In Dublin Wednesday evening to discuss the Ireland - Israel match and broader issues of football misgovernance. Harry Browne, @rebeccaokeefe.bsky.social and @seanmacr.bsky.social will be among those there. Do come along if you're around.
Gavin Cooney
@gcooney93.bsky.social
Sports correspondent, Irish Times. Co-writer of THE RACKET by Conor Niland, 2024 William Hill Sports Book of the Year.
My column this week Gavin Cooney: Why I won’t be joining media boycott of Ireland’s games against Israel www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer...
Gavin Cooney: Why I won’t be joining media boycott of Ireland’s games against Israel
Staging of these games is wrong but there is nothing additional to be gained by the media refusing to cover them
irishtimes.com
My piece from inside the ropes on another bewildering, astonishing day Shane Lowry distils the mania around him as Donald Trump and Clare Force One hit the course www.irishtimes.com/sport/golf/2...
Shane Lowry distils the mania around him as Donald Trump and Clare Force One hit the course
Doonbeg was rowdy with giddy adulation as crowds clambered over dunes in pursuit of Offaly man’s every shot
irishtimes.com
My piece from Doonbeg on a surreal couple of hours Golf momentarily takes backseat in Doonbeg as Trump touches down at Irish Open www.irishtimes.com/sport/golf/2...
Golf momentarily takes backseat in Doonbeg as Trump touches down at Irish Open
Third tee provides prime viewing spot for US president’s arrival in West Clare
irishtimes.com
My piece from Doonbeg on a surreal couple of hours Golf momentarily takes backseat in Doonbeg as Trump touches down at Irish Open www.irishtimes.com/sport/golf/2...
Golf momentarily takes backseat in Doonbeg as Trump touches down at Irish Open
Third tee provides prime viewing spot for US president’s arrival in West Clare
irishtimes.com
Tuesday's show is out now on the World Service feat. @gcooney93.bsky.social on Trump at Doonbeg, American economics shaping Irish golf, and Rory's role in it all
Currently reading - would recommend. Great chapter included on Ireland v Yugoslavia/FAI v McQuaid
Troy Parrott’s lively Real Betis debut showed glimpses of what is to come
Troy Parrott’s lively Real Betis debut showed glimpses of what is to come
Irish striker missed a chance immediately after coming off bench, but played a role in the winning goal
irishtimes.com
My column this week is about the return of systematised and dehumanised sport. Not the Set-Piece Premier League, but Beijing's Robot Olympics Don’t worry about athletes, the Robot Games showcases how they might replace the rest of us www.irishtimes.com/sport/2026/0...
Don’t worry about athletes, the Robot Games showcases how they might replace the rest of us
AI Olympics won’t threaten elite sportspeople – I’m just happy there isn’t a sportswriting category
irishtimes.com
My column this week is about the return of systematised and dehumanised sport. Not the Set-Piece Premier League, but Beijing's Robot Olympics Don’t worry about athletes, the Robot Games showcases how they might replace the rest of us www.irishtimes.com/sport/2026/0...
Don’t worry about athletes, the Robot Games showcases how they might replace the rest of us
AI Olympics won’t threaten elite sportspeople – I’m just happy there isn’t a sportswriting category
irishtimes.com
This is a link to my article in this weekend's Irish Times. Thanks to Conor Hourihane and Joe Dunne for a glimpse at the mad world of Management ‘You very rarely get home properly’: Two Irish managers on the realities of a precarious profession www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer...
‘You very rarely get home properly’: Two Irish managers on the realities of a precarious profession
Conor Hourihane and Joe Dunne detail the extraordinary pressures of patrolling the sidelines – and what makes it all worthwhile
irishtimes.com
This is a link to my article in this weekend's Irish Times. Thanks to Conor Hourihane and Joe Dunne for a glimpse at the mad world of Management ‘You very rarely get home properly’: Two Irish managers on the realities of a precarious profession www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer...
‘You very rarely get home properly’: Two Irish managers on the realities of a precarious profession
Conor Hourihane and Joe Dunne detail the extraordinary pressures of patrolling the sidelines – and what makes it all worthwhile
irishtimes.com
Here is my article from Croke Park. The best-attended football match in Irish history, and it's at a GAA venue and without a single Irish player involved. What a country www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer...
United edge Leeds at Croke Park ... but GAA the winner in valuable money-spinner
Attendance tops 82,000, making game best-ever attended football match in history of State
irishtimes.com
Who is Dan O'Toole, the Irish Fifa executive at the heart of the deal to sell off World Cup? www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer...
Who is Dan O’Toole, the Irish Fifa executive at the heart of deal to sell off World Cup?
Dubliner was reportedly handpicked by Gianni Infantino to work on controversial plan
irishtimes.com
Was delighted to spend some time in Cardiff this week with Brian Barry-Murphy, who is doing great things. We talked about Cork, JBM, Pep, ROG, and Christy Moore. Brian Barry-Murphy: How his father Jimmy, Pep Guardiola and Ireland shaped Cardiff’s manager www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer...
Brian Barry-Murphy: How his father Jimmy, Pep Guardiola and Ireland shaped Cardiff’s manager
The Cardiff boss discusses his father Jimmy, Pep Guardiola, Ronan O’Gara and the lessons he learned from his own playing career
irishtimes.com
My column this week FAI bins another grand plan and reminds us the football family is still dysfunctional www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer...
Gavin Cooney: FAI bins grand plan and reminds us the football family is still dysfunctional
Football Pathways Plan aimed to align the sport's calendar, but lack of unity proved its undoing
irishtimes.com
I went to the LGFA finals in Croke Park yesterday and wrote this article Galway provide show-stopping finale to redeem senior decider against Kerry www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic...
Galway provide show-stopping finale to redeem senior decider against Kerry
A disallowed equalising point was Kerry’s chief grievance after the game
irishtimes.com
A column in today's Irish Times on what must now happen to Gianni Infantino and the wider game Gavin Cooney: Gianni Infantino must go, but nothing will change without vast structural reform www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer...
Gavin Cooney: Gianni Infantino must go, but nothing will change without vast structural reform
Football’s entire governance model is an archaic structure that must be torn down and replaced
irishtimes.com
A column in today's Irish Times on what must now happen to Gianni Infantino and the wider game Gavin Cooney: Gianni Infantino must go, but nothing will change without vast structural reform www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer...
Gavin Cooney: Gianni Infantino must go, but nothing will change without vast structural reform
Football’s entire governance model is an archaic structure that must be torn down and replaced
irishtimes.com
I went to the LGFA finals in Croke Park yesterday and wrote this article Galway provide show-stopping finale to redeem senior decider against Kerry www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic...
Galway provide show-stopping finale to redeem senior decider against Kerry
A disallowed equalising point was Kerry’s chief grievance after the game
irishtimes.com
Here is a link to my article detailing and analysing a bonkers week in football Infantino’s World Cup plot leaves him deserted by allies and with his credibility detonated www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer...
Gavin Cooney: Infantino’s World Cup plot leaves him deserted by allies and with his credibility detonated
Fifa president has managed to unite football, but not in the way he wished
irishtimes.com
Here is a link to my article detailing and analysing a bonkers week in football Infantino’s World Cup plot leaves him deserted by allies and with his credibility detonated www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer...
Gavin Cooney: Infantino’s World Cup plot leaves him deserted by allies and with his credibility detonated
Fifa president has managed to unite football, but not in the way he wished
irishtimes.com
my column this week - first Messi, then McIlroy, now Mayo. All of our great sporting quests are ending. Who is going to step up and give us the next one? www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic...
Mayo’s magnificent quest leaves us wanting more – but who from?
The strength of Mayo’s faith made devotees of us all but now we risk feeling bereft
irishtimes.com
my column this week - first Messi, then McIlroy, now Mayo. All of our great sporting quests are ending. Who is going to step up and give us the next one? www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic...
Mayo’s magnificent quest leaves us wanting more – but who from?
The strength of Mayo’s faith made devotees of us all but now we risk feeling bereft
irishtimes.com
The Irish Times has seen the letter sent by Gianni Infantino to member associations on his plans to sell off the World Cup. Details here Fifa gives associations 53 days to sign up to controversial World Cup plans www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer...
Fifa gives associations 53 days to sign up to controversial World Cup plans
Uefa has heavily criticised the proposal, saying it ‘crosses a line’
irishtimes.com
My column this week Ringmahon Rangers case shows the GAA’s long shadow still hangs over Irish football www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer...
Gavin Cooney: Ringmahon Rangers case shows how the GAA’s long and imposing shadow hangs over Irish footballl
Scheduling clash with World Cup and All-Ireland hurling finals left the Cork amateur side in the doghouse with the FAI
irishtimes.com
Monaghan club vote to remove John Delaney's name from grounds www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer...
Monaghan club remove John Delaney’s name from grounds
Clones Town say they remain ‘genuinely grateful’ for Delaney’s support
irishtimes.com