Month: September 2021

Galway 3-7
Mayo 0-9 

Declan Rooney reports from the LIT Gaelic Grounds

TRACEY LEONARD FIRED goals in each half as Galway claimed their third TG4 Connacht Ladies SFC title in-a-row, but they needed to fend off a strong Mayo comeback to claim the win in the first Connacht final staged in Munster.

This is Galway’s seventh provincial win in the last eight years, but Mayo never hit the heights of the performance they delivered in the drawn game at MacHale Park.

Tracey Leonard and Megan Glynn scored two goals in four first-half minutes, while late points from Tracey Leonard and Lucy Hannon ensured they had a straightforward run to victory on a day that only one Mayo forward scored from open play.

After the drawn game between the teams the general consensus was that Galway had more room for improvement and that was displayed in their dominant first-half performance in Limerick.

It was Peter Leahy’s side that opened the scoring thanks to a Sarah Rowe free inside the first minute, but it didn’t take Tracey Leonard long to level matters following a foul on Louise Ward.

Rachel Kearns was a destructive force in the drawn game and consequently Sarah Lynch was given more protection by the sweeping of Barbara Hannon in this game, and as a result she didn’t impact play as often.

After Kearns and Roisin Leonard both kicked long range frees off the ground for their sides, the key moment of the half arrived in the 17^th minute when Tracey Leonard exchanged passes with Louise Ward and rattled the net with a cool finish.

Click Here: springbok rugby Jerseys

Straight away Roisin Leonard added a point for Galway to put them 1-3 to 0-2 ahead, and nine minutes from the interval they pulled seven points clear when a move involving the two Leonards and Charlotte Cooney was finished to the net by Glynn.

Sarah Rowe of Mayo in action against Charlotte Cooney of Galway.

At that stage Galway had also accumulated six wides during their totally dominance, but Mayo punished them for their wastefulness by scoring the last three points of the half to reduce Galway’s lead to four points at half-time, 2-3 to 0-5.

Indeed it could have been a lot tighter, but Rowe was denied by a brilliant Lisa Murphy save when the Kilmoremoy player crept in behind the Galway cover just before the half-time hooter.

Mayo got off to a great start in the second half when Clodagh McManamon pointed on the run after the restart, and the gap was trimmed to two points by the 41^st minute with Sinead Cafferky and Grace Kelly on target.

It appeared as if Mayo were on the way to completing a memorable comeback, but some Tracey Leonard magic turned the game back in her side’s favour in the 42^nd minute. Following a mazy run her shot was brilliantly saved, but following a brief scramble she kicked to the net after a Mayo defender lost possession again.

That goal killed Mayo’s challenge and despite Grace Kelly keeping them in touch with a couple of frees, there was no reeling in Galway this time.

Scorers for Galway: T Leonard 2-3 (1f), M Glynn 1-0, R Leonard 0-2 (1f), S Conneally 0-1, L Hannon 0-1

Scorers for Mayo: S Rowe 0-3 (3f), G Kelly 0-3 (3f), R Kearns 0-1 (1f), C McManamon 0-1, S Cafferky 0-1

Galway: L Murphy; O Murphy, S Lynch, F Cooney; B Hannon, S Burke, C Cooney; L Ward, Á McDonagh; O Divilly, T Leonard (c), M Glynn; M Seoighe, R Leonard, S Conneally.

Subs: N Ward for Lynch (h-t), L Coen for Conneally (44), L Hannon for Glynn (50), S Molloy for F Cooney (53), O Murphy for Seoighe (58).

Mayo: A Tarpey; N O’Malley, R Flynn, D Caldwell; É Ronayne, Ciara McManamon, K Sullivan; Clodagh McManamon, D Finn; R Durkin, S Cafferky, N Kelly (c); S Rowe, R Kearns, G Kelly.

Subs: F Doherty for Durkin (h-t), E Needham for R Flynn (41), L Cafferky for Kearns (45), T O’Connor for D Flynn (52), C Whyte for Clodagh McManamon (54).

Referee: John Niland (Sligo).

The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!

Tyrone 1-20
Cavan 0-7

Paul Fitzpatrick reports from Clones

AT HALF-TIME in a sun-splashed Clones, a couple of merry-looking Tyrone fans engaged in an impromptu penalty shoot-out at the town goals. The crowd, seeking some sort of diversion, really got into it.

And one couldn’t blame them for looking for a little entertainment because by that stage, the match was effectively over. Tyrone were 0-12 to 0-3 ahead having out-classed the Breffni men in every department.

It became evident almost immediately that Cavan did not have the ability to break down the Tyrone defence by running the ball but the Blues did not seem to have any other game plan in reserve.

So, they hogged the sidelines, patiently worked the ball through the hands and looked to spread the blanket but the Red Hands steadfastly cut off all avenues to goal and, at the other end, cut through the Cavan defence with alarming ease.

The best goal chance of the half fell to Brian Kennedy, Ray Galligan doing well to turn his shot on to the post but, true to form, Niall Morgan nailed the resulting 45. That made it 0-4 to 0-2 but already, the message was clear: there would be no let-up.

Cavan opened the scoring with a well-struck Niall Murray free but Kennedy equalised with an easy score before Morgan stroked over a free from 55 metres.

Gearoid McKiernan kicked a free for Cavan to tie it but once Niall Sludden curled in a lovely point, Mickey Harte’s men had a lead they would never relinquish.

They registered six points in succession between the 16th and 26th minutes and after that, it was all cosmetic. Morgan (45), Colm Cavanagh and the impressive Cathal McShane landed the first three and then Darren McCurry popped up with a quickfire hat-trick of white flags.

There was no respite for Mickey Graham’s side, who must have had a depressing sense of déjà vu following their thumping at the same venue in the Ulster final against Donegal 13 days ago. On that occasion, at least, Cavan made a game of it in the second half; this time, they could not manage even that much as Tyrone, clearly with a gear in reserve, eased home.

Sub Conor Madden had poached a super point for Cavan but three frees (two from McShane and one from Peter Harte) rounded off the first-half scoring and the second half was a procession.

While Gerard Smith got Cavan off to a decent start with a fine point, Tyrone went about their business with impressive poise once more. Graham could be heard exhorting his players to push up but his calls fell on deaf ears as Tyrone continued to dominate.

Sludden and Harte added scores and after a sweet pass from Kieran McGeary, McShane swivelled for an outstanding point. He soon tacked on another to make it 0-17 to 0-5 and then came the coup de grace, sub Ben McDonnell out-fielding Cavan goalkeeper Ray Galligan and tucking away for the game’s only goal with 10 minutes to play.

Conall McCann and Harte, with a brace, completed the rout with a Niall Murray free and a consolation effort from the otherwise-subdued Dara McVeety all Cavan could muster.

Click Here: down gaa jerseys

Tyrone march on to the Super 8s with a spring in their step and considerable momentum. For Cavan, a long autumn and winter awaits after a season which promised so much ended with two drubbings at the home of Ulster football.

 

Scorers for Tyrone: Cathal McShane 0-6 (0-4f), Peter Harte 0-4 (0-3f), Darren McCurry 0-3, Ben McDonnell 1-0, Niall Morgan (0-1f, 0-1 ’45), Niall Sludden 0-2 each, Colm Cavanagh, Brian Kennedy, Conall McCann 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cavan: Gearoid McKiernan, Niall Murray 0-2 (0-2f) each, Dara McVeety, Gerard Smith, Conor Madden 0-1 each.

Tyrone

1. Niall Morgan (Edendork)

2. Hugh Pat McGeary (Pomeroy)
3. Ronan McNamee (Aghyaran)
4. Rory Brennan (Trillick)

5. Michael Cassidy (Ardboe)
6. Kieran McGeary (Pomeroy)
7. Frank Burns (Pomeroy)

8. Colm Cavanagh (Moy)
9. Brian Kennedy (Derrylaughan)

10. Matthew Donnelly (Trilick)
11. Niall Sludden (Dromore)
12. Peter Harte (Errigal Chiaran)

13. Darren McCurry (Edendork)
14. Cathal McShane (Owen Roes)
15. Conor Meyler (Omagh)

Subs

Kyle Coney (Ardboe) for McCurry (49)
Padraig Hampsey for HP McGeary (50)
Michael McKernan for Cassidy (51)
Ben McDonnell (Errigal Chiaran) for K McGeary (56)
Conall McCann (Killyclogher) for Sludden (61)
Richard Donnelly (Trillick) for McShane (63)

Cavan

1. Raymond Galligan (Lacken Celtic)

2. Jason McLoughlin (Shannon Gaels)
3. Padraig Faulkner (Kingscourt Stars)
4. Conor Moynagh (Drumgoon Eire Óg)

5. Conor Rehill (Crosserlough)
6. Killian Clarke (Shercock)
7. Ciaran Brady (Arva)

8. Conor Brady (Gowna)
9. Gearoid McKiernan (Swanlinbar St Mary’s)

10. Niall Murray (Cavan Gaels)
11. Dara McVeety (Crosserlough)
12. Gerard Smith (Lavey)

17. Barry Fortune (Cavan Gaels)
14. Cian Mackey (Casterahan)
15. Martin Reilly (Killygarry)

Subs

Conor Madden (Gowna) for Rehill (22 mins)
Oisin Kiernan (Castlerahan) for McLoughlin (33)
Caoimhin O’Reilly (Butlersbridge) for Ciaran Brady (h/t)
Stephen Murray (Cavan Gaels) for Reilly (h/t)
Thomas Galligan (Lacken Celtic) for Clarke (BC, 48)
Killian Brady (Mullahoran) for Faulkner (56)

The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!

Mayo 2-13
Galway 1-13

THEIR SUPPORTERS ENDURED another nervy finish, but Mayo eventually prevailed by three points against rivals Galway to seal their progression into the Super 8s.

Two goals inside the opening 10 mins put Mayo in control of this contest from early on and they never really looked like losing it.

Galway to their credit fought back and even after Liam Silke missed a 53rd minute penalty, some quality shooting left them within three points heading into the final 10 minutes.

Mayo looked to be using all their experience to close the game out and then Shane Walsh somehow beat a wall of defenders on the line with a 14m free in the 76th minute, but it arrived too late for the losing team.

Galway finished with 12 men after the Daly brothers, Michael and John (both blacks), and Ian Burke (black and a yellow) were sent-off in stoppage-time.

Galway sprang Damien Comer off the bench at half-time in a desperate attempt to add a goal threat inside, but the presence of Colm Boyle as a spare man in front of him and Brendan Harrison’s tenacity quelled his threat.

James Carr, making his second ever championship start, raised both of their green flags, while Cillian O’Connor marked his first competitive start in 12 months with a haul of six points.

Ian Burke is fouled by Chris Barrett to win a penalty.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Mayo’s full-forward line of Carr, O’Connor and Darren Coen scored an impressive 2-9 between them as they ended a run of seven straight defeats to their neighbours in all competitions.

James Horan has successfully navigated his first trip through the qualifiers and they’ll have little chance to recover ahead of a showdown with Kerry in Killarney next weekend.

Galway tried to clog up Mayo’s middle channel yet it was Mayo who had more success in forcing their opponents to shoot from tricky angles.

Galway played with John Daly in a sweeping role, which left Boyle free at the far end and he had a far greater influence on the game. Patrick Durcan tagged Shane Walsh and prevented him from causing too much harm from open play.

Corofin stopper Bernard Power, recalled by Walsh in place of Ruairi Lavelle, failed to deal with Darren Coen’s effort that dropped into the square just six minutes into the game. Carr, a late replacement in the Mayo side, pounced on the rebound and smashed it home. 

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

That gave Mayo a 1-2 to no score lead after just six minutes. Galway pulled back a couple of scores before Carr struck for his second goal. A brilliant run that started from outside the 45, he skinned Liam Silke and drilled a beauty into the top corner of Power’s goal.

Trailing by six points after 10 minutes, Cooke was to the fore as Galway managed to haul themselves back into contention. He took Aidan O’Shea for four first-half points in the first period, to leave the Tribesmen trailing by 2-7 to 0-7 at the interval.

Comer came in for Kelly and immediately looked dangerous at full-forward when he fisted a long delivery off the post. Mayo were eight ahead by the 46th minute but then went 15 minutes without a score.

Galway missed a golden opportunity after Colm Boyle gave away a penalty for a foot block on Ian Burke. Despite Liam Silke’s penalty miss, which was well-saved by David Clarke, Michael Daly and Walsh continued to drive Galway forward.

When substitute Kieran Molloy curled over a fine effort moments after his introduction, it left his side trailing by 2-10 to 0-13. Mayo finished the stronger as Coen, O’Connor (free) and Donie Vaughan added efforts. Walsh squeezed in a close-range free to reduce the gap to three before time ran out on their season.

Scorers for Mayo: James Carr 2-0, Cillian O’Connor 0-6 (0-5f), Darren Coen 0-3, Stephen Coen, Kevin McLoughlin, Jason Doherty and Donie Vaughan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Galway: Shane Walsh 1-3 (1-2f, 0-1 45), Peter Cooke 0-4, Eamonn Brannigan 0-2, Gary O’Donnell, Cillian McDaid, Michael Daly and Kieran Molloy 0-1 each.

Mayo

1. David Clarke (Ballina Stephenites)

2. Chris Barrett (Belmullet)
3. Brendan Harrison (Aghamore)

6. Colm Boyle (Davitts)

4. Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis)
8. Stephen Coen (Hollymount/Carramore)
5. Patrick Durcan (Castlebar Mitchels – captain)

21. Donal Vaughan (Castlebar Mitchels)
9. Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy)

10. Fionn McDonagh (Westport)
15. Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore)
11. Jason Doherty (Burrishoole)

20. James Carr (Ardagh)
13. Cillian O’Connor (Ballintubber)
14. Darren Coen (Hollymount/Carramore)

Subs

12. Ciaran Treacy (Ballina Stephenites) for McLoughlin (50)
22. Evan Regan (Ballina Stephenites) for Carr (54)
26. Lee Keegan (Westport) for McDonagh (63)
7. Michael Plunkett (Ballintubber) for Doherty (70)
17. Eoin O’Donoghue (Belmullet) for Durcan (74) 
23. Seamus O’Shea (Breaffy) for Vaughan (76)

Galway

16. Bernard Power (Corofin)

4. Liam Silke (Corofin)
24. Declan Kyne (Clonbur)
2. Eoghan Kerin (Annaghdown)

7. John Daly (Mountbellew-Moylough)

12. Johnny Heaney (Killannin)
5. Gary O’Donnell (Moycullen)
23. Sean Kelly (Moycullen)

6. Cillian McDaid (Monivea-Abbey)
10. Peter Cooke (Moycullen)

11. Shane Walsh (Kilkerrin-Clonberne)
9. Michael Daly (Mountbellew-Moylough)
17. Eamonn Brannigan (St Michaels) 

14. Martin Farragher (Corofin)
15. Ian Burke (Corofin)

Subs

3. Seán Andy Ó Ceallaigh (Leitir Mór) for Kerins (27)
19. Damien Comer (Annaghdown) for Kelly (ht)
13. Antaine O’Laoi (An Spideal) for Farragher (43)
8. Tomas Flynn (Athenry) for McDaid (56)
25. Kieran Molloy (Corofin) for Heaney (61)
26. Adrian Varley (Cortoon Shamrocks) for Brannigan (66)

Click Here: ireland rugby shirts

Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)

The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!

ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONS CORK provided a coolly efficient performance as they dismantled Dublin by 2-20 to 0-9 to record a third win from as many games in Group 2 of the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship.

Paudie Murray’s crew are pursuing a third consecutive title and were far too strong for the hosts, laying the foundation for their victory with two goals in the first 17 minutes.

Hannah Looney and Orla Cotter already had points on the board when Linda Collins goaled in the eighth minute.

Collins, Cotter and Katrina Mackey added points and the Rebels had 1-6 on the board by the time Aisling Maher registered Dublin’s first point at the beginning of the second quarter.

Cork were ruthless however, and Amy O’Connor’s goal from the next passage of play rendered the reminder of the tie of statistical interest only. Chloe Sigerson added three points as the visitors led by 2-11 to 0-3 at half time.

Dublin certainly didn’t throw in the towel and Ali Twomey, Orla Beagan, Alex Griffin and Aoibhe Dillon all shot points but Cork kept the scoreboard ticking over as Cotter brought her tally to six points, and Looney, Collins, Julia White and Clíona Healy were also on target to confirm a comfortable success.

Tipperary pulled clear of a four-team logjam in second place in the group with their second win in a week, a very strong third quarter the key in a 2-12 to 1-7 triumph over Clare in Sixmilebridge.

The Premier County representatives began really strongly, responding to an early point by Fiona Lafferty for the home team with Eibhlís McDonnell pouncing for the first of her two goals. The Annacarty attacker followed up with a point – she finished with 2-2 from play – and further minors from Grace O’Toole and Cáit Devane put five between them.

Chloe Morey brought Clare back into it with a goal from a penalty, after Fiona Lafferty was fouled, and a couple of points from Orlaith Duggan left Ger O’Connell’s charges just a point in arrears at the interval, by 1-5 to 1-4.

They didn’t come out at the start of the second half however, Devane hitting four of her six points as the margin grew to six. Morey, who finished with a personal tally of 1-4, steadied the ship but McDonnell’s second goal sealed the deal for Niamh Lillis’s side.

Several other games were postponed this weekend:

Camogie Association postpone four fixtures due to ‘outbreak of gastroenteritis’ among squads

The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!

DUBLIN MANAGER MATTIE Kenny has named his side for tomorrow’s All-Ireland SHC preliminary quarter-final against Laois.

The Sky Blues make the trip to O’Moore Park, Portlaoise [throw-in 4.15pm] and there are two changes to the starting side that sensationally saw off 2017 All-Ireland champions Galway at Parnell Park last time out. 

They’ll take to the field tomorrow without their in-form full-back Eoghan O’Donnell after he picked up an injury against the Tribesmen. Ballyboden St Enda’s James Madden starts in his place with Shane Barrett donning the number three jersey.

Ronan Hayes starts at full-forward with Liam Rushe making way.

Here is the Dublin Senior Hurling team to face Laois in tomorrow’s All-Ireland preliminary QF in Portlaoise#COYBIB pic.twitter.com/QsBm6l9B8N

— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) July 6, 2019

Eddie Brennan named his Laois side last night, and it shows just one change from their triumphant Joe McDonagh final with Joe Phelan replacing Donnchadh Hartnett.

Dublin and Laois last met in championship action in 2017 with the former winning an All-Ireland SHC qualifier tie by 13 points.

Dublin 

1. Alan Nolan – St Brigid’s

2. Paddy Smyth – Clontarf
3. Shane Barrett – Na Fianna
4. Cian Hendricken – Naomh Mearnóg

5. Chris Crummey – Lucan Sarsfields
6. Seán Moran – Cuala
7. James Madden – Ballyboden St Enda’s

8. Seán Treacy – Cuala
9. Tom Connolly – St Vincent’s

10. Conal Keaney – Ballyboden St Enda’s
11. Danny Sutcliffe – St Jude’s
12. Cian Boland – St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh

Click Here: hurricanes rugby jersey

13. Oisín O’Rorke – Kilmacud Crokes
14. Ronan Hayes – Kilmacud Crokes
15. Eamonn Dillon – Naomh Fionnbarra.

The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!

KILDARE IN 2015, Donegal in 2016, Mayo in 2017 and Tyrone in 2018 had all pushed Cork towards the exit door at the last twelve stage in the summer football race.

It was an unwelcome streak of results for the vanquished. Ronan McCarthy was selector for the first of those losses and manager for the most recent last July. Today in Thurles he saw that pattern corrected, Cork despatching Laois with a show of strength as they had accelerated clear by 14 points at the final whistle.

What altered the outcome? A two-week break since the Munster final was critical in McCarthy’s eyes allied to a desire to have no regrets from their Semple Stadium outing and the maintenance of a competitive run of form.

“I do think the two weeks is critical,” reflected McCarthy afterwards.

“I said to someone earlier that I was a selector with Brian (Cuthbert) in ’15, we ended up playing Kildare six days after and you just can’t do it. Like we trained last Saturday, that was probably the first day we trained properly after the Munster final.

“You really have to be careful what you’re doing with them. Our S&C and medical teams have done a great job in making sure they’re peaking right but the two weeks is key. Also we had regrets after the Munster final, we felt we could have won it (if we’d) just been a bit more clinical. There was an element of making sure today that we’d no regrets afterwards.

“Look the players have shown great togetherness and great resilience. I suppose they were down in a hole and they decided to pull themselves out of it. It’s only been through hard work and a small bit of belief and great work from our backroom team with them. You win games, it just breeds confidence. We just need to keep that going. Consistency is the key thing here, particularly when you’re playing three games against three top teams.”

Cork lost midfielder Killian O’Hanlon early in the game when he suffered a blow to the head while McCarthy is also hopeful injuries to other players like defender Nathan Walsh and forward Eoghan McSweeney will improve as they get set for the Super 8s.

Click Here: mens f1 polo,classic f1 shirts

“He got two heavy knocks and the second one kind of finished him off. Look let’s see how he is. The lads will assess him there. I was just talking to him very briefly afterwards to see was he okay. He’s actually as hard as nails. It was a bad enough challenge to be honest with you. When he’s going off it’s bad.

“Eoghan (was a) bit unfortunate. Trained Tuesday, just didn’t feel right on Wednesday, was a bit sore. He made a hard call for him but I suppose he made the mature call, just felt he wasn’t right.

“It allowed us to get Johnno (O’Rourke) in, I suppose our issue there was we had to be careful with him. One big advantage tonight was we didn’t need to use them which was great, we’ll get a week’s training out of them. The other one was we were able to get our big runners off, Ian (Maguire) and Ruairi (Deane) just to get them off the pitch 10 or 15 minutes early which should help them with the recuperation for next week.”

All-Ireland winning goalkeeper Alan Quirke was on the sideline for tonight’s game with McCarthy revealing he has joined the Cork backroom team on a short-term basis.

“Ger Kealy our goalkeeping coach is just caught with work commitments and so on in the short term. So Alan has very kindly, I asked him and he said yes immediately, just to fill in for Ger for the short term.

“Brilliant to have him, he didn’t have to be asked a second time to be fair to him. He’s a lovely calming influence as he had as a keeper when he was playing. He’s low-key, low-profile, he’ll add to what we have here for the period of time he’s with us and we’re delighted to have him.”

The Cork manager heaped praise on the form of attacker Brian Hurley, who has continued his recovery after a series of severe injury setbacks and shot 2-4 from play against the Laois defence.

Brian Hurley shoots past Graham Brody to score a goal for Cork.

Source: Ken Sutton/INPHO

“I actually thought it was his best game for us since he has come back. In other games he’s scoring but today his play in bringing people into it, showing all the time, his running off, his decision making was brilliant.

“Look he’ll only get stronger. Obviously we have to manage him injury wise and look we were able to get him off today which was great after 50 minutes or so. I’ve said this and I’ve been repeating myself, I don’t think people realise the loss he has been to Cork football over the last two years.

“Every night he comes in, you don’t want to mark him because you will earn it every night he comes in. He sets the standard for everybody and it’s great to have him back.”

The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!

1. Mayo end losing run against Galway

JAMES HORAN RETAINED his 100% record against Galway in the championship tonight. He’s now defeated the Tribesmen in four attempts from four, a run that goes back to his debut season in charge in 2011.

James Horan watches on during his side’s round 4 qualifier victory.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Click Here: qld maroons shirt

Mayo managed to end their losing run against their neighbours too. They’d been beaten in their last three championship encounters and seven games in total across the FBD League, National League and championship stretching back to 2016.

Galway’s defensive approach under Kevin Walsh frustrated Mayo’s running game in previous years, but the smart movement of their forward line on this occasion created plenty of scoring opportunities. Mayo shot 10 wides, yet Darren Coen and James Carr looked extremely lively and dispatched 2-3 from play between them. 

2. Question marks over Walsh’s future

Walsh’s future as Galway boss will come under scrutiny following the conclusion of their season. He likes to refer to his end-of-year accounts after Galway exit the championship and in his fifth season in charge they’ll show a failure to reach the heights of previous campaigns.

A disappointing Connacht final defeat to Roscommon where they managed just 0-2 in the second-half was compounded by a poor start in Limerick where they fell 2-2 to 0-2 behind after 10 minutes.

Walsh has become a lightning rod for criticism due to his defensive approach, which is often used as a stick to beat him with when results don’t go their way. There will be pressure from inside the county for Galway to move on from Walsh over the coming months.

In his five years in charge, Walsh has led his native county to an All-Ireland semi-final (2018), two quarter-finals (2016 and 2017), in addition to two round 4 exits in the qualifiers. They reached four provincial finals, winning two and losing two, while winning the Division 2 title (2017) and losing the Division 1 decider (2018).

Corofin’s double All-Ireland-winning manager Kevin O’Brien, U20 boss Padraic Joyce, former Monaghan manager Malachy O’Rourke, Donegal coach Stephen Rochford and UCD manager John Divilly are among the names that would be linked with the hot-seat if Walsh steps aside. 

Galway boss Kevin Walsh.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

3. Mayo’s failure to put the game to bed

We’re well used to Mayo’s dramatic run through the qualifiers at this stage. They don’t like making it easy on themselves. James Horan’s men rattled the back of the net with two early goals, yet never really pulled clear of the Tribesmen.

A worrying 15-minute spell without a score in the second period allowed Galway back into the game. It was the sort of game that Dublin or Donegal would have put to bed during the third quarter, but that’s not Mayo’s style.

A missed Liam Silke penalty in the 53rd minute cost Galway dearly and when Shane Walsh found the bottom corner from a close-range free in the sixth minute of stoppage time, it was a little too late for the Tribesmen.

Horan will be unhappy with Mayo’s failure to deal with Walsh’s placed ball in the final minute. With a host of defenders on the line, they were caught out by Walsh’s quick-thinking. On another occasion near the end, Keith Higgins was almost turned over as he soloed the ball across David Clarke’s goals.

Those defensive issues will need to be addressed as things go up a notch in the Super 8s.

Shane Walsh and Jason Doherty battle for possession.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

4. Positive news on the injury front

Despite their spate of injuries, Mayo have won three big games in 15 days to reach the last eight of the competition. 

The sight of Lee Keegan and Seamie O’Shea making returns from injury off the bench was a major boost for Horan’s side. 

In addition, Cillian O’Connor kicked six points (0-5 frees) in his first start for the county in almost 12 months and Donie Vaughan made the starting XV for the first time in 2019.

In even further good news, Horan was optimistic that Diarmuid O’Connor (broken wrist) and Matthew Ruane (broken collarbone) would play some start in the Super 8s with the final round-robin game against Donegal a realistic target. 

5. Trip to Killarney for opening weekend of Super 8s

Mayo’s reward for tonight’s victory is a quick turnaround against Kerry in Killarney on Sunday afternoon. It’s a game Mayo are well capable of winning. They defeated the Kingdom in their most recent meeting, the Division 1 final back in March. 

Kerry looked defensively vulnerable in the Munster final against Cork and shipped three goals. Mayo’s hard running game has caused the Kingdom problems before and the momentum gleaned by their qualifier run should stand them in good stead next weekend. 

Mayo will be expected to account for the winner of Meath and Clare in round 2 before in-form Donegal visit Castlebar in the final round of games. Beat Kerry in eight days and Mayo give themselves an excellent chance of making the All-Ireland semi-finals and, crucially, avoiding Dublin in the last four.

The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!

IF YOU HAVEN’T seen it yet, you’re in for a treat. If you have, here it is in all it’s glory to watch again and again. 

James Carr was Mayo’s goal-scoring hero at the Gaelic Grounds today, his early brace ultimately powering James Horan’s men past old rivals Galway and into the Super 8s.

His second goal was something special though.

The Ardagh youngster got on the end of a ball in courtesy of Paddy Durcan, and off he went. He powered down the sideline driving at the Galway defence. His nifty footwork left Liam Silke for dead before he also evaded Eamonn Brannigan and found an opening.

What happened next? Well, he sent an absolute rocket into the roof of the Galway net. A stunning finish which sent the crowd wild in Limerick.

James Carr with a smashing second goal!! Fantastic start for @MayoGAA pic.twitter.com/cgPXPa4hx9

— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 6, 2019

The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!

Click Here: nsw blues shirt

MAYO’S THREE-POINT win over Galway last night set-up a mouthwatering Super 8s opener against Kerry in Fitzgerald Stadium next Sunday.

Mayo defeated the Kingdom by 3-11 to 2-10 in the Division 1 final on 31 March to seal their first national title since 2001.

In his post-game comments that afternoon, Horan suggested that if Mayo “were as effective as we should be, could’ve won by 10 to 12 points to be honest.” 

Former Kerry manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice said recently he was “surprised” by Horan’s claim which was “clunky and careless comment at best.”

When he was asked if Kerry would use Horan’s remark as extra motivation, he responded: “I’m sure Kerry really don’t care what I say, to be honest. I just thought that on the day, we created a lot of goal chances that we didn’t take.

Click Here: limerick gaa jerseys

“We took our first two but missed our next three. That was my initial reaction. I try and be as straight as I can. I don’t think Kerry will give two hoots about what I say.”

Fitzmaurice also claimed that Mayo used the “cynical exploitation of the head injury rule when ahead in games.” Armagh boss Kieran McGeeney was unhappy with how little stoppage time was played in their narrow round 3 defeat, citing how Mayo had “10 or 11 head injuries” during the game.

Horan shot down the idea that Mayo are a cynical outfit.

“Look, I’ve been on the end of one-point defeats when a manager and sometimes you get frustrated,” he said.

“I’ve no idea what he (McGeeney) is talking about. You saw that game out there. You tell me what you thought from a cynical point of view or who was doing what.

“We finished with all our players. We just try to build a game as hard and as fair as we can so commentary on a game when you lose is kind of tough.”

It was their first championship victory over the Tribesmen since 2015 and their first time to dump their neighbours of out the championship in 20 years.

After three wins on the bounce in the backdoor, next weekend’s clash will be Mayo’s fourth game in as many weeks but it’s a prospect Horan is looking forward to.

Kevin McLoughlin is tackled by John Daly and Sean Kelly.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

“Our aim was to win the game and get into the Super 8s. We’re really happy with the start and the energy we showed throughout the whole game, from some of our newest guys and some of our experienced guys.

“I thought overall the work-rate and effort was very good so delighted with that aspect of it and obviously happy to be heading down to Kerry next weekend.

“Looking forward to it. We’ve had a few clashes with Kerry already this year and we’re looking forward to going down there, we genuinely are. Games are coming hot and heavy and the game-to-training ratio is the way you want it.”

Mayo led by Galway eight points after 10 minutes, 27 minutes and 46 minutes, yet only wound up prevailing by three in the end. Their failure to put the game to bed didn’t concern Horan, who was pleased with the performance of his veterans.

“We only won by three, so I’m more than happy with that,” he quipped tongue-in-cheek.

“The goal from the free was crazy so that would make it six points. I don’t think there’s any story in that. As I said, I’m delighted with a lot of stuff.

“We had a lot of goal chances and two of our goal chances I was sure they were frees at a minimum. We went down, got surrounded and the ball went down so it gave Galway a bit of momentum when we had scores on and if we took those scores it would have been different. They’re the things we’re learning from.

“James (Carr), his second goal was unbelievable. He’s a very exciting player who has a bit of everything and when we get him fully fit he’ll be a serious option.

“Delighted for him to get more game-time, but I’m nearly more happy for some of the senior lads in our full-back line – Chris Barrett, Brendan Harrison, Keith (Higgins), Colm Boyle in particular showed immense leadership today. Overall we’re very happy with how it went.”

On the injury front, Horan hailed Lee Keegan’s “powers of recovery” and was optimistic that Diarmuid O’Connor and Matthew Ruane could play some part in the Super 8s.

Keegan limped off with a serious looking ankle injury during the first-half of their win over Armagh last weekend, but surprisingly appeared off the bench after 63 minutes against Galway.

O’Connor underwent surgery recently on a fractured wrist, while Ruane suffered a broken collarbone and Horan refused to rule out a return for both players.

“(Keegan) got a bad injury you all saw last week with his ankle, but he has amazing powers of recovery, he really has, whatever physiology he has.

“You saw him on the field there today, he was running well and we’re delighted with that because obviously we thought it was a much longer-term injury. He’s up and running.

“Certainly Diarmuid will be (back during the Super 8s), and Mattie will be very close.”

The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!

TYRONE ARE SET to appeal all three of the black cards Peter Harte picked up this summer as they bid to have his one-match ban overturned.

Harte was black-carded late in their round 4 qualifier win over Cavan yesterday, which followed his recent black cards against Donegal and Longford.

As it stands, Harte is suspended for Tyrone’s Super 8s opener against Roscommon in Dr Hyde Park next Saturday evening due to an accumulation of three cards, which resulted in a one-game suspension.

GAA rules dictate that three black cards must be obtained before a player can appeal any of them.

Manager Mickey Harte questioned whether any of Harte’s infractions were worthy of a black and confirmed they’d bid to have his ban squashed.

Click Here: new zealand rugby team jerseys

“We’re going to appeal all three (black cards),” he told Sky Sports. “I don’t think any of the three he got in recent games were black cards at all.

“I have to ask myself the question, if you’re looking at this game, in the stage of the game it happened, why in God’s name would Petey Harte want to take any risk of a black card?

“If we look across the game, I saw other incidents across the game which to me would have merited a black card more than what he did. Any of the black cards he got, the general consensus of opinion is they’re very harsh.

“I think some people have lost track of why this was introduced at all. It was introduced to stop cynical play, deliberate pull-downs or deliberate trips, by hand or foot.

“And I suppose the fact that you have to get three before you can appeal any tells its own story. So many of them are appeal-able that they don’t want to be taking them up every week if one comes up, because that’s what happens.”

🗣️"I think there’d be something seriously wrong with our disciplinary system if any of those (black cards) can stand."

😡@TyroneGAALive boss Mickey Harte was irate after Peter Harte was shown his third black card of the season, meaning he could miss the Roscommon game. pic.twitter.com/yhD85aMQFI

— Sky Sports GAA (@SkySportsGAA) July 6, 2019

When asked if he expected his nephew to be available for the Super 8s opener, he replied: “I certainly do. I would be disgusted if he’s not.

“I think there’d be something seriously wrong with our disciplinary system if any of those (black cards) can stand.”

The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!