George Best was once the only man from Northern Ireland to make a stir kicking a ball in America. But now the NFL is rife with Irish kickers. Last season Jude McAtamney hit a FG for the Giants. (It went less well for him this year.) And on Sunday Charlie Smyth joined him with a successful kick of his own, joining Neil O'Donoghue in the growing fraternity of Irish-born NFL kickers.
Fr Stephen Duffy, who was Mr Hughes' friend, described him as a "proud son of Castleblayney", adding that not only was Mr Hughes a "remarkable person" but also "happened to be a magnificent footballer and sportsman". The priest said Mr Hughes "loved the craic, banter and had a great sense of fun" and he was proud of where he came from.
Friday is Presidential Election Day in Ireland. What was a ho-hum electoral season got overheated when the campaign of Jim Gavin, a Gaelic football legend turned political neanderfuck and one of only three candidates on the ballot, imploded at the 11th hour over news that he'd screwed a former tenant out of overpaid rent 16 years ago. Irish campaigns are a whole lot shorter than we're used to stateside: The presidential ballot wasn't finalized until late September.
In the latest of our vintage veteran series, Dublin great and seven-time All-Ireland winner Eoghan O'Gara reveals he is still enjoying his football with Wexford club Shelmaliers despite injuries. It's not quite a Benjamin Button tale but for Eoghan O'Gara, it's certainly a case of an Indian Summer.
The two points for kicks outside the 40-metre arc encouraged long-range kicking. The minimum of three players in each half of the pitch reduced the ability to employ all-out defence.
The GAA's recent championship football weekend showcased players demonstrating their skills, ultimately rejuvenating interest in the game and fostering excitement among fans.
