Month: September 2021

BOTH THE KERRY and Donegal managers agreed that there are issues around team announcements in Gaelic football after yesterday’s Super 8s draw in Croke Park. 

While the Kerry starting 15 was released to the public on Friday night, the Donegal team wasn’t made available until much closer to throw-in — but three late changes were announced on each side moments before the action got underway at GAA HQ.

In his post-match press conference, Kingdom boss Peter Keane was questioned about not releasing his substitutes on Friday night. He hinted that that was because the Donegal team wouldn’t be named until closer to throw-in.

“I suppose it’s difficult sometimes when you’re… it’s my first year into it, next thing you’re seeing somebody else and they’re only firing out 15,” Keane answered when asked why he didn’t name his subs on Friday night.

“You’re saying, ‘Jaysis, I’m throwing out everything to some fella.’”

The Cahersiveen native outlined the rule that a panel of 26 has to be sent into the GAA at 9am on the Thursday morning before a game, to which there was then a question along the lines of why not release the subs then.

“Can I ask you a question? When did you know the Donegal team?” was Keane’s response to the journalist who asked.

I don’t know, to be quite honest with you…

“That’s the answer.”

Source: Paul Brennan/Twitter.

He stated that it’s an issue for all team managers, and said it’s possible the format of elsewhere, like the Premier League, could be followed; where a squad is released and the starting team is then announced before throw-in.

Declan Bonner was also asked in his post-match media briefing if there should be a  change of policy in terms of team announcements.

The Donegal boss bemoaned the rule around having to name the team on the Thursday morning, as it directly affected the Ulstermen this week with their injury crisis.

“I think you should go with squad numbers,” he said. “We named a squad by late Wednesday evening for Thursday morning and we lost two key players that were in that 26 that couldn’t tog out. We were left with 24 players that we could not change.

“It is a ridiculous rule that needs to change. I think we go with squad numbers.”

He added that he would have no issue with releasing a 26-man panel then.

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WHILE DONEGAL MANAGER Declan Bonner was reluctant to talk about injuries after his side’s thrilling Super 8s draw with Kerry yesterday, it was something that couldn’t be ignored.

The back-to-back Ulster champions were dealt a hammer blow last week when star defender Eoghan Bán Gallagher suffered a broken ankle in training. 

There was further worrying news when Neil McGee was withdrawn from the starting team before throw-in yesterday, with Paddy McGrath also sidelined with a knock that kept him out of their Super 8s opener against Meath.

While Donegal have talked up as the main pretenders to Dublin’s throne after their fine form this summer, their injury list in defence is undoubtedly a significant worry.

“Listen we lost basically our full-back line,” Bonner said afterwards. “But the lads who came in done really well.

“Odhran McFadden-Ferry was really good, Caolan Ward and Stephen McMenamin and we got to grips with David Clifford. I thought they really battled, gave it their all and left it all out on the pitch.”

While he refused to comment on McGee’s injury and late withdrawal, Bonner said that he’s optimistic that the Gaoth Dobhair ace and McGrath will be back for their final day showdown with Mayo in two weeks’ time.

“We’d hope so,” he said. “The only certainty is that Eoghan Bán won’t be back.

That’s a huge loss to us to be quite honest, he picked up a bad injury during the week at training and he’ll miss the rest of the season. But yeah, the rest of them should.

With Jason McGee going off in the 23rd minute, Hugh McFadden in the 38th and a few other players to keep an eye on, Bonner was largely optimistic about the worsening injury situation.

“There are a lot of ice packs inside,” he pointed out. “I just spoke to them briefly, there are a lot of knocks and a lot of bruises but we just have to wait until the next 24 hours to see where it’s at.

It is not ideal but it is what it is. There has always been injuries, there has always been knocks and there are a few to look at and assess everyone tomorrow morning.

He added: “We were [down a lot of key men], but we have belief within that squad.

Bonner with Jamie Brennan after yesterday’s game.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

“Lads got game time there that hadn’t got game time in the championship this year, so from our point of view it’s pleasing as a group that they were fit to go in there and do a job for us and we never had any doubt.

“We’ll need all the experience we have going to Castlebar, so hopefully the lads will all be okay.”

Two players in particular that really stood up and shone on the big stage were Michael Murphy — who finished up with 1-7 — and the ever-impressive Ryan McHugh.

“Ah look they have been outstanding,” Bonner agreed. “They are leaders on and off the park and they bring everyone with them.

For me, it was about the whole group and they really stuck in there. It may not have happened but for one or two players and the guys coming off the bench. They all did their job today.

On injuries, Peter Keane also shed some light — but not a whole pile — on David Moran’s late withdrawal.

One of the stars of the show in Killarney against Mayo last weekend, the midfielder was also a late change before the game but Keane is hopeful to have him back for their final-round meeting against Mayo.

“He got a bit of a bang last weekend,” the Kingdom native noted, adding that it’s a foot injury.

“We’re confident he’ll be fine for Meath. You lost Gavin White then on top of it, throw in Jack Barry (ankle) as well. You’re a few bodies down, but we’re hopeful that we’ll be at full tilt.”

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THE MOVING ROUND of the Super 8s in Croke Park over the weekend saw Donegal and Kerry play out a thrilling draw, while Mayo, Tyrone and Dublin all sealed wins. 

Source: Inpho

In what was a football-only weekend, Mattie Donnelly drove Tyrone to a superb second-half comeback win over Cork.

Mickey Harte’s decision to move the Trillick ace into the full-forward line at half-time proved pivotal as the Red Hand overturned a seven-point deficit to claim their second victory in Group 1. Donnelly dispatched three points and was duly awarded man-of-the-match.

In the second game on Saturday night, Dublin were convincing winners over Roscommon to seal their progression into the last four of the All-Ireland series.

There were huge performances all over the field but Cuala man Con O’Callaghan was awarded the honour after scoring a brace during the victory.

Man of the match Con O'Callaghan reacts to Dublin's victory over Roscommon in the Super 8s! pic.twitter.com/N0SBNs7op8

— Sky Sports GAA (@SkySportsGAA) July 21, 2019

Colm Boyle scooped the individual accolade as Mayo outlasted Meath in a 2-17 to 0-14 win against Meath which leaves them in contention to progress heading into the final round of games.

And the match of the weekend was undoubtedly the 1-20 apiece draw between Kerry and Donegal. Ryan McHugh was deservedly named player of the game after giving one of his greatest displays in the county jersey.

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'It's another huge game in two weeks' time and it'll be winner takes all' – Man of the match Ryan McHugh after a massive battle against Kerry. #rtegaa pic.twitter.com/siRejh9SYi

— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 21, 2019

Do you agree with the man-of-the-match selections? Let us know.

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WITH THE CROKE Park round of Super 8s fixtures done and dusted after double-headers on Saturday and Sunday, there were plenty of talking points afterwards.

Just 36,530 watched on on Saturday evening as four in-a-row All-Ireland champions Dublin outclassed Roscommon, and Tyrone were three-point winners over Cork.

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Yesterday, an attendance of 48,723 was announced for Kerry and Donegal’s epic 1-20 a-piece draw and Mayo’s victory over Meath. So over the weekend, just over 85,000 attended Croke Park to watch eight teams in action.

The Sunday Game panel took a closer look at the ‘neutral’ round of the newly-structured All-Ireland quarter-final competition last night, with some suggestions put forward to improve the situation.

Former Dublin footballer Ciarán Whelan believes those games should be taken out of Croke Park and played in provincial venues in the interest of both fairness and atmosphere.

“Over the last two years, we’ve learned that the neutral games maybe in Croke Park aren’t working,” he told the RTÉ programme. 

“I would expect some managers probably want to get up there and get a game in Croke Park, to get into that environment if they’re getting to a semi-final.

But in terms of an atmosphere, I think it may be better to have them out and have the neutral game in provincial grounds.

“We saw it in Killarney last week. We’ve seen great examples of teams going on the road. I would think there’s a lesson in that.”

‘The neutral games in Croke Park aren’t working’ – @Whelo35 says Dublin’s neutral games in Super 8s should be taken out of GAA headquarters pic.twitter.com/zb4L87Oz7I

— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 21, 2019

Moving the ‘neutral’ games out of GAA headquarters would also end the controversy surrounding the fact that Dublin also use the stadium as their home venue, so play two group games at the Drumcondra grounds.

“It would also get away from this thing that Dublin have two games in Croke Park, they would just have one and it would be a simple solution.”

Whelan also put forward a case for a Super 10s; with three sides progressing from each group, as what happens in the Leinster and Munster hurling championships.

“I like the concept [of the Super 8s] but I wonder should we even expand it to two groups of five, with three qualifying — two getting to a semi-final and the others playing in a quarter-final,” he added.

“It’s more days, yeah, and I know there’s the calendar challenge. There’s loads of things in the melting pot but it would give an incentive for teams to finish on top of the group and it would keep teams in it right until the very end.

The hurling has worked well. We are in a situation in the other group [Group 2: Dublin, Tyrone, Cork, Roscommon] where there’s a dead rubber situation coming into the last game. I think there’s tweaks that could be made.

Eamonn Fitzmaurice agrees with the concept of the Super 8s, but feels the current format places 'severe' demands on amateur players pic.twitter.com/s4WvTHiMsX

— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 21, 2019

Ex-Kerry manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice also chipped in with his opinion on the Super 8s, saying that he agrees with the concept but he feels there are “severe” demands placed on amateur players with the week on week nature of the competition.

“It’s a great concept and I think it’s brilliant to have the top eight teams in the country playing off against each other at this stage of the season,” he said.

“It’s not straight knockout, teams get a chance to regroup if they do lose a game as happened to Mayo last weekend. 

But playing two weekends in-a-row for amateur players… all of those lads will be working in the morning, trying to recover, trying to get turned around for next week. I think it’s severe.

“We were talking about it earlier. Ciarán made a point that the Super 8s games is one thing but going from the last Super 8s game into an All-Ireland semi-final and having a six-day turnaround for one of the teams… it’s a very short turnaround to get ready for an All-Ireland semi-final which is obviously a massive game for any team at that stage of the season.”

– Updated 13.32

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DUBLIN SEALED THEIR place in the All-Ireland semi-finals at the weekend with one game to spare, meaning Jim Gavin has the option of rotating his team for final Super 8s game against Tyrone.

12 months ago, a much-changed Dublin side ran out convincing winners against Roscommon in a game where Eoghan O’Gara grabbed 2-2, Paul Flynn scored 1-3 and Bernard Brogan made his first championship appearance since returning from cruciate surgery.  

With a short turnaround ahead of the All-Ireland semi-final the following weekend, former Dublin manager Paul ‘Pillar’ Caffrey expects Jim Gavin to put out a relatively strong side for their trip to Omagh.

“If you’re the manager, there’s nothing like a winning dressing-room,” he said. “It’s a short two weeks now and a lot of the preparation will have been done.

“I think both teams will go at it to try to win this game and have a winning mentality coming out of it. The semi-final is only six or seven days later, so maybe it might give you a chance to pull some players. 

“They will know who’s in the semi-final because the other group will be sorted on Saturday night. Look, how do you cherry-pick? 

“If Mayo pulled off a shock they’d still put it up to anyone in the semi-final. I’d expect Donegal to beat Mayo and come through and I expect Kerry to beat Meath to come through. 

“So it will probably be Kerry winning the group and Donegal second, that’s the way I’d see it. Is there any advantage in avoiding one or the other? I wouldn’t think so.”

One player the Na Fianna club man believes could be involved is Diarmuid Connolly, who returned to training with the squad last week. 

Asked if there’s St Vincent’s star could get game-time despite his lengthy absence from inter-county football, Caffrey replied:  “A normal player, no, but Diarmuid Connolly is not normal.

“I’ve often described him as the best player I’ve ever had in my dressing-room at any stage of my managerial career. 

“I think Jim would have sat down and looked at the pros and cons of this with his management team and decided, yeah, Dublin are trying to win the All-Ireland, but they’re also trying to create history. 

Jason Sherlock and Jim Gavin look on during the win over Roscommon.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

“Something that has never been achieved. The great Kilkenny hurling team couldn’t do it. A phenomenal Kerry football team couldn’t do it. 

“There will be bumps on the road and I think it’s best to have all your aces in your tent rather than one or two of them outside.  Once Rory O’Carroll was available it was a no-brainer. And once Diarmuid was available to come back it was a no-brainer.”

“Jim has been very consistent in picking his six forwards. Seven forwards have rotated the six positions this year really. Cormac Costello and Dean Rock and the other five are nearly picking themselves. 

“I don’t see that changing short-term unless there’s injuries. Maybe the impact off the bench for Dublin isn’t what it was in previous seasons.

Could Diarmuid be an X-Factor? If he shows well in training I’d certainly think you’ll see him playing some role in the next couple of weeks.”

The Sky Blues claimed the Sam Maguire last year without being severely tested, but Caffrey expects both Kerry and Donegal – if they progress – to give Gavin’s side a stern examination.

“It is an issue and it would be a fear for me that they’re not battle-hardened against the quality of the team they’re going to come up against.

“The Cork game was a serious game for 60 minutes, be under no illusion, but that’s the hardest game we’ve had since the National League. It’s hard to work out how the Omagh game will go. It’s a dead rubber in ways but I think both teams will probably want to win that game and keep a winning mentality. 

Dean Rock, Brian Fenton, Eric Lowndes and Paddy Small tackle Enda Smith.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

“But the All-Ireland semi-final is only six or seven days later so that’s a very short turnaround, albeit there’s a slight advantage for Dublin and Tyrone as they will have the choice of resting players or running their bench in.

“Whereas Kerry have to win their game and Donegal or Mayo have to win their game so they’ll be tough physical games for them. You might be less of an intense game up in Omagh than we would have expected but in my eyes there are two very serious tests going to have to be overcome by Dublin.

“I think Kerry are coming with a great crop of players and they’re going to be looking to take an All-Ireland if not this year then in the very near future and Donegal are a very serious outfit.

“I think the bookies’ odds are crazy. I think Dublin have to put out two big performances in the semi-final and final. I think there’s going to be a hiccup along the line. I’ve a feeling it’s going to be a Dublin-Kerry All-Ireland. Once you’re in an All-Ireland, you’ve a great chance.”

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ALL-IRELAND SEMI-final spots are still up for grabs as we approach the final phase of the Super 8s competition. 

Following two rounds of action, Dublin and Tyrone are the only teams across the two groups who have secured a safe passage to the final four of the football championship. 

Donegal, Kerry and Mayo are still in the running to progress while Cork, Roscommon and Meath are out of contention.

Here’s how things stand as we gear up for the final phase of the Super 8s in two weeks’ time:

Group 1

Final Round Fixtures – Saturday 3 August

Mayo v Donegal, MacHale Park [Throw-in, 6pm]

Meath v Kerry, Páirc Tailteann [Throw-in, 6pm]

Kerry are currently in pole position in Group 1 following an emphatic win over Mayo and a draw against Donegal on Sunday.

They face Meath in the final phase where a draw would be sufficient to send them through to the semi-finals. Andy McEntee’s men go into that tie with only pride to play for as they sit at the bottom of the group with zero points despite gutsy efforts in the opening phases of the Super 8s.

The big tie of the final round is between Mayo and Donegal. Second-placed Donegal are on the same number of points as the Kingdom and a draw in MacHale Park would see Declan Bonner’s men qualify out of the group.

After grinding out a vital win against Meath at the weekend, Mayo can only aim for a victory in order to progress to the All-Ireland semi-finals.

Group 2

Final Round Fixtures – Sunday 4 August

Cork v Roscommon, Páirc Uí Rinn [Throw-in, 4pm]

Tyrone v Dublin, Healy Park [Throw-in, 4pm]

Things are a bit more straightforward in Group 2.

With two wins already secured, Dublin and Tyrone have booked their place in the All-Ireland semi-finals.

They face each other in the final round where the result will only determine which side tops the group.

Meanwhile, Cork and Roscommon — who both suffered defeats in their opening two games — will square off in a dead-rubber tie in Páirc Uí Rinn.

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WITH THE CLOCK on 75 minutes and Donegal a point down, their captain and leader Michael Murphy stepped up to take an all-important free-kick into the Canal End.

Michael Murphy kicking the late free to level matters at the death.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Having kicked brilliantly from the ground already, he opted to take this one from his hands. Cool as a breeze, the Glenswilly man stole a few yards and cooly nailed the late, late free to ensure a 1-20 a-piece draw with Kerry.

“Aye, it was just in the vicinity and felt I’d take it out of the hands,” he said afterwards, just before boarding the Donegal bus in the bowels of the Hogan stand when asked for his thinking around that.

“Just get it over the bar.”

Plain and simple, that’s what he did. 

You must have been relieved when you did it so?

“You’re damn right,” Murphy grinned. “I missed one in the first half from a very similar scenario, so yeah, it was just good to have done it, it would have been disappointing to come out with nothing from the game.”

That, it would have been. It was an absolute ding-dong Super 8s battle in Croke Park, one which probably neither side deserved to lose. End to end football, a championship clash as tight as they come and no matter what, Donegal and Kerry could not be separated.

Murphy contributed a handsome 1-7 himself while Ryan McHugh was also outstanding for the Tír Chonaill outfit but it’s a measure of the player, and man, Murphy is that the overriding feeling afterwards wasn’t exactly joy afterwards.

“We’re disappointed in a way,” he said. “We had the lead, with a minute to go we were one up. Kerry are Kerry, in the way the game was ebbing and flowing.

“They came back and got the two points, and in the end we were happy to get the draw. But it doesn’t leave us much further either. We still have to go to Castlebar and win the game.

On the ball against Paul Murphy.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

“But yeah, I suppose a point up with a minute to go, we would have wanted to close the game out. But not to be. It is what it is. Thanks be to God we pushed on, got the draw. It just keeps morale and everything high.”

It really was a second half for the ages, a titanic battle where momentum — and the lead — shifted back and forth again and again in a mesmerising match that was level 15 times throughout.

Declan Bonner’s men went in a point down at half time, but that only spurred Murphy and his troops on. He felt there was more in them — and thought the same as the final whistle sounded, he admits.

“We defended just so-so. I thought up front we weren’t really clicking until towards the end.”

Moments into the second period however, Murphy inspired that click like the true leader he is with back-to-back monster frees under pressure. But again, it’s what wasn’t done earlier on he focuses on. 

“Aye, there were a few at that time,” he nods when that particular pair of frees are mentioned. “I had missed a bad one in the first half, a very, very poor one, so it was good to do.

“But everybody chipped in. Oisin Gallen came in off the bench and got a couple of huge scores for us, we know it’s in him. We’re so delighted with him at the minute.

“Ryan McHugh was absolutely phenomenal and Paddy McBrearty was looking sharp, Jamie [Brennan] pushing on too, Michael Langan kicked a couple of big scores for us.

“We need everybody chipping in, that’s what you need, and everybody put their best foot forward.”

Ryan McHugh was brilliant for Donegal.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

The Kingdom’s 44th-minute goal was “disappointing,” and while his thoughts for his penalty in the 53rd minute were “just to try and hopefully hit the back of the net,” 29-year-old Murphy was encouraged his side were really finding their form at the same time. 

More about the team than him.

“It was a good kick to get but like, whether we got the penalty or not at that stage we were starting to play well and that was more important.

“Coming down the stretch, we were getting stronger, and stronger, and stronger. It was just that three-minute period where Kerry got the back-to-back scores to go one up, that was the disappointing part.

“But apart from that there, we were stronger coming down the straight.

He added: “That’s the form of the Super 8s. It’s game on game. It’s great to be a part of it, and it was a great game to be a part of.”

There was ice in his veins as he took that last-gasp pressure free, and ice on his person afterwards with a pack strapped firmly to his knee; but Murphy assured he was fine and not a concern on Bonner’s growing injury list.

With key defenders Eoghan Bán Gallagher, Neil McGee and Paddy McHugh all sidelined, Murphy was pleased with his “tight-knit group” and the players who were thrown in at the deep end as replacements. 

Now they’re in a situation where it’s winner takes all at McHale Park in two weeks’ time.

“It leaves us in a scenario now that we’re going to Castlebar and we need a win against a very strong Mayo side in their own back yard,” he continued.

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Murphy after the game.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

“The camaraderie and everything is great within the group, we’re a very, very tight unit and we’re looking forward to getting up the road, getting recovered and getting a few bodies back which I think we will have going to Castlebar.

“We know the venue down there, we played in it before in a must-win game at the back end of the National League a couple of years ago, so it’s going to be a huge game with everything on the line.”

One person who’ll be under the spotlight quite a lot in the run-up to the Group 1 showdown is Stephen Rochford. James Horan’s predecessor this time around is now in the Donegal backroom team.

Could that be an advantage?

“Listen, you use any edge you can,” Murphy concludes.

“Stephen has been an absolutely huge cog in the whole wheel, along with Gary [Boyle] and Declan and everybody who is there, they’re challenging every single one of us and we’ll be getting back to be challenged again over the next couple of weeks.

“As I said, whatever edge you can, you will use, but both teams know each other fairly well and it’s going to come down to this game and whoever wants it most.

“So that’s the way it’s going to be.”

That it absolutely is.

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FORMER TIPPERARY BOSS Michael Ryan says his county has a strong record of dealing with the style of hurling that Wexford play, saying ‘there’s nothing new there we haven’t seen before.’

Former Tipperary boss Michael Ryan.

Source: Sam Barnes/SPORTSFILE

The sides will square off in the All-Ireland semi-final on Sunday where Wexford are looking to book a spot in their first All-Ireland decider since their last triumph in 1996.

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Davy Fitzgerald’s side come into this game as Leinster champions after edging out Kilkenny to end a 15-year drought for provincial success.

Remarking on the kind of battle Wexford will bring to Croke Park, Ryan has noticed a few changes in their game that have delivered big results for them so far.

“If you look at what’s different to Wexford this year than any other year I just think they’re playing really well as a unit. They still employ the sweeper, I think it’s very smart.

“For me looking at them, the S&C two and three years really looks to have kicked in for those Wexford guys.

“They looked huge men for me in that Leinster final and they were winning the vast majority of the physical battles, they were right up there with Kilkenny who you’d always associate with winning physical battles. 

It’s a bit like saving the best wine for last, I think their Leinster final performance was their best of the championship so far. It was a cracking game, right down to the wire, and those are the types of games that really develop character in the team.”

Ryan went on to say that Tipperary’s record of facing Wexford’s style of hurling is “quite good” but stressed that their history in this department won’t determine the outcome of Sunday’s showdown.

Wexford joint captains Matthew O’Hanlon and Lee Chin after their Leinster final triumph.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

He added that Liam Sheedy’s men will need a huge performance to book their place in the All-Ireland final and pleaded with Premier County supporters to make the trip to Croke Park.

I think it’ll be tactical, they’ll still play with their tried and trusted system. We in Tipp have come up against that system time and time again. There’s nothing new there we haven’t seen before. And our record of dealing with that is actually quite good.

“That in itself isn’t something that isn’t going to have a huge bearing on the game. From a Tipp perspective, we will need our absolute best performance to get a result on Sunday.

“There’s a lot more momentum with Wexford right now. It’s very, very hard to call it. It’s advantage Wexford in terms what they’ve achieved this year in terms of winning a Leinster final.

I think on Sunday Wexford could possibly fill the stadium on their own. I know that’s a cliche but I just think you’ll get a huge support coming from Wexford and I hope Tipp travel because I think they need to get behind this team, this team need support right now.”

Tipperary overcame Laois to reach this stage of the championship, but they were made to sweat for their victory in Croke Park as Eddie Brennan’s charges battled bravely despite playing with only 14 men for most of the second half.

Ryan laments that Tipperary’s performance against the Joe McDonagh Cup champions is a “concern” heading into the semi-final but notes that they can draw positives from their 10-point win as well.

Laois gave Tipperary a great battle in the All-Ireland quarter-final.

Source: Gary Carr/INPHO

“It was a banana skin, it was negotiated, it was won and you could argue that Tipp are actually coming into this game very much under the radar, and they are very much under the radar.

“They’re into the last four, the prize is absolutely massive – to go into the All-Ireland final and it all hinges on one huge game. But every game at this stage is a huge game.”

Michael Ryan was at the launch of the EirGrid Official Timing Sponsorship Launch.  Eirgrid, the official timing partner to the GAA, works closely with communities around Ireland every day and the organisation wants to ensure that these communities have a chance to benefit because of their partnership with the GAA.

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WHEN RYAN MCHUGH first broke onto the Donegal panel, he was described locally as the stereotypical Kilcar footballer – small, skilful and intelligent.

Ryan McHugh during his debut season in 2013.

Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

Kilcar have a tradition of producing such players that goes back generations. 

His father Martin, nicknamed An Fear Beag, was seen as the embodiment of elegance ever since he destroyed the Cavan minors in the 1979 Ulster minor championship.

At 11 stone and 5’7″, McHugh was Donegal’s primary score-getter from centre-forward when they upset Dublin to win the All-Ireland title in 1992. Alongside him on the half-forward line was his brother James, another pocket dynamo with a brain to match. 

Martin was awarded his second All-Star after that Sam Maguire success and was later named Footballer of the Year. The brothers didn’t lick it off the ground either. Their father Jim McHugh was also a footballer of note, winning a Donegal senior championship medal with Killybegs in 1952.

When Kilcar ended a 24-year wait without a county title in 2017, McHugh brothers Ryan and Mark, plus their cousin Eoin – son of James – and attacker Paddy McBrearty were central figures in that team.  

Both Ryan and McBrearty had soccer trials in the UK as teenagers, with Reading and Celtic respectively, but opted to focus on Gaelic football.

Mark, who famously mastered the sweeper role in the All-Ireland success of 2012 under Jim McGuinness, is no longer part of the Donegal panel but Ryan and Eoin McHugh, plus McBrearty played key roles against Kerry on Sunday.

In an era where physicality has become central to the inter-county game, it’s still a sport that diminutive, creative players can dominate.

If the All-Star team was picked tomorrow, three players sure to be selected would be Ryan McHugh, Jack McCaffrey and Stephen O’Brien. The trio are among the most exciting footballers in the country, relying on pace and direct running rather than brute force.

Jason Foley challenges Ryan McHugh for possession.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

In McHugh, Declan Bonner’s team possess a man capable of changing the shape of a match with a swivel of his hips and a quick turn of pace. He’s one of their most prominent figures alongside Michael Murphy, Shaun Patton and McBrearty. 

At the same venue where he announced his arrival as an elite prospect when his 2-2 helped gun down Dublin in the 2014 All-Ireland semi-final, McHugh gave another one of his great displays in the county jersey at the weekend.

He scored two points and was directly involved in a further 1-6, while he set-up the Eoin McHugh goal that was disallowed. Despite being man-marked for the 70 minutes, he got his hands on the ball 29 times and was only turned over on one occasion. 

He lines out as an auxiliary left-half back, often finding himself ahead of the ball and looking to get himself involved in dangerous areas of the field.

Six minutes into the game, McHugh was fouled by Paul Murphy, handing his captain Michael Murphy an easy free in front of the posts. The combination play between Murphy and McHugh was a feature in many of Donegal’s good moves in the opening period.

His first score arrived after Murphy found the arching run of McHugh, who curled over from distance. The pair showed their telepathic understanding moments later, when Murphy stood over a free near the left touchline.

McHugh strolled towards the Kerry goals seemingly disinterested before he created daylight between himself and Gavin White and sped towards the ball, receiving a short kick-pass into the chest. McHugh rolled past his marker and popped over the bar off his left foot.

(Click here if you can’t view the clip above)

Recognising McHugh’s threat, Peter Keane had employed White – the flying Dr Crokes wing-back – at wing-forward to track his runs.

But shortly before half-time, White was black-carded after he over-committed on a trademark McHugh run and took a fist of his jersey, hauling him to the ground.

McHugh likes to duck his head and lean his shoulder into the tackler, which usually either draws a free or allows him burst through.

(Click here if you can’t view the clip above)

Given the amount of ground he covered, at stages during the game McHugh could be found with his head down and hands on the knees on a number of occasions, gathering his breath.

But he also used it as a ploy to trick his unsuspecting marker Jonathan Lyne, who replaced White.

In the 50th minute, McHugh was apparently taking a breather, yet within 15 seconds he was 50m further upfield and haring towards the Kerry goals.

He took a hand-pass from Oisin Gallen on the D and fed Dara O’Baoill, who was fouled by Stephen O’Brien inside the area.

(Click here if you can’t view the clip above)

McHugh had actually turned the ball into the net himself when it broke to him, but the play was called back and Murphy duly dispatched the spot-kick into the bottom corner.

In the final 20 minutes, he turned over two of Shane Ryan’s restarts, which led to Eoin McHugh’s disallowed goal and Murphy’s crucial stoppage-time score.

He was also an option for Patton at the far end and was targeted by the stopper on six occasions, including four short kick-outs, one long restart and one kick-pass from open play.

Outside of Murphy, who took the Kingdom for 1-7, no player makes Donegal tick like their maestro McHugh.

In a 2009 Donegal Democrat poll, his father Martin was voted the county’s greatest ever footballer in their history.

Murphy has probably already assumed that title and by the time Ryan’s career is over, Martin may not even be the best footballer in his house. 

Mayo are up next for the Ulster champions.

Survive the cauldron of Castlebar and they’ll most likely face Dublin in an All-Ireland semi-final a week later in a repeat of that epic encounter five years ago.

The air only gets thinner from here.

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Tipperary 3-15
Cork 2-17

Shane Brophy reports from Semple Stadium

A JAKE MORRIS goal in the final minute of added time snatched victory for Tipperary in thrilling finale to the Munster U20 final at Semple Stadium Thurles this evening.

Tipp were in the last chance saloon when the forward raced onto a loose ball to fire past Ger Collins and send the home support into raptures.

It came just as Cork appeared to claim victory with sub Evan Sheehan’s goal in the 58th minute which nudged the Rebels in front at a time when the home side looked to be in control.

Played in front of almost 10,000 supporters, the game took a while to spark into life with Conor Bowe scoring his third goal in two games, taking a pass from Billy Seymour to fire to the net.

However, the opening quarter belonged to Cork who were sharper and they responded well with Sean Twomey firing to the net on 14 minutes with the rebels going into a five-point lead by the 21st minute with Shane O’Regan to the fore with 1-3.

Tipp upped the intensity and finished the half the stronger with their half-back line thundering into the game. They whittled down the lead to two when sub Kian O’Kelly scored a fine individual goal in the final minute of the half with the sides going in level at the break, 2-7 to 1-10.

Cork got the upper hand at the start of the second half with the first three points and it took Tipp until the 40th minute to register again through the lively Andrew Ormond.

Tipp would proceed to take control and went two in front going into the dramatic final minutes, looking like they had lost it before Morris saved them with his late, late strike.

Conor Bowe notched 1-3 this evening at Semple Stadium.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

Scorers for Tipperary: Conor Bowe 1-4; Jake Morris 1-3 (0-2 frees); Kian O’Kelly 1-0; Andrew Ormond 0-2; Bryan O’Mara, Ciaran Connolly, Jerome Cahill, Gearoid O’Connor, Billy Seymour, Darragh Woods 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cork: Sean Twomey 1-2; Craig Hanifin 0-4 (3 frees); Shane O’Regan 0-3; Evan Sheehan 1-0; Daire Connery (1 free), Brian Turnbull 0-2 each; Eoin Roche, Tommy O’Connell, Padraig Power, Ryan Walsh 0-1 each.

Tipperary

1. Aaron Browne (Knockavilla Kickhams)

2. Conor McCarthy (Nenagh Eire Og)
3. Eoghan Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs)
4. Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs)

5. Michael Purcell (Thurles Sarsfields)
6. Paddy Cadell (JK Brackens)
7. Bryan O’Mara (Holycross/Ballycahill)

8. Ciaran Connolly (Loughmore/Castleiney)
9. Jerome Cahill (Kilruane MacDonaghs)

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10. Gearoid O’Connor (Moyne-Templetuohy)
11. Joe Fogarty (Moneygall)
12. Jake Morris (Nenagh Eire Og)

13. Andrew Ormond (JK Brackens)
14. Billy Seymour (Kiladangan)
15. Conor Bowe (Moyne-Templetuohy)

Subs:
Kian O’Kelly (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for Fogarty (20)
Niall Heffernan (Golden Kilfeacle) for Purcell (HT)
Johnny Ryan (Arravale Rovers) for Seymour (45)
Darragh Woods (Holycross/Ballycahill) for O’Kelly (52)
Ray McCormack (Borris-Ileigh) for Ormond (60+4)

Cork

1. Ger Collins (Ballinhassig)

2. Conor O’Callaghan (Dromtarrife)
3. James Keating (Kildorrery)
4. Eoin Roche (Bride Rovers)

5. Robert Downey (Glen Rovers)
6. Sean O’Leary Hayes (Midleton)
7. Ger Millerick (Fr O’Neill’s)

8. Ryan Walsh (Kanturk)
9. Daire Connery (Na Piarsaigh)

10. Tommy O’Connell (Midleton)
11. Craig Hanafin (Na Piarsaigh)
12. Sean Twomey (Courcey Rovers)

13. Brian Turnbull (Douglas)
14. Sean O’Regan (Watergrasshill)
15. Liam O’Shea (Lisgoold)

Subs:
Simon Kennefick (Glen Rovers) for O’Shea (HT)
Evan Sheehan (Na Piarsaigh) for O’Regan (46 inj)
Padraig Power (Blarney) for Downey (50)
Barry Murphy (Castlelyons) for Hanafin (56)

Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford)

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