Irish rugby captain, Connacht's Nichola Fryday, has announced her retirement from the international game.
The former Blackrock College and Connacht Rugby player from County Offaly made the announcement after 34 appearances for her country.
First capped against Canada in 2016, she was appointed captain ahead of the 2022 TikTok Women’s Six Nations.
Fryday says that playing for Connacht was her first aspiration, and the coaches over the years had pushed her to become a better player and showed her she could be a leader.
The 28-years-old says she will continue to play for her club Exeter and says that huge growth still has to be made in the sport.
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Galway’s Shane Curley will take charge of the eagerlyanticipated ladies' senior decider between Dublin and Kerry at 4pm.
Representing the Glinsk club in Galway, Curley will oversee his first TG4 All-Ireland senior final, having taken charge of the 2021 intermediate decider between Westmeath and Wexford.
Curley has already handled some big games in 2023, including the Lidl All-Ireland Post Primary Schools A Final between Sacred Heart Westport and Loreto St Michael’s, Navan; the Yoplait HEC Lynch and Donaghy Cup finals; and the TG4 Munster Senior final between Cork and Kerry.
In the TG4 All-Ireland series, Curley was the man in the middle for the senior group clash between Donegal and Waterford, the quarter-final meeting of Kerry and Meath, and the intermediate fixture between Clare and Tyrone.
Curley can now look forward to an historic fixture on his CV – as the meeting of Dublin and Kerry will be the 50th All-Ireland Senior Final.
Commenting on the news of his appointment, Curley says he was "absolutely humbled and delighted".
“It’s a dream come true for any referee and I’m honoured to be in a position to represent Galway and Connacht on TG4 All-Ireland Finals day. The fact that Dublin v Kerry is the 50th All-Ireland Senior final will make the occasion even more special and I’m looking forward to a cracking game between two brilliant teams.”
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Galway's Dunmore MacHales is one of the lucky 12 clubs that will feature at Croke Park at the TG4 All-Ireland Finals on Sunday, August 13.
The teams chosen will have the chance to participate in half-time exhibition games on the big day.
Dunmore MacHales will join Pearse Ógs (Armagh ), Kilmacabea (Cork ), Round Towers (Kildare ), Eoghan Rua (Sligo ) and Naomh Mícheál (Donegal ) as the six U12 teams which have been selected.
They will be joined at Croke Park by Ibane (Cork ), St Michaels Magheralin (Down ), St Anne’s (Dublin ), Monaleen (Limerick ), Abbeyside (Waterford ) and Castletown (Wexford ).
The six TG4 All-Ireland Finalists will be confirmed over the next two weekends, with the Intermediate and Junior semi-finals down for decision over the coming weekend, followed by the Senior semi-finals at Semple Stadium, Thurles, on Saturday July 29.
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University of Galway Mystics player Hazel Finn has played a key role in Ireland's advance to the quarter-finals of the FIBA U20 Women’s European Championship.
Finn exemplified the defensive determination of the team with 10 steals, while also contributing 18 points in a hard-fought 67-64 win over tournament hosts Romania.
Ireland built a 20-12 lead after the first quarter, but the next two were honours even, Karl Kilbride’s side maintaining their eight-point advantage going into the final quarter, 55-47. The home side rallied in the fourth quarter and took the lead 63-61 with 3’10 remaining, thanks to Anisia Croitoru’s three point jump shot. However, three free throws from Finn down the home stretch was enough to give Ireland the win. Ireland won their opening game against Greece 80-74 and their final Group B game is against Georgia.
