Latest news with #Rebels
RTÉ News
5 hours ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Cork's Libby Coppinger hopeful 'integration will happen' soon
Libby Coppinger has been defending her patch as full-back for most of her near decade on the Cork senior camogie team. The four All-Irelands and two All-Star awards accumulated since being called up in 2016 and establishing herself the following season provide irrefutable evidence that she is in the finest traditions of Cork full-backs, though injury prevented her from playing a part on the pitch last year. Think resolute, think resilient, with not a dream of taking a backward step. A sure touch makes her the ideal blend of silk and steel. Coppinger also provides an invaluable defensive shield in her professional life, as a depository officer with Alter Domus, a funds services company. "When a fund is set up, there needs to be a depository appointed to it," Coppinger explains. "We're not involved in the investments or anything like that, but protecting the investor. It's kind of like a version of an audit. We're just ensuring everything's done properly and all the rules are being followed." A pretty significant pivot in 2021 brought the 28-year-old to this point, having graduated in public health. Life is, after all, one long journey of self-discovery, where the learning never stops. There was never any doubt about Coppinger's insatiable desire to wear the Blood and Bandage, however. West Cork would not be a traditional camogie stronghold but nobody told the girl from Kealkill and with St Colum's providing a steady foundation, she soared. While playing further up the field for the Rebels with the big ball and regularly getting among the scores, Coppinger's job description with a camán has always been about minding the house. As the game has evolved, so too have the full-back's challenges, to an extent. The job description remains the same. "I think as a whole in camogie, the skill is gone phenomenal, and there's some excellent hurlers out there. As a back, you're going out to mark your player, and there's obviously times where there's sweepers and everything involved. But you just have to try win your battle with the forward. So that hasn't changed. Just make sure they don't score. "I think maybe there's a bit more licence to do a bit of hurling yourself. Before, you were probably just there to stop them playing. Now you're playing a bit yourself as well. We talk about the forwards being the first line of the defence so the same way, we're the first line of attack. You're trying to give the ball to the player in the best position out the field. So hurling-wise, just in general, everyone's kind of gone up a level. "I suppose possession has become such a big part of the game now, whereas before, both sides might just try and get the ball down the field and clear their lines. So, there are more of those runs inside (rather than standing under a dropping ball). And they're making a couple of runs. You're trying to track them everywhere. So you have to be concentrating the whole game, make sure you're not ball-watching. You might not touch the ball as much and to be honest, it's nearly easier to be concentrating on the game when you're on the ball the whole time. So that mental part of it is always there." Another constant is that improvement and evolution continue to be the watchwords of the Coppinger code, but they are at the core of the Rebels' success too. 'We had been going for the League the last few years, so it was nice to actually get over the line this year' There are always new peaks to scale, in terms of KPIs within games and through a season. And while the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Championship is the overriding priority in every term, securing a first Very League Division 1A medal had high value for Coppinger and most of her equally garlanded teammates. Only the Mackey twins and Ashling Thompson had been involved the last time Cork had won it, a dozen years ago. "We were disappointed after our showing when we played Galway in the last round so we were very grateful to get to play them again just a few weeks later, when a cup was on the line as well. So it was good to win it. "I think we got a lot from the league, players-wise, building, people getting game time and everything like that. We had been going for the league the last few years, so it was nice to actually get over the line this year. We're happy out to have the medal." Coppinger was her usual authoritative self, having missed the Leesiders' run to a second straight All-Ireland last year with a Grade 3C hamstring tear. And while it did make her think about the mileage she has built up over the years playing both codes for Cork, she could not bring herself to lighten her load just yet. Meanwhile, she hopes integration of the Gaelic games associations will take place in 2027, as promised, and will aid those that want to play both codes, particularly at club level. "I probably did think about playing the two more than ever before. I guess it was about getting the body back to the standard it was at but I felt this year, I kind of just had to give it a go. There's no point in throwing in the towel before you even try. "But unfortunately, it's just getting that bit harder. I know it ended my season last year, and you just want to park it but it still carries over, unfortunately, to the following year more than you'd like it to. But I'm happy to go another year. The decision is closer than I'd like it to be, but we're gonna keep going for as long as we can anyway. "I don't really know where we're at, at the minute with the integration. When we heard about it, you're happy to hear it but it's kind of, 'Will it happen before the end of my playing career?' "Obviously, there's three of us (as dual players with Cork – Hannah Looney and Aoife Healy the others), and there's more girls in other counties, and we're kind of, I suppose, highlighting it at an inter-county level, but it happens all over the place with clubs. So I would just like to see more togetherness and communication throughout that. "It's our choice to play at inter-county level, and that makes a bit more complicated. But the amount of girls playing dual all over the country, it's great to see, and we don't want to discourage that, especially when so many girls are walking away from sport as it is. "So hopefully integration will happen and it will be beneficial to us all." A minor setback did rule her out of the early stages of this year's championship but she was back in situ for the defeat of Clare last weekend and is looking forward to building on that at Chadwicks Wexford Park this afternoon (2pm). "Nothing's been perfect yet, but we're kind of building every game and trying to get through it and get to that semi-final spot and then reassess after that. But we still have Wexford coming, so all eyes are on that. You're not looking further ahead at all. "There's been a few injuries and stuff along the way for different players throughout our panel. But thankfully, we do have good depth there, and everyone's kind of fighting for that jersey, which creates good competition. "We're really just trying to go after our own performances in games, and you hope that the result will take care of itself then. You're trying to raise your standards all the time. You might win by a few scores or whatever, but might have been the prettiest. So you're always trying to review the game and learn from it. And we've been doing that throughout the year." The headline news? There's more to come. From Coppinger, and from Cork.
Irish Examiner
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Dual load getting heavier, but Cork ace Coppinger can't help but carry on
Libby Coppinger has been defending her patch as full-back for most of her near decade on the Cork senior camogie team. The four All-Irelands and two All-Star awards accumulated since being called up in 2016 provide irrefutable evidence that she is in the finest traditions of Cork full-backs, though injury prevented her from playing a part on the pitch last year. Think resolute, think resilient. A sure touch makes her the ideal blend of silk and steel. Coppinger also provides an invaluable defensive shield in her professional life, as a depository officer with Alter Domus, a funds services company. 'When a fund is set up, there needs to be a depository appointed to it,' Coppinger explains. 'We're not involved in the investments or anything like that, but protecting the investor. It's kind of like a version of an audit. We're just ensuring everything's done properly and all the rules are being followed.' A pretty significant pivot in 2021 brought the 28-year-old to this point, having graduated in public health. Life is, after all, one long journey of self-discovery, where the learning never stops. There was never any doubt about Coppinger's insatiable desire to wear the Blood and Bandage, however. West Cork would not be a traditional camogie stronghold but nobody told the girl from Kealkill and with St Colum's providing a steady foundation, she soared. While playing further up the field for the Rebels with the big ball and regularly getting among the scores, Coppinger's job description with a camán has always been about minding the house. As the game has evolved, so too have the full-back's challenges, to an extent. The job description remains the same. 'I think as a whole in camogie, the skill is gone phenomenal, and there's some excellent hurlers out there. As a back, you're going out to mark your player, and there's obviously times where there's sweepers and everything involved. But you just have to try win your battle with the forward. So that hasn't changed. Just make sure they don't score! 'I think maybe there's a bit more licence to do a bit of hurling yourself. Before, you were probably just there to stop them playing. Now you're playing a bit yourself as well. We talk about the forwards being the first line of the defence so the same way, we're the first line of attack. You're trying to give the ball to the player in the best position out the field. So hurling-wise, just in general, everyone's kind of gone up a level. 'I suppose possession has become such a big part of the game now, whereas before, both sides might just try and get the ball down the field and clear their lines. So, there are more of those runs inside (rather than standing under a dropping ball). And they're making a couple of runs. You're trying to track them everywhere. So you have to be concentrating the whole game, make sure you're not ball-watching. You might not touch the ball as much and to be honest, it's nearly easier to be concentrating on the game when you're on the ball the whole time. So that mental part of it is always there.' Improvement and evolution continue to be the watchwords of the Coppinger code, but they are at the core of the Rebels' success too. There are always new peaks to scale, in terms of KPIs within games and through a season. And while the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Championship is the overriding priority in every term, securing a first Very League Division 1A medal had high value for Coppinger and most of her equally garlanded teammates. Only the Mackey twins and Ashling Thompson had been involved the last time Cork had won it, a dozen years ago. 'We were disappointed after our showing when we played Galway in the last round so we were very grateful to get to play them again just a few weeks later, when a cup was on the line as well. So it was good to win it. 'I think we got a lot from the League, players-wise, building, people getting game time and everything like that. We had been going for the League the last few years, so it was nice to actually get over the line this year. We're happy out to have the medal.' Coppinger was her usual authoritative self, having missed the Leesiders' run to a second straight All-Ireland last year with a Grade 3C (very serious) hamstring tear. And while it did make her think about the mileage she has built up over the years playing both codes for Cork, she could not bring herself to lighten her load just yet. Meanwhile, she hopes integration of the Gaelic games associations will take place in 2027, as promised, and will aid those that want to play both codes, particularly at club level. 'I probably did think about playing the two more than ever before. I guess it was about getting the body back to the standard it was at but I felt this year, I kind of just had to give it a go. There's no point in throwing in the towel before you even try. 'But unfortunately, it's just getting that bit harder. I know it ended my season last year, and you just want to park it but it still carries over, unfortunately, to the following year more than you'd like it to. But I'm happy to go another year. The decision is closer than I'd like it to be, but we're gonna keep going for as long as we can anyway. 'I don't really know where we're at, at the minute with the integration. When we heard about it, you're happy to hear it but it's kind of, 'Will it happen before the end of my playing career?' 'Obviously, there's three of us (as dual players with Cork – Hannah Looney and Aoife Healy the others), and there's more girls in other counties, and we're kind of, I suppose, highlighting it at a an inter county level, but it happens all over the place with clubs. So I would just like to see more togetherness and communication throughout that. 'It's our choice to play at inter-county level, and that makes a bit more complicated. But the amount of girls playing dual all over the country, it's great to see, and we don't want to discourage that, especially when so many girls are walking away from sport as it is. 'So hopefully integration will happen and it will be beneficial to us all.' A minor setback did rule her out of the early stages of this year's Championship but she was back in situ for the defeat of Clare last weekend and is looking forward to building on that at Chadwicks Wexford Park this afternoon (2pm). 'Nothing's been perfect yet, but we're kind of building every game and trying to get through it and get to that semi-final spot and then reassess after that. But we still have Wexford coming, so all eyes are on that. You're not looking further ahead at all. 'There's been a few injuries and stuff along the way for different players throughout our panel. But thankfully, we do have good depth there, and everyone's kind of fighting for that jersey, which creates good competition. 'We're really just trying to go after our own performances in games, and you hope that the result will take care of itself then. You're trying to raise your standards all the time. You might win by a few scores or whatever, but might have been the prettiest. So you're always trying to review the game and learn from it. And we've been doing that throughout the year.' The headline news? There's more to come. From Coppinger, and from Cork.
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
'Cork hurling brings colour' – GAA president praises Cork senior hurlers
Today at 07:45 'Cork hurling brings colour,' declared GAA president Jarlath Burns who was full of praise for this year's Munster hurling champions. The Rebels are scheduled to play Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final on Saturday, July 5 with Kilkenny and Tipperary due to meet the following day.
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
If Cork manager John Cleary's time is up, could John Fintan Daly's time be finally now?
If John Cleary decides to call it a day as Cork football manager, could an outspoken Knocknagree man, with an impressive managerial cv, be the next man up? Corkman Where to for Cork football now? The Rebels season came to an end – some might say an inevitable end – against Dublin last Saturday, a three-point loss drawing a line under a season that promised much but failed to deliver much. If success is measured by wins and silverware, then the Cork footballers' year was a failure. They didn't win promotion out of Division 2 (again), they didn't reach the Munster final (again), they didn't get back to the All-Ireland quarter-finals. The played 13 games across the National League, the Munster Championship and the All-Ireland Championship, winning six and losing seven: that's a 46% success rate.
Herald Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- Herald Sun
Former CFMEU boss Marcus Pare expelled from union
Don't miss out on the headlines from Victoria. Followed categories will be added to My News. A former CFMEU boss who splurged $100,000 on a union credit card in 12 months and allegedly maintained contact with bikies, has been expelled from the construction union. Marcus Pare, who ran the South Australian branch of the CFMEU while it was under the control of Victorian secretary John Setka, was turfed by administrator Mark Irving, KC, on Tuesday. The decision bans Mr Pare from the union for four-and-a-half years, meaning he will be unable to contest the next union elections, due when the CFMEU returns to members' control. An investigation into Mr Pare by the CFMEU administration found that he went on a spending spree across the country with union funds, including a $2714 dinner with unnamed officials where they sipped on 27 espresso martinis. He also used the credit card to book a personal holiday to New Zealand, which he later paid back. A report from investigators shows he advocated for a former Finks member to be a union delegate and helped get that man's mother a job, and that he transferred contacts of prominent Rebels and Mongols from a union phone to his personal device. It also says he had given himself an unauthorised pay rise of $29,000, which Mr Pare claimed Mr Setka had endorsed. 'His failure to acknowledge, or apologise for, his conduct sheds light on the type of leader he was, as well as his disregard of his responsibilities and legal obligations,' the report says. The Adelaide Advertiser attempted to contact Mr Pare on Wednesday. When the investigation was released early this year, Mr Pare told News Corp it was 'political rubbish'. 'I take none of these attacks on me personal even though some days it does affect my mental health,' he said at the time. The expulsion is a significant step for Mr Irving, who is attempting to clean up the union following his appointment as administrator, because of the likelihood Mr Pare will be unable to contest the next union elections. It also gives clear air to the defacto boss of the South Australian branch, Travis Hera-Singh, who has indicated he wants to keep the branch local and cast off ties to Victoria. Mr Irving's appointment was sparked by revelations the CFMEU had been infiltrated by bikies and underworld figures and had 'lost control'. Read related topics: CFMEU
