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Galway hurling panel for 2023 All Ireland championship announced

Galway hurling panel for 2023
Galway football panel for 2023

Henry Shefflin the Galway hurling manager has announced his panel for the 2023 All Ireland championship.

 

Galway hurling panel for the 2023 championship

Galway football panel for 2023
Galway hurling panel

GALWAY v WEXFORD
This will be the 15th championship clash between the counties, with each having won six and drawn two in the previous fourteen.

They have met in five of the last six championships with Galway winning three and drawing two, the most recent of which was last year when they tied on 1-19 each.

LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS
2022: Galway 1-19 Wexford 1-19 (Leinster ‘round robin’) 2020: Galway 1-27 Wexford 0-17 (Leinster quarter-final) 2019: Galway 0-16 Wexford 0-16 (Leinster ‘round robin’) 2018: Galway 1-23 Wexford 0-17 (Leinster ‘round robin’) 2017: Galway 0-29 Wexford 1-17 (Leinster final)

Galway beat Wexford by eight points in Round 1 of this year’s Allianz hurling League in Chadwicks Wexford Park.

Wexford are seeking their first win over Galway in the championship since the 1996 All-Ireland semi-final, which was also the last time they won the All- Ire- land title.

Galway won three and lost two of their five Allianz League games this year, finishing third in their group; Wexford won and lost four in the same group, fin- ishing fifth (of six).

Goals have been scarce in recent Galway-Wexford championship games. The last five games in 2017-18-19-20-22 produced only five goals (3-2 to Galway).

Galway manager Henry Shefflin played eleven times for Kilkenny against Wex- ford in the championship, winning ten and losing one (2004 Leinster semi-final).

Video – World Snooker championship affected by protesters

The World Championship has been thrown into chaos after a group of protesters disrupted play.

In the middle of a first-round match between Robert Milkins and Joe Perry, some numpty climbed onto table one and covered it in orange powder! Can you believe it? And as if that wasn’t enough, another idiot tried to attach themselves to table two. Unbelievable scenes!

To make matters worse, Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen and China’s Fan Zhengyi were also in action and had to be escorted from the arena. Play was briefly suspended but quickly resumed in the Allen v Fan match, with the other game expected to restart later in the evening.

But the real question is, what the hell was that powder and what was the point?  The answer seems to be they were protesting against the use of Oil.

Beginning with the headline “NEW OIL AND GAS WILL SNOOKER US”, the statement went on to say: “At around 7:20pm, two Just Stop Oil supporters have disrupted the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, interrupting play.

“They are demanding that the Government immediately stop all new UK fossil fuel projects and are calling on UK sporting institutions to step into in civil resistance [sic] against the Government’s genocidal policies.”

 

It’s just a shame that this kind of behaviour has to mar what should be a prestigious and respected event. Absolutely disgraceful!

Rugby Rules Explained – TMO bunker set to trailed

Galway team 2022 Connacht Final
Galway team 2022 Connacht Final

World Rugby has announced that they are exploring the potential of the TMO Bunker, a new technology that could revolutionize the game of rugby.

This technology has been designed to promote accurate decision-making for foul play involving head contact and reduce lengthy stoppages, enhancing game flow and improving player welfare.

Already trialled in Super Rugby Pacific, the TMO Bunker has shown great promise, and World Rugby is keen to see its potential fully realized. The organization has been seeking out innovations that can benefit the game, and the TMO Bunker promises to do just that.

World Rugby is committed to implementing the technology in a way that benefits the game as a whole. The trial will be based on a set of principles, and the organization will be consulting with stakeholders throughout the process to ensure that the trial is a success.

The principles are simple and fair. Clear and obvious red cards for foul play involving contact with the head will receive a red card resulting in the player being permanently removed from the game and unable to be replaced. For any incident where a red card is not obvious, a yellow card will be issued, and the incident will be reviewed by dedicated foul play reviewers in a central bunker using all available technology and footage. Once 10 minutes has elapsed, the yellow card is either upheld, and the player returns to the action, or it is upgraded, and the player permanently leaves the field, unable to be replaced.

The TMO Bunker is an exciting development in World Rugby’s efforts to incorporate technology that can assist officiating, enhance game flow, and advance player welfare. It promises to address issues such as the pace of the game and refereeing decisions, which have been criticized by some.

The trial at the 2023 World Rugby U20 World Championship will be closely watched by fans and players alike, as the rugby community eagerly anticipates the results. If successful, the TMO Bunker could become a permanent fixture of the sport, transforming the way the game is played and officiated. World Rugby believes that this technology will be a game-changer, and we can’t wait to see it in action.

Former Leinster and Australian star joins Connacht rugby as defence coach

Exciting news for Connacht Rugby fans as the club has just announced the appointment of Scott Fardy as their new defence coach.

Fardy is a well-respected former player who has had a highly successful career across the globe. His achievements include four Guinness PRO14 titles and a Heineken Champions Cup victory with Leinster, where he was also named in the PRO14 Dream Team for three consecutive seasons. Fardy also made 39 appearances for Australia between 2013-2016 and played a vital role in their 2015 Rugby World Cup campaign.

Having retired from playing in 2021, Fardy has been busy gaining coaching experience, first with NEC Green Rockets in Japan, before returning to his former Shute Shield club, Warringah in Australia. Connacht Rugby is thrilled to have someone with Fardy’s wealth of knowledge and experience joining their coaching team, and they are looking forward to seeing what he can bring to the club over the next two years.

Commenting on the announcement, head coach Pete Wilkins says:

“I am delighted to be adding Scott to the Connacht Rugby coaching team for the 2023/24 season and beyond. When we began the recruitment process for a new defence coach, it was important to identify someone with experience of professional rugby at the very highest level, but also a person with the qualities that we want to see in a Connacht Rugby team in the years ahead. In Scott we have recruited someone who absolutely fits that mould on both fronts.

His playing career speaks for itself, and when you chat to anyone who has shared a pitch with him, more often than not the first thing they highlight are his leadership skills and his ability to inspire those around him. Scott understands what it takes to develop a relentless and winning mindset, and with his thorough knowledge of the Irish rugby landscape, is really motivated to help Connacht reach the next level.

These attributes will be a huge benefit to the club and us as a coaching team, and I’m sure the players will be massively excited to learn from and work with Scott in the years ahead.”

Scott Fardy says:

“I’m very excited to be joining the coaching team in Connacht. I’ve had some great conversations with Pete and I’m looking forward to making the move and working with all the players and coaches.

My wife and I loved our time in Ireland. Both our boys were born there and it feels like home for us, so the move makes perfect sense for us. I’m also very excited to be coaching in the URC and Europe, which are such challenging and diverse competitions.

There’s a lot of great young talent in the Connacht squad, coupled with some really experienced players. I’m looking forward to working with them and doing my bit to help them go from strength to strength”

 

List of Tie Breakers to decide final league positions in URC

As the United Rugby Championship approaches its final round, the competition is heating up with teams from 2nd to 9th place all having the potential to finish level on points after Round 18. This means that the tie breakers will be critical in determining the final positions on the league table, and each team will be hoping to come out on top.

The first tie breaker will be the number of points earned throughout the season. This is the most straightforward of the tie breakers, as it simply comes down to the number of points a team has accumulated from their matches.

If two or more teams have the same number of points, the next tie breaker will be the number of matches won. This is an important indicator of a team’s performance throughout the season and will be a key factor in determining their final position on the table.

The third tie breaker is points difference, which is the difference between the number of points a team has scored and the number of points they have conceded. This tie breaker rewards teams that have scored more points than their opponents, and will be crucial in determining the final positions on the league table.

If two or more teams are still tied after points difference, the next tie breaker will be tries scored. This tie breaker favors teams that have scored more tries, and will be an important indicator of a team’s attacking prowess throughout the season.

The fifth tie breaker is points scored, which is the total number of points a team has scored throughout the season. This is another important indicator of a team’s attacking ability, and will be a key factor in determining their final position on the table.

If two or more teams are still tied after points scored, the next tie breaker will be try difference. This is the difference between the number of tries a team has scored and the number of tries they have conceded. This tie breaker rewards teams that have a better defensive record, and will be crucial in determining the final positions on the league table.

The seventh tie breaker is the number of suspensions a team has received throughout the season. This tie breaker will be used to penalize teams that have been disciplined throughout the season, and will be a key factor in determining their final position on the table.

If two or more teams are still tied after suspensions, the next tie breaker will be the number of yellow cards a team has received throughout the season. This is another indicator of a team’s discipline, and will be a key factor in determining their final position on the table.

 

 

Why Is SEO Important For Sports Websites?

SEO, which is short for Search Engine Optimization is essential for all types of sports websites that are interested in ranking higher in search engine results and reaching a much wider audience. With the correct approach, any sports website has the potential to secure and enhance visibility as well as drive a lot more traffic to the website.

Why Does A Sports Website Need SEO?

The industry of sports belongs to a highly competitive sector. Every year stores that offer sports clothing, accessories, or equipment are introduced to the market. The drive towards a healthier lifestyle is one of the main factors that influence the industry of sport, along with selling footwear, sportswear, along with other goods.

Recreation and sports sectors incorporate every accessory for fitness, sports equipment, and exercising, along with footwear and sportswear, which is why their overall potential is extremely promising. In addition to this, all types of sports events, influencers, and promoting active lifestyles on social media channels are also one of the driving forces within this sector. This is why a practical and effective SEO strategy is vital for any business in the sports industry.

In this post, we will be covering a few of the main strategies required to optimise sports websites for all search engines.

1.) Content Creation

Content creation is a vital component of a sports website’s SEO strategy. Creating relevant, engaging, and high-quality content is one of the ideal ways to attract as well as retain readers or visitors to a website. When it comes to creating the right type of content for a sports website, here are a few tips to consider:

– Use multimedia elements such as infographics, videos, and images to ensure the content remains engaging.

– Use keywords that are relevant to the content, but avoid overdoing it.

– Publish fresh content on a regular basis to keep the website relevant and interesting.

– Create content that is “evergreen” so that it stays relevant. This could include how-to articles, guides, or tutorials.

2.) On-Page Optimization

On-page optimization references optimising the structure and content of a website. This process involves ensuring that the website has been structured in such as way that the search engines can easily understand the content has been optimised with the use of the correct keywords.

Optimising a website for the different search engines should involve:

– Using keywords in the page titles, headers, and meta descriptions.

– Optimising images with the use of descriptive alt tags and file names.

– Using internal links that connect the pages of the website and making it an easy process for the search engines to crawl the website.

– The structure of the website should be organised and clean making it easier for search engines and users to navigate.

3.) Keyword Research

Any SEO strategy starts with keyword research. This process involves the identification of phrases and keywords that people typically use when searching for content that relates to a website. This will include long-tail keywords and broad keywords. Long-tail keywords are a lot more focused and specific, while broad keywords involve general terms that relate to the sports niche. An example of this is “GAA football highlights” which would be the long-tail keyword, while “GAA” would be the broad keyword.

Tools like Ahrefs, Google Keyword Planner, or SEMrush can be used to locate the correct keywords for a sports website. These are the tools that help users to find the most high-traffic and relevant keywords for a niche.

4.) Social Media Optimization

SMO (Social Media Optimization) involves the optimisation of social media content and profiles to attract traffic to a sports website. Social media channels such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter are excellent platforms to reach new audiences or drive new traffic to a website.

When it comes to optimising social media content or profiles for a search engine, here are a few tips to consider:

– Link back to the website in the social media posts and profiles.

– Only use keywords that are relevant in social media posts and profiles.

– Post consistently and regularly to keep followers engaged.

– Engage with followers by responding to questions and comments.

5.) Link Building

Link building involves obtaining backlinks to the sports website from any other source that is reputable. Backlinks are one of the vital ranking factors when it comes to search engine algorithms since they show that another website regards the content as relevant and valuable.

In summary, SEO is vital for all types of websites that are interested in ranking higher on search engine results and reaching wider audiences. When using the strategies that were mentioned in this post, the owner of a sports website will be able to secure a solid and reliable SEO foundation that should increase traffic to the website.

Offaly easily beat Kildare in Joe McDonagh Cup

Offaly made a significant stride towards securing their place in the Joe McDonagh Cup final with an emphatic victory over Kildare in Hawkfield.

The result marked Offaly’s second triumph following wins over Laois and Kildare, and they appear to be hitting their stride at just the right time. With Down up next on home soil, Offaly’s destiny remains firmly within their grasp.

From start to finish, Offaly looked dominant, producing yet another commanding performance. Kildare were struggling to keep pace, and matters were compounded when Mark Delaney received a red card following an umpire’s intervention, leaving Kildare trailing 0-5 to 0-3. Despite their recent heavy defeat to Carlow, Offaly continued to press and punish their opponents, amassing a tally of 1-7 unanswered points. Cillian Kiely netted Offaly’s goal in the 16th minute, and by the 25th minute, Offaly had established an unassailable lead of 1-12 to 0-3.

To their credit, Kildare managed to secure two goals before the break, with James Burke and Cian Boran finding the net in the 26th and 35th minutes respectively. However, Offaly still held a commanding 1-18 to 2-6 interval advantage, leaving Kildare with an uphill battle in the second half.

Any hopes of a Kildare comeback were quickly extinguished as Eoghan Cahill struck a well-taken goal in the 47th minute, extending Offaly’s lead to 2-19 to 2-7. Cahill added a quick point, but Offaly seemed to take their foot off the gas, playing with less intensity and aggression. Kildare attempted to claw their way back into the game, securing three unanswered points. Nevertheless, Cillian Kiely ended Kildare’s run with a point in the 56th minute. The remainder of the game was somewhat academic, with Kildare netting a late consolation goal from a penalty by goalkeeper Paddy McKenna while Cillian Kiely missed an opportunity for Offaly, but the result was never in doubt. Overall, it was another impressive display from Offaly, who will be hoping to carry this form into their upcoming fixtures.

Scorers for Offaly: Eoghan Cahill 1-10 (6fs, 1 ’65’), Cillian Kiely 1-3, Adrian Cleary 0-3, Killian Sampson 0-2, Joey Keenaghan, Brian Duignan, Charlie Mitchell and Cathal Kiely 0-1 each.

Scorers for Kildare: Paddy McKenna 1-5 (1-0 pen, 4fs and 1 ’65’), James Burke and Cian Boran 1-1 each, Paul Dolan, Brian Byrne, Paul Divilly and Drew Costello 0-1 each.

Offaly: Stephen Corcoran; Ben Conneely, Ciaran Burke, David King; Jack Screeney, Jason Sampson, Killian Sampson; Cillian Kiely, Joey Keenaghan; Adrian Cleary, Jack Clancy, Eoghan Cahill; David Nally, Brian Duignan, Charlie Mitchell.

Subs: Paddy Clancy for Keenaghan (40m), Cathal Kiely for Mitchell (53m), Paddy Delaney for Jack Clancy (63m), John Murphy for Duignan (63m).

Kildare: Paddy McKenna; Niall O’Muineachain, Simon Leacy, Cian Shanahan; Jack Travers, Rian Boran, Paul Dolan; Johnny Byrne, Cathal McCabe; James Burke, Gerry Keegan, Mark Delaney; Brian Byrne, Cian Boran, Cathal Dowling.

Subs: Paul Divilly for Dowling (7m), David Qualter for Dolan (HT), John McKeown for O’Muineachain (46m), Sean Christiansen for Divilly (51m), Drew Costello for Travers (54m).

Referee: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary)

 

Video Highlights – Shock result as Monaghan beat Tyrone

Monaghan beat Tyrone by two points thanks to a late goal from Ryan O’Toole six minutes into injury time.

Darren McCurry’s brilliant performance saw Tyrone take the lead with his fifth score, but it was Ryan O’Toole who stole the show with a courageous finish to secure a semi-final spot for Tyrone against Derry.

Tyrone started strong with neat scores from McCurry and Darragh Canavan. Mattie Donnelly added to the tally with a goal on ten minutes, but Conor McManus was the only Monaghan attacker to score from play before the break.

Despite Tyrone’s lead of 1-10 to 0-07 at half-time, Monaghan closed the gap with wind advantage in the second half. A brilliant Stephen O’Hanlon goal gave Monaghan the lead for the first time in the 57th minute, but McCurry hit a couple of scores to regain the lead for Tyrone.

In the sixth minute of stoppage time, O’Toole’s spirit of adventure paid off handsomely when he fired home the golden goal, thanks to excellent defensive work from Kieran Duffy, Conor Boyle and Karl O’Connell. It was a thrilling match that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very end.

Sam Prendergast gets his first start for Leinster Rugby in URC

U20 Grand slam winning outhalf Sam Prendergast gets his first start for Leinster Rugby in URC against the Bulls on Saturday.

EMIRATES LIONS V LEINSTER

Emirates Lions

  • Marius Louw has missed more tackles than any other player (39); his tackle success rate is 77%. However, he has made the most dominant tackles in the league (23)
  • PJ Botha has thrown into the most successful lineouts in the BKT URC, a total of 132. A league-high 13 of these have been thrown beyond the 15-metre line
  • Sanele Nohamba is the only player in the league to have kicked three 50/22s

 

Leinster

  • Harry Byrne made more kicks (16) and kick metres (546) than any other player in Round 16. A round-high three of his kicks were retained and he became the first player to kick two 50/22s in a single match this season
  • Rob Russell won as many turnovers as any other player in Leinster’s last league appearance (three, = Shane Lewis-Hughes). So far this season, he has won the joint-most turnovers in the Leinster squad (seven, = Ryan Baird)
  • Leinster have scored nine more tries from tap penalties than any other team, a total of 15

 

Did You Know?

Last season, this fixture was an eight-point game. At half time, Leinster led by just seven points to six.

The Emirates Lions are on a three-match winning streak, their first since October. They haven’t won four consecutive matches this season.

Leinster’s draw against the Stormers was the first time they have failed to win in the BKT URC in 15 matches.

 

Team News

TV).

Rhys Ruddock captains the team in Johannesburg’s Emirates Airlines Park, with Leinster Academy fly-half Sam Prendergast set to make his Leinster debut.

Chris Cosgrave starts at full-back. On the wings, Dave Kearney is set to make his 150th league appearance, while there is a welcome return for Tommy O’Brien, who makes his first appearance of the season after recovering from a knee injury.

In the centre, Liam Turner is joined by Ben Brownlee. Ireland Under-20 fly-half Prendergast makes his debut, with Nick McCarthy partnering him at scrum-half.

In the front row, Georgia international Vakhtang Abdaladze is set for his first Leinster start. He will pack down with Michael Milne and Lee Barron.

Brian Deeny joins South African international Jason Jenkins in the second row, with Ruddock, Will Connors and Max Deegan forming the back-row.

On the bench, five Academy players are set to feature with Alex Soroka, James Culhane, Ben Murphy, Charlie Tector and Rob Russell all looking to impress.

Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets):
15. Chris Cosgrave (5)
14. Tommy O’Brien (21)
13. Liam Turner (16)
12. Ben Brownlee (2)
11. Dave Kearney (182)
10. Sam Prendergast (0)
9. Nick McCarthy (59)

1. Michael Milne (28)
2. Lee Barron (5)
3. Vakhtang Abdaladze (26)
4. Brian Deeny (11)
5. Jason Jenkins (14)
6. Rhys Ruddock (220) CAPTAIN
7. Will Connors (33)
8. Max Deegan (94)

16. Tadgh McElroy (2)
17. Ed Byrne (94)
18. Thomas Clarkson (24)
19. Alex Soroka (7)
20. James Culhane (1)
21. Ben Murphy (1)
22. Charlie Tector (5)
23. Rob Russell (16)

Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)

 

Connacht v Cardiff – Preview, Team News & Betting

This is a huge game for Champions Cup rugby qualification as both Connacht and Cardiff need wins.

It’s the last home game for Connacht and if they win and can beat Glasgow next week they will finish 5th/6th in the URC table.

Connacht v Cardiff Preview

Connacht Rugby will face off against Cardiff Rugby in the upcoming BKT United Rugby Championship match. Connacht comes into the game on the back of a five-match winning streak, making it their best run in the championship since 2016. They have only lost twice at home this season, to Leinster and Ulster, both of which are top-quality sides.

On the other hand, Cardiff Rugby has won two of their last three games in the United Rugby Championship. They have lost only two of their last six away matches, which is a good sign for their prospects against Connacht. However, Cardiff’s record against Irish provinces has not been great lately, with their only victory over an Irish side since January 2022 coming against Munster in September 2022. Furthermore, their last victory against an Irish team on Irish soil was against today’s opponents, Connacht, in Galway in September 2017.

Despite Cardiff’s recent record against Irish provinces, they have won two of their last three matches against Connacht. However, they have lost their last three visits to the Sportsground, which gives Connacht the home advantage. It will be interesting to see how the match unfolds, and the winner will hope to continue their good run in the championship.

Betting for Connacht v Cardiff 

You can back Cardiff at 5/2, bookies expect Connacht to win by 7pts.

Team News for Connacht v Cardiff

 

CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY 23 VS CARDIFF RUGBY
Saturday 15th April, 19:35 Irish time @ The Sportsground

Number/Name/Caps

15. Tiernan O’Halloran (218)
14. Diarmuid Kilgallen (15)
13. Tom Farrell (95)
12. Bundee Aki (124)
11. Mack Hansen (25)
10. Jack Carty (191) (C)
9. Caolin Blade (166)
1. Denis Buckley (224)
2. Dylan Tierney-Martin (20)
3. Finlay Bealham (185)
4. Josh Murphy (14)
5. Niall Murray (52)
6. Cian Prendergast (43)
7. Conor Oliver (59)
8. Jarrad Butler (111)

16. Eoin de Buitléar (1)
17. Peter Dooley (16)
18. Dominic Robertson-McCoy (78)
19. Oisín Dowling (40)
20. Shamus Hurley-Langton (16)
21. Kieran Marmion (226)
22. Tom Daly (74)
23. Shane Jennings (3)

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