‘It was a bit surreal' – Saoirse Noonan on dream goal in history-making appearance for Ireland at Páirc Ui Chaoimh
Saoirse Noonan said it was a 'surreal' feeling after the Corkonian became the first person to play inter-county football and international soccer at Páirc Uí Chaoimh before scoring Ireland's only goal in her first competitive start.
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The 42
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Galway outmuscle St Pat's as Kenny's side continue to struggle for consistency
Galway United 3 St Patrick's Athletic 1 UP BY THE Terryland Waterworks, St Patrick's Athletic stuttering season plumbed new depths as they were overrun in the early running by a sharper, hungrier Galway United. The home team dominated physically, territorially and aerially and dictated the terms early. They also benefited from two early lapses in the first 11 minutes. In the third minute, Evan Watts launched an 80-yard kick-out. Ed McCarthy had time to control on the edge of the box, turn, shoot and score before Joe Redmond or Tom Grivosti could muster a response. Advertisement Galway United fans. Evan Logan / INPHO Evan Logan / INPHO / INPHO It was a deflating start. After being outthought, the visitors were then outfought. A second error compounded the problems. Joseph Anang was a long way out when he smashed a clearance off David Hurley. The Corkonian picked it up in his own half on the right and curled beautifully into an empty net. After weathering some more nervy moments, Pat's started to play some ball after a half an hour. Simon Power had one back after some beautiful interplay. The basics deserted them again shortly after, when Rob Slevin glanced in a header from a corner largely unopposed. It was a wild first, but a more sedate second. The reduction in tempo suited the visitors who showed the superiority of their passing after the turnaround. Power was direct on the left and caused plenty of problems. Jamie Lennon, who carried the fight in midfield, was close from outside the box. John Caulfield. Sean Hoare made a difference, being combative against Moses Dyer and then Malcolm Shaw. Melia was busy and could have had a penalty as the game entered the final quarter. Watts was brilliant in the final quarter, making two top saves from Brandon Kavanagh and Hoare. Either effort could have made things awkward. As it happened, United finished strongly, finishing a famous night for them in style. Galway United: Watts; Esua, Buckley, Slevin, Cunningham (Burns 81); Hurley (McCormack 90), Borden (Walsh 90), Byrne, Hickey, McCarthy (Brouder 90); Dyer (Shaw 70) St Patrick's Athletic: Anang; Sjoberg (Kavanagh 70), Redmond, Grivosti (Hoare 45), McLelland; Elbouzedi, Lennon, Baggley (Carty 82), Power; Melia, Keena (Forrester 70) Ref: R Harvey
The Irish Sun
09-06-2025
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RTE's Jacqui Hurley steps up prep to compete in World Championships as she battles ‘Cork's finest'
JACQUI Hurley was playing as well as analysing top-level sport over the course of the weekend. As usual she chaired The Sunday Game. That included a Advertisement 2 She also took part in a basketball training session in Killarney, County Kerry Credit: @jacquihurley 2 Jacqui wasn't the only Cork woman in attendance Credit: @jacquihurley But in addition to that she squeezed in a training session with her basketball team. The Dublin-based club headed down to Kerry where they were joined by another Corkonian who the 41-year-old was quick to hail. Jacqui said of Irish team captain Edel Thornton: "Great to catch up with Cork's finest!" Jacqui herself will also be Advertisement Read More On Irish Sport She announced the exciting news in May when she was named among the Irish Over-40s women's side. Reposting Basketball Ireland's Instagram story announcing the five squads that are bound for Switzerland, she added: "Long time since I played for Ireland, such a privilege to be able to do it again this summer. "Looking forward to making more memories with a phenomenal group of women." Earlier this year Hurley Advertisement Most Read In The Irish Sun That's especially impressive considering she also still plays ladies football She reflected: "I turned 41 very recently and I reckon the football will have to go. I'll move into a coaching role in that respect. RTE pundit Cummins doesn't mince words when asked if he feels penalty shoot-out was right way to settle Munster final "But the basketball is something I'd like to play into my 50s. "There are so many former Irish internationals that I've known down the years, and they are still playing. Advertisement "I'd love to play on an Irish Masters team and travel with them. Someday, hopefully." As if that wasn't enough of a packed playing CV with which to boast of, she also played camogie for Cork in her 20s. In that same interview she delved into how she has to be mindful of her natural biases when covering Gaelic Games. She laughed: "Ah no, when Cork was playing in the All-Ireland hurling final last year, I was sitting beside Anthony Daly and we almost had to be separated. Advertisement "We did have great craic, but I'm emotionally invested in the GAA, and it can be very hard to detach myself. "But you must keep bias separate. When the Cork camogie team won down the years – I would have played with a lot of them. "But you must keep your emotions in check on air, because you're a broadcaster and journalist first and foremost and have a job to do."
Irish Daily Mirror
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'He punched me' – Roy Keane admits manager he 'loved' took a swing for him
Brian Clough may have punched Roy Keane in the chest after the ex-Ireland captain made a mistake that resulted in an FA Cup clash being replayed, but Keane still "loved" the iconic manager. Keane, 53, is best known for his fiery performances at Manchester United, but many say Clough was the one who moulded him into the player he became. The legendary Nottingham Forest manager was known for his unpredictable behaviour and temper, particularly in the dressing room. Keane joined Forest in 1990 from Cobh Ramblers and went on to become one of the most sought-after young midfielders. Much of his development was down to many hard lessons he learned under Clough. One of those ended with the legendary manager punching him, after a mistake from Keane led to Forest drawing to Crystal Palace at the City Ground in an FA Cup third-round replay in 1991. Offering an insight into Clough's man-management during a recent appearance on the Stick to Football podcast, Keane said: "He (Clough) played mind games sometimes. "If you got beaten, you'd think he's going to go after you and then he'd go the other way and go, 'Have a few days off.' If you'd won a few, you'd be going, 'Listen, (I think we'll be getting) a couple of days off' and he'd be like, 'No, you're all in tomorrow.' He'd definitely be playing mind games.' Keane then turned to ex-Forest goalkeeper Mark Crossley, who was widely known as 'Big Norm' at the time, and said: "We (had) the incident with me, you and the Crystal Palace goal where he punched me after the game. He'd give me days off and he'd be brilliant.' Disaster struck for Keane when his short back-pass to Crossley led to the keeper scuffing the ball to Palace ace John Salako, who looked up and lobbed Crossley in the final moment of the game. The game finished 2-2 after extra-time and Clough was furious, as Forest had already drawn 0-0 with Palace in their first FA Cup meeting. As there were no penalty shootouts in the FA Cup at the time, a second replay had to be scheduled, leaving Clough furious. While Crossley admitted he should have done better with his clearance, Clough did not see it that way. The Corkonian midfielder said: "I'm looking and it was honestly like slow motion. You know about not upsetting the manager because we all loved Brian Clough. He gave us a chance like Norm did for me. "I remember John Salako got it and I'm looking at Norm running back. John Salako, what would he have been? Forty-five yards out? (I thought) 'Norm get back. He's f***ing not getting there'. I swear, as soon as I heard it hit the net... "He (Clough) blamed me for the back pass and it was the cup game. So then we went to a replay and he wanted the game done and dusted there. I think it ended up going to, three replays or something. "So he had the thought of having a free weekend and was going, 'Now I've got to go to London, all the way to London to play Palace in the cup game that we hadn't won.' So he blamed me after the match.' Turning to Crossley, Keane said: "I don't think you said much after the game. You just let me take the wrap for it. He (Clough) just punched me in the chest.' Keane made 148 appearances for Forest between 1990 and 1993. He would eventually leave the City Ground to move to United, in a deal worth €4.45million, which was a British record at the time.
