LAUREN MAGEE HAS hailed the impact of departing Dublin manager Mick Bohan following his decision to step down last month.
Bohan led the Dubs to five All-Ireland senior titles during his eight years at the helm.
The Clontarf clubman took charge of his native county for the second time in 2017, and lifted them from three All-Ireland final defeats to four titles in-a-row.
Under Bohan’s watch, Dublin lifted the Brendan Martin Cup in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2023, the Division 1 league crown in 2018 and 2021, and every Leinster title on offer.
Magee was involved in all of those successes, and was among Bohan’s key players through his tenure.
The Kilmacud Crokes defender is currently preparing for Saturday’s All-Ireland senior club final against Kilkerrin-Clonberne, but was happy to pay tribute to her outgoing inter-county manager.
“He’s done an awful lot for Dublin,” Magee told The 42 this afternoon.
“We’ve been very successful under him, and personally, I have become 10 times a better player under him and the development of the coaches he has brought in.
“I have a lot of respect for Mick and will always thank him for what the has done for Dublin.
“I wish him all the success in whatever he plans on doing and hopefully having a bit more time with his family — they’re great as well. He’s been great.”
There has been no word of Bohan’s successor as of yet, with Dublin LGFA accepting expressions of interest until 28 November.
Dublin, whose All-Ireland title defence was ended by Galway at the quarter-final stage, open their Division 1 league campaign against Mayo on 26 January.
They will be one of several top counties under new management, with Kerry (Mark Bourke), Cork (Joe Carroll) and Armagh (Darnell Parkinson and Joe Feeney) among those announcing appointments.
Donegal join Dublin in the hunt after John McNulty stepped down last week.
L’opportunite c’est enorme
@Jacob: je m’en fcuking fou
@Michael Corkery: Absolutely madness. Touch of the green this year for Leinster. ;0)
I’ve wanted this for so long. We’ll see how much the love for ROG will last.
@James Murphy: I’d say this will only increase the love. Sure LRO are odds on to win, but it will be a great occasion
@James Murphy: He arguably could be Munster coach next season. By all accounts he’s losing the fans over there and the forward oriented, power winger style of rugby isn’t a great watch. Suppose he has credit in the bank though, but that doesn’t mean as much in France than in the UK or Ireland.
@Eoin H: The stadium has been full the last 101 games, I’d say he’s grand for another while.
@Eoin H: He’s not losing the fans here in France one bit
@James Murphy: That’s probably more to do with their love for La Rochelle rather than their love for ROG. Nearly all French clubs in Pro D2 and top 14 are racking up close to full attendances most weeks as rugby is thriving there,
@damien reidy: It is a fact that there’s a lot of frustration that they haven’t won the top 14 yet and the style of rugby this season hasn’t been great. If your denying those two things your just lying or blindly defending ROG.
@Eoin H: dude I live here and the only fans that matter are the Stade rochlais fans … they are having a rebuild and next season they have signed big on french talent .
They will still finish in the top 6 in the league and who knows with Europe but he and the club have a bond that will take a lot to break .
@damien reidy: also brive won a Heineken cup and got to another final lost by 2 points still never won boules de brunner but made 7 finals it happens
@damien reidy: Yes they have Niniashvilli and Le Garrec next year and they are two excellent signings. First of all there is no such thing as being guaranteed a top 6 spot in the top 14, it’s a completely unpredictable league and the only thing guaranteed is Bordeaux and Toulouse to be in the top 2. They are in a similar situation to Leinster over style of play but the difference is Leinster haven’t lost. He has money in the bank for sure but he needs to finish in the top 6 this year at least.
@Eoin H: another lad talking absolute rubbish. He’s adored over and continues to sell out every single game. He has said himself he will not be Munster coach. His next job will be in the international environment. These are facts.
@Eoin H: clown of a comment
@anthony davoren: The absolute naivety to suggest that the La Rochelle fans attend the games solely because of ROG rather than their love for La Rochelle. Your basing your facts on nothing but the Munster pyjamas you wear to bed every night.
@Eoin H: seems like your the expert … what would anyone else know.
@Eoin H: why do you look for conflict in your response?
Maybe dial down the response and have a discussion because lots of people on here are very knowledgeable, you could learn from them and vice versa …
Or just start your own blog where no one replies to you and you won’t have a problem
@damien reidy: I love the way you come after me, and ignore the fella who called me a clown or the lad who said I was talking rubbish. I was having a reasonable debate with you but seems your ego was hurt I didn’t bow down to your opinion because you live in France.
@damien reidy: If I move to Manchester can I claim to know more about Manchester United than everyone else. I was never claiming to be an expert pal, I was just giving my opinion and what I saw in the French Media, then responded to some trolls having a pop at me. You clearly think you’ve an entitled opinion or something.
@Eoin H: I’m not coming after you just read your response to me it’s on the aggressive side … nothing to do with who ever said that I was in contact with you
@damien reidy: What was aggressive about it? The only thing I said was the top 14 is completely unpredictable. Montpellier almost got relegated last year and it could be the same for Racing this year.
@James Murphy: Wouldn’t be going off full stadium bud. Capacity is under 20,000 bud so wouldn’t be hard to be filling for a successful European team!
@Pat Rascal: Leinster haven’t come anywhere near those figures consistently.
@Pat Rascal: 16.5k crowd every week in a town of about 70k is phenomenonal!
@James Murphy: Munster fans aren’t as fickle as Leinster fans. There will be mutual respect from start to finish and may the best team win!
@Eoin H: He has said this himself…it isn’t some fairytale imagined up by an Eoin H. It is a fact he confirmed in interview as recently as December that he would not be doing the Munster gig and he wants to go into international coaching after La Rochelle. Maybe if you actually educated yourself on rugby instead of being a keyboard warrior you might know these things
@David Gaffney: Munster are a great team. I’m a leinster supporter, but support all Irish teams. Munster fans on the other hand are some yokes. I reckon they all threw confetti at their mothers weddings. Most were named Rick at birth (the p is silent). Got rid of rg snyman. Sacked Van Grann. Sacked Rowntree after him winning the urc in his first year. Bunch of merchant bankers if you ask me
@anthony davoren: To suggest that O’Gara is solely responsible for fans showing up to watch is a bit naive.
@David Lynch: Lol. That’ll go down well.
@David Lynch: But not serial chokers !!
@Eoin H: this is what happens when you make clown comments you clown, so tell us how rog is coming to munster ape
@Pat Rascal: Pau and Vannes have attendance records comparable to Roch. It’s just not how it works there..
@PJ Smith: only every match
@Lulu: your lot are are the serial chockers Lulu, as I said before 3 finals since 2011, 1 win and 2 hammerings from average teams, at least Leinster against the top teams might lose by a point or 2
@David Gaffney:
@Eoin H: LAR were forward orientated long before ROG arrived. That is their DNA. ROG added a bit of flair and success to that DNA
@Eoin H: u mean by your account
@James Murphy: I have never been there for a game, but La Rochelle / Ille de Re is a great place to visit. Ryanair fly direct to La Rochelle (although my guess is that prices went through the roof overnight). If you can afford it, go for it.
@Eoin H: Or maybe it is probably more to do with the fact you don’t know how the La Rochelle fans really feel about ROG!!
@Carmine Lorenzo: That was never suggested. Eoin H trying to say that La Rochelle fans want rid of ROG and fans showing up week in week out was merely used as one piece of evidence to counter that narrative
Better off if Ulster were in challenge. Bordeaux will wolf them
@Gary Galligan: they wouldn’t win that either. 4 knockouts on the road too much for that squad
@Gary Galligan: as an Ulster fan would prob agree, Challange cup may have been better, have some big games around then so prob best sending 2nd XV to it. Which just ighlighta how fall the HCup has fallen in prestige and format, that one win can get you to knock outs and even then its send out 2 XV, SA sides never sent good sides to Europe, and number french teams dont really bother with it to much. It may be time to remove it and concentrate on the URC. Certainly isn’t as prestigious as it once was.
@Kingshu: it’s very prestigious for those who can actually win it. Which is about 4 or 5 teams max
@Kingshu: Ulster sending a weakened team would be a sign of how far THEY have fallen, not the comp.
@eltonioh: both can and would be true
@Michael Corkery: Prob biy of both, and also how much the URC has improved. Winning the league is more prestigious than ever.
@Kingshu: if we (Munster) were to beat LRO, the « prize » will be a trip to get absolutely tonked in Toulouse. Thanks but no thanks. I think focus should also be on URC for Munster.
@Michael Corkery: that’s wrong. Would be Bordeaux as Toulouse didn’t top their pool
@Michael Corkery: I don’t agree, I was at toulouse vs stade francais 2 weeks ago and they look very ordinary for large parts and won in the end but bordeaux and castres have shown how to throw a spanner in the machine, and it’s a blue print that works
@Kingshu: Am happy enough with the draw. Drink some great wine, get beat, concentrate on the league and have an extra week to prepare for Leinster.
@adizlack93: also wrong it would most likely be Bordeaux, but could be home to Ulster if get injuries cleared up and some luck, game at Ravenhill was close enough untill the last 10 mins.
@Justin Robinson: yeah Im happy enough too, think theres more money for last 16 HCup tie in 32,000 stadium, prob would need run to Challange Cup final to equal it. Think Id prefer Ulster to throw everything at the game lost and thers still some rest time, win and it’d be a huge boost to the squad. Bordeaux in Ravenhill was evenly matched with a injury hit Ulster side untill the last 10 mins. Why not have a go.
@adizlack93: Nearly always there’s been a very limited number of teams who can actually win it. Of course that composition changes over time. However, in its hey day, nearly all entrants wanted to get as far as possible. That is the fundamental change, to me
@Kingshu: there is no hope of Ulster beating Bordeaux away
@Kevin Ryan: yeah the current format is awful and def is part of the reason the tournament isn’t as big as it was
@Gary Galligan: You never know what can happen on a given day. The same was said for Harlequins last year. However, the same could be said for an away knock out in the Challenge Cup (I think Sharks have to go to Lyon)
@Michael Corkery: Both are true
Leinster supporters owe it to Munster to don LR kit and flags and cheer on O Gara’s team.
@Neil “Montyman65” Montgomery: Nah I’ll be cheering for Munster and hope the rest of Leinster do the same. To do anything else would be small minded and really really petty
@PJ Smith: Same here pal. I’m a Leinster fan but absolutely love Munster and their contribution to Irish rugby. Just having a joke. I could never cheer on another team against an Irish province.
@Neil “Montyman65” Montgomery: we would be thrilled to see you back a Munster legend!
@Neil “Montyman65” Montgomery: Go for it. Pay for the privilege by buying that jersey, traveling over and buying a ticket! I am pretty sure you don’t have the liathroidi to do any of the above! T.w.i.t
@Neil “Montyman65” Montgomery: for all the guff I give Munster I hope they win
@Neil “Montyman65” Montgomery: Nah we’re better than that and not that petty! It’ll forever be a slight on those certain fans that went totally out of their way to support a French team over an Irish team. Plenty of Munster jerseys in Twickenham last year too. There was no Leinster jerseys in the crowds in 06 and 08.
@Neil “Montyman65” Montgomery: nah. A few munster fans made a fool of themselves wearing jerseys. Leinster fans have their own team to follow !
@Carmine Lorenzo: Maybe you should ring Joe Duffy about that it shocking
@Neil “Montyman65” Montgomery: same same
If anything no doubt the top 14 is the best domestic league in Europa by a stretch and those top 3-4 french sides and Leinster are streaks ahead of the chasing pack ..when sides in the championship cup are being drilled by 50/60/70/80 points, what the hell are they doing there ? The CC needs a Complete overall in format and scheduling with only elite sides who can compete at the level expected. I take no pleasure watching such an uneven balance ..
@Stuart: it used to be a great competition a few years ago.
Then the french and English gained control and completely ruined it.
It’s now like a world cup with so many dead rubber games.
Only gets going at QF and we still have to sit through a painful round of 16.
A couple of seasons ago the round of 16 had home and away games.
Absolute farce of a competition driven by greedy money men who know nothing about rugby.
@Stuart: nonsense, may need a change but thinking teams from Top14 who qualify in any year will sacrifice league survival ahead of making a 1/4 final or semi-final won’t bin group games if they have a bad start to the league is naive to the extreme…
@Sea Point: he’s dead right, hardly a good game all weekend, most were dead rubbers and teams not caring and sending B teams , poor competition until knockout games, would be way better having knockout from round 1 with a home and away game and an aggregate score to could
@Barry Leahy: it’s hard to know how to make it better without a. Adding an extra round of games or b. Reducing the number of teams. Neither will be acceptable to the various stakeholders. They should never have tampered with the original format.
@Barry Leahy: There’s were some cracker games this weekend. Ulster and Leinster games being great examples. Even the Benetton & Sales Shark results were amazing.
@Michael Corkery: Totally agree the old format was better IMHO. Sadly the two strongest rugby federations won out. Now Toulouse are complaining about the home advantage since they are second in their pool.
@Stuart: Yes… it is dying a death of a thousand cuts. Top 5 from URC and Prem. Top 6 from Top14 should qualify for 4 pools of 4. The quality just isn’t there to include the rest.
The media build up to this one is going to be bloody painful
@Niall Boyle: Wonder which team Munster fans are going to support?
@Dave Moran: Munster will obviously support Munster, I didn’t think you were that dim
@Niall Boyle: They’ll have to cut the flags in half to be fair
@Dave Moran: PhD in shithousery
@Niall Boyle: Why didn’t you?
@Niall Boyle: it seems he really is! Wowz
ers!
@Dave Moran: It won’t be Team Dave Moron anyway!
@Dave Moran: civil war in Munster , Cork v Limerick
@Dave Moran: haha good one
@Owen ODonoghue: Everyone stuck on the unfinished motorway lol.
Good luck Munster Hope Crowley stays fit and you have a chance
La Rochelle are not the team they were, still a difficult task for Munster all the same. Whatever about yesterday, the defeat away to Castres – who are a bang average outfit – was incredibly damaging. I still argue Munster were in the weakest pool of all, to lose two of those four matches is incredible really. Could and possibly should have topped that pool for a handy last 16 draw.
@Aidan Farrell: they beat Saracens who u said are the best equipped to take on Toulouse lol
@Aidan Farrell: Castres who just beat Scarcens, away from home?
@Aidan Farrell: Saracens losing to a second string Castres side at home certainly put that result into a bit more context. Beirne just so vital to Munster, half the time he’s doing other guys roles for them. Him being fit is probably the difference between Munster qualifying for Europe next year and not.
@Aidan Farrell: Munster lost both away games by 2 points and had chances to win both. A victory in either would have put us top of pool and home until qtrs. All that while dealing with a very heavy injury list. Hopefully the injuries will clear and we can get something approaching a first choice 23 post 6n’s
@Aidan Farrell: do us all a favour and just stop commenting on Munster articles
@Aidan Farrell: they put 32 on Saracens
@Aidan Farrell: well done Aidan great comment on Castres who are a fantastic club
Toulouse, Toulon, Bourdeaux , la rochelle and munster all on the same side of the draw Leinster couldnt have asked for much more.
@John Sunderland: It is a ridiculously easy draw for Leinster. Bit like Englands draw to the Euros final last year.
@Eoin H: you say it like it’s a bad thing… hopefully we’ll see an Irish province lift the cup this year. And no I’m not a Leinster, I’m just not a bitter fan from another province
@anthony davoren: It’s not a bad thing at all. I’m delighted we don’t have to face UBB or Toulouse away. It means a fourth final in a row likely that will be an absolute must win.
@John Sunderland: in fairness I don’t think anyone is worried about us, Munster, being on their side of the draw.
@Ciaran Kennedy: just felt I could get in trouble if I didn’t mention ye
Well done Connacht for qualifying for the last 16 in both competitions. We’ll never see the likes of them again.
I think the story of the pool stages is how absolutely terrible the EP sides are. That Toulouse v Leicester game was like watching Ireland v Romania at the RWC. Nothing short of embarrassing for Leicester
@Michael Corkery: were Leicester full strength?
@Oran Burns: oui and they got there arrested handed to them
I’d much rather top 12 as opposed top 16 qualify for knock out stages give top 4 straight bye to quarters and then 5-8 play have home ties against 9-12 to qualify for the quarter finals. It’s a waste of everyone’s time and reduces interest, devalues competition having Ulster progressing to knock out stages after some of their performances in group stage and then probably end up fielding a second team to be beaten by 20-30 points. By reducing qualifiers to 12 teams it at least weeds out some of the mismatches the next round will produce. It also avoids likes of Leinster having to play against a low ranked team in knockout stages which is pointless and creates no interest or excitement.
@Earthworm Jim: that’s remarkably optimistic to think Ulster will only lose by 20-30 points. With their defense, it could be a hell of a lot more than that!
@Earthworm Jim: Ulster didn’t field weakened teams. The Toulouse away selection was the strongest 23, just not the strongest starting 15. It’s reasonable to try to finish strongly and go for the try bonus point away to the best team in the world. They were on three tries and still attacking when the final whistle went. And they’ll certainly pick their strongest side for Bordeaux.
We’ll welcome Quins to Croke Park and prepare properly for a team with a justified reputation of causing shocks.
After that, if we win, we’ll sit down and assess who we have to face. Leo knows that the impact of the 6N’s results can have a big impact on Leinster Squads.
@Des Lamont: Indeed, I think the Six Nations will have an impact. Leinster will need lots of luck against a Bordeaux or Toulouse side, assuming we get that far, particularly if France win in Dublin.
@Des Lamont: Yeah Leo has managed team selections so well in the last few years at knockout stages of competitions! Lol
@David Gaffney: You’re sad mate. Get a life.
@David Gaffney: Bitter little man
@David Gaffney: Bitter ‘little’ man
@David Gaffney: Bitter much
Expect La Rochelle to have Danty and Skelton back and maybe even Bourgarit. It’s actually a game you probably need 80 minutes out of POM in. Think the Ireland coaching justified absolutely justified by not selecting Ahern yesterday. Can’t be getting counter rucked by a winger as a blindside flanker.
@Eoin H: exactly. People think all he needs to do is make breaks down the wing against a URC side and he’s a shoe in for Ireland. Very poor technique at ruck and exactly why he won’t be selected against England or France until he becomes the full package.
@adizlack93: There is very very few teams that employ their 6s as wide carriers in the game today. Certainly no top teams do it. You need your 6 to do the basics very well, the unappreciated work. Just look at Francois Cros for Toulouse, he doesn’t get the limelight but the reason Toulouse can play like that is because of the graft he puts in.
@Eoin H: agreed. any 6/blindside aspiring to reach the top needs to have extremely dominant D and be able to do the gritty work first and foremost. Look at PSDT currently best 6 in world and Jerome Kaino another great example. Hanging around out wide ain’t gonna cut it at the highest level if you can’t defend your own ruck against a back at club level as you say
@adizlack93: that is why Izzy is moving ahead in the PO’M replacement race. Ryan Baird could be judged in a similar way.
@Eoin H: 80 minutes out of Peter OM.
He can barely play 40. Tom Ahern can play 80.
@John Morris: Izzy is still very much behind Baird despite what any anti Leinster fan thinks. The Irish management have rated and invested in him for years. Izzy is still seen as more of a SR I believe and started there for Ulster over the wkd. I’d play him 6 however
@Jimmy Bean: and in that 80 he wouldn’t have imposed himself as much as Pom would in 40 min. You need a hard edge for international rugby and Ahern still hasn’t nailed down a starting place for Munster which is an important step. Less so for Leinster as there is serious competition across the team
@Jimmy Bean: If Munster are in the game after 50 mins I guarantee you they will not be taking POM off that pitch.
@Jimmy Bean: Not true. Ahern doesn’t have 80 minutes in him. Wish he did. Based on Saturday POM has a max of 40. Huge issue for Munster. We need a top class 6 who can go the distance. With Kleyn and Edogbo fit Beirne could be that guy. O’Connell as bench lock.
@TL55: lol Ahern doesny have 80 mins in him are you a doctor
UUB vs Leinster Final!!
It is so sad to see though that none of the South African teams seem to take the competition seriously. What you want is the best teams in the world slugging it out.
Munster are up against it but if any team can do it, it has to be Munster. Rochelais are rebuilding and probably are there for the taking. If Munster get through though it only gets tougher and tougher.
@Jorgen Hartogs: I mean if we are allowed pick any team id probably go with Bordeaux, Toulouse and Leinster before Munster
@Jorgen Hartogs: I think Munster can beat La Rochelle based on the last few weeks but it depends on how they play their next few Top14 games. Also returning players will make a difference for them.
@Con Cussed: Too few of Munster’s injured starters will be back or have any game time by early April. While I’d love us to win I don’t think it’s realistic. Leinster won easily in Limerick but just got over the line in La Rochelle. The gap in quality looks to be too big.
@TL55: keep the faith TL! Nothing to lose really so can have a real lash. Written off before going down to South Africa in 2023 aswell so they can win away.
@Carmine Lorenzo: Different level. Also those out injured now were available then. We had Casey, Kleyn, RG & Frisch available.
Feel sorry for Bath reffed off the park.
@Tony McGrath: Wrong thread
@Tony McGrath: Jeez Tony late to the trolling party or wha? All the good booze is gone and there’s just the manky crisps left in a bowl someone spilled beer in. But you do you
Munster miracle match coming right up! Stay tuned
James Murphy you a pathetic bitter man.Then would I expect anything else from your type
@pat larkin: hold on now Pat, i guarantee you wouldn’t say that to my face. The only reason I’m enjoying this is because Munster are so bitter supporting a French team over an Irish team.
Competition is stacked against the SA sides , they need to relook at the format and allow SA teams to play a home semi if they get that far etc . Right now it’s Leinster v Top14
If Munster can get their shi* together they can win in LAR
@Owen ODonoghue: and hopefully LAR don’t ;0)
@Con Cussed: yesterday was very frustrating , some great play by Munster undone by poor defending
I think the Six Nations French game will be the telling. If they beat us in Dublin then we can expect that Leinster will have be an exceedingly difficult game 25 May, assuming Leinster make the finals ;0) The converse is also true. If we can beat the French (favourites for Six Nations) then Leinster might stand a better chance in Cardiff.
@Con Cussed: Barrett, RG and Slimani not involved with Ireland but will make a big difference for Leinster in the knockout stages. Relevance of 6N games overstated in both directions imo.
Will La Rochelle play at their usually home or move to bigger ground?Anyone know how I can get cpl tickets?
@Ciaran Kennedy: Ciaran you might best trying https://billetterie.staderochelais.com/fr in a few days. Better chance getting them directly.
@Ciaran Kennedy: I get French friends in France to buy tickets for me. Its quite easy over the phone. They’re still very much into phone sales in France. Not auf englisch of course…
@Ciaran Kennedy: Game will be sold out in minutes. France in spring? Going to be an exceptional day out.
Lovely draw for munster glad ulster still in it lenister good draw as well.but after watching the french team today destroy leicester i cant see anyone beating them
Ulster shouldn’t be in a knockout match, it’s an appalling competition now