Christy O'Connor

Journalist, author, All-Ireland club winning goalkeeper with Doora Barefield and coach

'Their stick-passing and short-passing game has gone to another level this spring'

Is a sweeper system the only way to stop Limerick?

The All-Ireland champions' system, size, skill, strength and speed all add up to a team that is going to be very hard to beat in 2019.

GAA • 01 Apr 19

'With half-forward lines coming deeper again this spring, before looking to break forward with massive pace, the congestion in that warzone has never been greater'

Dublin find the beauty in battling hurling's randomness

It may not have been to everyone's tastes, but Dublin's tactics of clogging the middle third is simply building on Limerick's success and is reliant upon huge skill levels and impressive levels of fitness and strength.

GAA • 25 Mar 19

"Ballyhale Shamrocks have the richest gene pool in the country."

Ballyhale have woven an enduring tapestry of brilliance

Ballyhale Shamrocks are a club like no other, building their success off the richest hurling gene pool in the country.

GAA • 18 Mar 19

"Sunday was always going to be about Offaly. But it should have been about Carlow first"

Carlow - one of modern hurling's great success stories

With just five clubs represented on the current senior panel, what this Carlow squad have achieved has been one of the great hurling success stories of the modern era, writes Christy O'Connor

GAA • 11 Mar 19

"Watching Limerick go on to win the title has made Clare more pumped and driven than ever for 2019"

Clare-Limerick recovers bite and resentment of 1990s

Before the Clare-Limerick game even began in Ennis on Sunday, Conor Cleary and Kyle Hayes were going at it. Seconds after the ball was thrown in, Gearóid Hegarty and Patrick O'Connor were rolling around on the deck.

GAA • 04 Mar 19

Kilkenny composure key to consistent edge over Tipp

Kilkenny's last-gasp victory over Tipperary on Sunday fit a familiar pattern of victories in close games over their neighbours and rivals, writes Christy O'Connor.

GAA • 25 Feb 19

'When UL won the 1994 title, their quarter-final, semi-final and final all went to extra-time'

Fitzgibbon, Sigerson in danger of following Railway Cup

With the colleges competition struggling to find time in the busy GAA schedule, there's a danger they could go the way of the inter-pros.

GAA • 18 Feb 19

CBC take long road back to Harty Cup final

Hurling anoraks are always on the lookout for something unique but intrigue invariably defines that search.

GAA • 11 Feb 19

Half-forward engine room powering teams to success

Limerick's half-forwards set the template last year - big, athletic, rangy, strong, powerful, pacy players and all well able to score - and Clare are following suit.

GAA • 05 Feb 19

Tipperary got their League campaign off to a winning start

Tipperary's style evolving under Sheedy

The League offers opportunity to gauge Tipperary's new tactical fluidity and their progress under Liam Sheedy.

GAA • 28 Jan 19