Clubscores

Huge credit to Jack Carty — one of Connacht’s great servants, and up there with the best sportspeople Roscommon has produced. I’ve had my differences with him over the years — we didn’t always see eye to eye and he probably wasn’t a fan of some of the stats I was putting out. But that’s sport. The last year changed that a bit. Had a chat with him recently and you could see how much Connacht means to him — especially working under Lancaster and around a group he genuinely believes can do great things. Strip it all back and you’re talking about 231 games, record points scorer, part of a Pro12 winning squad — and a lad who stuck with his home province through it all. He must have had serious offers to leave over the years. That deserves serious respect. Really hope the next chapter — whether in rugby or beyond — goes just as well, paddle and supplement ventures included. Enjoy retirement from playing rugby @JackCarty10 👏🟢

Connacht the only Irish side to win this weekend… check on your Leinster, Munster and Ulster friends, they’re not used to this 😅

URC after 12 rounds and it’s mad how tight it is. Connacht have basically stood still (9th → 9th, 29 → 30). Still right in the mix but you’d feel they should have more on the board. Plenty of good spells this year, just not enough wins to show for it. They’re there, but they need to start taking chances now or they’ll drift. Ulster are the big movers. From 13th up to 3rd (27 → 41) is a serious jump. Injuries, disruption, didn’t matter — they’ve found results. Right in the playoff spots now and playing like a team that believes again. Leinster drop from 1st to 4th (57 → 41) looks big on paper, but no panic there. Different approach this year, managing things, and they’ll still be there at the business end. Munster quietly moving the right way as well — 5th to 6th but up on points (33 → 39). Still very much in the hunt and building nicely. Big picture: all four provinces are in the top 9, three of them in the top 6. Ulster flying, Leinster steady, Munster building, Connacht just hovering — but every one of them has something to play for. Race to 8 is very dependent on how Connacht do tonight.

Official attendance @CheltenhamRaces today 55,648

Supremely West is a 100/30 winning favourite in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle @CheltenhamRaces for @SkeltonUk

Last year's @Ryanair Chase runner-up Heart Wood (9/2) goes one place better in the 2026 renewal for @DarraghOKeeffe8, @BrianAcheson and Henry de Bromhead

Predator's Gold from the @WillieMullinsNH yard is now a non-runner in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase @CheltenhamRaces at 2.00pm

Leader D'Allier from the @WillieMullinsNH yard is out of the @SkyBet Supreme Novices' Hurdle @CheltenhamRaces after being found lame.

How do you see Ireland v Wales going? Be good to get a feel for what people are thinking.

Five Ulster starters and two on the bench for Ireland this weekend. Last year Ulster didn’t have a single player in the 23 against Wales — some turnaround in 12 months. Ireland -28, that’s big for a side chopping and changing, or are Wales just not going to show up?

@DD2705 Seems to be a few clubs setting up in cork, The Ireland senior finals were on TG4 this year youtube.com/live/USF_Jj9pB… . Here is the list of GAA rounders clubs gaarounders.ie/clublist/all/

Listening to Newstalk earlier and a motion was passed at congress regarding rounders. Has anyone seen a competitive game of rounders played outside of the schoolyard. Does anyone know of a club playing rounders in Cork? Curious 🤨 #gaa

Historic Moment for GAA Rounders as Congress Votes Overwhelmingly for Ard Chomhairle Seat sportsnewsireland.com/gaa/historic-m… via @GAARoundersoffi @officialgaa

GAA Congress 2026: Historic Weekend as GAA Rounders Set for Seat at the Top Table sportsnewsireland.com/gaa/gaa-congre… via @SportsNewsIre @GAARoundersoffi #gaa

Few hours left on the poll — curious to see how people think Ireland v Italy plays out 🏉 Get voting 👇 #rugby

Really looking forward to seeing Noah Byrne at full-back and Daniel Ryan on the wing for the Ireland U20s tonight. Both are tough positions at this level, but they look like they’ve something really special about them.

Full Time Score 🟢⚪️

🔴⚪ MATCH DAY ⚪🔴 Seniors v Tipperary | Allianz Hurling League 🕢 7:30pm | SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh 🚪 Gates 5:00pm - Premium 4:30pm U20s v Wexford 5:30pm Match Day Info | gaacork.ie/2026/02/07/mat… Please arrive early and supporter our u20s.

The fixture details for the 2026 Munster senior hurling champinship have been confirmed as follows...

This was class from Noah Byrne.

Ireland won a Grand Slam at U20 level in 2023 and beat France in a thriller. From that French U20 team, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Émilien Gailleton, Hugo Auradou, Lenni Nouchi, Marko Gazzotti, Théo Attissogbé, Oscar Jégou and Nicolas Depoortère have all played senior International rugby. Most have logged 50+ senior club appearances. Ireland, by comparison, have brought through Sam Prendergast and Gus McCarthy. A few others are picking up some club rugby, but the majority from that Grand Slam squad still aren’t regulars in provincial 23s, let alone trusted starters. So the issue isn’t talent — that was proven in 2023. The gap is trust. France back their young players early and live with the mistakes. If meaningful game time is the aim, do we need a stronger, more regionally focused top-level AIL to bridge that gap? Or would that even help? Thoughts @bernardjackman @CianTracey1 @RuaidhriOC Ireland U20 (2023) – Matchday 23 George Hadden, Danny Sheahan, Paddy McCarthy, Diarmuid Mangan, Conor O’Tighearnaigh, James McNabney, Ruadhán Quinn, Brian Gleeson, Fintan Gunne, Sam Prendergast, Hugh Gavin, John Devine, Hugh Cooney, James Nicholson, Henry McErlean, Jacob Sheahan, George Morris, Fiachna Barrett, Evan O’Connell, Oscar Cawley, Jacob Sheahan, Harry West, Rory Telfer French U20 (2023) – Matchday 23 Louis Penvèrne, Barnabé Massa, Zaccharie Affane, Hugo Auradou, Brent Liufau, Oscar Jégou, Lenni Nouchi, Marko Gazzotti, Léo Carbonneau, Tom Raffy, Enzo Benmegal, Émilien Gailleton, Nicolas Depoortère, Théo Attissogbé, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Thomas Lacombre, Luca Tabarot, Maino Pakihivatau, Bastien Chinarro, Mathis Castro, Hugo Reus, Arthur Mathiron, Mathis Ferté