James Callan

RTÉ Sport contributor

Dana Scheriff of Athlone Town, front, celebrates after scoring her side's first goal during the 2026 Women's President's Cup final match between Athlone Town and Shelbourne at Athlone Town Stadium in Westmeath.

Athlone seek stability after turbulent period of success

The structure at Athlone Town "is not stable" according to former manager Colin Fortune, despite the club's CEO insisting a structured process is underway to identify a fourth manager for the women's team in less than two years

Soccer • 05 Apr

How the LOI is betting on protecting integrity

As a new League of Ireland season dawns, combatting corruption and match-fixing has become a major issue for the domestic game.

Soccer • 06 Feb

What the GAA's image rights deal means for players

The GAA's new four-year agreement with the Gaelic Players Association marks a meaningful shift in how the organisation approaches the identity and commercial value of its athletes.

Football • 02 Dec 25

No grand designs: Football's infrastructure logjam

The League of Ireland is expanding at a pace not seen in decades. Attendances exceeded the one million mark in 2024, clubs are selling out weeks in advance and domestic football has finally re-established itself in Irish sporting culture. It's a shame infrastructural works can't keep up.

Soccer • 30 Nov 25

Would World Cup qualification change Irish football?

Troy Parrott's late winner in Budapest has pushed the Republic of Ireland back into the qualification picture for the 2026 World Cup, but what would qualification actually change for Irish football?

Soccer • 22 Nov 25

A League of Ireland corner flag during a Cross Border Academy Development Day in 2024

A new LOI academy road: What to take from English model

With League of Ireland academies recently receiving a much-needed boost in the shape of government funding, James Callan looks at how the nurturing of talent in England can be the template to enhance the academy structures here.

Soccer • 26 Oct 25