Declan Whooley

Reporter at RTÉ

Journalist with @rtesport - Dublin via West Cork

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Articles

Fatherhood and perspective fuelling evergreen Healy

5 days ago | rte.ie | Declan Whooley

As one of the more experienced players in the Wicklow set-up, that longevity has brought greater perspective for Dean Healy. The 33-year-old starred in the Garden County's gutsy Leinster defeat to Dublin last month, with manager Oisin McConville hailing him a "special" player. In superb form, the St Patrick’s clubman is playing with a freedom that comes from a balanced lifestyle. He enjoys football, but he knows it’s place in the greater scheme of things.
Hurling championship weekend: All You Need to Know

6 days ago | rte.ie | Declan Whooley

SATURDAY 10 MAY Munster SHC Clare v Tipperary, Zimmer Biomet Cusack Park, 6pm Leinster SHC Galway v Wexford, Pearse Stadium, 3.15pm Antrim v Dublin, Corrigan Park, 4pm Kilkenny v Offaly, UPMC Nowlan Park, 6pm Joe McDonagh Cup Carlow v Kildare, Netwatch Dr Cullen Park, 2pm Westmeath v Down, TEG Cusack Park, 2.30pm Christy Ring Cup Donegal v London, Letterkenny, 12.30pm Tyrone v Derry, Dungannon, 1pm Wicklow v Meath, Aughrim, 2pm Nickey Rackard Cup Armagh v Louth, BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, 12pm...
Antrim look to build on positive Corrigan display

6 days ago | rte.ie | Declan Whooley

Given the build-up for Antrim to the Ulster Football Championship clash with Armagh last month, the feeling was they had to at least deliver a performance, if not a result. After much debate and at one stage the threat of a forfeited fixture, the quarter-final was finally given the green light for Corrigan Park after the long-touted decision to take it to Páirc Esler was met with firm resistance.
Winning the Tailteann Cup would be massive

1 week ago | rte.ie | Declan Whooley

For the third successive season, Fermanagh enter the Tailteann Cup as first seeds, but this time around the Erne County are looking to firmly challenge for silverware. Few will be as motivated as long-serving Declan McCusker. The 34-year-old made his championship debut back in 2011 and continues to drive the team from the half-backline. He was part of a Fermanagh side that reached an All-Ireland quarter-final in 2015 and an Ulster decider three years later, but things have been sparse since.
Ambitious Sligo hoping to build on near misses

1 week ago | rte.ie | Declan Whooley

Narrow defeats. Overall it sums of the big games Sligo have been involved in over the last 12 months. The Yeats County went within a whisker of a Connacht final and one of the biggest upsets in recent years before Galway struck late at Markievicz Park, Rob Finnerty's palmed goal in second-half stoppage time ensuring the Tribesmen escaped to victory.
Louth and Kildare the main event off Broadway

2 weeks ago | rte.ie | Declan Whooley

There may be some eye-catching games on paper this weekend in the football championship, but the most consequential one will take place off Broadway. Meath v Dublin - one of the great GAA rivalries - has lost most of its lustre in the last 15 years, but a neutral venue and a changing of the guard with the Dubs means there appears to be a greater chance of a competitive outing.
Football championship weekend: All you need to know

2 weeks ago | rte.ie | Declan Whooley

SATURDAY 26 APRILUlster SFC semi-finalArmagh v Tyrone, Clones, 4.45pmSUNDAY 27 APRIL Leinster SFC semi-finalsKildare v Louth, Glenisk O'Connor Park, 2pmDublin v Meath, Laois Hire O'Moore Park, 4pmUlster SFC semi-finalDonegal v Down, Clones, 3pmONLINELive blogs each day with RTÉ Sport and RTÉ News appTVLive coverage of Donegal v Down live on BBC2 NI.
O'Connor wary but Cork struggling for Munster relevance

3 weeks ago | rte.ie | Declan Whooley

In the picturesque setting of Muckross House last month, Kerry manager Jack O'Connor was among those interviewed as part of the launch for the Munster football championship. The Kingdom had yet to play the league final against Mayo, but that perhaps suited even better. Get the media obligation out of the way nice and early, similar to All-Ireland finalists arranging press duties the day after a semi-final success. The issue for the hacks is the lack of a storyline.
Football Championship: All You Need to Know

1 month ago | rte.ie | Declan Whooley

SATURDAY 12 APRILUlster SFC quarter-finalAntrim v Armagh, Corrigan Park, 12.30pmLeinster SFC quarter-finalKildare v Westmeath, Cedral St.Conleth's Park, 7pmSUNDAY 13 APRILLeinster SFC quarter-finalMeath v Offaly, Pairc Tailteann, 2.30pmWicklow v Dublin, Echelon Park, Aughrim, 2pmLouth v Laois, Cedral St.Conleth’s Park, 3pmUlster SFC quarter-finalTyrone v Cavan, Healy Park, Omagh, 4.15pmONLINELive blogs each day on RTÉ Sport Online and RTÉ News app.
Conlon intent on making more Clare memories

1 month ago | rte.ie | Declan Whooley

Winning two All-Ireland senior hurling medals without ever tasting provincial success puts John Conlon's career in rare company. Having made his Banner championship debut back in 2009, the Clonlara man was a forward when Davy Fitzgerald led the county to the summit in 2013. Eleven years later as Clare crossed the Shannon with Liam MacCarthy for just the fifth, he was firmly in a defensive role have held down the number six jersey for the past number of years.