Soccer

Jurgen Klopp accepts lack of threat cost Liverpool dear in European exit

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp accepted their lack of goal threat failed to put enough pressure on Atalanta to help turn their Europa League quarter-final back in their favour. Mohamed Salah's seventh-minute penalty had raised hopes of a Barcelona 2019-style comeback but the Egypt international missed a relatively straightforward lob to make it 2-0 towards the end of the first half and they faded badly after the break as they exited the competition 3-1 on aggregate. That meant for only the third time in the 21st century, England have no teams in the semi-finals of the Champions League or Europa League/UEFA Cup.

Ronnie O’Sullivan heads to Crucible with chance to cement status as best ever

Ronnie O’Sullivan may claim not to care about records but the magnitude of his quest to eclipse Stephen Hendry and claim a record-breaking eighth world snooker title in the modern era cannot be understated. O’Sullivan heads to the Crucible as reluctantly as ever, yet he is arguably never in a stronger position to go one better than his great rival ...

West Ham exit Europa League as Bayer Leverkusen strike late to maintain sensational unbeaten record

West Ham bowed out of the Europa League but only after giving new German champions Bayer Leverkusen an almighty fright. Michail Antonio’s early goal had the Hammers, 2-0 down from the first leg, dreaming of inflicting a first defeat of the season on Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen and of maybe reaching a third European semi-final in three years. But they ...

As sideways steps go, Katie Taylor is taking a pretty good one

Female boxing greats Taylor and Serrano need qualify nothing about propping up a Mike Tyson-Jake Paul main event which is our problem, not theirs.

Seamus Power storms to a 65 at the Heritage while Rory McIlroy off to solid start

Ireland’s Séamus Power is just two shots off the lead after the first round of the star-studded RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links in South Carolina. The Waterford golfer got off to a storming start at the $20m event, with birdies on his first three holes and another on the par-five fifth on his way to a first round of six-under par 65 to sit ...

League of Ireland sides discuss breaking away from FAI in talks with European Clubs Association

The prospect of a League of Ireland breakaway from the FAI was one of the topics discussed at a meeting with representatives of the European Clubs Association (ECA) in Dublin today. While there are no working plans to go down that route, the concept has been raised in talks between club reps on a consistent basis and the chatter has increased in li...

‘Davy Fitzgerald will be rubbing his hands’ - Belief grows that chip on Waterford’s shoulder can yield victory over Rebels

Despite a league campaign where they managed just one win in five games, there is a growing optimism in Waterford that this weekend’s Munster Championship opener can bring out the best in the Déise. And former Waterford hurler John Mullane is confident that as Cork arrive in Walsh Park on Sunday to open their championship campaign, a mixture of out...

Leclerc: Sainz simply doing a better job in recent F1 races

Charles Leclerc reckons his performance shortfall to Ferrari Formula 1 team-mate Carlos Sainz in recent races is simply down to the Spaniard's greater execution of weekends.

Arsenal too predictable and cautious in painfully tame European exit

Arteta’s approach has taken Arsenal to their highest level in more than a decade – but based on tonight, it won’t bring them further without major change.

Audi a player, not a spectator, in F1 driver market - Sauber

Audi's financial backing of Sauber makes the German manufacturer a player and not a spectator in Formula 1's driver market, says the team.

James Ryan ‘touch and go’ in fitness battle for Leinster’s Champions Cup semi-final in Croke Park

Leinster co-captain James Ryan has admitted he remains “touch-and-go” in his bid to prove his fitness in time for his side’s Champions Cup semi-final clash with Northampton at Croke Park on May 4. Ryan is still recovering from the ruptured bicep that he suffered during Ireland’s Six Nations campaign, but the 27-year-old remains on track to feature ...

Barcelona fans go head to head with police ahead of quarter finals

Barcelona fans mistakenly threw objects at their own team bus ahead of their Champions League quarter-final against PSG. The police batted fans away, while supporters gathered outside the Olympic Stadium to give players a huge reception.

Davy Fitzgerald: If we lose, they’ll nail me no matter what the story is

Davy Fitzgerald hopes a winning start to the Munster Championship will draw supporters back behind his Waterford team. His Déise return stalled last year due to a string of defeats and attendances were further dented by their concession of home advantage due to the Walsh Park redevelopment works. There has yet to be a happy homecoming as crowds rem...

GAA team news: Galway handed championship boost as Shane Walsh and Damien Comer return for Sligo clash

Shane Walsh is back in the Galway team after he was named at centre forward in their side to face Sligo on Saturday with fellow attacker Damien Comer on the bench. The pair were among a host of Galway front-liners to miss chunks of the league but they have been drafted in for the trip to Markievicz Park this weekend. Sean Kelly captains the side fr...

UAE head coach unveiling featuring 'Newcastle legend' goes viral

The unveiling video for the head coach role at a brand new Dubai football club featuring a 'Newcastle legend' has gone viral. Soheil Var, who posts regular updates on TikTok as soheil.var, is starting up a brand new professional football club called Al Qabila in just 365 days. Before that, he documented his journey trying to make it as a profession...

‘I received an apology from the man. I felt sorry for him’ – how Lee Chin helped fan who racially abused him

Lee Chin shines like a beacon on the pitch every time he togs out for the Wexford hurlers, but he stands for so much more outside the white lines. It’s 12 months since racial abuse thrown at Chin by an opposition supporter forced the abandonment of a charity match against Tipperary in Carrick-on-Suir and it’s only now that he feels comfortable enou...

Williams may as well “go home” if spares situation changes its F1 approach, says Albon

Alex Albon says Williams may as well “go home” if it allows concerns over spare parts to start influencing how it goes racing in Formula 1.

‘People are looking at the Jordie Barrett signing totally wrong’ – Munster’s John Ryan on Leinster’s big move

John Ryan has experienced both sides of the same coin. This time last year, he was adjusting to life in New Zealand, all the while in the thick of the Super Rugby season, culminating in a memorable run to the final with the Chiefs. As an Ireland international with the club for a short stint on the back of Wasps folding, the Chiefs were keen to pick...

Liverpool limp out of Europa League as attack fails to fire again against Atalanta

Liverpool could not conjure up another remarkable comeback when they needed it most as their 1-0 victory over Atalanta in Bergamo failed to salvage their Europa League hopes. Mohamed Salah’s early penalty raised hopes all the pre-match reminiscence of the famous 4-0 against Barcelona in the 2019 Champions League semi-final would be replayed but the...

The tragic downfall of Emma Raducanu, winner of the 2021 US Open

Cian O’Sullivan: When everyone is firing Dublin can put it up to anyone

When Dublin won the 2016 Leinster MHC title, Cian O’Sullivan of St Brigid’s played at centre-back. Up through the years that was his orbit until a casual discussion with Ger Cunningham altered the course of his career early the following year. Drafted onto the senior squad straight out of minor, O’Sullivan recalls the Dublin senior manager taking h...

Other clubs must try to match Leinster and not limit them, says Exeter boss Rob Baxter

Chiefs coach admits Jordie Barret’s move ‘makes you a bit jealous that you’re not working in Leinster’s recruitment department.’

Roscommon book place in Connacht U20 final, as Sligo knock out Mayo

Derry and Monaghan progressed to the Ulster U20 football semis with victories over Cavan and Armagh respectively.

Kerry U20 footballer Luke Crowley to start for hurlers against Westmeath in Joe McDonagh Cup

Glenflesk man Luke Crowley, who started and starred for the Kerry Under 20 footballers in their victory over Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Wednesday evening, has been selected to start his second game of the week, this time for the senior hurlers in their Joe McDonagh Cup opening round tie. Crowley will be making his senior competitive debut for the ...

Munster's battle with the Bulls part of intense URC run-in

All four provinces have work to do with five regular season games left.

James McClean labels FAI’s search for new manager a ‘shambles’ and reveals his pick for Ireland job

James McClean has hit out at the FAI’s lengthy search for a new manager and labelled the process as a “shambles”. After Stephen Kenny’s reign ended last November, the FAI embarked on the search for his successor as outgoing CEO Jonathan Hill outlined that they aimed to appoint a new boss before the Nations League draw last February. That failed to ...

Leinster announce ticket prices from €10 for Croke Park showdown with Northampton

Leinster have confirmed the ticketing distribution plan ahead of their Champions Cup semi-final date with Northampton Saints at Croke Park on Saturday May 4. Tickets for the game will go on sale to season ticket holders on Thursday morning, April 18, at 10am. Tickets for the semi-final are on average €10 cheaper than prices last year, with the chea...

Full-forward, All-Star goalkeeper, and now manager: Raymond Galligan's rise to the Cavan hotseat

The 42 speaks to Cian Mackey about the development of Raymond Galligan in his first year as Cavan manager.

Munster Senior Hurling Championship: County by county guide to hurling’s premier competition

CLARE Munster Hurling Championship Titles: 6 2023 Munster: Finalists (Lost by a point to Limerick) 2023 Championship: All Ireland semi-final (Lost to Kilkenny) Manager: Brian Lohan Key Man: Tony Kelly Rising Star: Mark Rogers Opening fixture: Home to Limerick Prospects: Clare come into Munster this season in great shape after an impressive league t...

John Russell would be ‘stupid’ not to try and extend goalkeeper Ed McGinty’s loan at Sligo Rovers

Sligo Rovers boss John Russell says he would be ‘stupid’ not to try and keep goalkeeper Ed McGinty at the club for the whole season with the Oxford loanee’s loan deal just running until the end of June. McGinty returned to the Bit O’Red on a loan deal from Oxford at the start of the season having joined the League One side in the summer of 2022. Ha...

2024 F1 Chinese GP sprint qualifying results: Norris takes pole

McLaren’s Lando Norris took pole position for Saturday’s Formula 1 sprint at the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai in a wild and wet qualifying session.

Mitchell wants England to ‘continue to play on the edge’ despite red cards

England continue their march to a sixth successive title with the visit of Ireland to Twickenham on Saturday.

‘It was very sore for four or five seconds’ – James Ryan on the ‘freak’ injury that derailed his season

It’s the day before Ireland are due to fly to London for their Six Nations clash with England, and Andy Farrell is putting his squad through their paces in what is the final proper training session of the week. James Ryan is part of the defensive line in a non-contact drill that is defined as such because players are not supposed to get injured in ...

Dillon stars with 1-5 as Kerry U20s lay down a marker against Cork

Tomás Ó Sé’s Kingdom top the table, with Cork second, heading into the final round of fixtures.

Kerry boss Jack O’Connor hands out three championship starts for Munster clash with Cork

Kerry boss Jack O’Connor has handed out a trio of first championship starts for Saturday’s Munster Senior Football Championship semi-final with Cork in Fitzgerald Stadium. Perhaps most notably, former Kerry captain Joe O’Connor, looks to have overcome an injury set-back, believed to be a hamstring strain, which reportedly limited his capacity to tr...

Penalty joy as Aston Villa progress to semi-finals

The Premier League side beat Lille on spot kicks.

Eye-watering sum Scottie Scheffler’s caddie earns after US star’s Masters win

Clare continue impressive start to Munster MHC with deserved win over Limerick

Clare maintained their 100% start to the Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Championship with a second win, this time over a disappointing Limerick. Played in dry but windy conditions, this was a contest where each score was earned with a dominant final quarter seeing the winners over the line. Brian O’Connell’s men finished with each of the fi...

GPA want financial support as one element to protect ‘overwhelmed’ student players after latest report

PJ Fanning reckons he’s one of the lucky ones. He has an inter-county manager in Waterford, Davy Fitzgerald, who has a strong affinity, through LIT, with the Fitzgibbon Cup. His manager and coach at Mary Immaculate for this year’s Fitzgibbon Cup success were cousins Jamie Wall and Podge Collins, who put no pressure or expectation on him during the ...

‘He is as good as another son to me’ – Derry boss Mickey Harte on his long-standing lieutenant Gavin Devlin

Football championship season number 23 for Mickey Harte and everything seems different. The preparation levels, the body shapes or the schedule, not even the fundamental pillars of the game remain. These days, it is all ball retention and scoring zones, plus ones and even roaming goalkeepers. But ahead of Saturday’s showdown with Donegal, Harte rem...

200th cap for Delany as Ireland record comfortable win

The Irish side beat Thailand as preparations continued for their upcoming World Cup qualifying campaign.

Horner has learned “not to listen” to Wolff over F1 title claim

Red Bull boss Christian Horner says he has learned “not to listen too much” to Toto Wolff after his rival said this year’s Formula 1 title battle was already over.

F1 Chinese GP: Stroll leads FP1 as small fire causes early red flag

Aston Martin's Lance Stroll headlined the sole Formula 1 free practice session for the Chinese Grand Prix after a peculiar hour of running.

Rangers' title bid suffers another blow in drab goalless draw at Dundee

Rangers are three points behind Celtic at the top of the table and have hit the skids at the wrong time.

What could have been: When Villeneuve’s shock return thwarted an F1 rookie

The headlines prior to Formula 1’s maiden visit to Shanghai for the 2004 Chinese Grand Prix were dominated by the return of Jacques Villeneuve. But it also proved a sliding doors moment for Renault’s diligent test driver, who 20 years later bares no bitterness

Arteta on Bayern Munich knocking Arsenal out of the Champions League

Here's what Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta had to say about being knocked out of the Champions League at the hands of Thomas Tuchel's Bayern Munich.

Explained: Why FA Cup replays are being abolished next season

There will be no more FA Cup replays from the first round proper onwards, starting next season.

David Moyes praises West Ham's 'brilliant' effort despite European exit

Hammers boss David Moyes was not keen to be drawn on the officiating, but he did say: "I watch a lot of Spanish football but if that's the way it is you wouldn't want to watch too many Spanish matches." On his side's performance, he added: "It was a brilliant team performance, I have to say over the two games. In the first half Leverkusen looked as though they may have celebrated their first Bundesliga crown on Sunday a little too much, and Alonso admitted they needed to improve after the break.

Shelbourne fan who threw smoke bomb at assistant referee handed lifetime ban

Shelbourne have handed down a lifetime ban to the supporter who was identified for the smoke bomb-throwing incident which has led to Reds fans being barred from Friday’s league game away to Galway United. As reported by the Irish Independent earlier this week, the FAI’s disciplinary committee had initially decided on a stadium closure for Shels as ...

'The Italians looked at Joe and couldn't believe what he was doing'

Pat Jennings recalls his former Spurs teammate, Joe Kinnear, while Kenny Cunningham reflects on his impact as Wimbledon boss.