Dave Hooper

1 week ago | shannonside.ie | Dave Hooper

Johnny Sexton will move into a full-time coaching role with the IRFU after this summer’s Lions tour. Andy Farrell has added Sexton to his coaching ticket for the Lions tour of Australia. Whereas, Sexton will join Farrell’s Irish backroom team for the 2025/26 season. Sexton has been working with the Ireland Men's squad in a part-time coaching capacity since the 2024 Autumn Nations Series. Sexton will step into an Assistant Coach role with this team.

1 week ago | shannonside.ie | Dave Hooper

Roscommon setup a Connacht U20 semi-final with Sligo after cruising past Leitirm in the final group game. Roscommon scored a 6-17 to 1-8 victory, to finish second in the group table and advance to the semi-final. John Curran, John McGuinness, and Rory Carthy scored goals for Roscommon, who led 3-6 to 1-4 at half-time. McGuinness, Brian Greene, and Rob Heneghan added further goals for Roscommon as they won out by 24 points.

1 week ago | shannonside.ie | Dave Hooper

Lisa O’Rourke’s specialist weight division (light middleweight) has been added to the LA 2028 Olympic boxing programme. O’Rourke’s preferred weight of 70kg (light middleweight) was not an Olympic event. Thus, Lisa had either to try and qualify at 66kg or challenge her sister at 75kg. The IOC confirmed, 14 weight categories for the LA 2028 Olympic Games. This follows the inclusion of an additional women’s weight.

2 weeks ago | shannonside.ie | Dave Hooper

Darragh Markey of Drogheda United has been named SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers Ireland Player of the Month for March. Markey topped the nationwide poll to clinch the monthly award by a single point from Galway United’s Moses Dyer. Fellow Tribesman, Killian Brouder two points further back in third place. Markey was instrumental in his team’s fine start to the season; one defeat in eight games, as they sit proudly top of the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division table.

2 weeks ago | shannonside.ie | Dave Hooper

Longford bowed out of the Leinster U20 football championship as Wicklow came back to secure victory. Longford led by one point with five minutes to play, before falling to a 3-14 to 1-18 defeat. The hosts led 1-9 to 1-5. Cormac Flynn landed Longford’s goal with three minutes of the first-half remaining. The hosting having led five points to no score until Cian Deering landed Wicklow’s first score with a goal. Longford were strong in the second-half, however, Wicklow refused to give in.