RAHEEM STERLING BELIEVES England must go into the Euro 2020 knockout phase with no fear after beating the Czech Republic. The Manchester City forward scored his second goal of the tournament to earn a 1-0 win at Wembley as England topped Group D. The Three Lions will face the runners-up from Group F in the last 16, likely to be France, Germany or Portugal, and Sterling remains positive. “At some point you are going to have to face the best teams, that’s the whole point of being in the tournament, which is to challenge yourself,” he told ITV. “Our objective from the beginning was to win the group. It’s tournament…

EOGHAN O’CONNELL HAS committed his immediate future to Rochdale as they bid to bounce straight back following their relegation to League Two. The Cork defender, who was club captain last season, signed a new one-year deal with Brian Barry-Murphy’s side on Tuesday. Rochdale missed out on League One survival by a point last season despite a late rally which saw them climb off the foot of the table and very nearly make a great escape with 14 points from their last seven games. “I’ve had two years here and I’m happy and settled, as is my family,” O’Connell, 25, told the club’s official website. “The relationship I have with the…

The US has made a distinction between Afghan refugees and the other vulnerable populations arriving at America’s doorstep. And it’s a false one. Afghans fleeing Taliban rule have so far occupied a unique space in the immigration policy debate. In a climate where immigration has become a political wedge, there has been overwhelming bipartisan support for resettling at least some of them in the US: Polling has shown that 76 percent of Republicans and 90 percent of Democrats back resettlement efforts for Afghans who aided US troops. When it comes to other asylum seekers, the numbers are starkly different. For example, 64 percent of registered voters believe Biden needs to…

DUBLIN CAMOGIE PLAYER Leah Butler has backed the Camogie Association’s decision to opt for a split season after their initial schedule drew strong criticism.  The threat of strike action prompted the organisation into a rethink and following a nationwide poll of clubs, a small majority backed a demarcation between the club and county seasons.  53% of clubs voted in favour of the split season, with 47% voting for the initial model which would have seen the National League and All-Ireland championship take place either side of club championships.  Dublin midfielder Butler admitted she was surprised the saga dragged on for so long. “The GAA announced quite a while ago now…

1. Imagine, just for a second, that a man did all of this. His mug would be splashed across Connolly Station Bridge so people marching on Croker could see him. His brand would amass seven-figure annual returns from a post-career media profile. He’d be a household name, loved or despised with everyone agreeing he’s an ‘athletic freak’. *************** Lindsay Peat. Source: Inpho. O’Connor, as a coach, is well placed to explain how it is even possible for an athlete to play four sports at the highest level. “Pound for pound she is the strongest female athlete I’ve come across. It is just sheer force of personality as well. If we…

THE TIPPERARY LADIES have suffered a huge blow ahead of the championship following the news that star player Aishling Moloney has suffered a cruciate injury. Moloney, who was named the 2019 LGFA Intermediate Player of the Year, confirmed the news of the dreaded knee injury on her Instagram account today. “Joining the ACL club for a while,” the two-time All-Ireland intermediate winner wrote. “Shall be back.” Moloney was forced off during her side’s Division 1B clash with Dublin in Thurles earlier this month with what looked like a leg injury. She is now set for a long spell on the sidelines after sustaining a medial knee ligament injury last year.  A…

Updated May 14th 2021, 10:14 PM THE GALWAY SIDE to face All-Ireland champions Limerick on Sunday has been named.  Tribe boss Shane O’Neill makes four changes to the side from last weekend’s big win over Westmeath, as Padraic Mannion, Joseph Cooney, Adrian Tuohey and David Burke come into the team. Out go Aidan Harte, Conor Cooney, Shane Cooney and Johnny Coen, with the latter two named on the bench. Joe Canning is also among the substitutes. The Limerick side sees Cian Lynch and Geared Hegarty come into the team to make their first starts of the year, while youngster Cathal O’Neill is also given the nod by John Kiely. Leaving Cert…

Colin O’Riordan (right) in action for the Sydney Swans. Source: AAP/PA Images THERE WAS A winning start for Dubliner James Madden to his AFL career on a busy day of action for Irish players in Aussie Rules action. Madden made his bow for Brisbane Lions in their Round 7 clash with Port Adelaide at the Gabba. And the Lions cruised to victory, 93-44, with Madden contributing 11 disposals from his interchange role. The Ballyboden St-Enda’s club man signed for Brisbane in August 2018 after impressing for the Dublin minor footballers and at the AFL European Combine in UCD in December 2017. The Lions are now in the top eight after this…

MEATH BOSS ANDY McEntee says full-back Conor McGill was spat on by a Kildare player in the incident that sparked a full-scale brawl at the end of their Division 2 semi-final defeat. The Royals were left counting the cost of defeat after an ankle injury to Brian Menton and shoulder problem for Donal Keogan forced both men off the field during the fast-paced and hard-hitting encounter. Things got worse in the closing stages when a melee kicked-off in front of the Meath bench that saw McGill and substitute Brian Conlon sent-off for striking offences. They’re likely to be suspended for the beginning of their Leinster campaign as a result. “Don’t…

Dublin 1-22 Roscommon 0-16 A NINE-POINT victory for Dublin in a league game that won’t live long in the memory banks. The six-in-a-row All-Ireland champions got the job done in Roscommon to open up their Division 1 South campaign with two points. In truth, the game took on a challenge match feel at times, particularly in the second period. Anthony Cunningham’s side got themselves within four points (1-12 to 0-11) in the 46th minute, but were outscored by 0-8 to 0-3 in the final quarter. Dublin kicked 1-22 and missed just four shots at the posts. They looked impressive at times and were coasting at other stages. It was the sort…