Archive for 'February 2017'

Episode one will see Donegal footballer Michael Murphy swap sports with former Welsh rugby winger Shane Williams. Murphy travelled to France to team up with Top 14 side Clermont Auvergne and in return, Williams temporarily joined Murphy’s club Glenswilly. Both players spent a week immersing themselves in their new sport and club before taking part in a final challenge set by AIB and designed to test whether GAA club players can compete at the same level as professional athletes.



The Toughest Trade Facebook LIVE event

Club | Tue Feb 28 18:25:54 GMT 2017

The time has almost come lads! The first episode of The Toughest Trade airs on RTE2 at 9.30pm tomorrow (Wednesday). Episode one will see Donegal footballer Michael Murphy swap sports with former Welsh rugby winger Shane Williams. Murphy travelled to France to team up with Top 14 side Clermont Auvergne and in return, Williams temporarily joined Murphy’s club Glenswilly. 

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As seen in the video, Murphy will swap sports with former Welsh rugby winger Shane Williams as he travels to France to team up with top 14 side Clermont Auvergne. In return, Williams will temporarily join Murphy’s club Glenswilly. Both players will spend a week immersing themselves in their new sport and club before taking part in a final challenge set by AIB and designed to test whether GAA club players can compete at the same level as professional athletes.

 



The Toughest Trade 2017 - March 1st and 10th

Club | Fri Feb 24 15:01:13 GMT 2017

It's back and it's better than ever! The 2017 version of The Toughest Trade is just around the corner with the first episode starring Donegals, Michael Murphy, and Welsh rugby legend, Shane Williams, on RTE2 this Wednesday night at 9.30pm. 

 

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Here’s the thing: the very different backgrounds brought into this game will make no odds when there’s a ball there to be won.





AIB Club Hurling Championship Semi-Final Preview: Battle beckons for the two hurling semi-final newcomers

Club , Derry GAA and Dublin GAA | Fri Feb 24 14:16:57 GMT 2017

Here’s the thing: the very different backgrounds brought into this game will make no odds when there’s a ball there to be won.


Whether you’re from a small rural town with 300 households as Slaughtneil are, or a city suburb such as Cuala — that’s forgotten when the heat is turned up.

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Kildare’s first jersey were said to have been made from white flour bags from Odlum Mills.



Some of the GAA's quirkier jersey moments

Carlow GAA , Clare GAA , Club , Cork GAA , County , Westmeath GAA and Wexford GAA | Thu Feb 23 17:34:13 GMT 2017

By Shane Stapleton

 

Kildare’s first jersey were said to have been made from white flour bags from Odlum Mills. They stuck with the white colours and, since 1910, Carlow have stuck with their green, red and yellow — having previously adopted the county champions’ look.


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Eoin Larkin suffered almost as much over his tweet as Kilkenny did down in Ennis.



Eddie Brennan: Kilkenny must accept overdue period of transition

County and Kilkenny GAA | Thu Feb 23 09:11:48 GMT 2017

Eoin Larkin suffered almost as much over his tweet as Kilkenny did down in Ennis.


My former Kilkenny team-mate isn’t long out of the inter-county scene and I think those who soldiered with him know where he was coming from.


 

Larks wasn’t attacking the younger players but he was making a point that the workrate wasn’t good enough on the day. There’s a period of emotional detachment that takes place when you leave the black and amber shirt, and that played a part.


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Amazingly, 12 members of the Carrickshock starting team that swept past Robert Emmett’s in the All-Ireland IHC semi-final played in a Kilkenny senior county final just three and a half years ago.



AIB All-Ireland Junior and Intermediate Club Final Previews

Club | Fri Feb 17 12:05:25 GMT 2017

Amazingly, 12 members of the Carrickshock starting team that swept past Robert Emmett’s in the All-Ireland IHC semi-final played in a Kilkenny senior county final just three and a half years ago.

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Typical for a Kerry team, Dr Croke’s had plenty of it against Corofin in the All-Ireland club semi-final.





Pádraic Joyce: Hunger is a great sauce

Club , County , Derry GAA , Dublin GAA , Galway GAA , Kerry GAA and Mayo GAA | Thu Feb 16 17:20:00 GMT 2017

Typical for a Kerry team, Dr Croke’s had plenty of it against Corofin in the All-Ireland club semi-final. It was no surprise to see how comfortable the Croke’s players were on the ball when you have Pat O’Shea as manager and, while their first-half goal was fortuitous, they outmuscled and outclassed the Galway men. Pat O’Shea was so animated on the line and was really up for the challenge. I was keeping an eye on the clock and the first time a Corofin man was able to take his time in possession — other than the goalkeeper — was 5:25 into the match. An incredible start to the game by Croke’s.



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Sometimes good things come in big packages.



Great big men of the GAA

Club , Dublin GAA , Fermanagh GAA , Kerry GAA , Laois GAA , Mayo GAA and Tipperary GAA | Wed Feb 15 13:56:33 GMT 2017

By Shane Stapleton

 

Sometimes good things come in big packages. Having run through the ‘Great Small Men of the GAA, next we look at their opposites. If you see these men coming through, you might want to sidestep quickly.

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We're streaming the AIB Junior and Intermediate Club Finals this weekend

Club , Galway GAA , Kerry GAA , Kilkenny GAA , Mayo GAA , Meath GAA and Tyrone GAA | Tue Feb 14 17:05:48 GMT 2017

 

We're thrilled to announce that this weekend’s AIB All-Ireland junior and intermediate club finals – in hurling and football – will be streamed live here on aib.ie/gaa and via the AIB Youtube page.

Clubs from Mayo, Meath, Kerry, Tyrone, Kilkenny, Galway and Cork will chase national glory on the hallowed sod of Croke Park – and fans will be able to watch every moment of the action live on the net.

We've teamed up with Innovative TV service LocalStreaming.club once again tp provide coverage of all four finals. The hurling deciders take place on Saturday and the football showdowns go ahead on Sunday.

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He is taking on arguably the most difficult challenge yet of AIB’s ground-breaking ‘The Toughest Trade’ series yet Wexford hurler Lee Chin cannot wait to swap a sliothar for an ice hockey puck next week. The 24-year-old is already no stranger to switching sports, having played senior hurling and football for Wexford and soccer for Wexford Youths. Yet even Chin’s impressive sporting versatility is set to be tested to its limits after he agreed to try ice hockey as part of the third instalment of AIB’s unique sporting trade series. The six foot tall Faythe Harriers star is headed to Canada in a week’s time to immerse himself with the Vancouver Canuck’s ice hockey team for six days. 



Lee Chin takes on arguably the toughest 'Toughest Trade'

Club and Wexford GAA | Tue Feb 14 16:32:30 GMT 2017

He is taking on arguably the most difficult challenge yet in ‘The Toughest Trade’ series yet Wexford hurler Lee Chin cannot wait to swap a sliothar for an ice hockey puck next week. The 24-year-old is already no stranger to switching sports, having played senior hurling and football for Wexford and soccer for Wexford Youths. Yet even Chin’s impressive sporting versatility is set to be tested to its limits after he agreed to try ice hockey as part of the third instalment of AIB’s unique sporting trade series. The six foot tall Faythe Harriers star is headed to Canada in a week’s time to immerse himself with the Vancouver Canuck’s ice hockey team for six days. 

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Could you call any outcome on Saturday an ambush? Let’s be honest, no matter who wins these AIB All-Ireland SFC club semi-finals, we’re talking about a pair of evenly-matched contests.



AIB All-Ireland SFC Semi-Finals Previews

Club , Derry GAA , Dublin GAA , Galway GAA and Kerry GAA | Fri Feb 10 10:44:32 GMT 2017

Shane Stapleton

 

Could you call any outcome on Saturday an ambush? Let’s be honest, no matter who wins these AIB All-Ireland SFC club semi-finals, we’re talking about a pair of evenly-matched contests.

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The first thing Micheal O’Donogue needs to do is call up Donald Trump requesting the deportation of Johnny Glynn back to the west of Ireland. 



Paddy Stapleton 2017 preview: Here we go again

County and Hurling | Wed Feb 08 15:29:00 GMT 2017

The first thing Micheal O’Donogue needs to do is call up Donald Trump requesting the deportation of Johnny Glynn back to the west of Ireland.

 

From playing with him in college and against him for Tipperary, Glynn is a really underrated player and someone Galway need if they are to go the whole way. I know it is important to think of the players you have got right now but the big forward is too important to ignore.  He can play anywhere across the forward line, which is down to a strong and selfless attitude more so than any natural given talent.

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They told Shane Williams that he told him he was too small to play rugby.



Great small men of the GAA

Clare GAA , County , Donegal GAA , Kerry GAA , Kilkenny GAA and Waterford GAA | Tue Feb 07 16:57:04 GMT 2017

Shane Stapleton

 

They told Shane Williams that he told him he was too small to play rugby.

 

His fate wasn’t to be 87 caps and 58 tries for Wales. Grand slams and World Cup appearances.

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There’s a rich tapestry of names to pore over across the GAA.



What’s in a Name – Volume 2

Cavan GAA , Clare GAA , Club , Donegal GAA , Dublin GAA , Kilkenny GAA , Louth GAA , Tipperary GAA and Wexford GAA | Tue Feb 07 13:40:40 GMT 2017

Words by Shane Stapleton

 

There’s a rich tapestry of names to pore over across the GAA.

 

All sorts of influences have made their way onto the crests and jerseys of our clubs.

 

Names that have become so familiar to us that we don’t even stop to think why or how — here’s ten more great names in volume two of ‘what’s in a name?’.

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Just 40 minutes’ drive separate the home fields of St Thomas’ and Ballyea, and just 60 more is keeping one of them for an All-Ireland club final.



AIB Club Championship: Ballyea v St Thomas' preview

Clare GAA , Club and Galway GAA | Fri Feb 03 16:08:41 GMT 2017

Just 40 minutes’ drive separate the home fields of St Thomas’ and Ballyea, and just 60 more is keeping one of them for an All-Ireland club final.

 

Should Cuala win there other semi-final against Slaughtneil, the irony is that one man representing the Dublin club will be coming up against his former side. Ballyea native Niall Keane moved to Cuala just this past season for work reasons, while Piltown native Nicky Kenny once spent a season with the Galway men. Meanwhile the Derry side are chasing an amazing double.

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Wexford Town’s Faythe Harriers are preparing for their first training session with new - albeit temporary - teammate Alex Auld. The Canadian ice hockey star has been revealed as the latest signing by creators AIB for its documentary series The Toughest Trade. Now a coach, Auld will be swapping both the puck and club the Vancouver Canucks with Wexford hurler Lee Chin to see how the life of an amateur GAA player compares to his 12 years as a pro in the National Hockey League.



Ice Hockey and Hurling Swap Revealed for Episode 2 of The Toughest Trade

Club , Hurling and Wexford GAA | Thu Feb 02 12:35:00 GMT 2017

Wexford Town’s Faythe Harriers are preparing for their first training session with new - albeit temporary - teammate Alex Auld. Delighted to revieal the Canadian ice hockey star as the latest signing for our documentary, The Toughest Trade. Now a coach, Auld will be swapping both the puck and club the Vancouver Canucks with Wexford hurler Lee Chin to see how the life of an amateur GAA player compares to his 12 years as a pro in the National Hockey League.

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I can see what Stephen O’Keeffe is thinking. The reason I know is because I definitely know what Anthony Nash is thinking. Same as ever: he wants a goal.



The science of goalkeeping with Mark Cooney

County , Hurling and Waterford GAA | Wed Feb 01 13:59:00 GMT 2017

In conversation with Shane Stapleton

 

 

I can see what Stephen O’Keeffe is thinking. The reason I know is because I definitely know what Anthony Nash is thinking. Same as ever: he wants a goal.

 

It’s June 2014, the day that penalties will change forever. The Cork goalkeeper has been lifting the ball at the ’21, hot-stepping in after it, and blasting balls to the net for a couple of seasons now.

 

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Niall Deasy, back where he belongs

Clare GAA , Club and Hurling | Wed Feb 01 12:37:00 GMT 2017

NIALL Deasy was working with a couple of Parnells lads in AIB, so he said he’d go training with them.

In conversation with Shane Stapleton

 

Niall Deasy was working with a couple of Parnells lads in AIB, so he said he’d go training with them.

 

After all, the trek down from Dublin to Ballyea in Clare is more than two and a half hours when traffic isn’t considered, which is unsustainable during a working week.

 

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It’s official, Cork are at the top of the tree.

No other team has won more All-Ireland and provincial titles in both codes, at county and club level, combined.



Club and county combined - who tops the list?

Club and County | Wed Feb 01 11:43:40 GMT 2017

Words by Shane Stapleton

 

It’s official, Cork are at the top of the tree.

No other team has won more All-Ireland and provincial titles in both codes, at county and club level, combined

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