Month: September 2021

MUCH OF THE focus over the next fortnight will surround the All-Ireland final replay between Dublin and Kerry, but behind the scenes counties around the country are quietly getting their houses in order for 2020.

Michael Fennelly, Paul Galvin and Ryan McMenamin.

We may not technically be in the inter-county off-season yet but outside of the two football finalists, the rest of the county boards are busy plotting and planning for next season. 

The biggest upheaval is in Galway where All-Ireland winning hurling manager Micheál Donoghue unexpectedly left his post two weeks ago after reports of a disagreement with county board officials.

Football boss Kevin Walsh confirmed his exit this morning following a five-year stint in charge, which leaves the Galway county board faced with making two major appointments in the coming weeks.

All is not well at boardroom level in Galway following recent mismanagement of county board finances, but both positions remain highly attractive giving the talented players at their disposal. 

U20 manager Padraic Joyce, two-time Sigerson Cup winning UCD boss John Divilly would be the early frontrunners to replace him. Two-time All-Ireland winning Corofin club boss Kevin O’Brien is another contender who may fancy a shot.

Former Galway centre-back John Divilly has led UCD to two Sigerson Cup titles.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

Former Corofin manager Stephen Rochford would be a popular choice with players and supporters but reports from Donegal today suggest that Declan Bonner and his entire management team have been ratified to remain in place for a further year, which would appear to rule the ex-Mayo boss out. 

The Cork hurlers are also on the look-out for a new manager following John Meyler’s resignation. Kieran Kingston and Donal Óg Cusack are among the big names being linked with the role. Similarly in Waterford, they’re still searching for Padraic Fanning’s successor – while Derek McGrath ruled himself out of contention last week. 

John Kiely has been handed a fresh two-year term in Limerick, Davy Fitzgerald is looking on the verge of a Wexford return with the Clare duo of Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor also set to reprise their positions for another campaign.

The expected appointment of eight-time All-Ireland winner Michael Fennelly in Offaly is somewhat of a gamble by the Faithful County given the 34-year-old’s inexperience on the sideline. Fennelly works as a strength and conditioning lecturer and was part of Cian O’Neill’s backroom team as their S&C coach in Kildare this season.

Last year he spoke about his eagerness to become involved in a coaching capacity on the inter-county scene and now he follows former team-mate Eddie Brennan into the hot-seat of a midlands county. His pedigree on the field of play should help Fennelly convince the best players in Offaly to make themselves available, which is a decent start. 

Fennelly is taking over an Offaly team coming off their worst season in decades. After hitting rock bottom in 2019, the only way looks to be up for this group as they face into Division 2A and the Christy Ring Cup next season. 

The managerial merry-go-round has been spinning on the football front too. 

Paul Galvin is set to take on his first managerial role when he’s ratified as Wexford boss in arguably the most fascinating move of all. Like Fennelly, Galvin was a proven winner during his playing career and has four Celtic Crosses to his name, but he’s also a newcomer to management. 

It’s believed he’ll bring former London chief Ciaran Deely on board as part of his management team, which should off-set Galvin’s lack of experience. The Kerryman is a deep thinker of the game and often comes at it from a different angle, as evidenced in his insightful Sunday Times columns. 

Jack O’Connor managed Kerry minors and U20s in recent years.

Source: Bryan Keane/INPHO

Another son of the Kingdom taking up a position in Leinster is Jack O’Connor, the 58-year-old who managed his native county to three All-Ireland titles over two separate stints.

O’Connor was thought to be in the running for the Kerry senior job before Peter Keane was appointed last winter and he’s a major coup for the Lilywhites. O’Connor has links to Kildare given his sons play with Moorefield. He was involved under Ross Glavin during their run to the All-Ireland club semi-final in 2017/18.

If he can tempt Daniel Flynn back into the fray, then Kildare are still a top-eight team with plenty of young potential to be harvested from the U20 All-Ireland winning crop of 2018.

The Ulster championship has undergone a significant facelift too. Ryan ‘Ricey’ McMenamin is another serial All-Ireland winner from the 2000s becoming an inter-county boss for the first time.

He looks set to succeed Rory Gallagher in Fermanagh and will bring former Tyrone team-mate Joe McMahon in as part of his coaching package.

Rory Gallagher is on the verge of being appointed Derry manager.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

Gallagher, meanwhile, is expected to be ratified as the new Derry manager in the coming days, making them the third Ulster county he’s managed. Legendary former Enda Muldoon is slated to join as selector and it will be interesting to observe how his footballing philosophy dovetails with the defensive approach Gallagher is known to favour.

Meanwhile, Seamus ‘Banty’ McEneaney is back in charge of Monaghan for the second time after seeing off competition from former Corssmaglen manager and Mayo coach Tony McEntee and ex-Cavan boss Mattie McGleenan.

Banty’s backroom team includes highly-rated S&C coach Peter Donnelly, who only recently departed the Tyrone set-up to take up a new role with Ulster Rugby. Ex-Down forward Conor Laverty is also part of the ticket, in addition to analyst Ray Boyne. Boyne was involved with Tipperary under Liam Sheedy this year and previously worked with Dublin footballers under Jim Gavin and Gilroy and with their hurlers for a lone season under Gilroy.

Seamus McEneaney managed Wexford in 2017.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

In the six years before McEneaney first took on the Farney job in 2005, they’d won just two Ulster championship games. Under ‘Banty’ they reached two provincial finals and ran Kerry to a point in the 2007 All-Ireland quarter-final. It laid the foundations for the heights that were to follow under his successor Malachy O’Rourke.

McEneaney brought Meath to within three points of Dublin in the 2012 Leinster final after surviving an attempted coup from the clubs earlier in the year. He stepped down following their qualifier exit to Laois and stayed out of the inter-county scene for four years.

He took charge of Wexford for an unsuccessful stint in 2017, led the Monaghan minors to the Ulster title and a narrow All-Ireland semi-final loss to Kerry in 2018 and managed the county’s U20s this year. 

Tipperary, Laois, Wicklow and London are the other football counties still searching for new managers following the departures of Liam Kearns, John Sugrue, John Evans and Deely respectively.

A number of counties will return to training next month as preparations begin for the 2020 campaign, even if the 2019 season isn’t in the rearview mirror yet.

Galvin, Fennelly and McMenamin show that even though becoming an inter-county manager is like taking on a second full-time job, it remains an attractive prospect for former players. 

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THERE WERE HEARTWARMING scenes when Tipperary captain Séamus Callanan returned to his old secondary school with the Liam MacCarthy Cup.

The All-Ireland winning skipper was visiting St Joseph’s College Borrisoleigh alongside teammates Brendan Maher and Dan McCormack, who is also a staff member at the school.

During their stay, the school surprised Callanan with a lovely memory from days as a student.

Callanan studied woodwork at St Jospeh’s and decided to make a display cabinet for his Leaving Cert project in 2006 that would hopefully hold the Liam MacCarthy Cup one day.

And when the star forward returned to the school this week, he discovered that his old teacher Mr Halpin kept the cabinet for his former student.

There was a lovely moment as Callanan finally got a chance to place the cup in the cabinet after inspiring his county to All-Ireland glory this year.

Source: Sean o shea/YouTube

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ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONS Galway have six representatives on the Minor Hurling Team of the Year after completing a three-in-a-row at this grade in 2019.

Finalists Kilkenny have three players in the line-up as do Limerick while two players from Clare and one from Wexford have also been included.

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The defence features three Galway players with Christy Brennan, Eoin Lawless and Ian McGlynn all getting the nod. 

Sarsfields’ Alex Connaire has been selected at midfield alongside Patrick Kirby of Limerick while Greg Thomas and Seán McDonagh represent the Tribesmen in the forwards.

The goalkeeper position has been awarded to Kilkenny’s Aidan Tallis while Peter McDonald and Billy Drennan are the other two representatives for the All-Ireland finalists.

The remaining players on the minor team of the year consist of Limerick duo Ronan Lyons and Cathal O’Neill, Cian Galvin and Shane Meehan of Clare and Wexford forward AJ Redmond.

“Knowing what it means to be part of a Minor team, I am proud to play my part in honouring those currently involved in the competition,” says Electric Ireland Minor Star awards panel member Alan Kerins.

“The Minor Star Awards celebrate these young players’ endeavours, recognising the commitment and dedication required to play Minor to this extremely high level. 

“The players have brought pride and joy to their communities through their exploits on the field for their counties.”

The Hurling and Football Teams And Players of the Year will be awarded at the third annual Electric Ireland GAA Minor Star Awards, set to take place at Croke Park on Saturday, 28 September with the Football Team of the Year being unveiled on Tuesday, 10 September.

2019 Electric Ireland Hurling Team of the Year

1. Aidan Tallis – Kilkenny (Lisdowney)

2. Christy Brennan – Galway (Clarinbridge)
3. Eoin Lawless – Galway (St. Mary’s, Athenry)
4. Ronan Lyons – Limerick (Monaleen)

5. Ian McGlynn – Galway (Kilconieron)
6. Cian Galvin – Clare (Clarecastle)
7. Peter McDonald – Kilkenny (Thomastown)

8. Alex Connaire – Galway (Sarsfields)
9. Patrick Kirby – Limerick (Patrickswell)

10. Greg Thomas – Galway (Ballygar)
11. Seán McDonagh – Galway (Mountbellew – Moylough)
12. Cathal O’Neill – Limerick (Crecora-Manister)

13. Billy Drennan – Kilkenny (Galmoy)
14. AJ Redmond – Wexford (Rathnure)
15. Shane Meehan – Clare (The Banner)

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RENOWNED KILKENNY HURLING mentor Brother Damien Brennan has passed away following a long battle with serious illness.

The 59-year-old Laois native was the manager of the Kilkenny minors who won an All-Ireland title in 2004, and also coached several college teams throughout his career.

He was also a physio and a respected school principal at Coláiste Éamann Rís, Callan in Kilkenny.

Many Kilkenny legends, including Henry Shefflin, have spoken highly about the influence of Brother Damien, while Jackie Tyrrell has credited the much-loved coach for turning his career around.

Brother Damien features extensively in Tyrrell’s autobiography ‘The Warrior’s Code’ and also made an appearance in Tyrrell’s Laochra Gael episode on TG4.

All associated with Kilkenny GAA were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Br Damien Brennan, a former Kilkenny Minor manager and a universally respected school principal in Coláiste Éamann Rís, Callan. He will be sadly missed by some many. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. pic.twitter.com/z4ie9sjeup

— Kilkenny GAA (@KilkennyCLG) September 3, 2019

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Callan United would like to sympathise with the family, friends and Christian Brothers of Brother Damien Brennan, who passed away this morning. A well known, supportive and energetic member of our community, he will be sorely missed.
Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.

— Callan United (@CallanUnited) September 3, 2019

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GO TOGETHER. THAT’S the message from the Camogie Association with the biggest day in their calendar year fast approaching.

Captains from the six All-Ireland finalists.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

On Sunday, there are new winners in store in each of the three All-Ireland finals in Croke Park with silverware up for grabs at senior, intermediate and junior level. 

At the top table, Kilkenny will be hoping to avenge back-to-back decider defeats to Cork and claim a 14th O’Duffy Cup, while league champions Galway are seeking a first title since 2013.

The Tribe also feature in the intermediate final, 2017 Premier Junior champions Westmeath their opposition there. And the Premier Junior showpiece is an all-Munster battle between last year’s finalists, Kerry, and Limerick.

The Association first called on supporters to ‘Go Together’ as they aim to break an attendance of 25,000 in July, with anticipation now building ahead of the big day.

In 2016 — when the Cats were last crowned champions — a bumper crowd of 20,037 descended on GAA HQ, with the attendance up almost 25% on the year previous.

16,610 were there in 2015, while that 20,037 number was the fifth highest-ever attendance for an All-Ireland camogie final since 1932, and the highest attendance since 2009′s all-time high of 25,924 for a standalone final.

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In 2017, it was marginally up to 20,438, while 21,467 [new third-highest ever] was the official attendance last year — but that’s well short of the back-to-back record-breaking ladies football final crowds of 46,286 and 50,141 in 2017 and 2018.

And key players who are lining out on Sunday hope that 25,000 target can be reached — and broken. 

“It’d be fantastic to get to 25,000 and more if we can,” Galway captain Sarah Dervan said at Thursday’s captain’s day. 

“I do think camogie this year has turned. Everyone keeps telling me that the All-Ireland semi-final [against Cork] was a fantastic game to watch. It’d be brilliant. I just hope everyone does get behind the camogie. 

Hopefully clubs will all bring their underage. It’s important that they do, and they get to see the girls out there. It’s brilliant that the three games are now on RTÉ too. It’s all about promoting the game and girls seeing that.

Kilkenny co-captain Meighan Farrell echoed those sentiments: “It would be unreal just to get the support.

“We had an open training session there and you just see a lot of the girls coming in from your club to support. You’re like, ‘Jesus, fair play, they didn’t have to.’ It’s coming up, it’s slowly but surely coming.”

Cork were crowned senior champions last year.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

While camogie has often been in the headlines for the wrong reasons off the back of last year’s finals with players calling out for rule changes, the recent All-Ireland semi-finals at LIT Gaelic Grounds were a brilliant advertisement for the game. 

It’s hoped that the same will apply on Sunday, with free-flowing showdowns on the cards and players allowed showcase their skills on the biggest stage. 

And for 25,000-plus to witness that in the flesh, that would be incredible. 

“It’d be massive,” Galway intermediate skipper Laura Walsh agrees when the 25,000 target is put to her. “It’d be brilliant for camogie.

We deserve it. There’s six great teams going out there and they deserve every bit of support they get.

“I think the game has come on so much. The speed of it, the physicality. Players are so strong now…it’s lovely to see the refs let the game go. Sometimes you feel like they’re scared we’ll get hurt out there but we’re well able for it.”

Kerry star Laura Collins concluded: “If we got 25,000 this year it’d be huge.

“You can see it on social media. I have neighbours who I didn’t think knew about camogie and they ask me now how we got on. Social media is really helping and showing how good players are, it’s really getting the message out there.”

All three games will be shown live on RTÉ too, another welcome step for all involved.

Sunday, 8 September 2019

Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Senior Championship Final

• Galway v Kilkenny, Croke Park, 4.15pm Referee: Ray Kelly (Kildare)

Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final

• Galway v Westmeath, Croke Park, 2pm Referee: Andrew Larkin (Cork)

Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Premier Junior Championship Final

• Kerry v Limerick, Croke Park, 12noon Referee: Gavin Donegan (Dublin)

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AFTER JOE CANNING’S free deep into stoppage-time drew Galway level in the 2012 All-Ireland hurling final and forced a replay, it felt like a loss for the Kilkenny players.

The rematch was three weeks away and having been seconds away from lifting the Liam MacCarthy Cup, the Cats found it hard to shake off the sense of anti-climax. 

Brian Cody, using all his powers of persuasion, implored his squad to look at things differently. Tommy Walsh recalled his words the GAA national coaching conference last year.

Walsh remarked: “Cody was saying: ‘Lads, you have to wait three weeks to play in an All-Ireland final. Think about it, go back to when you were a young lad, you’d wait three months, you’d wait three years, you’d wait 30 years for the chance to play in an All-Ireland final for Kilkenny in front of 80,000 people.

“This is what you dreamed of. You’re going back training with the lads, you’re going to have great craic now for the next three weeks.

“So we went into the meeting feeling sorry for ourselves and we came out thinking we were the luckiest lads in the world — thank God Barry Kelly blew Jackie (Tyrrell) for that free! People ask: ‘How has he never had a psychologist with Kilkenny?’ Sure, he was a psychologist.”

Kilkenny cruised to victory in the replay, prevailing by 11 points. 

Both Jim Gavin and Peter Keane will have delivered a similar message to their squads as Cody did seven years. In the meantime, the two men have plenty to work on before Saturday week.

Sean O’Shea pulled off a shooting masterclass on Sunday.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

It’s often the case that the team who learns the most from the drawn game and can bring something a little bit different will prevail on the second day out. The Dublin management team went to ground in the immediate hours after the drawn 2016 final with Mayo, dissecting their poor showing and strategising for the unexpected two weeks block of training. 

“They’ll have video – I’d say Dublin will get on that (straight away),” said Stephen Rochford, Mayo boss that year, on the AIB GAA podcast.

“I remember in 2016 they were on top of it while we were still travelling. It took us into Tuesday or Wednesday before we got going. Dublin will recalibrate very, very quickly based on geography. 

“Physically it’ll be about getting through Wednesday night, then doing a bit next weekend and then looking to try and hit the ground running next Saturday.”

Gavin rang the changes for the replay three years ago, dropping former Footballers of the Year Michael Darragh Macauley and Bernard Brogan, plus defender Davy Byrne in favour of Mick Fitzsimons, Paddy Andrews and Paul Mannion. Paul Flynn switched from half-forward to midfield to accommodate the extra forward and Dublin prevailed by 1-15 to 1-14.

Dublin are masters are learning from their mistakes and adapting during half-time in games. They’ll have studied the drawn game in great detail by now and hatched a plan to counteract how Kerry cut them open at the back for a handful of clear goal chances, so the Kingdom will need to bring something unexpected.

That may involve throwing Tommy Walsh in from the start. The prospect of James O’Donoghue reappearing on the 26-man panel would give the Kingdom another punch off the bench. 

Michael Darragh Macauley and David Moran compete for a kick-out in the air.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Rochford feels their young players will benefit enormously from going toe-to-toe with the champions and coming out unscathed.

“This reminds me of 2016 in a Mayo context,” said Rochford. “Dublin had played really poorly, much poorer than they played (on Sunday). They had only scored 11 times, 2-9, and a lot of people felt around Mayo that was definitely our opportunity gone.

“And what it definitely did was that as much as you’re talking and preparing and instilling that belief into the group, there’s nothing like experiencing it. The Killian Spillanes, the Jack Barrys, the Gavin Crowleys – I think it was 10 guys there who wouldn’t have played even in the 2014 final.

“They’ll have said, ‘Holy God, we can have a right cut at these guys.’ It may not play out like that but I guarantee you, when they got on the train down to Kerry, they’ll be thinking, ‘We’ll get stuck into these fellas again.’”

What changes will Dublin be eyeing up this time? 

None of their substitutes scored for the second game in succession and that might be enough to convince Gavin to shake things up. The narrative has shifted to suggest that Kerry now have the stronger bench, with Walsh, Killian Spillane and Jack Sherwood all making hay when they were introduced. 

Dublin hadn’t anywhere near as much of an impact off the bench as Kerry did. That said, Kevin McManamon and Diarmuid Connolly did win some crucial turnovers but neither man scored and the latter shot a wide, while Paddy Small left three scoring chances behind him.

Gavin must have had some difficult conversations with Bernard Brogan, Eoghan O’Gara and Rory O’Carroll who all failed to make the matchday squad. He’ll now have to convince the trio they’re back in the running to make the 26 for the replay.

Bernard Brogan meets fans at Dublin’s open training session.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

The Connolly situation – where he returned mid-summer and was Dublin’s third sub on against Kerry – would have been tricky for Gavin to navigate last week. Brogan and O’Gara wouldn’t be human if they weren’t irritated at Connolly jumping ahead of them in the pecking order, even if they are longtime team-mates of the St Vincent’s star.

Given their advancing years and lack of game-time this year, Brogan and O’Gara are likely to retire at the end of this season. Heading into Sunday it looked like they wouldn’t kick another ball for Dublin. Now, all of a sudden, they might yet have a say in the 2019 season.

Eric Lowndes too would have been frustrated to see Peader O’Cofaigh Byrne and Darren Daly make the final squad ahead of him, while veterans Andrews, Philly McMahon and Cian O’Sullivan didn’t see a minute of action – although the latter is reported to be carrying an injury. Sean Bugler is another useful half-forward who stands a chance of making the substitutes list for the rematch.

John Small was forced off after 57 minutes on Sunday with a hand injury but it’s unclear yet if it will put his participation in the replay under jeopardy. Despite his first-half red card, Jonny Cooper is likely to be entrusted to start the replay. Fitzsimons will probably be the man picking up David Clifford this time after he did well on the Fossa star in the second-half, with Cooper potentially being assigned to take Paul Geaney.

That’s where Kerry could throw a curveball by starting Walsh, bringing Geaney to the half-forward line and forcing a Dublin rethink.

Macauley could be sacrificed yet again if Gavin decides to push James McCarthy onto midfield and bring in Eoin Murchan, who impressed after he replaced Small. If Small isn’t fit to start, then Murchan is an obvious option to come in for the Ballymun defender.

“Kerry will now believe more than ever they can have a crack,” added Rochford.

“At the same time Dublin, for as long as I remember with this group, I’ve never seen them have a quieter second-half. Typically it’s their blow-out time and they’ll be disappointed with that.

“Yes, the Kerry extra man probably had a bit of a factor in that. I think it’s still certainly in Dublin’s favour.” 

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MOTIVATION IS A very personal thing. When Lisa Casserly was playing soccer for Ireland, that was all she wanted to do and though she was a club camogie player with Ballinderreen, it was a hobby.

She smiles when thinking about a former Republic of Ireland teammate, who shared the experience of reaching the European Championships Semi-Final at Under 19 level in 2014.

Amy O’Connor was a vital member of that team but on away trips, she was always talking about St. Vincent’s and Cork, the hurley and the sliotar.

“It was camogie, camogie, camogie with her all the time, even then” Casserly reveals. “You knew that was what she wanted to do more than anything else. She was a good soccer player but camogie was her passion and it’s no surprise to see her having done so well.”

At that juncture, Casserly fancied travelling the type of route since taken by other teammates such as Katie McCabe, Megan Connolly and Clare Shine, who became Senior internationals and are full-time professionals with Arsenal, Brighton and Glasgow City respectively.

But having dedicated herself to excellence in that sphere, she opted to find out how far she could go in another, and like O’Connor, and Mayo ladies footballer Sarah Rowe, she turned the focus on a Gaelic code.

No doubt about it, the motivation was personal.

“I took a different route to camogie. I started off with soccer and had been playing it since I was about five. I represented Ireland. I took a step back from that two years ago. I had always played camogie with the club and always loved it but felt I hadn’t given myself the chance to break onto a county team.

“It was my grandfather who asked me to give it a go for one year to just see how I would go so I did it for him really.

“I was lucky enough to break into the Intermediates two years ago. Cathal (Murray) came in this year and he put me onto the Senior panel as well. I’m taking every day as it comes and really enjoying it.

“It’s a massive step up for me. The rest of the girls had been playing from Minor with Galway but they’ve been so good. I didn’t know them from Adam when I walked through the gates in Cappy (Cappataggle) a couple of years ago.

“It was so daunting. I’ll never forget it. It was our first training session up in Cappy, on the astro. I pulled up. There were girls getting out of cars, four and five girls in groups walking in. I didn’t know anyone and the heart was racing.

“But the girls were so lovely. They came over and introduced themselves and from there, they felt like family. To be honest, I feel like I’ve been playing with them all my life now.”

Casserly knows now she would have regretted not realising her potential in camogie.

“I was trying to balance both. It was very hard. We were training in Dublin for the soccer and it was hard to get down for training with the club but any time I was around I was playing. Ballinderreen were so good, they worked around my schedule and I was able to play loads of matches but I could never focus on the camogie.

“But I took a risk two years ago and decided to step back from the soccer and see how I got on and I was lucky enough to progress.”

Now, the 23-year-old HR recruitment consultant is a key member of the team that plays Westmeath in the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Intermediate camogie Championship Final on Sunday (2pm), the tall, athletic midfielder showing an eye for a score to match her ability to cover the grass which should flourish in the Croke Park expanses.

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Regardless of what happens in that game, she will be switching dressing rooms and changing jerseys as a member of the squad that contests the Senior decider (4.15pm) against Kilkenny.

In that group is another player who took the plunge in committing full-time to camogie this season, having been known primarily as a ladies footballer for a decade.

Caitriona Cormican has flourished and played a huge role in the Semi-Final defeat of champions Cork with two points in the space of a minute in response to Julia White’s 18^th minute goal. It rammed home the message that Galway would not be lying down.

“You just have to work hard. You can’t come in here and expect to be playing. I look up to Teeny (Cormican). She made a huge change as well so you learn from someone like her. It’s a dream come true to play in Croke Park now. Even when I was playing soccer, I always dreamed of playing in Croke Park for some reason.

“The mood is very good in camp. It would be when we’re playing in Croke Park. That was our goal last November, to get both teams to Croke Park. We’ve done that now and training’s been buzzing. There’s a lot of intensity because there’s an awful lot of competition for places which I think has driven both teams on.”

Lisa Casserly was never going to be found wanting for drive. The ultimate rewards are in touching distance.

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GERRY O’CONNOR HAS confirmed his resignation as joint-manager of the Clare senior hurlers, while Donal Moloney is understood to be intent on remaining in charge.

O’Connor confirmed his departure to The Clare Echo and expressed his gratitude to the panel of players, management team, county board, supporters and his employers for their assistance during his three years with the senior side.

The Killanena native also outlined his desire for the county board to extend Moloney’s time in charge by a further year. No official decision has been made on that matter yet.

It brings to an end, for now at least, the partnership of O’Connor and Moloney at senior, U21 and minor level with Clare. 

O’Connor and Scariff native Moloney won a total of eight titles during their time together across the three grades.

At U21 level they went unbeaten for the duration of their three-year stint together winning Munster and All-Ireland titles in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Prior to that, they were in charge of a minor outfit that included Podge Collins, David McInerney, Seadna Morey, Colm Galvin, Tony Kelly and Aaron Cunningham that won provincial honours in 2010 and 2011.

They replaced Davy Fitzgerald in the Banner job in the winter of 2016. Highlights of their senior tenure include reaching two Munster finals in-a-row, the first the county contested in just under a decade. However, Cork proved too strong on both occasions.

Last year saw Clare return to Croke Park for the first time since winning the 2013 All-Ireland final. Despite serving up a thrilling semi-final clash with Galway that finished level at 1-30 apiece, the Tribesman would find the upper hand in the replay edging out their neighbours by a single point.

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When O’Connor stepped down from the U21 post following the 2014 All-Ireland final, Moloney continued for a further two years. It is believed the latter is hopeful of remaining in charge with discussions ongoing with the Clare county board.

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The Essendon players leave the field after their loss.

Source: AAP/PA Images

CONOR MCKENNA’S ESSENDON are out of the hunt to reach the AFL Grand Final after their 55-point elimination final hammering by West Coast today at Optus Stadium. 

After a desperately poor start, the Bombers threatened a comeback in a lively third quarter with back-to-back goals from Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Adam Saad, but West Coast retook control from there.

The spoil went straight into the arms of Cripps! #AFLEaglesDons #AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/u6ghxWpDm3

— AFL (@AFL) September 5, 2019

West Coast ran out 116-61 winners and now head to Melbourne next week to face the loser of Friday night’s qualifying final between Collingwood and Geelong, who have Zach Tuohy and Mark O’Connor in their side. 

Luke Shuey led the Eagles charge from midfield, finishing with 34 disposals, eight clearances and three goal assists.

23-year-old Tyrone native McKenna started on the Essendon half-back line and made 18 disposals in addition to catching two marks during the game.

Conor McKenna during an Essendon Bombers training session last month.

Source: AAP/PA Images

The nature of the season-ending defeat is likely to put pressure on Essendon coach John Worsfold. The losing finals drought for the Bombers dates all the way back to 2004.

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WHERE DOES ONE start with Kerry camogie star Laura Collins?

The fact that hurling is confined to North Kerry? The fact that everyone on her Kingdom camogie side is from one club bar one player? The fact that they’re contesting a second consecutive All-Ireland final after reaching the top table for the first time ever last year?

Their rise has been pretty remarkable really.

Then, what about last year’s decider where Collins twisted her ankle and tore all the ligaments 10 minutes in, but played on? Or perhaps her colourful life off the pitch where she owns an equestrian centre back home after many twists and turns on these shores and abroad through the years?

There was quite a bit to go through.

The first thing that strikes you about 28-year-old Collins, however, is her accent. It’s not exactly a strong Kerry one.

“Supposedly I have a couple of different accents going, alright,” she laughs. “No, I’m Kerry through and through. North Kerry, literally the sticks in Kilmoyley. You can’t get much more Kerry. If you talked to my Dad, you wouldn’t understand him!”

College in Limerick, a period of studying Spain and a stint working and living in Navan are all credited for the neutrality, but it was in the Kingdom where the Clanmaurice player’s camogie journey began.

“I played underage with the boys up until 12 and then I was kicked out because I was a girl,” she grins. “I always had the horses, and I was dragged along to a football game now and then if they were stuck but I wasn’t really into it and then I had nothing until I was 18 or 19.”

With camogie not starting up fully in the county until the turn of the decade in 2010 or 2011, Collins played a small bit in college in University of Limerick with the intermediate team but decided against Ashbourne Cup level.

“I was afraid to go into them because I had no hurling compared to them,” she says, echoing the words of her hugely talented clubmate Patrice Diggins. 

“Then they cut the intermediate team because they hadn’t funding and I was really starting to enjoy it… but the club had started by then and then the county team and it’s just gone from strength to strength since.”

Collins after the semi-final win over Clare last month.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

A late bloomer, like many others, but from small acorns, mighty oaks will grow.

And that’s exactly what happened in Kerry. There’s still just one senior club, Clanmaurice, but with six underage clubs fully established and thriving, the future looks bright. And with a tight Sister Act in place in the county-set up, they’ve lifted Division 3 and 4 titles, and reached inter-county and club All-Ireland junior finals over the past few years.

“It’s amazing,” she smiles. “We thank every day that someone actually went and set up up a club team and then a county team in Kerry because we had no camogie.

“The hurling is so big in North Kerry. There’s seven hurling clubs and it’s live or die, like. For there to be no camogie was bit mad so it’s great it’s starting to build.”

18-year-old Bríd Horan — who actually works with Collins at the equestrian centre, her ‘minion’ for the summer, she laughs — is the one exception to the one-club-bar-one player county team, because she’s playing with underage side Cillard.

“It’s absolutely mental,” Collins nods. “It’s good in one sense because we’re so close but the other thing is we don’t bring the intensity to training. We’re like ‘Are you okay, sorry, sorry!’ We’re so nice to each other. 

“Ian [Brick, manager] had to say at the start of the year, ‘Just. Stop. Saying. Sorry!’ We still do it now and then.

“We don’t have a huge panel. We went down to Waterford who had nearly 36 players and we’d a lot of injuries that week and landed with 18. That was daunting. But the girls are very dedicated and Ian says the commitment is like he’s never seen before.”

Collins Equestrian next, how did that come about? 

She studied Maths and Spanish in UL with the intentions of being a teacher, but things soon took a turn as she went to Navan for a year to work on a yard and do her equestrian exams.

“My mother wishes I went back and did teaching,” she jokes. But Collins is happy out, and that’s all that matters. Her enthusiasm shines through as she speaks of the 20 horses they have, the classes and the camps they run, the beach trekking and all that goes along with it.

Facing Dublin in last year’s final.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

“It’s tough going, long hours but I love every minute of it,” she continues, and then a giggle. “There’s a lot of work to it and long hours so there’s a couple of days you’re landing to training a bit late and see Ian’s face wondering what held you up.

“We’re constantly outdoors. We’d be up and down the beach three times a day in the summer and then out to training. I had a step counter on the last day and had clocked up 52,000 steps — that was before training!”

It all goes hand-in-hand with her vicious work-rate on the pitch so, and that perhaps is best epitomised through her warrior-like performance in last September’s All-Ireland Premier Junior final defeat to Dublin.

For the first 10 minutes she was centre-half forward and then the ankle injury happened. She insisted on being taped up and pushed into full-forward, but soon found herself out around the middle.

“I was well taped at half-time and got through the game but it was a tough one,” she says.

“We didn’t deserve it on the day, didn’t perform and they were very good. Playing Division 2 really stood to them last year, you could see they were at a different level and we didn’t turn up. I think we were a bit in awe of it all.

“It was absolutely amazing experience, overall. The first time for most of us to get on the pitch [at Croke Park]. That roar that erupted coming out under the tunnel, I think it shook a lot of us on the day, we weren’t expecting that. You’d expect friends and family there, but not that kind of crowd.

“But we’re hoping it will stand to us this year. We’re ready for it. Making the final last year, all you want to do is come back.”

And back, they are with Limerick in the way of Kerry finally getting their hands on the Kay Mills Cup on Sunday [throw-in 12pm].

Collins says that plenty of people are putting pressure on the side after the Sky Blues lost in 2017 and won last year, but doesn’t exactly buy into that Omen.

“I think a couple of teams have done that, lost one year and won it the following year but the opponents are tough,” she stresses.

With Limerick captain Grace Lee.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

“Our game against Limerick in the championship was very close [Kerry were narrow winners] and could have gone either way so it’s going to come down to whoever wants it more on the day. We’re hoping that last year’s loss will give us that extra drive.”

They’re no strangers to one another anyway, locking horns on many occasions through the year with Clanmaurice also making the short trip Shannonside to play in the Limerick club championship a few years back.

An end came to that however, after a debacle surrounding who should represent Limerick in Munster after Collin’s side won one year. Now, Clanmaurice — who train as a county team all year around with club players joining the fold when all finishes up there — have no club competition in Kerry, but that’s a story for another day.

For now, it’s all systems go for Sunday.

The 25,000 attendance target is the closing point of conversation and how massive breaking that would be, along with the fact that all three games will be broadcast live on RTÉ.

And that comes with a nod to someone very special.

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“My Aunty is too sick to come up to watch it but she’ll see it on TV and is so excited,” Collins beams. “She was the first to tell me it was on RTÉ.

“We thought it was just on the Player so things like that make such a difference.”

That, they do. And Collins is hoping that she, herself, can make a difference come Sunday at HQ.

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