Month: September 2021

IT LOOKS LIKE MAYO will be without their captain Diarmuid O’Connor for the rest of the All-Ireland SFC series after he fractured his wrist in training last night.

O’Connor, who led Mayo to their first National League title in 18 years at the end of March, is believed to have suffered the injury during a squad training session at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence in Bekan.

It is understood that the Ballintubber clubman is expected to undergo surgery to repair the damage at some stage this week.

Mayo take on Armagh in Round 3 of the All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers in Castlebar on Saturday evening at 7pm.

O’Connor’s injury is the latest blow to James Horan’s plans to qualify for the Super 8s with midfielder Matthew Ruane already ruled out for the rest of the campaign after breaking his collarbone during a training session earlier this month.

Horan’s midfield options are already stretched with experienced duo Tom Parsons (knee) and Seamie O’Shea (ankle) both currently trying to work their way back to full fitness, along with the aforementioned Ruane.

Parsons has been out of action for over a year while O’Shea hasn’t lined out with Mayo for four months.

The likes of Stephen Coen and Mikey Murray, who came off the bench to make his championship debut against Down last Saturday, are among the most likely replacements for next weekend’s knock-out game at MacHale Park. 

Lifting the Division 1 league crown in March.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Another possible replacement option, Donal Vaughan, has also missed Mayo’s last four competitive games due to injury but was due to return to training this week, according to the Mayo manager. 

Horan also confirmed last week that Diarmuid O’Connor’s older brother, Cillian, was ‘very very close’ to making his competitive return.

Mayo’s all-time leading scorer hasn’t played a full competitive game for club or county in seven months after undergoing knee surgery last December. 

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THERE WAS POSITIVE news for five in-a-row chasing Dublin on the injury front this morning with reports that James McCarthy’s knee injury is not as bad as first feared.

The Herald and the Irish Independent are reporting that a scan yesterday revealed no serious long-term ligament damage, and the three-time All-Star could return to action sooner than expected.

Dublin were left sweating after Sunday’s Leinster final after one of their key men hobbled off in the 32nd minute of their 16-point defeat of Meath.

McCarthy was on crutches after the game with an icepack strapped to his right knee, but the extent of the injury was unclear at that stage.

The Sky Blues were praying, of course, that it wasn’t the dreaded season-ending torn cruciate, and Jim Gavin typically gave little away in his post-match press conference.

“We’ll have a look over the next 48 hours,” he said. “The medical protocols will kick into place. We’ll reassess early next week.”

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Ballymun Kickhams ace McCarthy missed some of their 2016 championship campaign due to medial knee ligament damage, while he also had  keyhole surgery in his left knee last November to clear up a niggle.

Although there’s been no official word from the Dublin set-up as of yet, the 29-year-old is now expected to be back to play apart in Dublin’s All-Ireland SFC campaign.

While McCarthy is unlikely to feature as soon, the Dubs face a round 4 qualifier winner (Cork or a round 3 winner) in their Super 8s opener in Croke Park on the weekend of 13/14 July.

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DUBLIN DEFENDER EOGHAN O’Donnell is facing a race against time to recover from a hamstring injury ahead of their All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final against the Joe McDonagh Cup champions.

O’Donnell was forced off just 15 minutes into their Leinster round-robin victory over Galway, a result that saw the Tribesmen dumped out of the championship and sealed a third place finish in the province for Dublin.

On 6/7 July, Dublin face the winners of this weekend’s second-tier decider between Laois and Westmeath.

Mattie Kenny will be hopeful that O’Donnell – now regarded as one of the best full-backs in the country – can prove his fitness before that clash.

The defender has yet to return to training with the group and admits he’s unsure if he’ll return in time for the weekend after next. 

“I pulled my hamstring, I have a small little tear on it from the Galway game,” said O’Donnell at the launch of the AIG Cups & Shields in GUI Headquarters, Carton House.

“No word yet, I’m taking it week by week. I still have a week and a half to get back. I’m going to the physios. Nothing is ruled out anyway.

Dublin defender O’Donnell at AIG Insurance’s GUI & ILGU Cups & Shields launch.

Source: Sam Barnes/SPORTSFILE

“I’m not team training. I’m doing my bit with physios and strength and conditioning coaches, but not team training.

“I had a little niggle going into the game. But it never crossed my mind that it would become a concern, so I was obviously devastated once it happened.

“It just showed the strength in depth that we had that we could change it up and still come through with the result.”

With Cian O’Callaghan also absent through injury, Shane Barrett reverted to full-back and held firm as Dublin kept their first clean sheet of the summer.

“We’ve Cian O’Callaghan out injured and we’d Shane Barrett who went fullback. James Madden came on and played a super game, so that’s given us massive confidence going forward as well.

“At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter who’s on the pitch and the job gets done. That’s the most important thing.”

Kenny is operating with a sizeable injury list at the moment. In addition to O’Donnell and O’Callaghan, Fionntán Mac Gib, John Hetherton, Paul Ryan, Mark Schutte and David Treacy all missed the Galway game through injury.

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Kerry 1-14

Cork 0-13

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Denis Hurley reports from Páirc Uí Rinn

Kerry made it six Munster JFC titles in succession – and stayed on track for what would be a fifth straight All-Ireland – as they came from behind to overcome Cork at Páirc Uí Rinn on Wednesday evening.

Trailing by 0-8 to 0-4 as half-time approached, the Kingdom received a major boost as Stephen O’Sullivan took a pass from Chris Farley and weaved his way through the Cork cover before slotting the ball past Chris Kelly.

Michael Foley tied matters immediately after that and Brandon Barrett might have added a second goal, denied by a super save from Kelly.

Eoin O’Shea ensured that Cork led at half-time with a fine score in injury time, but the Rebels wouldn’t score again until the 54th minute, but which time Kerry had added seven without reply.

Goalscorer O’Sullivan had Kerry level five minutes into the second half and he followed that with a lead score while Daniel Daly and Barry O’Dwyer augmented the Kerry advantage. They were six ahead before Gary Murphy ended Cork’s drought and though the Rebels did kick the game’s final three points, Kerry had done enough.

Aided by the wind, Cork impressed in the first half, with Gary Murphy kicking three fine points as Fintan O’Connor and Anthony O’Connor weighed in too.

They looked to be in a good position to deliver the county’s first Munster football title since the 2016 U21, but the goal turned things Kerry’s way and they never looked back.

Scorers for Kerry: Stephen O’Sullivan 1-3, Daniel Daly 0-4 (0-3 frees), Barry O’Dwyer 0-3, Jack Brosnan, Eoin O’Brien (45), Caolim Teahan, Michael Foley 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cork: Gary Murphy (0-2 frees), Anthony O’Connor (0-2 frees, 0-1 45) 0-4 each, Séamus Hickey, Fintan O’Connor 0-2 each, Eoin O’Shea 0-1.

KERRY

1. Eoghan O’Brien (Churchill)

2. Cian Ó Murchú (An Ghaeltacht)
3. Pádraig O’Connor (Legion)
4. Pádraig ‘Jackie’ O’Sullivan (Dromid Pearses)

5. Jack Brosnan (Glenbeigh-Glencar)
6. Mike Breen (Beaufort)
7. Michael Foley (Ballydonoghue)

8. John Mark Foley (Kilgarvan)
9. Nathan Breen (Beaufort)

10. Philip O’Connor (Cordal)
11. Chris Farley (Dromid Pearses)
12. Brandon Barrett (Ardfert)

13. Stephen O’Sullivan (Templenoe)
14. Daniel Daly (St Mary’s Caherciveen)
15. Barry O’Dwyer (Waterville)

Subs
24. Caolim Teahan (Glenbeigh-Glencar) for Nathan Breen (5, black card)
22. Tomás Lynch (Castleisland Desmonds) for Barrett (53)
21. James Crean (Annascaul) for Farley (58)
20. John Spillane (Templenoe) for O’Dwyer (60)

CORK

1. Chris Kelly (Éire Óg)

2. Pádraig Clancy (Fermoy)
3. Peter Murphy (Bandon)
4. Gavin McCarthy (St Vincent’s)

5. Kevin Cremin (Boherbue)
6. John Mullins (Éire Óg)
7. Ger O’Callaghan (Gabriel Rangers)

8. Brian ‘Terry’ O’Sullivan (Garnish)
9. Paul Walsh (Kanturk)

10. Fintan O’Connor (Knocknagree)
11. Anthony O’Connor (Knocknagree)
12. Shane Aherne (Fermoy)

13. Gary Murphy (Castletownbere)
14. Séamus Hickey (Rockchapel)
15. Eoin O’Shea (Éire Óg)

Subs
19. Liam Wall (Kilmurry) for O’Callaghan (23, injured)
21. Seán ‘Terry’ O’Sullivan (Garnish) for Aherne (42)
20. Tadhg Corkery (Cill na Martra) for Brian ‘Terry’ O’Sullivan (42)
17. Eamonn O’Callaghan (Rockchapel) for Walsh (49)
24. Eddie Goggin (Gabriel Rangers) for O’Shea (55)
22. Gerry Kelleher (St Vincent’s) for Fintan O’Connor (59)

Referee: Donncha O’Callaghan (Limerick)

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Offaly 1-29
Dublin 2-25

(After extra-time)

Kevin O’Brien reports from Parnell Park

11 DAYS AFTER the darkest day in Offaly hurling history with the senior team’s relegation to the Christy Ring Cup, their U20s pulled off a massive result by beating Dublin after extra-time in the Leinster quarter-final. 

John Murphy celebrates with his club mates after the game.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

In what was looking like a disastrous summer for Offaly in the small ball code, this performance and victory was a welcome boost and provides a good deal of optimism for the future.

In front of vocal travelling support, Conor Quinn smahed in a crucial goal as the Faithful surged six clear after the wind-assisted first period of extra-time. Substitute Matthew Dunne rattled in a 74th-minute goal as Dublin scored an unanswered 1-3 in the second-half to move level at 2-25 to 1-28 with time almost up.

Offaly’s placed ball specialist Cathal Kiely had an incredible tally of 20 points (0-2 from play) to his name by that stage but had just left the field with an injury when his side were awarded a free at the death.

Second-choice free-taker Brian Duignan had been substituted minutes earlier as players from both teams were dropping with cramp. John Murphy stepped up to nail the winner from midfield with the very last puck of the game, sealing a huge victory for his county.

They were helped in no small part by Kiely’s performance. The younger brother of senior star Cillian, the Kilcormac/Killoughey club man missed just six of his 26 shots at the posts and scored a number of his frees from distance. 

Conor Langton was excellent too and scored 0-4, but there were big performances all over the field – particularly in defence where Ross Ravenhill and Killian Sampson were in fine form.

The last time Offaly beat any of Wexford, Kilkenny or Dublin at this grade (previously U21) was in 2008. This result was a long time coming. 

Murphy hits the winning point.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

Managed by Gary Cahill and Shane Hand, Offaly will take on Wexford in the Leinster semi-final full of confidence. This U20 crop are viewed locally as a talented crew with a large portion of the team underage again next season.

It wasn’t a bad Dublin team by any means. The Sky Blues boasted eight players of their minor side that contested the All-Ireland semi-final in 2017, including current senior panellists David Keogh – who was sent off in the third quarter – and Lee Gannon.  

Cian Derwin was their best player and he finished with a 16-point haul, including 13 placed balls.

Frees were the order of the day due to the whistle-happy nature of the referee. 

Offaly had Kiely’s brilliance from dead balls to thank in a first-half where he contributed 0-9 of their 11-point haul, while Derwin clipped over seven points in the opening half (0-2 from play). 

Billy Ryan, who spent time with Mattie Kenny’s extended senior squad prior to the league, grabbed a goal in the ninth minute after Luke McDwyer cut through the Offaly defence. 

Diarmuid O’Floinn is tackled by Barry Kealey.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

Dublin pressed five clear by the 19th minute, yet Offaly finished the half on the front foot. Half-forwards Barry Kealey and Langton were dominant in the air as they went in two behind at the interval.

Dublin’s running game continued to cause the visitors problems, with Diarmaid O’Floinn and McDwyer punching holes in the Faithful’s defence. With the wind at their backs, five from Kiely and an effort from John Murphy moved Offaly to within a point when disaster struck for Dublin.

David Keogh was red carded in the 48th minute for an off-the-ball clash that left Joey Keenaghan on the deck. The home side responded with a brace of Derwin frees but a Kiely 65 and a booming Sampson point hauled the Faithful level.

In a rip-roaring finale, Offaly pushed a point clear on two occasions and yet Dublin twice equalised through Derwin to force extra-time.

The Sky Blues were restored to their full 15 for the extra period and after Offaly looked like they’d blown it, Murphy stepped up to seal the victory.

Scorers for Offaly: Cathal Kiely 0-20 (0-16f, 0-2 65), Conor Langton 0-4, Conor Quinn 1-0, John Murphy 0-2 (0-1f), Ryan Hogan, Killian Sampson and David Nally 0-1 each.

Scorers for Dublin: Cian Derwin 0-16 (0-13f), Billy Ryan 1-2, Matthew Dunne 1-0, Kevin Desmond 0-2, Kevin Burke, Iain O’hEithir, Diarmaid O’Floinn, Luke McDwyer and Liam Murphy 0-1 each. 

Offaly

1. Eamonn Cleary (Shinrone)

6. Conor Butler (Belmont)
2. Dara Maher (Shinrone)
5. Ciaran Burke (Durrow)

4. Ryan Hogan (Carrig & Riverstown)
3. Ross Ravenhill (Durrow)
7. Killian Sampson (Shinrone)

15. Joey Keeneghan (Clodiagh Gaels)
9. David Nally (Ferbane – captain)

13. Brian Duignan (Durrow)
11. Barry Kealey (Seir Kieran)
8. Cathal Kiely (Kilcormac-Killoughey)

10. John Murphy (Ballinamere)
14. Cillian Ryan (Shinrone)
12. Conor Langton (Clodiagh Gaels)

Subs  

19. Conor Quinn (Kilcormac/Kiloughey) for Kealey (51)
11. Kealey for Ryan (53)
20. Lochlann Kavanagh (Kilcormac/Kiloughey) for Nally (74)
17. Sean Beatty (Clodiagh Gaels) for Sampson (78, inj)
21. Cathal Brady (Clodiagh Gaels) for Duignan (79)
14. Ryan for Kiely (82)

Dublin

1. Conor O’Donoghue (Ballyboden St Enda’s)

2. Andrew Dunphy (St Brigid’s)
3. Tommy Kinanne (Naomh Mearnóg)
4. Jack Fagan (Raheny)

7. Iain Ó hEithir (Ballinteer St John’s)
6. Lee Gannon (Whitehall Colmcille)
5. Kevin Burke (Na Fianna)

8. Michael Conroy (Cuala)
9. David Keogh (Thomas Davis)

10. Diarmaid Ó Floinn (Cuala)
11. Luke McDwyer (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
12. Cian Derwin (Craobh Chiarain) 

13. Billy Ryan (Craobh Chiarain)
14. Sean Currie (Na Fianna)
15. Kevin Desmond (Ballyboden St Enda’s)

Subs

20. Pearse Christie (Ballyboden St Endas) for Conroy (40)
21. Liam Murphy (Cuala) for Desmond (53)
19. Alex O’Neill (Round Towers) for O’hEithir (57)
22. Matthew Dunne (Lucan Sarsfields) for Keogh (60, back to 15 for ET)
17. Eoin Carney (Erins Isle) for McDwyer (69)
24. James O’Connell (St Brigid’s) for Ryan (78)

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ROSCOMMON SEALED A showdown with Galway in the Connacht U20 football semi-final after tonight’s extra-time defeat of Leitrim at Carrick-on-Shannon.

The Rossies prevailed in a high-scoring affair by 3-17 to 4-13. Mark Diffley’s brace of goals handed Leitrim a commanding five-point half-time lead but 14-man Roscommon fought back.

Paul Carey bagged a crucial goal before his free in the seventh minute of injury-time forced extra-time. In the extra period, James Fitzpatrick fired a low finish into the net to guide Shane Curran’s side to victory.

In the Connacht minor football semi-final, Mayo enjoyed a convincing 5-7 to 1-10 win over Sligo. 

Paul Walsh bagged four goals and Ciaran Mylett netted the other in Castlebar as Mayo set-up a provincial final date with Galway in Tuam on Friday week.

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IN THE AFTERMATH of Dublin’s Leinster final hammering of Meath, the focus quickly turned to the advantages they enjoy off the field. 

Their excessive funding, population, sponsorship deals and use of Croke Park as a home venue all cropped up in the arguments over the past few days.

Despite the fact that the finals in Ulster, Connacht and Munster were extremely competitive, Dublin’s 1-17 to 0-4 victory was seen by many as the latest reason to scrap the provincial championships.

Even above competition structures, the money that has been pumped into Dublin GAA – particularly when compared to the rest of the country – remains the major gripe.

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Jim Gavin said it was “bit of an insult” to the players to that funding made them into the force they have become.

But what do the players themselves make of the criticism surrounding finances?

“I don’t really pay much attention to it,” said Kevin McManamon.

“It is what it is. I’ve been hearing it for years now. All we can do is just get on with it and just keep playing, keep winning.

“If people want to change the structure or the competition structure or whatever it is, my career probably won’t last as long to see it. We just get on with it.  

“People are just trying to put a different narrative on it so it’s hard to know. That wouldn’t affect me, no.”

McManamon during the Leinster quarter-final clash against Louth.

Source: Bryan Keane/INPHO

McManamon, who made his championship debut against Wexford in 2010, featured as a 59th-minute substitute on Sunday, winning his ninth provincial medal with the Sky Blues. 

They held Meath to a single point in the first-half, conceding just four points in total over the 70 minutes.

“It’s gas, we put a big focus on defence in the lead into it and obviously they didn’t score that much,” says McManamon. “It could have been a different game, obviously we went in at half-time and it was 5-1.

“On another day it could have been 6-4, 5-5 or 10-5, if teams took their chances. They gave us a different thing than we were expecting. They were smart. We had eight turnovers in the first 10 minutes, we just couldn’t get our rhythm.

“Eventually we started chipping away but I suppose they’d be disappointed with not hitting the target and stuff like that. It could have been a different game but we ended up getting going and got the job done in the end but it was a sticky enough tough day to play and really slippy conditions.

“The game was kind of done by the time I was in. But again we had a strong last two quarters anyway. We would have been happy enough from that point of view.”

McManamon arrives off the team bus.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

The 32-year-old lined out in a league game for St Jude’s last night, keen to keep his match fitness with sterner tests lying ahead this summer.

“I want to get a bit of game-time myself,” he said.

“It’s usually if you don’t play, if you don’t play a half or whatever their cut-off is depending on how hard you’ve trained. I’d be pushing as much as I can.

“I played 10 or 15 minutes the other day, so you need game-time if you’re planning on starting a Super 8s game or an All-Ireland semi-final. I would push for it.

“I’d say anyone that played at the weekend probably won’t but I think you can pamper people too much – we don’t really do that. Get them out and play, that’s how you sharpen up.”

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Kevin O’Brien reports from Parnell Park 

RARELY HAS A county needed a victory like Offaly did against Dublin in the Leinster hurling U20 quarter-final last night.

They arrived into the game against the 2017 All-Ireland minor semi-finalists as underdogs, but a sizeable away crowd travelled to Donneycarney in the hope they could pull off an upset.

Offaly hurling was on its knees following relegation to the third tier Christy Ring Cup, which arrived 21 years after they were last crowned All-Ireland champions.

Earlier this month, Kildare sent them crashing out of the Leinster minor championship at the quarter-final stage. It was another result that signalled a worrying future for hurling in the county. But there may be life in the Faithful yet. 

John Murphy’s game-winning free at the death of extra-time sealed a Leinster semi-final showdown with Wexford next Wednesday night.

Offaly’s two first-choice free-takers Cathal Kiely and Brian Duignan – son of All-Ireland winner Michael – had already left the fray when the responsibility fell on Murphy’s shoulders. He didn’t blink.

“Cathal cramped up and went off injured, Brian had gone off injured – the two of them are our free-takers,” joint-manager Gary Cahill told The42.

“We had done it on the side the last couple of weeks. Any time we trained we’d have three or four lads (taking frees). Shane Hand  (joint manager) was with John’s club last year and we said we’d let John go ahead.

“John’s a brother of Paddy who is an inter-county hurler as well. Nerves of steel. We’re only a step further, we’re still only in a Leinster semi-final. We’re probably a bit further than what we thought we would be, but sure it’s great to be there.

“Coming into the game, we’d looked at Dublin the last couple of weeks,” he added.

“They’re a good bunch of lads. There’s 23, 24 of them underage next year. We’re building a team for two to three years. It could have gone anyway.

“It was a good game of hurling, it was ding-dong, up and down. We were lucky enough the scores came out on our side in the end.”

After a campaign where so much negativity followed the senior team’s slide, there is hope these U20s can restore some of the pride that has been lost over the past 12 months.

“We were there at night-time when the seniors were training,” Cahill continued.

“The seniors were training every bit as hard as us if not more. The break of the ball didn’t go their way, there was only one or two points in a lot of their games.

“Could have gone anyway. For the younger lads coming up and even for the minors having a loss, they’re training equally as hard and we just got the break tonight and it worked for us.”

Cathal Kiely, fresh from being crowned Offaly’s Poc Fada champion a week ago, sent over 0-20 in an extraordinary night in front of the posts. His older brother, Offaly senior star Cillian, is the reigning All-Ireland Poc Fada champion.

A minor last season, wing-forward Cathal has now scored 39 points in his last three games in the competition.

“Unbelievable hurler and he’s still a young lad,” said Cahill. “He’s only 18 years of age. He’s there for another two years. The boys won a lot of frees, Cathal put the ball over the bar and he had a few from play as well.

“They worked together as a team and they worked for one another. They set their own standards and that’s the way we intend to go forward.”

Conor Quinn’s goal helped Offaly into a six-point lead at half-time in extra-time but Dublin posted 1-3 without reply in the second period to drag themselves back on level terms.

Then Sky Blues midfielder Michael Conroy went racing through and dropped his shot at the posts short, when a point might have sealed it for Dublin.

Offaly counter-attacked up field and the brilliant Liam Langton won the game-winning free that Murphy converted. Cue scenes of pandemonium with players and supporters at the final whistle.

“It usually happens at the start of extra-time that one team goes gung-ho. So we decided, ‘Okay, let’s go for it,’ Cahill explained.

“We’re after playing one or two games lately against senior teams where we looked to have extra-time.

“When it was happening, we sat back. So tonight we said, ‘We’re fit enough, we’ll go for it.’ We were kind of holding on in the end, lads started to cramp up.

“They’re only young lads, 18, 19 and 20 so in the end it could have gone anyway but luckily enough we got a free at the end and John Murphy stood up and put the ball over the bar.”

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Having defeated Dublin in Parnell Park, with wins over Carlow and Westmeath already in the bank, they’re a win over Wexford away from reaching a provincial final.

“The lads are working hard and they set their own standards. It’s there for us. We’ll go and we’ll have a rattle at Wexford. Wexford are probably going to be favourites but we’ll go into the game and we’ll have a rattle at them and see what happens.”

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DUBLIN’S ALL-STAR defender Sinead Goldrick faces a race against time to prove her fitness if she is to play any part in Sunday’s TG4 Leinster SFC Final against Westmeath.

A broken arm in the week before Dublin’s Lidl NFL semi-final loss to Cork has taken longer than expected to shake off, and chasing her eighth Leinster senior medal, Goldrick (28) is eager to play her part at Netwatch Cullen Park (4pm).

“It’s getting there. I’m out of the cast. It’s going well. I’m back training.

“We’ll see how it goes in terms of contact and see what the physio and management say,” said Goldrick, who won her second TG4 All-Ireland Senior medal last season.

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“I didn’t have that much football in the League. I’m a bit off the pace and I’m happy to be back training. It is a bit of a complicated fracture so it has taken a bit longer that first thought. I’m happy to be out of the cast.”

Goldrick made her Dublin debut against Meath back in 2007 as a minor, but she didn’t play her first Leinster final until 2012, and since then Dublin have remained unbeaten in provincial deciders.

For the last two years it has been a two-horse race in the Leinster senior championship since Kildare’s relegation and Goldrick says she love to see one of the province’s intermediate teams make the step up as All-Ireland champions, to compete in the senior ranks in 2020.

But no matter who the opposition might be, Goldrick places huge value on her Leinster final victories.

“I think Dublin have 14 Leinster wins at this stage. People ask do you care about the Leinster and you definitely do. You want to have as many titles as you can.

“To win Leinster is something that we take huge pride in. It’s a competitive game. For sure the talent is there in the province and you’d love more senior teams for the game to progress. This time next year it’d be great to have more games before the final.

“Westmeath have a new management team this year and they are a very strong running team. I think there is a bit of bite in it, so I think it’s very competitive every time we play them.”

Goldrick won her sixth All-Star award hot on the heels of her second All-Ireland win last September and after losing three straight finals to Cork, returning the favour in 2018 was sweet.

But defeat to the Munster side after extra-time in this year’s Lidl NFL Division 1 semi-final was a blow for Dublin, and Goldrick she sees an extra edge in Cork this year.

“In Dublin we take the League seriously. We lost to Cork in extra-time in the semi-final so there are things there to look to improve. We weren’t fully disappointed – we wanted to win – but we still took a lot from it.

“Cork were brilliant against Waterford in the Munster final too. Saoirse Noonan is starting. Eimear Scally, Orla Finn, they have huge depth. They will always (have that sort of talented player) there but they do have an extra edge about them this year.”

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IF GOALSCORING DOES not usually fall within the remit of Chris Crummey, he picked an opportune time to make his mark in that sector for the Dublin hurlers.

With the Leinster championship balanced on a knife-edge in Parnell Park last Saturday week, the Dublin captain made his critical intervention.

By firing home their third goal of the night, his 67th minute strike proved instrumental in consigning Galway to an early summer exit and leaving Dublin buoyant as hurling in July awaits.

For a player who carved his reputation out of being an imposing presence in the half-back line, the goal and his raid upfield to win a penalty that was netted, offered evidence of an expansion of his role.

“Nah I don’t think I have (scored a goal before for Dublin). I wouldn’t be much of a goalscorer, I generally go for the points, but I was so close in at that time that I could only score a goal.

“Management and the keepers would tell you that the hardest shots to save are those that are bouncing in front of them. I was probably conscious of that, to hit it low and into the corner, and thankfully it went in.

“I enjoy going forward. I would have played as a forward a lot with my club and in the underage as well. Luckily in the Galway game I made two runs forward the whole game and those two runs we got scores out of them.

“I think when the game is so intense like that you just play it as you see it. If you see an opportunity to get forward, we’re told to do so.”

Chris Crummey was today at the launch of Leisureplex’s ‘Share Your Summer’ campaign.

The post-match euphoria was tinged with regret when word filtered through from Wexford that victory was not sufficient to propel Dublin into the Leinster final. 

But it was still a landmark win in Crummey’s senior career, the Parnell Park setting apposite for such a feat.

“The initial reaction after the game was great because we thought we were going to a Leinster final and then about 10 or 15 minutes later it was a bit bittersweet when you found out you weren’t in a Leinster final.

“It was a phenomenal experience. I suppose it being in Parnell Park probably made it a bit more special. There was such a big crowd there and the way the game went, the fact that it was so close, to get over the line was unbelievable.

“Players love playing in those types of atmospheres and it’s something that we relish and look forward to. You’d probably take coming third and still being in an All-Ireland series.”

Dublin’s progress has been a mixture of established pillars continuing to stand tall and new elements at play.

The influence of veteran Conal Keaney endures in the team.

Conal Keaney celebrates after Dublin’s victory over Galway.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

“Conal is a massive leader in our dressing room and on the pitch,” says Crummey.

“He leads by his actions more than anything else. Against Galway, he was inspirational for the rest of the team.

“You look at his performances, with the footballers and with us, he delivers when it really matters. That’s the sign of a great player.”

The presence of Dessie Farrell in their backroom team has provided a fresh spark for the Dublin hurlers.

“I would have know Dessie since I was 13 and with the development squads,” outlines Crummey.

“I’m very comfortable and familiar with him. His role is basically as an adviser to us as players, if we have any questions, we can go to Dessie – he helps us out.

“I find he’s an easy person to talk with if you’ve any questions regarding the game or anything regarding the setup. He always has time to give you advice.”

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Dessie Farrell is currently helping out in the Dublin hurling ranks.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

Crummey’s interest in Sunday’s schedule in Croke Park will hone in on the pursuit of Joe McDonagh Cup honours between Laois and Westmeath with outcome determining Dublin’s next opponents.

Still he’s perfectly placed to judge the Leinster final, a recent eyewitness to the capabilities of Kilkenny and Wexford while having shared the DCU dressing-room with members of both camps.

“It’s going to be very tight. Two brilliant teams with great sets of players. I think Kilkenny might just have the edge. TJ Reid, he was quiet the last day and it’s hard to keep him quiet on two occasions.

“If he performs to his level, that might be enough. Kilkenny are getting a lot of players back and it might just be falling at the right time.”

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