McCloskey In From The Cold
The major talking point from the Irish rugby team announced to take on the All Blacks in Chicago on Saturday night has been the inclusion of Stuart McCloskey to partner Garry Ringrose in the centre.
It will be the 33-year-old’s first start in green since 2023. Other notable occurrences include the return of Caelen Dorris to the second row and the inclusion of Ryan Baird at the back of the scrum alongside Josh Van Der Flier and Jack Conan. Hardly surprisingly, Jack Crowley will start at 10 ahead of Sam Prendergast.
Davy staying with the Glensmen
In what was to some degree a surprising development, it has been announced that Davy Fitzgerald will remain in charge of the Antrim hurlers for at least one more season.
The legendary, inspirational Clare man had a mixed season during his maiden spin with the Saffrons. Securing their status in Div. 1B of the league but then being relegated out of the Leinster SHC.
That being said, the level to which Antrim clubs manage to compete with such verve at provincial and All Ireland level gives a fair indication of the hurling talent in the county.
STILL NO FINAL WORD ON LEAGUE SPONSORSHIP
The mystery as to why there have been no fixtures for the 2026 National Leagues released yet has had one of the layer of mud removed therefrom with the news today that the GAA’s ethics committee are still carrying out their investigation into incumbent sponsors Allianz.
That relates to the insurance mogul’s connections to Israel. In light of that country’s continuing illegal occupation and massacre of Gaza.
Pressure will be mounting on Uachtarain CLG Jarlath Burns and his lieutenants to take meaningful action. Which in reality can only have one outcome.
If that wasn’t the case already, it surely has to be now with the Offaly Co Board – prompted by the Ferbane club – requesting in writing that the Association cut all commercial ties with the insurer.
This coming after some 800 former players from across the GAA codes signed a petition seeking the same outcome. I would obviously align myself 100% with said stance, but, you’d just hope that the impasse can be bypassed shortly. It’s hardly right that the most important competitions in the organisation start in just 12 weeks at most and teams still don’t know their fixture list.
ARIVA DERCI, FRANKIE
The sporting world, and that in horse racing in particular, is about to become a lot more dull and boring, following Thursday’s announcement that Lanfranco Dettori will – for the second and final time – bring the curtain down on his glittering and flamboyant career in just a few weeks time.
It is a mark of how a competitor has transcended their area of expertise when (a) people with knowledge of or interest therein know of them and (b) mention of either their Christian or Surname is sufficient to have them instantly recognisable.
For instance, Messi, Ronaldo, Lomu, Bolt, Tiger. Frankie absolutely commands a berth on a similar plateau.
Barry can go mining for money at the Palace
No, not that Palace, even though there’s more room in it now! Seriously though, in darts news, Meath’s own Keane Barry has an exciting couple of weeks to look forward to.
The Duleek lad having qualified for the Players Championship Finals in Minehead, taking place between the 21st and 23rd of November and also for the PDC’s World Championship at the Alexandra Palace in London, commencing on December 11th.
23-year-old Barry – who at one stage occupied similar airspace in darting conjecture to Luke Littler – has come into a timely run of form which saw the bespeckled redhead defeat Gabriel Clemens of Germany, Danny Noppert (The Netherlands) and Andrew Gilding from England at the Players Championship 31 event in Wigan.
Limerick’s Willie O’Connor wasn’t as lucky at the same event but still rose to 41 in the World Rankings with Meath’s Barry climbing to 55.
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