It’s not a drink that you miss, it’s the impromptu nature of walking in somewhere and having a pint, not always sure where it will lead. Or sitting at the bar perfectly perched, pint in front of you with a mate by your side, in the grasp of a great conversation.
Just finished 100 days of walking. I also decided on Jan 1st that I would cut out booze, chocolate, ice cream, cake, bacon, sausages, butter, pizza, burgers and chips until today. A life reset. Lost over 2 stone & now look forward to enjoying all things in moderation. Feel great!
I hope Liverpool win tonight. Tottenham and London are in my heart, but as club football turns ever more into a franchise model, detached from its moorings, Liverpool Football Club retains its character and connection with its fans, many of them Irish. Liverpool means something.
Overwhelmed to win an IMRO Radio Award for my coverage of the FIFA World Cup on
@TodayFM
. Heartfelt thanks to all those who believe in me; family, friends, fantastic colleagues who have shown such ❤️ tonight, bosses, listeners and followers. Oh, and it’s my birthday!
Well done Leo Varadkar. Doesn’t matter what political parish you are from, he showed leadership in that important speech. Would root for Micheal Martin or Mary Lou McDonald the same way.
#unity
Kind of fitting that Joe Schmidt's last game in charge on this hallowed, sacred, emerald turf sees Ireland go to number one in the world rugby rankings. Top of the pops. Whatever happens in Japan, thanks for everything Joe. 👏
Bookmakers should not be allowed to take unlimited stakes from losers and then limit the stakes of potential winners. They should take losses on the chin if they are going to make books. Needs to be actual regulation around it, because it’s fundamentally unfair on the punter.
Feel sorry for Joe Schmidt, who has been our greatest rugby coach, and for the players that put in so much effort. The reality though is that this is professional sport and we got slaughtered by a brilliant New Zealand. No need for hype, or for a wailing postmortem. Just move on.
Looking at the coverage and loving that Shane Lowry has been so generous with his time since Sunday. What a legend. An example to us all. Just be sound to other people.
19 year old Emma Doyle from Moyne in Thurles rode her first winner on her first ride aboard Northern Surprise (20/1) at Dundalk tonight. The horse was trained by her dad Tim. Emma only got her Jockeys license on Thursday!!! She is a second year student in Maynooth. 🏇👍🏻
Like, does anyone actually believe we are going to Qatar? The Republic of Ireland tried to play football tonight. That was an ice bath to my face after Trapattoni, O’Neill etc - The 24/7 news cycle and ‘everything is rubbish’ culture can’t be applied to Stephen Kenny. Let’s build
There is something fundamentally wrong if a bookmaker is allowed to refuse my bet because I have a winning record, but take unlimited sums from a loser.
Dad and I reading the Sunday newspapers. Unsurprisingly I had my head stuck in the sports section. He’s 19 years gone today. If he was here now I’d make sure we’d be both in America at the Breeders’ Cup! 🏇
One thing Padraig Harrington’s magical round of golf at magical Lahinch in magical Clare did. It made us forget Rory McIlroy’s absence. McIlroy brings that X factor in all ways. Padraig is a national treasure though, and he reminded us of why today.
LEONA!
@LPGA
tour winner.
Delighted for
@leona_maguire
First Irish woman to achieve the milestone.
The sky is the limit.
We are all Cavan today. 🏌🏻♀️⛳️🔵⚪️
Can’t see a closing of hospitality at 5pm stopping alcohol fueled house parties over Christmas, which would have no protocols. Seems to me that the hospitality and events industry is getting a raw deal. Is there not another way? 🤷🏼♂️
An All Ireland hurling final. The greatest sporting day in my own calendar. Pints after the hurling. There is nothing better. Just grateful to be alive. Can’t wait for it all.
A late pint after work for my late uncle Phonsie. He would often go out for a late one in Limerick city. I miss the craic and chats with him. Losing people close to me has infused me with an empathy I didn’t have. Celebrate life folks, enjoy the company the uniqueness of others.
John O’Shea is a gentleman. Just a sound fella and down to earth. I remember interviewing him in Sunderland and he drove me back to the airport, talking horses and golf tips. An Irish legend, who banished the ghosts of Gelsenkirchen. Well done and best wishes for the future John.
Well, what can you say? On my way back to my ‘lodgings’ now. I’ll get around to having a soda farl on Monday. Tomorrow could be one of the greatest days in the history of Irish sport. No hyperbole in that statement. Good luck Shane. 🙏🏻
#TheOpen
27 years since the last Clare v Limerick Munster senior hurling final. It was a magical day. I kept both tickets. When Dad passed away I put his ticket in his suit pocket. I am bringing this to Thurles today. Up the Banner! May the best team win!
#Hurling
@MunsterGAA
🟡🔵🟢⚪️
As I just argued to
@cooper_m
on
@lstwrd
, Padraig Harrington is Ireland’s greatest ever sportsperson. Maxed every ounce of his talent when there were others that had more, a will to win that set him apart, 3 majors, first European to win a USPGA since 1930, role model, Olympian.
Ireland has been an independent nation for 100 years and a Republic since 1949. I wonder would this question be asked to people from other countries. Do better.
20th year working at Cheltenham. What a privilege it has been. My Dad has crossed my mind today - he only got to hear the first one. So if you and your Dad share a love of sport, bring him racing or to a game, in the stands, terraces, or even a nice box!
One can only be incredibly proud of this brilliant Irish rugby team, arguably good enough to win a World Cup for the first ever time. So this is different. Alas, not to be in 2023. Well done New Zealand.
So two of the All Ireland senior football championship quarter finals won’t be on terrestrial television. Who are we serving here? Maybe I am just waking up to it late.
Omicron does deserve caution and maybe it will play out that way. Fair enough. But so many people who did everything that was asked of them were looking forward to a few jars with a friend at Christmas, just for their headspace. That’s the deflating aspect if this is policy.
How can you not love ROG as an Irish sports fan? 2 European Cups as a player with Munster - now 2 as a coach with La Rochelle in France. Grand Slam winner with Ireland - drop goal to end a 61 year wait. Admire his total lack of defensiveness, open, believing & interesting 👏🏻🏉
I don’t want to read pieces about Emiliano Sala connected with transfer fees and talk of legal action. It’s not appropriate and even if it’s going on behind the scenes, it shouldn’t be reported. It’s not news that should be in the public domain. Be right, not first.
If Cork City played on Fridays at Pairc Ui Chaoimh and there were Munster rugby games there at times, it might make more sense. It’s 2024. We need to move away from sports as factions and start sharing facilities municipally - country is too small for 100 million white elephants.
I have no skin in the Irish political game + we don’t get any licence fee money in Newstalk, but the idea of a sports presenter here not doing their gig tomorrow because they might slam the Govt on the housing crisis? Sinister re: Lineker in UK when it comes to freedom of speech.
For 14 years commentator Ron Jones has been a fixture on national radio every Saturday afternoon on Premier League Live on
@TodayFM
. A broadcasting legend, he’s informed and entertained thousands of football fans. This Sunday he retires. If you like the show, it’s worth a listen.
Hard not to be completely infuriated by the Rugby World Cup draw. As unfair as it gets for FRA / RSA / IRE / NZ. Not befitting a major international sporting tournament to conduct a draw nearly 3 years ago.
Dad (Dan) loved his family, 🏇 and hurling. I backed See More Business in the 1999 Cheltenham Gold Cup, ran to the bookies and he was there. He had Sir Talbot to win the last. We shared a moment. He died 20 years ago today, so, in his honour, I am at the Breeders Cup today. 🇺🇸
Katie Taylor was devastated in Rio after losing her Olympic title - then she turned pro and never looked back - so to turn around May’s defeat to Chantelle Cameron at the age of 37 reinforces the qualities of resilience and spirit. One of Ireland’s all time sporting greats. 🇮🇪🥊
Seamus Power all but certain to make the Masters is a pretty cool story. He was ranked 429 in the world at the end of 2020. If he wins, I wonder will he have Blaas and large bottles on the menu at the Champions’ dinner in 2023.
#Waterford
Forget about the result for the moment. Huge positives from that. Most enjoyable game of football I have seen from an Irish team in years. Light years from Luxembourg. In Kenny we trust. 🇮🇪⚽️
Glen have to appeal. Not whether they want to or not, but to put the decision back into the hands of the GAA, which should be the case as the governing body of the game.
Thank you
@TheMasters
- I have wanted to go to Augusta since I was eight and 37 years later, I feel exceptionally fortunate to have had the privilege. It’s a real motivator to give a lot back upon my return to Ireland. 🇺🇸⛳️
Rare I would watch the Late Late and enjoying Patrick Kielty but boy does it need some ‘A listers’. Guests are top talent in their own right but you want that ‘wow’ factor - which Graham Norton’s show brings. This is meant to be the top programme in the nation.
Followed Rory McIlroy around 16/17/18. Special reception, felt like a Sunday afternoon. Sometimes we forget, as sports hacks/lovers/fans that ‘stars’ are just people and fame is not easy. We debate and are passionate, but it’s important to remember the human we are talking about.
We rightly all had a pop at some English fans and the way they behaved at Wembley during the Euros; presuming we can also call out the disgusting scenes in Irishtown. I lived around there for 18 months and never saw trouble. It’s a very small minority, but has to be stamped out.
Am I right in saying that Japan play rugby the way the game used to be played? Before it became about bulk, going through players, attrition and injuries? This version is far more enjoyable.
🗣 “We had goujons after training…the nutritionist was like GOUJONS?”
🗣 "We were after eating them for about 10 years after winning eight all Ireland’s”
🗣 “They were gone off the menu after that”
Catch Walsh on
#OTBAM
👇
@GilletteUK
|
#EffortlessFlow
My 2019 Cheltenham charity bet returns:
@Betfair
and
@BetfairBarry
very kindly gave me €2000 for the week. Return €3245. 62% profit. 12 years profit out of 18 years for charity. Thanks to
@IanDempsey
for the platform and support and to the good folks
@offtheball
@TodayFM
🏇💶👍🏻
4 years ago today, my great friend, the late Johnny Lyons and I watched the World Cup Final in a pub outside the Maracana in Rio (long story). It’s my best memory of the legend. I will be thinking of him at the Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday. It’s important to remember. 🙏🏻
Honoured to visit the Michael Collins memorial, 100 years to the day of his death. I love this country, her people, her unique culture. I am not of a political party, nor do I agree with all his methods, but he was a talented human & revolutionary who believed in Irish freedom 🇮🇪
It was such a classic Spurs thing to not hoof it away and concede in stoppage time, and I was so immediately devastated, that when it was ruled out I couldn’t even celebrate. I was just gone as a person, finished. I will celebrate when it sinks in.
Hard to believe that 20 years ago today I started working in national radio Sport in Ireland across
@TodayFM
initially and now
@NewstalkFM
for
@offtheball
. It’s been an honour to soldier with some great colleagues and have the privilege of broadcasting to listeners each day. 🎙🇮🇪
I am never short of talking about profit on here, so important to honestly proclaim this was my worst Cheltenham tipping wise in 12 years. A 79% loss. Still far more winning years than losing years, but I succumbed to over-analysis and over thinking this week. Sorry!
Delighted for Jon Rahm. Met him in Lahinch and he was sound. He won that week and was so complimentary about the Irish Open. Went to the USA with hardly any English, worked hard and won this US Open as a true champion. Intelligent man, into the history of golf. Spirit of Seve. 🇪🇸
Big day tomorrow. After 6 weeks I can have chocolate 🍫 and after 3 months I can have a beer 🍺 again. Threw in a lot of training 👟 in the last while + will finish 100 days of 🚶🏽♂️
I would recommend it to reset the mind and body, but the self flagellation is over!
#EasterSunday
Epic battle. Credit to Roger Federer and the never say die Rafael Nadal. Two champions in the purest sense.
Has there ever been a greater sportsperson than Roger Federer?
In all aspects; supreme talent, grace, longevity, accessibility, some ambassador!
Amazing role model. 🇨🇭🎾
.
@IanDempsey
is 20 years on
@TodayFM
TODAY. The heartbeat of the station. It can be difficult for all of us to get going in the morning, but Ian has always been the nation’s guide. Brilliantly consistent, Ireland’s best broadcaster, simply by being, well, just himself.
👏🏻🎂📻
Shirt fresh out of the packet, Cheltenham Gold Cup programme in hand. It’s special to have these days. A privilege. Happy St Patrick’s Day everyone ☘️🇮🇪🏇
So excited about Galway v Limerick on Sunday. So excited about the build up, the carvery, the parade, the speed, the skill, the roller coaster, the unknown, the heroes, the pints. This is why we do it. This is what makes the journey on this spinning orb so worthwhile. 🎩🌍👌🏻
I am a fine sports journalist. We dedicated a full hour to the Cup Final on yesterday’s show. I am not sensationalizing anything. Have never seen fan trouble before a GAA match or a rugby match. Can you imagine people throwing bottles at each other outside Croker? Unimaginable.
@JohnDugganSport
Where you in Aviva today? I mean you are allegedly a sports journalist.
Biggest game of the Irish soccer calendar & you're sensationalizing a few morons out nearly of nearly 40k crowd. There's a career in tabloid journalism ahead for you.
🗣 "Any decision you make in your life that's purely for money, usually doesn't end up going the right way"
Rory McIlroy says his stance on the LIV Series 'has been pretty clear from the start' 👇
Honestly, I would rather watch the Shot Tracker all week than the rigmarole of joining Eleven Sports. Never heard of them before this week. Fair play to them for whatever rights they have, but the 4th major not being on TV on this side of the pond is a dog’s breakfast.
#USPGA