Month: September 2021

Sligo 0-7
Galway 3-11

Darragh Small reports from Markievicz Park

LIAM SILKE INSPIRED reigning champions Galway to the Connacht final with victory over Sligo.

Galway haven’t put provincial crowns back-to-back since 2003 but moved one step closer at Markievicz Park.

Kevin Walsh’s men were 0-5 to 0-3 in front after a dull first half. The game came to life on the resumption with two quickfire goals from Silke and Johnny Heaney turning the game in Galway’s favour.

Sligo tried for a comeback but that was cancelled out by Walsh as the Galway bench came on to shore up the result and Martin Farragher scored 1-1 after Sean Andy Ó Ceallaigh was sent-off.

It was a hectic opening salvo with Sligo captain Niall Murphy and Galway corner back Liam Silke on target inside three minutes, but there wouldn’t be another score for a quarter of an hour.

Sligo’s Adrain McIntyre with Liam Silke of Galway.

Source: Evan Logan/INPHO

Corofin’s club footballer of the year Kieran Molloy departed with a serious looking injury in the 15th minute when he collided with a combination of Shane Walsh and Sligo’s Paul Kilcoyne.

That was a huge blow for Galway but the players responded well on the field after the introduction of Gary O’Donnell. Galway scored three points in a row between the 18th and 24th minutes.

Fiontán Ó Curraoin sent over a nice point from the right, Walsh added a free and Michael Daly scored a brilliant effort from another tight angle to put Galway a goal in front.

Walsh could have scored the first goal of the game shortly afterwards, but he blazed his shot right and wide of Eamonn Kilgannon’s goal.

Sligo were still in the game despite being dominated and a couple of points from Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch and Kilcoyne reduced the arrears to the minimum on the half-hour mark.

Silke doubled his tally with two minutes of normal time remaining and a poor first half finished on a desperate whimper.

The second half started as the first had ended and Michael Daly drove two Galway chances wide. Sligo opened the scoring through Murphy’s second free.

Galway’s first point of half arrived through Walsh and he tapped over a free for a 0-7 to 0-4 advantage with seven minutes gone.

Sligo’s Paddy O’Connor and Gareth Bradshaw of Galway.

Source: Evan Logan/INPHO

Galway ripped Sligo to shreds in the 44th and 45th minute when first Heaney fisted across and Silke tapped into the net. And then Michael Daly’s shot came back off the post and Heaney was there to finish the killer second goal.

Murphy continued to take the fight to Galway, and he landed an exquisite score with the outside of his boot in the 50th minute, adding a similar effort two minutes later.

Then Seán Carrabine squeezed in a point from the left and all of a sudden there was just two goals between the teams. But those scores were consolations as Walsh tagged on his third free.

Michael Daly scored and substitutes Eamonn Brannigan and Farragher (goal) were on target either side Ó Ceallaigh’s second yellow card.

Scorers for Galway: Liam Silke 1-2, Shane Walsh 0-4 (0-3f), Martin Farragher 1-1, Johnny Heaney 1-0, Michael Daly 0-2, Fiontán Ó Curraoin 0-1, Eamonn Brannigan 0-1.

Scorers for Sligo: Niall Murphy 0-4 (0-2f), Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch 0-1, Paul Kilcoyne 0-1, Seán Carrabine 0-1.

Galway

1 Bernard Power (Corofin)

2 Eoghan Kerin (Annaghdown)
3 Seán Andy Ó Ceallaigh (Leitir Mór)
4 Liam Silke (Corofin)

5 Kieran Molloy (Corofin)
6 Gareth Bradshaw (Maigh Cuilinn)
7 John Daly (Mountbellew-Moylough)

8 Thomas Flynn (Athenry)
9 Fiontán Ó Curraoin (Michéal Breathnach)

10 Shane Walsh (Kilkerrin-Clonberne)
11 Michael Daly (Mountbellew-Moylough)
12 Johnny Heaney (Killannin)

13 Antaine Ó Laoi (An Spidéal)
14 Ian Burke (Corofin)
15 Danny Cummins (Claregalway)

Substitutes:

23 Gary O’Donnell (Tuam Stars) for Molloy (16)
17 Eamonn Brannigan (St Michael’s) for Cummins (55)
22 Robert Finnerty (Salthill/Knocknacarra) for Ó Laoi (61)
25 Cillian McDaid (Monivea-Abbey) for Heaney (64)
21 Martin Farragher (Corofin) for Burke (66)
20 Johnny Duane (St James’) for Bradshaw (68).

Sligo

1 Eamonn Kilgannon (St Farnan’s)

3 Peter Laffey (Coolera/Strandhill)
2 Michael Gordon (Curry)
7 Paul McNamara (St John’s)

8 Adrain McIntyre (Tourlestrane)
6 Darragh Cummins (Calry/St Joseph’s)
12 Nathan Mullen (Coolaney/Mullinabreena)

5 Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch (St Mary’s)
9 Paul Kilcoyne (St Mary’s)

4 Keelan Cawley (Coolera/Strandhill)
13 Paddy O’Connor (St Farnan’s)
10 Mikey Gordon (Easkey)

11 Sean Carrabine (Castleconnor)
17 Pat Hughes (Geevagh)
15 Niall Murphy (Coolera/Strandhill)

Substitutes:

14 Adrian Marren (Curry) for Hughes (53)
18 Neil Ewing (Drumcliffe Rosses Point) for Gordon (53)
19 Karl McKenna (Shamrock Gaels) for Cawley (61)
26 Luke Nicholson (St Mary’s) for McNamara (66)
20 David Quinn (Shamrock Gaels) for O’Connor (68).

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Referee: Ciaran Branagan (Down).

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Cork 1-26
Limerick 1-19

Fintan O’Toole reports from Gaelic Grounds

AN AFTERNOON IN the Gaelic Grounds to rip up the Munster hurling form book.

Patrick Horgan celebrates his goal for Cork against Limerick.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Limerick, the reigning kingpins of the championship and league, returned to a home stadium that was bristling with anticipation at the opening shots they would fire in summer 2019.

Cork entered the game with doubts swirling around them on the back of being dismissed by Tipperary last Sunday but they fashioned a stirring response to inflict a seven-point defeat on the champions.

Patrick Horgan drilled home a 53rd minute goal that propelled Cork into a four-point lead and it was the strike that put daylight between these teams that would never be subsequently closed.

Cork trailed by two at the break yet were seven clear by the full-time whistle. The second-half turnaround was reflective of a defence that closed the channels of space available to Limerick with four of their starting attack benched by the end.

Horgan finished with 1-9 to his credit after a mixed day in the shooting department as he chalked up seven wides but crucially he received far greater support than last Sunday’s outing in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

After performing surgery to his starting fifteen with four changes, John Meyler saw Cork robbed of Conor Lehane six minutes in as he limped off with a damaged ankle. He’d popped over a point by that stage but his replacement stepped up with a considerable input.

Alan Cadogan was lining out in the championship arena for the first time since August 2017 yet finished with 0-3 in a display that demonstrated his attacking menace. Daniel Kearney was terrific as he hit 0-4, a return that matched the score registered by an inspired Seamus Harnedy.

Limerick had edged ahead 1-11 to 0-12 at the break, a scoreline that was illustrative of a vigorously contested game. Their crucial intervention arrived in the 27th minute, Graeme Mulcahy the beneficiary as the sliotar dropped into his lap after a Declan Hannon shot seemed to be under-cooked. Mulcahy still had a bit to do from an acute angle and with Sean O’Donoghue in close proximity but he thrashed a fine shot to the roof of the net past Anthony Nash.

Cork stormed downfield after that with Harnedy exchanging hand passes with Aidan Walsh to scythe through the Limerick rearguard yet Nickie Quaid rushed out to smother with plenty defensive bodies back in support. If that incident may have evoked painful memories of last August in Croke Park for the Cork captain, he didn’t look like a man scarred by it for the remainder of the half as he snapped over a pair of points to bring his opening tally to 0-3.

Two down at the break, Cork exploded from the second half starting blocks. They rattled off six of the opening eight points that were generated after the interval. That propelled them into an advantage they would not subsequently relinquish.

Limerick, who had Mulcahy as their leading scorer from play with 1-4, pegged them back last August but they could not summon a revival on this occasion.

Waterford are next up for both counties, Limerick are away on 2 June and Cork are at home on 8 June. There’ll be plenty to digest in the interim.

Limerick’s Graeme Mulcahy and Cork’s Mark Ellis in action.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Scorers for Cork: Patrick Horgan 1-9 (0-6f), Seamus Harnedy, Daniel Kearney 0-4 each, Alan Cadogan 0-3, Luke Meade, Declan Dalton 0-2 each, Conor Lehane, Darragh Fitzgibbon 0-1 each.

Scorers for Limerick: Aaron Gillane 0-9 (0-8f), Graeme Mulcahy 1-4, Diarmaid Byrnes, Shane Dowling 0-2 (0-2f) each, Kyle Hayes, Tom Morrissey 0-1 each.

Cork

1. Anthony Nash (Kanturk)

2. Sean O’Donoghue (Inniscarra)
3. Eoin Cadogan (Douglas)
4. Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons)

5. Robert Downey (Glen Rovers)
6. Mark Ellis (Millstreet)
7. Mark Coleman (Blarney)

8. Bill Cooper (Youghal)
9. Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville)

10. Daniel Kearney (Sarsfields)
11. Seamus Harnedy (St Ita’s – captain)
12. Luke Meade (Newcestown)

13. Conor Lehane (Midleton)
14. Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers)
15. Aidan Walsh (Kanturk)

Subs

24. Alan Cadogan (Douglas) for Lehane (inj) (6)
17. Stephen McDonnell (Glen Rovers) for O’Donoghue (half-time)
20. Christopher Joyce (Na Piarsaigh) for Downey (52)
23. Shane Kingston (Douglas) for Meade (61)
25. Declan Dalton (Fr O’Neill’s) for Walsh (68)

Limerick

1. Nickie Quaid (Effin)

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2. Sean Finn (Bruff)
3. Mike Casey (Na Piarsaigh)
4. Richie English (Doon)

5. Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell)
6. Declan Hannon (Adare – captain)
7. Dan Morrissey (Ahane)

8. Darragh O’Donovan (Doon)
9. Cian Lynch (Patrickswell)

12. Tom Morrissey (Ahane)
11. Kyle Hayes (Kildimo-Pallaskenry)
10. Gearóid Hegarty (St Patrick’s)

13. Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh)
14. Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell)
15. Graeme Mulcahy (Kilmallock)

Subs

19. Seamus Flanagna (Feohanagh) for Casey (55)
18. Shane Dowling (Na Piarsaigh) for Hegarty (56)
21. Barry Murphy (Doon) for Mulcahy (61)
23. William O’Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh) for O’Donovan (61)
17. David Dempsey (Na Piarsaigh) for Gillane (66)

Referee: Paud O’Dwyer (Carlow)

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SEVEN POINTS IN arrears last Sunday against Tipperary, seven points clear a week on against Limerick.

Cork’s hurling fortunes have swung sharply in the space of seven days in Munster, this afternoon’s success in Limerick a striking response after such a flat opening to their provincial campaign at home.

John Meyler gives a young fan a sliotar before the game after she was accidentally knocked over by a player.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

For manager John Meyler there was no real mystery as to why they enjoyed such a rate of improvement. His players grafted harder and got their reward.

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“Work rate. That’s all. We really got buckets of work rate today and I’m delighted with that and that’s the bottom line.

“Cork are always a summer hurling team, it’s just getting that work rate up. They’re a good team. Look I’m delighted with the performance and we responded well after last week’s defeat.”

John Meyler celebrates with Cork selector Donal O’Mahony.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

The Cork boss lost Bill Cooper before throw-in last Sunday and he’s had to operate without Alan Cadogan since August 2017 in championship matters. He hailed the contribution of both to this success, Cooper one of four changes to the starting side and Cadogan sprung into action early on after Conor Lehane was injured.

“Bill Cooper is the leader there, Bill Cooper is the driver, he drives that team, he was missing in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. That’s it in a nutshell.

“It’s great to have Alan back. He’s out probably the best part of 15 months, not having played really. It’s difficult for him to come on and to be as sharp as the rest of them and that. We’ll work on that now in the next three weeks.

“(Robert) Downey played well in the league here, (Aidan) Walsh played well. We reintroduced those and they worked well so everybody played their part. (Declan) Dalton came on, got two great scores. That’s their job.”

Meyler felt Cork benefited from having greater match practice, last week’s Tipperary clash

“You had the advantage of having played the match last week and not coming in cold here today. That’s really it. We’d one or two issues, we’d one or two problems, we tried to sort them out.

“In fairness to Donal (O’Mahony) and Fraggy they sorted them out, so it’s good. The advantage of having a game played is a huge advantage. You kind of highlight your weaknesses and then you can work on that.

“We weren’t happy with aspects of our performance last week against Tipperary. Everybody picked holes in it and if you lose that’s what’s going to happen. We tried to get it right for today and we did get it right.”

Another loss would have left Cork’s season in a precarious position but Meyler was not weighed down by a sense of pressure entering this game.

“You’re always under pressure. Every manager of every county team is under pressure. If you don’t win matches you’re under pressure and we needed a win, we needed a performance today.

“We need to now maintain that consistency against Waterford in three weeks time.”

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Armagh 2-17
Down 3-13

Declan Bogue reports from Pairc Elser

FIVE GOALS IN total, a first Ulster championship win for Kieran McGeeney as Armagh manager, extra-time and a red card controversy. As much as people love dressing up Gaelic football as having enormous issues, days like these show that there is plenty to appreciate too.

A game that had more twists and plot turns than a Hitchcockian thriller ended with Armagh leaving just enough venom at the end to inflict the deadly sting. Andrew Murnin hadn’t played a single minute of football for his county this season so far, but he was brought on for the second half of extra time here.

His first touch was a brilliant fetch, swivel and point. His second was incredible. Rian O’Neill floated a ball in and while it caught out Murnin’s marker Conor Poland entirely, Murnin still gambled by attempting a flick rather than catching the ball.

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As it turned out, his trick fooled Down substitute goalkeeper Mark Hynes and it nestled in the top corner of the net.

Down still had something in them and when Paul Devlin’s delivery sailed all the way through a thicket of Armagh men on the line to hit the net, it left the minimum of scores between them.

However, their brave efforts just came up short. Pat Havern threw himself at a loose ball from the final kickout and many a day you would see a forward surrounded by a phalanx of defenders given as a free in. Referee Anthony Nolan said otherwise.

Armagh’s game. They now face Cavan in the Ulster semi-final on 2 June. 

Scorers for Armagh: R O’Neill 0-8, (4f), A Murnin 1-1, M Shields 1-0, S Campbell, R Kennedy, J Clarke 0-2 each, A Nugent 0-1.

Scorers for Down: P Devlin 1-2 (2f), D O’Hare 1-2 (2f), P Havern 1-1, J Johnston 0-2, (1f), J Guinness 0-2, B O’Hagan, C Poland, C Francis 0-1 each. 

Armagh

1. Blaine Hughes (Carrickcruppin)

2. Patrick Burns (Forkhill)
3. Aaron McKay (Dromintee)
4. Paul Hughes (Crossmaglen)

5. Ryan Kennedy (Ballymacnab)
6. Brendan Donaghy (Clonmore)
7. Aidan Forker (Maghery)

8. Charlie Vernon (Armagh Harps)
9. Jarlath Óg Burns (Silverbridge)

10. Aidan Nugent (Cullyhanna)
11. Ethan Rafferty (Grange)
12. Jemar Hall (Forkhill)

13. Rory Grugan (Ballymacnab)
14. Rian O’Neill (Crossmaglen)
15. Jamie Clarke (Crossmaglen)

Subs:

J Morgan for P Burns (7)
M Shields for Vernon (31)
J McElroy for Hughes (43)
S Campbell for Rafferty (46)
S Sheridan for Kennedy (65)
G McCabe for Hall (Black card, 67)

Extra time:

Vernon on for Forker (FT)
B Crealey for Sheridan (77)
A Murnin for McCabe (HT of ET)
Rafferty for Grugan (87) 

Down

1. Rory Burns (Castlewellan)

2. Darren O’Hagan (Clonduff)
3. Ruairi Wells (Bryansford)
4. Gerard Collins (Downpatrick)

5. Ryan McAleenan (Warrenpoint)
6. Kevin McKernan (Burren)
7. Daniel Guinness (Carryduff)

8. Caolan Mooney (Rostrevor)
9. Conor Poland (Longstone)

10. Conor Francis (Bredagh)
11. Jerome Johnston (Kilcoo)
12. Conor Maginn (Bryansford)

13. Pat Havern (Saval)
14. Donal O’Hare (Burren)
15. Connaire Harrison (Glasdrumman)

Subs:

J Guinness for Wells (26)
B O’Hagan for Maginn (47)
P Devlin for Johnston (60)
C Quinn for Havern (60)
O McCabe for Poland (67)

Extra time:

R Mallon (on to make it 15-a-side)
Poland for J Guinness (84)
Havern for Mallon (86)
Johnston for O’Hare (89)

Referee: Anthony Nolan (Wicklow)

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LIMERICK MANAGER JOHN Kiely has backed his All-Ireland winning players to revive their Munster campaign after falling to a seven-point loss in their opener this afternoon.

On home soil at the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick fans saw their 2019 championship season begin on a low note when they faced Cork.

The league champions have a fortnight off before they head into a hectic schedule with three provincial ties from 2-16 June.

“They know the story – it is what it is, a below par performance and we need to respond to it,” outlined Kiely afterwards.

“We were just that little bit off today, our first touch wasn’t what it normally is, our fluency wasn’t there, and, most importantly, our work-rate wasn’t there.

“We allowed Cork too much time on the ball too much of the time and I think you could see midway through that second half that Cork had the momentum with them and it was going to be very difficult for us to turn it around.

“We tried valiantly, we created a few goal-scoring chances which we didn’t convert and we needed to convert every chance we got today in order to survive. Listen, bottom line – Cork were the better team today and they won the match. They looked like the team that wanted to win more.

“We have to regroup, but I know these guys will because they’re full of the right stuff. I know it’s there.”

Kiely was not interested in pointing to a lull in game time since their league final success in late March against Waterford as a contributory factor to this defeat.

“They went back to their clubs and had their club period for four weeks, we had three and-a-half weeks with them and it went well. We have no complaints, there is no major box that hasn’t been ticked on the way here and we’ve worked very, very hard, but clearly not hard enough.

“Teams will have a dip in their performance, of course they will, we got our dip today and we need to make sure that dip is just a temporary one and act we respond the next day with a really good performance because it will take a really good performance to go down to Walsh Park and get a result.”

Limerick will target a swift response with a trip to Waterford next on the agenda for them.

“The next chance we have to respond to it is below in Walsh Park in two weeks’ time. I’m more concerned about our own lads and what we didn’t do and what we need to do. We will analyse the game in the next few days and it will be interesting to see where the presser points came from.

“We have to address those and I think the biggest one is the energy levels in the second half weren’t there. Whatever we need to do to make sure when we go down to Walsh Park is done.”

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Sean Moran celebrates scoring his goal.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

Kevin O’Brien reports from Parnell Park

ONLY FOR SEAN Moran’s injury-time equaliser, Dublin were almost certainly out of the race to finish inside the top three in the Leinster hurling pecking order.

After defeat to Kilkenny last weekend, another loss to Wexford yesterday would have significantly reduced their chances of progressing to the All-Ireland series.

But the Cuala defender’s goal five minutes into injury-time – a 21m free that bounced into the net past Wexford goalkeeper Mark Fanning and the seven defenders behind him on the line – kept Dublin’s interests in the championship alive. Just about.

Last puck of the ball for @DubGAAOfficial v @OfficialWexGAA Sean Moran’s free levels it up. What a view and what a finish! @RTEgaa @officialgaa @The42_ie @DubMatchTracker pic.twitter.com/dPoHwG9phN

— Eoghan Smyth (@EoghanSmyth) May 19, 2019

“It hit the ground,” said Davy Fitzgerald. “If you do hit the ground, anything is liable to happen. It’s fair tough from our point of things, it was gone over 40 minutes (in the second-half).

“Mark was out front. Mark was there. He knows himself. He’ll be disappointed. It doesn’t matter who’s behind him, he was at the pitch of it and you want your best shot-stopper and he’s one of the best in the country without a shadow of a doubt.

“He’s actually bulling, he thinks he should have stopped it by a mile. I wouldn’t blame that there was seven in there – it didn’t matter. If it was hit away from Mark and we had someone else, fine. But it wasn’t.

“In fairness, Fergal (Horgan) did a decent enough job on it. I do find it hard to find out what five minutes (stoppage-time) was in the second-half, that’s being totally honest. Maybe three, three and a bit, but that’s the way it goes.”

The sides went in level at 0-11 apiece at the break. Both teams shot eight wides each in the first period, but Wexford were more reliant on Lee Chin’s pinpoint accuracy from frees.

Shaun Murphy had tied down Danny Sutcliffe in midfield, chipping in with three points of his own, while Conor McDonald clipped over two glorious sideline cuts, but their attack hadn’t quite clicked into gear.

Instead, Dublin dominated the 20 minutes after the restart to lead by 0-20 to 0-15 and Mattie Kenny’s men looked primed to power home.

“They were getting the ball easily, I thought we were panicking a small bit,” continued Fitzgerald. “We had said at half-time what we wanted to do but we just weren’t doing it. We weren’t running at them enough and committing to the runs. 

Davy Fitzgerald during Wexford’s warm-up.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

“We seemed a small bit flat at times looking at them today. There didn’t seem to be much energy. You’re looking out 12, 13 minutes into the second half and you’re wondering, ‘Jesus, where are we going to get a bolt of energy from?’

“The next thing, we got it and off we went,” he added. “Then when one or two of them came off for us, I thought we did a bit better.”

Wexford forced a way back into the game through old-fashioned hard work. 

Their forwards turned over a Dublin short-passing move out of defence, with Eoghan O’Donnell’s stick-pass intercepted by Jack O’Connor. He slalomed his way forward and fed Liam Og McGovern for the first goal.

Eight minutes later, another turnover and another goal. This time from the stick of rising star Rory O’Connor, leaving Wexford three in front.

“I’d say Dublin were sitting pretty happy at half-time and they were sitting even happier with 15 minutes gone in the second half.

“I thought we showed tremendous character. The way we played there for 20 minutes, I don’t think any team around would match us if we play at that intensity, move the ball like we did.”

Fitzgerald described Moran’s 75th-minute goal as “an absolute killer” – but stressed that it didn’t change much from their perspective.

“It’s a killer to get caught in the end . We’d done enough to see that out. I think today will stand to us. We just need to pick them up – they’re actually very down inside there.

Cian Boland is challenged by Lee Chin.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

“It could have been two points in the bag heading up there and we’d be nearly qualified. But listen, it is what it is. Isn’t it exciting though? I think even in Leinster, you’ll find there’s very little between the teams. That was a very decent game today. 

“It doesn’t make a difference. We still have to win two of our three games, that’s the bottom line. Even after today, that would have still been our way of thinking that we still had to win two of three games.”

Wexford, who unusually start the round-robin with two away ties, play Galway away next weekend before the bye week. They conclude with home games against Kilkenny and Carlow, while Dublin have Carlow (away) and Galway (home) left on the cards.

“We look at this nearly the same as a victory because we came here and got a result,” added Fitzgerald.

“That’s massive. I think all the bookies had us well outsiders today, we were close to 1.5/1 I think someone said today. 

“I can’t understand why they’d write us off like that or put us as underdogs, I think we’re definitely right up there with any of the best teams in Leinster.”

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WATERFORD BOSS PARAIC Fanning admitted they face a difficult task trying to salvage their season against All-Ireland champions Limerick in two weeks.

But he’s confident they will rise to the task after suffering a second loss yesterday when they fell away in the final quarter to lose by double scores, 2-30 to 0-18 to Tipperary in Thurles.

“There’s two ways we can go. We can leave the season peter out or we can fight for our lives.

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“And I’d be very very surprised if it’s anything other than us fighting for our lives in Walsh Park when we play Limerick and when we play Cork. “It’s all about trying to rescue our season now and seeing what happens with that.”

He said the dismissal of Conor Gleeson was a big blow but the biggest thing is trying to work out how they faded so badly in the final quarter and ended up getting hammered by double scores.

“With 20 minutes to go or so, we dragged ourselves back into it, had a lot of momentum, then it just petered out, maybe our legs went a little, and maybe them having the extra man that was part of.

“Right now it’s a bit raw, so we’ve got to think back over the game, watch the video, it’s not a time now for trying to dissect a game within two or three minutes.

Barry Hefffernan and James Barry fight for possession with Stephen Bennett and Maurice Shanahan.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

“I need to really go and have a look at it. We were very happy with our preparations and everything into the championship, as I’ve said to the lads inside there isn’t a whole lot we would change about the way we prepared.

“But we’ve had two bad defeats now I suppose, particularly this one, so now we’ve got to pick ourselves up. But this was a tough afternoon,” he added.

Fanning paid tribute to a Tipperary side who now have the wind in their sails after two impressive wins.

“That’s a very good Tipp team, they’re in good shape, and definitely once they got their foot on out throat they were able to close it out, and at that stage, being a man down, and the kind of game they play, they were able to add a few points when we ran out of legs.”

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DEREK MCGRATH HAS slammed the dismissal of Waterford’s Conor Gleeson in their defeat to Tipperary, saying that he “was very hard done by” in the bookings that led to his sending off.

Gleeson was hit with a first yellow card after 27 minutes for an off-the-ball tangle with Tipperary forward Seamus Callanan. 

The Fourmilewater man was dismissed three minutes later after picking up a second yellow, this time for taking down Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher who was bearing down on goal.

Waterford were trailing by eight points at the time of Gleeson’s sending off, and went on to suffer their second successive Munster SHC defeat on a scoreline of 2-30 to 0-18.

“That was nothing, at best [it was] a skirmish between two players on the edge where we want to see people,” said McGrath when analysing the loss of Gleeson on the Sunday Game.

Conor has been very hard done by there in terms of the yellow card. If that’s a yellow card we might as well give it up.”

When asked if Gleeson’s dismissal was a turning point in the match, the former Waterford boss replied:

'At best it was a skirmish between two players' – Derek McGrath felt Conor Gleeson's sending off against Tipperary was very harsh #rtegaa pic.twitter.com/wMynhY2rWa

— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 19, 2019

“Between the 32nd minute and the 51st minute, Waterford rallied as is often the case when a guy is sent off.

“They got it to 0-20 to 0-17, so in terms of a turning point at that time, you couldn’t argue that Waterford were in pole position. You’d have to say that Tipperary were outplaying, [and] out-thinking us all over the field.

But definitely, [it was] the catalyst for a better performance. It enabled us to dig in until the 51st minute.” 

Do you think Conor Glesson’s sending off was harsh? Let us know in the comment section below.

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LEE BRENNAN HAS become the latest forward to quit the Tyrone panel, with the talented Trillick player informing Mickey Harte of his decision over the weekend. 

The Ulster Herald reports that Brennan decided to step away due to a lack of game-time this season.

The 23-year made just one start in the Allianz Football League – against Mayo on 3 February – and failed to appear off the bench in the Ulster preliminary round victory over Derry. 

He returned to club action over the weekend and posted three points in Trillick’s Division 1 loss to Omagh on Saturday.

Rated as one of the best up and coming attackers in Tyrone, Brennan helped the Red Hand to All-Ireland U21 glory in 2015. His decision comes shortly after Ronan O’Neill’s departure prior to the championship.

Harte’s side are also without corner-forward Mark Bradley, who started last year’s All-Ireland final but is currently studying in Liverpool. 

Tyrone face Antrim in the Ulster SFC quarter-final on Saturday night.

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TIPPERARY AND CORK stars collected the Sunday Game man-of-the-match awards this weekend following another instalment of thrilling Munster SHC action.

Eoin Cadogan produced a towering display at full-back for Cork, as he held Limerick star Aaron Gillane to just one point from play in a much-needed victory over the All-Ireland champions.

That result sees John Meyler’s men get their provincial campaign back on track after suffering defeat to Tipperary last weekend.

They will now prepare for a home game on 8 June against a Waterford side who have suffered two defeats on the bounce in the round-robin series.

Cork's Eoin Cadogan, man of the match, said today was as good as any to lay down a marker. #sundaygame pic.twitter.com/ib7IYuovYE

— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 19, 2019

Meanwhile, Jason Forde top-scored for Tipperary with an impressive 1-9 as Liam Sheedy’s men comfortably defeated Waterford in their Round 2 encounter at Semple Stadium. 

Forde nailed a superb score from a sideline cut in the first half, while his 53rd minute goal put Tipperary firmly on the way to victory.

Both players received their RTÉ Sunday Game man-of-the-match awards as the Munster SHC continues to heat up.

Source: Tipperary GAA Twitter.

Do you agree with the man-of-the-match winners? Let us know in the comment section below.

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