Month: September 2021

KERRY ARE HOPING to discover in ‘the next three or four days’ whether Stephen O’Brien is available to play in the All-Ireland final against Dublin.

O’Brien was man-of-the-match and scored 1-2 in Kerry’s All-Ireland semi-final win over Tyrone last Sunday.

But he received a black card in injury-time after pulling down Tyrone forward Connor McAliskey and as it stands is set to miss the the decider on 1 September.

That’s as a result of the accumulation of offences with O’Brien previously sent to the line when he was shown a yellow and a black card against Galway in a league tie in February while the Kenmare man then received a black card in the Super 8s game in Navan against Meath.

Kerry are set to contest that offence in the Meath game with county board chairman Tim Murphy this morning outlining the current state of play with the process

“So the way that process works is a charge is proposed and is communicated to ourselves in Kerry,” stated Murphy, speaking on Radio Kerry.

“We received that now and we’re in the process of compiling the appeal.

“What will happen then is Stephen (O’Brien) will be called to a hearing, we’ll make our case and a decision will be made accordingly after that.

“I would hope within the next three or four days at the very, very most, I think it should be resolved.”

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THIS IS A week eight-time Kilkenny All-Ireland winner Michael Fennelly is no stranger to, but this one is, of course, different to others.

The build-up to the biggest day of the hurling calendar.

Michael Fennelly at the unveiling of Ballygowan Activ+ as the new Official Fitness Partner of the GAA/GPA today.

Source: Sam Barnes/SPORTSFILE

The last time Brian Cody’s Cats were in the All-Ireland final, the Ballyhale man was still in the set-up. That was 2016.

A cruel ankle injury ruled the midfield general out that day however, as they were beaten by Sunday’s opponents, Tipperary, but the 2011 Hurler of the Year had lifted the Liam MacCarthy Cup on several occasions prior to that.

Fennelly, who captained the Noresiders to glory in 2009, stepped away from inter-county hurling in December 2017, and hasn’t looked back since. 

This week must be weird though, a slight bit of jealousy creeping in perhaps as excitement builds. “Envious of the lads being there” more than jealous, he nods.

He tells a story of meeting the team on a night out after their All-Ireland semi-final win over 2018 champions Limerick. Delighted to see them, of course, but the reunion brought mixed feelings.

“That kind of hit home a bit,” he says. “You still felt nearly part of it in terms of seeing all the lads. I hurled with them a couple of years ago and the core is nearly still there of the team. That was nearly a bit bittersweet, to be honest.

“I was kind of saying to them, ‘Look lads, there’s no point beating Limerick and losing the final, you have to go the whole way at this stage’. That wasn’t their All-Ireland in the semi-final. It’s bittersweet.

“But I’m actually happy… I had a good 12 years, my body couldn’t take any more. I think for me to go, it was taken out of my hands to a certain degree as well. Life has moved on for me with a wife and a baby and stuff, I’m very busy with that and I’m happy with where I’m at in life.”

“I’m delighted we’re back in the final,” he smiles, his attention switching back to the big one. “I didn’t think we would be, to be honest. It’s a bit surreal that we are back in the final so quickly.”

Fennelly lifting the silver in 2009.

Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

“And coming through that route of Cork and Limerick… when I heard we were playing Cork and then Limerick if we win, I was like, ‘God, this is next to impossible here in terms of our pathway.’

“But the lads have just went about their business in a serious fashion. They’ve out-performed, I suppose, and they’ve maxed out, and hopefully they can finish it off now on a massive note on Sunday.”

Excitement is definitely building in the county anyway, with a large Ballyhale contingent preparing for the Tipperary challenge in Croke Park.

It’s business as usual in the home of the All-Ireland senior club champions however, with nobody getting too carried away, Fennelly insists.

“Things just go on, everyone gets on with their own business. There’s pictures of the boys up now. There’s seven on the panel, a panel of 44, it’s a big panel. But there’s seven of our boys on it.

“It actually only hit me when I saw the pictures, like, ‘Jaysis!’ There’s a good crowd, that’s a massive chunk from one club. It’s good. Everyone is looking forward to it, really, and to rekindling that Tipp and Kilkenny rivalry. The weekend will tell a lot.”

One of the seven, of course, is his younger brother, Colin. Operating at full-forward, the revitalised 29-year-old has led the line this year, and Michael acknowledges just that. 

They have been — and will be — chatting a small bit through the week, but the older of the pair is conscious to leave him to his own devices when needs be.

“From my perspective, he doesn’t want to be bothered,” the 34-year-old notes. “He wants to be getting on with work and bits and pieces, that’s the way he’ll operate.

“I wouldn’t even be bothering with tickets or who’s playing well or who isn’t. I wouldn’t want people bothering me with that when I was playing so I wouldn’t be bothering him.

“He’ll just be getting on with his normal weeks’ work and hopefully he’ll turn up Sunday and play well, fingers crossed.”

Adrian Mullen facing Limerick in the semi-final.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

Another he’ll be hoping the best for is his cousin Adrian Mullen; another of the seven. The U20 star’s youthful exuberance has been huge for Kilkenny all year, as have his handsome scoring exploits.

Fennelly tells how he’s one of the younger lads in the club he’d be sharing his advice and words of wisdom with. 

“I’d be chatting to him a bit, just giving him a small bit of information really. Again, he’s a good fella, keeps his feet on the ground and just gets on with business. He doesn’t get caught up in the hype or anything. He’s very firmly grounded which is good.

“You don’t have to be saying much to these lads, like. Everyone just wants to concentrate on their hurling and nothing else.”

A real family affair yet again, he adds. And a special first as a player for Mullen.

“It’s good. The fact that myself and Colin have been through it before on a number of occasions is great. It’s new for Adrian but at the same time he’s been around and he’s aware of us being in the finals, he’s gone to the finals.

“I think funny enough someone asked him lately, ‘Do you remember the finals?’ He was like, ‘I don’t remember too many of them’. I was like, ‘It’s not that long ago!’

“When I was captain in 2009, he was nine years of age. Then I was like, ‘Okay, he was still quite young’ and that kind of hit home.”

“But yeah, we’ve been through it so it’s not a massively new experience for the family or the club or anything,” Fennelly adds.

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“Whereas let’s say Limerick last year, the years since they had been in a final and then obviously to try and win one; it was a new experience for families down there more than anything.

“For us, it’s normal, routine business to a certain degree.”

Fennelly with Cody after the 2016 Leinster final.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

The family theme he mentions runs through as he discusses his own plans for Sunday.

He’ll spend the majority of the weekend with them, but on Saturday evening he’ll be meeting friends and former team-mates as the 2009 winning team gathers in Croke Park.

“I’ll catch up with a good bit of them on Saturday, but on Sunday it’s more about family more than anything. We’ve a big family, so they’ll all be up good and early I’d say. I’m staying up for the next few days myself. But it’ll be nice that way.”

“I’m really looking forward to it,” he concludes, echoing his previous words. “It’s a bit surreal to be back there again.

“For me it’s surreal we are back there again because compared to last year, Kilkenny were probably ranked sixth or seventh because they were knocked out in the quarter-final.

“The likes of Clare and Galway had a savage year last year, Limerick were very strong. Tipperary, obviously had a few injuries and were knocked out early, but still have a good core.”

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THE TWO GREAT rival counties of Kilkenny and Tipperary meet twice this weekend.

Kilkenny star Edwina Keane.

Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO

With the All-Ireland hurling final in Croke Park on Sunday, all roads lead to Limerick’s Gaelic Grounds on Saturday evening first as the camogie sides face off for a coveted decider berth of their own. 

After back-to-back one-point final losses in 2017 and 2018, Ann Downey’s Cats will be hoping it’s a case of third time lucky in the hunt for the O’Duffy Cup this year.

But standing in their way in the semi-final first is Tipperary, who have been clawing their way back to the top table. It’s set to be an intriguing battle, that’s for sure, with many colourful characters involved on the day.

Scrolling through the match programme before throw-in, one or two things may catch the eye. Edwina Keane’s occupation could be one of such. The 29-year-old has just qualified to be a primary school teacher but over the past few years, she’s worked in beef farming with her father, Eamon.

At the minute, she’s tipping away at the farming and looking forward to getting into the teaching in September.

“Plenty to keep me going,” the 2016 All-Ireland winner smiled at the Camogie Association’s recent ‘Go Together’ campaign launch. “There’s plenty to be done at home. That keeps me busy anyway, it keeps me occupied.

“I work on the farm and I work with FarmRelief in Kilkenny as well. Summer is probably the busier time. Farmers want to be getting away from the milking parlour! It keeps me going anyway, it’ll keep me going until September when I get going again.”

The fact that she can manage her own commitments and constraints is handy, Keane explains, with plenty of time to train and recover accordingly, and balance it all.

There is a physical element to her work of course, but sadly not enough to warrant less time in the gym, she jokes. There are plenty of perks at this time of year, however.

“That’s the good thing about being out on the farm, I’m outdoors every day and there’s an element of physical work a part of it.

“It’s just brilliant to be outdoors, especially in the summer when have the sunshine. It’s great to be out and about, to have that freedom and to be out working with my Dad as well, it’s a nice thing to be able to do together.

“You still have to do your extra bit outside of training just to keep ticking along. You’ve to try and keep up with the rest of the girls on the panel as well because everyone wants to be the best they can.”

Celebrating the 2016 All-Ireland final win.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

Brexit soon comes up in conversation and while Keane says it is a concern, those on the family farm in Muckalee, north Kilkenny, will just see what happens. 

“You just have to hope for the best,” she nods, adding that she’ll continue to work on the farm when she lands a full-time teaching gig. “We’ll try and make the best of what we do have and if it’s not working, we’ll have to go down another avenue.”

While others have had to do that in the All-Ireland senior camogie championship this summer, Downey’s Kilkenny took the direct route into the semi-finals after topping their round-robin group.

It’s exactly where they want to be.

“It’s one of the targets that we set out at the start of the year,” Keane, who’s currently in her 14th season, adds on the fast-approaching semi-final showdown. “That, and Leinster championship. We just have to look forward to it.”

While Tipperary went head-to-head with Limerick for a spot in the last four, there is a danger of the lengthy lay-off for Kilkenny and back-to-back champions Cork, who also took the direct route.

And All-Star Keane is well aware of that common worry. Their highly-competitive set-up suggests all will be just fine, however.

“There’s always pros and cons of getting straight through to the semi-final. Obviously you’re delighted to be in it and straight through, but at the same time then you’re four weeks without a competitive game.

“Hopefully we’ll be alright. In training ourselves, the competition for places is massive. Playing against ourselves in training is probably the hardest games that we’ve had all year, really. And probably the toughest we’re going to come up against as well.

“There’s massive competition, so hopefully that will be enough to see us across the line.”

There’s no questioning whether the hunger is there, with the St Martin’s star defender insisting that their Division 1 league final loss to Galway earlier this season was probably a blessing in disguise.

Dejection after the 2017 loss.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

It brought the curtain down on Kilkenny’s four in-a-row bid, but their attention immediately turned to bouncing back for championship action. After back-to-back September defeats, they’re well used to picking themselves up, dusting themselves off and going again.

“That was definitely tough. It’s a great occasion to come up here to Croke Park to play in a league final but then to go out and the performance that we gave lacked. On the same day, Galway were just on fire. It was really obvious that they were just so up for the match and they really, really wanted to win. It was really obvious from the get-go.

“To turn around then the following week with new management and everything in, they were probably worried. In a way it worked out well for us because we knew that we had work to do and we knew just how much we had to do.

“We definitely bounced back from it and that showed in the championship. We literally took each game as it came, we didn’t doubt. Part of us probably went with the wrong attitude to the league final but that was gone out the window for the championship then.

“It was a new start. I suppose it worked well in our favour then, we definitely did bounce back from it. Hopefully now for the next hurdle we do the same.”

And if there’s anyone who knows how to rally the troops it’s the great Downey and her expert backroom team.

“She’s not afraid to hold back on anything,” Keane nods. “She’s brilliant. Her whole life is dedicated to it.

“To see her dedication really inspires the girls on the team. They want to perform for her, they want to win for her — and ourselves, and the rest of the management team.

“Her life and soul goes into it and it’s very obvious in everything that she does. She gets the best for us. She’s definitely brilliant at what she does. Hopefully we’ll be able to reward her this year.”

Speaking of rewarding, one is reminded of a quote from this very player from 2015.

Keane with her niece Aoife Keane atbthe ‘Go Together’ campaign launch.

Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO

“I have a bet with my Dad. He said he’d buy me a pair of hurling boots if I put the All-Ireland medal in his hand,” she told The42.

It may not have been done that season, but the following year, Keane — and her father — finally got her hands on that coveted Celtic Cross. What about those boots so?

“Ah yeah, I think he’s bought me a couple since!” she concludes with a giggle.

“He’ll have to upgrade it this year. Maybe… he might get me an animal or something! We’ll see what happens.”

She knows there’s plenty to play for yet, though.

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WALTER WALSH ADMITS that he wondered if he would reach an All-Ireland final with Kilkenny after their last decider in 2016.

Walsh at the Kilkenny Media Event night.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

Three years is far from the end of a famine in the eyes of many, but the Cats have expectations of contesting deciders every year.

The timing of their exit from the last two championship campaigns is a factor as well.

Waterford dumped them out of the competition after extra-time in the qualifiers in 2017, while eventual All-Ireland champions Limerick got the better of Kilkenny at the quarter-final stage last year.

As it turned out, Kilkenny overturned the Shannonsiders last month to end a three-year wait for another All-Ireland final appearance.

“It seems like a long time since the first All-Ireland,” says Walsh, referring to his man-of-the-match display in Kilkenny’s replay victory over Galway in 2012.

“It is quite a while, even since the last one in 2016 against Tipperary. It seems like ages away.

You begin to wonder will you ever get back to an All-Ireland final because it was a couple of years.

“I suppose in Kilkenny we’ve been very fortunate to be in quite a lot of All-Irelands. You kind of question will we be back there but our ambition every year is to win the All-Ireland and we’re in the All-Ireland now so we’re in with a shout.”

Walsh in action for Kilkenny in the Leinster SHC final against Wexford.

Source: Gary Carr/INPHO

Walsh has had his own challenges to overcome in 2019.

An ankle injury hampered his progress during the Leinster championship, but he’s happy to report that those problems are behind him as he prepares for the All-Ireland final in good health.

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“It was the back of my ankle that flared up, there’s bone there. It all flared up there. I’ve had a bit of trouble with that throughout the year as well but it’s totally fine now.

“It took a bit longer because if you’re not training and you’re just going from match to match, you’re not at that match fitness and that sharpness that you need to be at.

Because if you’re off a fraction now with the way things are in hurling now, you won’t be able to perform or compete at the best of your abilities. Teams are so even now and it’s so competitive. You have to be at 100% going out on the field.”

At 28, Walsh has three All-Ireland medals to his credit and is well-accustomed to the formalities that come with the build-up to an All-Ireland final.

He concedes that it’s more difficult to ignore the hype and excitement the first time around, but he’s at a stage in his career where he can fully concentrate on the challenge that awaits against Tipperary this Sunday.

Walsh produced a man-of-the-match display in the 2012 All-Ireland final replay.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

The only real difficulty that remains for the Tullogher Rosbercon forward is trying to satisfy requests for match tickets.

You’re just really looking forward to the match. There’s a lot of different distractions, people hounding you for tickets and different things like that. I suppose that’s part and parcel of playing in an All-Ireland final. You don’t mind it, it’s real exciting times.

“You don’t let any other distractions before or after the match, you just try and focus on yourself. You’re just trying to get everything right yourself and that’s all you can do.”

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FORMER KILDARE STAR Tadhg Fennin has backed Kerry All-Ireland winning boss Jack O’Connor to take over the Lilywhites, saying he is “a proven winner.”

Tadhg Fennin in action for Kildare in 2003.

Source: INPHO

O’Connor looks set to become the new manager after it was announced this week that the management committee of Kildare GAA put him forward for ratification by the county board next month. 

O’Connor has enjoyed plenty of All-Ireland success in management, including three All-Ireland SFC titles with Kerry.

The appointment might not be confirmed yet but Fennin would be happy to see the Dromid Pearses man succeed Cian O’Neill. 

“I think it’s a good appointment,” Fennin tells The42.

“If you look at the amount of All-Ireland winning managers that are available to coach another county – Éamonn Fitzmaurice, Jack O’Connor and Jim McGuinness is probably about the height of it. You don’t get these winners that often.

He’s a proven winner and his CV speaks for itself. The amount of times he’s gotten teams over the line at this grade.

“I know he’s been dealing with the cream of the crop as regards players in Kerry but still, they have to be blended together, have a game plan and they have to have organisation.

“A lot of people would say that there’s talent in Kildare but you have to harness that and get a formula of where they are competitive on a yearly basis. It’s probably something that someone like himself would be in a best position to do.”

The successful Moorefield team after winning the Kildare county final in 2018.

Source: Lorraine O’Sullivan/INPHO

O’Connor would be seen as an outside appointment for the Kildare job but he has developed a connection with the club scene through his sons Eanna and Cian.

They play with the Moorefield club that claimed back-to-back Kildare senior titles in 2018 as well as winning the Leinster senior title in 2017.

O’Connor was part of the coaching team there as he assisted Moorefield manager Ross Glavin.

“In a way, he was always going to be linked because of his links to the lads in Moorefield GAA,” Fennin explains.

“He probably would have been more involved with Moorefield when they went into club championship and Leinster championship. But he would have been at the matches for the other club teams and would have an idea through the two lads.

Having come across Kildare minor and U20 teams, he wouldn’t be totally in the dark as regards what’s available to him.”

It was reported today that other candidates had expressed interest in becoming the next Kildare manager. 

Glenn Ryan, Tom Cribbin, Davy Burke Niall Carew expressed interest in manager job. None interviewed. After initial phone call re interest in job, next contact some weeks later a phone call on Monday & meeting with Board rep to say we’re “going for outsider” #kildare #gaa.

— Kfm Sport (@KfmSport) August 15, 2019

KFM Sport claim that former Kildare captain Glenn Ryan, along with Tom Cribbin, Niall Carew and ex-Kildare U20 boss Davy Burke communicated their interest over the phone, but allege that none had been interviewed for the position.  

Fennin suspects that O’Connor was the key target to fill the vacancy from the outset.

“There’s been a bit of talk at local level regarding the procedure and how the county board went about it. But I suppose the long and the short of it is [that] they probably targeted Jack from an early stage.

“I suppose the question is did the other few candidates make it known that they wanted to be involved or did the county board ask them of their interest?

“It’s a little bit up in the air, but I think all in all, I probably don’t see a real issue with it. It’s just, they kind of had an idea about Jack and settled on it and went for it.”

Looking towards the 2020 season, Fennin suggests that an important target for Kildare should be qualifying for the Super 8s.

They featured in the inaugural competition last year, finishing at the bottom of Group 1 after a winless run in the round-robin series.

“It’s a place to learn,” says Fennin.

“To be in the Super 8s on a regular basis would hopefully lead to something more.

“You need to be back there, you need to be playing those big teams and mixing it with the best.”

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“IT’S STARTING TO build up,” former Tipperary goalkeeper Brendan Cummins smiles when he’s asked how things are back home.

It’s All-Ireland hurling final week. Tipperary-Kilkenny, Liam Sheedy-Brian Cody, what’s not to love?

The mood down that way is heightening and heightening, that’s for sure.

Two days to go.

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“It’s gas actually because before Wexford played Tipperary in the semi-final, I left the county and it didn’t have a major amount of flags out or that, to pass into Gorey and it was like it was an All-Ireland final going to be played such was the contrast.

“In Tipp I think we take it a little bit in our stride but certainly all the colours are out now. I know in the Cummins household all the bunting is out and all that. It is starting to get going now. 

Especially the way Tipperary beat Wexford and the heart that was shown has infused extra passion into Tipperary supporters we probably haven’t seen for 12 months.

Premier fans are “demanding in that your standards are always to win an All-Ireland or nothing,” he adds, so the fashion in how Liam Sheedy’s men closed out that semi-final while a man down will be pleasing with another final just around the corner.

They’re definitely on the right track.

“That’s just the way it is, and that’s just the nature of Tipperary hurling,” he nods. “You’ve seen success growing up and your job is to continue the success.

We haven’t had as much as we probably would have wanted, but certainly we’re on the cusp of something again, please God.

“Winning the game with a man down is big,” he adds on the circumstances of that last four battle, “but the other question mark was the strength and depth of the panel.

“You had Ger Browne coming in, Jake Morris, Mark Kehoe, [Willie] Connors; all scoring. Again, it was another confidence boost. There’s no one saying they’re going to do the same thing again the next day but they’re certainly in a better position to perform confidence-wise.

“No one questions the ability of any player that goes out on Sunday, but have they the confidence and belief to do the job better than the guy they’re marking? You’d certainly hope that the Tipperary bench at this stage are infused with unbelievable confidence after the way that day went. They got Tipp over the line, there’s no doubt about that.”

Celebrating the 2010 win.

Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

2010 All-Ireland winner Cummins agrees that a big performance was needed that day after the Munster final loss and unconvincing win over Laois, and feels Tipperary did the “job of an inter-county team” in “peaking when you’re threatened the most”.

When push came to shove, they performed when all the chips were down and passed that test.

But it’s all eyes on Sunday now, and the kind of a game we’ll get in Croke Park. He stresses the importance of the Tipperary half-back line and the role of Brian Hogan between the posts, but looking at the overall picture, Cummins is relishing an intense battle.

The narrative going around is that Tipp can’t win an arm wrestle,” he says. “I’d go the other way and say, ‘Well, if we have to win it ugly, then we’re set up to win it ugly’.

“The experience of [Seamus] Callanan, Brendan Maher, Paudie [Maher], all these lads… they’ve been in both worlds now. They’ve lost games where there’s been an arm wrestle and they’ll have learned.

“I don’t think from the starters going to the end, if Tipp go into an arm wrestle that they’ll win. Certainly it’s not the preferred way we’d like to go about it.

“But within the game I think the lads will be able to have better game management and take us out of the traps that we’ve fallen into before. That’s what I’m looking to see on Sunday: can we change in the middle of the game from this killing each-other battle to spraying the ball a bit wider?

“Those nuances will be the difference between winning and losing.”

He highlights Jake Morris’ impact, with Tipperary also in the All-Ireland U20 final against Cork on Saturday, August 24, following their good run. 

The Nenagh Eire Óg man’s goal drove them over the line in the Munster final and then he pounced from the bench to score a point against Davy Fitzgerald’s Leinster champions five days later.

“It gives younger guys a huge lift, and it certainly gives the county a bit of a go,” Cummins adds. “Beating Wexford, the flagship team, everyone watches that like, and that’s been the real thing that’s give Tipperary supporters that bit of belief going up to play Kilkenny.”

His own memories from through the years are enjoyable to look back on. Well, some of them.

Talking about 2010 and stopping the five-in-a-row has been really enjoyable. But talking about the penalty in ‘09 hasn’t been as enjoyable,” he ponders. “It has been good, it gets the juices going.

“You’re playing Kilkenny, there’s going to be 82,000 people, it’s raw and angry and all those things. It will be a traditional final in the way the game will be played, but again the nuances of sitting back with defenders to protect, all that new order we’ll say.

“The old traditions infused with the new style of hurling of being more tactically aware of what you’re trying to do is going to be really intriguing.

“Either way it’ll be about who can turn who upside down, who can get to somebody before they put their eyes up to put it into the shooters, it’s still the basics of what they’re trying to do out there.”

A few last words go to the hugely successful Hurling for Cancer Research match the other night, and his Poc Fada exploits a few weeks back before the conversation winds down.

“Everything adds into it,” he concludes. “This is like Christmas morning for Tipperary and Kilkenny, for hurling people. It’s everything.”

Two days to go.

Upated 9.04am – last edit of draft did not publish correctly.

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2018 ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONS Limerick, 2019 finalists Kilkenny and Tipperary and reigning Leinster champions Wexford are all set to battle it out in New York this November. 

After back-to-back editions in Boston’s Fenway Park, won by Clare and Limerick respectively, Citi Field in Queens, New York, will host this year’s Super 11s hurling classic for the first time.

The Treaty will be looking to defend their title on Saturday, 16 November, with the four sides going head-to-head for the Players Champions Cup at the home of Major League Baseball outfit New York Mets.

The Mets announced the news this morning, with tickets for the tournament going on sale later this month. Pre-sale gets underway on 26 and 27 August and general sale is from Wednesday, 28 August at 10am (ET).

Super 11s, a modified version of hurling, is the brainchild of the Gaelic Players Association (GPA).

It’s designed for smaller pitches with just 11 players on each side. The only way to score is under the crossbar into the net, with a goal inside the designated scoring zone worth three points, and a score from outside worth five.

Tipperary, Galway, Dublin and Clare participated in the 2017 competition, while last year it was the Banner again, Limerick, Cork and Wexford.

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ONE SPORT’S LOSS is another’s gain.

Over the past few years, many in women’s soccer circles across the length and breadth of the country may mourn the fact that Cork star Amy O’Connor no longer plays the game.

An integral part of the Ireland U19 team that made history by reaching the semi-finals of the Uefa European Championships in Norway in 2014, O’Connor — like many others — opted to go down the Gaelic games route instead.

Leading the charge alongside current senior captain Katie McCabe and Mayo Gaelic football and AFLW ace Sarah Rowe up top, wins over Spain, England and Sweden saw O’Connor’s Girls In Green top their group at that competition.

But their magical journey came to an end at the hands of an experienced Dutch side –many of whom were part of their 2019 World Cup final squad — in the last four.

Also a talented Gaelic footballer in her time herself, O’Connor won the first of her four All-Ireland senior camogie Celtic Crosses layer that summer. Still a minor back then, she well and truly made the breakthrough and hasn’t looked back since.

23 now, the St Vincent’s forward says she hasn’t played a soccer match in two years.

Does she miss it?

“Nope.”

Plain and simple. 

Not at all?

“Not at all. Not for a second. It’s weird.”

Why not?

“I actually don’t know,” she ponders. “It was such a big part of my life, it’s weird that I got up one day and walked away. That was it, I never kicked a ball again.

“I suppose because I love camogie so much it wasn’t like I was sacrificing something; camogie was always my first love. I just don’t miss it at all, no. It’s a weird one.”

On the ball against the Netherlands in the 2014 Uefa Women’s U19 championship semi-final.

Source: Anders Hoven/INPHO

With every word her passion for her beloved camogie shines through more and more. It was that or nothing. O’Connor, from Knocknaheeny in Cork City, also donned the Rebel red with the footballers until minor level, and was a member of several successful panels on that front.

But that got the boot even before the soccer fell by the wayside, with pharmacy in college her target. After studying in UCC on a scholarship, she’s coming to the end of an internship on Leeside and the completion of that, along with a successful exam, will see her graduate with a Masters from the Royal College of Surgeons (RCSI) this year.

She’s told The42 before about the challenges people face and the negative routes they often take in the area she’s from, and one thing’s for sure, O’Connor is breaking that mould and is a shining example for younger girls in Knocknaheeny.

She, perhaps, looks elsewhere for inspiration to drive her on. Those on her team are the leading lights. Gemma O’Connor and Orla Cotter are two she’s mentioned time and time again since coming into the set-up, but there are many more she looks to. 

Take the dual players on Paudie Murray’s panel: Libby Coppinger and Hannah Looney, who are both also on the hunt for Brendan Martin Cup glory with the county footballers, and Ciara McCarthy, who has thrown her lot in with camogie for the year.

“I don’t know how they do it, I don’t to be honest,” she says of Coppinger and Looney in particular.

“They’ve some drive. Our training is tough and they’re obviously training just as hard with the footballers… I can imagine how competitive that squad is. They’re probably out every night of the week.

“Credit where credit is due, both managers are really accommodating, Ephie [Fitzgerald] and Paudie. If we had a tough session with camogie on the Tuesday, they’re not going to train tough on the Wednesday with the football. It works out.

“There’s great communication and understanding among the two squads in Cork and the girls are intelligent themselves, if they’re not feeling great they’re going to say it. Their training is tailored so they’re not going to be burned out when it matters.”

Well, now is definitely when it matters.

An All-Ireland semi-final against Galway at Limerick’s Gaelic Grounds tomorrow is next on the agenda, with the three in-a-row bid ramping up. She’s said it before and she’ll say it again: the Leesiders actually don’t talk about it. They have nothing won this year. 

After navigating their way safely through the group stages and finishing top, Cork progressed directly to the last four. Job done, even though it wasn’t done maybe as stylishly as O’Connor would have hoped.

Celebrating the 2017 win with Lauren Homan and Coppinger (right).

Source: Bryan Keane/INPHO

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“The goal at the beginning of every year is always to get out of the group, be it going through the quarter-final or the semi-final. The first target was reached.

“We need to improve going forward. We’ll focus on ourselves and if we can reach the targets the performance will follow.”

Not reaching the league final this year may be seen as a kick to Cork, Kilkenny knocking them out in the semi-final to avoid a repeat of the previous five national deciders between the old rivals across league and championship.

“We didn’t write it off as just the league,” O’Connor says of the competition Galway went on to win. “We obviously take every match very seriously and we go out to win every game.

“We didn’t perform to our capabilities, we were down a few (players). Galway hit us for two goals, we weren’t great against Kilkenny, we were a bit behind where we were last year. Galway and Kilkenny were the two top teams in the league. We were a bit behind but hopefully we can make up a bit of ground now.

“We’ve got to get it right.”

And after a few unconvincing performances in the round-robin stages, the order of the day at the time of our conversation was to right the wrongs, to focus on themselves and reach their targets. 

After an intense schedule of six matches on the trot, there’s the danger of the long lay-off now, considering the Tribe faced Waterford in the quarter-final in the interim.

But that doesn’t bother O’Connor.

“In some ways it’s a blessing in disguise because of the injuries,” she says, pointing out Katrina Mackey’s broken hand in particular.

“Nearly half our team was strapped against Waterford [in their last group game]. Others might see it as too long of a break to get back into it but our training is very competitive and our standard won’t drop.

“Hopefully we can recover from the injuries we picked up in the group stages.”

Well, Mackey is down to start at corner forward tomorrow, so all seems to have went to plan in that regard.

To conclude, the sharpshooter acknowledges the common perception that Cork and Kilkenny are the top two in camogie from the outside looking in, considering the sheer amount of duels they’ve had in finals of late.

At last month’s Camogie Association ‘Go Together’ launch with her cousin Kerrie Horgan.

Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO

But the chasing pack is close. Anything could happen on any given day.

Particularly tomorrow, with Galway the name on her lips before they were even drawn against each other after the culmination of the last-eight battles.

“You could go out on any day and if you don’t perform, you’re going to be beaten,” O’Connor stresses. “Anyone can beat you, it doesn’t matter if you’re the top team or the weakest team in the whole competition.

“If you don’t perform or if you don’t turn up, you could be beaten.

“Galway have made huge strides. At the start of every year I say Galway are going to be there or thereabouts because they’re a great team. They’ve proven it in the league, have great players all over the park.

“It’s always the three of us, Galway Kilkenny and Cork [in semi-finals], but the others have made huge strides.”

Who will make the biggest strides tomorrow?

One must wait and see.

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AS THE CURTAIN came down on Caitriona Cormican’s 2018, she made a big decision.

Camogie or football? Football or camogie? The dual star, who works as a doctor, knew one had to give way at senior inter-county level.

Caitriona Cormican with her mother, Kitty, and sister, Antoinette, at the launch of the ‘Go Together’ campaign.

Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO

“I just decided between work and everything that I’d just go with one,” she says. “I was picking up a few niggles when it was the two sports and stuff like that so I just made the decision to focus on one.”

And by no means was the decision an easy one.

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12 months on now, her mind wanders back to the Tribes’ All-Ireland football semi-final exit.

“I probably knew in my heart which way I was going to go. After the Dublin match there were a couple of my close friends around and I said, ‘That’s the last time, probably. I think that’s me done with football.’

“Even though it was very, very tough then to tell the manager. I found it very tough to say it. I’m happy now that I stuck with one.” 

The changing of the guard there as Stephen Glennon left his job as manager, and Tim Rabbitt stepped up to take the reins, perhaps, made it even more difficult to turn her back on football.

“I would have worked with Tim and he’s excellent so it was very, very hard to say no. But just for myself and for my body, with work and everything, I thought just going with one was the right decision.

“I’m happy,” Cormican stresses. “I have time for rest and recovery as well now.”

At the time of our conversation, the Cappataggle star had her eye on an All-Ireland senior camogie quarter-final against Waterford. After crossing that hurdle, the focus is now firmly on the challenge of back-to-back All-Ireland champions Cork in the semi-final this evening [throw-in 7.15pm, LIT Gaelic Grounds].

Likewise, at the time, the footballers were gearing up to face the Déise in their own last-eight battle and after that win, they now go head-to-head with Connacht rivals Mayo. 

Facing Dublin’s Sinead Goldrick.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

Their number one supporter, Cormican, was keeping the closest of eyes on her former team-mates and chatted at length about how well they’re motoring this year. But what was it really like doing both in the past?

“Now, the summer was very intense,” she concedes. “It’s one weekend straight into the next. I think it was probably eight weekends in-a-row of championship last year, some had two.

“The weekends we had two I went with one or the other. But it was intense. I loved it, but you’re just more prone to picking up injuries and stuff like that.

“Even trying to recover and mentally prepare for the next game… tactically even. They’re two totally different games. You are missing sessions which could be important tactics-wise. That’s what I found hard alright, missing important sessions and things like that. ”

It’s just not sustainable long term and for Cormican, who’s the type to give 100% to everything she tries her hand at, that juggling and personal hardship just couldn’t continue. 

Her 100% commitment to the small ball didn’t exactly start on the right foot this year, however, as a broken thumb sustained in a pre-season challenge match which then required surgery, kept her on the sidelines for quite some time.

“It put me out of action for the league but I suppose it just drove me on,” she frowns. “I was really motivated and driven then to come back.”

Perhaps even more so by the fact that Galway ended their national trophy drought to lift the Division 1 league title, ending Kilkenny’s dream of four in-a-row while doing so.

That win was of huge importance, and it definitely lifted momentum in the group ahead of championship.

“It was a great league campaign for us, but I suppose it’s a long time ago now,” Cormican nods. “It really does feel like a long time ago. There were great celebrations, we really enjoyed it, but we had to park it.

Galway celebrating the league win in March.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

“It’s championship now and the next game is our main concern at the moment. It definitely brought confidence and we built on that in the championship and the training going forward.”

Without a provincial championship to play in, a loss ensued in their next outing; the Cats gaining some sweet revenge, narrowly coming out on top in their All-Ireland championship group opener.

That ended up being a top-of-the-table clash as both sides went on winning streaks from there, but the early win saw Ann Downey’s Kilkenny progress directly to the semi-finals.

There was some disappointment her side didn’t top the group, but Cormican says it’s much of a muchness at the end of the day.

“Of course everyone goes out there wanting to top the group,” she agrees. “It’s a fast-track into a semi-final. The first day out against Kilkenny, it didn’t go our way.

“You just have to park it and then perform as best as you can for the next few matches. I think we did, so we’re on track now. No harm having an extra match in a quarter-final.

“There’s not a downside to it I don’t think, we’re still into the knockout stages and that’s where we wanted to be at the end of the day.”

A GP in Oranmore, Cormican qualified fully in April so everything is well and truly going to plan: “I’m busy now with everything. It’s hectic but I enjoy it.

“They’re brilliant to me in work and they’re brilliant in the camogie set-up as well. They’re very understanding both sides so it’s great. I have a great balance between the two. I’m lucky.”

At this stage, she has it fairly well mastered. But there was a time when things were slightly more difficult.

Facing Limerick in 2013.

Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

“Through college and stuff like that it’s a very intense course. It’d be renowned to be very competitive with a lot of study and things like that,” she explains.

“I was very lucky. In college there were two inter-county footballers in my class; Ciaran McDonald from Tipperary and Josh Moore from Galway. I lived with them in the latter years so it was great.

“We’d all be going off training so you weren’t worrying like, ‘Ah, I’m not doing enough study…’ There was a great balance, we helped each other out. It was really good and I was lucky to have the two lads, to be fair.”

She adds: “I managed to play camogie and football through college as well so that was great. For me, all through since I was in secondary school, I balanced school and football and camogie so it was no different from secondary school.

“Probably different when you come home and there’s no dinner made for you and things like that! That was probably the main struggle, cooking for yourself and that but yeah, I enjoyed it in fairness. And I was lucky that the two lads were there as well.” 

It’s important to have others to look to. Support systems and role models have become so important in the game today, and Cormican is more than happy to now wear that role model tag for the next generation of camógs — and ladies footballers — coming through. 

Being to the forefront, and on the crest of the wave we’re riding, is something that pleases her: “It’s great. If we can be role models to young girls and young boys to take up a sport it’s great, if we can encourage that it’s brilliant.”

On these shores, ladies football has led the way over the past few years in terms of attendances, TV coverage and overall interest, but camogie is now hot on its heels. 

With the quarter-final and semi-finals both broadcast live on RTÉ from Semple Stadium and the Gaelic Grounds respectively, it’s important that the game is advertised on the biggest stages going forward. 

At the ‘Go Together’ campaign launch.

Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO

And with the Camogie Association calling on supporters to ‘Go Together’ as they aim to break 25,000 All-Ireland final day attendance at Croke Park on the second Sunday in September, every little helps. Camogie is pushing on.

“It is,” she agrees. “Especially this Go Together campaign, hopefully now we’ll get the numbers to the matches.

“Especially in the past year, the promotion of women’s sport has been super; online, social media, TV; it’s brilliant. Even the Women’s World Cup to be televised — and you’re seeing players that you’ve never seen before, it’s great.

“You hear kids talking like, ‘Did you see her?’ It’s brilliant. Having the media behind us promoting it is great.

“That’s what’s going to encourage young kids to take up the sport,” she concludes.

“It’s all social media now and TV, that’s what the youth are brought up in, so when they see camogie on that it’s great. They’re encouraged to play that way and it’s great.”

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Meath 4-20
Roscommon 1-12

Dáire Walsh reports from Nowlan Park

MEATH WILL FACE Tipperary in the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final after they produced a powerhouse display in overcoming Roscommon at Nowlan Park.

The attacking quartet of Emma Duggan, Orla Byrne, Fiona O’Neill and Vicki Wall all scored goals for Meath, who will be seeking to make amends for last year’s final defeat to Tyrone.

In a tentative opening, points were traded between Wall and Roscommon corner-forward Rebecca Finan. The Royals eventually created some daylight with powerful contributions from Byrne and Duggan, before Dunboyne’s O’Neill kicked to the net on ten minutes to edge them five points in front.

Finan replied either side of an O’Neill point to keep Roscommon in touch and Jenny Higgins also fisted over at a tight angle.

Indeed, after Finan cancelled out a Duggan free, Natalie McHugh released full-forward Aimee O’Connor for a superb goal. Rather than being the catalyst for the Rossies, however, this finish served as a wake-up call for Meath.

Fiona O’Neill of Meath celebrates scoring her side’s first goal.

After O’Neill and Duggan split the uprights in style, Byrne’s 1-1 salvo propelled Meath towards a 2-8 to 1-6 lead at the break. Finan’s fifth point had helped the westerners to end the opening period in a positive light and they reduced their deficit even further on the restart.

Supplementing Laura Fleming’s close-range effort, the outstanding Eire Og attacker dissected the posts in consummate style on the left-wing. This was the cue for Duggan to take the game by the scruff of the neck, and the Dunboyne star registered 1-2 without reply in a six-minute spell.

When she was pushed to the ground inside the square by Roscommon defender Alice Kelly, the dynamic centre-forward coolly slotted a penalty beyond the reach of Helena Cummins. She subsequently added a brace of points to sustain Meath’s momentum and their fourth goal of the contest inevitably through a Wall thunderbolt on 44 minutes.

This effectively placed the outcome beyond doubt and while Sinead Glennon, Higgins, McHugh and Finan all found the range for the Rossies, Meath continued to inflict damage at the far end.

Wing-back Megan Thynne, Kelsey Nesbitt, Emma White and Kate Byrne were the latest additions to the scoresheet as Meath eased towards their second decider in succession.

Scorers for Meath: E Duggan 1-5 (1-0 pen, 2f), F O’Neill 1-4, O Byrne 1-3, V Wall 1-2, K Nesbitt 0-2, E White 0-2, M Thynne 0-1, K Byrne 0-1.

Scorers for Roscommon: R Finan 0-7 (4f), A O’Connor 1-0, J Higgins 0-2, L Fleming 0-1, N McHugh 0-1, S Glennon 0-1.

Meath: M McGuirk; K Newe, S Powderly, O Duff; S Ennis, M Thynne, S Wall; M O’Shaughnessy, A Cleary; V Wall, E Duggan, O Byrne; B Lynch, F O’Neil, K Nesbitt. Subs: E White for Lynch (47), M O’Brien for S Wall (50), K Byrne for O’Shaughnessy (55), S Melia for O’Neill (56), A Leahy for Duggan (56).

Roscommon: H Cummins; H Ennis, A McLoone, N Feeney; J Cregg, A Kelly, S Bruen; S Kenny, L Fleming; S Tully, R Wynne, N McHugh; R Finan, A O’Connor, J Higgins. Subs: M Kelly for Feeney (37), S Glennon for O’Connor (43), R Brady for Cregg (43), K Daly for Fleming (51), R Fitzmaurice for Tully (52).

Referee: Stephen McNulty (Wicklow).

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