Latest news with #Cavan
RTÉ News
10 hours ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Leona Maguire ready to chase history at Women's Irish Open
Leona Maguire is somewhere between Texas and Michigan when the call comes through from RTÉ Sport. It's the Monday after the KPMG Women's PGA Championship and it's been road and air ever since, the life of a professional athlete. There's another big leg to come yet after a stop off at the Dow Championship and that's across the Atlantic Ocean and back to Irish soil as the headline act at the 2025 KPMG Women's Irish Open, which takes place this week at Carton House and will be shown live on RTÉ. It'll be a reinvigorated Maguire that tackles the course after her top-20 finish in Texas, where MinJee Lee tamed a ferocious course, winning by three strokes at a tournament that saw only three players finish par or better. The Cavan golfer finished with a 76 to fall to six-over par overall, but it was good enough for her first top-20 finish at a major since the same event two years previously. The fact that it came on the back of four missed cuts in succession suggests it came out of nowhere, but the player herself was always tranquil about her form and knew it was a matter of 'when' not 'if.' "It was a very positive week," she told RTÉ Sport. "It was a tough golf course, it was over 100 degrees Fahrenheit here and it was very windy – the windiest conditions we've played in in a long time. Combine that with a difficult course set up and it really made for a challenge. "It was kind of nice, you expect a challenge at majors. The KPMG PGA has become a challenging event and we were all expecting that and it was nice to put four good rounds together at this time of the year." "I definitely felt that my game was trending in the right direction," she added. "I played really well at the Meijer at Grand Rapids the week before. "Golf is a funny game, sometimes all it takes is a little thing to click and away you go." The thousands streaming through the gates of Carton House will be hoping that it has clicked completely as Ireland chases its first winner in the event. Since the competition's return in 2022 after a nine-year absence, Maguire has been Ireland's best finisher on all three occasions – T4, T14 and T15. Understandably, a win on home soil sits extremely high up on her golfing to-do list. She'll have the likes of Madelene Sagstrom, Charley Hull, Anna Nordqvist, Georgia Hall and defending champion Annabel Dimmock to contend with on the O'Meara Course, but she is hopeful that history will be made at what's set to be another record-breaking event. "I think it's testament to the investment KPMG have put into the event over the last number of years. "Since it came back at Dromoland a couple of years ago (2022) the tournament has really elevated and built year-on-year. "We have increased numbers of spectators and obviously the increase in the number of top quality players coming over. Anna Nordqvist, Charley Hull, they're a little bit taken aback when they see the number of Irish fans that come out. "Even this week I've had a few friends taking pictures beside Luas signs of me and it's a bit surreal at times. It's one of the pinnacle events and one of the premier events on the Ladies European Tour." Irish golf is especially strong right now – as will be demonstrated by the large home contingent taking part this week – and while Maguire is doing her thing Stateside, six players are currently in competition on the Ladies European Tour. One of those, Carton House's touring professional Lauren Walsh, sits just outside the top 10 in the LET Order of Merit in just her second season with a pro card. Maguire doesn't usually go too far without twin sister Lisa, the pair playing their first Irish Open together in 2009, and said that having so many familiar faces on the European circuit is a real tonic for the difficult stretches of life on the road. "There's more pros out there and more girls on tour than there ever was. "It's great for the girls when they're travelling week-on-week that they have each other. "Historically, the Spanish and French have had lots of buddies out there and it definitely shortens the road a little bit. "So many Irish players (16 in all) are are set to play next week and it's great to give the younger girls that exposure." "The travel is the big component to professional golf," added Maguire, who feels this year's earlier date will help with the goal of breaking last year's 37,000 attendance figure. "You probably don't have it on the amateur side, well definitely not as much. You finish up one place on Sunday night and you're either on a plane straight away or maybe Monday morning. "It's a lot easier when things go to plan, it gets a bit trickier when things don't." With another major awaiting at the Evian Championship next weekend, that trip to France will be made all the more easier if Maguire's Irish dream has been achieved.
Edinburgh Live
2 days ago
- Edinburgh Live
Brit gobsmacked by prices in 'unreal' Spanish supermarket and warns 'we've been had'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Brits have become all too accustomed to forking out a small fortune for groceries in UK supermarkets, but venturing abroad can be a real eye-opener. For Cavan O'Grady, a trip to Spain with his mum to celebrate her 63rd birthday was a wake-up call. While staying with his aunt in La Línea de la Concepción, near Gibraltar, it was a visit to a local Carrefour supermarket that left him speechless. Basking in the 30-degree sunshine was a bonus, but what really caught Cavan's attention was the staggering difference in food prices compared to back home. The 27 year old from Birmingham took to social media, captioning a clip: "Spanish supermarkets are a different level". READ MORE - Chris Tarrant savages Phillip Schofield as he points out 'nasty little trick' READ MORE - Brooklyn Beckham's decision could leave sister Harper 'devastated' amid family feud As he wandered the aisles, he exclaimed: "TikTok, I'm going to tell you something, Spain knows how to do it in these supermarkets." Cavan was blown away by the sheer scale of the store and the freshness of the produce on offer. "This would make you want to eat like a king out here. And do you know what, price-wise, it's so much cheaper here than it is back home.", reports the Mirror. For Cavan, this was just another reason to love visiting Spain – a clear "win" in his books. One local expressed gratitude, saying: "Thank you very much for saying what no one ever says, there is good agriculture, livestock, fishing, we have everything in our country." Another person enthused: "Mercadona is one of the crown jewels." Sharing her experience, one woman said: "I live in Spain, it's a lot cheaper to live there than in the UK, the bills are cheaper too,". There were some comments suggesting that "Spain was a paradise not long ago," but lamented that now it's become "too expensive" relative to incomes. (Image: Jam Press) (Image: Jam Press) (Image: Jam Press) Cav revealed his realisation about UK prices by stating: "It showed me how we're getting absolutely had on products in the UK. I was genuinely overwhelmed by the quality and prices on offer in that Spanish supermarket." Beyond the grocery shopping experience, he was also blown away by the local gym facilities, rating them a perfect "10/10". Describing his fitness pursuits, he said: "I wanted to find a proper bodybuilding gym, which I found, and the gym is sick, the equipment's sick, and the locals are really nice and friendly," and assured that he'd be returning to that gym during his stay with his mum. In a further video comment, Cav suggested a change might be on the horizon: "TikTok, I might actually move to Spain [...] This is the life for me... Might have to be a quick move here, lads".
BBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
McKernan not in Tyrone panel for Dublin quarter-final
Michael McKernan has not been not included in Tyrone's matchday panel for Saturday's All-Ireland quarter-final against Dublin. The 2021 All-Ireland winner - one of the county's standout players this year - was forced off early in the Red Hands' preliminary quarter-final win over Cavan with a shoulder injury. As a result, Peter Teague moves from the full-back line to cover McKernan at right wing-back, with Padraig Hampsey taking the number three shirt. Mark Bradley is named at full-forward after not featuring against Cavan, while Malachy O'Rourke's bench includes Peter Harte, Conor Meyler, Ruairi Canavan and Eoin McElholm. For Dublin, captain Con O'Callaghan is named among the subs having missed out on last week's preliminary quarter-final win over O'Dell was a late replacement for the Cuala club-man and he keeps his place in the Dublin attack, as does Eoin Murchan who was a late switch for Theo Clancy who is also named to start on the manager Dessie Farrell opts to make late switches remains to be seen, but as it stands, the Dubs will start with the same XV that got them Niall Morgan; Cormac Quinn, Padraig Hampsey, Niall Devlin; Peter Teague, Rory Brennan, Kieran McGeary; Brian Kennedy, Conn Kilpatrick; Seanie O'Donnell, Mattie Donnelly, Ciaran Daly; Darren McCurry, Mark Bradley, Darragh Canavan. Subs: Oisin O'Kane, Aidan Clarke, Michael Rafferty, Frank Burns, Shea O'Hare, Ben McDonnell, Michael O'Neill, Peter Harte, Conor Meyler, Ruairi Canavan, Eoin McElholm. Dublin: Stephen Cluxton; Eoin Murchan, David Byrne, Sean MacMahon; Brian Howard, John Small, Lee Gannon; Peadar O Cofaigh-Byrne, Killian McGinnis; Sean Bugler, Ciaran Kilkenny, Niall Scully; Paddy Small, Cormac Costello, Lorcan O' Evan Comerford, Luke Breathnach, Theo Clancy, Nathan Doran, Ethan Dunne, Alex Gavin, Tom Lahiff, Greg McEneaney, Ross McGarry, Cian Murphy, Con O'Callaghan, Niall O'Callaghan, Brian O'Leary.
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
GAA spygate: looking for that 5% on the opposition to get you over the line
Business as usual. When it was put to Jim McGuinness that a spy had been infamously outed at Kerry's training before the 2014 All-Ireland final, his response was matter-of-fact: It happens to everyone. Everywhere. 'Listen, the bottom line with that is that, espionage is a very strong word to use, but it's going on all the time,' he said at the time, while denying that Patrick Roarty was associated with their camp after the Donegal man was spotted in a Killarney tree observing training. 'We put people out of our own training on Wednesday night and maybe three or four times in the lead in.' Inter-county management has always been steeped in a cloak-and-dagger tradition. The art of preparation is an exercise in sourcing information. In the endless search for an edge, who you know is as important as what you know. A long list of contacts has its currency in this peculiar trade. 'You'd consult a lot of different people depending on who knows a county or the players,' says former Tyrone footballer Ryan McMenamin, who previously managed Fermanagh and coached Cavan. 'How are things going or what are you hearing? I know my time with Cavan and Fermanagh, we had a lot of knowledge on the players with videos and everything. All the video is available in a shared Drive. You'd have that anyway. You are just looking for a sense. 'Ireland is small enough. Everyone has a contact. The phone might buzz after a challenge, any chance we can see that? Who played well? 'You would have a network of former players, friends and coaches you can give a shout.' Most of this is well within the lines. A former team-mate involved in a rival club championship, a casual chat with a GAA-obsessed cousin, a call, a text and a MP4. With the challenge game circuit the way that it is, video exchanging is a routine practice. That has only accelerated in recent years. 'There is a general acceptance of it since Covid,' says McMenamin. 'Andy McEntee created a WhatsApp group for managers to get their hands around it all. There is a behind-the-scenes scene that supporters wouldn't see." 'There is a bit of 'don't give out any of your own secrets but if you want to get along…', so we played challenges and both teams requested no video. 'We're not recording that.' It stops anything from getting out. 'There are conversations among managers all the time. Sometimes you have an agreement around a challenge. No video and no information shared.' In the aftermath of a devastating Ulster final defeat, Armagh boss Kieran McGeeney made it clear they had already started to plan for the group stage. 'Derry are playing well by all accounts in the challenge games,' he said. Did they get access to the footage from those matches? Who knows. Would it have been in their interest? Absolutely. Earlier this month, McGeeney was less willing to discuss how they utilised a free weekend having secured a quarter-final spot before their final group game. When asked if they elected to travel outside the county for a training camp, he was guarded. 'You try do as much as you can each weekend. Some days you travel, it depends if fellas are working. Any time we have had a chance, it depends if the Athletic Grounds is available, all of those things. You try make the most of every weekend you are off. It wouldn't just be the last one.' Each leader has a trusted circle. Before the All-Ireland final last year, Pádraic Joyce revealed the two managers he was closest to were former International Rules team-mate McGeeney and former Sigerson Cup team-mate Jim McGuinness. Kerry boss Jack O'Connor has previously charted his network. Ger Loughnane was a confidant after they struck up a relationship at a coaching course. Fr Gerard McAleer was his coach in Maynooth and a key influence. The Tyrone priest was part of the management team that led the county to an All-Ireland title in 2003. Writing in his autobiography, O'Connor recalled how he looked to Tyrone for solutions in 2006. 'I go and speak to people about tackling. I phone contacts in Ulster. What do Armagh do? What do Tyrone do? This is almost a betrayal of my Kerry blood, to be asking how they do things up North. 'One day I travel to the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dublin and meet with a very prominent northern football man who knows exactly what they do. (He has to remain nameless.) We sit for a few hours as he shows me drills, gives me ideas, opens up a new world of work to me.' Take word in. Keep the watchers out. In 2013, Éamonn Fitzmaurice's decision to lock the gates for Kerry training proved unpopular locally. The voice of Kerry football, Weeshie Fogarty, stepped forward to vocalise those frustrations. What he discovered convinced him the decision was justified. Management told him their 'proof' that scouts had attended and studied their sessions They also showed him how it makes a difference. Páidí Ó Sé was adamant they had been monitored in the lead-up to the 2003 decider. All-time great Declan O'Sullivan spelled out the difference it made in his mind. 'Training behind closed doors was definitely the reason why we beat Donegal in the final,' he told Fogarty for the Heart and Soul of Kerry Football. 'The game is gone so professional now, people are always looking for that little extra percentage.' Such is the power of information. Truth is optional; perception alone can tilt the scales. Sides source strength from the belief they know what is going on with the opposition. 'A general chitchat might give you a sense of what is going on,' says McMenamin. 'It depends what you glean from it. A lot of it will come from your analysts. They might have 90% of what you need to know. You are just looking for that extra five or ten percent to get you over the line.' Half the battle is convincing yourself you're already ahead.
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Paul Geaney returns to Kerry panel for Armagh All-Ireland quarter final clash
Paul Geaney returns to the Kerry panel for Sunday's All-Ireland quarter-final against Armagh as Tom O'Sullivan is named to line out at wing-back. Dylan Casey is restored to the team in one of two changes from the side that began the preliminary quarter-final victory over Cavan in Killarney last Saturday. He comes in for Tadhg Morley who he replaced in the second half of the game in Fitzgerald Stadium. Micheál Burns is added at the expense of injured Diarmuid O'Connor. Paul Geaney is named on the bench along with Paudie Clifford who saw some game-time against Cavan. However, Tony Brosnan and Mike Breen are again not among the 26 match-day panel. Graham O'Sullivan went off injured in the previous game but has at least been announced to begin in Croke Park. It's a depleted group Kerry have named when you consider the team that commenced last year's All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Armagh. While all but one (Tadhg Morley) of the defence are set to start once more, there are five changes from midfield up – Seán O'Brien, Burns, O'Sullivan and Conor and Dylan Geaney for Diarmuid O'Connor, Brosnan, Paudie Clifford, Dara Moynihan and Paul Geaney. KERRY (SFC v Armagh): S. Ryan; P. Murphy, J. Foley, D. Casey; B. Ó Beaglaoich, G. White (c), T. O'Sullivan; S. O'Brien, J. O'Connor; M. Burns, S. O'Shea, G. O'Sullivan; D. Clifford, C. Geaney, D. Geaney. Subs: S. Murphy, P. Clifford, E. Looney, K. Spillane, T.L. O'Sullivan, A. Heinrich, M. O'Shea, T. Kennedy, D. Lyne, P. Geaney, D. Moynihan. Read More Jack McCarron and Gavin McPhillips to start for Monaghan against Donegal
