Fintan O'Toole

Dublin

MRIA. Irish Times columnist, advising ed New York Review of Books, winner European Press Prize, Orwell Prize, Robert Silvers Prize. We Don't Know Ourselves

Articles

'It was crazy to be out on the pitch': Liverpool title celebrations and Limerick hurling glories

17 hours ago | the42.ie | Fintan O'Toole

DAVID BREEN MAPS out his recent tour of sporting arenas. Last night was at the Aviva Stadium, a chance to catch up on the progress of the Ireland soccer side he worked with as a physio last year, his time overlapping the interim reign of John O’Shea and the start of the Heimir Hallgrímsson era. Tonight he’ll be at the Gaelic Grounds, the pitch he was acquainted with in his Limerick hurling days, just a kilometre away from his club base in Caherdavin with Na Piarsaigh.
Here's your essential TV guide for this weekend's live sport

1 day ago | the42.ie | Fintan O'Toole

1pm Racing from Epsom ITV1 1.30pm Tennis, French Open – Men’s singles semi-finals TNT Sports 1 2pm World Rally Championship - Italy, Special Stages 4-6 TNT Sports 3 5.15pm Golf, LIV – Washington DC ITV X 6.30pm Cricket, England v West Indies – Twenty20 International Sky Sports Main Event 7.45pm Ireland v Senegal, International soccer friendly RTÉ 2 7.45pm Norway v Italy, Uefa World Cup qualifier Virgin Media Two 7.45pm Bath v Bristol Bears, Premiership Rugby semi-final TNT Sports 1 8pm...
Ireland to face Belgium in Nations League promotion-relegation play-off

1 day ago | the42.ie | Fintan O'Toole

THE IRELAND WOMEN’S team will play Belgium at the play-off stage of the Uefa Nations League. The two-legged promotion-relegation clash will take place in October. Irealnd will be at home for the first leg and travel to Belgium for the second leg, with venue and ticket details yet to be announced. Ireland have played Belgium six times – winning their first ever meeting in 1980 – and they last came up against each other in an international friendly in April 2021 in Brussels.
Rory Scannell to depart Munster after 12 years and 200 caps

2 days ago | the42.ie | Fintan O'Toole

MUNSTER HAVE CONFIRMED that Rory Scannell will depart the province this summer after 12 years. The 31-year-old centre is one of only 16 Munster players to have reached the milestone of 200 caps. The former PBC student won three caps for Ireland, making his senior debut against the USA in New Jersey in the 2017 summer tour, playing alongside his borther Niall as they became the first Munster brothers to play for Ireland in the professional era.
GAA confirm fixture details for All-Ireland SFC Round 3 group games

4 days ago | the42.ie | Fintan O'Toole

THE GAA HAVE confirmed the fixture details for the final round of group games in the All-Ireland senior football championship. The high-profile encounters see Dublin facing Derry in Newry on Saturday 14 June, while Cavan hosts the meeting of Armagh and Galway. On Sunday 15 June, Donegal and Mayo will travel to Dr Hyde Park in Roscommon. There are three games live on GAA+ on the Saturday, while RTÉ have two live matches on the Sunday.
Here's this week's GAA inter-county schedule and TV coverage

4 days ago | the42.ie | Fintan O'Toole

THE MUNSTER AND Leinster senior hurling finals take centre stage in the GAA spotlight next weekend. Saturday night’s clash of Limerick and Cork sees the home side aim to complete seven-in-a-row in Munster, while Cork chase a first title since 2018. Sunday’s Leinster decider pits a Kilkenny team chasing six-in-a-row against a Galway team that last won out in the province in 2018.
'We'll be having a serious conversation': Mistakes and wides frustrate Dublin in loss to Armagh

5 days ago | the42.ie | Fintan O'Toole

THE FIRST DAY of June marked an afternoon of Croke Park returns. For Dublin a first run out at the venue in championship 2025, in their fourth game in the competition. For Armagh a first run out at the venue since they grasped Sam Maguire last July and celebrated wildly. It was a happier comeback for one more than the other. Armagh departed last evening with sufficient positives to nourish them on the journey home, for Dublin it was a defeat that left them with plenty to digest.
Monaghan take full advantage of two-pointers to ease past Clare

6 days ago | the42.ie | Fintan O'Toole

MONAGHAN BEAT CLARE on Sunday afternoon to set up a straight shootout with Down for an automatic place in the All-Ireland senior football championship quarter-finals. Gabriel Bannigan’s side kicked no fewer than six two-pointers — three from Jack McCarron, two from goalkeeper Rory Beggan, and one from David Garland — as they ran out nine-point winners in Clones. Clare played the first half with a strong wind at their backs and led by double scores at the break, 0-14 to 0-7.
Armagh impress in victory over Dublin to ensure top group spot

6 days ago | the42.ie | Fintan O'Toole

A FIVE-POINT victory over Dublin, a successful return to Croke Park, and the comfort of an All-Ireland quarter-final spot nailed down with a round of group games still to play. It all added up to a thoroughly satisfactory afternoon’s work for Armagh, Kieran McGeeney’s side powering on to triumph impressively. They are now guaranteed to top the group, a strong response to their Ulster final loss to Donegal|, while Dublin must get something out of their last outing against Derry.
Here's your essential TV guide for the Bank Holiday Weekend's live sport

1 week ago | the42.ie | Fintan O'Toole

10am Tennis, French Open TNT Sports 1 10.35am Brumbies v Crusaders, Super Rugby Pacific Sky Sports Action 10.40am AFL, Collingwood v Hawthorn TNT Sports 2 11am Cycling, Giro D’Italia – Stage 19 TNT Sports 3 12pm Golf, Austrian Open - DP World Tour Sky Sports Golf 6pm Ireland v Turkiye, Uefa Women’s Nations League RTÉ 2 7pm Golf, The Memorial Tournament – PGA Tour Sky Sports Golf 7.35pm Glasgow Warriors v Stormers, URC quarter-final TG4 and Premier Sports 1 7.45pm Bohemians v Derry City, LOI...