THE DECISION ON whether to take the Dublin footballers out of Croke Park for a second successive year will be decided on 16 November with seating capacity in venues set to be a key factor in making the decision. Dublin have been drawn to play the winners of Wexford or Carlow at the Leinster quarter-final stage. The prospect of Wexford or Carlow enjoying home advantage, or a stadium like Nowlan Park being used, has not been ruled out. Last June, Dublin face Laois at the Kilkenny venue as they played a senior football championship match away from Croke Park fro the first time since 2006. The meeting of the CCC…

DUBLIN DEFENDER JAMES McCarthy insists revenge is not on his mind as his Ballymun Kickhams side take on St Vincent’s in a heavyweight last four clash in the Dublin SFC at Parnell Park later this evening [throw-in at 19:30]. Last year, the Marino men overpowered their northside rivals at the quarter-final stage before the 2014 winners succumbed to Ballyboden in the final. But McCarthy says his side are solely focused on reaching this year’s showpiece, with no lingering thoughts on the previous encounter. “It’s not revenge. Vincent’s have had the upper hand against us for the last few years,” McCarthy says. “We’ll be up against it, but we’re delighted to…

Home Bundee Aki and Ultan Dillane are staying at the Sportsground. Katie Taylor is reportedly set to turn professional and could make her debut as soon as next month. Pro12 champions Connacht have received a double boost with the news that Bundee Aki and Ultan Dillane have signed contract extensions with the province. Double All-Ireland winner Conor O’Brien has announced his retirement from inter-county hurling with Tipperary at the age of 31. Six titles have made the shortlist for the Bord Gáis Energy Sports Book of the Year with entries from Paul O’Connell, John Kavanagh and Jason McAteer included. Munster back Keith Earls is in danger of missing Ireland’s upcoming…

The Cork players before their qualifier against Dublin. Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO CORK HAVE CUT five players from their 2016 hurling championship squad and added several youngsters as they get set to commence their pre-season preparations for 2017. It’s been reported by the Evening Echo newspaper today that manager Kieran Kingston has omitted William Egan, William Leahy, Michael Russell, Niall Cashman and John Cronin from his initial squad. In addition Sarsfields player Daniel Kearney is currently taking some time out to rehab from an injury but is expected back for next spring’s league campaign. Advertisement Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO Egan and Cronin started at midfield and centre half-forward respectively in the championship…

TIPPERARY SENIOR HURLER Conor O’Brien has announced his retirement from the inter-county game. The 31 year-old’s decision was revealed this afternoon by the Tipperary county board after a senior hurling career that began in 2007. The Éire Óg-Annacarty club man won All-Ireland senior hurling medals in 2010 and 2016 while also winning five Munster senior medals. O’Brien won Munster medals at minor and U21 level Advertisement “Since I first joined the Tipperary senior hurling panel in 2007, I have always felt it a great privilege and honour to represent my county at senior level. “Having enjoyed it immensely, I have decided that now is the time to announce my retirement.…

FOR A SENSE of appreciation of preparing in a county hurling final, Ryan O’Dwyer only has to reflect on his ordeal twelve months ago. On Friday 30 October 2015, he was assaulted outside a Birmingham nightclub and knocked unconscious. The 30 year-old suffered a fractured skull, a broken jaw and bleeding in the brain. Next Saturday, 29 October 2016, the Dublin hurler will endeavour to help Kilmacud Crokes land the senior hurling title against Cuala in Parnell Park. It’s quite the contrast. “I’m very lucky with the people that were surrounding me,” admits O’Dwyer. “Chris Thompson, my family and my teammates, they are the three that got me back to…

Source: The42.ie/YouTube KIERAN DONAGHY WILL wait to see how is body holds up after a winter of basketball before making a decision on whether to extend his inter-county career into 2017. As is always the case at this time of year, the Kerry full-forward’s future has been the subject of much speculation, particularly after the recent retirement of team-mate Marc Ó Sé. Donaghy, 33, has been a mainstay of Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s forward line in recent seasons and featured 11 times for the Kingdom during their league and championship campaigns in 2016. Speaking to The42 in our Dublin office yesterday, the four-time All Ireland winner admitted that he doesn’t quite know if…

Home Ulster GAA’s proposed designs for Casement Park. Source: Presseye/Kelvin Boyes/INPHO Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has signed a new deal that will see him keep the reins until the end of the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Pádraig Harrington has surged up 62 spots in the world rankings, moving to 97th, on the back of his win at the Portugal Masters. Cork All-Ireland football winner Daniel Goulding has announced his retirement from the inter-county game at the age of 30. Ulster GAA has revealed new plans for the €86m redevelopment of Casement Park which would see the ground’s capacity increase to 34,500. Katie Taylor has dismissed reports that she has returned…

Daniel Goulding in action for Cork in Croke Park. Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO CORK 2010 ALL-Ireland winner Daniel Goulding has announced his retirement from inter-county football. Goulding has called time after 11 seasons with the Cork senior squad, making his debut in a league game against Offaly in 2006 while his last appearance came in the All-Ireland qualifier against Longford last July. The Éire Óg club man believes the time is right to depart. “It is the right decision for me at this point in time,” Goulding told The42. “The demands of the inter-county game are massive and I’m not getting as much enjoyment out of it now as I did…

FORMER WATERFORD INTER-COUNTY star Eoin Kelly was involved in an incident with current Déise full-back Barry Coughlan in yesterday’s Waterford SHC final. The Passage full-forward, 34, who retired from inter-county duty in 2012 to end a career that included two All-Stars and four Munster titles, scored two points (one free) in yesterday’s final as his side were comfortably dispatched by Ballygunner, 4-20 to 1-12. It was a third Waterford crown in a row for the men in red and black but the first-half clash between Kelly and Coughlan, particularly the Passage man’s input, has been the focus of the post-match reaction. Advertisement Both Kelly and Coughlan are shown yellow cards…