Month: September 2021

Updated at 12.16

LIDL LADIES NFL DIVISION 1 SEMI-FINAL
Cork 1-18
Dublin 2-14
(After extra-time)

Daragh Small reports from Nowlan Park, Kilkenny

ORLA FINN STARRED with 13 points in the sun as Cork knocked reigning Lidl National Football League Division 1 champions Dublin off their perch, and booked their place in the final with victory at Nowlan Park.

In an absorbing game that went from end to end and lasted for over 86 minutes, Cork had just enough to secure their second win in as many games over their arch rivals.

Cork manager Ephie Fitzgerald held Doireann O’Sullivan, Eimear Scally and Saoirse Noonan in reserve, while Dublin had to do without the injured Sinead Goldrick.

But it was Orla Finn who shone in the opening half and she scored six frees to move her side into contention before Melissa Duggan blasted a goal.

Finn pointed from a free first and then the reigning TG4 All-Ireland and league champions got up and running, and their first score was goal when Niamh McEvoy finished Noelle Healy’s pass low to the net in the fourth minute.

Finn hit back with a couple of frees either side of Sinéad Aherne’s first point from a free, and two more Finn frees had Cork back in front by the 22nd minute.

Aherne doubled her tally and then in the 26th minute she scored the second Dublin goal. McEvoy was through when she was brought down by Eimear Kiely. Aherne kept her cool and converted the penalty into the bottom right corner of Martina O’Brien’s goal.

Finn reduced the arrears again, and in the 31st minute Duggan struck for a crucial score. Ciara O’Sullivan delivered the killer hand pass and the Dohenys ace hit the net. Aherne scored just before half-time and the sides were level 2-3 to 1-6 at the break.

Healy scored first on the resumption and Cork took control with four points in a row. Niamh Cotter pointed the last of those four scores and Cork led by 1-10 to 2-4, only for Dublin to charge back with points from Lauren Magee, McEvoy and Siobhán Killeen.

The teams were level and points from Orlagh Farmer and Ciara O’Sullivan looked to have secured the win. However, McEvoy and a wonderful Nicole Owens point brought the game to extra-time.

Owens was given a yellow card before the end while Aine O’Sullivan picked up a straight red for dissent immediately after she was shown a yellow for a similar offence.

Dublin held a narrow 2-13 to 1-15 lead at half-time in extra-time. Aherne scored just before the break, but a couple of Finn frees had Cork back in charge in the second half.

Duggan put Cork 1-18 to 2-13 in front with a driving score and Dublin couldn’t peg them back on this occasion.

Scorers – Cork: O Finn 0-13 (12f), M Duggan 1-1, N Cotter 0-1, C O’Sullivan 0-1, O Farmer 0-1, E Scally 0-1.
Dublin: S Aherne 1-4 (1-0 pen, 2f), N McEvoy 1-4 (3f), N Healy 0-1, L Magee 0-1, S Killeen 0-1, N Owens 0-1, N Hetherton 0-1, K Sullivan 0-1.

Cork: M O’Brien; M Duggan, H Looney, C O’Shea; S Kelly, A Hutchings, E Kiely; N Cotter, M O’Callaghan; C O’Sullivan, O Farmer, L O’Mahony; L Coppinger, A O’Sullivan, O Finn.

Subs: E Scally for O’Mahony (21), S Noonan for Finn (50), D Kiely for Kelly (53), E Meaney for O’Shea (53), S O’Leary for E Kiely (61), O Finn for A O’Sullivan (60), L O’Mahony for O’Leary (70), S Kelly for Cotter (74), C O’Shea for Duggan (81).

Dublin: C Trant; E Rutledge, N Collins, R Ruddy; A Kane, S Finnegan, O Carey; J Dunne, M Byrne; C Rowe, S Aherne, L Davey; N Owens, N McEvoy, N Healy.

Subs: L Magee for Rutledge (35), S Killeen for Davey (50), N Hetherton for Dunne (51), S Woods for Rowe (60), K Sullivan for Owens (f-t), N Owens for Healy (70),J Dunne for Magee (78), H O’Neill for Owens (80).

Referee: N McCormack (Laois).

Subscribe to our new podcast, The42 Rugby Weekly, here:

Click Here: new zealand blues jersey

GALWAY HURLERS HAVE received a timely boost with Joseph Cooney marking his return from Australia by turning in a superb performance for his club Sarsfields at the weekend.

Cooney only returned home a few days ago but lined out at full-forward for – against Kilnadeema-Leitrim.

Click Here: Germany soccer tracksuit

And Cooney, who played hurling for the Michael Cusack’s club in Sydney since moving to Australia before Christmas, looked sharp throughout.

Indeed, it took him less than two minutes to rattle the net for a goal and he also picked off some excellent points in a top class display.

Cooney’s Sarsfields, who had opened their campaign with a win over neighbours Cappataggle, were made battle all the way to earn a 1-19 to 3-13 draw against a Kilnadeema-Leitrim side who hit back with goals Jack Kenny, Brian Molloy and Vinnie Kenny.

There was a further boost for the Galway management with Conor Cooney returning to action for St Thomas after suffering an ankle injury in their opening round loss to Liam Mellows.

Cooney was fit to start against Tommy Larkins as the reigning Galway champions sought to get the defence of their county title back on track.

And Cooney was to the fore along with Galway captain David Burke as they carved out a 2-15 to 1-8 win.

Subscribe to our new podcast, The42 Rugby Weekly, here:

A SCINTILLATING CONTEST under the blazing sun in Nowlan Park yesterday saw Cork knock reigning champions Dublin off their perch and reach the Division 1 league final after extra-time. 

It took over 86 minutes of action to separate the two ladies football powerhouses, before Ephie Fitzgerald’s Rebels gained some more revenge for last year’s All-Ireland final loss at Croke Park.

In their second win in as many games over their arch rivals, Orla Finn kicked 13 points in a sun-kissed Easter Sunday battle while Melissa Duggan’s 1-1 was also key for the eventual winners.

And Cork now find themselves back in the league final for the first time since their 2017 win over Donegal, when they made it five-in-a-row.

“It was some spectacle,” Fitzgerald reflected afterwards. “I am very, very proud of the girls. We beat Dublin two weeks ago and people were telling us they were short (of players).

“At the end of the day, we will probably be meeting them later on in the championship, but this is a big lift for our girls. We are in another national final in two weeks’ time, and that is something for our girls to look forward to.

“Dublin are a very formidable side, with top class players, particularly in the forward line. So from our point of view, it’s a confidence builder as much as anything else.”

Sky Blues manager Mick Bohan noted that the last-four defeat really hurt, while confirming that star defender Sinéad Goldrick has been sidelined for four to six weeks with a broken hand.

The 2018 double champions will of course be disappointed at their early exit, but they’ll now build towards their Leinster final meeting with Westmeath and defending the Brendan Martin cup from there.

All smiles for Cork duo Orlagh Farmer and Caoimhe Moore.

Source: Bryan Keane/INPHO

“The last defeat wouldn’t have bothered me but today bothered me,” the two-in-a-row All-Ireland winning boss said.

“But there is nothing between the two teams and we would have known that going into the All-Ireland final last year. A kick of a ball and on another day the kick of the ball could have gone our way.

High-flying Galway come as the Leesiders’ opposition in the decider, which is pencilled in for Parnell Park on Sunday, 5 May.

Having lost just one of their league games so far this year, Tim Rabbitte’s side beat Donegal by seven on Saturday to seal their progression.

And while pleased with the win, which saw the Tribeswomen into their first top-flight final in four years, their manager admitted they still had plenty of improvements to make.

“We’re delighted by 45 minutes and then we’ve some things to work on, some of our decision making and our skills let us down again,” Rabbitte said.

“But when there’s something big on the line players might freeze and there was a small bit of that, but there’s always something to work on.

Sinead Burke, Olivia Divilly and Megan Glynn celebrate after beating Donegal.

Source: Matt Browne/SPORTSFILE

“The goal was to improve our performance and see where that brought us. We didn’t put any limitations on the squad either, we went out to play and see could we improve our performance all the time and we’ve done that.

“We won all our league games bar one, so we deserve to be in a final, and we just have to see can we put a better performance together for that.”

Elsewhere, Donegal boss Maxi Curran — who is planning for championship without AFLW star Yvonne Bonner — was full of praise for the 2019 finalists, adding that they’ll be a force to be reckoned with come championship.

“We have to accept reality, Galway were a far superior team on the day. Their efficiency up front, their ability to get scores, their ability to build through the middle was all very good.

Click Here: cheap wests tigers jersey

“They’ve a lot of mobility in their team and they’re a top senior outfit, genuine contenders for an All-Ireland.”

– With reporting from Daragh Small and Kevin Egan, and quotes from the LGFA 

Subscribe to our new podcast, The42 Rugby Weekly, here:

INTER-COUNTY CAMOGIE PLAYERS and managers will get the chance to voice their concerns at a ‘Feedback Forum’ this weekend, as the rules of the game come under more and more scrutiny with every passing week.

Players across the length and breadth of the country have come out in numbers since last year’s All-Ireland final between Cork and Kilkenny, delivering passionate arguments for change across the board.

The outdated, archaic rules have been hit out at again and again, players insisting that their physicality has outgrown the rule book with the game evolving through the years.

Click Here: munster rugby shirts

“The hits in hurling and the speed it’s played at, that’s what camogie players want,” as Kilkenny star Anna Farrell — the most recent to air her grievances — told The42 last week.

Dublin duo Eve O’Brien and Laura Twomey, Cork’s Amy O’Connor, Galway captain Sarah Dervan and countless other players at every level have also spoken out in the media.

And now, the Camogie Association are holding a feedback session with adult inter-county players and managers in the Croke Park Hotel on Saturday, 27 April.

Each county board have been invited to select two players, the team manager plus one more member of the management team to attend the forum in the capital. 

“It is vitally important that we hear the views of both players and team managements and this is their opportunity to influence the future of Camogie,” the Association wrote on their website.

“The forum will focus on the future of adult inter-county competitions over the next five years and will invite the attendees to contribute on discussions regarding the future of our game and what changes should be considered to improve our game and how we can positively affect and influence change to improve it.

“The forum will also look at how we can collaborate to promote our game and the role and influence of the media in how our game grows.”

At Congress earlier this month, Rule 20.4. re: introduction of ability to trial playing rules passed with a majority of 67%, so change could be on the way sooner rather than later.

And this ’Feedback Forum’ comes as more positive news for players calling for change.

Subscribe to our new podcast, The42 Rugby Weekly, here:

CONNACHT GAA CHIEFS are hoping their €3 million Air Dome project at the province’s centre of excellence in Mayo will be completed by the end of 2019.

It is planned that construction work will commence on the structure in early July, after this year’s Féile na nGael football competitions which are to be held in the venue in June, and it is envisaged that it will take five months.

Speaking at today’s launch of the 2019 Connacht GAA football championship, provincial secretary John Prenty has stated that it will be the largest indoor sports facility of its kind in the world.  The Dome will be 150m x 100m and 26 metres high with a full size pitch, gym, testing area and office space inside.

€2.1 million has already been secured in Government funding through the Rural Regeneration Fund for the project which will complement the provincial body’s existing facilities in Bekan in Mayo. 

There will be capacity for 600 spectators and it is envisaged that inter-county games could be held in the facility, which they feel would be particularly beneficial during spells of bad weather conditions.

“We’re very excited about it,” remarked Prenty.

“It’s going to be of huge benefit to clubs. That’s what we see ourselves as being about.”

Cathal Cregg, the Roscommon footballer and Connacht’s Games Development Manager, echoed Prenty’s views.

Click Here: south sydney rabbitohs shirt

“This is part of our work to bring it back to clubs in Connacht. We provide services here to clubs at nominal prices while also seeking to upskill coaches so they can then help out in their clubs.”

Subscribe to our new podcast, The42 Rugby Weekly, here:

MEATH LEGEND TREVOR Giles believes that Dublin completing the unprecedented five-in-a-row is “the most likely scenario,” although he also feels that 2019 could be an “interesting” championship due to the defeats they suffered during the league.

Dublin relinquished their Division 1 crown earlier this year, after they failed to reach the Division 1 decider for the first time since 2012.

Three defeats in the league condemned Jim Gavin’s charges to an unexpected fourth-place finish in the table, which have sparked questions about Dublin’s form ahead of the championship.

Giles is confident that Dublin will retain the Sam Maguire this year, but he suspects that those losses have made them “more human” as well.

“I think that’s the most likely scenario,” said the two-time All-Ireland winner of Dublin’s five-in-a-row chances.

Giles suspects that defeats in the league have made Dublin more human.

Source: Declan Roughan/INPHO

“It’s a little more interesting this year, they’ve lost three league games and Kilmacud Crokes lost in the Leinster club final and UCD lost the Sigerson semi-final, so some of the players have experienced defeat and they’re a little bit more human.

That may fuel them or slightly make them wonder ‘have they lost it?’ I’d say they’re wondering, we’re wondering. There’s a possibility they’ve come back a little bit but there’s a possibility that it will do them good. 

“For supporters and spectators, that’s what makes this year so interesting.” 

Commenting on the chances of the other contenders for Sam Maguire, Giles lists Mayo and Kerry as being the top teams who can potentially match Dublin this year.

He adds that Donegal are “under the radar” and predicts that they could be in the mix for All-Ireland success if ace forward Paddy McBrearty can reclaim his form after recovering from a cruciate injury.

“Being out of Division 1 did them no harm,” says Giles. “They’ve Patrick McBrearty to come back and if he can come back from his cruciate ligament injury, Donegal will be very competitive towards the end of the year.”

Giles is regarded as one of Meath’s greatest-ever players and played an instrumental role in their attack as the Royals claimed the 1996 and 1999 All-Ireland titles.

But by the turn of the new century, he could feel that his time in a Meath jersey was coming to an end.

Trevor Giles came up against a young Alan Brogan in the 2002 Leinster semi-final.

Source: INPHO

Click Here: dublin gaa jerseys

One moment in the 2002 Leinster semi-final against a Dublin team that featured a youthful Alan Brogan stands out to him as an indicator that he was approaching the end of his inter-county career.

I do remember Alan Brogan around midfield and he just took off and you just say to yourself ‘wow, he’s fast’ and ‘am I getting a little bit slower here?’”

The landscape of Gaelic football has certainly changed since Giles’ era. He remarks that forwards “have plenty more defenders” to contend with in the modern game, which limits the influence they can have on a match.

He can remember an age when the Leinster championship was far more competitive and the Meath supporters expected provincial silverware from the footballers.

“The Meath public were demanding in those days,” he recalls.

“If you hadn’t won a Leinster final against Dublin, you weren’t considered a great Meath player, no matter what you had done at underage.”

Ultimately, he’s happy that his career coincided with a time when attacking football was more prevalent in the sport.

I think I’m glad I played when I did. Leinster was so competitive with Dublin and Kildare and Westmeath and Laois. Offaly were winning Leinster titles [too]. I played for 12 years and we won three. It was pretty good going in the time.

“Maybe it’s a bit of nostalgia but to me, there was great crowds and we would have played to at least around 40,000 and then 50,000 or 60,000 for the big games. 

“It was all knockout and there was no back door for most of those days. You were getting up on a Sunday morning thinking the season could end today. It kind of focuses the mind a bit.”

Trevor Giles was speaking at the launch of the Beko Club Bua programme 2019, the quality mark for Leinster GAA clubs.

Subscribe to our new podcast, The42 Rugby Weekly, here:

AFTER BLAZING A trail in 2018 for the Galway footballers, a seemingly ‘innocuous’ injury sustained at Christmas has derailed the plans for Damien Comer in 2019.

Damien Comer at today’s 2019 Connacht senior football launch.

Source: Bryan Keane/INPHO

The Galway captain fractured a bone in his foot in a charity soccer game on St Stephen’s Day and has yet to feature for the county team this year. He missed their entire league campaign and will also be absent for the early rounds of the championship.

But a Connacht final date in mid June, provided Galway get there, is a potential comeback date for the Annaghdown man.

“(It happened) on St Stephen’s Day in a soccer match we play every year, so it was an innocuous enough thing,” stated Comer.

“It would have been fine if it had been picked up in the first scan. It didn’t. It just showed up a small bit of damage. Then I got it scanned again, it showed a fracture so I’d to go for surgery then.

Click Here: Spain Rugby Shop

“I wasn’t training away. There was still pain, I just didn’t know what was wrong with it. I hadn’t done much because I wasn’t really able, it was too sore. I wouldn’t have done an awful lot of damage but when it showed up the second time, it showed up the fracture and I had to get a screw to fix it.

“Seven weeks post-op nearly now. Just rehabbing away. It’s a bit slower than I expected, I thought I’d be further on than I am. But the physio and doctors are saying mid-June for a return to play. That’ll leave me with missing the first game (against London) anyway.

“If we make it to the Sligo game, I’ll miss that as well. If everything goes well, hopefully a Connacht final. It’s hard to know. I’m relying on whenever the pain goes down and that.”

Damien Comer on crutches at Galway’s game against Tyrone in March.

Source: Lorcan Doherty/INPHO

Comer admits it’s been a frustrating experience watching on as Galway feature to date this season.

“It was. It’s never nice being injured. Watching the lads play was different. I’ve been lucky enough, even up to last year with the college and everything, I was nearly surprised I didn’t pick up an injury along the way because I was playing so much.

“It could have been my body this year telling me I needed a rest. It’s just unfortunate really the way it worked out, it didn’t get picked up the first time. It delayed a few weeks.

“But I’m positive, I’m just rehabbing away and trying to get my body in as good a shape as I can before getting back. Whenever that time comes to come back, I’ll be as prepared as possible.”

Subscribe to our new podcast, The42 Rugby Weekly, here:

MAYO BOSS JAMES Horan has rejected suggestions that demands on inter-county players have escalated in his time away from management and believes it is wrong to talk of sacrifices being made by players.

Horan is gearing up for Mayo’s opening 2019 championship assignment on Sunday 5 May in a Connacht first round tie against New York.

The tie in Gaelic Park will be his first championship encounter in his second spell in charge. His last summer tie in charge was the 2014 All-Ireland semi-final replay against Kerry in the Gaelic Grounds. After four seasons watching on he has returned to inter-county management and is able to assess shifts in the sport in the interim.

But the notion that there has been a spike in what is expected of players is not one that Horan is on board with.

“I don’t think so. I’ve had this debate many times. I know young swimmers in Castlebar that are spending more time in the pool than inter-county players are on the field.

“I know an amount of cyclists, middle-aged men who are spending more time on their bikes, and no one knows or cares they are doing it. I haven’t ever bought into that.

“It’s (sacrifice) the wrongest word going. You ask any player, they love what they’re doing.

“I think it’s important that their work-life balance integration is right. We’ve tried to look at that and we’ve done a lot of good work with the GPA to make sure that’s right for players.

“The age profile of the team we have, Seamie O’Shea is getting married on Friday, Chris Barrett got married at Christmas, Kevin McLoughlin is just recently married.

“There is a lot of that happening. You can’t section away certain things; it’s got to align as much as possible. We’re very conscious of that.”

Defender Lee Keegan made some striking comments last week about attitudes in the GAA towards players drinking and the bans placed on some teams. Horan insists he trusts his players to make the right decision and it is not an issue for them.

Mayo footballer Lee Keegan.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Click Here: Celtic football tracksuit

“If you need that sort of stance or position, I’m not quite sure where the motivation of the players is at. I’m lucky enough that the guys that I’m working with, this stuff never comes up. It actually never comes up. It genuinely doesn’t.

“You are not going to train every day or prepare your body every day and then do daft stuff. You’ll naturally or organically fall off a panel if that stuff is happening. The group will cast that type of thing aside.

“It takes its own course. It never comes up. It is not an issue for us. Maybe, I am just lucky as a manager to have such a motivated bunch. That’s certainly where we are.”

Mayo were recently crowned Division 1 football league champions.

Source: Bryan Keane/INPHO

Horan pointed to a greater emphasis on technology as a key change in preparing a team since his last spell ended in 2014 and feels that Gaelic football is ‘a bit more positive’ now as a spectacle.

“A lot of the principles are the same, of what you’re trying to do and how you’re trying to go about it.

“There is a bit more technology now, you’re a little bit more effective with your time. The loading would be more accurate, the metres you would cover in a week and that kind of stuff.

“It’s more precise and that should lead to a better prepared player when you need it. Overall, it’s about working with people to get as much stuff right as you can. That will never change.

“Some of the science and technology has definitely come on, even since we were there last.

“I do think it’s (the game of Gaelic football) a bit more positive from what I remember. Maybe that’s just the way I want to see it. I remember playing a couple of games and watching a couple of games and the amount of attacks that teams had were not enough to win games.

“There was a containment and trying to win games on 11 and 12 points. I don’t think you are going to win many games that way. I think there is a realisation and you see teams that are trying to push more and press on opposition kick-outs and that gives you a starting base for being higher up the pitch.

“There are a few things like that that are definitely happening. The game is getting back up into a strong position. It’s getting here. Hopefully that continues.”

Subscribe to our new podcast, The42 Rugby Weekly, here:

LEINSTER-WINNING CLUB star Shane Mulligan believes that “there is definitely is a conversation to be had” about the possible introduction of a second-tier football championship.

Mulligan soldiered at inter-county level for 10 years before retiring in 2015.

Source: Stephen McCarthy/SPORTSFILE

Along with his incredible exploits with Mullinalaghta this season, Mulligan previously soldiered at inter-county level for 10 years.

He called time on his days in the blue and gold jersey in 2015, following an impressive career as a regular starter in the Longford defence. 

Mulligan points out that his decision was simply down to being content with his lot in the game, while also coming to a stage in life where marriage and raising a family was starting to take over.

He recalls his years with Longford fondly, and was involved in some major victories down through the years. But as the gap between teams continues to widen, he suggests that perhaps it is time to start a discussion about bringing in a second-tier championship.

Having been through 10 years with Longford, it’s probably there for debate. There definitely is a conversation to be had about it. I know when I reflect on my time with Longford and some of our performances, we had great battles and some great games with [the likes of] Wexford and Offaly.

“We had a couple of replays and things like that and they were much more enjoyable performances than going out to the bigger counties and suffering big losses. 

“They take time and take a lot out of you to bounce back from. For me personally, there was more enjoyment in those real competitive games on championship days in the sun when the stadiums are full. Coming into the closing stages of the game and it’s still there rather than when the stadium is half empty and you’re being beaten by 12 or 14 points.”

Mulligan continues by referring to Longford’s deserved reputation for being qualifier specialists, but adds that producing consistent performances was sometimes a struggle for the midlands county.

“I know we took some big scalps in the qualifiers but I suppose you didn’t really have that consistency. You were getting a big performance and a big win but then you mightn’t be backing it up .

“I don’t know. At club [level], I would have played a lot of intermediate and that’s where you learn the trade and then progress into senior.” 

Longford have been dealt a significant blow in the build-up to this year’s Leinster SFC, with the news that key players including Darren Gallagher, Robbie Smyth, Dessie Reynolds and Rian Brady are all set to be unavailable for manager Padraic Davis.

Longford boss Padraic Davis will have to plan without the services of some key players in the championship.

Source: Dave Farrell/INPHO

The Longford Leader reports that all the players involved are understood to be making plans to travel to America.

“I suppose it is part and parcel with the smaller counties,” remarks Mulligan.

“Longford were always going to feel it that little bit more. I suppose it is life choices and things like that.

“Other things in your life take up time, and the way inter-county football has gone, it’s such a professional aspect, so you need to devote so much of your time to things like that. I guess it’s all a juggling act. Young lads before they settle down want to get away too.”

Mullinalaghta captured the imagination of GAA people across the country this year with their incredible journey to becoming the first Longford club to win a senior Leinster title.

They stunned the Dublin champions Kilmacud Crokes in the final last December before bowing out at the All-Ireland semi-final stage against a strong Dr Crokes outfit earlier this year.

There’s no regrets about that defeat in Semple Stadium and team captain Mulligan says that normality has since resumed in the north-Longford half-parish, where players understand that “you don’t get away with airs and graces out there.”

A delighted Mulligan after Mullinalghta’s Leinster final victory.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

Mullinalaghta are now fully focused on the 2019 season, and Longford have made effective use of the club-only month, according to Mulligan.

Mullinalaghta have up to four league games to play before inter-county game takes over again, with the club championship to come later in the year.

“It’s been good,” says Mulligan.

“It’s important for us because the club is so small and the numbers are so tight that we really need our county players back out with us to be competitive.

“We have them back and in good fettle. It gives you a bit of momentum and gives an opportunity to coaching from the new manager and working with his full crew.”

Shane Mulligan was speaking at the launch of the Beko Club Bua programme 2019, the quality mark for Leinster GAA clubs.

Subscribe to our new podcast, The42 Rugby Weekly, here:

Click Here: Cheap Old Skool shoes

WHEN MAYO LAST journeyed to New York for a Connacht championship game, James Horan was at the helm for that transatlantic trip in 2014.

Five years on and Horan is handling the managerial reins again as Mayo head back there for Sunday week’s provincial opener.

This time the Mayo boss is confident that no issues will crop up off the field to cause problems for the Mayo camp.

The 2014 trip saw some Mayo fans unhappy over the non-appearance of players at an event at a golf club in Yonkers two days before the match in Gaelic Park.

Horan believes a lack of clear communication was the reason for ‘some confusion’ at that time but they have ‘gone into good detail’ to plan for this match.

“I think with experience you take the lessons, so hopefully all that side of it (off the pitch stuff) will be strong. I’m sure there’ll be a few things that’ll pop up.

“There was a few things planned (last time). I think the communications around it with some of the supporters that were there wasn’t clear. That’s sort of where there might have been some confusion with it.

“I remember the last time we were over, it’s funny, best made plans and all that. Just the logistics of getting over there and waiting for a bus and waiting to get some food, it had been quite a number of hours before we’d eaten, when you take plane food into account and all that sort of stuff.

“So it’s small stuff like that but it can have a knock on or it can snowball a small bit. Little things like that. We’ve gone into good detail to make sure they’re right.

The Mayo and New York teams before their match in Gaelic Park in 2014.

Source: Andy Marlin/INPHO

“There’s obviously things planned over there this year and it’s Mayo Day on the Saturday over there. I know there’s a few events planned and that kind of stuff but we’ve a very experienced bunch.

“The new guys have worked very well with the experienced guys. There’s a few events to go to but it shouldn’t distract in any way from the preparation.”

Mayo fly out to New York next week on Thursday 2 May before the game takes place on the Sunday afternoon at Gaelic Park (7.15pm Irish time).

“That’s a huge benefit of it that we get together on the Wednesday night, we’ll train on the Wednesday night in Abbottstown before we go.

“We’ll fly out Thursday morning so you’ll have guys that really haven’t spent an overnight before, Fermanagh before we played Tyrone type thing, that’s about the some of the new guys have (experienced), so that’s huge benefit.

“Get everyone together for a couple of days, couple of sessions together and just generally spending time and figuring out what makes guys tick. That’s a huge part of the team development. So there’s a huge amount of benefits to travelling to New York from that aspect for sure.

“We arrive on the Thursday so we’ll train Friday morning, we’ll get ready for the game and just do as many of the simple things as we can. We’ll have a few sessions after the game as well. Try and make the most of our time there.”

Click Here: wests tigers shirt

Source: Bryan Keane/INPHO

Horan also delivered an update on the injury recovery of established players like Seamus O’Shea, Cillian O’Connor and Tom Parsons.

“(We’ve been) training hard the last few weeks so we’re pushing bodies and there is going to be the odd injury with cub games and championship and all that so we picked up a few niggles. Seamie O’Shea is making a recovery, Cillian O’Connor had some game time with Ballintubber, a few knock and bangs but not far off. It’s coming.

“You always want your injured players back quicker but you have to be patient with them too. Tom Parsons is making a good recovery. It’s difficult to know.

“I’d say the medical experts are the guys you need to ask on that. He’s making huge progress. I know there are other guys who had similar injuries that are back playing at a professional level. Tom has got the best level of medical care going so he is working hard and every day he is making progress.”

Subscribe to our new podcast, The42 Rugby Weekly, here: