Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Football quarters draw, Dubs blow hurling wide open

Ciarán Whelan and Davy Burke join Jacqui Hurley and Rory O'Neill to look back on the weekend where the football quarter-final teams were decided, while Shane McGrath joins for the hurling to reflect on the greatest shock of the 21st century.

Football • 17 hrs

Galway & Dublin issues | Dramatic group finale in store

On this week's RTÉ GAA Podcast, Peter Canavan and Ciarán Whelan join Jacqui Hurley and Rory O'Neill to discuss the state of play in the All-Ireland SFC after the second round of group games.

Football • 03 Jun

Cork's Brian O'Driscoll kicked two two-pointers against Kerry

Big guns slower to exploit two-point rule - Whelan

Ciarán Whelan feels that the new two-point rule in Gaelic football has been embraced more by the underdogs in the early stages of the provincial championships.

Football • 23 Apr

Munster hurling deep dive and two-pointer stock rise?

Jacqui Hurley and Rory O'Neill are joined by Shane McGrath and Ciarán Whelan to review the weekend's GAA action.

GAA • 22 Apr

Greg McCabe of Armagh and Conor Stewart of Antrim exchange glances

Whelan: Armagh edginess on view against tough Saffrons

Ciarán Whelan felt there was an edginess about Armagh's performance in their Ulster SFC quarter-final win over a "physical" Antrim side.

Football • 14 Apr

Ciaran Moore of Donegal gathers possession around the middle against Derry

Whelan: Long kickouts creating chaotic opportunities

After the first weekend of football championship games, Ciarán Whelan noted the scoring return that Donegal and Derry amassed from restarts, emphasising the "potential" there is for teams to reap dividends from the long kickout.

Football • 08 Apr

Donegal looking sharp, Cork building momentum

Ciarán Whelan, Dessie Dolan and Shane McGrath join Rory O'Neill to look back on the opening weekend of the 2025 provincial football championships, as well as the Allianz Hurling League final.

Football • 07 Apr

Darragh Canavan of Tyrone finding the net against Kerry last weekend

Whelan: Two-point route threatens desire for goals

Ciarán Whelan sees teams placing a greater emphasis on goals at the expense of what "gets the energy going" - goals.

Football • 28 Feb

Armagh were well-beaten by Donegal last weekend

Armagh not yet fully adjusted to new rules - Whelan

Ciarán Whelan has not been overly impressed by Armagh's Allianz League campaign, however, the former Dublin midfielder is far-from writing the All-Ireland champions off for the season ahead.

Football • 20 Feb

Dublin forward Luke Breathnach scores a point after his second-half introduction at Austin Stack Park

Whelan: Fresh Dublin faces central to Tralee victory

A first win in Tralee for more than four decades will be a huge boost for Dessie Farrell's new-look Dublin, according to former player Ciarán Whelan.

Football • 16 Feb

Football: Early rules trends and player welfare impact

Ciarán Whelan joins Mikey Stafford and Rory O'Neill to share his first impressions of the new football rules in a competitive environment, discuss the potential impact on player welfare and to cast an eye ahead to the next slate of Allianz League games.

Football • 30 Jan

Tyrone's Mattie Donnelly attempts a two-point score against Derry at O'Neills Healy Park in Omagh

Deep defence may be naive in new rules era - Whelan

Ciarán Whelan suspects the days of packed, deep-lying defences could be coming to an end as the new rules force major tactical rethinks across the country.

Football • 31 Jan

Sunday's clash of Kerry and Derry was criticised for being dull

Weekend's football emphasises need for changes

Ciarán Whelan tells the RTÉ GAA Podcast that the weekend's All-Ireland quarter-final action was another reminder that Gaelic football needs to change if it wants to capture the public's imagination.

Football • 02 Jul 24

Galway shock Dublin, quarter-finals fail to sparkle

Ciarán Whelan and Tomás Ó Sé join Jacqui Hurley and Roy O'Neill to reflect on the weekend where Dublin's reign as champions ended.

Football • 01 Jul 24

Galway manager Pádraic Joyce and Dublin manager Dessie Farrell

Dublin defeat could signal end of Farrell era - Whelan

Ciarán Whelan believes that Galway's All-Ireland SFC quarter-final victory over Dublin could signal the "end of an era" and admitted he wouldn't be surprised if it's also the end of the road for Dessie Farrell.

Football • 30 Jun 24

Resurgent Derry can push Kerry | All-Ireland SFC QFs

Enda McGinley and Ciaran Whelan join Rory O'Neill to look ahead to the weekend's All-Ireland Senior Football Championship quarter-finals. Who will come out on top from Kerry v Derry, Dublin v Galway, Armagh v Roscommon and Donegal v Louth?

Football • 28 Jun 24

Jeopardy now in All-Ireland SFC, Mayo v Derry showdown

Mikey Stafford is joined by Ciarán Whelan, Enda McGinley and Niall McCoy to reflect on a busy weekend of football action.

Football • 17 Jun 24

Donegal came off second best against Cork

Whelan: Ulster sides showing miles on the clock

RTÉ GAA analyst Ciarán Whelan believes that Ulster teams' struggles once they hit the All-Ireland series has only been elevated by the introduction of the new round-robin.

Football • 04 Jun 24

What's left for Derry in 2024, Armagh and Cork building

Ciarán Whelan, Éamonn Fitzmaurice and Irish News journalist Cahair O'Kane join Rory O'Neill to look back on another sobering weekend for Derry.

Football • 03 Jun 24

Tommy Conroy is starting to hit form for Mayo, according to Ciarán Whelan

Whelan: Mayo doom and gloom has been overstated

RTÉ GAA analyst Ciarán Whelan believes that the doom and gloom about Mayo's chances in the All-Ireland series has been overstated.

Football • 16 May 24

Provincial hurling heating up, All-Ireland SFC to begin

Jackie Tyrrell, Ciarán Whelan and Colm Keys join Jacqui Hurley and Rory O'Neill to look ahead to a massive weekend in the Munster and Leinster hurling championships, as well as the start of the All-Ireland SFC group stages.

Hurling • 16 May 24

Ciarán Whelan's provincial championship predictions

Speaking on the latest RTÉ GAA Podcast, Ciarán Whelan, while accepting that provincial combat has lost its significance given the new championship structure, he did highlight some points of intrigue as action gets underway this weekend.

Football • 06 Apr 24

Hurling league semis reaction & football league review

On this week's RTÉ GAA Podcast, Jacqui Hurley and Rory O'Neill are joined by Neil McManus and Ciarán Whelan to talk hurling and football league action respectively, with Clare and Kilkenny to meet in the small ball decider, while the football finals across the four divisions are now set in stone.

GAA • 25 Mar 24

Ciarán Whelan: 'It's just not appropriate'

'A load of rubbish' - Whelan defends Kildare players

Kildare officials would have been better off keeping issues they have with the county's senior footballers behind closed doors, according to RTÉ GAA analyst Ciarán Whelan.

Football • 15 Feb 24

An absentee in the loss to Derry, David Clifford came off the bench and registered a goal for Kerry in their win over Monaghan last time out

Whelan: Kerry's need could prove crucial against Mayo

The RTÉ cameras head to Tralee this weekend for the clash of Kerry and Mayo on Saturday night and Ciarán Whelan believes the home side can edge the Allianz Division 1 encounter despite suffering defeats in their last two matches against Kevin McStay's side.

Football • 16 Feb 24