THE MANAGER OF the Roscommon minor footballers says he is “very proud” of his squad who have united to show solidarity with one of their team-mates who comes from Ukraine. Nikita Berzins is an emerging defender from the Kilmore/Shannon Gaels club who has family that are based in the centre of Ukraine. Following the Russian invasion of his home country, the Roscommon team and management joined together to send over vital supplies that will help Ukrainian people through this time of conflict. James Duignan, who was appointed as manager of the side last November after previously working as a selector on the team, tells The42 that his squad wanted to do something…

SOME OF THE country’s top ladies football stars are facing the prospect of playing three games in three days this weekend. The semi-finals and finals of colleges’ championship action take place on Friday and Saturday respectively, while the Division 1 and 3 relegation play-offs are slated in for Sunday. The O’Connor Cup is the the top-level colleges’ competition down for decision in DCU, while Westmeath, Waterford, Louth and Wicklow are the counties involved in relegation battles in Abbotstown on Sunday afternoon. Westmeath players, in particular, have been vocal about the heavy schedule with the 2021 All-Ireland intermediate champions affected as they look to avoid the drop to Division 2 against…

HURLING’S NEW SMART sliotar could come into senior inter-county action next year and GAA president Larry McCarthy hopes it will help maintain the “integrity of the game.” Croke Park have unveiled the new ball which will see sliotars standardised and ensure they are supplied by approved manufacturers. A chip is embedded in the core of the sliotar and match officials will determine its authenticity before games by holding the ball up to a smartphone app to ensure it is an official match ball.  The use of a chip for traceability in a ball is believed to be the first of its kind in world sport. The sliotar will be trialled in…

THE AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL League Women’s [AFLW] season is set to kick off in August this year, with several Irish players likely facing a big decision as a result.  A report in Australian outlet The Age confirmed that the AFL Commission informed the clubs in a meeting on Wednesday that it had been given approval for the change to the timing of the next AFLW season.  The season would run until the end of November or early December.  Advertisement The move would have to be approved by the clubs, including the four new teams who are set to join for next season. Essendon, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide and Sydney will all play…

WE’VE MOVED PAST the halfway point of the 2022 GAA football league as the action enters a decisive phase. Eight teams are still awaiting their first win, frustrated in their four games to date and hoping for better luck as Round 5 fixtures await this weekend. But who is feeling the greatest pressure as fears of relegation start to intensify? ****** Division 1 Monaghan The last day out against Kerry was Monaghan’s most dispiriting performance of the campaign, undone by the scoring magic of David Clifford and Sean O’Shea. Yet apart from that they have been highly competitive, and while that run has yielded no wins, they have a pair…

ST TIERNACH’S PARK, Clones, will host a double-header of Lidl Ladies National Football League semi-finals on Saturday week. Holders Dublin face Donegal in the opening clash on 19 March [throw-in 1pm], before 2021 All-Ireland champions Meath do battle with Mayo [3pm]. Both games will be shown live on TG4, while tickets are available now. Dublin and Mayo both hold 100% records in the campaign thus far; Mick Bohan’s Sky Blues having defeated Meath by the minimum in their final group game at the weekend to top the pool, as their quest for a third Division 1 crown roars on. The Royals, meanwhile, are eyeing a top-flight final after rising back through…

ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONS Kilcoo will be “forever grateful” to Mickey Moran following his decision to step down as manager after guiding the Down club to glory earlier this year. Click Here: News of his departure was first reported by the Irish News, as the Derry native brings the curtain down on another successful period of his managerial career. Assistant managers Conleith Gilligan and Richie Thornton will take over as joint managers of the club as the new season looms. Moran brought the Down outfit to their first senior All-Ireland title following a dramatic extra-time battle with Kilmacud Crokes in Croke Park last month. Kilcoo, who previously contested the 2020 showpiece, clinched victory…

KILKENNY MANAGER BRIAN Cody has paid tribute to former Ballyhale Shamrocks player Paul Shefflin who passed away on Friday. Click Here: The younger brother of Henry Shefflin died while out running and news of his passing sent shockwaves through the local community.   A minute silence was held for the 40-year-old father of four before yesterday’s Division 1B hurling tie between Kilkenny and Dublin in Parnell Park. The Cats prevailed by 2-23 to 0-16, and afterwards Cody said: “It’s so sad for everybody concerned. “He was a very good hurler, obviously a terrific club player and underage with Kilkenny as well and Fitzgibbon (Cup). It’s just an absolute tragedy.” Speaking…

Click:发稿渠道Results Croke Cup Semi-final St Joseph’s Tulla 1-11 St Kieran’s 3-16 Allianz Football League Division 3 Longford 0-14 Westmeath 0-10 Advertisement Fermanagh 3-15 Laois 3-9   *********************** IN TODAY’S REFIXED Allianz Football League games, there were wins in Division 3 for Longford and Fermanagh.  Billy O’Loughlin’s Longford eased their relegation fears with a 0-15 to 0-10 win over Westmeath, denting the promotion hopes of their neighbours in the process.  Driven on by Mickey Quinn, Longford shot six points in success during the second period  before Westmeath finished the game with 13 men. David Lynch was red carded seven times from time and Kieran Martin picked up a black card in injury-time.  Fermanagh won…

Wexford 1-22 Offaly 2-12 Ronan Fagan reports from Chadwicks Wexford Park WEXFORD PRODUCED A late flourish to add to Offaly’s relegation worries after Saturday’s Allianz National Hurling League Division 1 duel at blustery Chadwicks Wexford Park. A 48th minute penalty goal from Luke O’Connor gave Offaly a fighting chance of a first victory in Group A on their return to the top-flight as they battled into a 2-10 to 1-12 advantage. But Wexford overcame a troubled display with a strong closing surge, accounting for ten of the last twelve points to maintain their push for the league semi-finals with a 100% record under new boss Darragh Egan. Offaly must now…