Latest news with #Croker
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Bravery award for man, 84, who fought off mugger
A pensioner who fought off a mugger with the help of a pair of jeans has been commended for his bravery. Ron Croker was on his own at the Coin-Op Launderette in Maltby, Rotherham, on 7 January when a masked Lloyd Smith burst in and demanded his wallet. Mr Croker, 84, wrapped a pair of jeans around his arm to protect him from any potential weapons and shoved Smith, 42, back through the door. This week, Mr Croker was presented with a commendation for his "tremendous courage" in fighting off Smith, who has since been jailed for the attack. Mr Croker suffered bruises to his hands and arm but otherwise escaped without losing his wallet or any other items. He previously told the BBC he had worked "all my life" for his money and decided Smith was "not having it". Rotherham District Commander Ch Supt Andy Wright said Mr Croker's actions had been "nothing short of remarkable". "We often talk about police officers running towards danger when others run away from it," he said. "In this instance, Ron did neither. He stood his ground, fought for what is right and showed tremendous courage when it would have been easy not to." According to South Yorkshire Police, Smith was identified by members of the public after CCTV footage of the attack was publicised. Smith, of Myrtle Grove, Rotherham, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and was jailed for three years and nine months at Sheffield Crown Court in June. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North More on this story Launderette robber fought off with jeans jailed Launderette robber fought off with pair of jeans Related internet links South Yorkshire Police
Irish Examiner
7 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Bench bullets: Does Cork's second wave pack a bigger punch than Tipp's?
Patrick Horgan wasn't shy in telling us last spring that Cork have two for every position. The same player wasn't behind the door earlier this year when declaring that the current panel is the strongest across his 18 seasons in red. His fellow inside assassin, Alan Connolly, announced on the eve of Munster Championship that the internal training games are the best he's seen across his six seasons in red. Cork have depth and Cork have options. You didn't need to be going through the turnstiles at Páirc Uí Chaoimh or enduring the Buttevant tailbacks en route to the Gaelic Grounds to be aware of such. And yet when the numbers are collated and tallied, bench contributions from the blue corner are equal to what the much-vaunted red reserves have chipped in with on the run to Croker. In the interest of fairness, we've discounted Tipperary's preliminary quarter-final pumping of Laois seeing as the latter are not a Liam MacCarthy outfit. That leaves six games on either side to study and draw summations. The Cork total comes to 0-21, Tipperary level on 3-12. The three goals from the Premier bench are the exclusive property of All-Ireland U20 winner Oisín O'Donoghue. Not part of the matchday 26 for either of their opening two games in Munster, his debut arrived 47 minutes into the potentially season-ending fixture away to Clare. It was he who won the 70th minute free that enabled the visitors go three in front. It was fellow replacement Seán Kenneally who subsequently landed the insurance white flag. O'Donoghue wasn't 30 seconds on the field at Thurles a week later when he stroked in the match-clinching goal. Across 88 minutes and seven touches, this kid of Cashel King Cormacs has contributed 3-1, won a converted free, assisted a white flag and forced the turnover for another. Their other chief calling card off the bench has a couple of years on O'Donoghue. The hurling intelligence of Noel McGrath is sent into action in the third quarter to see and exploit what tiring minds cannot. Introduced seven minutes into the second half on the opening Munster Sunday, his first possession of 13 saw him angle over a near-impossible point from close to the Ryan Stand sideline. From there, he assisted a Séamus Kennedy point, had a secondary assist for a Darragh McCarthy point, and issued the first pass in a glittering sequence for the second goal of brother John. 'Noel is going a long, long time so he knows when it's time to play for a free (as he did late on against Kilkenny) or when it's time to puck a ball into the corner and slow it down. He just brings a monumental amount,' notes Irish Examiner columnist Seánie McGrath. 'Seeing their underage players playing well, Sam O'Farrell, Darragh McCarthy and, of course, O'Donoghue, there's something that can do to a camp and it can add an energy to the crowd as well that the players feed off, so that's why I'd be very, very wary.' Cork bench contributions are more balanced. Nine different scorers. Obvious observations are the re-emergence of Conor Lehane and Tommy O'Connell's late-season lift up the pecking order. The other observation is that no Cork sub wasted the 20 additional minutes afforded to them in the Munster final. O'Connell had an assist, a point, and a free won; Robbie O'Flynn and Brian Roche both assisted a white flag; Lehane was fouled for a converted free, won a puckout, and twice found the target; Shane Kingston thrice found the target. Seánie McGrath felt the timing of Cork substitutions was off in last year's final defeat to Clare. The onus is on the sideline to avoid such a repeat. 'Twelve months on, does Pat need to be a bit sharper, not early substitutions or anything like that, but if they're flagging after 50-odd minutes, maybe some of the sharpshooters on the line need to come in a little bit earlier. 'Tommy O'Connell hasn't got much game-time this year, but he nearly propelled Cork to victory when he came on in last year's final, so while we know we have sharpshooters in reserve that can get deciding scores, they also have fellas like Tommy and Damien Cahalane, that if we are struggling in defence, who have shown they can do it on the big stage.'
The Irish Sun
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘We'd love one more' – The Wolfe Tones close curtains on final show & ‘pass baton' to Kneecap amid joint Croker gig hint
THE Wolfe Tones called the curtains down on a 61-year career at Thomond Park last night - but left the door open for one last comeback. Over 55,000 punters attended Advertisement 7 Thousands of people attended the band's final gigs in Limerick Credit: PR Handout 7 However, Brian said it might not be the last time fans see the three-piece on stage Credit: Getty 7 Martin Brennan might join The Wolfe Tones if they played Croker next year Singer 'The end, but I tried not to think about about it too much or else I wouldn't have been able to play.' Advertisement However, Brian said it might not be the last time fans see the three-piece on stage. He told us: 'It was my bandmate Tommy (Byrne) who pulled the plug on the band, but he told me over the weekend he'd be up for 'There's so many fans who missed out on tickets for our last gigs, we'd love one more sing-song with everybody.' The controversial balladeers got an eight-bike Brian joked: 'It's the first time The Wolfe Tones were led by the gardai and not being chased by them. Advertisement 'It was a 20-minute journey but I think it only took a few minutes with the help from gardai, waving us through all the junctions.' And the trad group claimed that Crowds gather as Kneecap play Glasgow gig after TRNSMT axe Brian told us: 'The Wolfe Tones are passing the baton onto 'You can see the grief they're getting over their 'The Wolfe Tones got terrible grief and we don't get played on the radio but the internet saved The Wolfe Tones. It will do the same for Kneecap. Advertisement 'Keep going lads. Keep going Kneecap.' GIG WITH KNEECAP The banjo player has also hinted that Kneecap would be the perfect act to join The Wolfe Tones if they played Croker next year. Brian said: 'That would be a hell of a show for everybody. We might even get Martin Brennan (the Irish farmer played by Steve Coogan) to come out and sing Come Out Ye Black and Tans with us as well.' The 'Tones popularity has soared in recent years, with 30,000 young fans swamping their tent at the Electric Picnic in 2023. But their advanced years meant they decided to call it a day. Advertisement Brian told us: 'I'd rather die on stage than in a nursing home but Tommy is 81 and wants to do other things. 'It was his decision to end The Wolfe Tones. So when he said at the weekend, he'd up be for a show at Croke Park next summer, I nearly choked on my pint. 'Maybe The Wolfe Tones are not over yet.' CHEEKY DRONE The group took to the stage at Thomond Park last night at 8.20pm and took their bows just after 11pm, playing hits including Grace, You'll Never Beat The Irish and Celtic Symphony. Brian said: 'I really thought that was the last gig but maybe we'll be doing it all again next year in Croker, now Tommy is up for it.' Advertisement The Wolfe Tones admitted they were amused over the weekend by a cheeky drone which flew over Footage of this went viral on KELLIE'S APPEARANCE ON STAGE KELLIE HARRINGTON received raucous cheers as she joined The Wolfe Tones on the Main Stage at Electric Picnic last year. In the aftermath of retaining her crown in the women's 60kg division in Paris, the Dubliner did a bit of serenading herself as But she left the singing to the professionals on this occasion. Brian said: 'As I said, the internet has been brilliant for The Wolfe Tones.' The musician admitted that one of the highlights of his career was Olympian Kellie Harrington joining them on stage at the Electric Picnic in 2023. Brian said: 'It was incredible, the audience stretched out as far as the eye could see for miles, as far down as the big wheel. Advertisement 'It had a special significance for me as we were playing right in front of The Hanging Tree. "There right in the middle of the crowd was the same tree where the men of 1798 were hanged. That's why it's called The Hanging Tree.' The Wolfe Tones were bumped up to the Main Stage last year in response to a far bigger crowd than was anticipated VIP guests at the weekend Tones show in Thomond Park included representatives of 7 The Wolfe Tones packed out the main stage at Electric Picnic last year Credit: DMC Event Promotions Advertisement 7 Warfield said The Wolfe Tones are passing the baton onto Kneecap Credit: Getty Images 7 Over 55,000 punters attended the band's final two shows in Limerick over the weekend Credit: DMC Event Promotions 7 Mo Chara and Móglaí Bap of Kneecap at Glastonbury festival Credit: Getty Images
Irish Examiner
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Weekend Previews: 'After all' Cork have been through coming unstuck now would be unforgivable
SATURDAY All-Ireland Senior Hurling semi-final Dublin v Cork Croke Park, 5pm (J. Murphy) RTÉ2 The collision of the capitals, the skirmish of the speedsters. We're in for a semi-final played at a breakneck pace and possibly something that will arrest some of the attention away from a thrilling football championship. There was no question the arrival of the Dublin football fans for the second half of the quarter-final aided the hurlers. 'I definitely noticed that there was a great energy in Croker,' said midfielder Conor Burke. 'The energy grew throughout the game, obviously as we gave the crowd something to kind of cheer about and get behind as well.' Dublin will bring able support to Croke Park but it will be dwarfed by what Cork will attract and that could play a telling part. Niall O'Leary recently spoke about how they draw more from their handsome following that they will ever know. In this game, especially when Dublin have had two outings since Cork's last, they will be needed in the early exchanges. Dublin had no time to mourn Chris Crummey's absence in the quarter-final. Now they do and he is going to be missed a lot more here. At least Conor Donohoe is available and John Hetherton will be a handful for Eoin Downey whenever he is introduced but at the other square Brian Hayes is in such form that Paddy Smyth, as much as he shackled Aaron Gillane, should be busy. Cork have been warned that complacency has no place here but there should be no question of their hunger or their legs for battle. Dublin's Brian and Ronan Hayes are capable of show them as many clean pair of heels as Shane Barrett and Darragh Fitzgibbon but Cork have pace as back-up too in Messrs Kingston and O'Flynn. So it will be 'After All' or 'This Is' at the final whistle? After all Cork have been through, to come unstuck now would be unforgivable. Verdict: Cork. TG4 All-Ireland senior ladies football quarter-finals Dublin v Cork Parnell Park, 1.15pm (B. Rice, Down) Live TG4. This is where Dublin usually pull up the bootstraps but Waterford demonstrated that they might not have the aura of old. Losing to Kerry was no great shame for Cork but Dublin will be expected to make the Donnycarney factor count. Verdict: Dublin. Galway v Waterford Tuam Stadium, 3.15pm (J. Murphy, Carlow) Live TG4. Only score difference kept Waterford off the top of their group and Galway have to be wary of this one. As good as they looked in heading Group 1 and as determined as they seem to make up for last year, Waterford have to be truly respected. Verdict: Galway. Kerry v Kildare Austin Stack Park, 7.30pm (K. Phelan, Laois) Live TG4. It's been plain sailing for the All-Ireland champions thus far but they could with a test and Kildare at least for a good portion of this game should be able to give them one. Danielle O'Leary and Siofra O'Shea are in mean form. Verdict: Kerry. TG4 All-Ireland senior ladies football relegation play-offs. Donegal v Armagh Stewartstown Harps, 2pm (A. Marron, Monaghan). Neither team would have been expected to be in this predicament. Armagh's goal threat to save their blushes. Verdict: Armagh. Mayo v Leitrim Kilcoyne Park, Tubbercurry, 2pm (G. Chapman, Sligo). Mayo find themselves in this situation once more and they should be able to get themselves out of bother. Verdict: Mayo. Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior camogie quarter-final Clare v Waterford Croke Park, 2.30pm (L. Dempsey, Kilkenny) Live RTÉ2. Great exposure for two solid sides as the curtain-raiser to the Cork-Dublin All-Ireland SHC semi-final. Clare won just one of their group matches but then only lose one. On their side, Waterford beat all but table-toppers Galway and they appear more likely to make the most of their return to GAA HQ two years after a final appearance. Verdict: Waterford. Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior camogie relegation play-off Derry v Wexford Darver, 2pm (B. Nea, Westmeath). The manner of these counties's defeats should suggest a restructuring of the championship. There are two too many teams in the senior level. Wexford may just stave off the drop. Verdict: Wexford. SUNDAY All-Ireland Senior Hurling semi-final Tipperary v Kilkenny Croke Park, 4pm (J. Owens) RTÉ2 One more mention of 'bonus territory' and Liam Cahill and Tipperary might take offence. That's if they haven't already. Reaching Croke Park would have been an aspiration of theirs but an All-Ireland semi-final the final destination? Unlikely. This is Tipp, after all. For that very reason, they are a dangerous opponent for Kilkenny on Sunday. It's not just that they are looking for a fifth consecutive championship win – the same total as The Cats – or they have tuned in nicely against Laois and Galway since the Leinster final. It's that they are not fancied. Against almost any other opposition, Kilkenny wouldn't have minded the favourites's tag or the four-week break but both have to be heeded carefully when they tackle a Tipperary team full of gusto and their supporters back on side. Kilkenny will want to cool the neighbours's jets early and it will be the seasoned men who can do most of the water-carrying. Sunday marks TJ Reid and Eoin Murphy's eighth All-Ireland semi-final since their last All-Ireland medal 10 years ago, winning four of the previous seven. Not one of their prettiest records. Others like Paddy Deegan, John Donnelly, Martin Keoghan and Billy Ryan have been burnt too. They have to go back to the league of 2019 for the last time they savoured any sort of a win over Tipperary. Where there are genuine questions about the depth of the Kilkenny panel, Tipperary's concerns are their unsettled midfield and being cut open a bit too readily. They might not be ready yet if this turns out to be a shoot-out. The least Kilkenny should bring here is a demented drive to match the intensity Tipperary will surely produce. Do that and their experience of the venue – 15 appearances to Tipperary's none since 2019 – will swing it. Verdict: Kilkenny. Electric Ireland All-Ireland MFC final Kerry v Tyrone Cedral St Conleth's Park, 1.30pm (T. Murphy, Galway) Live TG4. Will he, won't he? The uncertainly around Joel Kerr's availability for this game is not what Tyrone would have wanted as they look to keep their dreams of completing an All-Ireland hat-trick alive. With him, Tyrone are most definitely stronger but without him and it will demand more of the collective. David Sargent and John Curtin are among the leaders for Kerry and if they win their respective battles down the middle then this could be a rare Kingdom win in a final against Tyrone. The young Red Handers have over twice the amount of football that Kerry have thus far this year and that readiness could count. Verdict: Tyrone. TG4 All-Ireland senior ladies football quarter-final Meath v Tipperary Páirc Tailteann, 5.15pm (S. Curley, Galway) Live TG4. Meath have been sticking at the back but haven't been scoring enough to suggest they can go all the way. Tipperary themselves have been too shy in front of goal too but the former winners can advance. Verdict: Meath. Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior camogie quarter-final Tipperary v Kilkenny Croke Park, 1.30pm (R. Kelly, Kildare) Live RTÉ2. What a billing for this quarter-final even if both would prefer to be straight through to the semi-final stages, of course. Kilkenny's form has been iffy and in these widen open spaces Tipperary, who only lost to Cork in their four group games and scored for fun, could capitalise on that doubt. Verdict: Tipperary.
Courier-Mail
01-07-2025
- General
- Courier-Mail
‘Oh mate': Couple wins lottery after entering every month for over 20 years
Don't miss out on the headlines from Money. Followed categories will be added to My News. When Julie Croker found out she'd won a home valued at $3 million, plus $800,000 in gold, she thought she was being scammed. Turns out, it was finally her lucky day. Mrs Croker has been buying a ticket every month in the RSL Queensland lottery for over 24 years. RSL Queensland contributes to supporting veterans and their families across the state and nationally, through advocacy, employment, and wellbeing programs. It is a cause that Mrs Croker has always liked to support, and she's remained loyal for over two decades. The 63-year-old dog groomer said her husband of 34 years, Bob, had occasionally told her to stop spending $30 a month, but she'd held strong. 'I have bought a $30 book every month and we've been doing it for 24 years. There have been many times Bob said 'cancel it, we could use that money for something else',' she told 'I don't drink, I don't smoke this is my little thing I like to do,' she explained. Mrs Croker has been buying a ticket every month for over 24 years. Picture: Supplied The couple won this home valued at $3 million. Picture: Supplied Mrs Croker ignored her husband and kept buying the lotto tickets, but not because she ever thought she'd win, she was just passionate about supporting veterans in the small way she could. 'You dream but you never think it is going to happen. I think you'd drive yourself mad if you thought every month, 'I'm going to win',' she said. Buying the lottery tickets had become such a routine that she rarely entertained the idea of winning. But when the 63-year-old received a phone call last Wednesday, she was informed she'd won a mansion in Queensland valued at $3 million, complete with over $200,000 worth of furniture and $800,000 in gold bullion. She didn't believe it at first. 'Oh mate! I wouldn't believe it. I thought he was scamming me, and I honestly didn't believe it, and I still can't believe I've won,' she said. As for Bob, well, he has had to eat humble pie about not wasting money on entering lotteries. Mrs Croker is still struggling to accept that she has become insanely rich overnight, with no warning. 'Bob and I are very simple people and we live a pretty simple life. This is life changing,' she said. The couple plans to sell the home and pay off their mortgage. Picture: Supplied She said the win was absolutely life changing. Picture: Supplied The dog groomer stressed that there are plenty of people who have done it 'tougher' but they've never been rich. If they wanted to buy something, they budgeted for it; if they wanted a holiday, they had to save up. The fact that neither will ever have to worry about money again is difficult to process, but they already know what they want to do with the windfall. The Queenslanders don't plan to upgrade or move into the mansion but will instead use the money to make their current lives more comfortable. The couple plan to remain in their home but pay off their mortgage, sell the mansion they've won and live off the proceeds for the rest of their lives. 'We will pay off our mortgage and then we've got stuff we'd like to do. We want to do some fencing on our little block that we've never been able to do,' she said. 'Bob also wants to buy a tractor!' The couple is now worth millions. Picture: iStock Mrs Croker said the other bonus is that they both plan to retire; she's ready to relax and never groom another dog, and Bob is going to finally retire from truck driving. Their retirement has come sooner than either could have dreamt of and it's looking better than ever. The 63-year-old explained that they'd previously planned to retire, use their superannuation to pay off their mortgage and live off the pension. Now the couple are instant millionaires and have enough money not only to spoil themselves but the people they love. Mrs Croker admitted she still can't wrap her head around it. 'This does not happen to people like us, just common people, but it obviously does,' she said. Originally published as 'Oh mate': Couple wins lottery after entering every month for over 20 years
