Month: September 2021

Source: Eoin Lúc Ó Ceallaigh

“THERE’S A LOT of talk about that going around and has been since. But I saw nothing at stake for myself and nothing at stake for him. Everybody was talking about a gamble you were taking. I could see no gamble with a player like that. I mean, he’d walk onto every team in the country and ours is no exception really.”

Those were the words of an All-Ireland winning manager on the surprising mid-summer return to the county panel of one of the most gifted players of a generation.

But 17 years before Jim Gavin nonchalantly announced Diarmuid Connolly’s shock comeback with Dublin, it was DJ Carey’s return to the Kilkenny squad that set tongues wagging across the country.

In the winter following Kilkenny’s All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Galway in 2001, Carey was involved in a car crash that left him nursing a serious neck injury. His recovery dragged on well into the following year and just as he was getting over that problem, a burst appendix caused Carey to effectively rule himself out of representing Kilkenny in the 2002 championship.

The Cats scraped past Wexford in that year’s Leinster final in a game where they failed to raise a green flag and a number of their forwards had underperformed. Brian Cody saw enough that afternoon and extended an olive branch to Carey, but warned him he would have to be as fit and hurling as well as everyone else if he was going to play.

The 31-year-old was back action with his club Young Irelands by that stage but there were serious question marks hanging over his return to the Kilkenny panel. After almost a year outside of the inter-county bubble, would he be able to rediscover his previous heights at the business end of the All-Ireland series?

“After the Leinster final, we weren’t great. The forwards weren’t great but we’d scraped through,” recalled Henry Shefflin in a 2003 documentary on Carey’s career.

“To hear a few days later that DJ was coming back was a major lift. It was a great morale boost for us all.”

DJ Carey during the parade before his comeback game with Kilkenny in the 2002 All-Ireland semi-final.

Source: INPHO

Cody added: “Nobody wanted to see this was the end of DJ Carey. The more often they can see DJ Carey playing, from a hurling point of view, I’d say the better for everybody.

“He wasn’t saying, ‘I’ll come back, just give me the ball and I’ll score it for you.’ He was saying to everybody with the way he was training, ‘I’ll come back and I’ll work like a savage to get the ball and I’ll give it to you and we’ll work together.’”

It proved to be a masterstroke by Cody. Carey was thrust into the starting line-up for the All-Ireland semi-final against Tipperary, setting up Jimmy Coogan’s goal and scoring four points of his own. Kilkenny’s winning margin? Four points. His tally, allied to the lift it gave the Kilkenny supporters in Croke Park, was the difference between the old rivals that day.

DJ Carey celebrates scoring his goal in the 2002 All-Ireland final.

Source: INPHO

“They may come and go, but there will only ever be one DJ Carey and you can talk about all the greats you like,” remarked RTÉ co-commentator Cyrill Farrell during the game. “It’s been a pleasure to see the man in action again.”

By the time the final against Clare arrived, Carey was in full flight. It took him three minutes of the final to rattle the back of the Banner net. He’d finish with 1-6 to his name as Kilkenny lifted the Liam MacCarthy Cup for the 27th time in their history.

It was Cody’s second All-Ireland title as manager and his decision to coax Carey back into the frame went down in history as one of his greatest moves. Remarkably, Carey was awarded an All-Star that winter, despite playing just two games for the Cats in the entire season.

DJ Carey and Brian Cody celebrate the All-Ireland win.

Source: INPHO

Six years later, Mickey Harte confirmed the sensational return of Stephen O’Neill to the Tyrone squad three weeks before the All-Ireland final against three-in-a-row chasing Kerry.

Following two seasons blighted by injuries, O’Neill underwent knee surgery at the end of 2007. Complications arose during his rehab that prompted the talented forward to announce his inter-county retirement at the age of 27.

But as the showdown against the Kingdom approached and with Paul Galvin free to play following his three-month suspension, Harte felt he’d need a card up his sleeve. Keen to avoid causing discontent in the camp, he broached the issue with his players.

Before he put the decision to a squad vote, Harte ran it by Owen Mulligan. A two-time All-Ireland winner at that stage, Mulligan had lost his place on the team during the season. If he’d return, O’Neill would jump ahead of the Cookstown man in the pecking order.

Mulligan recalls: “It was Harte who came to me first and said, ‘We’re going to bring this man back, what do you think of it?  It’s not only for this year, it’s for the next four or five years.’

“I said, fair enough – go for it,” says Mulligan.

“I remember phoning Raymond Mulgrew – a club mate of mine. I said what number are you? He said, ‘I’m 23′ and I said, ‘Well you’re 24 now!’” he laughs.

Tom O’Sullivan and Owen Mulligan tussle during the 2008 All-Ireland final.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

The squad didn’t vote unanimously in favour of O’Neill’s return, but with a Celtic Cross on the line they knew what the former Footballer of the Year could add. 

“Don’t get me wrong, there were players that voted against it,” admits Mulligan. “But the majority voted for it. I wasn’t getting on (the team) but I voted for Stevie O’Neill to go in there because he’s an exceptional player.

I played with him all my life and I knew he was a game-changer and he’d win games on his own. So I would have gone down to 23, but Tyrone had a chance to win an All-Ireland.

“You have to weigh up the pros and cons. I got on that day, but the boys that didn’t – at the end of the day, would you rather have two All-Irelands or three? That’s what I thought. It’s three All-Irelands instead of two. That’s the way you have to think about it.

“So that was the craic, but at the end of the day he came on, he didn’t have the best of games, I don’t know – the rumour is that he didn’t take the All-Ireland medal. But at the end of the day, Stevie O’Neill, you know what he’s like.

“He got Player of the Year two years before that. He should never have dropped out. I think it was for personal reasons.”

Mickey Harte gets ready to bring on Stephen O’Neill in the 2008 All-Ireland final.

Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

O’Neill arrived onto the field just 25 minutes into the final as a replacement for the injured Colm McCullagh. He failed to score but drew a yellow card off Aidan O’Mahony shortly after his introduction and was heavily involved for Tommy McGuigan’s goal that helped the Red Hand to a 1-15 to 0-14 victory. 

The winners write the history books and Harte’s call ultimately proved to be the right one. O’Neill would go on to line out for Tyrone until his second retirement in 2014.

11 years after O’Neill, Connolly has become the latest star man to be recalled late in the day for an All-Ireland bid. The move sent shockwaves reverberating around Ireland when Gavin divulged it last Sunday on Dubs TV.

It’s a fascinating move but the timing is strange, to say the least. Two weeks earlier, Connolly had packed his bags and headed for Dublin Airport ahead of an expected summer in Boston.

When he was denied entry to the States due to an apparent issue with his ESTA visa, the 32-year-old faced the unenviable prospect of spending the summer kicking his heels around Dublin with the Drive for Five hype set to hit fever-pitch.

His missing out on the trip to Boston became a huge news story and it was hardly the easiest thing for Connolly to deal with.

Diarmuid Connolly in action for St Vincent’s during the 2019 Dublin SFC.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

“It got some coverage,” agrees his former team-mate Paul Flynn.

“He was going to the States as we all know. There was a good few lads, from what I heard, that their ESTAs or their visas, or whatever didn’t allow them in. (President) Trump must be putting his foot down in regards to that.

“But for him not to go to the States and a couple of days later to come back into the (squad), it was a surprise to everybody. Apart from obviously himself and whoever was involved in it.”

Everyone has an opinion on his return. Some believe that Gavin felt sorry for the forward after the very public news of his ill-fated summer in the States. Colm Cooper, among others, reckon there’s a good chance he won’t see a minute of action in this year’s championship.

Maybe Gavin senses Dublin need to pack a better punch off the bench, with Bernard Brogan, Paddy Andrews and Eoghan O’Gara seemingly out of favour and Cormac Costello failing to impress in his last two games.

Or perhaps he’s using it as a smokescreen to deflect from the five-in-a-row talk that will only become louder over the coming weeks. 

“I don’t know the answer to that,” says Flynn when he’s asked about Gavin’s motives.

Paul Flynn and Owen Mulligan were speaking at the NOW TV Super 8’s preview event..

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

“One thing I know for certain, when you’re out of the squad, you’re out of the loop. So I’m only guessing the same things myself. I’m intrigued to see how it all plays out, but I don’t know.

I played against Diarmo recently in a club game, but he was just in third gear, he was just like so fit, so strong, he’s on. I don’t know, I just think he can play. I know how good he is.”

Flynn knows Connolly better than most, having soldiered alongside him on the same half-forward line for years. The pair shared a light-hearted moment after they beat Mayo in the 2017 All-Ireland final.

The TV cameras caught Connolly mouthing ‘four’ to Flynn as he ruffled his team-mate’s hair. The Fingallians ace was quick to remind Connolly that he now had in fact five All-Ireland medals in his collection.

“He’s a great teammate,” continues Flynn. “He’s been a great teammate of mine for years now. We would have had a really strong relationship on the pitch as much as off it. He played 12 and I played 10 for years. Or I played 10, he played 11.

“So we were always working with one another on the pitch. Great memories of playing and going to war with Diarmo. I’ve a really strong relationship with him on the pitch, but off the pitch as well, I’d often play golf with him and we’d be really tight.

He is remarkably good at golf. He drives the ball 350 yards, and that’s not even an exaggeration. I remember playing with him in one of his first-ever games of golf, out in Hollystown.

“We used to go out on a Monday. He wasn’t good, but I remember looking at his swing and going, ‘He’s going to be good’, which annoyed me,” he smiles. “Now he is very good.”

Flynn doesn’t believe Connolly’s return will cause any disharmony in the squad, pointing to Rory O’Carroll’s comeback following the league after a three-year hiatus as an example.

“I think in fairness, the squad have always been very strong-willed in terms to people coming and going. You could arguably have said the same about Rory who came in.

“But the collective will on the squad has always been strong, and if people felt if whoever coming in was going to add to the overall group, then they were always open-minded to it.

“I’m sure deep down there were some guys who were asking themselves questions, but you’d never let that show in their emotions or their actions.”

Connolly after featuring off the bench against Tyrone in the 2017 All-Ireland semi-final.

Source: Gary Carr/INPHO

To come back into the Dublin set-up after such a lengthy spell of the inter-county game is a tall order, but if anyone is able to get back up to the pitch of things quickly it’s Connolly.

A true superstar of the game, his undoubted talent has been overshadowed by rumours and gossip during his 17-month absence. Connolly’s rise to stardom may have been a great buzz at first, but his career arrived under the spotlight of the social media era, where every controversy became magnified.

He’s had his difficulties and made his mistakes off the field, which have been well-documented at this stage, but Gaelic football was certainly quieter without him.

It’s hard to imagine he would make a commitment to return to the panel without some sort of assurance from Gavin that he’ll get game-time if he’s performing to the required level in training.

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“It’s a massive ask,” says Mulligan. “I know he has the physique and build. It’s a massive ask for a player to come in and play championship football straight away.

There’s people saying, he mightn’t get on – he’s brought in for a reason. The players had to agree to this. Jim Gavin wouldn’t have just brought him in on his own accord. It has to be a player decision.

“He’s 32. It’s a no brainer. If you can get that man pulling in the same direction, he’s some asset to any county. He’s a class act. I don’t know if he will get on but at the end of the day he’s a game-changer. It’s a big ask after 18 months to play county football but he’s a machine so we don’t know.

“Now, he mightn’t get on in this championship, but he’ll be there for next year hopefully. 

“O’Neill and Connolly are two similar players – they can win you a game, they’re game-changers. So I would have voted for Stevie. I’m sure the Dublin players, some of them wouldn’t have voted. There were big names that didn’t vote for Stevie. That’s always going to remain in-house.”

Connolly takes flight against Mayo in the 2016 All-Ireland final replay,

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

One thing is for sure: Gavin made an exception for an exceptional player, just like Cody did with Carey in 2002 and Harte did with O’Neill in 2008. 

Even the strictest of managers will make room for a maverick if he’s talented enough. 

“There’s always different personalities and different clashes,” Mulligan continues.

“I think you have to have the messers, and the sensible ones, the older boys who will keep you right. Myself, I was lucky to have Chris Lawn and (Peter) Canavan and boys like that.

If you’re a game-changer and a match-winner, we had some talent in our squad, but at the end of the day, if you call Connolly a maverick, I’d take that maverick every day of the week.

“That’s the sort of footballer he’s like. When I heard he was coming back, I was saying, ‘Shit’. He just made Tyrone’s chances harder. But you can’t wait to see that man on the field, even if it is for next year. That’s why you pay for the ticket to go to Croke Park.”

Not all of the adjustments Connolly will have to make are physical. He’ll have to fit back into the Dublin ruthlessly efficient system, where the good of the team is placed above all else.

Connolly salutes Hill 16.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

“If I was to come into a panel at that point of the year, I would definitely not play,” Flynn admits.

“But Diarmo is just different. He’s such a talent. I just think he will get game time. I think it would be very hard not to play him if he’s fit and he’s showing well in training.”

He may not return as the same player he was when he bent the All-Ireland final to his will two years ago.

But he is back – not better than ever, maybe not even as good as ever – just back, and for now, that’s enough.

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DIARMUID CONNOLLY WILL not make his highly-anticipated Dublin return this afternoon, with Jim Gavin naming an unchanged starting XV for his side’s Super 8s meeting with Roscommon [throw-in 7pm].

Following Dublin’s opening Super 8s win against Cork a week ago, manager Gavin confirmed that Connolly had returned to the fold and was training with the senior county panel again after missing last year’s All-Ireland title triumph.

The 32-year-old spent last summer in the United States playing football for Donegal Boston. Connolly last played for Dublin in the 2017 All-Ireland final against Mayo, but will not mark his return against the Rossies today.

Gavin has named the same starting XV which overcame Ronan McCarthy’s men by 13 points seven days ago, with Dublin getting their Super 8s campaign up and running with an impressive victory in the face of a spirited first-half Cork performance.

James McCarthy and Jonny Cooper returned from injury last Saturday against Cork off the bench. Both players are named amongst the substitutes again, as is Bernard Brogan, who makes a return to the match-day 26.

The 2010 Footballer of the Year featured against Cavan in the Allianz Football League at the end of March, but has not made a championship appearance in blue since coming off the bench against Roscommon last August.

The Connacht champions face a tough task later this evening if they are to get their own Super 8s campaign back on track. Anthony Cunningham’s side suffered a four-point defeat to last year’s beaten All-Ireland finalists Tyrone a week ago.

Dublin team vs Roscommon:

1. Stephen Cluxton (Parnells)

2. Michael Fitzsimons (Cuala)
3. David Byrne (Naomh Olaf)
4. Philly McMahon (Ballymun Kickhams)

5. Jack McCaffrey (Clontarf)
6. Cian O’Sullivan (Kilmacud Crokes)
7. John Small (Ballymun Kickhams)

8. Brian Fenton (Raheny)
9. Michael Darragh-MacAuley (Ballyboden St Endas)

10. Niall Scully (Templeogue Synge Street)
11. Cormac Costello (Whitehall Colmcille)
12. Brian Howard (Raheny)

13. Ciarán Kilkenny (Castleknock)
14. Paul Mannion (Kilmacud Crokes)
15. Con O’Callaghan (Cuala)

Here is the Dublin panel to face Roscommon in the Super 8s at Croke Park this evening

👕👕👕#UpTheDubs pic.twitter.com/h1JchgsBzs

— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) July 20, 2019

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TYRONE BOSS MICKEY Harte has made one change to his team for this evening’s clash against Cork.

Kieran McGeary comes in to replace Michael Cassidy on the half-back line, while All-Star nominee Tiernan McCann returns from injury to take his place on the bench. 

The game against the Rebels throws-in at 5pm in Croke Park.

Tyrone

1. Niall Morgan (Edendork)

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

5. Michael McKernan (Coalisland)
6. Kieran McGeary (Pomeroy)
7. Frank Burns (Pomeroy)

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

10. Matthew Donnelly (Trillick)
11. Niall Sludden (Dromore)
12. Peter Harte (Errigal Ciaran)

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

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Here's our Starting XV for this afternoon's Super 8s clash against @OfficialCorkGAA ⬇️

We'll be bringing you LIVE updates on Twitter and Instagram ⚪️🔴 pic.twitter.com/74tBvCaFfj

— Tyrone GAA (@TyroneGAALive) July 20, 2019

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AS THINGS STAND, Donegal are tipped to be Dublin’s biggest threat to their five-in-a-row dreams.

Donegal players celebrating their back-to-back Ulster SFC success.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

They defended their Ulster crown with a clinical display against Cavan and have made a winning start to their Super 8s campaign. Meath had their pulses racing for most of the encounter in Ballybofey, but Donegal’s experience and game management skills yielded a nine-point victory.

Team captain Michael Murphy has always been credited as being at the coalface of Donegal’s success. That praise of course is justified. He skippered the county to All-Ireland glory in 2012 and has the versatility to flourish in midfield and attacking positions.

Murphy’s stock value surfaced again this week when Meath coach Colm Nally offered an interesting observation on the We Are Meath podcast.

I’m not saying that Donegal are a one-man team but they’re the closest team I’ve ever seen to a one-man team,” he said.

“Michael Murphy was getting scores, then he was in the middle catching balls and then at the end, he was clearing the ball off the line.

“If you put him in our team, I think you’d see a different result.” 

Murphy is certainly integral to Donegal’s progress but Declan Bonner’s side are not solely dependent on his performances for results. Nor are they close to that scenario, as Nally suggests.

Michael Murphy in action against Meath.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

Up front, they have a consistently reliable forward in Paddy McBrearty. The Kilcar attacker — who surprisingly doesn’t have an All-Star award yet — repeatedly delivers for Donegal.

His 1-6 against Meath last weekend included a well-executed goal in the first half.

McBrearty’s movement had all the hallmarks of a scoring assassin. After allowing the ball skip past his marker, he chipped it into his hands to give himself even more of an advantage, before racing through to bury the ball in the roof of the net.

Patrick McBrearty with a rocket of a goal for @officialdonegal! pic.twitter.com/sc4YUtfm6K

— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 14, 2019

He was just as efficient in the Ulster final where he scored five points in all. In fact, he was a standout performer for Donegal throughout all of the provincial championship, starting with a five-point haul against Fermanagh which was his first start for Donegal since suffering a torn ACL in 2018.

The dreaded knee injury can place question marks over the future of an athlete’s career. Some take a bit of time to rediscover their form after the lengthy rehabilitation period, but McBrearty made an immediate impact upon his return.

He indicated that he was back in his stride when he returned to club football with Kilcar in April, but stepping up to the inter-county grade was always going to be the real litmus test.

And he passed without any fuss.

At only 25, McBrearty has still plenty of road left in his career. But this talented attacker has been firmly on the radar since before Donegal’s All-Ireland triumph seven years ago.

McBrearty after Donegal’s All-Ireland quarter-final win over Kildare in 2011.

Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

Despite only turning 19 shortly before that decider against Mayo, he had already built himself into then manager Jim McGuinness’ plans the previous season. And his attitude as a teenager offers an insight into how he has managed to keep company with the best forwards in the country for almost a decade since then.

“This has always been part of the plan,” he said before the 2012 All-Ireland final.

When I was 14, 15, boys might be out drinking or whatever.  But when I was on my first night out, one of my mates said ‘Just take a drink’, and I said I had things on my mind. I wanted to be one of the best footballers in Ireland, I said at the time.

“Hopefully I am on that track.”

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McBrearty doesn’t need to hope any more.

He’s certainly going the right direction for Donegal, and while Murphy’s contribution is key, they’re equally reliant on proven performers like McBrearty.

Should he maintain his form to help Donegal prevail beyond the Super 8s, and perhaps even halt Dublin’s drive for five, McBrearty might also land that elusive All-Star by the end of 2019.

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1. Jimmy Neesham

Kids, don’t take up sport. Take up baking or something. Die at 60 really fat and happy.

— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) July 15, 2019

2. Luke Fitzgerald

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Would love Eoin Morgan to start off his speech with, “Tá an athais orm, and corn seo a ghlacadh ar son muintir na h-Éireann”!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

— luke fitzgerald (@lukefitz11) July 14, 2019

3. BBC Sport

Has @TigerWoods sampled the local brew prior to @TheOpen? ⛳️ pic.twitter.com/odpTUXoys1

— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) July 16, 2019

4. Ulster Rugby

Season Tickets for 2049/50 are now on sale 🤣 #FaceApp pic.twitter.com/YocO4F7AmB

— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) July 16, 2019

5. Eamon McGee

Warning: Being a father to twins turns you into Jeremy Clarkson. pic.twitter.com/3qJLOS0fWt

— Eamon Mc Gee (@EamonMcGee) July 17, 2019

6. Dundalk FC

Everyone at #DundalkFC would like to offer our congratulations to Michael Duffy and his partner Emily, who gave birth to a baby boy this evening. The baby apparently arrived at half-time in extra time. What a night!

— Dundalk FC (@DundalkFC) July 17, 2019

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Mayo 2-17 
Meath 0-14

AND SO, MAYO live to fight another day.

Mayo’s Aidan O’Shea and Colm Boyle with Bryan McMahon of Meath.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

In typical fashion, James Horan’s men did it the hard way in what was effectively a knock-out Super 8s game against Meath at Croke Park.

All was well and truly in the melting pot, but Kevin McLoughlin’s 61st-minute goal ultimately sent the Westerners on their way. Another late one from Cillian O’Connor — his penalty was saved by substitute keeper Mark Brennan but the Ballintubber star slotted the rebound — put the icing on the cake of a 2-17 to 0-14 win.

That said, the scoreline was an unfair reflection of the game as a whole. Meath held their own throughout, but Mayo won it with experience, and in typical Mayo fashion down the home straight. It was far from the most memorable or high-quality of clashes, but the ending was definitely an exciting one.

After both sides tasted defeat last weekend, both needed a win to keep their hopes of an All-Ireland semi-final spot alive — and Mayo’s focus now turns straight to a final day showdown against Donegal in two weeks’ time.

James Horan made three late changes to his Westerner side; Chris Barrett, Kevin McLoughlin and Fergal Boland all starting in place of Eoin O’Donoghue, Keith Higgins and Ciaran Treacy.

It wasn’t the most exciting of starts at HQ, but truth be told, the Royals looked more lively early on. It took seven minutes for the first score of the game to be kicked, Michael Newman clipping over a free before Bryan Menton added another from play.

Darren Coen hit Mayo’s first with the clock just short of nine minutes, before James McEntee pulled one back at the other end.

It wasn’t until the 12th minute that the Green and Red truly announced themselves on the scene, courtesy of two fine Fionn McDonagh points in quick succession.

Andy McEntee’s men were quick to stop any momentum building, however, as the in-form Donal Keogan burst through on goal, only for his shot to be stopped by David Clarke. Newman was there to fire the rebound over, but Kevin McLoughlin bit back at the Hill end.

Mayo’s Stephen Coen and Cillian O’Sullivan of Meath.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

From there, the cracks in the Mayo defence started to come to the fore. Meath really should have done better before the posts, with Ethan Devine’s brilliant effort their only score between 17 and 35 minutes. 

In that time, Fergal Boland, Jason Doherty and Cillian O’Connor (free) got their names on the scoresheet, making it 0-7 to 0-5.

As half time approached, Mayo looked to be finding their form, but late points from Cillian O’Sullivan and Seamus Lavin drew Meath back level for the fourth time by the break.

There was bad news for the Royals, however, as they lost Newman to injury — but that didn’t phase them on the restart. His replacement, 19-year-old Shane Walsh made no mistake with a free to take the lead.

Boland responded, and Andy Moran’s introduction from the bench lifted the Mayo forward line, but scores from James Conlon and Walsh (free) soon had Meath into a two-point lead.

In a low-quality second half with some shocking wides at both ends, O’Connor and Walsh exchanged frees, before the former tagged on two more scores — one of those from play — to bring Mayo level with just under 20 minutes to go.

Lavin, again, and Moran traded points and with the home straight approaching, there were stark differences at both ends. Walsh missed back-to-back frees in front of the Hill, while Colm Boyle stepped up with an inspirational score to put Mayo one up.

Another leader, Lee Keegan, put his hand up with 61 minutes on the clock, while James Carr followed suit with another important point.

Kevin McLoughlin celebrates his all-important game.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

And then came the decisive blow. Kevin McLoughlin sent the Green and Red fans wild with a crucial goal; the 1-4 they scored without reply ultimately settling the game.

O’Connor and Walsh (two) again exchanged frees as the clock ran down, and to Meath’s credit, they didn’t give up.

But it was O’Connor who grabbed a second goal after Andrew Colgan was black carded for a third-man tackle and Mayo awarded a penalty.

And Jason Doherty topped off the nine-point win with a fine score.

Scorers for Meath: Shane Walsh (0-5, 5f), Michael Newman (0-2, 1f), Seamus Lavin (0-2), Brian Menton, James McEntee, Ethan Devane, Cillian O’Sullivan, Seamus Lavin and James Conlon (0-1 each).

Scorers for Mayo: Cillian O’Connor (1-5, 4f), Kevin McLoughlin (1-1), Fionn McDonagh, Jason Doherty and Fergal Boland (0-2 each), Darren Coen, Andy Moran, Colm Boyle, Lee Keegan and James Carr (0-1 each).

Meath 

1. Andrew Colgan (Donaghmore Ashbourne)  

2. Séamus Lavin (St Peter’s Dunboyne)
3. Conor McGill (Ratoath)
4. Shane Gallagher (Simonstown Gaels)

5. Donal Keogan (Rathkenny)
6. Padraic Harnan (Moynalvey — joint-captain)
7. Gavin McCoy (St Peter’s Dunboyne)

8. Bryan Menton (Donaghmore Ashbourne – joint-captain)
9. Shane McEntee (St Peter’s Dunboyne)

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10. Ethan Devine (Na Fianna)
11. Bryan McMahon (Ratoath)
12. Thomas McGovern (Donaghmore Ashbourne)

13. Cillian O’Sullivan (Moynalvey)
14. Mickey Newman (Kilmainham)
15. James Conlon (St Colmcille’s)

Subs 

23. Shane Walsh for Michael Newman (37)
20. Barry Dardis for Gavin McCoy (49)
18. Sean Tobin for Ethan Devine (52)
26. Thomas McGovern for Seamus Lavin (64)
17. Thomas O’Reilly for Bryan McMahon (65)
16. Marcus Brennan for Andrew Colgan (black card) (74)

Mayo

1. David Clarke (Ballina Stephenites)

2. Stephen Coen (Hollymount-Carramore)
3. Brendan Harrison (Aghamore)
19. Chris Barrett (Belmullet)

5. Lee Keegan (Westport)
6. Colm Boyle (Davitts)
22. Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore)

8. Donal Vaughan (Castlebar Mitchels)
9. Seamus O’Shea (Breaffy)

10. Fionn McDonagh (Westport)
11. Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy)
26. Fergal Boland (Aghamore)

13. Cillian O’Connor (Ballintubber)
14. Darren Coen (Hollymount-Carramore)
15. Jason Doherty (Burrishoole)

Subs 

24. Andy Moran for Darren Coen (HT)
25. James Carr for Fergal Boland (48)
4. Eoin O’Donoghue for Stephen Coen (55)
20. James McCormack for Seamus O’Shea (63)
17. Michael Plunkett for Lee Keegan (74)
12. Ciaran Treacy for Kevin McLoughlin (74)

Referee: Ciarán Brannigan (Down).

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Galway 2-13
Westmeath 1-3

GALWAY SEALED THEIR place in the TG4 All-Ireland ladies senior football championship quarter-finals after Leanne Coen and Roisin Leonard goals eased them to victory against Westmeath at Cusack Park.

Following last week’s win over Kerry and this triumph against the Midlanders, Galway are now guaranteed top spot in Group 3 with one game remaining in the pool.

Nicole Feery hit back with a goal for the hosts in the second period, but they now need a win against Kerry next weekend to earn their passage to the knock-out stages.

In the early action, both sides struggled to find their feet in Mullingar, but once Treacy Leonard fired Galway’s opening point in the sixth minute they began to settle.

Sean Finnegan’s side responded well though and a Fiona Claffey point two minutes later soon had her side on parity again.

The action continued to be tight with Galway captain Leonard and Leanne Slevin taking turns to raise the white flag, but from the end of the first quarter to the interval Galway took over. That period of dominance proved to be the winning of the game.

The in-form Roisin Leonard gave Galway the lead after 20 minutes from a free on the left, but the key score of the game arrived four minutes from half-time.

A fine move started in the Galway defence involving Olivia Divilly, Sarah Conneally and Louise Ward, and her pass set up Roisin Leonard to convert the opening goal.

Even with the lead provided by the goal, Galway continued to torment the Westmeath defence in the closing stages of the first half. Three unanswered points from Rosin Leonard, Conneally and Treacy Leonard meant Galway held a seven-point cushion at the break, 1-6 to 0-2.

The second half began brightly for the eventual winners with two excellent early scores from Nicola Ward and Treacy Leonard stretching Galway’s lead to nine points by the sixth minute of part two.

Westmeath’s hopes were lifted when Galway lost Fabienne Cooney to a yellow card and they trimmed the deficit thanks to a point from Sarah Dolan.

That gap was down to eight points by the 43rd minute when a speculative long-range shot from Nicole Feery deceived Galway goalkeeper Lisa Murphy and ended up in the back of the net.

However, Galway responded well with two points from Roisin Leonard and they finished this contest late on with a wonderfully taken goal from substitute Coen.

Scorers for Galway: R Leonard 1-4 (3f), T Leonard 0-4 (2f), L Coen 1-0, O Divilly 0-2, S Conneally 0-1, N Ward 0-1, S Burke 0-1.

Scorers for Westmeath: N Feery 1-0, F Claffey 0-1, L Slevin 0-1 (1f) S Dolan 0-1.

GALWAY: L Murphy; N Ward, S Burke, F Cooney; O Murphy, B Hannon, C Cooney; L Ward, Á McDonagh; O Divilly, M Glynn, M Seoighe; T Leonard, S Conneally, R Leonard.

Subs: S Lynch for Hannon (26), L Coen for L Ward (h-t), S Molloy for Cooney (h-t), L Hannon for Glynn (40), M Coyne for McDonagh (58).

WESTMEATH: L McCormack; R Dillon, J Rogers, L Power; K Boyce Jordan, K McDermott, F Coyle; J Maher, MA Foley; S Dolan, A Jones, N Feery; L Slevin, F Claffey, V Carr.

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Subs: L Brennan for Dolan (41), B McNamee for Slevin (48), K Hegarty for Jones (58).

Referee: N McCormack (Laois).

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Kerry 1-20
Donegal 1-20

END TO END football, a championship clash as tight as they come and no matter what, Kerry and Donegal couldn’t be separated in their thrilling Super 8s clash in Croke Park this afternoon.

It looked like the Kingdom had just edged it when Paul Murphy finished off a brilliant team move with 73 minutes on the clock. But no, there was room for a little more excitement for the 48,723 watching on.

Donegal’s captain fantastic Michael Murphy — who finished with 1-7 — fired over a last-gasp free-kick to level matters at the death, leaving the game tied at 1-20 a-piece.

Man-of-the-match Ryan McHugh and Patrick McBrearty also enjoyed splendid performances for Donegal, while Paul Geaney led the scoring charge for Kerry. It really was a dramatic and enthralling contest from start to finish, and one no one probably deserved to lose.

Both sides made three late changes before throw-in with some injury concerns coming to the fore. Big names David Moran and Neil McGee were among those absent for both sides, as a new Kerry midfield partnership took to the field in Shane Enright and Diarmuid O’Connor.

Killian Spillane also started, with Jack Sherwood and Graham O’Sullivan the players to make way. For Donegal, Eamonn Doherty came in for McGee while Caolan Ward and Eoin Murphy started in place of Daire Ó Baoill and Paul Brennan.

The first half was a fascinating battle, with excellent football on show from both sides at HQ. Black cards shown to Gavin White and Niall O’Donnell will come as talking points, but it was tit-for-tat stuff with the teams level six times throughout the opening period.

Jason McGee opened the scoring with three minutes on the clock, before the in-form Stephen O’Brien fired back at the Canal End seconds later. That set the tone. Michael Murphy’s opening offering was a sixth-minute free, and that was followed swiftly by a Killian Spillane point.

David Clifford had some uncharacteristic early misses but soon found his feet alongside Paul Geaney and Sean O’Shea to really get the Kerry attack purring. McBrearty and McHugh led the way at the other end, the Kilcar duo combining for five first-half points.

Declan Bonner and Peter Keane afterwards.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

In the 25th minute, there may have been a goal on for Peter Keane’s side but Geaney blasted his second of three first-half points over the bar.

The Dingle man added another, as did O’Shea (free) before McBrearty tied proceedings at 0-9 a-piece as the clock turned 33. O’Shea had the last say of the opening period, and the Kingdom went in one point up.

The second half was again, absolutely scintillating. And up a level, at that, on a damp, misty afternoon in the captial. It was one that had it all; two goals — one of those a penalty — cards, exceptional points, and influential performances all round.

Early doors saw Michael Langan and Clifford exchange points, before Murphy hit back-to-back monster frees. The 44th minute brought the game’s first goal as Geaney rattled the net to make it 1-11 to 0-12.

Declan Bonner’s Ulstermen, of course didn’t lie down, responding immediately through Oisin Gallen, but Tom O’Sullivan bit back straight after. Then it was McBrearty (free) and Spillane’s turn to trade scores, before Donegal’s all-important goal came in the 50th minute. 

Substitute Ó Baoill was fouled in the area by O’Brien, and Murphy stepped up to power home accordingly. That left it 1-14 to 1-13 after 53 minutes. Almost immediately afterwards, Donegal had the ball in the back of the net again but it was overruled after Eoin McHugh was adjudged to have thrown the ball.

O’Shea and Spillane added points either side of the 60th minute, with Murphy sandwiching another in between. Level for the 10th time then, a McBrearty free came as the next score. O’Brien and Clifford combined with the next two as a grandstand finish approached, and Langan levelled matters again in the 67th minute.

Michael Murphy after scoring a penalty.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

At 1-17 a-piece, they were nowhere near done. 

Kerry struck next through a Jason Foley fisted effort, Gallen cancelled that out at 71 minutes. The lead shifted in Donegal’s favour when Murphy made it 1-19 to 1-18 seconds after, and then, like a flash, it was Geaney at the other end.

The two late, late scores followed, with a red card shown to Tomas Ó Sé — who was just on the pitch — amid all the drama. But woah, what a game, with plenty to play for in Group 1 in Castlebar the next weekend.

Scorers for Kerry: Paul Geaney (1-4), David Clifford (0-3, 1f), Sean O’Shea (0-4, 3f), Stephen O’Brien and Killian Spillane (0-3 each), Tom O’Sullivan, Jason Foley, Paul Murphy (0-1 each).

Scorers for Donegal: Murphy (1-7, 4f, 1pen), Patrick McBrearty (0-5, 3f), Ryan McHugh, Oisin Gallen and Michael Langan (0-2), Jason McGee and Niall O’Donnell (0-1 each).

Kerry

1. Shane Ryan 

2. Jason Foley
3. Tadhg Morley 
4. Tom O’Sullivan 

5. Paul Murphy 
6. Gavin Crowley 
7. Gavin White 

17. Shane Enright
18. Diarmuid O’Connor 

10. Adrian Spillane
11. Sean O’Shea 
 c23. Killian Spillane 

13. David Clifford
14. Paul Geaney
15. Stephen O’Brien

Subs

25. Jonathan Lyne for Gavin White (black card) (33)
9. Jack Sherwood for Diarmuid O’Connor (43)
20. Micheal Burns for Stephen O’Brien (blood) (52) — reversed (60)
19. Mark Griffin for Shane Enright (55)
12. Graham O’Sullivan for Gavin Crowley (62)
20. Micheal Burns for Adrian Spillane (68)
26. Tomás Ó Sé for Killian Spillane (72).

Donegal

1. Shaun Patton 

2. Odhran McFadden-Ferry
20. Eamonn Doherty 
4. Stephen McMenamin

5. Ryan McHugh
23. Caolan Ward 
19. Eoin McHugh

8. Hugh McFadden
9. Jason McGee

10. Ciaran Thompson
11. Niall O’Donnell
12. Jamie Brennan.

13. Patrick McBrearty
14. Michael Murphy
15. Michael Langan

Subs

6. Daire Ó Baoill for McGee (23)
25. Oisin Gallen for Niall O’Donnell (black card) (35)
17. Frank McGlynn for Hugh McFadden (38)
7. Paul Brennan for Eamonn Doherty (46)
24. Brendan McCole for Odhrán McFadden-Ferry (62)
18. Leo McLoone for Ciarán Thompson (69).

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Cork 2-10
Waterford 0-7

CORK HAD TO dig deep but inspired by Orla Cronin, they produced a trademark improved second-half showing to finally see off Waterford by 2-10 to 0-7 the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship.

The finishing margin was flattering to the reigning champions but they showed all their experience and squad depth to pull clear in the final quarter.

In a game played in horrible conditions, with a strong wind and driving rain, the hosts gave their brave supporters plenty to shout about in the first half, giving them hope that a famous victory might be in the offing with a resolute defensive effort.

Beth Carton made light of the elements that were far from conducive to clean striking, by converting five frees to put Donal O’Rourke’s team 0-6 to 0-4 ahead at the break.

The teams were level four times in the first 20 minutes as Carton exchanged scores with Orla Cotter, and then with Orla Cronin. Cronin pushed Cork ahead for the first time but Áine Lyng responded with Waterford’s first score from play.

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It was the home side that had the better of the second quarter once Gemma O’Connor edged the Rebels in front once more. It was the Carton show for the remainder of the half, as she split the posts three times from placed balls to give Waterford that two-point interval advantage.

Cronin had a brace of points to restore parity within two minutes and the teams were still inseparable at the three-quarter mark when the Enniskeane sharpshooter sent a shot to the top corner of the net that gave Brianna O’Regan no chance between the posts.

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Niamh McCarthy’s injury-time goal was harsh on Waterford, who will now play Galway in the All-Ireland Quarter-Final at Semple Stadium on 3 August, with Tipperary and Limerick also doing battle.

Cork and fellow group winners Kilkenny qualify directly to in the All-Ireland Semi-Finals, which will take place on 17 August.

All-Ireland camogie quarter finals

(Semple Stadium double-header, Saturday 3 August)

• Waterford v Galway 
• Tipperary v Limerick 

Cork and Kilkenny await the winners in the semi-finals.

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– Emma Duffy reports from Croke Park

RELIEF OR DISAPPOINTMENT was the question of the moment after Donegal and Kerry’s thrilling Super 8s battle in Croke Park today. And a bit of both was the answer from each camp.

Declan Bonner and Peter Keane after the match.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

“It’s a mixture of both to be quite honest,” Tír Chonaill manager Declan Bonner said after the 1-20 a-piece ding-dong draw.

“At the end I think we were level on maybe 16 occasions, so if that’s the case then a draw was probably a fair result at the end of the day.

“We had opportunities to kill the match, I didn’t see the second goal, the [disallowed] Eoin McHugh goal. But if we had taken it would have been a huge score in the game. Listen, we have it all to do now in two weeks in Castlebar.

We haven’t even looked at Mayo, we’ll sit down this evening and start getting ready for that over the next 13 days. From our point of view, I thought it was a great game of football, the lads showed real character. Both teams went at it and it was an epic battle.

“Relieved or disappointed… a bit of both I suppose,” Kerry boss Peter Keane conceded

“At the end of the day it is championship football but it is a mini league. You’re coming in, hoping at the end of the day you’d have four points out of the three games.

“Look, you have three so it’s better than two.”

Today’s result, of course, means that Group 1 will come down to the final day in two weeks’ time as Donegal face Mayo in Castlebar while Kerry travel to Navan.

Michael Murphy and Paul Murphy in action.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Kerry and Donegal are both on three points, and Mayo are on two after their win over Meath today at Croke Park earlier today which left the Royals out of the race.

(See the table here)

And after an outstanding second game of football at HQ, it left for plenty of positive discussion before even thinking of the Phase 3 winner-takes-all battles.

“I thought we fought like hell towards the end,” Keane noted, when asked what the most pleasing thing from his view was. 

“I thought there was a never say die attitude by us. There were a couple of frees that went against us that were bordering on not being frees. Every time we were getting ahead, they were getting back into it in some way or another. I thought we fought, and fought well.”

And Bonner was equally as pleased with his side’s heart.

The one thing about the squad is these guys will fight to the end, there’s no doubt about that,” he said.

“There was some brilliant score-taking, young Oisín Gallen came on and kicked two brilliant scores and I thought Michael [Murphy] was unbelievable in that second half and Ryan [McHugh] really took the fight.

Eoin McHugh had a goal disallowed.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

“They all really emptied it out there on the pitch and that’s all you can ask. We have to do it all again in two weeks.”

“It is a huge match,” he continued, on the final day showdown in Castlebar. “It is difficult place to get a result and our preparation for that will start later this evening on our way home and we will get back training during the week.

It is a winner take all, it is an All-Ireland quarter-final with a semi-final place at stake back here in three weeks time. That is the challenge. That is the goal.

Will they draw on last year’s hurt of falling at the final hurdle?

“The fact it is so close after this match you are just trying to take that in,” Bonner concluded.

Lads have moved on and they are definitely showing signs of improvement. We will still have a level to go and we know that but it is within the group. There will be a lot of questions asked and we are hoping to have the answers.

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