Latest news with #InternationalRules
Irish Examiner
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Tiernan Stynes on emulating Jim: 'I never thought I could be so connected to my dad again'
This Saturday lunchtime in the Armenian capital city of Yerevan, a 20-year-old from Melbourne will emulate something his father once did 34 years ago in Melbourne's own Waverley Park — stand at six foot six inches for the tricolour and Amhrán na bhFiann minutes before playing for Ireland. All these years after Jim Stynes left Dublin for Australia to become its most beloved adopted son, Tiernan Stynes is in a way rounding the circle and bringing it all back home; over three decades on from his dad playing alongside Jack O'Shea in International Rules, he is suiting and shooting up for the Irish U20 men's basketball national team in the European championships. Tiernan was only seven when Jim's all too brief but full life ended; in fact one of Jim's last social engagements was to attend and enjoy his son's birthday party precisely a week before he finally succumbed to the melanoma on his spine at just 45 years of age. Tieran Stynes via Instagram Naturally those days are just a blur to Tiernan. The state funeral with 'the police escort and everything. It was crazy. It was so big'. But he still has a vivid memory of his father. His essence. His being. 'It's weird because it was so long ago, but I remember him well, yeah. He was awesome. He was really funny. I was hyper as a child and I remember one time I was egging at him and he just picked me up and flung me into the pool! 'And I used to always hassle him to teach me to play footy. Even when he was sick I'd try to get him to kick with me. I was really into footy back then. Loved everything about it. Being around the club [Melbourne, which Jim was president of], going to the games, the training. It was magical.' As he approached his teens though, he gravitated more towards the hoop in their driveway which his older sister Matisse had a flair and love for. The summer of 2015 he was glued to the NBA finals, watching his fellow Victorian Matthew Dellavedova and fellow Australian Andrew Bogut sharing the same court as LeBron James and Steph Curry. The Melbourne Tigers had become one of the most attractive sports franchises in town, creating a base and thirst for future local talent to be grown. 'I was just enthralled by it. How fast-paced it was. How skilled it was. And fun. I still played footy until I was about 12 but I probably got a bit burned out from it. I wasn't enjoying it as much, training in the cold, the rain and the mud. 'I was quite scrawny as a kid so basketball probably suited me more; it wasn't as physical as footy. The school I was with really took me under my wing and I could and feel myself getting better while the footy had come to feel like a real grind.' As he rose up the ranks he caught the attention of US college scouts; this past season he was a freshman with Quincy College, a NCAA Division Two team in Illinois, just an hour or so from St Louis, where he'll return in September. But also in Melbourne he came under the tutelage and to the attention of Jessica Scannell, the Irish international. From their conversations the seed was planted that perhaps someday he could become one too. Earlier this year he secured the contact details of Tommy Walsh, the Irish U20 men's coach. Walsh, as someone who was born and reared in New York before coming to play in his forefather's native country in the early 2000s, could identify with Stynes' backstory but needed to see in the flesh if he was as good a kid and player as he had been told. 'I'd watched some video Tiernan sent,' says Walsh, 'but we get plenty of videos from overseas players with Irish passports wanting to represent Ireland. But Tiernan flew in from Illinois in the middle of his exams to make our trials. I didn't even know he was showing up until the day before. When I saw this 6'6' basketball body walking in I was intrigued. 'We had a four-hour session and he just kept pushing his jet-lagged self. He attacked every drill. He didn't miss many shots. And he bounced a few bodies off him when close to the rim. Half my team was still in America at college but I knew that day Tiernan was going to be a lock and great fit for our team. 'It was a nice phone call to make to tell him I'd like to have him play for Ireland. I couldn't have been more pleased for him. He's a basketball junkie and you can tell how much playing for Ireland means to him.' After getting back to Quincy to complete his exams, Tiernan returned to Ireland last month to train with the U20 national squad proper. He stayed in Ballyboden with Fergus McCabe, the business partner and best friend of his uncle Brian, the 1995 All-Ireland winner with Dublin who also now lives in Melbourne. Right across the road from the McCabes is the same house where Brian and Jim grew up. It's been quite the journey, walking the same streets which his dad would as a teen in 1980s Dublin, having no clue that someday he'd play in the AFL, be voted its best and fairest, and be bestowed the honour of a state funeral that was televised live. 'Everyone has been so nice and kind to me,' says Tiernan, 'driving me everywhere. 'It's crazy. I never thought I could be so connected to my dad again and his heritage, just coming back here and meeting all his friends. "Do I still think about him? All the time. It's really motivating, really awesome, to know that someone related to me made it in sport.' Became an international, even. Just like he himself now.
Irish Examiner
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Brennan worried about proposed change to kick-out mark foul rule
Meath manager Robbie Brennan has reservations about the proposal to get rid of the 50m penalty for fouls committed on kick-out marks. In the coming days, the Central Council will vote electronically on a Football Review Committee recommendation to do away with the 50m advanced free and replace it with a free from where the infringement occurs. If passed, the alteration could come in for this weekend's All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-finals and Tailteann Cup semi-finals. However, Brennan believes it will lead to more fouls on players making kick-out marks. 'What does that encourage, though? You're just going to foul the guy, aren't you? I presume that's what's going to happen. If someone catches, you're just going to foul him and knock that out of his way, so you're probably losing that advantage of going up and winning the mark,' he said. 'That rule used to be there, it was a 13m free. I don't know why it's still not 13m free if you're fouled but look if that's what they bring in, that's what they bring in. As usual, we will just work towards it and practice it.' However, Monaghan boss Gabriel Bannigan said the tweak will only enhance the game. 'Two men going for the ball, you catch it and I happen to leave my hand on you and it's taken off 50 yards. That's not in the spirit of the rules, and it's not in the spirit of the game. So, I would agree with that amendment. The other one is this thing of having to hand the ball back if it's a free given against you. 'I completely agree with trying to get rid of fellas time-wasting and stuff like that, but leave the ball where it is so that the player who the free has been given against has an opportunity to go and get focused on his next job. It's not a big deal for the team that wins the free to pick the ball up and go from there … So they're the two, everything else I'd leave as they are.' At their meeting in Croke Park on Saturday, the Central Council also heard that the International Rules are unlikely to take place this year. There had been discussions that the hybrid series would be renewed for SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh and Croke Park this October. Earlier this week, GAA president Jarlath Burns suggested the timing of the games in October would cause a problem — as it would take place in the closed season period for inter-county players. The Gaelic Players Association has indicated its support for the return of the series. It was reported to the Central Council delegates that there was a 24% increase in Allianz League gate receipts, up over €1.5m to in excess of €8m. That follows a 7% drop last year, prior to the new football rules and a reshaped hurling competition. Eligibility for the All-Ireland Junior Football Championship, relating specifically to London and New York, is to remain unchanged for next year's staging. Rory Conway and Niall Gallagher (both legal panel), Liam McCabe (Cavan) and Joe Edwards (Antrim) (GAA panel) were added to the Disputes Resolution Authority. A proposal from the Higher Education Committee to rename the cup awarded to the winners of the junior hurling championship as the Corn Darragh Mhic Cárthaigh, in memory of MTU Cork student Darragh McCarthy, was passed. Midleton teenager McCarthy died in March following an accidental fall in Cork City. County boards will supply smart sliotars for semi-finals and finals in all county junior, intermediate, and senior championships. It is the latest development in the roll-out of the microchipped ball in play in all inter-county fixtures.
West Australian
12-06-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Retired Geelong great Zach Tuohy flags shock return to Gaelic football: ‘On the cards'
Retired Geelong great Zach Tuohy is contemplating a shock return to top-level action. However, the premiership hero — who hails from Portlaoise in Ireland — is considering returning home and playing the code he grew up on, Gaelic football. Before being recruited by the AFL, Tuohy was a gun junior Gaelic footballer for Portlaoise, and regularly played in under-age Laois county sides. He admits he was a late-bloomer in the sport but some of his heroics as a teenager caught the eye of AFL selectors in the 2000s. In 2009 he was invited to a four-week trial with Carlton and in 2010 he was selected by the Blues in the rookie draft. Appearing on Channel 7's The Front Bar , Tuohy — who retired from the AFL at the end of last year — revealed a return to his country's domestic code was 'on the cards'. Front Bar funnyman Mick Molloy asked Tuohy if he would have been a legend in Gaelic football if he had stayed in Ireland. The witty Tuohy responded with a grin: 'I still am in a lot of ways.' Molloy: 'Did it ever occur to you when you retired that you could go back and play a season or two (in Ireland)?' It was noted that former Irish AFL players Tadhg Kennelly (Sydney) and Marty Clarke (Collingwood) both played Gaelic footy after their AFL days were over. 'I'd love to, and it was the plan,' Tuohy admitted. 'There's a geographical issue; so much of my life here and how I commit to six months (over there) ... 'But for my home team, Portlaoise, I'm still harbouring ambition to go back and play. 'I have to work out some work stuff and see if we can make it happen. But that's on the cards, if I can.' Head here to watch The Front Bar on-demand and free on 7plus Tuohy is without a doubt one of the greatest Irish players to have made the switch to AFL. While the late, great Jim Stynes won a Brownlow Medal, Tuohy has the record for the most AFL games played by a person who wasn't born in Australia. After playing 120 games for Carlton, Tuohy then played another 168 games for Geelong, including the 2022 premiership. He also represented Ireland four times in the International Rules clashes with Australia between 2011-2017. International Rules is a blend of Australian and Gaelic football and was played annually between the two countries between 1998 and 2006. After some heated battles and bad blood between Australia and Irish, it was then played randomly over the next 11 years and the last series was in 2017. But Tuohy believes there should be a discussion to bring it back because the players 'love it'. 'I think there is an appetite from the players (to bring it back) definitely,' Tuohy said. 'And I think the rise of the W opens up a whole new potential to maybe do one in tandem with the men and the women. 'The players love it ... understand, as a spectacle both codes would argue that their own code is better than the combine code and that's been the criticism. 'But what an amazing opportunity to play for your country ... it's the only chance you get (for AFL players).'
Perth Now
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Retired AFL great in plot to make shock return to action
Retired Geelong great Zach Tuohy is contemplating a shock return to top-level action. However, the premiership hero — who hails from Portlaoise in Ireland — is considering returning home and playing the code he grew up on, Gaelic football. Before being recruited by the AFL, Tuohy was a gun junior Gaelic footballer for Portlaoise, and regularly played in under-age Laois county sides. He admits he was a late-bloomer in the sport but some of his heroics as a teenager caught the eye of AFL selectors in the 2000s. In 2009 he was invited to a four-week trial with Carlton and in 2010 he was selected by the Blues in the rookie draft. Appearing on Channel 7's The Front Bar, Tuohy — who retired from the AFL at the end of last year — revealed a return to his country's domestic code was 'on the cards'. Zach Tuohy on the set of Channel 7's award-winning show The Front Bar. Credit: Seven Front Bar funnyman Mick Molloy asked Tuohy if he would have been a legend in Gaelic football if he had stayed in Ireland. The witty Tuohy responded with a grin: 'I still am in a lot of ways.' Molloy: 'Did it ever occur to you when you retired that you could go back and play a season or two (in Ireland)?' It was noted that former Irish AFL players Tadhg Kennelly (Sydney) and Marty Clarke (Collingwood) both played Gaelic footy after their AFL days were over. 'I'd love to, and it was the plan,' Tuohy admitted. 'There's a geographical issue; so much of my life here and how I commit to six months (over there) ... 'But for my home team, Portlaoise, I'm still harbouring ambition to go back and play. 'I have to work out some work stuff and see if we can make it happen. But that's on the cards, if I can.' Head here to watch The Front Bar on-demand and free on 7plus Tuohy is without a doubt one of the greatest Irish players to have made the switch to AFL. While the late, great Jim Stynes won a Brownlow Medal, Tuohy has the record for the most AFL games played by a person who wasn't born in Australia. After playing 120 games for Carlton, Tuohy then played another 168 games for Geelong, including the 2022 premiership. He also represented Ireland four times in the International Rules clashes with Australia between 2011-2017. International Rules is a blend of Australian and Gaelic football and was played annually between the two countries between 1998 and 2006. After some heated battles and bad blood between Australia and Irish, it was then played randomly over the next 11 years and the last series was in 2017. But Tuohy believes there should be a discussion to bring it back because the players 'love it'. 'I think there is an appetite from the players (to bring it back) definitely,' Tuohy said. 'And I think the rise of the W opens up a whole new potential to maybe do one in tandem with the men and the women. 'The players love it ... understand, as a spectacle both codes would argue that their own code is better than the combine code and that's been the criticism. 'But what an amazing opportunity to play for your country ... it's the only chance you get (for AFL players).'
7NEWS
12-06-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Retired Geelong great Zach Tuohy flags shock return to Gaelic football: ‘On the cards'
Retired Geelong great Zach Tuohy is contemplating a shock return to top-level action. However, the premiership hero — who hails from Portlaoise in Ireland — is considering returning home and playing the code he grew up on, Gaelic football. Before being recruited by the AFL, Tuohy was a gun junior Gaelic footballer for Portlaoise, and regularly played in under-age Laois county sides. He admits he was a late-bloomer in the sport but some of his heroics as a teenager caught the eye of AFL selectors in the 2000s. In 2009 he was invited to a four-week trial with Carlton and in 2010 he was selected by the Blues in the rookie draft. Appearing on Channel 7's The Front Bar, Tuohy — who retired from the AFL at the end of last year — revealed a return to his country's domestic code was 'on the cards'. Front Bar funnyman Mick Molloy asked Tuohy if he would have been a legend in Gaelic football if he had stayed in Ireland. The witty Tuohy responded with a grin: 'I still am in a lot of ways.' Molloy: 'Did it ever occur to you when you retired that you could go back and play a season or two (in Ireland)?' It was noted that former Irish AFL players Tadhg Kennelly (Sydney) and Marty Clarke (Collingwood) both played Gaelic footy after their AFL days were over. 'I'd love to, and it was the plan,' Tuohy admitted. 'There's a geographical issue; so much of my life here and how I commit to six months (over there) ... 'But for my home team, Portlaoise, I'm still harbouring ambition to go back and play. 'I have to work out some work stuff and see if we can make it happen. But that's on the cards, if I can.' Tuohy is without a doubt one of the greatest Irish players to have made the switch to AFL. While the late, great Jim Stynes won a Brownlow Medal, Tuohy has the record for the most AFL games played by a person who wasn't born in Australia. After playing 120 games for Carlton, Tuohy then played another 168 games for Geelong, including the 2022 premiership. He also represented Ireland four times in the International Rules clashes with Australia between 2011-2017. International Rules is a blend of Australian and Gaelic football and was played annually between the two countries between 1998 and 2006. After some heated battles and bad blood between Australia and Irish, it was then played randomly over the next 11 years and the last series was in 2017. But Tuohy believes there should be a discussion to bring it back because the players 'love it'. 'I think there is an appetite from the players (to bring it back) definitely,' Tuohy said. 'And I think the rise of the W opens up a whole new potential to maybe do one in tandem with the men and the women. 'The players love it ... understand, as a spectacle both codes would argue that their own code is better than the combine code and that's been the criticism. 'But what an amazing opportunity to play for your country ... it's the only chance you get (for AFL players).'
