World Cup 2026: The best goals, best players, best teams, best matches www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer...

A final piece from the Open at Birkdale on a surreal and uncomfortable few days in the orbit of Bryson Dechambeau Bryson DeChambeau’s dramatic week at The Open revealed a fragile kind of showmanship www.irishtimes.com/sport/golf/2...

‘It’s for attention’: Rory McIlroy slams ‘performative’ Bryson DeChambeau antics after penalty www.irishtimes.com/sport/golf/2...

The Irish Times asked me to write a colour piece about the first couple of days of the Open at Birkdale, so I wrote about the colours of the Open at Birkdale. It looks like we think every summer looked when we were kids www.irishtimes.com/sport/golf/2...

The Irish Times asked me to write a colour piece about the first couple of days of the Open at Birkdale, so I wrote about the colours of the Open at Birkdale. It looks like we think every summer looked when we were kids www.irishtimes.com/sport/golf/2...

As he gets ready to compete at the Open, my interview with Cork's David Howard, who has one of the most remarkable stories in Irish sport I can remember ‘I ended up having a manic episode and psychosis’: Corkman David Howard’s long journey to The Open www.irishtimes.com/sport/golf/2...

World Cup column on Gianni Infantino - the celebrity mask eating into football's face Faithfully following America’s scripture of celebrity creates conflict of interest for Fifa www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer...

World Cup column on Gianni Infantino - the celebrity mask eating into football's face Faithfully following America’s scripture of celebrity creates conflict of interest for Fifa www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer...

A column for the Irish Times where I argue that England's biggest problem is again the Premier League Gavin Cooney: This World Cup has shown the Premier League to be football’s Starbucks www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer...

The FAI have for the first time put a price on boycotting the Israel games. €5.5 million minimum, potentially rising to €10.3 million and then to God knows what. Full story to follow for the Irish Times

Ireland's 'home' game against Israel to be played in a 4500-capacity ground in north Serbia. Ireland will play Israel in Serbia as neutral venue for Nations League match www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer...

A story for the Irish Times - 9 Irish MEPs among 50 to write to Fifa today, calling for an investigation into Gianni Infantino over the award of the Fifa Peace Prize to Donald Trump www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer...

A column on the World Cup When the World Cup seems beyond redemption, the football kicks off and rescues everything www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer...

The Irish Times told me to do an article pitch but I thought they said pitch article ‘I relax when I see a player go flat out’: Fifa signs Dundalk grass expert for World Cup www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer...

The Irish Times 2026 World Cup podcast with Paul Howard, Kevin Kilbane, Malachy Clerkin, and myself is free to all. Here's today's episode www.irishtimes.com/podcasts/ame...

Comment piece on the FAI's decision on Israel game Ireland-Israel matches: FAI shifts goalposts while Government and Fifa shirk responsibility www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer...

My preview article ahead of Ireland v France in Grenoble Gavin Cooney: Ireland can pull off astonishing World Cup qualification if they beat France www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer...

After seven-and-a-half great years, this is my final week working at The42. Thanks to everyone who has read and listened to my work. I am very grateful to have worked with a fantastic group of people, and to have been given the opportunity to do some very cool stuff.

Here is a link to my column this week, in which I explain the superiority of hurling. I am calling it Camánsplaining www.the42.ie/munster-hurl...

This is a link to my column this week Sports shows how the true divide in Irish society is not urban v rural the42.ie/7018839

Yesssirr!

I spent a chunk of yesterday at the famous 12th hole at Augusta - the public confession box at the cathedral in the pines. This is a link to the article I wrote about the day. 'It's crippled more people than polio' - A day at the Masters' famous, treacherous 12th hole the42.ie/7009135

I have forgotten to post links to my articles from the Masters on BlueSky. This is a link to my piece from Friday's second round, as Rory McIlroy goes to another level as he bids to end his long major drought of almost one year. www.the42.ie/rory-mcilroy...

Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson speaks exclusively to The 42's @gcooney93.bsky.social ⚽️ The 25-man lists that decided Ireland's penalty takers ⚽️ The FAI's interest in Liam Delap & Alex Scott ⚽️ His response to Eamon Dunphy's criticism

I met Heimir Hallgrimsson in Ireland's team room before he flew back to Iceland this week. He talks: - What really went wrong in Prague - Future declarees incl Alex Scott - Paddy McCarthy future - His impressions of Ireland and Irish people www.the42.ie/heimir-hallg...

'Do you believe in the life to come? 'Mine was always that.' My live report from Ireland/North Macedonia for The42 www.the42.ie/ireland-nort...

The Existing Contractual Obligations Derby

This is a link to my match preview article for Ireland v North Macedonia can you feel the excitement Ireland's long, long road to Euro 2028 begins with a very unwanted friendly the42.ie/6998756

This a link to an article I have written in Prague trying to look ahead to the future but wait you're still thinking about last night aren't you the42.ie/6996146

This is a link to my match piece in Prague. Whole thing has managed to feel worse waking up this morning Ireland's World Cup dreams are over after penalty heartbreak in Prague the42.ie/6995823

Here is a link to my match preview article for Czechia vs Ireland Ireland to avoid being 'overly-ambitious' on their defining night in Prague the42.ie/6993805

This is an article I have written about our many dejections and indignities on the road to Prague. Its great to be on the cusp of such a big game Back from the chaos: Irish football is nervous and alive once again the42.ie/6991993

This is an article I have written about our many dejections and indignities on the road to Prague. Its great to be on the cusp of such a big game Back from the chaos: Irish football is nervous and alive once again the42.ie/6991993

Here is a link to my match preview article for Czechia vs Ireland Ireland to avoid being 'overly-ambitious' on their defining night in Prague the42.ie/6993805

The 42's David Sneyd and Gavin Cooney are on the ground in Prague as thousands of Irish fans continue to make their way to Czechia. FULL VIDEO: www.the42.ie/prague-world...

Troy Parrott appears to have come through AZ's game today unscathed. Squad assembling this evening, it seems no new injuries among the 25-man squad www.the42.ie/troy-parrott...

I really enjoyed writing this article about Heimir Hallgrimsson and his homeland. His journey is incredible. www.the42.ie/heimir-hallg...

A notable development - Congress of the Norwegian Football Federation will this weekend vote on whether to explicitly support/co-sponsor FAI motion to Uefa on Israel. FAI remain only Uefa member whose members have formally called for Israeli suspension www.the42.ie/norway-fai-i...

@reporterlars.bsky.social Hi Lars, could you briefly follow me back to facilitate a direct message? Many thanks, Gavin

My column this week Sport and politics don't mix in Ireland - except when we want them to the42.ie/6968136

The latest edition of the Uefa landscaping report is out - always interesting Picture regarding Premier League and LOI remains pretty similar, but interesting to get real figures behind what PL clubs are spending, and see slow down in multi-club models www.the42.ie/league-of-ir...

Chelsea's Chris Atherton has transferred to the FAI, having played for Glenavon's first team at 13. He was at the Euro 28 co-host announcement as NI's 'football youth ambassador' - now NI are not hosting the tournament and they've lost him too The42.ie/6967983

Excellent clarity provided here by FAI CEO David Courell re Israel fixture amid lots of rumour about potential Uefa sanction Makes clear the cost of not fulfilling fixtures is the loss of match points, which may have impact on seeding for Euro 28 Q the42.ie/6967657

My column this week www.the42.ie/fifa-ioc-rus...

This week's episode of The 42FM is on Irish football's Israel question www.the42.ie/podcasts/669...

my column this week - a letter to Rugby Country from the laureates of existential despair www.the42.ie/rugby-countr...

my column this week - a letter to Rugby Country from the laureates of existential despair www.the42.ie/rugby-countr...

Piece on some of the questions and conundrums now facing the FAI following the Israel draw www.the42.ie/ireland-isra...

Piece with Keith Treacy on campaign to save the Strand Pitch on Portland Row A classic episode of Official Ireland - Dublin airport will call itself Troy Parrott international as Parrott has to go public to save the pitch on which he learned his skills www.the42.ie/strand-pitch...

My column this week www.the42.ie/john-virgo-3...