Month: September 2021

 NEW YORK OFFICIAL Larry McCarthy has entered the race to succeed John Horan as the next GAA president.

Cork native has been nominated by New York, where he previously served as chairman, secretary and PRO. 

In 2018, McCarthy was elected onto the GAA’s Management Committee, becoming the first official based outside Ireland or England to do so. He also sat on the Strategic Review Committee under Horan last year and previously on the Towards 150 Committee under Aogán Ó Fearghail.

McCarthy served on Central Council for three years and is currently part of the GAA’s Finance Committee. 

A long-time member of the Sligo club in the Big Apple, the Bishopstown man is currently their chairman. He works as an associate professor of management at Seton Hall University in New Jersey where his speciality is in sports marketing.

New York GAA official Larry McCarthy.

“Studying sport on a day-to-day basis gives me a particular insight into the challenges and issues facing sporting organizations, especially amateur sporting organizations,” said McCarthy in a statement.

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“CLG is the greatest example in the world of a community based, amateur sports organization.”

McCarthy becomes the fourth candidate to join the race, following Jerry O’Sullivan (Cork), Mick Rock (Roscommon) and Jarlath Burns (Armagh).

The election for Horan’s successor will take place at next February’s Congress.

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DAVY FITZGERALD SAYS he was ready to step away as manager of the Wexford hurlers before receiving an important call and message which helped him change his mind.

The Clare native, who guided Wexford to a Leinster SHC in 2019, told Midwest Sport this week that he was “torn” about his future with the team due to difficulties with the long commute from his home in Sixmilebridge.

Fitzgerald has since agreed to stay on for another two seasons as manager after originally being appointed in 2017, but speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, he admitted that he was ready to leave.

“Probably last Monday or Tuesday, I had 100% made up my mind to walk away,” said Fitzgerald in conversation with Damien O’Meara.

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I got a call on probably Wednesday night and got a message from someone else. It probably changed my mind again.

“I have an incredible bond with the lads and I’m just going to go with my gut and just do this.”

Davy Fitzgerald with Tipperary boss Liam Sheedy after the All-Ireland semi-final.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

Fitzgerald also said that he initially told county chairman Derek Kent that he “couldn’t do it anymore” but was advised to take some more time to consider his decision.

After processing all the factors involved, the 48-year-old decided it was too difficult to walk away.

“I’ve a few weeks of a lot of soul-searching done, and I think people appreciate if you’re leaving home at 1.30 or 2pm and getting back at one o’clock at night, that’s a major factor.

There were two or three personal issues in the middle of that. It’s just made the last couple of weeks very difficult. It was a really hard decision, it took a lot of time. I did say to the Wexford chairman straight after the [Tipperary] game that I just couldn’t do it anymore.

“He asked me to take a few weeks more to think about it, and I did that. I suppose at the end of the day, it’s very hard to walk away.”

Fitzgerald’s name was heavily linked with the vacant managerial position in Galway in recent days, with many suspecting that the delay in his decision about Wexford paved the way for him to take up the appointment.

When asked if he had been in contact with any county boards about taking up a potential management position, Fitzgerald replied:

“They didn’t.

“It’s gas. I’ve been listening to a lot of stuff alright. Naturally you have a few friends ringing you from different places and saying stuff to you.

“At the end of the day, I made my decision Thursday night and that’s it.”

Wexford players celebrating their Leinster SHC success.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Wexford enjoyed a progressive season under Fitzgerald in 2019.

They captured their first Leinster SHC crown in 15 years while also falling just short of reaching a first All-Ireland final since 1996 following a thrilling semi-final clash with eventual champions Tipperary.

Fitzgerald however, cautioned that it will be difficult to repeat those feats again next year.

“I think there’s massive potential there without a shadow of a doubt. But the decision was probably made around people [and] a few different things as I said.

“I honestly think it’s going to be difficult enough and I knew [that] you were going to have to look at one or two years going forward. I believe after a year like that it gets flat the next year so there’s a chance of that, so you’re looking at two years again to try and reach them heights.

It can be tough to go back again after reaching those heights but we’re back there now and we’ll give it everything.

“The people and supporters down there are unbelievable. I haven’t felt like that and been made feel so welcome in a long time. Everything weighed up into that decision.”

– Originally published at 10.16

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IF YOU MISSED out earlier this week, you’re in luck. 

1,000 extra free tickets for Dublin’s homecoming event at Merrion Square on Sunday will be released at 12 noon tomorrow.

Jim Gavin’s All-Ireland five-in-a-row champions and Mick Bohan’s three-in-a-row heroes will be celebrated in the capital on Sunday [gates open at 1.30pm], with 15,000 tickets available earlier this week.

And today, Dublin City Council confirmed that there will be more up for grabs on Eventbrite tomorrow afternoon as the county board returned tickets after distributing their allocations to the clubs.

At the event, there will be live performances from Keywest, Eoin Thomas and The Rising Sons, followed by interviews with former Dublin football stars with host Marty Morrissey, along with videos and highlights from the side’s final wins over Kerry and Galway.

A statement from Dublin City Council today noted that the possibility of an open bus tour through the city was explored, but that won’t go ahead.

It explained: “Consultations took place this week with representatives from An Garda Síochána, Dublin Fire Bridge, the Health Service Executive, bus transport providers and Dublin City Council’s officials to explore the possibility of the Dublin Football Team taking an open tour bus tour through the city before arriving at the Homecoming event on Sunday 29th September.

“Following a detailed discussion and risk assessment, the consensus was that it was logistically impractical to safely stage an open top bus tour which could draw additional visitors to the already sold-out event on Merrion Square.”

The reception will be streamed live on the Dublin City Council Events Facebook page from 1.30pm.

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Updated at 17.44

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Na Fianna 0-13
Ballymun Kickhams 0-8

NA FIANNA SENT Ballymun Kickhams packing from the Dublin SFC tonight with a well-deserved five-point victory.

Reigning champions Kilmacud Crokes had already sealed top spot in the group, meaning this was a straight shootout to join them in the quarter-finals. 

Managed by All-Ireland winning minor and U21 boss Dessie Farrell, the Glasnevin outfit were the more clinical side up front in an extremely physical affair. They now must be considered threats to Kilmacud’s throne, but Farrell will know plenty of improvement will be required if they’re to end an 18-year wait without a county title.

Na Fianna are viewed by many as a coming force in Dublin club football with a number of talented youngsters emerging alongside an experienced core.

Their two starters on the county side, Jonny Cooper and Eoin Murchan, were employed in the full-back line and they largely nullified Ballymun’s dangermen. Cooper completely restricted Dean Rock’s influence and held him scoreless from play, with Rock responsible for just two pointed frees in the game.

Ballymun Kickhams had 0-4 on the board after 13 minutes but scored just four more points for the remainder of the game. They had serial All-Ireland winners all over the field with Dublin stars Philly McMahon, John Small, James McCarthy, Paddy Small and Rock in their ranks, but put in a disjointed display overall.

They certainly looked like a side who had been training without their big players for the majority of the season.

This was a fiery local derby that threatened to get out of hand at stages during the second period such was the ferocity of hits going in from either side.

McMahon was somewhat fortunate to remain on the field after an off-the-ball clash with Murchan that left the All-Ireland final replay goalscorer requiring attention for a head injury. The seven-time Celtic Cross winner was booked for his role in the incident, much to the frustration of the vocal Na Fianna support.

Philly McMahon receives a yellow card from referee Sean McCarthy.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

In attack Na Fianna possessed Conor McHugh, Aaron Byrne and James Doran – three talented forwards who caused plenty of issues for the Ballymun defence, particularly after half-time. That trio scored 0-10 of Na Fianna’s tally between them and still left a handful of opportunities behind them.

Na Fianna didn’t score from play in the first period – discounting Leon Young’s own point – but improved greatly in an attacking sense in the second-half. 

The opening half was filled with turnovers and missed chances. The first score of the game was an own point from the boot of Young as he diverted Byrne’s drilled shot across goal over the bar. That was a sign of things to come.

Ballymun Kickhams’ Paddy Small runs at James Doran of Na Fianna.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

Rock sent three scoreable efforts wide, while Byrne missed two at the far end.

Paddy Small sprinkled some class on the proceedings with two well-taken points, yet Ballymun didn’t score for the final 17 minutes of the half and went in at the interval 0-5 to 0-4 behind.

Na Fianna surged three clear shortly after the restart before McCarthy pulled off one of his trademark shoulders to set-up a Carl Keely effort. Na Fianna were punching holes in the Ballymun rearguard with McHugh forcing a good save from Sean Currie, before Doran dragged a shot on goal wide. 

Dublin team-mates Eoin Murchan and Dean Rock after the game.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

The lively Dillon Keating and substitute Jason Whelan added scores for the ‘Mun, but at the far end Dublin panellist McHugh curled over a nice effort off the left and James Doran punched a point over the bar. 

Down the stretch, Na Fianna confidently held onto possession and worked scoring chances. Dean Rock’s pointed free was all Ballymun could muster as Byrne (free), Dean Ryan, Sean Caffrey and Doran added insurance scores for the winners.

Scorers for Na Fianna: Conor McHugh 0-4 (0-3f), Aaron Byrne (0-3f) and James Doran 0-3 each, Dean Ryan, Sean McCaffrey and Leon Young (own point) 0-1 each.

Scorers for Ballymun Kickhams: Dean Rock (0-2f), Paddy Small 0-2 each, Fiach Andrews, Dillon Keating, Carl Keely and Jason Whelan 0-1 each.

Na Fianna

1. David O’Hanlon

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3. Jonny Cooper
17. Emile Mullen
7. Eoin Murchan

23. Niall Cooper
5. Niall McGovern 
12. Glenn O’Reilly

8. Killian Deeley
25. John Lawless

10. James Doran
21. David Quinn
26. Allisdar Fitzgerald

14. Conor McHugh
11. Aaron Byrne 
19. Brian O’Leary

Subs

15. David Lacey for Fitzgerald (40)
22. Paddy Quinn for Lawless (48)
9. Donal Ryan for Deeley (48)
6. Dean Ryan for Quinn (56)
13. Sean Caffrey for O’Leary (58)

Ballymun Kickhams

1. Sean Currie

2. Alan Hubbard
3. Eoin Dolan
4. Philly McMahon

5. Carl Keely
6. John Small
7. Leon Young

8. James McCarthy
25. Liam O’Donovan

10. Cameron McCormack
13. Dillon Keating
9. Davy Byrne

11. Paddy Small

15. Dean Rock
14. Fiach Andrews

Subs

28. Jason Whelan for Andrews (42)
17. Brian Ashton for McCormack (42)
26. Cathal O’Tighe for George (48)
24. Andrew McCaul for Keating (53)

Referee: Sean McCarthy

****

In the other Group 1 tie, Kilmacud Crokes enjoyed a 2-19 to 1-10 victory against St Sylvesters in a dead-rubber tie.

Elsewhere in the Dublin SFC tonight, St Vincent’s advanced from Group 4 with a convincing 4-13 to 1-10 defeat of Ballinteer St Johns.

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THE QUARTER-FINAL line-up for this year’s Dublin Senior Football Championship is complete, with Clontarf and St Jude’s booking their place in the last eight on Saturday as the final round of group games took place.

Clontarf, featuring Footballer of the Year nominee Jack McCaffrey, overcame Lucan Sarsfield 1-17 to 1-10 to take second place in Group 2 behind Ballyboden St-Enda’s.

Ballyboden had already clinched top spot before Saturday and added to their tally at the summit with a dominant 2-20 to 0-6 victory over Skerries Harps at Parnell Park, making it three wins from three.

In Group 3, St Jude’s secured top spot with a 1-9 to 0-8 victory over Thomas Davis. St Oliver Plunketts/Eoghan Ruadh suffered a 2-27 to 2-10 defeat to Raheny, Bernard Brogan receiving a black card for the hosts in the second half.

In Group 4, Castleknock clinched top spot with a dramatic one-point win against local rivals St Brigid’s in Blakestown.

Their 0-15 to 1-11 victory means Castleknock finish ahead of St Vincents, who booked their place in the quarter-finals with last night’s defeat of Ballinteer St John’s.

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Champions Kilmacud Crokes will face now Clontarf in the quarter-finals, Ballyboden St Endas welcome Na Fianna, St Jude’s meet St Vincents and Castleknock take on Thomas Davis, with fixture dates to be confirmed.

Results:

Group 2

Clontarf 1-17 Lucan 1-10

Ballyboden St Endas 2-20 Skerries Harps 0-6

Group 3

St Jude’s 1-9 Thomas Davis 0-8

Plunketts 2-10 Raheny 2-17 

Group 4

Castleknock 0-15 St Brigid’s 1-11

Dublin Senior Football Championship quarter-finals:

• Kilmacud Crokes vs Clontarf
• Ballyboden St Endas vs Na Fianna
• St Judes vs St Vincents
• Castleknock vs Thomas Davis

CONFIRMED: Here are the fixtures for the #DSFC1 Quarter Finals, following this weekend's final round of Group games.

Fixture details TBC. pic.twitter.com/tecB34NFG0

— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) September 28, 2019

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Sixmilebridge 0-18
Inagh/Kilnamona 0-15

Páraic McMahon reports from Cusack Park, Ennis

SIXMILEBRIDGE HAVE sealed their spot in the Clare senior hurling championship final, blitzing Inagh/Kilnamona in the final quarter of Saturday’s semi-final.

Now chasing their 14th championship, Sixmilebridge have contested every final this decade in a year that ended in an odd number. Inagh/Kilnamona’s dreams of reaching a first-ever senior decider were dashed as they were outscored nine points to two in the last quarter of the game.

Inagh/Kilnamona paid the price for not showing their first-half dominance on the scoreboard. They led by just a single point despite being on top and spurned three scoreable frees. This failing, coupled with their inability to maximise the return on the supply of ball into their forwards in the second half, proved costly.

Although they struggled in certain sectors, Sixmilebridge’s experience and grit helped them nudge their way over the line. When scores were needed, the experienced players of Caimin Morey, Jamie Shanahan and Shane Golden stepped up, with Niall Gilligan making his first appearance of the championship in what is his 22nd successive club campaign.

Former Clare teammates Davy Fitzgerald and Fergal Hegarty were in opposing camps for the encounter. Hegarty had several of his match-ups correct with Keith White excelling on Cathal Malone, but it was the switch of Seadna Morey onto danger man Aidan McCarthy that derailed Inamona’s progression.

Hegarty’s side will be annoyed to have received only one free in the entire second half, but were fortunate not to have been reduced to 14 men in the first half following an off-the-ball incident between Niall Arthur and Caimin Morey.

It’s now two games in a row that The Bridge have been victors, although playing far from their potential, the result is all that matters and they are now 60 minutes from winning their fourth senior title this decade.

Scorers Sixmilebridge: A Morey (0-09 7f 1’65), J Shanahan (0-04), J Loughnane (0-01), B Corry (0-01), E McInerney (0-01), C Morey (0-01), S Golden (0-01).

Scorers Inagh/Kilnamona: N Arthur (0-04 2f), D Fitzgerald (0-03), A McCarthy (0-03), G Arthur (0-02), E McNamara (0-02), K Hehir (0-01 1f).

Sixmilebridge:

1: Derek Fahy

2: Brian Carey

3: Barry Fitzpatrick

4: Noel Purcell

24: Pa Mulready

6: Caimin Morey

5: Seadna Morey

8: Shane Golden

7: Evan McInerney

9: Jason Loughnane

10: Jamie Shanahan

11: Conor Deasy

13: Cathal Malone

14: Alex Morey

15: Brian Corry

Subs:

34: Alan Mulready for Deasy (41)

23: Paidí Fitzpatrick for McInerney (48)

18: Niall Gilligan for Loughnane (52)

Inagh/Kilnamona

1: Pa Kelly

2: Damien Lafferty

3: Sean Mahony

4: Keith White

5: Cian McInerney

6: Kevin Hehir

7: David Fitzgerald

8: Jason McCarthy

9: Conor Tierney

12: Evan McNamara

13: Gerry Arthur

10: Aidan McCarthy

11: Niall Arthur

14: David Mescall

15: James O’Halloran

Subs:

21: Tomás Kelly for Tierney (33)

22: Gerry Coote for Mescall (53)

17: Keelan Guyler for O’Halloran (58)

19: Darren Cullinan for G Arthur (61)

18: Brian Foudy for White (62)

Referee: Jarlath Donnellan (Wolfe Tones na Sionnna)

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CORK’S CONOR Corbett and Galway’s Seán McDonagh have been named Electric Ireland Minor Footballer and Hurler of the Year for their exploits in 2019.

Corbett was a pivotal figure as Cork clinched their first All-Ireland Minor Football title since 2000 with an impressive victory over Galway which saw the Clyda Rovers clubman score 1-7 in the final.

McDonagh was also integral as Galway were crowned All-Ireland Minor Hurling champions for the third year in a row. The Mountbellew-Moylough forward scored an incredible 4-38 throughout the campaign, notching 2-8 at Croke Park as Galway overcame Kilkenny in the decider.

Corbett and McDonagh were announced as part of this year’s Electric Ireland GAA Minor Star Awards today.  The event celebrated the Minor Football and Hurling Teams of the Year, who were joined by their families and representatives from their County Boards and Management teams in Croke Park. 

“The 2019 Minor Championship season was a special one, and it is only right that the players’ commitment and hard work is recognised at today’s awards,” said Derek McGrath, Electric Ireland Minor Star Awards Judge.

“The Minor Football and Hurling Teams of the Year are a showcase of the talent at this age grade, and Conor and Seán certainly highlight the elite skill level on display throughout the Championships.”

Roscommon legend Fergal O’Donnell was also honoured with the Electric Ireland Special Merit Award for his significant contribution to Minor Football. He led Roscommon to victory over Kerry in the 2006 All-Ireland Minor Football Final, a victory which has been coined as one of the greatest in the history of the Minor Championships.

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1. “We end up disappearing down the rabbit hole of whether Bernardo is “a racist”, a term that has no fixed definition, and thus can be endlessly argued and endlessly denied. We are told that wasting time on frivolities like this hurts the fight against “real racism”, which for some reason can only be defined by white people.”

The Independent’s Jonathan Liew on Pep Guardiola’s ‘worrying ignorance’ of racist rhetoric and imagery – and this was written before the Man City boss doubled down on his comments. 

2. “If things go wrong, you don’t have time to adjust. And sadly, unfortunately, but truthfully, we have rarely been able to win clutch games in the tournament. There’s something deep within us as a rugby nation. Wales did us in ‘87, Scotland found a way to beat us in 1991, when Finlay Calder just went and clocked Jim Staples. They won and got Samoa in the quarters. We lost and were paired with Australia instead.”

Garry Doyle speaks to men in the know about what being at a World Cup with Ireland is really like, for The Examiner.

3. “The weakness in the facilities line of argument and the often-peculiar behaviour of the Irish football public were brought home to me over the summer. Back in May, I took the kids down to the Carlisle Grounds to watch the European Under 17 tie between Spain and Austria.

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“To my surprise, I was by no means alone – as Bray’s little ground, as basic in terms of facilities as they come, was full.”

Build it and they probably still won’t come, writes Paul Little for BackPageFootball.com

4.  “At the same time your ego is quite big at this stage, you think you’re invincible, you’re not doing much around the club, you’re not giving back too much. And then something like that happens. It’s probably not right to say you deserved it but at the same time I do believe some things happen for a reason. I got pulled back down a good few pegs when that happened.” 

Jonny Cooper sits down for an in-depth interview with the Irish Independent’s Dermot Crowe.

5. “Not one line about her becoming world champion was written in the national press or mentioned on radio or television. “I thought I was going to get mobbed at the airport but no one was there. I got Boxing News that next Friday. I was all excited but there was nothing. My manager shrugged. ‘They don’t do women’s boxing.’ He was as bad as them.””

Donald McRae speaks to trailblazing boxer Jane Couch in The Guardian.

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WHEN THE 2019 PwC All-Star hurling nominations were announced last Wednesday one name more than any other seemed to have been sprung from nowhere.

Jack Kelly alongside Eddie Brennan after Laois’ victory in the Joe McDonagh Cup final.

Source: Gary Carr/INPHO

Laois native Jack Kelly began this year as a hurling unknown. He argues that he still is.

“I’d say a lot of people are saying ‘Jack who?’Sure I have an Instagram account that has about 10 followers on it. Most of the other boys have a couple of thousand!”

Kelly’s rise to the status of All Star nominee is all the more unexpected when you consider how things had gone for him in the last two years.

“I played for the county U21s against the seniors in a match back March 2017 and did well enough. Eamonn (Kelly) brought me in to the senior squad on the back of that. I was delighted but things went downhill fairly fast for me.”

“I started against Wexford in our first championship match that summer. He only told me five minutes before throw in that I was playing. I suppose he probably thought he was doing the right thing by not telling me earlier in case I got nervous.”

Anyway it didn’t work, I was brutal. I was hauled off at half time and rightly so. I just wasn’t up to it. I remember being out of breath after about 15 minutes. I was miles off the pace.”

The summer didn’t get any better for Kelly from there either.

“I started again the next day against Carlow and improved a small bit. But the following game against Dublin I got hooked at half-time again.”

If 2017 hadn’t exactly gone according to plan, 2018 was to be worse.

I didn’t get a minute of championship hurling last year. Not one minute. I was just about scraping into the match day panel.”

Unsurprisingly, his non-involvement lead Kelly to question whether or not he belonged at inter county level and he came to a decision.

Things didn’t always go smoothly for Kelly at inter-county level.

Source: Bryan Keane/INPHO

“I decided that this year that I wasn’t going to hurl with the county. I was just fed up with how things had gone for me in the previous two seasons.”

And yet here he sits in front of me, looking forward to heading to the All Star banquet next month. So what happened?

“A month or two into it Eddie (Brennan) rang me and asked me to meet him for a chat. I wouldn’t say he was chasing me hard now or anything. Sure why would he be. I hadn’t achieved anything at that level.”

“He just let me know that the door was open and that he’d like to have me involved if I changed my mind. Thank God I did.”

Kilkenny Sharp shooter Brennan’s arrival as Laois manager has prompted a serious turnabout in fortunes for Kelly. Unsurprisingly, the young Rathdowney-Errill man is effusive in his praise of him.

“He just gives you so much freedom when you’re hurling. He had no problem with me taking off on runs up the line any time I thought it was on. I really enjoyed that.”

“I suppose like most lads, I’d be a confidence player. When my confidence is up I believe I can clean anyone. But when it’s down at all I start to beat myself up and doubt myself.

But Eddie would always be bigging you up, telling you how well you were going and I responded to that.”

That said, at no stage did Kelly feel overly comfortable around his new manager. Brennan had clearly learned a few tricks of the trade from his years of service under the great Brian Cody.

“There wasn’t one game this year where I thought ‘I’m definitely going to be starting’. I’d be in the dressing room shaking when he’s about to name the team.”

“He’d be keeping his cards close to his chest and you just wouldn’t know where you stand. All the lads would be the same, not just me. The relief then when you hear your name called out.”

Laois pulled off a shock win over Dublin in the championship this year.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

The celebrations that followed each of Laois’ big victories this year is the stuff of folklore by now and Kelly smiles broadly when asked if he enjoyed it.

Those sessions were some craic. The whole county seemed to get involved too, not just the players. I have a couple of good friends who nearly lost their jobs over it. They must have missed three Monday’s in a row, not to mention the Tuesdays. I don’t know how they got away with it.”

With just a week’s break in between games, Kelly and his team mates somehow managed to make it work.

After the two days on the beer your left with just a five-day turn around to get yourself right then. So we’d run ourselves into the ground on the Tuesday night and then work on the game plan on the Thursday night.”

“But sure 90% of it is in your head. That’s what I think anyway. If you can convince yourself that the body is fine and your good to go then you will be. Just get on with it.”

“Obviously you couldn’t stay doing that on a long term basis but over those couple of weeks it seemed to work well enough.”

However unconventional the build up to their game against Tipperary may have been, it seemed to again do the trick. Despite defeat, Laois gave a more than credible performance with Kelly to the fore.

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“Eddie told me he wanted me to man mark Bubbles (John O’Dwyer). I should really have been thinking ‘Oh no’, but sure I suppose things were going so well by that stage that I really fancied it.”

“I’d been wing-back all year but then when he moved in centre forward I just went in there with him and Ryan (Mullaney) came out to the side.”

Tipperary’s Seamus Callanan with Jack Kelly and Ryan Mullaney of Laois in the All-Ireland SHC quarter-final.

Source: Gary Carr/INPHO

“He never stopped moving though. I remember feeling shattered after about 10 minutes. I didn’t realise how fast he was.

“But I started to get onto a few balls as the half went on and then when I got my first point I settled in well.”

Kelly finished the game with two points from his position in the half-back while holding O’Dwyer scoreless. His performance saw him take the RTE Man of the Match award and an impromptu on-field interview in front of the cameras.

I was a disaster. I must have said the word ‘savage’ about 8 times. I’d say anyone watching on tele thought ‘who’s this eejit?’

“I haven’t watched it back once since out of embarrassment but the boys give me enough stick since anyway. There still at me about it now.”

A small price to pay after an exceptional year for Kelly and co.

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