Eamonn Sweeney

1 week ago | independent.ie | Eamonn Sweeney

Eamonn Sweeney: New rules, same story as Mayo again snatch disaster from the jaws of delightDonegal’s Ciarán Moore kicks his side’s winning point against Donegal in Dr Hyde Park. Photo: Seb Daly/SportsfileMayo, God help them. Their capacity for defeat is limitless. Football’s rule changes presented a new way to lose in the most painful manner possible. So they embraced it. What did you expect?

1 week ago | independent.ie | Eamonn Sweeney

Eamonn Sweeney: Ireland are a work in progress. Very slow progressIreland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson. Photo: Stephen McCarthy/SportsfileIt’ll be a miracle if Ireland make the World Cup. The two friendlies which constituted our final preparation for the qualifiers were a sobering reminder of were we are. Recent experience should have stifled the mad optimism which precedes every qualifying campaign. But hope springs eternal in the Irish breast.

2 weeks ago | independent.ie | Eamonn Sweeney

Eamonn Sweeney: Leinster hurling is GAA’s problem child – Kilkenny would be better off in MunsterKilkenny's TJ Reid is tackled by Galway's Pádraic Mannion and Daithí Burke. Photo: Ray McManus/SportsfileThe Leinster hurling championship is the GAA’s problem child. It’s the dark unlovely doppelganger of its glittering Munster counterpart. Leinster is tedious where Munster is exciting, and routine where Munster is unpredictable.

2 weeks ago | independent.ie | Eamonn Sweeney

Prepare to be shocked. This one weird trick can solve the football championship structure problem. Keep the current group system and just change the number of qualifiers from 12 to eight. The combination of rule changes and a couple of shock results have made this year’s qualifiers by far the most exciting yet. With an irony that would delight Alanis Morissette, this comes just after Congress decided to consign the system to the dustbin of history.

3 weeks ago | independent.ie | Eamonn Sweeney

Eamonn Sweeney: Dublin’s era is over but Armagh’s may just be startingOrchard showed last year they could win ugly – new orange order can shine with the game at its most beautifulPaddy Small of Dublin has his shot blocked down by Ben Crealey of Armagh at Croke Park. Photo: SportsfileArmagh, we hardly knew ye. The best team of Gaelic football’s ugliest year are also looking like the best team in its most beautiful.