Sports Briefing

The Sports Briefing newsletter. Latest news from the world of sport, along with the best in opinion from our outstanding team of sports writers

Mary Hannigan: When it rains at the FAI, it buckets down. Process begins to find new Ireland manager

Vote to remove five counties from National Hurling League may not go ahead next month; Katie Taylor seeks redemption against Chantelle Cameron at career crossroads

By Mary HanniganThu Nov 23 2023 - 11:44

Mary Hannigan: Stephen Kenny’s likely final game was hardly a stirring farewell

Republic of Ireland manager turned ‘an old bad team’ into ‘a young bad team’, writes Ken Early; Return to action of South Africa’s Aphiwe Dyantyi catches Gordon D’Arcy’s eye

By Mary HanniganWed Nov 22 2023 - 10:31

Mary Hannigan: McClean shares frustrations ahead of what is likely to be his and Kenny’s swansong

Rugby grappling with ‘ticking time bomb’ of brain injury case while Ballygunner chase third Munster title in a row

By Mary HanniganTue Nov 21 2023 - 13:26

Mary Hannigan: Stephen Kenny’s charges ‘outwitted again and again’

Ballygunner and Clonlara survive spirited comebacks in Munster hurling semi-finals

By Mary HanniganMon Nov 20 2023 - 10:45

Mary Hannigan: Hugh Russell’s legacy will forever be part of Belfast’s story

FAI’s lost opportunity; Mikey Johnston keen for more action; 1972 FAI Cup winner Kay Brennan

By Mary HanniganFri Nov 17 2023 - 11:44

Mary Hannigan: Limerick’s hurling dominance continues as seven players earn All Stars

Brian Fenton and Dublin hitting the gym on holiday; what the GAA can learn from FAI Cup final; Shelbourne’s Noelle Murray on her 10th FAI Cup final

By Mary HanniganThu Nov 16 2023 - 12:49

Mary Hannigan: Stephen Kenny must be feeling if it wasn’t for bad luck, he’d have no luck at all

Gordon D’Arcy on how Welsh rugby’s situation ‘can still go from bad to worse’; Seán Moran on the anxiety of All Star selection

By Mary HanniganWed Nov 15 2023 - 10:19

Mary Hannigan: Rugby teams like lions at home, away they are like mice

Connacht without key duo; Rory Beggan showing no signs of weariness; the GAA branding transformation

By Mary HanniganTue Nov 14 2023 - 10:11

Mary Hannigan: St Patrick’s Athletic’s impressive FAI Cup win shows the kids are alright

Ken Early reflects on lessons from historic League of Ireland final, while our writers round up best of weekend’s GAA action

By Mary HanniganMon Nov 13 2023 - 10:57

Mary Hannigan: When an Elephant’s rear end knocked down the wall of Kilmallock GAA club

Matt Williams on the challenges facing David Humphreys; Stephen Kenny not in “purgatory”; Ulster vs Munster preview

By Mary HanniganFri Nov 10 2023 - 09:48

Mary Hannigan: Rock Brynner’s obituaries focused on his Hollywood father, but his path was uniquely his own

Gavin Cummiskey brings news that Shelbourne’s Irish shareholders are to buy back the 60 per cent stake bought by Turkish billionaire Acun Ilicali

By Mary HanniganThu Nov 09 2023 - 11:24

Mary Hannigan: Will the Dublin Marathon be shunted out of the city or showcase its landmarks?

Gordon D’Arcy is impressed by players in the Irish provinces and Seán Moran on club championships being dominated by the same old names

By Mary HanniganWed Nov 08 2023 - 10:18

Mary Hannigan: Willie Mullins’s wait for Melbourne Cup glory goes on

Gerry Thornley on what the future holds post World Cup; Owen Doyle on how scrum laws must change; Busy bees Seán O’Brien and Lucy Mulhall

By Mary HanniganTue Nov 07 2023 - 09:57

Mary Hannigan: Willie Mullins has transformed National Hunt racing but still longs for Melbourne Cup

Ken Early on Spurs’ giddy euphoria; Paddy Morgan’s battle with Retinitis Pigmentosa; The weekend’s GAA and rugby reports

By Mary HanniganMon Nov 06 2023 - 10:18

Mary Hannigan: From his early days at Bohs, Evan Ferguson was always ahead of the game

The beginnings of the Brighton phenom; the road to recovery for cyclist Imogen Cotter after being hit by a car; and the GAA go carbon neutral

By Mary HanniganFri Nov 03 2023 - 10:04

Mary Hannigan: Bud Light seeks to win back conservative customers with ill-fated UFC partnership

United and ten Hag under yet more pressure; Eric Cantona serenading Liberty Hall; Max Deegan’s Ireland ambitions

By Mary HanniganThu Nov 02 2023 - 10:07

Springboks had many qualities in securing World Cup but Lady Luck also bestowed her favours

Gordon D’Arcy on the role of luck in winning a Rugby World Cup, and Gavin Cummiskey on the role of rain in the Republic of Ireland securing promotion

By John O'SullivanWed Nov 01 2023 - 10:24

Mary Hannigan: Was a marathon World Cup the best yet?

South Africa prove their resilience; Team of the tournament; Ireland vs Albania preview

By Mary HanniganTue Oct 31 2023 - 10:00

Mary Hannigan: ‘Whirlwind’ experience for Jean Kleyn ends with power bringing home the glory

Gerry Thornley on why the Springboks are top dogs; Ken Early on Manchester City’s easy street; Ian O’Riordan on the mental pain of the Dublin marathon

By Mary HanniganMon Oct 30 2023 - 10:11

Mary Hannigan: Is the easiest Ireland manager solution the most obvious one?

Get set for a McCabe banger; Springboks roll the dice; Sonia O’Sullivan reflects on first marathon

By Mary HanniganFri Oct 27 2023 - 09:50

With Ireland and France missing, there’s little sense this is a World Cup final week

Irish flavour to South Africa’s media work with presence at top table of Felix Jones; Walsh, Onana and Maguire all see light at end of the tunnel; and the life and times of Baldy Paulie

By Mary HanniganThu Oct 26 2023 - 10:25

Mary Hannigan: Lack of depth cost Ireland dearly at Rugby World Cup

Gordon D’Arcy on how a lack of rotation backfired in France; Tyler Toland keen to rebuild international career; Seán Moran on the continuing scourge of referee attacks

By Mary HanniganWed Oct 25 2023 - 11:29

Mary Hannigan: South Africa get the rub of the green - or the rub of a knee at least

Ben O’Keeffe’s big call in the Rugby World Cup semi-final is a major point of debate; Jamie Finn on her World Cup heartache; John Doyle on his parish joy

By Mary HanniganTue Oct 24 2023 - 10:27

Mary Hannigan: Rugby World Cup semi-finals prompt thoughts of what might have been

The history of the international rules; unfancied England hope for shock; Dettori’s bullshit farewell tour

By Mary HanniganFri Oct 20 2023 - 10:09

Mary Hannigan: It feels wrong that the Rugby World Cup is carrying on without us

Leinster flavour to Argentinian coaching staff; Ciarán Murphy sticks the boot in on Kilcoo

By Mary HanniganThu Oct 19 2023 - 09:52

Mary Hannigan: Busy month of recruiting ahead for the FAI

Gordon D’Arcy on Irish pride in Rugby World Cup defeat; should Ireland take comfort if New Zealand go on to win it all?

By Mary HanniganWed Oct 18 2023 - 10:18

Mary Hannigan: Ireland need a miracle, but find some dignity against Gibraltar

Stephen Kenny’s swansong hits a high note and Gerry Thornley addresses that ‘hoary old chestnut’ about quarter-final glass ceilings

By Mary HanniganTue Oct 17 2023 - 10:14

Mary Hannigan: Guts wrenched and hearts broken ... this is why we love sport?

Ireland’s Rugby World Cup defeat in Paris; our withering Euro 2024 campaign; and the right time to retire from GAA - cheery stuff in today’s Irish Times

By Mary HanniganMon Oct 16 2023 - 10:29

Mary Hannigan: One more sleep, and the All Blacks aren’t helping with our nerves

The New Zealand view is that they ‘explode into life’ at the quarter-finals, and that it’s all about ‘who’s best on the day’... a sleepless night awaits

By Mary HanniganFri Oct 13 2023 - 10:56

Mary Hannigan: ‘Joe Schmidt doesn’t get to make any tackles or run any lines’

There are plenty of subplots to the Rugby World Cup quarter-final between Ireland and New Zealand, whether it’s ex-coaches, mindsets or zombies

By Mary HanniganThu Oct 12 2023 - 10:29

Mary Hannigan: Ireland team v All Blacks to be named at lunchtime today

Rugby World Cup quarter-final build-up, team news ahead of Euro qualifiers, and Euro 2028 is coming to Dublin and Belfast

By Mary HanniganWed Oct 11 2023 - 10:04

Mary Hannigan: Paulie, Catty, Si and Fogs getting Ireland ready for the All Blacks

Build up to the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals, Ireland to be confirmed as one of the co-hosts for Euro 2028, John O’Shea to remain as Ireland assistant coach

By Mary HanniganTue Oct 10 2023 - 10:49

Mary Hannigan: Serene Irish progress at Rugby World Cup leaves us a bit giddy

Ken Early on how mistakes deliver spectacle and Ian O’Riordan lauds Rhys McClenaghan’s faultless World Championship triumph

By Mary HanniganMon Oct 09 2023 - 10:27

Mary Hannigan: The talking is nearly done ahead of Saturday night’s Celtic shoot-out in Paris

The latest from the Rugby World Cup, Stephen Kenny names his Ireland squad and an update on Casement Park

By Mary HanniganFri Oct 06 2023 - 09:50

Mary Hannigan: Will Euro 2028 be nothing but woolly promises and prime corporate guff?

Minister weighs in on Euros funding, demon bugs in France and Ireland sweat on James Ryan’s fitness

By Mary HanniganThu Oct 05 2023 - 10:29

Mary Hannigan: Ireland now experts at dealing with expectation

VAR audio released, reaction to GAA special congress and Manchester United lose again

By Mary HanniganWed Oct 04 2023 - 09:49

Mary Hannigan: Everybody’s talking about us - but are Scotland going to ruin the party?

Gerry Thornley contemplates disaster; Johnny Watterson talks to Finn Russell; and Owen Doyle is shocked by Sexton’s about-turn in today’s Irish Times

By Mary HanniganTue Oct 03 2023 - 10:11

Mary Hannigan: Hugging, kissing, yupping and hollering as Europe win the Ryder Cup

Ken Early fed up of VAR, Ireland hungry for success in France, lessons in marathon running

By Mary HanniganMon Oct 02 2023 - 10:03

Mary Hannigan: Europe off to a strong start at Ryder Cup in Rome

The latest from the Rugby World Cup, the All Star football nominations and Sonia O’Sullivan’s column

By Mary HanniganFri Sept 29 2023 - 10:10

Malachy Clerkin: Rory McIlroy shows the LIV golfers what they’re missing out on at the Ryder Cup

From broken down TGVs to the disconnect in Irish women’s football to Shane Lowry’s GAA background ...

By Malachy ClerkinThu Sept 28 2023 - 10:31

Malachy Clerkin: New era for Ireland as they hammer hapless Hungary

Football from Budapest, golf from Rome, rugby from France and Katie Taylor in Dublin - all in your morning Irish Times sports coverage

By Malachy ClerkinWed Sept 27 2023 - 10:57

Malachy Clerkin: It’s Ryder Cup week and Rory McIlroy is laughing at himself

The fall-out from the weekend in Paris, anticipation of what’s to come in Rome and Mary Hannigan in Budapest, all in your Irish Times Sport this morning

By Malachy ClerkinTue Sept 26 2023 - 10:47

Malachy Clerkin: Ireland’s World Cup bandwagon just keeps growing and growing

The win over South Africa, Europe’s Solheim Cup triumph, a landmark day at Lansdowne and the north London Derby are all on the plate in today’s Irish Times Sport

By Malachy ClerkinMon Sept 25 2023 - 11:57

Mary Hannigan: Ireland exuding ‘Zen-like calm’ ahead of South Africa clash

Nice wants to forget its past; Karen Duggan on turmoil for women’s team; Leona Maguire in action

By Mary HanniganFri Sept 22 2023 - 09:36

Mary Hannigan: Even James Ryan can be struck by the heebie-jeebies

Manie Libbock ready for big game; Leona Maguire preparing for Solheim Cup; unsavoury side of GAA

By Mary HanniganThu Sept 21 2023 - 09:48

Mary Hannigan: Ireland must ‘improve in every aspect’ to beat huge Springboks

Louth shocked by Mickey Harte leaving; a trip down memory lane in Paris; new era for women’s football

By Mary HanniganWed Sept 20 2023 - 09:30

Mary Hannigan: Vera Pauw in the firing line as Ireland players have their say

Diane Caldwell wasn’t holding back when asked about the Dutch coach; Ireland prepare to face the Springboks and the best defensive lineout around

By Mary HanniganTue Sept 19 2023 - 09:50

Mary Hannigan: Build-up to Ireland’s ‘defining’ Rugby World Cup clash starts here

The world number one side are in apparent rude health ahead of the game with South Africa, but is the tournament itself a bit ‘Downton Abbey’?

By Mary HanniganMon Sept 18 2023 - 09:30

Mary Hannigan: Sexton to start against Tonga and Hansen to keep his shorts on

Latest from the Rugby World Cup, reaction to FAI’s media briefing, horse trainer Luke Comer banned for doping offences

By Mary HanniganFri Sept 15 2023 - 09:59

Mary Hannigan: FAI executives face busy media briefing over Pauw’s exit and Kenny’s future

Also, all the latest Irish rugby news including Sexton’s expected start against Tonga, and, in Gaelic games, a look at the dominant clubs around the country

By Mary HanniganThu Sept 14 2023 - 10:29

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