Search Results for 'Dermot Earley'

The only Roscommon man ever to play rugby for Ireland, Leo Galvin, is one of those featured in the new book, 100 Irish Rugby Greats. Born into a farming family in Taughmaconnell, Galvin’s career with Athlone and Connacht spanned three decades. A former captain and president of Athlone RFC and Connacht, he was one of the driving forces behind the club’s amalgamation with Ballinasloe to form Buccaneers.

Galway footballer Thomas Flynn’s outstanding u-21 campaign has earned him the 2011 Cadbury Hero of the Future award.

Seán Óg Ó hAilpín’s departure from the Cork hurling panel has dominated the sports news this week after Dennis Walsh indicated that he would not be included in Cork’s plans for next season. This was a huge decision to make and in one sense I can understand how difficult it must have been for Walsh to make it. There are two schools of thought at play here. Dennis Walsh could have taken the soft option and waited until his time in charge was over, thereby leaving the tough decision to omit the player to the next manager. Nobody would have complained if Seán Óg was kept on the squad to assist with the task of indoctrinating some new faces into a new Cork squad. I do feel he could have done a fine job in this regard.

Mick Byrne is as much an institution as a personality in Castlebar where his famous sporting pub has been a popular meeting point for almost 40 years. As the county town continues to rally through the recession, ‘The big fella’ reckons the pub business will survive and in the meantime, is focusing on things to be thankful for, including some great sporting facilities worth boasting about.

To win a provincial final is always sweet. To do so against all odds is all the sweeter. Fergal O’Donnell’s men tore up the script in Castlebar last Sunday to record a famous victory that will live long in the memory of all primrose and blue supporters.

I travelled to Pearse Park, Longford, last Saturday, not quite sure what to expect. It was awful stuff, arguably as bad as I have witnessed from any Mayo team at this level. It is difficult to apportion blame to any single individual. There is a collective responsibility on everyone involved to shoulder some blame for the embarrassing display. The team definitely looked demoralised, in some cases disinterested, with a few others clearly not physically fit enough to play and win at this level. However despite this I did send a text to a number of people at half time suggesting that Mayo would probably win the match, not because we were playing any better than our opposition, but because Longford were dreadful.

Tributes have been pouring in following the death on Wednesday this week of recently retired Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, and Roscommon native, Lieutenant General Dermot Earley.

A glorious opportunity to reach a Leinster final. That’s what both managers must be drumming into their players’ heads ahead of Sunday’s semi-final showdown between Westmeath and Louth in Croke Park. Not that the players themselves will need any reminding.

At this time of year it can be difficult to know what to buy for people at Christmas time. When you are 15, 20 years married, or more and your collective libido may not be what it used to be (this column is not autobiographical in anyway), there is always a temptation for a female to buy her partner a good book which might stop him bothering her, trying all night to do what he used to do all night.

At this time of year it can be very difficult to know what to get for people at Christmas. When you are 15 or 20 years married or more and the collective libido may not be what it used to be; there is always a temptation for a female to buy her partner a good book which might stop him bothering her, trying all night to do what he used to do all night.