Month: September 2021

WITH THEIR spot booked in the All-Ireland decider, the Cork U20 hurlers took to their seats in Portlaoise earlier this month to watch their football counterparts.

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Kilkenny had been accounted for the in the hurling semi-final that acted as curtain-raiser to the main show as Cork and Dublin faced off with All-Ireland silverware on the line.

Cork’s eventual football victory did plenty to fire the motivation for their hurling squad.

On Saturday at the Gaelic Grounds they get their own shot at glory in the Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland decider against Tipperary.

“We stayed on, of course we did, obviously it was a great day in Portlaoise,” says Cork captain James Keating.

“There was a massive Cork crowd up there, afterwards we were on the pitch with the footballers. We just want to feel that on Saturday too, there was a bit of jealousy maybe because we want to feel it ourselves.

“They inspired us too, 1-6 to no score down, they just kept on going. That is probably something we can take from them too, to never give up. Go full hog until the end. Cathal O’Mahony, I would be very friendly with him, we went to school together. He was obviously unbelievable for the footballers all year.”

Keating and O’Mahony are not the only products from those school teams in Mitchelstown CBS to shine with Mark Keane now playing Australian Rules for Collingwood.

“I think they are very impressed with him, he is on the reserves for the first team now. He is getting on very well. I think he is coming home for a few weeks at the end of September or start of October, but he is obviously living the life over there.”

At school Cork netminder Anthony Nash provided an ideal figure to look up to.

“He is teaching Business in Mitchelstown, he is obviously a big influence,” says Keating.

“He was in the school when we came in for first year, he was the first we trained with. We had him all the way through. He obviously knows the score, he has been there a long time now, he was a great influence on us.

“When you were younger it would hit you more, but the more you get to know him it fades away. Obviously seeing him play Munster finals and even the 2013 All Ireland going up taking penalties it was a great thing to look up to.”

Cork hurling goalkeeper Anthony Nash.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

Keating is part of a group chasing an All-Ireland breakthrough after some difficult setbacks of late. He was centre-back for the minor loss to Galway in 2017 and part of the extended U21 panel when they lost out to Tipperary last August.

They suffered another reversal in last month’s Munster final against Tipperary but found solace in the knowledge their interest in the All-Ireland series remained very much alive.

“It was obviously heartbreaking but as soon as we came off the field, we said there was no time feeling sorry for ourselves. We’d 10 days to the next game so we didn’t really have time to think about it.

“We just said there’s no point feeling sorry for ourselves. Ourselves and Tipp were both in an All-Ireland semi-final that night either way so it wasn’t the end of the world but it obviously was gutting. I think we turned around fairly lively and were focused on Kilkenny.”

And now they will get to renew acquaintances with Tipperary, the honour of captaincy creating an extra layer of significance for Keating.

“Ian Butler, he is the sub goalie, he is from Kildorrery too. There hasn’t been a fella from Kildorrery on it for a while so to have two in the one year, obviously being in an All Ireland final, they are delighted at home.

“It’d be nice to bring the cup back to Kildorrery alright. It’s a massive honour. Just an honour to be captain of that bunch of lads. We’ve kind of been together since U14 a lot of them, we just can’t wait for Saturday.”

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AIDAN O’MAHONY HAS hit out at Sean Cavanagh’s “cheap shot” on Mickey Harte’s position as Tyrone manager and his remarks about Kerry supporters.

Speaking on The Sunday Game after Kerry’s All-Ireland semi-final win over Tyrone, Cavanagh suggested that it may be time for Harte to move on from the role. 

“There does come a time when that baton has to be passed on,” the Red Hand legend said of his former manager. “No one can fault Mickey Harte but time moves on.”

Earlier in the summer in his Irish Daily Star column, Cavanagh labelled Kingdom fans “patronising” for clapping the Tyrone squad out of the dressing room after Kerry defeated them in the 2012 qualifiers. 

O’Mahony admits he’s not the biggest fan of Cavanagh’s punditry. 

“We’re going on about punditry now at the moment,” he says. “I don’t know, I’ve no problem with lads analysing games and going on about teams…if I’m analysing the All-Ireland you analyse lads on the pitch and stuff.

“I can remember he was asked a question about the time in Killarney and he said something about the Kerry crowd that they were patronising and that they were clapping them onto the bus,” O’Mahony says. “I can remember that game. 

“Myself and Owen Mulligan get on great and we’ve massive respect (for each other) and I’ve massive respect for all those guys. I marked Stephen O’Neill and all these guys and Sean Cavanagh and they were the greatest guys that ever put on a jersey for Tyrone. 

“I can remember he made a comment that the Kerry crowd were patronising, they were clapping them on the bus. I remember that day.

“All that was from the Kerry crowd was Mickey Harte had gone through so much grief that time that there was so much respect for him. I saw him the last night again going on about Mickey Harte.

“I just thought for a guy that Mickey Harte made, and I’ve no problem saying that. I’d say it about myself and Jack O’Connor and Paidi O Sé who brought me in first. You look back on these guys and I wouldn’t cut the legs off them because they made me who I am today. 

“They gave me the jersey to put on my back and then made me who I am. You could say your club did and everything else but these guys believed in you. I’ve met Mickey Harte several times and he caused us plenty of heartache in 2005, 2008 but I’ve massive respect for him.

“I just think for a player to cut the legs off him so easily, you seen Owen Mulligan came out about it the last day as well. I just think it was a bit of a cheap shot,” added the Paddy Power ambassador.

Paddy Power News columnist O’Mahony.

“You know, he’s on the Sunday Game, I’m sitting here with ye so he’s obviously doing better than me! I’m joking,” he laughed.

It’s not the first time O’Mahony has been critical of the five-time All-Star. He accused him of “looking for a few headlines” after Cavanagh’s remarks on The Sunday Game in June that if Kerry were in any other province they wouldn’t have made the Super 8s. 

He also took umbrage with Cavanagh’s description of Tyrone’s defence recently. 

Sean Cavanagh says Tyrone are the best in the business with the last couple of years with there defensive play, does he realise Dublin have won 4 in a row & Donegal tore them apart this year , this guy amazes me with his analysis

— Aidan O Mahony (@GmailMahony) August 11, 2019

Meanwhile, the former Kerry defender believes Peter Keane’s side need to match-up one-on-one defensively against Dublin in the All-Ireland final on Sunday week. 

Paul Murphy acted as a spare defender in front of Tyrone’s two-man full-forward line but O’Mahony doesn’t see him fulfilling a similar role against the reigning champions. 

O’Mahony knows the sweeper role well, having been employed there on occasion during the latter years of his Kerry career, including in the 2016 All-Ireland semi-final.

“It’s a difficult role and I know Paul did it the last day as well. It’s a difficult role, because you are more or less sitting on the D. And you are there for the game.

“I remember the 2016 game and in the 72nd minute we were level and I spent the whole game just circling the D. And you can’t go out to the wing because Dublin do that game where they try and come down the middle and they are trying to open you up and come around on the loop.

“So you are trying to stay around that D and it comes to the stage where you think, ‘Am I doing anything here?’ but you actually are doing your job because you are blocking up the space.

Kerry’s Paul Murphy celebrates at the final whistle with Tadhg Morley.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

“Teams probably train where you’re trying to get the ball into your full-forward and he’s trying to dink it off.

“Not that I was there that day but I think it worked for us in 2016 just the forwards Dublin put on that day made a difference as well because they just had the legs on us in the finish.

“But I don’t think the game the next day is a game for a sweeper role I just think you have to go man-for-man. There’s going to be times where there’s one v one scenarios and you’re just going to have to put your faith in fellas you have tracking them.”

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GALWAY ARE ON the hunt for a new manager after 2017 All-Ireland winning boss Micheal Donoghue announced his surprise decision to step down on Tuesday night.

The circumstances surrounding Donoghue’s departure are a little unusual.

Former Galway manager Micheal Donoghue.

Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

Back in July, Galway county board chairman Pat Kearney revealed that the Clarinbridge clubman had agreed a two-year extension to his term prior to the start of the championship which would bring him up to the end of the 2021 season.

Galway suffered a shock exit from the Leinster championship after their late defeat to Dublin in June. A draw in the game between Kilkenny and Wexford meant the Tribesmen exited on scoring difference despite losing just one game. 

“Obviously there are discussions around it but we want Micheal to stay on and look it, it’s only a hiccup along the line,” said Kearney three weeks after their summer ended.

“He’s indicated he’s staying on and he has been ratified for another two years.”

Former Galway boss and local journalist John McIntyre said on 2fm’s Game On last night that he believed Donoghue left after four years in charge for “family reasons”. Kieran Donaghy was part of Donoghue’s backroom team this year and made a similar observation on Off The Ball yesterday.

But there have been reports that the Galway players are unhappy that Donoghue, the man who ended their 29-year famine without the Liam MacCarthy, was allowed to walk away by the county board without a fight. 

Donoghue with David Burke after their win over Kilkenny.

Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

The 44-year-old led his native county to two All-Ireland finals, beating Waterford in the decider two years ago and falling to Limerick in 2018. They also lifted two Leinster crowns and a National League title during his reign. 

Since 2017, Galway have played 20 championship matches and lost just two – the 2018 All-Ireland final by a point and the June defeat to Dublin by four. 

Galway’s 2019 campaign was rocked by a serious injury to star forward Joe Canning, while Conor Cooney missed two games with a shoulder problem and Conor Whelan was forced off just 25 minutes into the Dublin game.

A number of players missed the league due to extended runs in the club championship, while Joseph Cooney and Jonathan Glynn flew home from Australia and New York respectively to line out for the summer.

Speaking to The42 last month, Canning said he expected to see Donoghue back next season.

“I think he has another year if not two years so we’d be all happy anyway for sure to see him (back),” he said.

Joe Canning and Micheal Donoghue celebrate after their 2017 All-Ireland success.

Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

“As I said, his record in the last three years, it’s 20 games and two losses. There’s not too many other teams that have that. It’s just unfortunate that we lost one this year and we’re gone. Hopefully, he stays on.”

The task for the Galway county board is now to find a man capable of taking the baton from Donoghue and bringing this group back to the top. Kearney has stated they’re hoping to have Donoghue’s successor in place by the start of October.

It remains a very attractive position and Galway will begin the 2020 season as one of the favourites for the All-Ireland.

So who’s in line to replace him?

Mattie Kenny, Jeffrey Lynskey, Anthony Daly and Eamon O’Shea have been linked with the role.

Frontrunners

The early frontrunner for the position is Jeffrey Lynskey, who led the Tribesmen to three All-Ireland minor titles during his stint in charge from 2015 to 2018.

Double All-Ireland club winner and Galway native Mattie Kenny would be an obvious choice were he not one year into his reign as Dublin manager, which muddies the waters somewhat. But he remains heavily linked with the role.

Local contenders

Brian Hanley led the Galway minors to this year’s All-Ireland crown and is in the running, while Clare man Louis Mulqueen is highly-rated after steering Liam Mellows to the Galway SHC crown in 2017.

Another potential option is John Burke. He brought St Thomas to the All-Ireland club glory in 2013 and more recently was joint-manager of Oranmore-Maree for their All-Ireland intermediate win on St Patrick’s Day.

Gerry McInerney, also part of that Oranmore-Maree management team, and St Thomas boss Kevin Lally may come into the mix.

Outside choices

Given how attractive the position is, it’s no surprise that a number of high profile candidates from outside have also been linked with taking over from Donoghue.

Kilmacud Crokes manager Anthony Daly and ex-Waterford boss Derek McGrath have proven pedigree in the inter-county game, while Davy Fitzgerald would be another option if he decides not to commit to Wexford for another year.

One left-field choice would be Tipperary coach Eamon O’Shea, who lives and works in Galway where he operates as the head of Economics at NUIG.

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ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONS Cork have seven players named on the EirGrid 20 U20 team which awards the top 20 players of this year’s competition.

The Rebels, who defeated Dublin in the final, had Josh O’Keeffe, Paul Ring, Peter O’Driscoll, Maurice Shanley, Brian Hartnett, Cathal O’Mahony and Mark Cronin all selected on the team. 

EirGrid U20 football player of the year Ciaran Archer was one of four Dublin on the side, along with senior pannelist Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne, Kieran Kennedy and James Doran.

Ulster champions Tyrone also have four players on the team, including highly-rated prospect Darragh Canavan, while Connacht victors Galway have three. The remaining slots went to players from Mayo and Laois. 

EirGrid 20 U20s

Goalkeepers

1. Josh O’Keeffe (Cork)
2. Oran Burke (Galway)

Defenders

3. Paul Ring (Cork)
4. Peter O’Driscoll (Cork)
5. Maurice Shanley (Cork)
6. Kieran Kennedy (Dublin)
7. Oisin Mullin (Mayo)
8. Conal Grimes (Tyrone)
9. Conor Quinn (Tyrone)

Midfielders

10. Brian Hartnett (Cork)
11. Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne (Dublin)
12. Matthias Bairead (Galway)

Forwards

13. Cathal O’Mahony (Cork)
14. Mark Cronin (Cork)
15. Ciaran Archer (Dublin)
16. James Doran (Dublin)
17. Liam Costello (Galway)
18. Darragh Canavan (Tyrone)
19. Sean Óg McAleer (Tyrone)
20. Diarmuid Whelan (Laois)

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RTÉ WILL SHOW games from the AIB All-Ireland football and hurling club championships for the first time this September, but the deal does not affect TG4′s longstanding coverage.

As part of their new season launch, the national broadcaster today confirmed it will carry coverage of the club championships in Autumn as part of a sub-licensing deal with eir Sport, who signed a five-year broadcasting agreement with the GAA in 2017. 

While RTÉ have now entered the market, The42 understands TG4 will retain their rights to pick the first two games every weekend, while RTÉ will have choices three and four from the weekend of 21/22 September onwards.

TG4 are due to announce their finalised schedule of live games next week as they continue to liaise with the provincial councils and county boards.

Meanwhile, RTÉ has announced it will show both legs of the Ireland women’s hockey team’s Olympic qualifier in November, with the venue and opposition to be confirmed.

Sean Dancer’s side, who last summer won World Cup silver, will bid to secure their place at the Tokyo Games, with both games set to be played at the National Hockey Stadium in Belfield.

To have the support of the national broadcaster is a major boost for the profile of Irish hockey, after RTÉ came on board to show Ireland’s World Cup semi-final and final in London last summer.

Elsewhere, the World Rowing Championships at the end of August, the Rugby World Cup, men’s and women’s European football qualifiers and the return of the Uefa Champions League will all feature on RTÉ in the coming months. 

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FROM THE 2017 All-Ireland final to a mass player walkout last summer, the past 23 months or so has been an absolute rollercoaster ride for the Mayo ladies.

And here they are, against all odds, back in Croke Park. 

Deadly inside trio: Grace Kelly, Rachel Kearns and Sarah Rowe.

Source: Inpho.

On Sunday, they face Connacht rivals Galway in an historic All-Ireland semi-final double-header at HQ, with a coveted decider spot on offer. 

Mayo’s journey has been absolutely fascinating to follow over the past two years and one thing’s for sure, Peter Leahy’s charges have slowly but surely battled back to the top.

• From 2017 All-Ireland final to mass player walkout, Mayo now clawing their way back to the top

And leading the charge is a deadly inside forward line. 

***

Sarah Rowe. Rachel Kearns. Grace Kelly. 

This trio have been a revelation working together this year. In the All-Ireland series, the Westerners have clocked a fine total of 6-48 in three games. And the vast majority of that has come from their deadly inside forward line.

Let’s revisit the Connacht championship first however, and that final and subsequent replay against Sunday’s opposition, Galway.

The first day was a rip-roaring encounter in Castlebar, in which Mayo posted 3-6 and Galway hit 1-12. Off the back of a lengthy lay-off between league and championship, Rowe, Kearns and Kelly combined for 2-5. Of course, much more was to come but that set the tone going forward. 

This brilliant goal from Kelly showed just how good Mayo could be.

Substitute Emma Needham pounced to capitalise on a Galway mistake in Mayo’s half, she took off on a run before picking out the on-rushing Kelly with a sublime footpass. And from there, Kelly did her thing, slicing through the heart of the Galway defence before placing the ball into the bottom left-hand corner to raise a green flag.

Video: What a game, what a goal!! See @Mayo_LGFA's Grace Kelly score a brilliant goal in a thrilling drawn @SportTG4 Connacht SFC Final with Galway, from the @LadiesFootball Live Stream coverage & see the full game now on the LGFA Facebook page.. pic.twitter.com/4t41rVygHf

— Jerome Quinn (@JeromeQuinn) June 23, 2019

Similarly, Kearns has been a huge player for the county this year, and she finished with 1-2 that day. In Rowe’s absence for AFLW, the 22-year-old took the number 14 jersey, and has held onto it ever since.

You could actually call Kearns a defender-turned keeper-turned forward. An All-Star nominated half-back and blocking expert, the former Ireland underage star went between the posts in last year’s league final and produced some superb saves, but she’s settled nicely on the edge of the square this year.

She’s been a constant threat and thorn in the side for teams week in, week out, with many opting to do a double- or triple-marking job on the versatile Crossmolina woman.

11: GOAL!

Dublin 1-01 | 2-02 Mayo. Rachel Kearns with her second goal of the evening.

LIVE now on eir sport 1 & over at https://t.co/ujNLuiGkqM. #LGFA pic.twitter.com/P1Kt5xqQeD

— eir Sport (@eirSport) February 23, 2019

The dynamic with her as the focal point, and Rowe making the move to the corner has definitely paid dividends, with the likes of captain Niamh Kelly and Sinead Cafferky then able to run off and create strong links.

Rowe and Grace Kelly led the scoring charge in the replay with 0-3 a-piece, where unfortunately, Leahy’s charges never hit the heights of the performance they delivered in the drawn game as Galway ran out 3-7 to 0-9 winners in the replay.

One thing that stood out that day, though, was the fact that Rowe, Kelly and Kearns all took — and scored — free-kicks. Everyone knows how important it is to have a reliable and competent free-taker on a team, but to have three is pretty handy.

Interestingly, that game is the only of the 2019 championship that the Green and Red didn’t find the back of the net.

😱 What an effort from @Mayo_LGFA’s Rachel Kearns! Roll on the @SportTG4 @ConnachtLGFA Senior Final replay on July 7! #ProperFan pic.twitter.com/BM8F727g5W

— Ladies Football (@LadiesFootball) June 25, 2019

From there, it was straight into the All-Ireland group stages the following week with the games coming thick and fast. 

After the long lay-off between the league and provincial campaign, everything came in quick succession. Much like their men’s side, Mayo seem to enjoy the week-on-week nature of the competition, and being on the road.

They, also, don’t make things easy for themselves and like to grind out wins, often digging deep to get over the line, but their inside forwards most definitely know when and how to turn on the style.

Their first outing came against Tyrone; Kearns, Kelly and Rowe firing a handsome 3-10. The former posted 2-3 from play, while Moy Davitts star Kelly notched the other goal as Mayo drew first blood in a rather difficult group.

While the trio can obviously put their foot firmly on the peddle on the scoring front, it’s their movement off the ball that also works a treat.

With the Red Hand producing one of the shocks of the summer the following week in beating Donegal, it blew the group wide open with it all coming down to the final day. 

Not many would have foreseen it but the Westerner’s came out on top of a real titanic battle, knocking the Ulster champions out of the race for the Brendan Martin trophy in the process. 

And of course, it was the full-forward line that led the charge once again, combining for 1-20 of the 1-22 total.

Rowe and Kearns have worked really well together.

Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

Rowe really stood up with 0-9, five of those points coming from play, Kelly fired one less in 0-8 — half of it from open play — and Kearns hit the all-important goal and tagged on three frees.

That was a real coming-of-age performance for this ever-rising side, and one they’ve definitely taken huge confidence from: not only did they beat serious All-Ireland contenders Donegal, they knocked them out of the competition.

While that result confirmed that Mayo are on their way back to the top, they doubled down on that in the last-eight stage, making a huge point in progressing back to Croke Park, and the business end, after what could have easily turned into years in the doldrums.

Armagh were their quarter-final opposition, and one encouraging sign that day was the fact that Mayo showed an array of different scorers. While beforehand, it was Rowe, Kearns and Kelly leading the way with one or two others chipping in with a point or two, 10 names featured on the scoresheet against the Orchard county. 

Cad é mar cluiche atá againn anseo!
Sarah Rowe with an important goal for @Mayo_LGFA @ConnachtLGFA @LadiesFootball #ProperFan #20×20 pic.twitter.com/sZyjEaIftT

— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) August 10, 2019

Rowe and Kiltane rising star Maria Reilly rattled the net that day, the latter’s goal a particularly impressive individual one:

Ní féidir Maria Reilly a stopadh!

This was a cracking goal and a vital one for Mayo against Armagh last Saturday! @CrokePark v @GalwayLgfa on August 25 next for the green and red! https://t.co/jAZDkCyO2v@Mayo_LGFA @ConnachtLGFA @20x20_ie #Properfan

pic.twitter.com/4WUPYc7AtZ

— Ladies Football (@LadiesFootball) August 12, 2019

Kelly was a standout performer once again and while herself and Kearns only accounted for 0-2 and 0-1 respectively, it was encouraging to see others step up and split the posts. 

That’s exactly what’s needed when they face Galway at Croke Park on Sunday.

Chruthaigh sí an spás agus chuir sí an liathróid thar an trasnán

Grace Kelly scores with a difficult kick for @Mayo_LGFA@20x20_ie @ConnachtLGFA @grace_kelly94 @moydavitts #ProperFan #20×20
pic.twitter.com/FVQoS34xt1

— Ladies Football (@LadiesFootball) August 10, 2019

If Mayo can go for the jugular early on and utilise their deadly inside three to their full potential, they’ll definitely rattle Galway. 

The Tribe have some damaging forwards of their own in Tracey and Roisin Leonard and the likes, so it’s important that Leahy’s outfit use theirs to their full capacity. 

Discipline will be a huge thing in HQ on Sunday too, and something both sides need to watch as they can’t afford to be losing players for 10-minute spells. Mayo will hope they’ve learned their lesson from the 2017 All-Ireland final, anyway. 

Even at that, both Mayo and Galway have some of the best free-takers in the country, so they’ll happily punish any silly mistakes made or fouls conceded by either defence.

It’s going to be a physical game that’s for sure, a dogfight in which the team that wants it more will more than likely come out on top.

Going by what Mayo have done so far this year, the character and resolve they’ve shown, and their deadly inside trio that could be so, so crucial, they’re most definitely in with a fighting chance.

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BACK-TO-BACK chasing Tipperary are unchanged for Saturday’s Bord Gais Energy All-Ireland U20 hurling championship final against Cork at the LIT Gaelic Grounds [6pm].

Manager Liam Cahill has, unsurprisingly, named the same starting XV that hammered Wexford in the semi-final earlier this month, as the Premier County bid for a senior and U20 hurling double. 

Niall Heffernan and Johnny Ryan are both retained after being late starters against Wexford last time, with the side captained by Craig Morgan. 

Saturday’s decider is a repeat of last year’s U21 final, which Tipp won 3-13 to 1-16.

Meanwhile, Cork are also unchanged from their semi-final defeat of Kilkenny, with manager Denis Ring sticking with the same starting XV from last time out.

Tipperary:

1. Aaron Browne (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams)

2. Conor McCarthy (Nenagh Éire Óg)
3. Eoghan Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs)
4. Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs)(captain)

5. Niall Heffernan (Golden-Kilfeacle)
6. Paddy Cadell (JK Brackens)
7. Bryan O’Mara (Holycross-Ballycahill)

8. Ciarán Connolly (Loughmore-Castleiney)
9. Jerome Cahill (Kilruane MacDonaghs)

10. Gearóid O’Connor (Moyne-Templetuohy)
11. Jake Morris (Nenagh Éire Óg)
12. Johnny Ryan (Arravale Rovers)

13. Andrew Ormond (JK Brackens)
14. Billy Seymour (Kiladanagn)
15. Conor Bowe (Moyne-Templetuohy)

Subs:

16. Eoin Collins (Drom-Inch)
17. Michael Purcell (Thurles Sarsfields)
18. Robbie Quirke (Toomevara)
19. Kieran Breen (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams)
20. Darragh Woods (Holycross-Ballycahill)
21. Kian O’Kelly (Kilruane MacDonaghs)
22. Joe Fogarty (Moneygall)
23. Seán Hayes (Kiladangan)
24. Cathal Bourke (Clonoulty-Rossmore).

Cork:

1. Ger Collins (Ballinhassig)

2. Conor O’Callaghan (Dromtarrife)
3. James Keating (Kildorrery)(captain) 
4. Eoin Roche (Bride Rovers)

5. Ger Millerick (Fr O’Neills)
6. Sean O’Leary Hayes (Midleton)
7. Robert Downey (Glen Rovers)

8. Ryan Walsh (Kanturk )
9. Tommy O’Connell (Midleton)

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10. Sean Twomey (Courcey Rovers)
11. Brian Roche (Bride Rovers)
12. Daire Connery (Na Piarsaigh)

13. Brian Turnbull (Douglas)
14. Shane O’Regan (Watergrasshill)
15. Padraig Power (Blarney)

Subs:

16. Ian Butler (Kildorrery)
17. Ronan Sheehan (Mallow)
18. Jamie Copps (Ballyhea)
19. Craig Hanifin (Na Piarsaigh)
20. Declan Hanlon (Blarney)
21. Barry Murphy (Castlelyons)
22. Simon Kennefick (Glen Rovers)
23. Evan Sheehan (Na Piarsaigh)
24. Liam O’Shea (Lisgoold). 

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HE CLIMBED THE steps of the Hogan Stand and lifted the Sam Maguire in 2014, but former All-Ireland winning Kerry captain Fionn Fitzgerald has watched from afar this summer.

Lifting the Sam Maguire with Kieran O’Leary in 2014.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

The Dr Crokes defender was left in the cold following Peter Keane’s installation as manager and the subsequent overhaul to the squad over the winter months. 

And Fitzgerald is fine with that. 

His exclusion isn’t something he held on to. Life goes on, after all. 

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“I wouldn’t be really like that, to be honest,” he says when asked if he held onto it. “I suppose Crokes were going very well at the time. We went all the way to the All-Ireland club final. Crokes really just took over for me.

“Erra, I’d be very much of the mindset anyway that whatever happens, happens.”

The opportunity arose to go to America for the summer, New York for six weeks to play football to be precise, and it’s one he grabbed with both hands.

“I wouldn’t have had that opportunity other years,” he points out. “You get to see life in a different way too. Things you would have missed out on over the last few years, be it social occasions…

“For me anyway, being involved with Crokes meant that most years I went from Kerry to Crokes, Crokes to Kerry, so there was no real breathing space if you want to call it that.”

He got just that in the Big Apple anyway, where he lined out with Kerry New York alongside club team-mate Daithi Casey and countymen Jack Savage and Ciaran Murphy. 

“A totally different summer to what I would be used to over the last whatever six or seven years,” the 29-year-old smiles. “Living in Manhattan, it’s been brilliant yeah. I’ve really enjoyed it.

“I’m looking forward to getting back to real life now, getting back to work, getting back playing club football and settling back in. It was one of those things where the opportunity came and I would have been mad not to take it up.

“It’s a bit different playing in Gaelic Park on a Saturday night or a Sunday in 35-degree heat! It’s brilliant. There’s a great GAA social outlet out there. The standard is actually quite good as well.

“There’s a lot of county players and club players I would have played with or against. It was nice to keep in touch but at a less serious level over there.”

In attendance at the unveiling of Ballygowan Activ+ as the new Official Fitness Partner of the GAA/GPA.

Source: Sam Barnes/SPORTSFILE

Fitzgerald called Manhattan home for the month and-a-half, with Central Park just a stone’s throw away. A far cry a summer in Killarney, he laughs, but he made sure he kept an eye on what was going on at home all the same. 

He’d call over to a few of the lads on the team’s house to watch all the Kerry games, something he most definitely enjoyed doing every week. 

The Mayo showdown was a highlight, with the clash against Donegal at Croke Park also getting an honourable mention. 

For some, you might think it could still be a touchy subject, all things considered. But no, Fitzgerald talks away, his enthusiasm shining through more and more as he talks of his former team-mates, their journey this year and all things football.

He’s evidently in a good place and pleased with how things are going in his own corner at the minute, so he’s more than happy to look back on what he’s left behind. 

It’s a few days after their semi-final win over Tyrone, so understandably chat of the final and of Dublin comes rolling around sooner rather than later.

“I’m really looking forward to watching the final,”Fitzgerald, a lecturer in IT Tralee, beams looking out on the hallowed Croke Park turf, at an event ahead of Sunday’s hurling decider.

“Looking at Kerry and Dublin, like anything else, I’d love to be playing in it. I think any supporter would feel that like. If I was watching the hurling game I’d nearly feel like I’d want to play in it. That’s what Croke Park does to you on All-Ireland final day. That’s the uniqueness of the GAA and all that, like.

“There’ll be a good buzz. I think the supporters will be very much behind Kerry. They have a combination of youth and experience. I think there’ll be a feeling of really being able to have a go.

“Obviously, a lot of the pressure is going to be on Dublin. Dublin are obviously logically in pole position. I think Kerry are in a position to really have a go and hopefully upset all the odds.

“It will be very, very difficult. But as a player you all believe you can win, I would imagine. As a supporter, I’m hanging on for that little bit of hope as well. But Dublin are just on a different level at the moment, there’s no doubt about that.”

He believes Kerry will be fine with wearing the “underwhelming underdogs” tag, but insists he’s not one bit surprised they’re back in the showpiece.

Fitzgerald made his senior inter-county debut during the 2013 National Football League.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

From the start of the year, Fitzgerald believed that if the Kingdom got their house in order and could avoid Dublin until the decider, they’d meet them there.

Falling short in the league final taught them lessons too, he adds.

“I genuinely thought that they would be get to the final anyway,” he says. “I think the league was a grounding or a leveling factor for them. Particularly a lot of the young guys got to see the likes of a Mayo [side] up close.

“It looked like there was a bit of a championship feel to it then. They got an experience of it early in the summer, and I think that that was a good thing. Just from looking in then, all the games in the Super 8s and the Munster championship — particularly the Cork team — they had different challenges in different ways.

“I think Mayo was probably by far their best performance. It was a top-class performance and something you’d hope they could reproduce on the day of the final against Dublin.

“Even the Meath game, they probably weren’t at their best and they still dug it out. Tyrone; poor-ish first half, second half then I still wouldn’t say that they were firing all cylinders but they were definitely winning and that’s important because that’s a habit.”

He adds: “I would imagine that Kerry would be happy with where they’re at.

“I still think there’s a few more gears for them to go. But they’ve been building slowly and the different challenges they’ve come up against have equipped them as best they can be for Dublin.

“Whether that will be enough now, I don’t know. Kerry have nothing to lose. If Kerry can really go for the jugular early and try and unsettle the Dubs some little bit — even though Mayo did that and Dublin bit back quite well — I think Kerry will have a little bit of punch in their forward line.

“Dublin and their game management towards the end of the game, they have a massive bench to unload. My heart would say Kerry obviously, but you’d have to say that Dublin are… it’s going to take a monumental effort from Kerry to flip them.”

His mind wanders back to 2014, and the great day it was. That’s the over-riding memory. And then he realises how long ago it’s been. 

“It seems like quite a time ago now, and I know for a lot of the Kerry players who were involved back then, they definitely wouldn’t have felt that we would have to wait as long,” Fitzgerald adds. 

He’s kept in close contact with the lads, of course, but explains how they don’t really talk football. Staying away from the bubble and switching off that part of his life has been rather important, that’s fair to say.

In action for Crokes last October.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

“I actually know less than I’d say ye know or Kerry supporters would know at this stage,” he grins. “I’ve enjoyed watching the games and slipping back in as a supporter.”

But what about the door back. Is that a possibility?

“Ach, I’ve never really thought about it like that to be straight out about it,” Fitzgerald concludes. “It’s a young team, a lot of guys have gotten the opportunity, taken it and done well.

“I’ve really enjoyed my football with Crokes over the past couple of months. You’re playing with probably a different perspective on the whole thing and that’s probably helping me a little bit too.

“At the end of the day, even at inter-county level and you forget it sometimes, you play it to enjoy it. And you play it to get excited and get a feel-good factor out of it. I feel like over the last few months I’ve really enjoyed it like that now again. It’s good.”

And that’s what life, and sport, is all about after all; enjoyment.

Fionn Fitzgerald was at hand as Ballygowan Activ+ powered up as the new Official Fitness Partner of GAA/GPA

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TIPPERARY MIDFIELDER NOEL McGrath and Dublin forward Con O’Callaghan landed the PWC GAA/GPA player of the month awards for August today.

It’s been a remarkable week for McGrath, who was named man-of-the-match as Tipperary landed All-Ireland honours against Kilkenny last Sunday.

The Loughmore Castleiney clubman played a key role in the middle third against the Cats to seal his third Celtic Cross medal. 

Tipperary hurler Noel McGrath was at PwC offices in Dublin today to pick up his award.

Source: Seb Daly/SPORTSFILE

O’Callaghan meanwhile bagged two goals in Dublin’s All-Ireland semi-final victory over Mayo earlier this month.

The Cuala star is gearing up for the decider against Kerry on Sunday week as the Dubs bid to win a historic fifth Sam Maguire in succession. 

2⃣ goals
1️⃣ Man of the match award@DubGAAOfficial’s Con O’Callaghan is the PwC @officialgaa / @gaelicplayers Football #POTM for August! #PwCAllStars pic.twitter.com/DppCj1DdqF

— PwC Ireland (@PwCIreland) August 23, 2019

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