Raf Diallo

RTÉ Sport Journalist

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner during the UEFA Conference League 2025/26 league phase match between Shelbourne and Crystal Palace at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin.

Palace boss Glasner surprised by Shels' early approach

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner admitted he was surprised by the way that Shelbourne were willing to play out from the back in the first half of Thursday night's Conference League clash at Tallaght Stadium.

Soccer • 12 Dec

John Martin of Shelbourne reacts after his side concede a second goal scored by Eddie Nketiah of Crystal Palace, not pictured, during the UEFA Conference League 2025/26 league phase match between Shelbourne and Crystal Palace at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin

No Palace coup as Eagles pick apart Shels in Tallaght

It was the tie that jumped off the page when the draw was made for Shelbourne's maiden UEFA Conference League campaign but in the end, the challenge of taking on an established Premier League opponent proved a bridge too far as Crystal Palace ran out 3-0 winners at Tallaght Stadium.

Soccer • 12 Dec

Head coach Joey O'Brien during a Shelbourne training session at the AUL Complex in Clonshaugh, Dublin.

'Getting to know him in the squads, he was a great lad'

As Joey O'Brien gets ready to pit his wits against Oliver Glasner at Tallaght Stadium tonight, Shelbourne v Crystal Palace will mark his 27th match as a manager.

Soccer • 11 Dec

Head coach Joey O'Brien during a Shelbourne media conference at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin.

Palace privilege and Big Sam's ire fuel O'Brien's fire

When the draw was made for Shelbourne's maiden UEFA Conference League campaign, Crystal Palace coming to Dublin two weeks before Christmas jumped off the page. But for manager Joey O'Brien, he is keen for his side not to look at it as a pressure game.

Soccer • 11 Dec

Pole position qualifier Oscar Piastri of Australia and McLaren Second placed qualifier Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren and Third placed qualifier Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing during qualifying ahead of the F1 Gran

Stage set for rare treat of a three-way title decider

As championship leader Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri head into Sunday's Formula One drivers' title decider in Abu Dhabi, RTÉ Sport's Raf Diallo sets the scene.

Motorsport • 07 Dec

Brett Robinson, World Rugby Chair and former Australian international, James Slipper, Morgan Turinui and Phil Waugh pose at the broadcast desk during the Men's Rugby World Cup 2027 Draw at Channel Nine Studios on December 03, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.

2027 RWC pool draw recap: Ireland to face Scotland

Andy Farrell and his Ireland team have been drawn against Scotland, Uruguay and Portugal in Pool D of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Rugby • 03 Dec

Troy Parrott of Republic of Ireland celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F Qualifier match between Hungary and Republic of Ireland at Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary.

Player Ratings: Perfect Parrott provides the impossible

The Republic of Ireland faced Hungary in Budapest with a potential World Cup play-off place at stake. Here's how we rated Heimir Hallgrimsson's players after an extraordinary victory.

Soccer • 17 Nov

Jacob Devaney of Republic of Ireland reacts to a missed opportunity on goal during the UEFA European U21 Championship qualifier group D match between England and Republic of Ireland at St. Andrew's at Knighthead Park in Birmingham, England.

Enterprising Ireland U21s edged out in rainy Birmingham

The Republic of Ireland Under-21s put in an enterprising display at a rain-sodden St Andrew's in Birmingham but fell to a 2-0 defeat against reigning European champions England in their qualifier on Friday night.

Soccer • 15 Nov

Republic of Ireland players Adam Murphy, 8, and Sean Grehan, 5, after Divin Mubama of England, right, scored his side's first goal, from a penalty, past Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Noah Jauny during the UEFA European U21 Championship qualifier group D

Euro U21 qualifier: England 2-0 Rep of Ireland recap

Jim Crawford's Republic of Ireland Under-21s put in an impressive display in Birmingham but lose 2-0 to England in their European Championship qualifier.

Soccer • 15 Nov

Michael Noonan of Republic of Ireland, centre, celebrates with teammates Ramon Martos, right, and Ade Solanke after scoring his side's third goal during the FIFA Under-17 World Cup Group J match between Panama and Republic of Ireland at Aspire Zone in Doh

Ireland U17s mark World Cup bow with emphatic win

The Republic of Ireland made a dream start to their maiden appearance at a FIFA Under-17 World Cup as goals from Jaden Umeh, Kian McMahon-Brown, Michael Noonan and Max Kovalevskis sealed a 4-1 win over Panama on Pitch 3 at the Aspire Zone in Qatar.

Soccer • 05 Nov