Month: September 2021

TIPPERARY HAVE BOOKED their place in the final of the first phase of the Electric Ireland Munster minor football championship following a draw against Limerick.

The Premier County will take on Clare in that decider on 7 May after the sides previously met last week. Clare secured their spot in the final after scoring a seven-point win in that tie at Cusack Park.

Tipperary and Limerick couldn’t be separated in their Round 3 clash on Wednesday, with both sides hitting 0-10. The sides were also level at half-time, scoring 0-5 each as their encounter went right down to the wire. 

Kyle Shelly starred for Tipp and edged his side into a 0-10 0-9 lead before Eliah Riordan responded with a late free for Limerick at the death. The Shannonsiders needed a win in order to progress to the final, but they couldn’t manage to kick the decisive score before the full-time whistle.

Electric Ireland Munster Minor Football

Full Time
Waterford (Port Láirge): 2-7(13)
Clare (An Clár): 1-9(12)

FANTASTIC COME BACK BY OUR MINOR FOOTBALLERS! WELL DONE TO ALL INVOLVED!

⚪️🔵 pic.twitter.com/N5ErKbCH2m

— Waterford GAA (@WaterfordGAA) April 24, 2019

Meanwhile, Waterford rallied to score a 1-9 to 2-7 win over Clare, who are still bound for the final against Tipperary despite the result. 

The Déise were six points adrift of Clare in the second half before a late surge propelled them to victory. 

The Banner led 1-3 0-3 at the break, with Thomas Meenaghan providing the goal for Clare on 20 minutes. 

Source: Derrick Lynch Twitter Page.

There was a delay to the start of the second half after an ambulance was required to attend to Clare’s Matthew Reidy, who suffered a mouth injury in the opening half.

Clare extended their advantage after the restart and were 1-10 to 0-4 in front before Waterford began to reduce the deficit.

They were still trailing by two points heading into injury-time but a late penalty by DJ Melia helped Waterford over the line to clinch a dramatic victory.

Munster SFC Round 3

Results:

Tipperary 0-10 Limerick 0-10

Waterford 2-7 Clare 1-9

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CASTLEKNOCK HIT A late flurry of goals to secure a dramatic win over St Vincent’s in their Dublin SFC1 Group 4 clash.

St Vincent’s were six points clear inside the opening 11 minutes of the second half before Shane Boland hit the first of Castleknock’s three goals.

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Tomas Quinn top-scored for Vincent’s with 0-5, including three frees, while Diarmuid Connolly also split the posts to keep Vincent’s scoreboard ticking over.

They were still three points in front with 10 minutes remaining before Castleknock found two more goals in the final stages through substitute Kevin Stephenson and Gerard McDermottroe.

Dublin star Ciaran Kilkenny was among their other scorers, hitting one point from play.

There were six minutes of additional time, but the Castleknock defence stood firm to deny Vincent’s a late equalising goal.

Meanwhile, Aodhan Clabby kicked an impressive nine points to help power Balinteer St John’s to victory against St Brigid’s at O’Toole Park.

Brigid’s hit three early points to open up an advantage before Balinteer edged into a three-point lead through a combination of Clabby frees and further points from Eoghan Fitzpatrick and Aaron Bradshaw.

Balinteer had built up a 1-10 to 0-7 lead before Brigid’s tried to engineer a late rally with goals from Sean Egan and Cian Mullins.

But a late save from goalkeeper John Brian Carthy kept Balinteer noses in front at the final whistle.

Kevin McManamon scored a goal for Judes against Raheny.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

Elsewhere, St Judes registered a seven-point win over Raheny.

Judes held a 1-6 to 1-4 lead at the break and stretched their lead to seven before the end, with Kevin McManamon finding the back of the net for Judes’ second goal of the game.

Thomas Davis ran out emphatic winners over St Oliver Plunketts Eoghan Ruadh, winning on a scoreline of 2-11 to 0-7 after being six points clear at half-time.

Results:

St Judes 2-12 Raheny 2-5

St Oliver Plunketts Eoghan Ruadh 0-7 Thomas Davis 2-11

Castleknock 3-8 St Vincent’s 0-14

Balinteer St Johns 1-16 St Brigid’s 2-11

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THE SPRING PROGRESS of the Leitrim footballers caught the national imagination, promotion achieved from the bottom tier and a rare appearance in Croke Park as they contested the Division 4 final in late March. 

Leitrim footballer Micheal McWeeney at the 2019 Connacht championship launch.

Source: Bryan Keane/INPHO

Defeat was their lot to Derry as they sought silverware but with a large Leitrim contingent present to support their side, it was a memorable occasion for the county’s football fortunes.

When the Leitrim players returned to the club arena in April, they found themselves brought back down to earth.

Defender Micheal McWeeney lined out for his local side St Mary’s Carrick-on-Shannon and suffered whiplash in a club game, a setback as he gears up for the Connacht opener against Roscommon on 12 May. 

The full-back believes county players should get ‘a bit of protection’ from referees when they line out in club matches.

“We played three rounds of league. A lot of boys have come back battered and bruised from it.

“It was tough. I seen a few articles about the April month. I actually missed two of them (league games) because I got a belt in one of them.

“Not making a big deal out of it but I think when you go back you would prefer to have a bit of protection.

“I know we played a game with Leitrim (last Monday night), and half our team were missing because we got knocks from it. I’d like to see referees giving more protection. I saw the Cavan manager (Mickey Graham) saying it, how many players he is down.

“I see it every year when you go back, you are targeted straight away. I’d just like a bit more protection, from my own point of view. It’s been a tough three or four weeks.”

“It’s the exact same everywhere. You get looked after – you are the man – even though I was full-back. It’s normally the forwards that get looked at – you’re watching him go up the field.

“I got a collision. I’ve been ruled out with whiplash for the last couple of weeks so I don’t know, time is against me with it.

“It’s in every county. There’s no point making excuses. Just get on with it. Unfortunately, I got it this time.”

With their league schedule concluded, Leitrim are switching to championship mode. The provincial structure continues to be viewed as faulty in many quarters and while McWeeney would not object to the introduction of a tiered system, he insists it would have to be promoted properly.

“It’s down the line, I’d be in favour of it if it was promoted the exact same as the first tier. At the moment what I’m hearing is it’s not.

“If it was a tier two championship that would have the same goals as the first tier, Allstars and trips as well, they have to be equal.

“What I’ve heard about the Tommy Murphy Cup before was it was just a gimmick. My fear is that if it took that route, it might be okay for a year or two but could slide then. The GAA, in my eyes, care about Division One and Two and Division three and Four just making up numbers.”

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A DONEGAL MAN who is battling Motor Neurone Disease has pleaded with the GAA to overturn an eight-week suspension proposed to his local club.

In February, Naomh Colmcille’s grounds in the village of Newtowncunningham staged a tournament to raise funds to help Paul Dillon cope with the illness.

Paul, a former player and long-time coach with the Naomh Colmcille club, has called for ‘common sense’ to be used.

“Hopefully the ban will be overturned and people will do the right thing,” he said.

“I’d like to see a bit of common sense about the whole thing.

“I was taken back by it when I heard it first. We feel guilty. It’s not the club’s fault.”

Donegal GAA’s management committee was alerted to the staging of the tournament, following a complaint, and found Naomh Colmcille to be in breach of the GAA’s official guide.

The tournament – organised by a local committee spearheaded by Councillor Paul Canning – helped raise over €5,000.

A weekend-long series of events raised €85,000 to go towards necessary works to make the Dillons’ family home wheelchair accessible.

Paul, a father-of-three, said: “People were so good to the family. That gave us such a lift. We went to most of the events.

“The tournament was a great day’s craic, seeing all the boys togged out with the big bellies. It was great to see it. It was so enjoyable.

“There were 1,300 people out for a 5k. It was amazing to see that.”

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The 45-year-old was an active athlete with Lifford-Strabane Athletic Club, but his last race was the north-west 10k in May 2018.

He said: “It really kicked off last March and I put it down at the start to an Achilles injury from running.

“Last July, my foot just dropped on me. I couldn’t pull it up. I went to a consultant in Ballykelly. He sent me to Belfast for more tests. I was called back to Belfast in December and he made me get in touch with Sligo Hospital. We knew there was something serious up.

“When the foot dropped, I knew it was something worse.”

On 2 January this year, Paul received the news that he had been diagnosed with MND.

He said: “It was devastating. The whole world was falling apart. You learn to do things differently.

“We got the news that nobody wanted to hear.

“I get good days and hard days. We’re managing alright so far.

“I’m not bad. I’m trying to keep the spirits up. I got the wheelchair a couple of weeks ago. I had been using crutches, but I kept falling. I was going to break my leg or break something else.”

Christmas was difficult as January loomed large on the Dillons’ horizon.

“We weren’t sleeping at all over Christmas,” Paul’s wife, Emma, said. “I fell apart from Christmas to the 2 January.

“We came down the road from Sligo and it was the end of the world.”

In June, the Dillons – Paul, Emma and their children, Lilly, Heidi and Daisy – will go to Disneyland for a well-deserved family holiday.

By then, a specialised bedroom and bathroom – currently being built onto their home – will be finished.

The Dillons’ spirits were lifted on the fundraising weekend, but the events of the last few days has pulled the rug from beneath them.

“It’s lousy,” Emma said.

“I assume whoever reported it didn’t think it would cause this kind of fuss.”

Their anger is not against a club that has formed such a part of Paul’s life.

“I was 15 years coaching with the club,” he said.

“There were times when I’d have taken 30 kids to a game myself. I enjoyed it and I just got on with it. They were great times.”

Naomh Colmcille is not suspended until the outcome of their hearing is finalised.

“Due process shall take place and CLG Naomh Colmcille have the right to prove these findings incorrect or mis-applied,” Donegal GAA said in a statement.

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PREPARE TO SEE a lot more of Kieran Donaghy on your screens this summer, with the Kerry legend announced as a Sky Sports pundit this morning. 

The four-time All-Ireland winner joins the line-up for their GAA championship coverage after his inter-county retirement at the end of the 2018 season.

Donaghy, Footballer of the Year in 2006, drew the curtain on an illustrious 14-year career with the Kingdom last September — one in which he also collected three All-Stars as it ‘surpassed even my wildest dreams’.

Since calling it a day, the 35-year-old has kept himself busy with a position in the Galway hurling backroom team, Super League basketball glory with Tralee Warriors, and several media appearances.

Now, he’ll feature on televisions across the length and breadth of the country alongside the likes of Peter Canavan and Senan Connell, while Jamesie O’Connor, JJ Delaney and Ollie Canning will once again oversee hurling duties.

Source: Sky Sports Twitter.

“This year we welcome the brilliant Kieran Donaghy to our panel,” JD Buckley, Sky Ireland’s managing director, said.

“Kieran brings with him a wealth of experience, knowledge and pure passion. I’ve no doubt he’ll bring another dimension to our coverage.”

The broadcaster will show 20 live championship games — 14 of those exclusive — in 2019, and announced the news at Croke Park today.

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SKY SPORTS HAVE confirmed their live TV schedule for the 2019 GAA championship season, including the 14 exclusive games they’ll broadcast this summer.

They’ve announced a total of 22 live fixtures, kicking off with exclusive action as Kilkenny and Dublin face off the the Leinster SHC on 11 May.

Exclusive coverage continues in the Ulster SFC as old rivals Cavan and Monaghan clash at Kingspan Breffni Park on 18 May.

There’s further provincial action across both football and hurling, but that comes to a halt after two Leinster hurling championship clashes on 15 June.

In total, Sky will cover seven hurling matches and 15 football through the summer. 

While showing the All-Ireland semi-finals across both codes, their coverage concludes with the All-Ireland football final on 18 August. The hurling decider will be screened the Sunday before.

Sky’s newest pundit comes in the form of Kerry legend Kieran Donaghy, with insight and analysis across the two codes coming from GAA greats Peter Canavan, Senan Connell, Jamesie O’Connor, JJ Delaney and Ollie Canning.

A view of Sky Sports capturing the action last year.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Dave McIntyre and Mike Finnerty have been announced as lead commentators for 2019, with Nicky English, Michael Fennelly, Dick Clerkin and Paul Earley providing co-commentary. Damian Lawlor is on board once again as a sideline reporter.

There are two ways to watch the action: GAA fans can watch exclusive live fixtures on Sky Sports via Sky/Sky Go or on TV streaming service NOW TV.

Wednesday evening’s The Championship Review will also return to Sky Sports Arena, kicking off on 8 May before the live action gets underway that weekend.

Here’s the full list of matches Sky Sports will cover:

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Sky Sports 2019 GAA Championship Schedule

• Kilkenny v Dublin (Leinster SHC), Saturday, 11 May
• Cavan v Monaghan (Ulster SFC), Saturday, 18 May
• Mayo/New York v Roscommon/Leitrim (Connacht SFC), Saturday, 25 May
• Cork v Waterford (Munster SHC), Saturday, 8 June
• Leinster Hurling Championship (Leinster SHC) x2**, Saturday, 15 June
• Football Qualifier Round 2**, Saturday 22 June
• Football Qualifier Round 3**, Saturday, 29 June
• Football Qualifier Round 3, Saturday, 29 June
• Football Qualifier Round 4, Saturday, 6 July
• Football Qualifier Round 4, Saturday, 6 July
• SFC Quarter Final, Round 1, Saturday, 13 July
• SFC Quarter Final, Round 2 (Croke Park), Saturday, 20 July
• SFC Quarter Final, Round 2 (Croke Park), Saturday, 20 July
• All Ireland Hurling Semi Final, Saturday, 27 July
• All Ireland Hurling Semi Final, Sunday, 28 July
• SFC Quarter Final, Round 3, Saturday, 3 August
• SFC Quarter Final, Round 3, Saturday, 3 August
• All-Ireland Football Semi Final, Saturday, 10 August
• All Ireland Football Semi Final, Sunday, 11 August
• All Ireland Hurling Final, Sunday, 18 August
• All Ireland Football Final, Sunday, 1 September

**Subject to fixture selection

Find out more here.

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JOE CANNING COULD yet play a part in this year’s Leinster Hurling Championship as he prepares to step up rehab work following groin surgery.

The Galway ace went under the knife earlier this month on the injury he sustained in the league semi-final defeat to Waterford and was given “a 14-to-16 week” recovery period.

Micheal Donoghue’s team are chasing their third provincial title in succession this summer and open the campaign against Carlow on 12 May.

And while Canning is certain to miss that clash, his brother, Ollie, hasn’t ruled him out of a return ahead of the All-Ireland series with the Leinster final fixed for 30 June – exactly 14 weeks since the Waterford game.

“What the experts have said is ‘14-to-16 weeks’ from when he had the surgery, so you’re talking about the back-end of the Leinster Championship at the earliest,” he told The42 at today’s Sky Sports championship coverage launch at Croke Park.

Canning lays stricken on the Nowlan Park turf after getting injured against Waterford.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

“Since the surgery, he is in recovery mode now. The first couple of weeks were very, very slow. There was practically no rehab; he was on crutches for the first week or two.

“Once that settles down I’m sure he’ll start his rehab and only then will the medical team and himself be able to judge where he’s at. But, for now, it’s very hard to say, he hasn’t done anything on it since.”

The five-time All-Star’s last serious injury was a torn hamstring, picked up during the 2016 All-Ireland semi-final loss to Tipperary.

He came back from that to lead the Tribesmen to a first Liam MacCarthy Cup in 29 years in 2017 before falling short in the decider last September.

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And while Canning — a hurling pundit with Sky — says his young sibling’s spring misfortune took some time to digest, he’s confident the 30-year-old will recuperate to a level where he can once again spearhead the Galway attack.

The last serious injury he had, I suppose, was three years ago when he did his hamstring against Tipperary.

“Of course he’s had sprains and strains in the meantime that you don’t hear about, he just manages that, but it’s three years since he’s had a really serious injury where he’s been out for a number of months.

“Hopefully the work he’s put in over the last two years help in his recovery. You’d like to think the conditioning work he’s done with the backroom team over the last two seasons will stand to him.

Conor Cooney is also struggling with injury.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

“After the initial disappointment and frustration, you have to start turning your energy to recovery and doing everything you can to get back in as short a time as possible.

“Galway have had a couple of injuries: Conor Cooney got injured in a club game – he did some ankle ligament damage, I believe – so him and Joe are two big knocks for Galway.

“But the good news is that Joseph Cooney has returned from his trip abroad so he’ll be definitely an advantage for Micheal Donoghue.”

Gavan Casey and Murray Kinsella are joined by Andy Dunne to get stuck into last weekend’s Champions Cup semi-finals.:

Source: The42 Rugby Weekly/SoundCloud

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SENAN CONNELL RECKONS this year’s championship is Meath’s biggest in a decade as they bid to build on their spring promotion from Division Two.

The Royals have been drawn on the opposite side of the Leinster Championship to Dublin and begin their provincial assault at home to Offaly on 12 June.

Kildare, Connell says, were the ‘springer’ last season as they reached the inaugural Super 8s stage, but feels Meath are best equipped of those outside this year’s top-flight to make a burst for the All-Ireland series with the aim of edging towards Dublin in standard terms.

“Meath are just slowly building and we seen with the McEntees here in Dublin, Gerry — I know he’s not involved this year, but he was in the background in the first year with Andy — he brought Brigid’s to an All-Ireland semi-final and Andy did a job with Ballyboden,” Connell told The42.

“Everywhere the McEntees go they do a job so it was only a matter of time before Andy was going to bring this Meath team to a place and they’re at that place now which is heading for Division One.

Meath defender Donal Keoghan after the Division Two final loss to Donegal.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

“They need to get to the Super 8s. I think this championship, more than any championship over the last decade, is the most important for Meath because they’re ultimate goal has to be to get to the Super 8s.

“Whatever about putting in a performance against Dublin here, it’s about getting to the Super 8s and the experience of playing Division One sides in championship, bringing the confidence forward into the league next year and then maybe in the next couple of years we could be looking at Dublin and Meath competing again, because it is happening at underage level.

“During the week there was a tight enough match [Dublin U17s vs Meath U17s], 4-10 to 2-10 win for Dublin, and Meath minors have beaten Dublin in recent years.

“That gap is narrowing again; they seem to have their house in order after neglecting development squads for a long time.”

If Leinster’s other giant, Kildare, are to make it back-to-back last eight appearances, Connell believes Daniel Flynn’s presence will be crucial, while Donegal, he adds, are a side capable of reaching the latter end of the All-Ireland series, with teenage forward Oisín Gallen being tipped as a player to watch

“Donegal are not going to be a surprise package, but might cause a surprise and get to a semi-final or final.

Donegal’s Oisín Gallen (right) is one of the players to watch this summer, says Senan Connell.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

“If [Patrick] McBrearty is back, all of a sudden that axis with [Michael] Murphy, there’ll be less pressure on the young fella, Gallen, and he can kick scores.

“They’re finding their feet, they’re finding forwards and Stephen Rochford can certainly feed information about playing against the most experienced teams in the most difficult environments.”

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Mayo, meanwhile, embark on a Connacht campaign in which they will seek to earn a first title in three seasons. That, Connell insists, is a must in James Horan’s opening year of his second stint as county boss.

“What’s realistic for me has to be a Connacht title because the pendulum has swung: Galway have the advantage there. It should be a Mayo/Galway final so I’d say that’s James’ initial target because it’s your stepping stone into the Super 8s then and that next level.

Mayo have proven themselves to be a Croke Park team, so Connacht is where their issues lie and even in MacHale Park, it’s not a cauldon any more, Galway have no problem going and playing there.

“I think Mayo have won more games in a two-year period in Croke Park than they have in MacHale Park. Their initial target has to be to win Connacht and wrestle back that momentum and I think Mayo supporters want that, they don’t want to be looking over the ditch at Galway with a Connacht title in their back pocket.”

Senan Connell was speaking as Sky Sports announced its GAA fixtures for the 2019 Championship. A total of 20 live, and 14 exclusive, fixtures of Championship action will be available on Sky’s multi-platform offering throughout the season.

Gavan Casey and Murray Kinsella are joined by Andy Dunne to get stuck into last weekend’s Champions Cup semi-finals.:

Source: The42 Rugby Weekly/SoundCloud

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DUBLIN FOOTBALLERS CAN learn from Kilkenny hurlers’ failed five-in-a-row bid of 2010 as they seek to make history this year, says Cats legend JJ Delaney.

The Sky Sports pundit was a key member of the Kilkenny team that lost to Tipperary nine years ago as they aimed to reach the unique milestone which the Dubs are targeting this season.

It was a feat Kerry also fell short of in 1982 when Seamus Darby scored that famous match-winning goal for Offaly in the Croke Park decider.

“The hype is very, very difficult to overcome,” Delaney told The42.

Sky Sports GAA pundits at today’s launch at Croke Park.

Source: Sam Barnes/SPORTSFILE

“If you go down to the shop for a litre of milk or a newspaper, people are talking to you about it; it takes over the whole county.

“It’s all people want to talk to you about. You just can’t escape it. You’d be at work and lads would be asking the same questions. You’d end up answering the same questions maybe 10 times over the day.

“It’s the sort of thing that you can’t get away from and something the Dublin players are going to have to deal with this summer.

“It will get into your head if you’re talking about it, especially the five-in-a-row. It’s a motivation and if you win Leinster and get to an All-Ireland semi-final, it gets more real and the more the year goes on the more real it gets.

“You begin to let yourself think about winning it because it’s an opportunity that you’ll never get back. Dublin will only get one opportunity to do this and if they do win it, they’re making history.

“Fair enough, within team meetings it’ll never be mentioned, but individually you let your mind wander. It’s human nature.”

Asked if there are lessons to be learned from his county’s 2010 demise, Delaney admitted there were and has warned Jim Gavin’s men of the challenges they’ll face in the form of extra-determined opponents.

Delaney and Tipperary’s Gearoid Ryan during the 2010 All-Ireland final.

Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

“They can learn from the publicity and how we dealt with it, or how we didn’t deal with it, more than anything,” he added.

“With the planning that goes in, especially with Dublin in that they’re so professional, they will look into it, I’d say, and see where the pitfalls where.

“Everyone’s going to raise their game against Dublin this year. You’ll have a lot of motivation from the likes of Kerry, Tyrone and Galway, and Dublin are going to have to raise their game, but they’ve to get their own house in order first and if they can get their motivation right, they should be a match for anyone.

“The opportunity to get five-in-a-row, we were beaten by the better team on the day in 2010.

“All we could have done at that stage was to come back and win it the following year, which we did, but when you look back on your career, you always have 2010 in your head.”

JJ Delaney was speaking as Sky Sports announced its GAA fixtures for the 2019 Championship. A total of 20 live, and 14 exclusive, fixtures of Championship action will be available on Sky’s multi-platform offering throughout the season.

Gavan Casey and Murray Kinsella are joined by Andy Dunne to get stuck into last weekend’s Champions Cup semi-finals.:

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Source: The42 Rugby Weekly/SoundCloud

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KILKENNY CAMOGIE STAR Grace Walsh believes that “a change needs to be made” to make the games more free-flowing and says that the last two All-Ireland finals “probably looked like crap” for supporters.

Kilkenny and Tullaroan star Grace Walsh at the launch of the Beko Club Bua programme 2019.

Source: Stephen McCarthy/SPORTSFILE

The playing rules have repeatedly come under scrutiny since last year’s decider between Cork and Kilkenny, with several high profile players calling for change to allow for greater physicality in matches.

And now Walsh, who lined out at corner-back in that defeat to Cork last September, is adding her voice to the chorus.

Naturally, the Tullaroan defender was concentrating on the game, but she was also aware that it wasn’t a great spectacle for the crowd.

“Maybe not as much the league final, but the last two All-Ireland finals were just a game of frees, [they were] low-scoring and probably looked like crap from the sideline to be honest.”

Walsh was ruled out of this year’s Division 1 final against Galway with an ankle injury. From her view on the sideline, she could see that the fluidity of the game had improved from the All-Ireland final.

And yet, she also believes that there are further strides to be taken to eliminate the stop-start nature of games in camogie.

She feels that the games could be even more exciting and the Camogie Association are giving inter-county players and managers an opportunity to voice those concerns through a ‘Feedback Forum’ at the Croke Park Hotel tomorrow.

And it comes at a fitting time with results of a Women’s Gaelic Players Association (WGPA) survey – published on Wednesday — showing that 82% of players are in favour of trialling new rules. 70% stated the rules on physical contact very much need a change. 

“The league final this year looked a little bit more free-flowing but it still wasn’t as free-flowing as it should be,” says Walsh.

“It was nearly boring from watching it on the sideline.

“I think it’s nearly up to the Camogie Association to learn from what they have seen online afterwards that a change needs to be made. The games need to be more free-flowing.

“What I watched in the league final, that’s not the team that I know. That’s not the way that camogie can be played because it can be so exciting and the girls are so skillful. It’s just that those skills are not shown the days of the big games.

Battling against Amy O’Connor in last year’s All-Ireland final.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

“It might not be the referee’s fault, there might be somebody on their back and is getting them to blow [for] more frees. But I think it’s nearly up to them to learn from it.

“There were a lot of frees in the All-Ireland final, but I probably didn’t notice because I was playing and I was just focused on the game. But then I noticed it from watching on the sideline against Galway and it wasn’t as exciting as it could be.” 

Kilkenny were aiming to complete the four-in-a-row in that league final, but the Tribeswomen edged out the reigning champions by two points in the end.

Reflecting on the game, Walsh concedes that Galway were simply the better side after establishing a six-point lead at half-time.

She would have loved the opportunity to help her team-mates in Croke Park that day, but adds that Ann Downey’s side will draw positives from the performance that they channel into their championship campaign later in the summer.

“I could have been there to help the girls by even just talking to them on the pitch. It’s just disappointing. We didn’t perform as a team and Galway were just class. Maybe it was just that Galway didn’t allow us to perform.

“It was hard but it was good at the same time to be able to see on the sideline, what changes could have been made. But it’s in the past now and we just have to keep looking forward.”

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

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