Reflecting on the 2024 All-Star football team, Gordon Manning highlights the dominance of All Ireland champions Armagh, featuring six men from the county, in addition to players from Galway, Donegal, Tyrone and Louth. Notably, no representatives from Dublin or Kerry were included, a circumstance that has not occurred since 2003. Ciarán Murphy, conversely, commends the changing landscape in the club championships, pointing out that only three out of eight teams from the previous year’s football and hurling provincial champions have managed to retain their titles, serving as a refreshing change unless you happen to support one of the five clubs unfortunate enough not to succeed.
Munster Rugby finds itself in a state of turmoil following the exit of Graham Rowntree. In light of their upcoming match against the All Blacks XV however, Johnny Watterson suggests this as a perfect opportunity to momentarily set aside their issues and aspire for a revival of their past glory.
Meanwhile, the Republic of Ireland is also seeking to re-establish its magnificent days in football. If they manage to win against Wales in their upcoming play-off, they will qualify for their first ever European Championships. Gavin Cummiskey discusses this possibility with Julie-Ann Russell, whose performance has been exceptional since rejoining the team after a four-year hiatus.
Over to American football, a sport that isn’t widely played in Ireland, still manages to command a strong following with approximately 350,000 fans. Ken Belson of The New York Times examines the potential for expanding this fan base, and the idea of hosting an NFL game in Ireland. Pittsburgh Steelers fan, Shane De Lappe, emphatically demonstrates his commitment, declaring his willingness to part with a kidney to see his team compete, especially in a Super Bowl. Such dedication is noteworthy!
TV Preview: In the upcoming Rolex Grand Final in Mallorca, we will have three representatives from Ireland. Our commentator, Philip Reid, gives us a glimpse of this concluding event of the Challenge Tour that kicks-off today (airing on Sky Sports Mix from 10am to 3pm and Sky Sports Golf from 2pm to 4pm). Conor Purcell is currently standing at a commendable 4th place in the rankings and has already secured his full DP World Tour card for the forthcoming season. His compatriots, Dermot McElroy (ranked 37th) and Gary Hurley (ranked 43rd), are also in the race, hoping to accompany him for the next season.