined on The Hard […]

8 years ago

“We will be back next year in the final.” It was a rollercoaster of emotions for Liverpool fans across the world, on Saturday, and the Irish contingent of Reds supporters were left drained after a white-knuckle Champions League final in Kiev. SportsJOE and JOE were right there with many of the Liverpool faithful for the […]

8 years ago

Conor McGregor has been such a force of good in the life of Craig Rankin. Rankin believes MMA has given him renewed purpose and drive in recent years. The 24-year-old was born with Spina Bifida, a condition, which he explained in his blog Being Disabled in Mixed Martial Arts, has caused his right leg to be paralysed “from […]

8 years ago

Tough love in the English dressing room. On 18 March 2017, England came to Dublin with a Grand Slam in their sights. They were blown off the park but had a championship title to console themselves with. 364 days later, on St Patrick’s Day in London, Ireland arrived and were looking for a Grand Slam […]

8 years ago

“You’re some dozy prick, driving in here at this hour.” This man I’ve never laid eyes on before cuts me down before going in for a shovel at 3am to help dig me out. Literally. This is the Tallaght I know… *** Friday night in Christchurch and we’re judging the strength of the winds by […]

8 years ago

“Let’s be honest, Kerry are in transition.” Kerry have one of those good problems, at present, and one that would be the envy of just about every other county in the land. Eamon Fitzmaurice and his team were looking good in last year’s All-Ireland football championship until, to the surprise of many, Mayo found another […]

8 years ago

We’ve all heard this one before. Most GAA clubs, and county teams, will have a decent player that impresses most in attendance but who always draws the same comment: “He’s good, but you should’ve seen the brother.” For as long as we have held the game close there has always been the urban myth of […]

8 years ago

Can’t blame the lad

8 years ago

One down, several to go

8 years ago

Back to Sin City

8 years ago

No holding back here… We’ve another packed show on The Hard Yards rugby podcast this week as Munster forwards coach Jerry Flannery and former Leinster and Ireland flanker Kevin McLaughlin join host Andy McGeady. The lads preview the upcoming Champions Cup action and give fascinating insights to the mentality around, and preparations for, back-to-back European […]

8 years ago

“I stood up and all I could see was black”

8 years ago

Very frank from O’Halloran

8 years ago

Not good news.

9 years ago

Proper order

9 years ago

At 27, this could be the end of the road

9 years ago

Garry Ringrose looks set to miss out

9 years ago

Fair play to Best here

9 years ago

Could this man be any more of a legend?

9 years ago

Couldn’t happen to a more talented sportswoman.

9 years ago