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NSW’s State of Origin selection in chaos with Queensland clear-cut favourites | Nick Tedeschi

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NSW’s State of Origin selection in chaos with Queensland clear-cut favourites | Nick Tedeschi


Michael Maguire’s inaugural campaign as New South Wales head coach was always going to throw up some selection headaches, but hamstring injuries to stars Nathan Cleary and Tom Trbojevic have thrown the team into chaos ahead of the State of Origin series opener.

Cleary was one of the few certainties in Maguire’s first Origin team but after sustaining his third hamstring injury in 12 months, Penrith are looking to send him overseas for rehab that would rule him out for an extended period. With the five-eighth position wide open, Maguire must now settle on a new halves pairing with question marks over all the contenders.

Cody Walker and Mitch Moses played game three last season but the former has been out of form for the last-placed Rabbitohs and is unlikely to be considered, while Moses has not played since round three and is no certainty to return next week. If he does not make it to Magic Round, it would be a risk to bring the Eels playmaker in with just 80 minutes under his belt.

That provides limited options for Maguire in two of his most critical selections. Nicho Hynes, who endured a horrendous introduction to Origin due to his mishandling by the previous coach, would be the front-runner for one of the positions but he was a late out against the Storm on Saturday night with calf tightness. Matt Burton, who was overlooked for last year’s series, and Jarome Luai, who was dropped for game three last year, are the other two now in the frame.

Trbojevic’s hamstring opens up a similar quandary at centre. Jack Wighton has retired from rep football and Latrell Mitchell has indicated he wants to focus on South Sydney this year, leaving the centre stocks bare. Burton has played centre previously at Origin level while Kotoni Staggs, Zac Lomax and two-try hero from last year’s game three Bradman Best are the contenders to partner Stephen Crichton.

They will not be the only selection calls Maguire will need to make. Skipper James Tedesco is facing an almighty challenge from Dylan Edwards to retain the No 1 jersey. Isaah Yeo, Api Koroisau and Payne Haas are the only certainties to be named with Stefano Utoikamanu and Liam Martin likely to be included somewhere in the 17. Rampaging Sea Eagle Haumole Olakau’atu looks certain to be handed his Origin debut while Angus Crichton would prove one of the great redemption stories if he was to win a recall. Workhorse Sharks Tom Hazelton and Cameron McInnes and Warrior enforcer Mitch Barnett are also in calculations.

While the Queensland side is far more settled, Billy Slater still has plenty to decide upon.

Kalyn Ponga’s serious injury saved Slater from the ultimate headache of picking either the Dally M medal winner or rising superstar Reece Walsh. Like New South Wales though, Queensland have an abundance of fullbacks and it will be incredibly difficult to leave out Titans custodian AJ Brimson, who has been in irrepressible form since moving back into the spine, and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, who was a standout for the Dolphins before picking up a hamstring injury.

Tabuai-Fidow likely has one centre spot sewn up while Brimson will be pushing for the other in competition with the inconsistent Valentine Holmes. The versatile Brimson could also be used in the bench utility role typically filled by Ben Hunt, whose form has headed south dramatically this year. A groin injury picked up in the win over the Cowboys does throw his availability into doubt. Queensland selectors are typically loyal and Hunt has worn the maroon 17 times but given the form disparity, it is a debate that will be had by Queensland selectors.

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Tom Dearden and Ezra Mam are two others who will be in calculations to replace Hunt, should selectors be inclined to move on from the Dragons’ seven. Dearden is cut from the quintessential Queensland Origin cloth while Mam is a genuine game-breaker in sublime touch.

The most compelling decision Slater and the selection team will make will be who to include in the prop rotation. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui is out for the season and will need replacing while Moeaki Fotuaika and Corey Horsburgh are long odds to retain their spots. Lindsay Collins, following his stellar series last year, will likely be elevated into a starting role while Tom Flegler, J’maine Hopgood, Christian Welch, Jai Arrow and Felise Kaufusi will fight it out for two, potentially three, bench spots.

There is little doubt though that Slater will be sleeping far better than Maguire. The Queensland spine is set, while New South Wales have no obvious halves pairing and a genuine fullback battle that requires a tough decision between incumbency and form. For once, Queensland will not go into a series as the underdog, but as a clear-cut favourite with a more settled lineup and a huge edge where it counts the most: the spine.



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Alexander Bowen: Germany's CDU has a lesson to teach the Conservatives in how to rapidly rebuild the Right | Conservative Home

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Alexander Bowen: Germany's CDU has a lesson to teach the Conservatives in how to rapidly rebuild the Right | Conservative Home


Alexander Bowen is an MPP-MIA student at SciencesPo Paris and St Gallen specialising in public health, and a Next Generation Centre fellow at the Adam Smith Institute.

Though few are paying attention to it, and whilst it’s not as flashy as America’s two-year slogfest of an election, the campaign for Germany’s next election has just begun. Though still 16 months away, the Christian Democrat Union (CDU) has already prepared its plan for revitalisation.

There’s a lot to learn. Both Germany’s CDU, after 16 years in office under Angela Merkel (and a little over two years in opposition) and Britain’s Conservatives, after 14 years in office under five prime ministers (and soon to be turfed out into opposition), now face essentially the same challenge.

How the CDU/CSU has managed its successful comeback – with a 15 point poll lead projected to yield 83.6 per cent of Germany’s 299 FPTP constituencies alongside their spate of state election wins, including in Berlin – can serve as a clear template for the challenges Britain’s Tories are about to experience.

The new CDU platform, adopted 17 years after the last one and entitled Living in Freedom, Leading Germany Safely into the Future, is the culmination of this revitalisation process. What does it contain, and what could our Conservatives copy and paste?

Naturally, much of the platform is Germany-specific, be it doing what was once the unthinkable of bringing back nuclear power or rearming the Bundeswehr with a commitment to two per cent of GDP on defence. But even in these policies is found the genus of the kind of ideas the Conservatives will need to articulate in 2029. 

On defence, the programme is explicit that “the decades of the peace dividend is over”. It’s much the same argument Rishi Sunak advanced last month, and alongside committing to the NATO spending minimum they’ve taken the bold step of calling for bringing back compulsory military service (a policy they suspended – read scrapped – under Merkel in 2011).

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has clearly taught them a lesson here in another way: the need to eliminate “one-sided dependencies”. Reshoring supply chains to Europe and its allies is one part, energy independence another; but the CDU wants to go one step further and enshrine food security in the constitution.

The return of nuclear power too as part of reshoring is also emblematic of the confident going for growth attitude that the CDU articulates in its new program, that “the future begins with a confident yes to Germany”. It directly confronts the attitude of managed decline which has been so in evidence in both the UK and Germany.

Now, the CDU says that anyone with an idea should be allowed to run with it, and promises to simplify planning procedures, slash taxes on overtime and for the elderly who continue to work, and (in the most German of expressions) to make it possible to register a company in the same time as it takes to play a football match.

On welfare and public services it, frankly, all feels rather like Theresa May at her best, with its talk of a “society that sticks together”, “an agenda for the hard-working”, and fair pay for fair work as part of a “social partnership between employers and trade unions”. There are, however, also some hints of May at her worst (or at least, most self-defeating), with the programme spelling out the CDU’s specific willingness to take necessary but unpopular decisions; or as Friedrich Merz put it in a dig at Merkel, a “willingness to do politics based on our convictions, and not just according to opinion polls”.

Regardless, the pledge to update Germany’s social market economy for the 21st Century with digitalisation, open data, and in particular an AI revolution, is something that can and should be copied. They might just be words now, but a programme that focuses on renovating the economy for the future is the right one.

It also doesn’t much go in for the so-called culture wars, but it does seriously engage with the actual substantive issue of integration that genuinely impacts our societies – the breakdown of a high trust “society that sticks together”.

The programme emphasises that Germany should stand up for its liberal and democratic culture at home, as well as abroad, arguing that the more diverse and plural a society is, the more it needs that unifying bond. It is an “inclusive, open-minded patriotism”, but one that isn’t afraid to say “integration, no ifs, no buts”.

In education, it specifically rejects a “values-neutral education system”, demanding that schooling is not merely passive about liberal democracy, and on religion it demands a made-in-Germany Islam, with religious bodies deriving their funding and training their leaders in the country.

As for integration at the individual level, the platform champions “individual integration agreements“ requiring adoption of German values including respect for sexual and gender minorities, participation in the labour market, and learning German, for people to continue living in Germany.

Interestingly, it also mentions exploring third-country processing agreements in a gentle nod to Britain’s Rwanda Plan (a policy that seems to be consistently gaining traction with European political parties…) and, in a Jenrick-esque flourish, argues that asylum means refuge from persecution – not escape from badly-performing economies.

What is most striking in some ways is how much the platform feels informed by the terror campaign of 7 October, and much of the antisemitic civic reaction since, with no fewer than nine mentions of Israel in the 72-page platform.

It maintains Merkel’s bipartisan description of Israel’s right to exist and the safety of the Jewish people as one of modern Germany’s reasons of state, but importantly uses this to inform its broader approach to social integration and facing down the explosion of foreign religious and ethno nationalisms in Europe.

Their line of being for “a cosmopolitanism that isn’t weak” is reminiscent of David Cameron’s best, and is likely to do well.

The platform, then, is a near-perfect balancing act between restoring the CDU’s credibility with those who have defected to the AfD (and the more minor conservative parties, the Values Union and Alliance Germany), and regaining the Merkel-era voters who switched to voting for the SPD, Greens, and FDP in 2021.

A post-Sunak opposition leader will face, in essence, the same challenge: how to regain more right-wing Reform UK voters as well as more centrist Labour and Liberal Democrat switchers. It will not be an easy task. 

Compared to the Merkel era, it does mark a right-ward turn. But importantly, it is no more radical than the platform she  campaigned on at her first-election in 2005.

Now all but forgotten, her 2005 election campaign was a near-Trussite disaster; Merkel lead the CDU from polling twice that of the SPD to being just one percentage point ahead, with the campaign freefall being largely attributable to Paul Kirchhof’s (Merkel’s radical economics professor-turned-spokesperson) advocacy of a 25 per cent flat tax.

The CDU’s new program is a revitalisation in the centre but not of centrism; it avoids confusing the political centre (that is, where the public are) with the ideological centre, where many proud centrists hold a range of minority positions.

In this, it is a model the next Conservative leader would do well to copy: be where the public sincerely are, not where a simple split-the-difference’ approach of the left-right divide on political issues would dictate a party should be.

Though the CDU/CSU might not form the German government after the next election, despite its favourable polling lead (which, again, has it roughly on par with the three parties of the incumbent Traffic Light coalition combined), the way it has managed to rebound from the worst election result in its history, in such a short space of time, can serve as a real mode for rebuilding the British right.



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Hurling Review & Results – Christy Ring, Nicky, Lory Meagher Cup

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Hurling Review & Results – Christy Ring, Nicky, Lory Meagher Cup


Christy Ring Cup: Kildare Dominance and Derry’s Resurgence

Kildare’s Path to Victory: David Qualter Leads Charge in Convincing Win Over Tyrone

In a commanding display, Kildare continued their undefeated streak in the Christy Ring Cup, with David Qualter shining as they overpowered Tyrone. Read on as we dissect the match, highlighting standout performances and pivotal moments.

Derry Bounce Back: McNaughton’s Brilliance Seals Victory Over London

Derry showcased their resilience, securing a crucial win against London to reignite their qualification hopes. Dive into the action-packed match, featuring standout players and game-changing plays.

Wicklow’s Thrilling Triumph: Germaine’s Late Heroics Seal Victory Over Sligo

In a nail-biting encounter, Wicklow clinched a dramatic win over Sligo, fueled by Seánie Germaine’s stellar performance. Explore the thrilling moments that defined this captivating showdown.

Nickey Rackard Cup: Donegal’s Dominance and Mayo’s Surge

Donegal’s Unbeaten Run Continues: Ward’s Goal Guides Them Past Roscommon

Donegal maintained their flawless record in the Nickey Rackard Cup, with Seán Ward’s decisive goal steering them to victory against Roscommon. Delve into the match highlights, featuring standout players and key moments.

Mayo’s Commanding Win: Heraty and Regan Lead Charge Against Armagh

Mayo delivered a dominant performance against Armagh, fueled by early goals and stellar displays from John Heraty and Seán Regan. Discover how Mayo asserted their authority in this pivotal match.

Louth’s Thrilling Triumph: Murphy’s Brace Secures Derby Win Over Monaghan

In a captivating derby clash, Louth emerged victorious against Monaghan, propelled by Conor Murphy’s brace of goals. Relive the thrilling moments that defined this intense showdown.

Lory Meagher Cup: Fermanagh’s Ascendancy and Longford’s Resilience

Fermanagh’s Commanding Victory: Clifford Leads Charge Against Lancashire

Fermanagh showcased their prowess with a commanding win over Lancashire, highlighted by Eoghan Clifford’s standout performance. Explore the key moments that propelled Fermanagh to the top of the group.

Longford’s Derby Triumph: Darcy Inspires Victory Over Cavan

In a crucial derby encounter, Longford demonstrated resilience and determination to secure a vital win against Cavan. Follow the action as Cian Darcy leads Longford to a hard-fought victory.

Leitrim’s Return to Form: O’Hagan Stars in Win Over Warwickshire

Leitrim bounced back to winning ways with a spirited performance against Warwickshire, led by Gavin O’Hagan’s stellar display. Dive into the match highlights and pivotal moments.

RESULTS:

Saturday May 11

Christy Ring Cup Round 4

Kildare 2-31 Tyrone 0-11

Derry 2-22 London 2-13

Nickey Rackard Cup Round 4

Donegal 1-25 Roscommon 2-10

Mayo 4-29 Armagh 2-16

Monaghan 2-17 Louth 4-12

Lory Meagher Cup Round 4

Fermanagh 1-23 Lancashire 0-20

Leitrim 2-25 Warwickshire 0-16

Longford 0-25 Cavan 1-19

Sunday May 12

Christy Ring Cup Round 4

Wicklow 2-15 Sligo 1-17

The post Hurling Review & Results – Christy Ring, Rackard, and Meagher Cup appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.



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happy mothers day wishes for all moms – newsuk1

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happy mothers day wishes for all moms – newsuk1


As Mother’s Day dawns upon us in 2024, it’s not just a day of celebration. This is a heartfelt tribute to the epitome of unconditional love – mothers. In a world where chaos often reigns, mothers stand as beacons of strength, resilience and love. This year, as we commemorate Mother’s Day, let’s reflect on the essence of motherhood in the 21st century.

Motherhood, in its essence, symbolizes selflessness. It is the countless sleepless nights spent nursing a crying baby, the sacrifices made to ensure the baby’s happiness, and the steadfast support offered through life’s myriad challenges. In an era marked by rapid technological advancements and social changes, the role of mothers has evolved dynamically. Today’s mothers are not just nurturers. They are educators, breadwinners, caregivers, and mentors, wearing multiple hats with ease.

Amidst the demands of hectic schedules and responsibilities, mothers radiate warmth and compassion that spans generations. Their love knows no bounds, transcending the barriers of time and distance. Whether biological, adoptive, or surrogate, the relationship between a mother and her child is sacred, built on trust and understanding.

However, the journey of motherhood is not without its challenges. From balancing career aspirations to navigating the complexities of modern parenthood, moms often find themselves juggling a myriad of expectations. Yet, in the face of adversity, they persevere, drawing strength from a deep love for their children.

In 2024, as we celebrate Mother’s Day against a backdrop of uncertainty and change, it is imperative to recognize the invaluable contribution of mothers to society. Outside the confines of traditional gender roles, mothers are trailblazers, shattering glass ceilings and inspiring future generations with their strength and resilience.

Furthermore, the concept of motherhood extends far beyond biological relationships. It includes individuals who embrace the spirit of nurturing and compassion regardless of gender or family ties. From single fathers to grandparents, foster parents to guardians, Mother’s Day serves as a poignant reminder to honor all those who play a maternal role in our lives.

In the digital age, the advent of social media has transformed the landscape of motherhood, offering a platform for shared experiences and communal collaboration. Through online communities and virtual networks, mothers around the world find comfort in the camaraderie of like-minded individuals, exchange advice, and develop a sense of belonging.

As we rejoice in the joy of Mother’s Day 2024, let us take a moment to express our gratitude to the women who have shaped our lives with their love and guidance. Whether it’s a simple gesture of appreciation or a heartfelt expression of love, let’s take this opportunity to honor these unsung heroes who enrich our lives with their immense love.

In essence, Mother’s Day is more than mere festivities. It is a celebration of the profound impact of maternal love on our collective consciousness. As we embark on life’s journey, let us cherish the memories, lessons and blessings bestowed upon us by these remarkable women whom we proudly call ‘Mom’.





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Mona Lisa’s mysterious background might have finally been cracked

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Mona Lisa’s mysterious background might have finally been cracked


The landscape over the shoulder of Mona Lisa has divided opinion for generations.

But one expert believes she has finally cracked the case, claiming the backdrop to the famous painting lines up with the mountains above Lake Como.

Ann Pizzorusso told a geology conference she believed Lecco was visible behind the Mona Lisa’s shoulder.

She says the city’s 14th century Azzone Visconti bridge can be seen on the right hand side of the painting.

Pizzorusso says she has also identified the southwestern Alsp, overlooking Lecco, as a key element in the hazy romantic backdrop.

Her case is strengthened by Leonardo da Vinci having been known to visit the area, reports The Times.

The oil-on-wood painting is believed to represent Lisa Gherardini, the wife of Francesco del Giocondo, a wealthy cloth merchant from Florentine. Da Vinci started it in the early 1500s and finished years later after moving to France to work for King Francis I.

Pizzorusso claims the landscape in the background shows a scientific realism that was a trait of the artist’s work.

She says she made the discovery several years ago after retracing da Vinci’s footsteps but did not appreciate the importance until she shared it with a colleague.

She said: “I found the geological places he talked about in his notebooks. A spring, a waterway, all these things still exist today. Leonardo was here as an engineer trying to build a canal from Milan to Como, but he encountered difficulties half-way.”

She says the bridge in the background was another element that helped her identify the spot the picture was meant to be based on.

While the shape of the mountains above the lake – and the lake itself – also meant she knew she was on the right track.

Pizzorusso says the grey-white colour of da Vinci’s rocks matched the limestone of the Lecco area, further providing her confirmation she needed.

Previous theories to find the backdrop have focused on the arched bridge. With many experts believing it to be Bobbio, a small town in northern Italy, or to the Romito di Laterina bridge near Arezzo.

Antonio Forcellino, an Italian da Vinci expert remains unsure about the new information. He says the idea that Grigna, a mountain near to Lecco is part of the painting is “not new”.

Jacques Franck, a biographer of the artist, says he will take on board the new information.

He said da Vinci was known to make trips to the Lombardy and Piedmont regions of Italy, during these trips it is said he would drawn mountains and hilly landscapes.



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Scoreboard bungle presents Super Netball with latest high-profile hiccup | Jack Snape

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Scoreboard bungle presents Super Netball with latest high-profile hiccup | Jack Snape


The Lightning had the ball with eight seconds left, but didn’t seem to want to go near the goal. Something wasn’t right.

“Playing round with it too much, they’ve still got to score here,” commentator Cath Cox said, covering the Giants and Sunshine Coast in Saturday’s Super Netball clash in Sydney, that – according to the broadcast – was locked at 71-71. The players, observing the in-stadium scoreboard, thought otherwise. According to the LED signage in Ken Rosewall Arena, the Lightning led 71-70.

And so, as the clock expired, the Lightning players’ smiles suggested they seemed satisfied. The Giants looked concerned, but not defeated. Fox Sports – still showing the tied scoreboard – did their best to work out what was going on. “The teams are shaking hands like the contest is over,” Cox said.

The confusion slowly made way for bewilderment, and then something else. Toe-curling embarrassment took over as officials undertook a score review. Minutes elapsed, and the players waited on court. The Fox cameras – with little else to focus on – turned to the scoring table, where frantic conversations were taking place. The vision lingered, the conversations continued. One official held up three fingers, then changed it to two.

Eventually the game resumed with extra-time, and the Giants won 86-80. “We were always very confident that it was a draw, and we actually protested at the time the score was changed,” said Giants coach Julie Fitzgerald.

But the result left the Lightning feeling hard done by. “I think if we knew it was a draw, we probably would have gone for a goal,” Lightning captain Steph Fretwell said.

This was a night that undermined the brilliance of Fretwell, her teammates and the Giants. It also undermined the passion – and patience – of the crowd, many of whom stayed despite the contest running an hour longer than expected.

Steph Fretwell shoots for goal at Ken Rosewall Arena. Photograph: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

Netball Australia chief executive Stacey West issued a sorry statement on Sunday. “We apologise to our fans – both in stadium and at home – and to both teams for the errors that occurred,” West said.

“These errors should not have occurred and caused significant confusion in venue and also for those watching at home. There were failures in our systems, processes and communication that have been addressed to ensure this does not happen again.”

A review found the scores were accurate until a late time-out, when the scoreboard was “incorrectly adjusted by a bench official”. But that error was exacerbated, the league said, by communication failures that left umpires and teams in the dark over next steps.

The saga is the latest hiccup for domestic sport’s challenger brands – netball, basketball and football – to deliver the professional product expected by fans but on a tight budget.

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Netball Australia and the players endured an tumultuous bargaining dispute last year that left observers with the impression there is not a lot of extra cash lying around. The NBL has recently continued its broadcast deal with ESPN and Channel 10, which sees little revenue finding its way to the clubs, after production expenses are taken out. And A-League clubs are reportedly set to face cuts to their broadcast distributions from head office in coming years.

In contrast, the AFL has a $4.5bn, seven-year deal with Seven and Foxtel. Voices within the NRL have complained its deal with Nine and Fox undervalues rugby league, which competes with and often exceeds AFL ratings. Yet the NRL still rakes in around $400m annually. For those on the outside looking in on the major players in Australian sport and media, these numbers make for daunting reading.

But they are part of the reason why Saturday’s scoreboard disaster, as embarrassing as it was, and Netball Australia’s subsequent apology can be understood. Much of Australian sport relies on the efforts of volunteers, time-poor administrators and athletes who give up much of their lives and knee cartilage for mostly meagre earnings. Even the Super Netball scoring officials are unpaid. That makes individual criticism of them largely off limits.

Australia’s sporting marketplace is hugely competitive. Much has been made of the opportunity of leagues such as the A-League Women, WNBL and AFLW, but their growth and emergence is not wanted to come at the expense of others. The balance of maintaining a viable competition requires decisions on where to spend money, and invest scarce labour.

Professional presentation and, accurate scoring may be a necessity for sports to compete for commercial dollars; they should be expected for a competition that pitches itself as netball’s world leader. But it is inevitable there will be blips.

“I guess we go back and, hopefully, there’s no scoreboard error in weeks to come,” Fretwell said after the match. Perhaps, after Saturday’s night’s chaos, that is indeed the best followers of netball can hope for.



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GAA Football Championship 2024 Group Draw & Fixtures Schedule

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GAA Football Championship 2024 Group Draw & Fixtures Schedule


The 2024 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final will be one of the highlights of the summer sporting calendar in Ireland 

The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship stage draw has set up some intense matchups, including a potential “group of death” featuring either Armagh or Donegal and the winners of Galway vs. Mayo, alongside Derry and Westmeath.

The Connacht SFC final between Galway and Mayo at Pearse Stadium on Sunday will determine which team faces a challenging group stage. Meanwhile, Donegal and Armagh will compete in the Ulster final the following week, with the losing team also falling into the tough Group 1.

Group 2 will feature the Leinster champions (Dublin or Louth), the losing team from Galway vs. Mayo, as well as Roscommon and Cavan. The Ulster champions will face Tyrone, Cork, and the losing team from the Kerry vs. Clare Munster final.

The Munster champions will compete against the losing team from the Dublin vs. Louth Leinster final, alongside Monaghan and Meath.

The top four group winners will advance to the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals, while the second and third-placed teams will enter the preliminary quarter-finals. Games are set to begin on the weekend of May 18-19.

In the Tailteann Cup, Longford is in Group 1 with Kildare, Leitrim, and Waterford. Group 2 consists of Wexford, Sligo, Antrim, and Tipperary. Wicklow joins Group 3 with Laois, Fermanagh, and Carlow, while Group 4 includes Limerick, Down, Offaly, and London.

TAILTEANN CUP DRAW
Group 1: Kildare, Leitrim, Longford, Waterford
Group 2: Sligo, Antrim, Wexford, Tipperary
Group 3: Fermanagh, Laois, Wicklow, Carlow
Group 4: Down, Offaly, Limerick, London

 

All Ireland draw

< Saturday 18 May

All-Ireland SFC round 1
Galway v Derry, Pearse Stadium, 5.30pm – GAAGO
Mayo v Cavan, Hastings MacHale Park, 5pm
Clare v Cork, Cusack Park, 6pm
Kerry v Monaghan, Killarney, 3pm – GAAGO

Leinster SHC round 4
Dublin v Kilkenny, Parnell Park, 6pm
Antrim v Galway, Corrigan Park, 3pm

Tailteann Cup round 2
Waterford v Kildare, Dungarvan, 5pm
Wexford v Antrim, Wexford Park, 4pm
Tipperary v Sligo, Semple Stadium, 2pm
Limerick v Offaly, Rathkeale, 3pm
London v Down, Ruislip, 6pm
Carlow v Fermanagh, Dr Cullen Park, 3pm

Joe McDonagh Cup round 4
Laois v Down, Laois Hire O’Moore Park, TBC
Westmeath v Meath, TEG Cusack Park, TBC

Christy Ring Cup round 5
London v Kildare, 1pm
Sligo v Derry, Markievicz Park, 1pm
Tyrone v Wicklow, Carrickmore, 1pm

Nickey Rackard Cup round 5
Louth v Donegal, Dowdallshill, TBC
Armagh v Monaghan, Box-It Athletic Grounds, TBC
Roscommon v Mayo, Dr Hyde Park, TBC

Lory Meagher Cup round 5
Lancashire v Warwickshire, TBC, TBC
Longford v Fermanagh, Glennon Bros Pearse Park, TBC
Leitrim v Cavan, Drumshanbo, TBC

All-Ireland U20FC final
Tyrone v Kerry, TBC, TBC

All-Ireland U20FC B final
Down v Westmeath, TBC, TBC

Ulster MFC semi-finals
Derry v quarter-final winner, Owenbeg, TBC
Donegal v quarter-final winner, Ballybofey, TBC

All Ireland MFC Tier 3 knockout
Meath v Down, TBC, TBC
Westmeath v Carlow, TBC, TBC
Offaly v Waterford, TBC, TBC
Limerick v Fermanagh, TBC, TBC
Laois v Antrim, TBC, TBC

Leinster MHC semi-finals
Galway v Kildare or Kilkenny, TBC, TBC
Dublin v Offaly or Wexford, TBC, TBC

Sunday 19 May

Leinster SHC round 4
Carlow v Wexford, Netwatch Cullen Park, 3pm

Munster SHC round 4
Tipperary v Cork, FBD Semple Stadium, 4pm – RTE
Clare v Waterford, Cusack Park, 2pm – RTE

Tailteann Cup round 2
Longford v Leitrim, Pearse Park, 2.30pm
Wicklow v Laois, Aughrim, 3pm – GAAGO

Joe McDonagh Cup round 4
Offaly v Kerry, Glenisk O’Connor Park, 1pm

Monday 20 May

Leinster MFC final
Dublin v Longford, Glenisk O’Connor Park, 7.30pm

Wednesday 22 May

Leinster U20HC final

Friday 24 May

Munster U20HC final

Saturday 25 / Sunday 26 May

All-Ireland SFC round 1
Dublin v Roscommon, TBC, TBC
Donegal v Tyrone, TBC, TBC
Louth v Meath, TBC, TBC
Armagh v Westmeath, TBC, TBC

All-Ireland U20HC B final

All-Ireland U20HC C final

Saturday 25 May

Joe McDonagh Cup round 5
Kerry v Meath, Austin Stack Park, TBC
Down v Offaly, Ballycran, TBC
Westmeath v Laois, TEG Cusack Park, TBC

Sunday 26 May

Leinster SHC round 5
Kilkenny v Wexford, UPMC Nowlan Park, 2pm
Galway v Dublin, Pearse Stadium, 2pm
Antrim v Carlow, Corrigan Park, 2pm

Munster SHC round 5
Limerick v Waterford, TUS Gaelic Grounds, 4pm
Tipperary v Clare, FBD Semple Stadium, 4pm

Saturday 1 / Sunday 2 June

All-Ireland SFC round 2
Monaghan v Louth, Clones, TBC
Meath v Kerry, Pairc Tailteann, TBC
Tyrone v Clare, Healy Park, TBC
Cork v Donegal, Pairc Ui Chaoimh, TBC
Derry v Armagh, Celtic Park, TBC
Westmeath v Galway, TEG Cusack Park, TBC
Roscommon v Mayo, Dr Hyde Park, TBC
Cavan v Dublin, Kingspan Breffni, TBC

Tailteann Cup round 2
Kildare v Leitrim, TBC, TBC
Longford v Waterford, TBC, TBC
Sligo v Antrim, TBC, TBC
Wexford v Tipperary, TBC. TBC
Fermanagh v Laois, TBC, TBC
Wicklow v Carlow, TBC, TBC
Down v Offaly, TBC, TBC
Limerick v London, TBC, TBC

All-Ireland U20HC final
Leinster winner v Munster winner, TBC, TBC

Saturday 1 June

Christy Ring Cup final
1st placed team v 2nd placed team, Croke Park, TBC

Nickey Rackard Cup final
1st placed team v 2nd placed team, Croke Park, TBC

Lory Meagher Cup final
1st placed team v 2nd placed team, Croke Park, TBC

Saturday 8 / Sunday 9 June

Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-finals

Saturday 8 June

Leinster SHC final
1st placed team v 2nd placed team, Croke Park, TBC

Joe McDonagh Cup final
1st placed team v 2nd placed team, Croke Park, TBC

Sunday 9 June

Munster SHC final
1st placed team v 2nd placed team, TBC, TBC

Saturday 15 / Sunday 16 June

All-Ireland SFC round 3
Galway v Armagh, TBC, TBC
Derry v Westmeath, TBC, TBC
Monaghan v Meath, TBC, TBC
Louth v Kerry, TBC, TBC
Donegal v Clare, TBC, TBC
Tyrone v Cork, TBC, TBC
Dublin v Mayo, TBC, TBC
Roscommon v Cavan, TBC, TBC

Tailteann Cup quarter-finals

All-Ireland SHC preliminary quarter-finals
Joe McDonagh Cup winner v 3rd placed Munster team, TBC, TBC
Joe McDonagh Cup runner-up v 3rd placed Leinster team, TBC, TBC

Saturday 22 / Sunday 23 June

All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-finals
2nd placed teams v 3rd placed teams

Saturday 22 June

All-Ireland SHC quarter-finals
Leinster runner-up v Joe McDonagh Cup winner or 3rd placed Munster team, TBC, TBC
Munster runner-up v Joe McDonagh Cup runner-up or 3rd placed Leinster team, TBC, TBC

Sunday 23 June

Tailteann Cup semi-finals

Saturday 29 / Sunday 30 June

All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals
1st placed team A v preliminary quarter-final winner, TBC, TBC
1st placed team B v preliminary quarter-final winner, TBC, TBC
1st placed team C v preliminary quarter-final winner, TBC, TBC
1st placed team D v preliminary quarter-final winner, TBC, TBC

All-Ireland SHC relegation play-off

Saturday 6 July

All-Ireland SHC semi-final
Leinster winner v quarter-final winner, Croke Park, TBC

Sunday 7 July

All-Ireland SHC semi-final
Munster winner v quarter-final winner, Croke Park, TBC

Friday 12 July

All-Ireland JFC semi-finals

Saturday 13 July

All-Ireland SFC semi-final
Quarter-final winner v quarter-final winner, Croke Park, TBC

Tailteann Cup final
Semi-final winner v semi-final winner, Croke Park, TBC

Sunday 14 July

All-Ireland SFC semi-final
Quarter-final winner v quarter-final winner, Croke Park, TBC

All-Ireland JFC final
Semi-final winner v semi-final winner, TBC, TBC

Sunday 21 July

All-Ireland SHC final

Sunday 28 July

All-Ireland SFC final

Full fixture details will be confirmed by the C.C.C.C in due course.

Click here for GAA League tables 


LiveScores Now Available at IrishScores.com



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List of live GAA on Clubber, TG4, SKY Sports , GAAGO & RTE

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List of live GAA on Clubber, TG4, SKY Sports , GAAGO & RTE


We have the list of live GAA matches that will be broadcast live on Online, GAAGO, Clubber, Sky Sports & RTE, here are the fixtures Hurling and Gaelic Football league and championships.

CLICK FOR LIVE GAA SCORES

CLICK FOR GAA LEAGUE TABLE

CLICK FOR List of live sports on RTE, Virgin & BBC 

Monday 13 May

Munster MFC final
Cork v Kerry, Pairc Ui Rinn, 7.30pm TG4

Wednesday 15 May

Leinster U20HC semi-finals
Dublin v Galway, Laois Hire O’Moore Park, 7.30pm TG4
Offaly v Kilkenny, Glenisk O’Connor Park, 7pm

Thursday 16 May

Munster MHC final

Friday 17 May

Munster U20HC semi-final

Connacht MFC semi-final

Saturday 18 May

All-Ireland SFC round 1
Galway v Derry, Pearse Stadium, 5.30pm – GAAGO
Mayo v Cavan, Hastings MacHale Park, 5pm
Clare v Cork, Cusack Park, 6pm
Kerry v Monaghan, Killarney, 3pm – GAAGO

Leinster SHC round 4
Dublin v Kilkenny, Parnell Park, 6pm
Antrim v Galway, Corrigan Park, 3pm

Tailteann Cup round 2
Waterford v Kildare, Dungarvan, 5pm
Wexford v Antrim, Wexford Park, 4pm
Tipperary v Sligo, Semple Stadium, 2pm
Limerick v Offaly, Rathkeale, 3pm
London v Down, Ruislip, 6pm
Carlow v Fermanagh, Dr Cullen Park, 3pm

Joe McDonagh Cup round 4
Laois v Down, Laois Hire O’Moore Park, TBC
Westmeath v Meath, TEG Cusack Park, TBC

Christy Ring Cup round 5
London v Kildare, 1pm
Sligo v Derry, Markievicz Park, 1pm
Tyrone v Wicklow, Carrickmore, 1pm

Nickey Rackard Cup round 5
Louth v Donegal, Dowdallshill, TBC
Armagh v Monaghan, Box-It Athletic Grounds, TBC
Roscommon v Mayo, Dr Hyde Park, TBC

Lory Meagher Cup round 5
Lancashire v Warwickshire, TBC, TBC
Longford v Fermanagh, Glennon Bros Pearse Park, TBC
Leitrim v Cavan, Drumshanbo, TBC

All-Ireland U20FC final
Tyrone v Kerry, TBC, TBC

All-Ireland U20FC B final
Down v Westmeath, TBC, TBC

Ulster MFC semi-finals
Derry v quarter-final winner, Owenbeg, TBC
Donegal v quarter-final winner, Ballybofey, TBC

All Ireland MFC Tier 3 knockout
Meath v Down, TBC, TBC
Westmeath v Carlow, TBC, TBC
Offaly v Waterford, TBC, TBC
Limerick v Fermanagh, TBC, TBC
Laois v Antrim, TBC, TBC

Leinster MHC semi-finals
Galway v Kildare or Kilkenny, TBC, TBC
Dublin v Offaly or Wexford, TBC, TBC

Sunday 19 May

Leinster SHC round 4
Carlow v Wexford, Netwatch Cullen Park, 3pm

Munster SHC round 4
Tipperary v Cork, FBD Semple Stadium, 4pm – RTE
Clare v Waterford, Cusack Park, 2pm – RTE

Tailteann Cup round 2
Longford v Leitrim, Pearse Park, 2.30pm
Wicklow v Laois, Aughrim, 3pm – GAAGO

Joe McDonagh Cup round 4
Offaly v Kerry, Glenisk O’Connor Park, 1pm

Monday 20 May

Leinster MFC final
Dublin v Longford, Glenisk O’Connor Park, 7.30pm

Wednesday 22 May

Leinster U20HC final

Friday 24 May

Munster U20HC final

Saturday 25 / Sunday 26 May

All-Ireland SFC round 1
Dublin v Roscommon, TBC, TBC
Donegal v Tyrone, TBC, TBC
Louth v Meath, TBC, TBC
Armagh v Westmeath, TBC, TBC

All-Ireland U20HC B final

All-Ireland U20HC C final

Saturday 25 May

Joe McDonagh Cup round 5
Kerry v Meath, Austin Stack Park, TBC
Down v Offaly, Ballycran, TBC
Westmeath v Laois, TEG Cusack Park, TBC

Sunday 26 May

Leinster SHC round 5
Kilkenny v Wexford, UPMC Nowlan Park, 2pm
Galway v Dublin, Pearse Stadium, 2pm
Antrim v Carlow, Corrigan Park, 2pm

Munster SHC round 5
Limerick v Waterford, TUS Gaelic Grounds, 4pm
Tipperary v Clare, FBD Semple Stadium, 4pm

Saturday 1 / Sunday 2 June

All-Ireland SFC round 2
Monaghan v Louth, Clones, TBC
Meath v Kerry, Pairc Tailteann, TBC
Tyrone v Clare, Healy Park, TBC
Cork v Donegal, Pairc Ui Chaoimh, TBC
Derry v Armagh, Celtic Park, TBC
Westmeath v Galway, TEG Cusack Park, TBC
Roscommon v Mayo, Dr Hyde Park, TBC
Cavan v Dublin, Kingspan Breffni, TBC

Tailteann Cup round 2
Kildare v Leitrim, TBC, TBC
Longford v Waterford, TBC, TBC
Sligo v Antrim, TBC, TBC
Wexford v Tipperary, TBC. TBC
Fermanagh v Laois, TBC, TBC
Wicklow v Carlow, TBC, TBC
Down v Offaly, TBC, TBC
Limerick v London, TBC, TBC

All-Ireland U20HC final
Leinster winner v Munster winner, TBC, TBC

Saturday 1 June

Christy Ring Cup final
1st placed team v 2nd placed team, Croke Park, TBC

Nickey Rackard Cup final
1st placed team v 2nd placed team, Croke Park, TBC

Lory Meagher Cup final
1st placed team v 2nd placed team, Croke Park, TBC

Saturday 8 / Sunday 9 June

Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-finals

Saturday 8 June

Leinster SHC final
1st placed team v 2nd placed team, Croke Park, TBC

Joe McDonagh Cup final
1st placed team v 2nd placed team, Croke Park, TBC

Sunday 9 June

Munster SHC final
1st placed team v 2nd placed team, TBC, TBC

Saturday 15 / Sunday 16 June

All-Ireland SFC round 3
Galway v Armagh, TBC, TBC
Derry v Westmeath, TBC, TBC
Monaghan v Meath, TBC, TBC
Louth v Kerry, TBC, TBC
Donegal v Clare, TBC, TBC
Tyrone v Cork, TBC, TBC
Dublin v Mayo, TBC, TBC
Roscommon v Cavan, TBC, TBC

Tailteann Cup quarter-finals

All-Ireland SHC preliminary quarter-finals
Joe McDonagh Cup winner v 3rd placed Munster team, TBC, TBC
Joe McDonagh Cup runner-up v 3rd placed Leinster team, TBC, TBC

Saturday 22 / Sunday 23 June

All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-finals
2nd placed teams v 3rd placed teams

Saturday 22 June

All-Ireland SHC quarter-finals
Leinster runner-up v Joe McDonagh Cup winner or 3rd placed Munster team, TBC, TBC
Munster runner-up v Joe McDonagh Cup runner-up or 3rd placed Leinster team, TBC, TBC

Sunday 23 June

Tailteann Cup semi-finals

Saturday 29 / Sunday 30 June

All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals
1st placed team A v preliminary quarter-final winner, TBC, TBC
1st placed team B v preliminary quarter-final winner, TBC, TBC
1st placed team C v preliminary quarter-final winner, TBC, TBC
1st placed team D v preliminary quarter-final winner, TBC, TBC

All-Ireland SHC relegation play-off

Saturday 6 July

All-Ireland SHC semi-final
Leinster winner v quarter-final winner, Croke Park, TBC

Sunday 7 July

All-Ireland SHC semi-final
Munster winner v quarter-final winner, Croke Park, TBC

Friday 12 July

All-Ireland JFC semi-finals

Saturday 13 July

All-Ireland SFC semi-final
Quarter-final winner v quarter-final winner, Croke Park, TBC

Tailteann Cup final
Semi-final winner v semi-final winner, Croke Park, TBC

Sunday 14 July

All-Ireland SFC semi-final
Quarter-final winner v quarter-final winner, Croke Park, TBC

All-Ireland JFC final
Semi-final winner v semi-final winner, TBC, TBC

Sunday 21 July

All-Ireland SHC final

Sunday 28 July

All-Ireland SFC final


LiveScores Now Available at IrishScores.com



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New England Patriots confirm new chief as post-Bill Belichick era becomes clear

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New England Patriots confirm new chief as post-Bill Belichick era becomes clear




The New England Patriots have found a new general manager in every sense other than title by hiring Eliot Wolf permanently, ensuring the front office is full ahead of the 2024 NFL season



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Are parents who think they ‘know better’ to blame for the whooping cough surge? asks Dr MAX PEMBERTON

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Are parents who think they ‘know better’ to blame for the whooping cough surge? asks Dr MAX PEMBERTON


Six lives every minute. That’s the number saved by vaccines, according to a study by the World Health Organisation and published in the Lancet earlier this year. That equates to 154million people over the past 50 years alone. And the vast majority of lives saved in that half century – 101million – were those of infants.

It was the Englishman Edward Jenner who noted that people infected with cowpox were immune to the more deadly smallpox. In 1786 he created the first vaccine, by using matter from a cowpox sore to inoculate against smallpox. In the 200 odd years since, we’ve developed and rolled out vaccines for a large number of once deadly or debilitating diseases.

Yet we now seem to have become so complacent about the benefits that people are eschewing vaccines entirely. Which makes them – and to an extent all of us – much more vulnerable to disease.

The current whooping cough outbreak has rightly got parents scared. It is the worst we have seen for 40 years. Many adults have also succumbed to it, suffering the so-called ‘100 day cough’.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed there were 2,793 cases of whooping cough reported as of the end of March and five babies have tragically died from the infection.

The current whooping cough outbreak has rightly got parents scared. It is the worst we have seen for 40 years, writes Dr Max

There is always a lag between deaths and the publication of official figures, so it seems inevitable the real number will already be higher. It was reported in this paper last week that paediatric intensive care units are on ‘surge capacity’ because of whooping cough and measles, meaning they are full to bursting.

There are several factors at work here. Yes, the problem may be down, in part, to reduced community immunity caused by lockdowns. But there’s no doubt that it has also been fuelled by a rise in the number of parents refusing to get their babies and toddlers vaccinated, and some pregnant women declining the jab too.

With uptake over the past 12 months not much above 90 per cent for the six-in-one jab given to babies – which also protects against diphtheria and polio – we are rapidly losing the blanket coverage we need to keep whooping cough at bay. In London it’s down to 86 per cent.

Vaccine refusal has been a problem since the 1990s, when unfounded fears over the MMR triple jab saw uptake slump

Vaccine refusal has been a problem since the 1990s, when unfounded fears over the MMR triple jab saw uptake slump

In fact ‘vaccine refusal’ has been a problem for many years. It started back in the late 1990s with the panic caused by Andrew Wakefield, a doctor who wrong linked the jab for measles, mumps and rubella with autism. That’s been categorically disproved, of course, and Wakefield was struck off the medical register (although he continues as a vocal anti-vaxxer). But the idea that vaccines can be dangerous persists. Many parents still have a niggling worry.

You’d think those who were most hesitant would be from less-educated backgrounds, perhaps because they don’t understand the science or are unaware how crucial vaccination is to their child’s health. But in fact research suggests the opposite is true. With MMR, for example, some of the lowest rates of uptake of the vaccine are in some of the most wealthy regions. This suggests that groups of people who are typically educated, and otherwise pro-active on health matters, are actively turning their backs on vaccines.

This feels to me like part of a wider trend. I’ve certainly noticed in middle class patients a growing sense that they know best when it comes to their health. They don’t blindly trust doctors or experts anymore, and are often resistant to, or sceptical of, health campaigns because they don’t like being told what to do.

This lack of trust has been heightened by social media. People are bombarded by misinformation and downright lies online – and too many believe them.

It’s all too easy to get sucked into forums run by people who think they ‘know more’ than doctors.

Add the sense of superiority one sometimes finds among middle class patients – a reluctance to defer to those with medical qualifications – and you’ve got a vaccine refuser.

There’s another, more nebulous problem: people are tired of vaccines after Covid.

Humans tend to have a short attention span and after the monumental push to get people vaccinated back in 2020, they are simply bored with hearing about jabs and how important they are. They aren’t prioritising it.

I worry that scepticism about vaccines will only get worse in the wake of revelations that, while saving millions of lives worldwide, the AstraZeneca Covid jabs have been found to be linked to potentially serious complications.

Scientists do test vaccines rigorously – pharmaceutical companies can’t afford not to.

One of mankind’s greatest advances was the development of a method of scientific inquiry that tests hypotheses – and all new medical treatments – in as objective a way as possible. And we know the childhood jab for whooping cough is safe.

If we are to avoid further surges in infectious diseases, doctors have to better engage with those who are vaccine sceptics. It’s vital that the misinformation and misunderstandings are discussed openly. We should never be scared of debate.

While it’s unlikely to change the view of die-hard anti-vaxxers, it will hopefully expose some of the falsehoods that are circulating about the whooping cough vaccine, and help those who are hesitant or confused make an informed choice about protecting their child.

 Is it just me, or is this icky?

Damian Hurley, 22, had to direct his mother, Elizabeth Hurley, 58, in a sex scene in his new film

Damian Hurley, 22, had to direct his mother, Elizabeth Hurley, 58, in a sex scene in his new film

Most people find the idea of their parents having sex as, well, something they’d rather not think about. But imagine if you not only had to think about it but choreograph the action too? 

Damian Hurley, 22, had to do just that when he directed his mother, Elizabeth Hurley, 58, in his new film. Talking afterwards, Liz said: ‘Everyone knows it’s not actually sexy to shoot any kind of intimate scene… Damian made it so comfortable. It was nothing.’ I’m sure she’s right, but even so. There is something slightly icky about your child being involved like this. 

Part of me loves how the two of them are close – they seem more like friends than mother and son – but I’m not totally onboard with him taking racy pictures of her posing in bikinis to promote her beachwear either. I can’t help thinking there’s something to be said for boundaries.

As you get older, a fall can have devastating consequences. As bones become brittle, even a simple trip can result in a fracture. 

One in three people aged over 65 and half of those aged over 80 will suffer at least one fall a year, costing the UK an estimated £4.4billion annually. 

That’s why I love a new programme called Finding Your Feet, designed by British Judo. It’s a course, taught by judo trainers, which takes 18 different judo techniques and adapts them for elderly people at risk of falling. 

They’ll be shown how to improve their balance and how to fall safely. It’s a brilliant idea.

Dr Max Prescribes: Sweet Bee Organics

This new range of handmade organic products uses lots of natural ingredients. My favourite is the ‘sweet sleep magnesium butter’ which you rub on the bottom of your feet 20 minutes before going to bed. 

There’s evidence to suggest that magnesium improves sleep by acting on certain chemicals in the brain, such as NMDA, GABA and melatonin, which affect how relaxed or tired a person feels.



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