Month: September 2021

NEWLY-APPOINTED LAOIS manager Brennan will find himself in a unique scenario tomorrow afternoon. 

Graigue Ballycallan’s Eddie Brennan is pictured in Dublin ahead of the AIB GAA Leinster Intermediate Hurling Club Championship Final where they face Portlaoise on Saturday.

Source: Piaras Ó Mídheach/SPORTSFILE

An unexpected run with Graigue-Ballycallan to the Kilkenny intermediate title and the Leinster club final means he’ll be lining out against his selector Tommy Fitzgerald and a few players who might be involved in the county set-up in 2019.

Brennan is likely to be picked up by Portlaoise’s Cahir Healy, who has yet to commit to the hurling panel for next season as he weighs up a possible return to playing football with Laois. 

“It’s the man above having a dark sense of humour,” laughs Brennan. 

I was trying to keep pushing plenty of food into Tommy this week anyway and get him bulked up so he won’t be able to run around. It’s an unusual one, it’s gas, the two of us would have spoken maybe four weeks ago.

“It kind of dawned on me. I said, ‘Ye won the senior B, are ye in the intermediate (in Leinster)? Are we in line to run into each other?’ 

“In a way, you’re kind of hoping that doesn’t come to pass. Then after the semi-final when we beat Fethard the first thing I was concerned about was who won the other one.

That’s just the nature of it, no more than two club guys squaring off to each other in Fitzgibbon or Sigerson.  

“It’ll be parked up for an hour on Saturday and whatever happens, happens. It’s him or me, that’s the way it will be. We’ve agreed to stay at opposite ends of the pitch and not try to run into each other too much.

“Just looking forward to it, it is what it is. It’s a Leinster final with your club which is just phenomenal, mental really. Looking forward to it in a big, big way.” 

Eugene Cloonan and Paddy O’Dwyer in the 2001 All-Ireland club final.

Source: Patrick Bolger/INPHO

Brennan and James Ryall are the two survivors from the club’s run to the All-Ireland senior final in 2001, where they fell to Galway’s Athenry after extra-time. 

Tribe legend Eugene Cloonan posted 1-11 for the winners that Easter Monday deliver the Tommy Moore Cup.

Eugene Cloonan scored the equalising goal with our full-back’s hurl that day. There’s a very famous picture of it in ‘A Season Of Sundays’. It’s a standout match and I remember it very distinctly.

“What I remember is the muted, not celebrations, but the aftermath of that. We felt at the time, ‘Ah, we’ll be back, we’ll be back.’ I don’t think (we understood) the enormity of the occasion.

“Getting to a club All-Ireland with your parish team is a huge thing and it’s something that gnawed at us over the years – that we didn’t get back, because we had a young team at the time. A few lads just left and went to Australia, lads went their different ways. We just fell away.

“We were knocking at the door in county semi-finals and then just fresher, younger teams were coming along. I suppose it team eats at the team and it eventually erodes away. Myself and Ryallers are hanging in there anyway.

Former Kilkenny defender James Ryall.

Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

“We’re the two stragglers. James even said a few weeks ago, if you’d said to him three or four years ago that we’d win a county final at this stage and still be rolling in the club campaign…

Of all the things – and we criticise (the GAA) a little bit too easily sometimes, I’m guilty of that occasionally in my capacity as a Sunday Game pundit – to bring the All-Ireland club championships to junior and intermediate level is absolutely brilliant.

“It affords lads an opportunity to live that dream and potentially tog out with your club in Croke Park and play in Leinster finals, club All-Irelands – it’s a great thing. ”

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MARIE CROTTY’S ILLUSTRIOUS career will be honoured this weekend, as the first woman to ever score a point in Croke Park will be inducted into the LGFA Hall of Fame.

The Waterford native will be recognised at the TG4 All-Star awards banquet on Saturday night, cementing her place as one of the greatest to ever play the game.

As part of her local club, Ballymacarby, Crotty won 10 All Ireland senior championship medals – seven of which were won consecutively – as well as 14 Munster titles.

On the inter-county scene, she claimed five All-Ireland senior medals, eight Munster championship medals and five All-Star awards.

In 1986, she made history by becoming the first woman to score a point at Croke Park – the first on the scoreboard during that year’s All-Ireland final against Wexford.

“It’s a massive honour, to get an award for something you love being part of,” she said.

There are no words to describe it – I never thought I’d be anywhere in that category.”

Another former Waterford star, Catriona Casey, is a former team-mate of Crotty and will be there on the night also. Casey was the first woman to score a goal in Croke Park.

Marie Crotty and team-mates from the Waterford panel.

Source: Keith Heneghan/INPHO

The four provincial Young Players of the Year will also receive their awards – Chellene Trill [Galway and Connacht], Aoife Rattigan [Kildare and Leinster], Síofra O’Shea [Kerry and Munster] and Megan Ryan [Donegal and Ulster] – on Saturday night.

The 2018 TG4 All-Star team will also be revealed, along with the TG4 senior, intermediate and junior Players’ Player of the Year award winners.

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MUNSTER GAA HAVE voted against allowing Waterford to play home games outside of the province for next year’s senior hurling championship.

Walsh Park has been deemed unsuitable to host Munster championship games and the Déise County cited their inability to play in their own county as a factor in their high number of defeats this summer.

Páraic Fanning’s side lost all but one of their Munster SHC games this summer, their only positive result was a draw with Tipperary – with the match held at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick.

Nowlan Park had been tipped as a possible replacement venue for the county due to its proximity to Waterford city, but a vote taken in a meeting of the Munster CCC ruled against the idea.

Waterford faced Cork this summer in Semple Stadium, Thurles.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

Munster GAA say that “discussions are ongoing” between themselves and Waterford GAA in relation to hosting next year’s Munster SHC home games against Clare and Limerick at Walsh Park.

Waterford GAA county board received planning approval for developments to Walsh Park in September. However, any major renovations may come too late for the beginning of their Munster SHC game with Clare on 12 May.

They will also face reigning All-Ireland champions Limerick later that month in a game scheduled as a home match. 

Munster GAA ruled:

“Waterford proposed to amend the regulation whereby in the event a county is unable to host home games, it would be possible to nominate venues outside the province.

“This proposal was defeated. Discussions are ongoing in relation to Waterford hosting their 2019 Munster Senior Hurling Championship home games versus Clare and Limerick in Walsh Park Waterford.”

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DONEGAL FOOTBALLER RYAN McHugh has revealed he suffered ‘a slight bleed’ in his brain earlier this year in the first of two concussions that the All-Star winner picked up during the 2018 season.

The 24-year-old is currently sidelined after receiving medical advice to sit out the rest of the year after he was concussed for the second time.

McHugh recovered from the first one that he sustained in the spring in action for Donegal, to line out in their summer championship campaign but then missed out for Kilcar, the 2017 county senior kingpins, as they made their club exit at the quarter-final stage.

“I had two concussions,” outlined McHugh, speaking in Philadelphia at the 2018 PWC All-Stars tour.

“I had one at the start of the league this year and I took about eight weeks off, I had a slight bleed in my brain. So I was advised medically to take time off. Take a rest.

“It was a mixture. Three knocks in games. Dublin, Kildare and Tyrone were the three games. Our Doctor, Kevin Moran is one of the top doctors in Ireland and he was looking after me. So I took about six to eight weeks off and I was grand then. 100% after that.

“Unfortunately I went back to the club and we had a challenge match against St Vincent’s of Dublin. I picked up another knock and I don’t really remember a lot about that. I got the CT scan and was advised again by the doctor to take a longer rest.

“Thankfully again I am grand. Back in the gym and I am looking forward to getting out running when I get back from holidays and will be ready to rock for the McKenna Cup.”

Ryan McHugh at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on the PWC All-Stars tour.

Source: Ray McManus/SPORTSFILE

McHugh praised the Donegal team medics for their advice in helping him to recover and believes it was a more difficult situation for his parents to deal with.

“I didn’t really think about that. Now it was a slight bleed, they weren’t 100% sure. Maybe Mum and Dad might have thought more about it but I was that engrossed in trying just to get back and get myself ready for the next Donegal match.

“Kevin Moran, I put my full hands in him and we’ve a great relationship so we do. He does what he does best. He was advising me and I think to be fair to Kevin, he wasn’t looking at it from a Donegal or Kilcar point of view, he was looking at it to make sure that Ryan McHugh was going to be okay and going to be back, when he is fit to come back a better player.

“I know the first time I had it, I actually didn’t get the symptoms and stuff until about two weeks later, so I didn’t. So it was strange, it actually happened at training one night, I just felt ill and dizzy and stuff.

“I went to Kevin and Kevin pulled me out straight away. If Kevin wasn’t there, I could have trained on. You just have to get on with it. It’s not like when you break a leg, you come back and try to build it up in the gym. It’s just rest really all you can do, stay away from computers and that sort of stuff. It is worrying but I didn’t really think about it.”

Being absent as Kilcar attempted to defend their Donegal senior title was frustrating for McHugh.

Ryan McHugh (Kilcar) in action against Michael Murphy (Glenswilly) during the 2016 Donegal county senior football final.

Source: Kieran Murray/INPHO

“It was a rest you didn’t want to take. When you had a chance to play for your club and we were actually county champions last year and we had a chance to defend our title. So it was a break you didn’t want to take but you have to think of later on in  life.
“It’s not easy but if you are told by a doctor to rest, there is nothing really you can do. Barry (Doherty, Kilcar manager) accepted it and to be fair it was a tough year for the Kilcar boys, with myself and Paddy missing from the club.

“It’s a strange injury because looking at somebody you don’t think there is anything wrong with them. It was tough. After the time you have slight headaches and you know there is something wrong with yourself.

“After a week and a half you start to come round to yourself but the fear is if you pick up another one you can pick up serious injuries. I don’t know a lot about it, I was taking the advice of Dr Kevin Moran and that’s it.”

McHugh’s dynamic, all-action style has helped him to become established as a standout Gaelic footballers, garnering two All-Stars in the last three seasons. Altering that approach to playing is something he may consider in light of these concussion incidents. 

“Myself and Dad were actually on about that. I was reading up on Johnny Sexton and there was a lot written about him and head injuries and concussions.

“He had to change the style of the way he tackles. I don’t know the basics of rugby but he said he changed the style of his tackle, the way he went in. He must have been going in with his head or something.

“So it is something I can look at in the future. It is easy to say it sitting around the table but when you are in the heat of a Championship battle and the ball is there to be won, it’s another story. I think it is something to look at along with different aspects of my game.” 

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THE 2018 TG4 Ladies Football All-Star awards take place tonight, with plenty of coveted silverware and prestigious accolades to be handed out.

One of the most highly-anticipated awards is of course the TG4 senior Players’ Player of the Year with a deadly Dublin duo and Cork’s captain in the running for the prize.

Lyndsey Davey, Sinéad Aherne and Ciara O’Sullivan.

Mick Bohan’s All-Ireland champions made it back-to-back titles in September with a 3-11 to 1-12 win over Cork, adding to their first-ever Division 1 Lidl Ladies National League crown and seventh Leinster title in-a-row in a stellar 2018.

Captain Sinéad Aherne and fellow star forward-turned-all-rounder Lyndsey Davey have both been recognised for their incredible exploits throughout with nominations.

Meanwhile, Ciara O’Sullivan got the nod from the All-Ireland finalists for her efforts.

But who of the three do you think deserves to scoop the honour tonight?

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RYAN MCHUGH HAS become accustomed to pitting himself and his Donegal team-mates against Dublin in the environs of Croke Park but the prospect of doing so on neutral ground in championship combat appeals to the Kilcar man.

Ryan McHugh in Philadelphia on the 2018 PWC All-Stars tour.

Source: Ray McManus/SPORTSFILE

The issue of the venues for Dublin’s games in the Super 8s continues to spark debate. As it stands the All-Ireland champions will have two matches at the venue again in 2019, just like they did this summer, unless a motion is brought to Congress next spring to try to change that schedule.

Dublin defeated Donegal by 2-15 to 0-16 in July in Croke Park but staging a game of that status in a venue like Clones ‘would be a special occasion’ in McHugh’s view.

“It’s maybe something they can look at anyway. Every other team is doing it, so why can’t Dublin?

“Listen, as a player, don’t get me wrong, you want to be playing in Croke Park every opportunity you can. But to topple the Dubs, I suppose maybe you might have a better chance if you played them in Clones or somewhere.

“I’m afraid I’m not fit to make decisions like that. But, definitely, if Donegal and Dublin were to play in the morning we’d have a better chance of putting it up to them in Clones rather than Croke Park. 

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“A packed house in Clones would be a special occasion. I think the Dubs are phenomenal players and have phenomenal supporters as well. 

Ryan McHugh in action against Dublin’s Eoin Murchan.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

“I remember playing them in the League in Ballybofey in 2017 I think it was and the buzz around the town was phenomenal. I would say if you talked to everyone who was at Omagh last year when the Dubs came down for the Super 8s match, the buzz about was phenomenal. 

“The Dubs create an atmosphere. They create that buzz and it’s great for the town and great for the area.”

McHugh will be part of a Donegal squad bolstered next season by the addition of ex-Mayo boss Stephen Rochford to their coaching ranks.

“Stephen’s CV is hugely impressive with Mayo and with Corofin and as a player as well he has won plenty, so looking forward to it. I was chatting with him a couple of weeks ago actually, he’s hugely enthusiastic about it.

“I think it is good times in Donegal, we’ve got Karl Lacey back as well and there are a couple of other additions to the backroom team, so it’s great.

“You have to admire Declan for that, he’s willing to take people in. I think sometimes a manager’s best trait is realising where they are maybe a wee bit weak and taking people in to strengthen that and I think Declan has done that and really strengthened his backroom team.

“There are good footballers in Donegal, young exciting footballers coming through so it is a matter of trying to nourish them now and take them through the ranks.”

Donegal’s cause will also be aided in 2019 by the availability of Patrick McBrearty, their star forward who was struck down with a cruciate injury in the Ulster final.

Patrick McBrearty and Ryan McHugh celebrating Donegal’s Ulster final triumph in July.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

“Paddy is doing good. He is working and living in Dublin now so I don’t see as much of him as I used to, but as far as I’m aware he’s doing good. He’s doing his rehab.

“He was unlucky this year, he was having a phenomenal year. When you are in the middle of it you try to convince yourself that you are fit to go on and we have a squad built, but looking back now I think it was a huge moment in the year because Paddy was playing so well. He was winning games on his own for us at times and keeping us in games.

“Paddy is a serious individual, he’ll do the rehab to the letter of the law and hopefully be back for Donegal better than ever. Unfortunately Ciaran Gillespie from Gaoth Dobhair has done it as well, hopefully he can get himself back in the reckoning for championship as well.”

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1. All the medals.

2. Couldn’t resist a dig.

3. The Ghost of Fernando.

4. Not even close…

The pair had it off on Twitter this week.

Source: Twitter

5. Best comebacks of all time.

6. The Countdown is on…

7. Welcome home, Kellie.

8. Wes among the legends…

9. Now that’s commitment.

10. The rise of Irish athletics’ female stars.

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COLIN FENNELLY SPENT all of Kilkenny’s league campaign in Lebanon with the Irish Defence Forces, only returning in time to line out for the Cats in the Leinster championship. 

Source: Bryan Keane/INPHO

He’ll face no such issues next year after confirming he’s left the Army and is now based in Dublin as a project manager.

Fennelly’s change of career arrived at a time when Ballyhale Shamrocks restored their place at the top of hurling in Kilkenny, meaning he must make regular trips home from the capital as the evenings get shorter and Christmas approaches. 

“I left (the Army) as soon as I came back,” he said. “I was actually going to leave beforehand and they talked me into going over, so I said I might as well get the experience before I leave. I’m glad I did it to a certain extent.

I’m working for Virtus project management in Dublin in construction. A lot of my projects at the moment are based out in Cherrywood for office blocks. It’s what I did in college, so I’m lucky to get back into it. Shane Doherty brought me on, he’s in Kilkenny and we are based here in Dublin. 

“Everything has to involve hurling, and lucky enough people are there to pick up the work. The Army was something to keep me going over the years, it did keep me in Kilkenny but it wasn’t a realistic lifelong job. There’s lads leaving in their droves and I was fortunate to be winning with Kilkenny at the time. You have to move on like everything else.”

It’s a good problem to have. Tomorrow, Ballyhale Shamrocks are back in their first Leinster final since 2014, where they face Dublin champions Ballyboden St Enda’s in the decider.

A host of youngsters have supplemented the established stars like Fennelly, his brother Michael, Joey Holden and TJ Reid. Former Kilkenny minor forward Adrian Mullen has been starring in the Shamrocks attack, while 18-year-old Dean Mason is performing well between the posts.

“(Adrian) has such a natural talent,” says Fennelly. “In every game he has played he has picked up three or four points in every game. He still has loads to learn under Henry (Shefflin), and playing with us you just keep on learning.

“He is playing out beside TJ in the half-forward line and he is coming along great in every game for us. He’s probably something we haven’t had in the last three or four years, he just fights for the ball and it’s everything that Henry probably represents through the team. Fighting for tough ball.

Colin Fennelly at the AIB Leinster GAA Club Hurling finals launch.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

“(Dean) was the minor keeper, he is still only 18 and still in Kieran’s College. He is very young, we do have experienced players and we have some very inexperienced players.

“The goalie is just a massive part of the game now, but he has James Connolly there before him and he has a wealth of experience there between winning county and All-Ireland finals.

“We have Bob Alyward, he’s 41 and still down training every single night. He would’ve been older Henry, good friends with him and he’s still part of the panel. He has that love for the game and the older lads are bringing the younger lads on massively.”

Shefflin’s transition from team-mate to manager has been an interesting one for Fennelly to observe, but he’s impressed with how the 10-time All-Ireland winner has adapted.

“The way Henry comes around and talks to you and stuff, and the respect he has is a massive thing, but Henry would have had that anyway as a player. He is just a massive influence on the team.     

You would think in some instances it would be, but it’s more his leadership and he is doing that as manager as well. He always was a leader for our team, he always spoke well before games and he is doing that again, keeping it short and to the point. That’s what he is, there’s no messing about. He tells you what it is and what we have to do and that’s it.

“It’s always going to be a gamble no matter what you do in hurling, there’s no safety net regards any game or any job you take. Of course you could say for the last few years it could have been a gamble, but for him winning another All-Ireland in 2014 was massive when people were telling him to retire years before that.

“Stepping up into a manager’s position was great for him. He seen the talent was there, he seen the minor and U21 teams coming through and he just absolutely loves the club doing well. That’s what you want, you don’t want other people coming in. You see now managers getting paid in certain clubs and they are just kind of there come down, do the job and get out again whereas Henry is there for life.”

Ballyhale Shamrocks’ manager Henry Shefflin.

Source: Bryan Keane/INPHO

Shefflin even urged TJ and Richie Reid, Holden and Fennelly to head to Australia with the Kilkenny squad for the Wild Geese game against Galway – which was the weekend before Ballyhale’s semi-final against Naomh Éanna.

“Henry was actually all for it, we actually weren’t too pushed about it and there was a number of things that came up. We didn’t want to be letting the team or ourselves down.

Henry said, ‘Look lads, it’s been a long year and you need a break. Have your minds focused, enjoy yourselves, but keep the touch going and come back raring for the semi-final.’ That’s what’s happened I suppose and when you see that confidence from the manager, that’s what makes it easier.

“When he gives you that sort of leeway, you have that respect for him and respect his decision and what he asked you to do. It was a small thing, we enjoyed it. Myself Joey and Richie went up to the park pucking around, it was grand.

“You can go to these places and sit on the bed all day or go to the pub, but even down on the beach relaxing and pucking the ball to keep the touch going, it’s just a small thing. A lot of lads might just leave down the hurl altogether, but with the hurl in your hand you still have the touch.

“There was four of us, TJ Reid went over to Dubai for the first week, so it was myself Joey and Richie then together for most of it.” 

Originally published at 08.10

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ASK CONAL KEANEY what motivates him to keep plugging away with the club at 36 years of age and his answer is simple: “I just want to win.”

Conal Keaney pictured at Clanna Gael Fontenoy GAA in Dublin ahead of the AIB GAA Leinster Senior Hurling Championship final.

Source: David Fitzgerald/SPORTSFILE

Keaney may well extend his Dublin career into 2019, but for the moment his focus is on delivering a first provincial hurling title in the history of south side giants Ballyboden St Enda’s.

And it’s the lure of silverware that continues to drive Keaney. The centre-forward scored 0-4 in the county final replay win over Kilmacud Crokes, and 1-3 on their run to the Leinster final where they face Ballyhale Shamrocks later today.

The club were crowned All-Ireland football champions back in 2016 with Keaney at the forefront, but their last appearance in a Leinster final was 11 years ago. 

“I just want to win, I want to get on and win more and that’s enough of a motivation,” says Keaney.

I don’t know if it’s a buzz, I just want to win, I want to win more than anyone. That’s probably the motivation I have to keep it going. I don’t want to let anything get in the way of that and if it does, it’ll be removed.

“I don’t want to be sounding like Conor McGregor but I just want to win. I know there’s not too many days left so do what you can to make sure you’re in a good place for the game (today). If you happen to play well, you play well, great and if you don’t, then you make sure you do your best on the day for someone else to play well.”

Conal Keaney celebrates after the Leinster semi-final win over Coolderry.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

Keaney’s absolute commitment to the Ballyboden cause has seen him keep his honeymoon on the long finger. He got married in a couple of months ago and his plan following the Leinster final is to go “on holiday anyway.”

“I got married there in September and I haven’t done anything since so I’ll be going on honeymoon. I think a lot of lads are the same. It would be a very much welcome break and enjoy the Christmas and then (if you win) you’re not out until whenever it is, February, so you’ve a good bit of time to work on that.”

“It’s not an easy one to do,” he says about delaying his honeymoon as Ballyboden continued to progress in the championship.

No look, it’s fine, it is what it is and I’ve been like that for my whole life. Hurling is very important and where we are now is a big stage for the club and for everyone. So we need to make sure that it’s worth putting things off and the only thing that’s going to make it worth it is when you win.”

Off the field, Keaney runs an outdoor adventure centre in Wicklow in addition to his business in the Phoenix Park where he does bike rentals, tours and more. He’s been able to transfer his commitment to play top-level sport to the business world and build a successful company. 

“I have a lot of stuff on the go. I think the busier you are, the better it is. Keep your mind busy and it does give you a bit of a headache at times but it can also give you a bit of time away from everything.

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“I used to think hurling and football was everything growing up and it was only in the last seven, eight years that you realise that there’s life after hurling and football so you have to make sure that it is right too. It’s a good distraction as well, a lot of people wouldn’t have a clue if you get beaten or not so that’s good too.”

Keaney drives past Darragh Egerton, Darragh Egerton, John Kenny and Christopher Austin of Clonkill.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

How does he keep himself in such good shape in his mid-30s?

“I don’t know,” Keaney replies. “Just trying to be as good as you can everyday, try and train hard and do as much as you can away from the field. I haven’t done anything different. I just do the same things year after year and some days it’s good and some days it’s not good so we’ll find out (later today) if it’s good enough.

I won’t be hugely looking after myself but a little bit maybe. I think that’s a huge part of it but I think you need to have the motivation to want to do it more than anything and if you want to do it, you can do it.

“Once your fitness levels are there, it’s all fine but I think you really need to want to do it because when you get older, there’s an awful lot of things that come into it with work, or family or whatever and that takes up a lot of time. If you want it to take up a lot of time or you make time to play hurling. That’s the choices that you make.”

Joe Fortune’s side came two testing games against Kilmacud Crokes to win the Dublin title, beat Clonkill after extra-time on an emotional night in Parnell Park and saw off Coolderry after two bouts of extra-time in the last four clash.

But Keaney insists fatigue won’t be a factor when the take to the field against the Kilkenny kingpins this afternoon.

I don’t think fatigue will be an issue. I think the extra time we’ve had hurling will be good. It’s always hard this time of the year to get a good training session in because who do you play?

“You can only train amongst yourselves. The more games you get, the better. We may not have wanted the extra, extra minutes. But we got them and it’s good to have them under the belt. It’s given everyone that bit of confidence that you can hurl in these conditions and you can hurl against whoever it is. Ultimately we’ll find out (today).”

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