Raf Diallo

RTÉ Sport Journalist

Shelbourne manager Damien Duff reacts during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers at Tolka Park in Dublin.

Duff's exit in keeping with his box office Shels spell

If some of the early naysayers had been proven correct, Damien Duff would have walked away from Shelbourne almost as soon as he arrived. That he didn't may have been a surprise to some of those sceptics. But three-and-a-half years later, he caught everyone napping.

Soccer • 24 Jun 25

21 June 2025; Ronan Hayes of Dublin celebrates after the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship quarter-final match between Dublin and Limerick at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

All-Ireland SHC: Dublin and Tipp progress to semis

Fourteen-man Dublin stunned Limerick at Croke Park, while Tipperary joined them in the semi-finals, beating Galway at the Gaelic Grounds.

Hurling • 21 Jun 25

Liam O Brien (IRL) races at ISU Short Track World Tour 1 on October 25, 2024, at Maurice-Richard Arena in Montreal, QC

Two into one won't go but O'Brien eyeing Olympics spot

Sydney-born short track speed skater Liam O'Brien has his sights set on representing Ireland at the 2026 Winter Olympics having very narrowly missed out on Beijing 2022.

other sport • 22 Jun 25

Team Ireland winter athletes gather for a team camp at the Sport Ireland Campus in Dublin ahead of the final qualification phase for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games next February. In attendance is Alpine Skier, Cormac Comerford.

Comerford channels Shackleton spirit towards 2026 Games

While the distance from his training base to the site of next year's Winter Olympics may not be the farthest to traverse, the road towards Milano-Cortina 2026 has been a long one for Cormac Comerford.

other sport • 08 Jun 25

Katie McCabe during a Republic of Ireland women's training session at Esenler Erok Stadium in Istanbul, Türkiye.

Turkey v Republic of Ireland: All you need to know

The Republic of Ireland are in Turkey for their penultimate Women's Nations League fixture on Friday. Here's all you need to know.

Soccer • 29 May 25

Elsa Desmond of Ireland after competing in the Women's Luge event on day four of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at Sliding Park in Yanqing, China.

Desmond willing to sacrifice car to fuel Olympic dream

In a world that can sometimes allow one to muddle along in a haze of ifs, buts and maybes, luger and Winter Olympian Elsa Desmond seems to pierce through that cloud in a refreshingly direct manner when it comes to why she is where she is and where she wants to get to ahead of the 2026 Games.

Elsa Desmond • 31 May 25

Friday's SSE Airtricity League results and reports

Shamrock Rovers extend their lead at the top of the Premier Division table after coming from behind to beat Derry City, while Shelbourne, Drogheda United and Galway United all earned victories on the night.

Soccer • 23 May 25

Jim Crawford says he's enjoying the rapport that has been built up with Ireland senior manager Heimir Hallgrimsson (r)

Crawford seeking 'real north star' on Ireland's horizon

Republic of Ireland Under-21 manager Jim Crawford speaks to RTÉ Sport's Raf Diallo after naming his squad for the June friendlies against Croatia and the Qatar under-23s on Wednesday.

Soccer • 25 May 25

'We plan to go to the World Cup, end of story,' says Hallgrimsson

Hallgrimsson bullish in pursuit of World Cup goal

One of the striking aspects of Heimir Hallgrimsson's latest squad announcement was how bullish the Republic of Ireland manager was about what next summer could look like. But very much in a matter-of-fact way.

Soccer • 14 May 25

Josh Honohan has excelled for Shamrock Rovers domestically and in Europe

Versatility the trump card for Honohan - Hallgrimsson

Heimir Hallgrimsson says Josh Honohan's versatility was the key calling card that earned the Shamrock Rovers defender a first call-up into the Republic of Ireland squad for the friendlies against Senegal and Luxembourg next month.

Soccer • 14 May 25