Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Jake O'Brien won't be linking up with Ireland this week

O'Brien omission from squad 'grating on me' - Treacy

Heimir Hallgrimsson could have used the October window to take a closer look at what Jake O'Brien can offer rather than leave him out of his squad entirely, according to former Republic of Ireland international Keith Treacy.

Soccer • 07 Oct 24

Ireland v Finland | Athlone ascend | LOI and FAI Cup

Graham Gartland, Keith Treacy and Méabh De Búrca join Raf Diallo on this week's RTÉ Soccer Podcast. On the menu are Ireland's Nations League commitments, Athlone Town's Women's Premier Division title race, Shamrock Rovers in Europe and the latest LOI and FAI Cup semi-final action.

Soccer • 07 Oct 24

Manager Markku Kanerva remains at the helm but other voices on his staff have been empowered to instigate a shift in style

View from Finland: Style shift adds intrigue for Irish

Finnish football journalist Ari Virtanen joins Raf Diallo on a bonus episode of the RTÉ Soccer Podcast to share an insight into a Finland team in the midst of a style shift which is awaiting the Republic of Ireland in Helsinki on Thursday.

Soccer • 08 Oct 24

Murphy: Missing out on Brexit reserve fund 'incredible'

The fact that the FAI missed out on the opportunity to source funding via the Brexit Adjustment Reserve is "incredible", according to former Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick's Athletic goalkeeper Barry Murphy.

Soccer • 30 Sep 24

Neil Farrugia in action against Sparta Prague in July

Treacy: Conference League should hold no fear for Hoops

Shamrock Rovers players should feel little trepidation as their UEFA Conference League campaign begins in earnest with a tough League Phase opener against Cypriot champions APOEL on Thursday, according to former Republic of Ireland international Keith Treacy.

Soccer • 02 Oct 24

Rovers v APOEL, title races and LOI academy funding

Keith Treacy, Barry Murphy and Méabh De Búrca join Raf Diallo for a Shamrock Rovers v APOEL preview, a review of the men's and women's Premier Division title races, FAI Cup semis, LOI academy funding, Aaron Connolly's move and Matt Doherty's status and the week's Champions League action.

Soccer • 30 Sep 24

Ref rants, title twists, Irish abroad and City-Arsenal

Keith Treacy and Johnny McDonnell join Raf Diallo to review the weekend's League of Ireland action including penalty controversy in Derry, Shels' slip up at Galway and Women's FAI Cup semi reaction. They also talk Irish players in European competition and a feisty Manchester City v Arsenal clash.

Soccer • 23 Sep 24

Cork City manager Tim Clancy, centre, and players celebrate after their promotion-sealing win over UCD last week

McDonnell: Cork City in 'good place' to handle step up

Former St Patrick's Athletic and Shelbourne manager Johnny McDonnell discusses Cork City's potential to build on their promotion-winning campaign upon their return to the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division next season.

Soccer • 12 Sep 24

Fotis Ioannidis curling home the opener for Greece shortly after half-time

McDonnell: Boring work on 'structure' key for Ireland

Former St Patrick's Athletic, Shelbourne and Drogheda United manager Johnny McDonnell says new Republic of Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson has plenty of work to do on the shape and structure of the team and recommends sticking with the switch to a back four.

Soccer • 11 Sep 24

Heimir's first dance review and the Dundalk situation

Johnny McDonnell and RTÉ Sport's Conor Neville join Raf Diallo to review a losing start for new Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson against England and Greece. They also talk about the Under-21s, the situation at Dundalk, the FAI Cup quarter-finals and Cork City's promotion.

Soccer • 11 Sep 24

Former Polish player Michal Zewlakow shows the paper slip of Shamrock Rovers during the ceremony of the draw for the league phase of the 2024-2025 UEFA Conference League

Treacy: Hope for Hoops to throw punch or two in Europe

While much of the spotlight is on December's trip to Chelsea, former Republic of Ireland winger Keith Treacy feels there are opportunities elsewhere for Shamrock Rovers to try and progress from the League Phase of the UEFA Conference League.

Soccer • 02 Sep 24

Hallgrimsson oversaw Ireland training for the first time on Monday ahead of Saturday's daunting debut

Treacy: 'Ugly' blueprint appealing for Heimir's Ireland

Eschewing open attractive football for an approach that makes matches more "ugly" and "dirty" will yield greater dividends for the Republic of Ireland against England on Saturday and beyond, according to former Boys in Green winger Keith Treacy.

Soccer • 04 Sep 24

Ireland v England preview and Rovers' Conference calls

Keith Treacy and Sky News Radio's Joe Rawson join Raf Diallo to build up to Ireland's Nations League opener against England as Heimir Hallgrimsson begins his reign and Lee Carsley gets set for an audition. Plus, chat on Shamrock Rovers' Conference League games, the weekend's LOI and Premier League.

Soccer • 02 Sep 24

Stephen Kenny will be plotting a shock result in the Turkish capital on Wednesday

Pat's pace and settled back four offer hope in Istanbul

St Patrick's Athletic may be heavy underdogs in the second leg of their UEFA Conference League play-off against Istanbul Basaksehir but last week's first-leg result as well as their pace and a more settled back four will offer them hope, according to Graham Gartland.

Soccer • 27 Aug 24

Pat's seek Turkish delight and Ipswich's Irish

Graham Gartand and David McMillan join Raf Diallo to talk St Pat's and Shamrock Rovers in Europe, Dundalk's fixture fury, the TV debate, the weekend's LOI, Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson wanting a 'b*****d' in his team and Dara O'Shea joining the goalscoring Sam Szmodics at Ipswich.

Soccer • 26 Aug 24

'There was talk of... where was the bounce back when Stephen Kenny came in. Well, here it is.'

Byrne: Kenny has achieved huge turnaround at St Pat's

Former St Patrick's Athletic midfielder Conan Byrne says the dynamic wing play that has characterised Stephen Kenny's successful teams of the past is beginning to reveal itself at the Inchicore club.

Soccer • 20 Aug 24

Rovers and Pat's Euro exploits, FAI Cup and EPL returns

Conan Byrne and Barry Murphy join Raf Diallo to review the European second leg wins for Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick's Athletic as play-off ties await in the Europa League and Conference League respectively. Plus, they chat FAI Cup action and the return of the Premier League.

Soccer • 19 Aug 24

Troy Parrott in action for Excelsior last November as he vied for the ball against Riechedly Bazoer of his now current club AZ Alkmaar

Parrott flying the coop fits into Hallgrimsson horizons

Former Dundalk striker David McMillan discusses Troy Parrott's move to AZ Alkmaar and Heimir Hallgrimsson's suggestion that he would like to see more Republic of Ireland-eligible players in leagues outside of the English market.

Soccer • 15 Jul 24

Derry City endured a tough trip to Gibraltar and need a second-leg fight-back at home on Thursday

'We underestimate teams when we play them in Europe'

Former St Patrick's Athletic and Shelbourne midfielder Conan Byrne discusses a mixed bag of first leg results for the Irish sides in Europe ahead of this week's second legs.

Soccer • 16 Jul 24

Hello Hallgrimsson, Spain's Euro 2024 win and LOI talk

Conan Byrne and David McMillan join Raf Diallo to discuss Heimir Hallgrimsson's appointment as Ireland men's manager, react to Spain's Euro 2024 final win over England, discuss the Ireland WNT performance in Norwich and discuss the LOI clubs at home and abroad.

Soccer • 15 Jul 24

Jóhann Ingi Hafþórsson (inset) joined RTÉ Sport to outline the new Ireland manager's background, personality and coaching style

The Icelandic insight into new Ireland boss Halgrimsson

Icelandic sports journalist Jóhann Ingi Hafþórsson of daily newspaper Morgunblaðið joins RTÉ Sport's Raf Diallo to share an insight into the new Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson.

Soccer • 13 Jul 24

Darragh Nugent, Josh Honohan, and Roberto Lopes during Shamrock Rovers' 1-0 win over Dundalk last Thursday

Treacy: Hoops mustn't shun dark arts at Vikingur

Shamrock Rovers need to be willing to employ the "dark arts" away at Víkingur Reykjavík tomorrow in order to have the best chance of progressing to the second qualifying round of the Champions League, according to Keith Treacy.

Soccer • 08 Jul 24

Euro 2024 semis, Ireland at Carrow Road & LOI in Europe

Ex-Ireland winger Keith Treacy and Sky News Radio sports editor Joe Rawson join Raf Diallo to discuss the upcoming Euro 2024 semi-finals involving France v Spain and England v Netherlands, plus build-up to Ireland WNT's Carrow Road trip and the LOI with European first legs looming.