Hugh Farrelly

Assistant Sports Editor at Irish Daily Mail

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Articles

The five-point plan to rescue Munster rugby and close the gap on Leinster

1 week ago | extra.ie | Hugh Farrelly

When Declan Kidney was reinstated as head coach of Munster in 2005, his brief was simple – win the European Cup, whatever it takes. There was no-one better equipped to understand the significance of that quest. It was Kidney who got the ball rolling in the late 1990s with a series of against-the-odds victories and torturous near misses as Munster pursued what became known as their ‘holy grail’.
Ireland have the belief to stun England in Cork

1 week ago | extra.ie | Hugh Farrelly

This Irish team has come a long way in a short space of time. Even their perpetually positive head coach Scott Bemand has been taken aback by the surge in this squad’s performances across a transformative 18 months. Today's top videos STORY CONTINUES BELOW The national team has gone from Wooden Spooners to beating the likes of New Zealand in almost the blink of an eye. This is clearly a team on the rise.
Leinster have perfect plan to beat dangerous Glasgow

2 weeks ago | extra.ie | Hugh Farrelly

We all know Leinster are on a mission to end their seven-year European Cup drought but their single-mindedness can still catch you unawares. Yesterday’s official team announcement email was headlined: ‘Robbie Henshaw in line for 100th cap’ – a significant milestone for one of the northern hemisphere’s best centres of the past 10 years. Today's top videos STORY CONTINUES BELOW Then came the kicker – Henshaw was on the bench.
Where does Jack Crowley rank among Munster's greatest No10s?

2 weeks ago | extra.ie | Hugh Farrelly

The news, however expected, that Jack Crowley is staying elicited an enormous sigh of relief among Munster supporters. The 25-year-old Cork man has a huge chunk of his career ahead of him, but even after only 65 appearances for his province, the fans know they have a pearl – a player imbued with love and complete commitment to his province and with the talent to make it count.
Crowley looks to be gaining ground on Prendergast

2 weeks ago | extra.ie | Hugh Farrelly

THERE are a few theories doing the rounds about why Jack Crowley lost his Ireland place to Sam Prendergast during the November internationals and through the Six Nations. The one most regularly parroted on the social media echo chamber is that, whenever there is a close call, Ireland management always goes for the blue pill over the red ill.
'Bloodgate' helped Leinster get to where they are today

2 weeks ago | extra.ie | Hugh Farrelly

To properly understand just how far Leinster have travelled over the past two decades, April 12, 2009, is a good place to start. That was the last time before today that Leinster faced Harlequins in a European Cup knockout game. But they were a very different outfit back then.
Under-rated Munster star has real shot at making Lions tour

2 weeks ago | extra.ie | Hugh Farrelly

With his future still up in the air, most of the player focus was on Munster’s Jack Crowley in their URC victory over Connacht at MacHale Park last weekend. The out-half had a fine game, playing with an easy authority that allowed 14-man Munster to take the game away from their hosts. Today's top videos STORY CONTINUES BELOW But Crowley’s performance was superbly facilitated by the excellence of the man on his inside. It has been a tough season for Craig Casey.
BEST XVs: We select our greatest Australia rugby team of all time

3 weeks ago | extra.ie | Hugh Farrelly

ANDY FARRELL’s Lions squad is widely tipped to win the series with the Wallabies this summer and it is undeniable that Australian rugby is not where it once was. The David Campese-inspired Wallabies side that stunned Europe on their way to a Grand Slam tour of victories in 1984 sparked a run of excellence that landed two World Cups in 1991 and 1999 as well as an epic Lions victory in 2001.
Jack Crowley's biggest problem is that he plays for Munster

3 weeks ago | extra.ie | Hugh Farrelly

If Irish players could be selected for the national team while playing abroad, Jack Crowley would be gone like a shot. He would be mad not to. Today's top videos STORY CONTINUES BELOW The money reputedly on offer from Leicester (said to be in the region of €700,000 a year) is life-changing and Crowley has reason to be miffed enough to take it. He was badly mishandled during the Six Nations.
Reliance on southern imports makes mockery of the Lions

4 weeks ago | extra.ie | Hugh Farrelly

Over the next few months, you will read and hear much about the greatest Lions to have worn the famous red jersey as the nostalgia ramps up ahead of the summer to Australia.