Month: September 2021

QUALIFYING FOR A first Munster senior final sparked huge excitement in Miltown Malbay but when they got there they discovered the scale of the challenge at that stage of the competition.

Landing at the Gaelic Grounds for yesterday’s decider saw the West Clare club collide with the might of Dr Crokes, seven-time winners and nine-time finalists, before the 2018 instalment.

St Joseph’s manager Mike Neylon had spent the build-up to the game trying to figure out to halt the progress of the Killarney club but had a better sense of their capabilities after watching them up close.

“From trying to get our heads around them over the last two weeks, it was an eye opener for us to see how good they were.

“In trying to prepare for the last two weeks in every aspect of it, we realised that this is a seriously good team. What we didn’t know is how good we are and we found out today that we’re just not at this level as of yet.

“Crokes have very few weaknesses out there and of course they have the ambition. This is just another day for Crokes, this would have been a huge win for us, it’s another step for the Crokes and onwards they go.”

Miltown Malbay needed a solid start, a chance to feel their way into the game and settle any nerves floating around due to the magnitude of the occasion.

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They were hit with the opposite, a nightmare beginning that demonstrated the power of their opponents. Dr Crokes had notched a goal inside three minutes and then chalked up 1-6 without reply.

That was the separating margin at the final whistle, nine points a buffer Dr Crokes enjoyed on the board as the score read 2-9 to 0-15 after that whirlwind beginning.

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Another season of success in the bag for Dr Crokes. The Killarney club collected their 5th Munster senior football title since 2011 today in Limerick. 👏 🏆 👑 #GAA #kerry #drcrokes #gaelicgrounds

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“That’s the difference, we’ll probably rue that for a long time as we look back,” reflected Neylon.

“Once that ten minutes was over, we got to grips with the game and we probably dominated the next 20 minutes of the game. We needed the start Crokes got to be in this game at half-time. We didn’t get that and we paid the price heavily for it.

“We have the players with the ability to do that (run at them) so we have to give our guys a free hand to use their talents. That’s what we asked them to do today, maybe the systems or the organisation has to go out the window at certain aspects of the game and they have to take the game to the Crokes.

“It worked very well on occasion there, particularly in the last 15 minutes of the first half, we felt we were playing really good football against good opposition.”

Miltown Malbay player Eoin Cleary in action against Dr Crokes Shane Doolan.

Source: Ken Sutton/INPHO

So that draws a line under their 2018 campaign. It was still a fruitful one for St Joseph’s, delivering a second Clare crown in four seasons after having endured a 25-year wait after 1990. There was progress in Munster and exposure to a warmer climate of football.

“We came here with ambitions, we came here to see if we could snatch it and we found out that we came up against a better team,” said Neylon.

“We have to use today as a huge learning experience for us. High standard there today and in a lot of aspects of the game we matched them but obviously there was some slickness there on the part of the Crokes that we found it hard to get to grips with.

“It’s our first time at this level, it’s our first provincial final. We’re delighted to be here and if we can learn from today. It’s a great experience for all these players to go out and play a team like the Crokes.”

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THE CONTRAST WAS stark.

When the Munster club football final ended yesterday, the Dr Crokes reaction was noticeably muted. They were provincial champions and glad of their latest success but there was no great outpouring of emotion.

It was a marked change from the hurling equivalent the previous Sunday in Munster, a seismic afternoon for Ballygunner. The Waterford club’s players were visibly moved by their success after a 17-year wait and a succession of near misses, speaking about the transformative and life-changing effect this win would have on them.

For Dr Crokes yesterday was a fifth Munster triumph since 2011. The players were soon ushered into their dressing-room at the Gaelic Grounds. Job done in Munster, a new national challenge is on the horizon.

They was still a sense of satisfaction that they reversed their result at this stage a year ago against Nemo Rangers.

“I made no bones about it, this time last year we were a tired team we had no excuses whatsoever we were complacent and didn’t handle our business right,” said Dr Crokes selector Niall O’Callaghan.

“But we did handle our business right this year, fellas are really focused and today it’s a lot different than this time last year coming out of Cork with our tails between our legs deservedly.

A dejected Kieran O’Leary after the 2017 Munster club final.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

“It gives us something to work on but we have to train for 11 or 12 weeks for one game. In the next two weeks including this game, we have four championship games in two weeks and that’s the way it is for us. We’ll enjoy tonight, then focus on next Sunday’s county league final.”

Yesterday’s victory was another example of the scoring power Dr Crokes possess. They shot 1-21 to bring their tally across three games in Munster and the quality of substitutes they have been able to introduce was telling.

“It is our best squad,” says O’Callaghan.

“I don’t want to insult any of the players who have gone before us, we represented them well but it is, they are just a great bunch of young fellas. There was UCC v IT in a football match a few weeks ago and Mark O’Shea was one of the standout players.

“He hasn’t played for Kerry but he’s one of the best players we have in training and is giving our full-back Michael Moloney loads of it every night. So we are hoping the transition will be easier for Crokes when the older fellas start stepping away because these fellas are chomping at the bit to get in there.

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“There are some fellas there like David Naughten there, he started our first championship game back in August but he hasn’t had a kick since and that’s very hard. He’s on the Kerry U20 (side), he’s a Kerry minor and has All-Irelands coming out his back pocket and this is the first chance we have to give him a game.

“All those fellas need game time and the next few weeks will be a chance to give these fellas a game.”

David Naughten in action for Kerry in the 2016 All-Ireland minor final.

Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO

The victory propels Dr Crokes into an All-Ireland semi-final next spring against Dublin’s Kilmacud Crokes and Longford’s Mullinalaghta. It’s their fifth experience of negotiating the long lay-off over the Christmas period and the 2017 tie with Corofin was the first last four win for this group.

“You just don’t now how to really manage it properly,” admits O’Callaghan.

“Last time alright we trained like dogs over Christmas and we trained all the time but we have a situation where fellas are getting married, going on honeymoon, fellas who need a break and that all comes into it.

“We would love to be playing a semi next week because we are feeling good and winning. I’d say everyone is the same. It’s hard.

“You can’t get challenge games, all you’re getting is inter-county teams and they are only going to send out the reserve players so its hard to get good challenge games you know.

“You have to let them taper down but you have to hit the right note in 11 weeks time.”

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FIVE YEARS AGO the Burke family were at the heart of a historic All-Ireland breakthrough for Galway club St Thomas.

John Burke was on the sideline directing operations with five of his sons – Cathal, Darragh, Sean, Kenneth and David – all starting while the youngest Eanna came on as a second-half sub.

Last Sunday St Thomas picked up their third Galway county title in Pearse Stadium and propelled themselves towards the All-Ireland series.

The family were again at the heart of their success story with four Burke brothers starting – Cathal at full-back, David at midfield, Darragh at centre-forward and Eanna at corner-forward – while Kenneth came on as a second-half substitute. 

Between them David, Darragh and Eanna chipped in with 1-11 out of the overall 2-13 tally that St Thomas registered in their success over reigning champions Liam Mellows.

The win sets St Thomas on course for a tilt at the All-Ireland senior title next spring, a championship they won outright against Offaly’s Kilcormac-Killoughey in 2013.

But the Burke family will not just have an interest in the destination of the senior crown with their father now involved in directing sideline operations for Oranmore-Maree, the newly-crowned Connacht club intermediate champions.

On Saturday afternoon in Athleague the Galway club took down the reigning title holders in Mayo’s Tooreen with their 1-20 to 1-15 victory.

Galway senior duo Niall Burke and Gearoid McInerney are at the heart of their side with McInerney’s father Gerry, a legendary figure for the county team during their victories in the 80s, in charge of the team.

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He is assisted by John Burke, who has All-Ireland club coaching experience from the St Thomas success in 2013 and his campaign in 2017 when they lost out to Clare’s Ballyea at the senior semi-final stage.

Both Galway clubs will now spend the winter preparing for All-Ireland semi-final clashes against Antrim opposition. St Thomas will face a senior showdown against Cushendall in February, while before that Oranmore-Maree have an intermediate tie against St Gall’s. 

The hope of delivering two All-Ireland club titles to one family remains alive.

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FAMILIAR FACES ON the victory podiums in Munster and Connacht.

The two provinces both concluded senior club football matters yesterday afternoon. There was a sense of business as usual in the Gaelic Grounds and at MacHale Park.

In Limerick the 2017 All-Ireland champions Dr Crokes motored away to the Munster accolade with a controlled performance against Miltown Malbay that delivered a nine-point win.

In Castlebar the 2018 All-Ireland kingpins Corofin had to work that bit harder after a tricky opening against Ballintubber but drew on all of their nous to triumph.

It was not the type of day to spark wild hysteria in either camp. No breakthroughs achieved, merely the continuation of the efficiency and success that they have become accustomed to. Box ticked, time to start thinking about the bigger challenges that lie ahead.

The club game at this time of the year zones in on the tales of novelty and romance but in football there are clubs who represent relentless excellence and are starting to move clear of those around them.

The runs that Dr Crokes and Corofin are currently on are remarkable. Dr Crokes recently completed three-in-a-row in Kerry and have seven crowns to their name since 2010. They have contested a Munster final in each of those seven seasons, yesterday’s victory landing them their fifth title in that time frame. The All-Ireland win in March last year was the culmination of all their work.

Celebration time for the Dr Crokes players.

Source: Ken Sutton/INPHO

Corofin claimed a sixth title on the spin in Galway this autumn. They have been the last team standing in ten of the last 13 county finals. Since 2008 they have won six Connacht crowns and contested another two finals. They retained the title for the first time last year and embellished that feat by achieving three-in-a-row yesterday. All-Ireland wins in 2015 and 2018 have elevated this era for them.

The pair seem no longer sated with exploits within their county boundaries. Dr Crokes went clear of Austin Stacks in the Kerry roll of honour this season and while Nemo Rangers are still the clear market leaders in Munster, the Lewis Road club have emerged in second place with eight to their credit. Corofin are now joint second on the roll of honour in Galway, five short of Tuam Stars who last won in 1994, and top of the pile in Connacht.

They have suffered their disappointing defeats, Dr Crokes soundly beaten by Nemo last year and Corofin ousted by Castlebar in 2015, yet each time they rebound in style.

Corofin players toast their victory over Ballintubber.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

These modern periods are golden ones for their pair. One of the most striking aspects is the strength of their reserves. Dr Crokes announced over the weekend that they plan to field a third team in 2019, Corofin’s second-string won the Galway junior recently and will graduate to intermediate ranks next season.

And yesterday the depth of their flagship teams was graphically illustrated. Corofin introduced 2018 All-Star Ian Burke to help turn the game their way with a haul of 1-1. They had coped without him and Daithi Burke for their semi-final against Clann na nGael, still runaway victors at the end by 27 points.

Dr Crokes began yesterday with seven players on the bench who have collected All-Ireland medals on Kerry teams. Colm Cooper’s county career is well-documented but Alan O’Sullivan (U21 2007), Jordan Kiely (minor 2014), David Naughten (minor 2016) and Michael Potts (minor 2016 and 2017) have all tasted national glory.

At least they got cameos during the second half yesterday. Eoin Brosnan, with a celebrated senior career behind him, and Billy Courtney, a two-time Kerry All-Ireland minor winner, remained on the sideline.

And it’s interesting how they keep replenishing their sides as new stars burst to the fore. Kieran Molloy was outstanding for Corofin in their Connacht final victory, when they triumphed in Croke Park in 2015 he was not involved. The trio of Micheál Burns, Tony Brosnan and David Shaw struck 1-10 between them for Dr Crokes in the Gaelic Grounds. None of them started on St Patrick’s Day in 2017 and Shaw was not even in the squad. 

As 2018 closes, they will be favourites to set up a final clash against each other in 2019. Their two previous meetings in semi-finals in 1992 and 2017 swung the way of Dr Crokes but they have yet to cross paths in a decider.

Corofin’s Michael Lundy and Michael Moloney of Dr. Crokes in opposition in 2017.

Source: Tom Beary/INPHO

Pointing out their credentials is not to dismiss the others in contention. Next Sunday’s Ulster final will be a landmark one for Gaoth Dobhair spearheaded by the McGee brothers, the experience of Kevin Cassidy and the majesty of Odhran MacNiallais. Their opponents Scotstown are anchored by the best goalkeeper in the country this year in Rory Beggan, the Hughes brothers and a livewire forward in Conor McCarthy.

The Leinster showdown on Sunday week sees Kilmacud Crokes in action, a team that have looked exceptionally dynamic and well-drilled in recent weeks and in possession of a game changer in Paul Mannion. The journey of Longford’s Mullinalaghta to this stage has been wondrous as they have belied their small pool of players to progress impressively.

And yet it is the Kerry and Galway champions that are the first two sides to have secured a passage to the 2019 All-Ireland senior semi-final stage.

Both Dr Crokes and Corofin have produced such dazzling displays that they are entitled to be considering a St Patrick’s Day assignment. 

They have a combined aggregate win of 77 points in their provincial outings against the champions of Tipperary, Cork, Roscommon, Clare and Mayo. A pair of super clubs in control of their counties and provinces.

Right now they look the two leading club football teams in the country.

And the opponents they have dismissed ruthlessly in recent weeks will attest to that.

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THE CURTAIN COMES down on the ladies football year the weekend after next with three All-Ireland club titles up for grabs — and the LGFA have confirmed all of the fixture details.

A general view of Parnell Park.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

On Saturday 8 December, there’s an intriguing double-header on the cards in Parnell Park, which will see the 2018 senior and intermediate champions crowned at the final whistle.

First up is the mouthwatering battle of Cork and Dublin as Mourneabbey and Foxrock-Cabinteely [throw-in 5.15pm] both look to put years or hurt and heartbreak behind them, and end their respective long waits to lift the Dolores Tyrrell Memorial Cup.

This comes as the five in-a-row Cork and Munster champions’ fourth All-Ireland final in five years. They fell short to Donegal side Termon in 2014, Donaghmoyne in 2015, bowed out to the same side in the semi-final in 2016, and were defeated by Carnacon last year.

Mourneabbey huddle at the Donneycarney venue last year.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

With all of these sides out of the running now, Shane Ronayne’s charges will hope that they can finally reach the Holy Grail.

Foxrock-Cabinteely will be gunning for glory themselves however, and come as stiff competition with six of Mick Bohan’s All-Ireland champions back-boning the team.

Beaten in the decider by Donaghmoyne in 2016, the four in-a-row Dublin and Leinster champions lost out in the 2015 and 2017 semi-finals — the latter to Mourneabbey in extra-time.

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Fox-Cab before the 2016 final.

Source: Tommy Grealy/INPHO

A head-to-head between Dublin and Monaghan follows suit [throw-in 7.30pm] as Clontarf and Emmet Óg battle it out for All-Ireland intermediate glory, with plenty of talent on show on both sides.

The following day, Duggan Park in Ballinasloe plays host to the All-Ireland junior final meeting of Cork’s Glanmire and Tourlestrane of Sligo [throw-in 1.30pm].

Fans at Duggan Park earlier this year.

Source: Tom Beary/INPHO

Saturday 8 December 

All-Ireland senior club championship final

• Foxrock Cabinteely (Dublin) v Mourneabbey (Cork); 5.15pm, Parnell Park, Donnycarney, Dublin.

All-Ireland intermediate club championship final

• Clontarf (Dublin) v Emmet Óg (Monaghan); 7.30pm, Parnell Park, Donnycarney, Dublin.

Sunday 9 December

All-Ireland junior club championship final

• Glanmire (Cork) v Tourlestrane (Sligo); 1.30pm, Duggan Park, Ballinasloe, Galway.

(Replay(s), if necessary, on Sunday December 16)

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Kevin O’Brien reports from Parnell Park

LAST SUNDAY WAS the latest chapter in Pat Burke’s eventful football career.

The 35-year-old corner-forward scored three points, two from play, as Kilmacud Crokes squeezed past Portlaoise and into the Leinster club SFC final. 

Cathal Finn challenges Pat Burke for the ball.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

It’ll be his fourth provincial decider with Kilmacud, but this one at the twilight of his career is as welcome as it is unexpected.

“It’s been eight years,” Burke says. “I thought the chance would come for Kilmacud, I doubted that it would come for me personally. I think they were trying to retire me for a couple of years.

On a personal level, I’m delighted. From a club perspective, I think we have the talent to be competing at this level and I think we need to be doing it more consistently.”

The four-time Dublin SFC winner, three-time Leinster medallist and 2009 All-Ireland winner has taken an interesting path. His father, also named Pat, played with his native Kilmurry-Ibrickane and Clare before the family upped sticks to Dublin in the 1980s.

In 1992 Pat Burke senior won his first senior championship title. In 1995, at 37, he played wing-back in Kilmacud’s maiden All-Ireland victory. 

Young Pat preferred soccer as a teenager and focused on forging a career in the sport. He once featured on a Milk Cup team alongside Kieran Richardson and Anton Ferdinand, while he trained alongside Joe Cole during a trial at West Ham.

Further trials at Nottingham Forest, Leeds United and Sunderland followed, but no concrete offers transpired. He won a scholarship at UCD and played in the League of Ireland for them, before a serious ankle injury sidelined him for 12 months.

On his return, he signed with Kilkenny City but quit after half a season. By chance, his father was in charge of the Kilmacud thirds who were short players for a match in July 2005.

Burke arrived off the bench that day and did well. 10 days later, the 21-year-old was promoted to play with the seconds. By that October he was starting alongside the likes of Johnny Magee, Paul Griffin and Ray Cosgrave as Kilmacud won the senior county title. He never looked back.

“It’s been a strange journey,” Burke admits. 

Pat Burke during his debut Kilmacud campaign at 21-years-old in 2005.

Source: ©INPHO

Outside of his club success, Burke had a couple of stabs at it with the Dublin panel. He featured off the bench in every championship game under Pat Gilroy in 2009. His final game for the Dubs was in the 2011 league final.

He didn’t make the squad for the championship, agonisingly missing out on being part of the first side from the capital to deliver Sam Maguire in 16 years.

But there was another twist in the tale for Burke, who was enticed to play with his father’s county Clare by Colm Collins in late 2014. He instantly became a key player for the Banner and in 2016 was part of their Division 3 league final win over Kildare before featuring on their remarkable run to the All-Ireland quarter-finals.

I had a great time in Clare. That (2016) All-Ireland quarter-final against Kerry, I played that day so that was my last game for Clare. 

“No, look there’s not many Clare men who got the opportunity to play in Croke Park and finish at that. But I had a great time playing for them. I wish I could continue playing but just the body wasn’t up to it. But very enjoyable time definitely.”

Burke last played with Clare in 2016.

Source: Lorraine O’Sullivan/INPHO

The latest test sees the half-parish of Mulinaghta from Longford stand between Burke and a fourth Leinster crown.

Just reading briefly about them during the week, or hearing about them, they seem like a very impressive club, they seem like they’re doing everything right. It’s probably no surprise they’re in a Leinster final, they’ve been coming for the last three years, putting in really good performances.

He continued: “We don’t know a huge amount about them at the moment but we’ll study them over the next couple of weeks. No, their form has been very impressive, it’s not like it’s just this year, the last couple of years they’ve really been producing performances and they kind of look like a coming team. We’re in a Leinster final, you’re going to be playing good sides. Playing football in December, that’s what I like to be doing.”

When it’s put to him that the provincial final has the look of David versus Goliath about it, Burke makes an interesting observation about the challenges bigger clubs like Crokes face. 

It’s funny, there’s different challenges from different clubs. I was looking at Scott Penny the Leinster forward, doing well for Leinster yesterday, I coached him briefly when he was U14, so there’s kind of two sides to things.

“You can have a small club and you can have everyone in together and then we’re a bigger club, yeah, but we’re competing against bigger entities again with the likes of Leinster.

“We’ve lost the likes of (Ian) Madigan, Ian McKinley, Scott Penny, Eoin Barr is another lad who is playing international rugby underage at the moment. So yeah, it is a different environment but there’s different challenges too. 

Scott Penny starred for Leinster against Ospreys last weekend.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

“They were all Crokes kids so it’s a different challenge and we possibly face different challenges to other GAA clubs but I think we’re doing a huge amount of good work in our local area.

“Kids would be lost to sport otherwise and I think it’s a huge credit to Paraic McDonald, Niall Corcoran, the GDOs of our club that they’re getting those lads in. It’s just unfortunate we lose a few to professional sport but that’s the way it is.

Portlaoise were without Zach Tuohy there today, he’s another lad that would have made a big difference to them.”

Without Paul Mannion at full tilt on Sunday, Kilmacud still had the attacking weapons to hurt Portlaoise at the back. It was a very open game of football, with two sides who played positive brands of football.

“The times we’ve played before in Leinster it’s always been a little bit mad. The games are very much end to end. We knew Portlaoise would play 15 on 15, they don’t leave anyone back. It’s just all a little bit frantic, there tends to be a lot of mistakes in the games but then a lot of good scores and a lot of good goals too. They’re really enjoyable to play in.

Pat Burke fields a high ball over Cian O’Dwyer.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

“We came out on the winning side so it’s always that bit more enjoyable. Yeah, it’s end to end, it’s not defensive football, we’d have huge respect for the way they come out and play football. They have some beautiful passers of the ball and they really move the ball well. I suppose we’re just really glad to get over the line.

“It was just simply the style of football that Portlaoise played. We’d been playing very defensive teams at times. They came out and played man on man and it was a different challenge for us. It took us a while to adapt. We benefited hugely from it.

It’s great to be winning matches and looking back saying, ‘Jeez, we have a load of things to work on’. That’s the way we kind of feel in the dressing-room now.”

With no retirement plans as of yet, Burke says he’s enjoying his football as much as ever.

“In the first round of the championship Cian O’Sullivan wasn’t playing so I think I was the oldest outfielder by about eight years.

“I’m 35 now. I’ve seen a lot of change. I suppose there’s so many young lads in the team it’s great.

“What the management have done this year is got the best out of the players we have. Once you’re getting the best out of players that’s all you can ask. We’re just trying to play football the right way, the management team have been good to us.”

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KERRY COUNTY BOARD chairman Tim Murphy has accepted that players who were omitted from Peter Keane’s 2019 Kingdom squad should have been informed of the decision by management. 

Kerins O’Rahillys delegate Dan Walsh raised the issue at a county board meeting on Monday night, with Murphy admitting “a few things fell through the cracks” in relation to contacting players who were deemed surplus to requirements.

Former joint-captain Fionn Fitzgerald and established forward Barry John Keane were among those reportedly left out of Keane’s pre-season plans ahead of his first campaign in charge of Kerry.

“I am expressing my clubs dissatisfaction at the new Kerry senior management in the way that Kerry players ( from last year’s squad) that were not called in by the Kerry management, were not even notified and it was remarked upon in a national paper as well last week,” said Walsh.

“Some of the players have been involved with the Kerry senior squad for a long time and not even getting a text or phone call meant that they did not know whether they were in or they were out.

“I think going forward for all Kerry teams, minor, U20, senior or whatever, because it’s a big commitment and every young footballer has aspirations of wearing a Kerry jersey there must be more respect shown to them.

“We see from reports that there a number of Kerry senior players from last year not selected for 2019 but it’s the way they were treated and not communicated in a proper fashion that makes it paramount going forward that a system be put in place and they would be communicated with and told what was happening rather than being left in limbo.

“I want to clarify that the club has no issue whatsoever on who is called up and who is omitted.”

Murphy put it down to a breakdown in communication and confirmed the issue would be addressed.

“I accept what you are saying,” he responded. “I know heretofore the senior manager and the management team were the people who were charged with calling in players or not.

“Probably a few things fell through the cracks there all right and I think going forward as heretofore there was never a policy on how that was to be dealt with, but yes I agree with your sentiments that from now on we will put some system in place that will address this issue.”

–With additional reporting from Murt Murphy

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ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONS Dublin will begin their league defence with a home tie against Donegal in 2019.

Dublin secured their first-ever Lidl Ladies National League Division 1 crown earlier this year, and will be looking to retain that title when they start their campaign by hosting the Ulster side in February.

Donegal, who reached the All-Ireland semi-final this year, contested the 2017 league final against Cork where they suffered a narrow one-point defeat after a thrilling decider in Parnell Park.

Dublin boss Mick Bohan recently committed to another two years at the helm of the Sky Blues and will be hoping to add more success in 2019 after leading them to a league and championship double this year.

Dublin ladies celebrate winning the Division 1 crown earlier this year.

Source: Lorraine O’Sullivan/INPHO

Elsewhere in Division 1, All-Ireland finalists Cork have been paired with Galway in the opening round with the Connacht champions making the trip to take on Ephie Fitzgerald’s side.

2018 Division 1 runners-up Mayo welcome newly-promoted Tipperary in their first-round tie, while Westmeath have home advantage for their clash with Monaghan.

Mayo will travel to take on Dublin in their round-three fixture while a repeat of the 2018 All-Ireland final between Cork and Dublin is scheduled for 7 April, where Cork will have home advantage.

The divisional semi-finals are fixed for the weekend of 20/21 April, and the showpiece finals will be decided over the weekend of 4/5 May. 

Division 1 Fixtures

Round 1 – 2 February
Dublin v Donegal
Cork v Galway

Round 1 – 3 February

Mayo v Tipperary
Westmeath v Monaghan

You can find out more information on the league fixtures for 2019 on ladiesgaelic.ie

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CONAL KEANEY WILL leave any decision on his Dublin future until after Sunday’s Leinster club hurling final against Ballyhale Shamrocks.

Ballyboden St Endas’ Conal Keaney is pictured ahead of the AIB GAA Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Final where they face Ballyhale Shamrocks on Sunday, December 2nd at Netwatch Cullen Park.

Source: David Fitzgerald/SPORTSFILE

Ballyboden St Enda’s, who face the most decorated club in Leinster, are back in their first provincial final in a decade after coming through two bouts of extra-time against Coolderry in a testing last four clash.

After making a surprise comeback to the Dublin colours this year – following two years out of the inter-county game – Keaney says he’ll wait until the club campaign ends before he makes a call on committing to the county side for 2019.

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It’s been a taxing campaign for Ballyboden. The 36-year-old won his seventh Dublin SHC title when they defeated Kilmacud Crokes after a replay in the county final, before they needed extra-time to overcome Clonkill and then needed almost 100 minutes to see-off the Offaly champions in the semi-final.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I’ll see how the body is after this campaign. It’s been a hard enough campaign. We’ll see what happens on Sunday.

(The body) is good. It’s not too bad considering the amount of games we played. We’ll see what happens after that.”

Pat Gilroy left as Dublin boss after just one season due to work commitments and he was replaced by double All-Ireland winning Cuala manager Mattie Kenny.

“I think he was in touch, in touch to say he’s not going to be in touch anymore and let everyone concentrate on the club. He obviously knows that you don’t want to be distracted by the county when you’re still in with the club.

I think he’s respecting that, he’ll probably touch base with a lot of lads that he wants between now and Christmas, regardless of the result on Sunday.

“I don’t know Mattie, I’ve never worked with him. I haven’t sat down and talked to him, I don’t know anything about him. The Cuala lads would say he’s very prepared, he’s well-drilled and he knows what he wants.

“You have to go with what he’s won in Cuala. That’s some achievement to get two All-Irelands back-to-back. If he can bring that to Dublin, it’ll be great.”

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THE GAA HAVE confirmed that there will be an opportunity to review proposals regarding the experimental Gaelic football rule changes before the start of the 2019 national leagues.

Five new rule changes were debated at an Ard Chomhairle meeting in Croke Park at the weekend, and are set to be experimented during the pre-season competitions and the Allianz Football Leagues.

However, following a meeting between representatives of the GAA and GPA, it was noted that while the first part of this experimentation process will take place during the pre-season competitions, the proposals will then be reviewed before the leagues commence.

“The GAA and GPA can confirm that a meeting took place in Croke Park earlier today that included GAA President John Horan and GPA CEO Paul Flynn,” read a joint-statement released by the GAA.

“The meeting was held at the request of the GPA to seek further clarification on the process for the introduction of the trial playing rules in Gaelic Football.

“It was noted that the initial part of the rules experimentation will take place in the upcoming Provincial Pre-Season competitions.

The GAA confirmed that there will be an opportunity at the next scheduled meeting of Ard Chomhairle on 19 January to review the proposals ahead of the Allianz Leagues.

“The GPA have agreed to continue to liaise with the Standing Committee on the Playing Rules between now and January.”

The rule changes relate to restricted use of the hand-pass, the sideline kick, the introduction of the ‘sin bin’ and the advanced mark.

An amended version of the kick-out proposal was also passed at the weekend, which will see all kick-outs take place from the 20m line without having to pass the 45m line. 

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