‘He's honoured and delighted' – Andy Farrell hails Lions captain Tadhg Beirne as he confirms Hugo Keenan is fit to face Waratahs
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Extra.ie
an hour ago
- Extra.ie
Lions still have glaring weakness... and Joe is watching
On a previous Lions tour to Australia in 1989, Irishman Donal Lenihan was honoured with the captaincy of the 'dirt-trackers'. While Finlay Calder was leading the senior side to a series victory, 'Donal's Doughnuts' were also enshrined in Lions folklore for the tremendous spirit they generated under Lenihan's leadership, while notching up the wins to support the main effort. You wonder what Lenihan's fellow Munster second row Tadhg Beirne was thinking when his name was read out as captain of the Lions team to take on the Waratahs tomorrow. Tadhg Beirne will captain the Lions against the Waratahs. Pic:With games now coming thick and fast, every player wants to be throwing some Test side shapes and the best way to do that is to be selected alongside Maro Itoje, the tour captain and only guaranteed Test starter. The fact Beirne is now set to start his third game of the tour means he is extremely unlikely to feature with Itoje against the Brumbies on Wednesday — the game long designated as the one most likely to mirror head coach Andy Farrell's Test selection. Joe McCarthy could get the nod for that one based on his barnstorming display against the Force, while Ollie Chessum (rested against the Waratahs) is another right in the mix. Joe McCarthy in action for the Lions against Western Force. Pic:James Ryan gets the start he has craved but is playing catch-up and would need the performance of his life to leapfrog McCarthy and Chessum at this stage. Furthermore, the fact Beirne is selected in the second row for tomorrow suggests the experiment to relocate him to the back row has been shelved, while the identity of who will fill the No6 jersey for the Tests continues to be the biggest selection head scratcher on tour. Tom Curry has started there twice but, as we said before a ball was kicked in anger, he is clearly better suited to the openside slot where his relative lack of height is less of an issue. James Ryan gets the start he has craved but is playing catch-up. Pic: Steve Christo/Sportsfile Yet, the Lions continue to persevere with the undersized back-row approach with Henry Pollock playing No6 against the Reds alongside Josh van Flier at openside and Ben Earl at No8. This immediately puts pressure on the Lions line-out, specifically the two main jumpers Beirne and Ryan and thrower Luke Cowan-Dickie. For this to be an ongoing problem this far into the tour reflects the initial flawed selection policy — this Lions squad is screaming out for a Courtney Lawes or Ryan Baird type blindside flanker and the closer we get to the Tests, the more Australia head coach Joe Schmidt will be smelling weakness. Australia head coach Joe Schmidt. Pic: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo Farrell still hasn't tried Chessum in the blindside role and the big Leicester man could well be the solution but the clock is ticking for experimentation. If he tries Chessum there against the Brumbies on Wednesday and it doesn't work, Farrell has lost the chance to cement a possible Test second row partnership with Itoje. The coaching ticket would strenuously reject the notion that this team to face the Reds represent the dirt-trackers of this expedition and there are certainly players starting with genuine designs on the Test side. Hugo Keenan and Blair Kinghorn are getting their first auditions as live Test candidates, Van der Flier has a strong Test claim and the Scotland centres Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu are both still well in the mix. Hugo Keenan will get his first audition as a live Test candidates. Pic: INPHO/Billy Stickland But it is fair to say the half-back pairing of Fin Smith and Alex Mitchell is the designated back-up to Finn Russell and Jamison Gibson-Park, as is the front-row combination of Pierre Schoeman, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Finlay Bealham behind Ellis Genge/Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong. So, amid all the furore over Farrell calling up his son, there is a lot still up in the air when it comes to Lions Test selection — not least the situation at No6. And Joe is watching…
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Swear I saw a smile' – Watch Roy Keane break character in hilarious blooper reel for League of Ireland ad
ROY Keane couldn't help but crack up while auditioning for his new job of being a comedic actor. The renowned hardman Advertisement 2 The advert is made with Rockshore who are the League of Ireland's official beer Credit: @rockshore and @leagueofireland 2 Keane has to get creative to take in a Cork City match at Turners Cross Credit: @rockshore and @leagueofireland And producers Rockshore have now released a blooper reel from his day of filming. In it, the 53-year-old doesn't seem to have found the repetitive process of reading out lines over and over again too tiresome as he cracks up at several moments. Rockshore captioned the amusing insight: "Swear I saw a smile there once or twice!" As for the ad itself, Keano shows his comedic chops as he tries his best to attend a City match despite being turned away at the gate. Advertisement Read More On Irish Football The script even includes a joke about his height as he pleads with two other fans to let him get in front for a better view from the adjoining pub since he's short enough that he won't obscure their view. The advert is suitably aided by the musical accompaniment of The Frank and Walters' hit song "After All" which is a beloved tune on Leeside. Rockshore are invested in the success of the League of Ireland as the league's official beer sponsor. So it all adds up that their video implores casual Irish football fans to make the effort to attend a match in person instead of solely consuming the beautiful game through their televisions. Advertisement Most read in Football Comment It was captioned: "Time to show up. League of Ireland is calling." While it was Cobh Ramblers that the Ireland icon 'League of Ireland is calling' - Watch Roy Keane get in touch with Cork City roots while starring in hilarious ad In the case of Ger Nash's team in particular, they could do with all of the help they can get. Despite him Advertisement Amazingly, their last outing was their first clean sheet of the campaign as they dug out a point in It proved another acrimonious night at Turners Cross, but Bohemians lifted the mood If it proves to be Tein Troost's final game as City keeper, he at least signed off with a first shut-out and saved from Brandon Kavanagh late on. City's winless streak extended to 11 games while Saints have not won in their last five as they remain sixth. Advertisement Nash called for unity in his programme notes after the supporter unrest that But play was paused midway through the first half as objects were thrown from the Shed End amid a plume of black smoke. Fans chanted in opposition to the club ownership as a banner was unfurled that read, 'Sold the dream, living a nightmare'.
The Journal
2 hours ago
- The Journal
Diogo Jota: Mourners to gather for Liverpool footballer's wake in Portugal
MOURNERS ARE SET to gather to honour Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota at a wake in Portugal this morning, a local parish priest has said. The 28-year-old father of three, who had married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso just 11 days ago, died in a car crash in Spain alongside his brother Andre Silva. The crash happened on the A-52 in Palacios de Sanabria near the city of Zamora at 12.40am on Thursday. It is suspected that the Lamborghini they were travelling in veered off the road and burst into flames following a tyre blowout. Jose Manuel Macedo, parish priest at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in Sao Cosme, told the PA news agency in a translated message that a wake for the brothers will take place at 8am at the nearby Capela da Ressurreicao before their funeral at the Igreja Matriz on Saturday at 10am. Tributes poured in from across the football world and beyond yesterday. They were led by Liverpool Football Club, which Jota had been a star player for since he joined the club in 2020. In a statement yesterday afternoon, manager Arne Slot said the 'sense of shock is absolute' for the club. Liverpool fans leave tributes outside Anfield Stadium in memory of Diogo Jota. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo 'Diogo was not just our player. He was a loved one to all of us. He was a teammate, a colleague, a workmate and in all of those roles he was very special,' Slot said. 'I could say so much about what he brought to our team but the truth is everyone who watched Diogo play could see it. Hard work, desire, commitment, great quality, goals. The essence of what a Liverpool player should be.' He said Jota 'never sought popularity' but gained it anyway and was a friend to everyone, able to make others feel good about themselves 'just by being with them'. He said the last time they spoke, he wished Jota luck for his upcoming wedding. 'In many ways, it was a dream summer for Diogo and his family, which makes it all the more heartbreaking that it should end like this,' Slot added. Our lad from Portugal. Forever ❤️ — Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 3, 2025 'When the time is right, we will celebrate Diogo Jota, we will remember his goals and we will sing his song. For the time being, we will remember him as a unique human being and mourn his loss. He will never be forgotten.' Irish goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who left Liverpool last month to join Brentford, said Jota had become 'one of my closest friends in football' in a tribute shared last night. 'I was surprised a lad from Portugal loved sports such as darts, snooker and horse racing so much and some of my best memories were having a laugh watching them with you,' Kelleher said. 'I feel so blessed and grateful to have seen you on your happiest day, the day of your wedding and to be able to share in that day with you was special. I'll never forget it. You were deeply loved by everyone at the club, the city and all over the world. 'It's gonna hurt for a long time and I'm gonna miss you so much but I feel so lucky to have got know you and have such a good friend.' Advertisement Liverpool captain Virgil Van Dijk said he was 'absolutely devastated and in total disbelief' following the news of Jota's death. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Virgil (@virgilvandijk) 'What a human being, what a player, but most importantly what an unbelievable family man. You meant so much to all of us and you always will! For your family to lose two sons, a husband and a father is just unimaginable. So cruel and unfair. 'I promise you that in these difficult times and beyond we will always be there for your family,' he added. 'We will miss you beyond words and never forget you. Your legacy will live on, we will make sure of it!' The club has opened physical and digital books of condolence in the wake of the deaths, and supporters and members of the public can go to the Anfield Road Stand reception area over the coming days to sign a message. The online book can be found on Liverpool's website . Flags have been lowered to half-mast at the stadium and all club stores, museums and tours have been closed until Monday, with staff offered wellbeing support. The Portuguese Football Federation also said it was 'devastated' to learn of the deaths, adding: 'Their deaths represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football.' The tributes at Anfield Stadium seen from above. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Police said they were investigating the possibility that the Lamborghini left the road because of a tyre blowout while overtaking, and a source from the government sub-delegation in Zamora confirmed 'a possible speeding incident' was being looked at. No other vehicles are said to have been involved in the incident. Pictures of the aftermath of the crash showed debris scattered along the side of the road including what appeared to be charred parts of the vehicle. Liverpool fans began leaving tributes outside Anfield after the news broke yesterday, with flowers being laid with messages including 'Thanks for everything, Diogo'. Jota was part of Liverpool's Premier League-winning side in the 2024/25 campaign, scoring six goals in 26 appearances. He joined the Merseyside club from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020, winning three major trophies. Liverpool fans have called for the number 2o shirt, which Jota wore throughout his tenure at the club, to be retired in his honour. Jota and his wife were together since 2013. They have three children together – two sons and a daughter who was born in November. With reporting from Press Association Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
