Tipperary and Kilkenny have announced their starting XVs ahead of Sunday’s All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship semi-final at Croke Park.

Tipperary boss Liam Cahill has kept faith with the same side that defeated Galway in the quarter-finals, showing no changes as they prepare for a massive clash with the Cats.

Kilkenny, meanwhile, have made two switches from the Leinster final win over Galway. Eoin Cody returns from injury to take his place in the forward line, while Shane Murphy also comes in. Tommy Walsh and Stephen Donnelly make way.

Throw-in is set for 4pm at Croke Park on Sunday, 7th July.

Tipperary Team v Kilkenny (SHC Semi-Final)

1. Rhys Shelly
2. Ronan Doyle
3. Eoghan Connolly
4. Michael Breen
5. Craig Morgan
6. Ronan Maher (Captain)
7. Bryan O’Mara
8. Willie Connors
9. Paudie McGarry
10. Jake Morris
11. Alan Ormond
12. Sean O’Farrell
13. Diarmuid McCarthy
14. Jason McGrath
15. Jack Forde

The post Tipperary Name Unchanged Team for SHC Semi-Final as Kilkenny Bring Back Eoin Cody appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

After Damien Duff shocked the League of Ireland last month with his departure from Shelbourne, the club have officially announced his replacement.

Duff’s long-time assistant and former Premier League player, Joey O’Brien, has been appointed as the new head coach on a long-term deal.

O’Brien, who earned five caps for the Republic of Ireland and lined out in the English top flight with both Bolton and West Ham, joined Shelbourne’s coaching team in 2021. He served as assistant manager under Duff as Shels secured their first League of Ireland title in 18 years in 2024.

Now, the 38-year-old takes charge of a Shelbourne side currently sitting fifth in the League of Ireland, trailing leaders Shamrock Rovers by 16 points. Their next assignment is a league fixture away to bottom side Cork City this Friday night, before a crucial Champions League qualifying double-header against Linfield:

• Home Leg: Wednesday 9th July
• Away Leg: Wednesday 16th July

“This is an incredible honour. Of course, being honest, it was unexpected – not something I was thinking about,” said O’Brien. “The opportunity came up and I was asked to take it. I didn’t take long to say yes. I’m obviously delighted to be given the chance and grateful for the trust shown in me by the owners and the board. It’s a privilege to be given this chance to continue the work that’s been done over the last few years.”

Shelbourne fans will be hoping that the continuity of leadership helps them stay competitive on both domestic and European fronts as the season progresses.

The post Joey O’Brien Appointed New Shelbourne Boss After Duff Exit appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

CLICK FOR LIVE GAA SCORES

The post List of live GAA matches on Sky Sports, TG4, GAA+ & RTE appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

This Weekend’s Live Sport

Weekend Sports TV Guide (July 5–7)

Rugby

• Ireland U20 v Italy – Friday, 7:30pm, RugbyPass
• New Zealand v France – Saturday, 8:00am, Sky Sports
• Waratahs v Lions – Saturday, 11:00am, Sky Sports
• Georgia v Ireland – Saturday, 6:00pm, Virgin Media One
• Argentina v England – Saturday, 8:40pm, Sky Sports

Football

• St Pat’s v Bohemians – Friday, 7:30pm, Virgin Media Two

GAA

Saturday

• Waterford v Clare (Camogie) – 2:30pm, RTÉ2
• Cork v Dublin (Hurling) – 5:00pm, RTÉ2
• Kerry v Kildare (Ladies Football) – 7:30pm, TG4

Sunday

• Kilkenny v Tipperary (Hurling) – 4:00pm, RTÉ2

Tennis

• Wimbledon – Coverage on BBC One/Two

Tour de France

• Live coverage on TG4 & TNT Sports

#WeekendSport #Rugby #GAA #Wimbledon #TourDeFrance #LeagueOfIreland #IrishSport

The post List of Live Sport on TV this week – RTE, Virgin, TG4 and BBC appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Tadhg Beirne will lead the British & Irish Lions into their next Tour match this Saturday as Andy Farrell’s men take on the New South Wales Waratahs at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney (KO 11:00 BST).

The Munster and Ireland talisman steps into the captaincy role as Maro Itoje is rested, with Beirne joined in the second row by James Ryan, forming an all-Irish engine room.

The selection represents a major chance for several Irish players to push their claims for inclusion in the Test squad to face Australia — with many eyes on Mack Hansen, Hugo Keenan, Finlay Bealham, and Josh van der Flier.

Big Test for Mack, Fitness Watch for Hugo, Bealham in Test Frame

Mack Hansen gets the nod on the wing and will be eager to show the cutting edge that made him a fan favourite during the 2023 Six Nations. It’s a big opportunity to see if he can transfer his form to the Lions stage.

Hugo Keenan starts at full-back in what will be his Lions debut. The Leinster man is returning from injury and this will be a key outing to assess his match fitness before a potential test role against the Wallabies.

Finlay Bealham continues to press hard. With Tadhg Furlong still finding top gear, another strong performance from Bealham could edge him into the 23 for the First Test. Dan Sheehan and Furlong are also among a powerful Irish bench.

In total, 10 Irish players feature in the matchday squad.

Lions XV to Face New South Wales Waratahs

British & Irish Lions v NSW Waratahs
Saturday 6th July 2025 – Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 11:00am BST | Live on Sky Sports

Starting XV:

• 15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster Rugby/ Ireland) Debut
• 14. Mack Hansen (Connacht Rugby/ Ireland) #867
• 13. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland) #878
• 12. Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland) #863
• 11. Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse/ Scotland) Debut
• 10. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints/ England) #862
• 9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints/ England) #860
• 1. Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby/ Scotland) #868
• 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks/ England) #851
• 3. Finlay Bealham (Connacht Rugby/ Ireland) #856
• 4. Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby/ Ireland) #838 (c)
• 5. James Ryan (Leinster Rugby/ Ireland) #880
• 6. Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints/ England) #865
• 7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster Rugby/ Ireland) #874
• 8. Ben Earl (Saracens/ England) #857

Replacements:

• 16. Dan Sheehan (Leinster Rugby/ Ireland) #873
• 17. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears/ England) #859
• 18. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby/ Ireland) #818
• 19. Joe McCarthy (Leinster Rugby/ Ireland) #871
• 20. Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors/ Scotland) #869
• 21. Jac Morgan (Ospreys/ Wales) #861
• 22. Ben White (Toulon/ Scotland)
• 23. Marcus Smith (Harlequins/ England) #855

Squad Update: Daly Out, Farrell In

Elliot Daly has been ruled out of the rest of the Tour after fracturing his forearm against the Queensland Reds. Owen Farrell has been called up as his replacement and will join the squad in Sydney on Friday evening.

Farrell, Lion #780, returns for his fourth Tour after making 18 Lions appearances between 2013 and 2021. The 33-year-old is England’s record points scorer.

Andy Farrell: “It is heartbreaking for the group that Elliot’s Tour is over. He is a Lions legend and has added so much to the group both on and off the field.”

Tour Manager Ieuan Evans: “Elliot is a wonderful Lion and a world-class player who will be sorely missed. We all wish him a speedy recovery.”

The post Beirne to Captain Lions Against Waratahs – Irish Contingent Strong for Sydney Showdown appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Liverpool star Diogo Jota has reportedly died following a car crash in northern Spain at the age of 28 — just two weeks after marrying his childhood sweetheart.

The Portuguese international is believed to have been travelling with his younger brother André Jota, aged 26, who is also feared dead. Both were reportedly in the same vehicle at the time of the accident.

Recent Marriage, Family Tribute

Jota had recently married Rute Cardoso, the mother of his three children. In an interview released just yesterday, he described himself as “the luckiest man in the world,” reflecting on his young family and new chapter in life.

Crash Details

The crash is said to have occurred on the A-52 motorway in the province of Zamora, a busy route for travellers between northern Portugal and Spain.

Emergency services in the region of Castilla y León released the following statement:

“The 1-1-2 Castilla y León operations room received several calls reporting a vehicle accident at Km. 65 of the A-52, in the municipality of Cernadilla, Zamora. A car was reported to have been involved in an accident and the vehicle was on fire.”

Local authorities, including the Zamora Traffic Police, the Zamora Fire Brigade, and the Sacyl Emergency Coordination Centre, responded to the scene.

Official Confirmation

As of now, no official statement has been issued by Liverpool FC or the Portuguese Football Federation. But it has appeared on Sky News and BBC

More to follow as this story develops.

The post REPORTS: Diogo Jota Tragically Killed in Car Accident in Spain appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Galway United are delighted to announce the signing of 20-year-old English midfielder Axel Piesold ahead of the second half of the 2025 SSE Airtricity League Premier Division campaign.

The former Tottenham Hotspur academy talent arrives at Eamonn Deacy Park following the expiration of his contract at Premier League side Luton Town. He most recently impressed during a loan spell with Cliftonville in the NIFL Premiership, helping the Belfast outfit qualify for the UEFA Conference League preliminary rounds.

From London to Galway

Born in London, Piesold came through the Spurs academy ranks and featured prominently at U18 level before a brief stint with non-league side Dunstable Town. He joined Luton Town in January 2023, where he gained valuable first-team exposure, including several appearances in Premier League matchday squads during the 2023/24 season — against the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, Aston Villa, and Tottenham Hotspur.

“Looking back, that was a great experience. I feel really lucky to have done that, really, and it’s something I’ll remember for a long time,” Piesold told Galway United media.

Time in Ireland: Cliftonville Success

Axel spent the 2024/25 season on loan at Cliftonville in the NIFL Premiership, where he made 24 league appearances and became a firm fan favourite at Solitude.

He scored a vital goal in the European play-off final victory over Coleraine, helping the Reds secure their place in this summer’s UEFA Conference League qualifiers. In March, he also lifted his first senior silverware as Cliftonville won the BetMcLean Cup after defeating Glentoran at Windsor Park.

“Coming to Cliftonville on loan was really good for me because it gave me men’s games and introduced me to what men’s football was really like,” said Piesold.

First Words as a Tribesman

Speaking to Galway United media, Axel shared his delight at securing the move:

“I’m glad to get it over the line and really excited to get started. After speaking with the manager and seeing how the club has progressed over the last 18 months, it just felt right. I really wanted to be part of it.”

“I’m a technical midfielder. I like to get on the ball, play forward passes, and carry the ball up the pitch. I enjoy showing my range of passing. Out of possession, I like to press and be aggressive.”

— Axel Piesold, Galway United

What to Expect

Piesold is a creative, hard-working central midfielder with a high football IQ. His background with Tottenham’s youth system and time around top-flight players at Luton have shaped his playing style, combining technical quality with off-the-ball aggression and a strong engine.

Galway United fans can look forward to a midfielder who will drive forward with purpose, link play, and bring added energy and composure to the middle of the park.

The post Galway United Sign Former Spurs Midfielder Axel Piesold appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Just days after Armagh’s exit from the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, 2024 Sam Maguire winner Stefan Campbell has wasted no time making a switch back to soccer — rejoining his hometown club Lurgan Celtic for the 2025/26 season.

The Clan na Gael forward, known affectionately as “Soupy”, missed Armagh’s quarter-final loss to Kerry due to a hand injury, but now turns his attention to the Mid-Ulster Football League where he’ll don the famous green and white once more.

Back Where It All Began

Campbell has a long-standing connection with Lurgan Celtic, having come through their youth system and featured in three previous spells with the senior side. His return is being hailed as a massive coup by the club.

“We are absolutely delighted to announce the return of none other than Stefan ‘Soupy’ Campbell to Lurgan Celtic!” the club posted on social media.

“A household name in GAA circles and a proven attacking force on the soccer pitch, Soupy returns to the Hoops for the 2025/26 season — having last pulled on the green and white in 2018.”

They added: “His return is nothing short of monumental.”

Manager’s Praise

First-team boss Niall Lavery, a former teammate of Campbell’s, didn’t hold back in his praise:

“What a player. I played alongside ‘Soup’ for long enough to see what he can do. A leader in any changing room. He’ll add pace, power, goals and all-round quality to the team.

It’s a brilliant addition that drives the professionalism up considerably. Can’t wait to see Stefan back and scoring goals.”

Soupy Still Committed to GAA

Despite his return to soccer, Campbell will continue to line out for his GAA club, Clan na Gael, over the coming months. He remains a key dual-sport figure in the Armagh sporting community.

His switch follows a similar move from another 2024 All-Ireland winner, Cathal McShane of Tyrone, who recently signed for Strabane Athletic in the NIFL Premier Intermediate League.

Tags:

The post Soupy Signs Again: Armagh GAA Star Stefan Campbell Returns to Lurgan Celtic appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

A classic rivalry returns to Croke Park this weekend as Leinster champions Kilkenny face off against a rejuvenated Tipperary side in the second All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship semi-final. With 68 titles between them and a legacy of epic battles, Saturday’s showdown is set to deliver another chapter of high drama.

Kilkenny, last crowned champions in 2015, are chasing a return to the final after losing to Limerick last year. Tipperary, All-Ireland winners in 2019, have built momentum through the qualifiers and look like a team peaking at the right time.

Path to the Semi-Final

Kilkenny – P6 W5 L1 (Leinster Champions)

• Kilkenny 3-24 Galway 0-21
• Kilkenny 2-30 Antrim 2-12
• Kilkenny 4-25 Offaly 2-16
• Kilkenny 5-19 Dublin 3-21
• Wexford 2-19 Kilkenny 1-15
• Kilkenny 3-22 Galway 1-20 (Leinster Final)

Tipperary – P6 W4 D1 L1

• Tipperary 2-23 Limerick 2-23
• Cork 4-27 Tipperary 0-24
• Tipperary 4-18 Clare 2-21
• Tipperary 1-30 Waterford 1-21
• Tipperary 3-32 Laois 0-18 (Prelim QF)
• Tipperary 1-28 Galway 2-17 (Quarter-Final)

Top Scorers – Championship 2025

Kilkenny

• TJ Reid – 5-26 (0-22 frees, 0-2 ‘65s’)
• Martin Keoghan – 6-8
• Eoin Cody – 2-18 (1-11 frees)
• Billy Ryan – 2-13
• Adrian Mullen – 3-6

Tipperary

• Jason Forde – 2-38 (0-21 frees, 0-4 s/l, 0-1 ‘65’)
• Darragh McCarthy – 0-31 (0-25 frees, 0-1 ‘65’)
• John McGrath – 4-12
• Andrew Ormond – 2-13
• Jake Morris – 0-18

Championship Head-to-Head – Last Five Meetings

• 2019: Tipperary 3-25 Kilkenny 0-20 (All-Ireland Final)
• 2016: Tipperary 2-29 Kilkenny 2-20 (All-Ireland Final)
• 2014: Kilkenny 2-17 Tipperary 2-14 (Final Replay)
• 2014: Kilkenny 3-22 Tipperary 1-28 (Final – Draw)
• 2013: Kilkenny 0-20 Tipperary 1-14 (Qualifiers)

Recent edge: Tipperary have won 2 of the last 3 championship meetings, including the 2019 final.

Semi-Final Pedigree – Last Five Appearances

Kilkenny

• 2024: Lost to Clare
• 2023: Beat Clare
• 2022: Beat Clare
• 2021: Lost to Cork (AET)
• 2020: Lost to Waterford

Tipperary

• 2019: Beat Wexford
• 2017: Lost to Galway
• 2016: Beat Galway
• 2015: Lost to Galway
• 2014: Beat Cork

Note: Kilkenny are in their 7th successive semi-final. Tipp are back at this stage for the first time since 2019.

Other Notables

• Tipperary beat Kilkenny by 2-25 to 1-19 in the 2025 Allianz League
• Kilkenny finished with 12 players, Tipp with 14
• Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng faced Tipp 4 times as a player, winning 3

Verdict

Kilkenny come in as the more consistent outfit with a Leinster title under their belt, while Tipperary look dangerous and free-scoring since the Munster championship ended. This will come down to discipline and midfield control — and if Tipperary continue their upward trend, they could take a huge scalp.

Prediction: Tipperary to win by 2–4 points in a high-scoring thriller.

<

The post All-Ireland Hurling Semi-Final Preview: Kilkenny v Tipperary appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

One step from Croke Park glory — but history, momentum and injury lists all weigh into a fascinating All-Ireland semi-final as Munster champions Cork face off with a resurgent Dublin side this Saturday.

Cork are bidding to reach the All-Ireland final for a second year in a row, as they continue their hunt for a first Liam MacCarthy triumph since 2005. Dublin, on the other hand, are seeking their first final appearance since 1961 — and their first All-Ireland title in 87 years.

Cork Team News – Three Changes for the Rebels

Pat Ryan’s Cork side shows three changes from the team that edged past Limerick in a dramatic Munster Final penalty shootout.

• IN: Niall O’Leary, Rob Downey (capt), Declan Dalton
• OUT: Damien Cahalane (bench), Cormac O’Brien (injured), Séamus Harnedy (injured)

Ger Millerick also returns to the match-day panel following injury.

Cork Starting XV

CORK (v Dublin):
1. Patrick Collins
2. Niall O’Leary
3. Eoin Downey
4. Seán O’Donoghue
5. Ciarán Joyce
6. Rob Downey (Captain)
7. Mark Coleman
8. Tommy O’Mahony
9. Darragh Fitzgibbon
10. Daire Healy
11. Shane Barrett
12. Declan Dalton
13. Patrick Horgan
14. Alan Connolly
15. Brian Hayes

Subs: B Saunderson, D Cahalane, G Millerick, T O’Connell, E Twomey, L Meade, B Roche, J O’Connor, S Kingston, R O’Flynn, C Lehane

Dublin’s Road to the Semis

Dublin have put together an impressive championship run under manager Micheál Donoghue. After finishing third in Leinster, the Dubs hammered Kildare in the All-Ireland Preliminary Quarter-Final and stunned reigning champions Limerick in the Quarter-Final, scoring a massive 2-24 to 0-28 victory.

Sean Currie has led the scoring charge, while Cian O’Sullivan and Ronan Hayes have provided crucial attacking support.

Championship Form Guide

CORK – P5 W3 D1 L1 (Munster Champions)

• Clare 3-21 Cork 2-24
• Cork 4-27 Tipperary 0-24
• Limerick 3-26 Cork 1-16
• Cork 2-25 Waterford 1-22
• Cork 1-30 Limerick 2-27 AET (Won 3-2 on penalties – Munster Final)

DUBLIN – P7 W5 L2

• Dublin 1-25 Offaly 2-19
• Dublin 3-26 Wexford 4-19
• Dublin 3-25 Antrim 0-19
• Kilkenny 5-19 Dublin 3-21
• Galway 0-29 Dublin 3-15
• Dublin 3-25 Kildare 0-13
• Dublin 2-24 Limerick 0-28

Top Scorers

Cork

• Patrick Horgan – 3-42 (1-32 frees, 0-1 ‘65’)
• Brian Hayes – 3-7
• Séamus Harnedy – 0-13
• Shane Barrett – 1-9
• Darragh Fitzgibbon – 0-11 (0-2 frees, 0-1 ‘65’)

Dublin

• Sean Currie – 5-61 (0-39 frees, 2-0 pens, 0-4 ‘65s’)
• Cian O’Sullivan – 3-17
• Ronan Hayes – 3-6
• John Hetherton – 3-5
• Conor Donohue – 0-9

Head-to-Head History

This will be the 20th championship meeting between Cork and Dublin. The Rebels dominate the record with 16 wins to Dublin’s 2, and 1 draw.

• Most recent: 2024 – Cork 0-26 Dublin 0-21 (All-Ireland QF)
• Other recent wins: 2021, 2020, 2016, 2013, 2008, 2007
• Last Dublin win: 1927 All-Ireland Final (Dublin 4-8 Cork 1-3)

Semi-Final Pedigree – Last Five Appearances

Cork

• 2024: Cork 1-28 Limerick 0-29
• 2021: Cork 1-37 Kilkenny 1-32 AET
• 2018: Limerick 3-32 Cork 2-31 AET
• 2017: Waterford 4-19 Cork 0-20
• 2014: Tipperary 2-18 Cork 1-11

Dublin

• 2013: Cork 1-24 Dublin 1-19
• 2011: Tipperary 1-19 Dublin 0-18
• 1948: Dublin 8-13 Antrim 2-6
• 1944: Dublin 6-12 Antrim 3-1
• 1941: Dublin 2-4 Galway 2-2

Verdict

Cork come in as favourites, battle-hardened from a brutal Munster campaign and boasting big-game experience. Dublin have the firepower and belief to cause problems, especially after their upset of Limerick — but history and depth favour the Rebels.

Prediction: Cork by 4-6 points in a fast-paced contest.

The post All-Ireland Hurling Semi-Final Preview: Cork v Dublin appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.