Former Irish President Michael D. Higgins is a big soccer fan. A few years back Michael D. played his part in bringing unity to soccer in the city of the Tribes. He was very involved in talks between Galway United Supporters Trust, Mervue United and Salthill Devon which led to the formation of a new club called Galway United. The former president was a regular visitor to Eamonn Deacy Park in Galway and also to Dalymount Park, Richmond Park and Tallaght Stadium in Dublin to watch League of Ireland games. We used to have an old competition called the President’s Cup, which was really a Leinster FA competition, but in 2014 Michael D. donated a new cup for the President of Ireland’s Cup which is similar to the Community Shield in England where the FA Cup holders play the EPL champions.
Our new president is also a soccer fan and no doubt Catherine Connolly will be in Tallaght Stadium on Saturday when Shamrock Rovers, who won both the league and the cup in 2025, play Derry City in this year’s President’s Cup final. When visiting a school in the Liberties area of Dublin during the presidential election Ms Connolly showed off her “keepy-uppy” skills and a video of her skills went viral.
Former Irish intentional James McClean started his career with Derry City, but now we could be McClean and his brother Patrick line out together for the Candystripes on Saturday evening, following confirmation that the brothers are both back with Derry City. Rovers are likely to give a debut to one of their new signing Jake Mulraney, who has joined The Hoops from St Patrick’s Athletic.
ILLEGAL STREAMING
COSTING THE LEAGUE
League of Ireland director Mark Scanlon believes the illegal streaming of games on “dodgy boxes” is costing the domestic game around €1m per year. Revenue generated by the LOITV streaming service crossed the €1m mark for the first time in 2025, a 128 per cent increase from 2021.However, Scanlon has pointed to the evidence of polls which suggest income could be doubled if everyone watching the games was doing so legally. He said: ‘‘In a League of Ireland online poll with 1,300 people participating, which is a fair sample, 47 per cent of people were saying they were watching games on dodgy boxes. If we were able to double our revenue, it would have a significant increase in terms of what we could offer our clubs.’’
League of Ireland TV was introduced during Covid when only small amounts of spectators were allowed to go to games. People who have the dodgy boxes’ in Ireland and the UK can watch football from various league in Europe, not just the League of Ireland.
BENNETT BACK
IN THE SADDLE
Waterford-born cyclist Sam Bennett has resumed training after suffering a heart problem in November, which turned out to be atrial fibrillation. Bennett, who has joined the Italian Pinnarello Q365 team for 2026, had an ablation procedure to treat it, and is now back on his bike. The 35-year-old said: ‘‘I awoke during the night in pain. I didn’t want to annoy anybody. I kind of waited until I knew the doctors would be awake. The medical team were absolutely amazing. I think it happened on Nov. 14 and the next day I was straight into a top specialist.’’ Bennett, who has won stages at all three Grand Tours and won the Green Jersey in the 2020 Tour de France, was operated on mid-November. Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac issue in midlife cyclists.
BALLYGUNNER
TEAM 2 FOR SHC
History will be made in this year's Waterford SHC with Ballygunner set to field two teams. The Déise giants landed a second All-Ireland club senior hurling title 10 days ago with a six-point victory over Loughrea in Croke Park and they will soon break new ground on the domestic front. They have triumphed in their last 12 county finals by an average of just over 13 points while their second team also landed the premier intermediate championship last year when accounting for Tallow.
FARRELL NAMES 37
Irish Rugby coach Andy Farrell has named a 37-man squad for the opening Six Nations game against France in Paris on Thursday evening, Feb. 4 (3:10 p.m. New York time). The game, the first-ever in the Six Nations played on a Thursday, has been brought forward to avoid a clash with the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Milan on Friday. Andrew Porter and Robbie Henshaw will miss the start of the campaign, after both players were left out of the 37-man squad by head coach Andy Farrell. The pair miss out due to injury, with Porter struggling with a calf issue, and Henshaw suffering a knee injury in Leinster’s Champions Cup win against Bayonne. The IRFU have also confirmed that Leinster's Ryan Baird, Jimmy O’Brien, Jordan Larmour and Paddy McCarthy were not considered due to injury, as well as Ulster’s Cormac Izuchukwu, Munster’s Calvin Nash, and Connacht’s Shayne Bolton and Mack Hansen. There are returns for both Hugo Keenan and Jamie Osborne after lengthy injury lay-offs, while Tadhg Furlong, Tommy O'Brien, Tom Ahern and Finlay Bealham have all been named in the squad, despite picking up recent injuries.
Farrell has included two uncapped players in his squad, Munster lock Edwin Edogbo and Nathan Doak. Edogbo missed out on a place in the extended Ireland squad due to injury in November, but has been brought in to the full squad for the first time this year. In-form Ulster scrum-half Doak has also been drafted in, with the 24-year-old having previously been involved in senior squads without earning caps. With Porter and McCarthy out, Munster pair Michael Milne and Jeremy Loughman have been named at loosehead, where they will contest with Leinster's Jack Boyle. Ulster hooker Tom Stewart has been rewarded for his rich vein of form with a recall ahead of Leinster's Gus McCarthy. Harry Byrne is named as one of four out-halves in the squad, with Sam Prendergast, Jack Crowley and Ciarán Frawley all part of the group.
Full squad. Forwards (20): Tom Ahern (Shannon/Munster), Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster), Jack Boyle (UCD/Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Blackrock College/Leinster), Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Caelan Doris (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)(captain,), Edwin Edogbo (UCC/Munster), Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster), Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster), Jeremy Loughman (Garryowen/Munster), Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster), Michael Milne (UCD/Munster), Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Cian Prendergast (UCD/Connacht), James Ryan (UCD/Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Tom Stewart (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Nick Timoney (Queen’s University/Ulster), Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster). Backs (17): Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht), Robert Baloucoune (Enniskillen/Ulster), Harry Byrne (Lansdowne/Leinster), Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster), Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster), Nathan Doak (Banbridge/Ulster), Tom Farrell (Lansdowne/Munster), Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster), Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster), Tommy O’Brien (Blackrock College/Leinster), Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster), Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster), Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster).
