Month: September 2021

Westmeath 2-10
Longford 0-4

Kevin Egan reports from Glennon Brothers Pearse Park

WESTMEATH EASILY BRUSHED aside a feeble Longford challenge at the Downs GAA club this afternoon, holding their local rivals scoreless from play as they set up an O’Byrne cup final clash with either Dublin or Meath next weekend.

Longford drew first blood in the contest when Peter Hanley was pulled down and Barry McKeon swung over the resultant free from 20 metres, and with ten minutes gone they would have been the happier side as the tie was level at 0-1 apiece, with a strong wind favouring the home team at the well-appointed venue just outside Mullingar.

Sam Duncan broke two tackles to set up his midfield colleague Sean Flanagan for the game’s opening goal and that opened up the game for Westmeath, who accumulated a seven-point lead, 1-5 to 0-1, by half-time.

Kieran Martin and Ronan O’Toole kicked good scores for Jack Cooney’s side in that half, though six wides in the 35 minutes of play left the door slightly ajar for the visitors.

Longford never raised a gallop after half time however and were completely shut down every time they got within 40 metres of the Westmeath goal. Barry McKeon and Darren Gallagher pointed from long range, but it wasn’t until the final minute when the result was well beyond doubt, that Darragh Doherty got their first good possession in the danger area, before getting dragged down for a final dead ball score.

A dejected Michael Quinn after Longford suffer defeat.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

After the game Cooney expressed his satisfaction with his young midfield pairing of Flanagan and Duncan, the latter also playing a part in the second goal after 52 minutes.

He was dragged down just inside the 45m line but had the presence of mind to spring to his feet and quickly pick out Callum
McCormack, who exchanged passes with Ger Egan before slipping the ball into the bottom corner with his left foot from ten metres out.

Duncan, McCormack and O’Toole tacked on points form play in the second half as Westmeath made light of the wind disadvantage to keep piling on the scores.

Ronan O’Toole celebrates Westmeath’s goal.

Scorers for Westmeath: Ger Egan 0-4 (0-4f), Callum McCormack 1-1, Sean Flanagan 1-0, Ronan O’Toole 0-2, Kieran Martin, James Dolan and Sam Duncan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Longford: Robbie Smyth 0-2 (0-2f), Barry McKeon, Darren Gallagher 0-1 (0-1f) each.

Westmeath

1. Eoin Carberry (Rosemount)

2. Boidu Sayeh (Rosemount)
3. Ronan Wallace (Multyfarnham)
4. Killian Daly (Mullingar Shamrocks)

6. James Dolan (Garrycastle)
5. Noel O’Reilly (Milltownpass)
9. Noel Mulligan (Athlone)

7. David Lynch (St. Malachy’s)
8. Seán Flanagan (St. Loman’s)

15. Sam Duncan (Milltownpass)
12. Ronan O’Toole (St. Loman’s)
11. Callum McCormack (Maryland)

10. Ger Egan (Tyrrellspass)
21. Ger Leech (Coralstown-Kinnegad)
14. Kieran Martin (Maryland)

Subs 

Tommy McDaniel (Castleknock, Dublin) for Leech (47)
Ned Cully (St. Mary’s) for O’Toole (58)
Darren Giles (Coralstown-Kinnegad) for Flanagan (62)
Daire Conway (Shandonagh) for O’Reilly (65)
Mattie Rowden (St. Mary’s) for Carberry (65)
Sean Pettit (Rosemount) for Martin (67)
Theo Watts (Rosemount) for Egan (67)
Conor Slevin (Tyrrellspass) for Lynch (69)
Anthony McGivney (Multyfarnham) for McCormack (69)

Longford

1. Paddy Collum (Fr. Manning Gaels)

4. Barry O’Farrell (Carrickedmond)
3. Andrew Farrell (Cashel)
2. Darren Quinn (Clonguish)

5. Colm P. Smyth (Abbeylara)
6. Michael Quinn (Emmet Óg)
7. Daniel Mimnagh (Emmet Óg)

8. Darren Gallagher (St. Mary’s)
9. Peter Hanley (Clonguish)

12. Shane Donohoe (Rathcline)
11. Barry McKeon (Colmcille)
10. Peter Lynn (Longford Slashers)

15. Liam Connerton (Rathcline)
14. Robbie Smyth (Abbeylara)
13. Darragh Doherty (Mostrim)

Subs

Iarla O’Sullivan (Rathcline) for Donohoe (49)
Pauric Gill for Hanley (49)
Connor Shields (Clonguish) for Connerton (67)
Mark Hughes (Emmet Óg) for Smyth (67)
Nigel Rabbitte (Abbeylara) for Mimnagh (67)
PJ Masterson (Abbeylara) for Quinn (69).

Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare)

Subscribe to our new podcast, Heineken Rugby Weekly on The42, here:

Click Here: cheap converse men low top shoes

Dublin 1-12
Meath 1-12

Dublin win 3-1 after penalty shootout

Fintan O’Toole reports from Parnell Park

THE FIRST GLIMPSE of a Dublin senior football side in action in 2019 tonight and the home fans in Parnell Park saw them secure victory by novel means.

The passage to the final of the pre-season decider in Leinster was assured after success in a penalty shootout enabled them to surmount the challenge of Meath in this O’Byrne Cup semi-final.

Barry Dardis misses the last penalty kick for Meath.

Dublin won out 3-1 after the penalty shootout, necessitated by the teams finishing deadlocked at 1-12 apiece after normal time. A new rule in the structure of the competition this year saw extra-time bypassed with the spot kicks settling the contest.

Dublin’s conversion was flawless with Aaron Byrne, Oisin Lynch and Conor McHugh all netting. Sean Tobin was Meath’s solitary goalscorer with Michael Newman and Barry Dardis blasting their efforts over, while Thomas O’Reilly’s effort was thwarted by netminder Andy Bunyan.

Dublin’s Andy Bunyan makes a save from Meath’s Sean Tobin.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

Normal time concluded in a blaze of excitement. Conor McHugh cut through for Dublin and coped with ferocious Meath defensive pressure to punch over a point that placed them on the cusp of victory in the 74th minute. Yet Meath countered and capitalised on the time being added on with Newman tapping over a free that was awarded close to goal from the next attack.

There was a marked contrast to the starting sides with Dublin’s All-Ireland winners given their usual January break and a team managed by Paul Clarke was despatched into action, filled with fringe players and youngsters eager to impress. Ballyboden St-Enda’s All-Ireland club winner Ryan Basquel advertised his worth by picking off 0-4 from play and Fingallians forward Oisin Lynch notched a brace in the first half.

Meath could draw on greater experience with eight players present who had featured for them in the 2018 championship. A touch of early season experimentation was supplied by the status of Barry Dardis, more renowned as an attacker, in goal for the second week running.

Both teams raised green flags in the opening period. Graham Reilly enjoyed an unusual first-half, brought in the 7th minute as a blood substitute, withdrawn in the 22nd minute and the provider of 1-1 to the Meath scoring cause during his cameo.

The goal was a precise finish to the net eight minutes in after a counter-attack.

Meath defenders in action against Dublin forward Stephen Smith.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

That score gave Meath a cushion on the scoreboard for a large chunk of the first half but Dublin found the net themselves before the interval to restore parity.

Robert McDaid surged through the rearguard to palm home after a pass across from Seán Bugler and leave it 1-7 apiece at the interval. It atoned in sorts for the decision to deny McDaid a penalty earlier in the half when he looked to have been clearly fouled after being released by the alertness of quick free from Aaron Byrne.

Robert McDaid celebrates finding the net for Dublin.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

The second half was a tight affair with Dublin edging in front on a couple of occasions as Basquel injected them with some scoring inspiration and Bunyan denying Newman from finding a goal at the other end. 

The sin bin came into play on a few occasions during the game with Meath’s James Lavin and the Dublin duo of Ciaran Reddin and Conor Mullally all penalised for fouls. The new handpass rule only cropped up in the finale with Meath punished on two occasions.

Yet it was another groundbreaking initiative that proved critical in the end as Dublin held their nerve in a shootout to propel themselves into a final meeting with Westmeath. 

Scorers for Dublin: Ryan Basquel 0-4, Robert McDaid 1-0, Oisin Lynch, Stephen Smith (0-2f) 0-2 each, Seán McMahon, Aaron Byrne, Seán Bugler, Conor McHugh 0-1 each.

Scorers for Meath: Michael Newman 0-5 (0-4f), Graham Reilly 1-2, Darragh Campion 0-3, Ben Brennan, James Conlon 0-1 each.

Dublin

1. Andy Bunyan (Scoil Uí Chonaill)

2. Nathan Doran (Clontarf)
3. Seán McMahon (Raheny)
4. Ciarán Smith (Lucan Sarsfields)

5. Cian O’Connor (Kilmacud Crokes)
6. Conor Mullally (Cuala)
7. Robert McDaid (Ballyboden St-Enda’s)

8. Darren Gavin (Lucan Sarsfields)
9. Cormac Howley (Round Towers Lusk)

10. Ryan Basquel (Ballyboden St-Enda’s)
11. Aaron Byrne (Na Fianna)
12. Seán Bugler (St Oliver Plunkett’s-Eoghan Ruadh)

13. Stephen Smith (Skerries Harps)
14. Callum Pearson (Kilmacud Crokes)
15. Oisín Lynch (Fingallians)

Subs

21. Conor McHugh (Na Fianna) for Smith (46)
23. Ciaran Reddin (St Maur’s) for Howley (46)
17. Shane Boland (Castleknock) for Boland (54)
20. Andrew McGowan (Kilmacud Crokes) for Doran (54)
24. Gerry Seaver (Ballyboughal) for Basquel (64)
22. Jack Hazley (St Sylvester’s) for Bugler (72)

Meath

1. Barry Dardis (Summerhill)

Click Here: munster rugby shirts

2. Seamus Lavin (St Peter’s Dunboyne)
3. Conor McGill (Ratoath)
4. Ronan Ryan (Summerhill)

5. James McEntee (Curraha)
6. Donal Keogan (Rathkenny)
7. Niall Kane (Simonstown Gaels)

8. Bryan Menton (Donaghmore-Ashbourne – captain)
9. Adam Flanagan (Clonard)

10. Niall Hickey (Seneschalstown)
13. Ben Brennan (St Colmcille’s)
12. Daniel Quinn (Ballinabrackey)

11. Darragh Campion (Skryne)
14. Michael Newman (Kilmainham)
15. Thomas O’Reilly (Wolfe Tones)

Subs

22. Graham Reilly (St Colmcille’s) for Hickey (blood) (7)
30. Hickey for Reilly (23)
16. Marcus Brennan for Dardis (half-time)
22. Reilly for Hickey (half-time)
17. Gavin McCoy (St Peter’s Dunboyne) for Quinn (half-time)
21. Sean Tobin (Simonstown Gaels) for Brennan (49)
23. James Conlon (St Colmcille’s) for Campion (64)

Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford)

Subscribe to our new podcast, Heineken Rugby Weekly on The42, here:

Joe Canning hits the winning point.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

Galway 0-21 
Dublin 1-17

Kevin O’Brien reports from Parnell Park

JOE CANNING ARRIVED off the bench to slot over a 72nd-minute sideline and hand Galway a narrow one-point victory over Dublin in an exciting Walsh Cup semi-final.

On their first run out since the All-Ireland final, Galway survived a late onslaught from the hosts to book a place in the pre-season final against Davy Fitzgerald’s Wexford, who defeated Kilkenny.

Micheal Donoghue’s side looked to be coasting to victory when they led by 0-18 to 0-10 after 50 minutes, but Dublin scored 1-7 to draw back level by the 70th minute, with Sean Moran raising the green flag from a penalty.

By that stage, Donoghue had sent for the heavy artillery in Canning, who was a late addition to the bench. Five minutes after his introduction, the Portumna ace slotted over a stunning sideline to hand Galway the victory by the narrowest of margins.

Joe Canning’s 72nd minute sideline cut that handed Galway a one-point victory over Dublin in the Walsh Cup semi-final. Never in doubt. pic.twitter.com/qPCGrEDL27

— Kevin O'Brien (@Kevobrien7) January 13, 2019

Dublin finished an exciting encounter with 14 men after John Hetherton’s red card for a late hit on Canning. Hetherton finished with 0-8 for the Dubs, all from placed balls.

Donohoe started four survivors from last August’s loss to Limerick – the Mannion brothers, Aidan Harte and Conor Whelan. All four got themselves on the scoresheet, but it was free-taker Cathal Mannion who shone with a tally of 0-10, including five from play. 

Brian Concannon, the two-goal hero on his first championship start against Offaly last summer, posted three points in an impressive outing for the Leinster champions.

Tempers flare between both sides.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

It was Dublin’s first competitive defeat under new boss Mattie Kenny, although the 2017 Liam MacCarthy champions represented a big step-up from recent ties against Carlow, Laois and Offaly.

Dubs looked to isolate one man on edge of the square, usually Donal Burke, but they struggled for scores from play in the first half-hour.

Midfielder Mannion hit 0-7 of his tally before the break. His brother Padraic drove forward and flashed one over, while Concannon saw a goalbound strike tipped over by Dublin keeper Alan Nolan. 

Galway’s lead at the interval was seven and they’d have been further clear had it not been for the accuracy of Hetherton, who slotted over five frees from six attempts.

Jack Grealish and Sean Kilduff chase Fergal Whitely.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

The Tribesmen were 0-18 to 0-10 ahead when Burke flicked a Hetherton shot into the net, but the Dublin forward’s goal was ruled out for a square ball. With that went a glorious chance for Dublin to haul themselves back into the contest. 

Mannion and Hetherton traded a brace of frees apiece before Crummey sent over a superb score from the wing. Then Caolon Conway won a penalty for the hosts after a goalmouth scramble.  

Sean Moran dispatched the penalty into the bottom corner before Donohoe sent for Canning. With the teams deadlocked and penalties looking on the cards, Canning duly delivered the winner in stoppage-time. 

Scorers for Galway: Cathal Mannion 0-10 (0-5f), Brian Concannon 0-3 (0-1f), Davey Glennon 0-2 (0-1f), Sean Blehane 0-2, Padraic Mannion 0-1, Aidan Harte 0-1, Conor Whelan 0-1, Joe Canning 0-1 (0-1 sideline).

Scorers for Dublin: John Hetherton 0-8 (0-8f), Sean Moran 1-0 (1-0 pen), Eamonn Dillon 0-2, Donal Burke 0-2, Osin O’Rorke 0-2 (0-2f), Chris Crummey 0-2, Fergal Whitely 0-1.

Galway 

1. James Skehill (Cappataggle)

2. Jack Grealish (Gort)
3. Jack Fitzpatrick (Killimordaly)
4. Sean Linnane (Turloughmore)

5. Kevin Hussey (Turloughmore)
6. Padraic Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh)
7. Aidan Harte (Gort)

10. Cathal Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh)
9. Sean Kilduff (Clarinbridge)

8. Padraig Brehony (Tynagh-Abbey/Duniry)
11. Conor Whelan (Kinvara)
12. Sean Bleahane  (Ahascragh/Fohenagh)

13. Tomas Monaghan (Gort)
14. Brian Concannon (Killimordaly)
15. Davey Glennon (Mullagh)

Subs

19. Sean Loftus  (Turloughmore) for Brehony (55)
21. Shane Maloney (Tynagh/Abbey/Duniry) for Kilduff (55)
25. Ronan O’Meara (Portumna) for Glennon (62)
22. Joe Canning (Portumna) for Blehane (67) 

Dublin 

1. Alan Nolan (St. Brigids)

18. Lee Gannon (Whitehall Colmcille)
3. Eoghan O’Donnell (Whitehall Colmcille)
2. James Madden (Ballyboden St Enda’s)

19. Chris Crummey (Lucan Sarsfields)
6. Sean Moran (Cuala)
7. Shane Barrett (Na Fianna)

5. Tomas Connolly (St. Vincent’s)
8. Rian McBride (St. Vincent’s)

12. Fiontan McGibb (Setanta)
10. Fergal Whitely (Kilmacud Crokes)
11. John Hetherton (St. Vincent’s)

13. Eamonn Dillon (Naomh Fionnbarra)
14. Liam Rushe (St. Patrick’s Palmerstown)
15. Donal Burke (Na Fianna)

Subs

21. Sean Treacy (Cuala) for Madden (ht)
25. Caolan Conway (Kilmacud Crokes) for McBride (48)
20. Oisin O’Rorke (Kilmacud Crokes) for McGibb (51)
22. Davy Keogh (Thomas Davis) for Barrett (62)
26. Darragh O’Connell (Cuala) for Whitely (64)

Referee: Paud O’Dwyer (Carlow).

Subscribe to our new podcast, Heineken Rugby Weekly on The42, here:

Click Here: Brisbane Broncos Team Jersey

Galway 1-9
Mayo 1-9

(Galway win 4-2 on penalties)

John Fallon reports from Tuam Stadium

GALWAY ADVANCED TO the FBD League final after winning a dramatic penalty shootout in front of 7,000 people at Tuam Stadium.

Mayo seemed poised for a first win over Galway since 2015 but Barry McHugh scored a late equalising goal for galway to send it to a shootout.

Mayo, playing with the breeze in the opening half, led by 1-5 to 0-3 at the break.

Galway didn’t score from play in that period with John Daly, another son of former player Val to make his mark with the Tribesmen, getting their 2019 account off the mark with a free from the right after 18 minutes.

Fionn McDonagh and Johnny Heaney.

Source: Bryan Keane/INPHO

By then Mayo had opened up a 0-4 to 0-0 lead with Jason Doherty getting a couple of frees and Conor Diskin scoring from a mark.

Brian Reape, impressive in the win over Leitrim last weekend, landed two good points in the opening half as the Bohola Moy Davitts clubman caused the home defence plenty of trouble.

Galway’s failure to deal with a long ball from centre-back Michael Plunkett led to Doherty firing to the net from close range five minutes from the break.

Barry McHugh reduced the margin just before the interval when he kicked his second free of the contest to leave them five points adrift at the break.

Andy Moran came on at half-time to get his 16th season up and running for Mayo.

Doherty and McHugh twice exchanged points early in the second-half to leave it 1-7 to0-5 after 46 minutes.

Penalty Shoot Out FBD League Semi Final Galway and Mayo https://t.co/dX4cJNPM48

— Connacht GAA (@ConnachtGAA) January 13, 2019

Galway got the gap down to 1-8 to 0-8 after 58 minutes after Johnny Heaney had hit the post with when McHugh pointed a 45 but almost immediately Reape hit back with his third point of the afternoon.

Galway squandered a few goal chances after that but McHugh saved them in the dying moments when he drilled the ball to the net after a long delivery from Michael Daly to force a penalty shootout.

Galway advanced when Liam Silke, Johnny Heaney, McHugh and Tom Flynn found the net after their goalkeeper Maghnus Breathnach saved efforts from Diarmuid O’Connor and Andy Moran, with Brian Reape and James Kelly converting their kicks.

Scorers for Galway: B McHugh 1-6 (0-4f, 0-1 ’45), J Daly 0-2 (0-1f), M Daly 0-1.

Scorers for Mayo: J Doherty 1-4 (0-4f), B Reape 0-3, C Diskin 0-2 (0-1f).

Mayo

1. Rob Hennelly (Breaffy) 

2. Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis)
3. Brendan Harrison (Aghamore)
4. David Drake (Ballaghaderreen) 

5. Colm Boyle (Davitts)
6. Michael Plunkett (Ballintubber)
7. James McCormack (Claremorris) 

8. Donal Vaughan (Castlebar Mitchels)
9. Diarmuid O’Connor (Ballintubber) 

10. Fionn McDonagh (Westport)
11. Conor Loftus (Crossmolina Deel Rovers)
12. Fergal Boland (Aghamore)

13. Connor Diskin (Claremorris)
14. Brian Reape (Bohola Moy Davitts)
15. Jason Doherty (Burrishoole)

Substitutes:

27. Andy Moran (Ballaghadereen) for Loftus (35)
24. Conor O’Shea (Breaffy) for Boland (48)
19. Stephen Coen (Hollymount/Carramore) for McCormack (53)
20. Lee Keegan (Westport) for Doherty (64)
21. James Kelly (Belmullet) for Drake (72)

Galway

1. Manus Breathnach (An Spidéal)

2. Declan Kyne (Clonbur)
3. Sean Andy Ó Ceallaigh
4. Liam Silke (Corofin)

5. Kieran Molloy (Corofin)
6. John Daly (Mountbellew-Moylough)
7. Dylan Wall (Corofin)

8. Kieran Duggan (Annaghdown)
9. Tomas Flynn (Athenry)

10. Cillian McDaid (Monivea-Abbey)
11. Michael Farragher (Corofin)
12. Johnny Heaney (Killanin)

13. Frankie Burke (Annaghdown)
14. Michael Boyle (Killererin)
15. Barry McHugh (Mountbellew-Moylough

Substitutes:

22. Peter Cooke (Maigh Cuilinn) for Duggan (35)
19. Seán Kelly (Maigh Cuilinn) for Molloy (42)
25. Michael Daly (An Creagán/Magh Locha) for Farragher (50)
20. Gary O’Donnell (Realta Thuama) for Wall (52)
17. Eoghan Kerin (Anach Cuain) for J Daly (61)

Referee: Patrick Neilan (Roscommon).

Subscribe to our new podcast, Heineken Rugby Weekly on The42, here:

Click Here: racing 92 rugby jersey

Wexford 0-16
Kilkenny 0-13

Ronan Fagan reports from Bellefield

PAUDIE FOLEY was the exception on a difficult day otherwise for free-takers as the centre-back’s tally of 0-7 carried holders Wexford past neighbours Kilkenny in Sunday’s Walsh Cup senior hurling semi-final at a pleasant Bellefield.

Both sides tried several different dead-ball shooters during a rather flat encounter. But Foley was the outstanding exponent of the placed-ball as Wexford kicked-on to overturn a 0-10 to 0-9 deficit after 44 minutes and nail a home-date against Galway in next weekend’s tournament-decider.

Kilkenny began positively with points from Conor Fogarty and Luke Scanlon inside five minutes.

But the Cats’ ‘keeper Darren Brennan was spared some serious blushes early on when getting back in the nick of time to retrieve the situation after a block down on the goalkeeper by Conor McDonald saw the ball hurtling dangerously towards goal.

Tempers flare between the sides.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

Wexford number six Paudie Foley eventually got the home-side on course with a couple of pointed frees from inside his own half to tie matters after eight minutes, and Foley and Ian Byrne further enthused the locals amongst the large attendance when sending the title-holders 0-4 to 0-2 clear on 13 minutes.

Kilkenny twice got back level before Harry Kehoe edged Wexford ahead by 0-6 to 0-5 on 30 minutes. However, Brian Cody’s men seized control through three late frees from Kevin Kelly.

But a rather flat first-half ended with just 0-8 to 0-7 separating the neighbours after Harry Kehoe converted a third free during added-time.

Skirmishes marred this derby either side of the interval, and the second bout of fisticuffs resulted in the sides both being reduced to 14-men, as Kilkenny’s Liam Blanchfield and Wexford sub Jack O’Connor were dismissed shortly after O’Connor had restored parity from a free on the re-start (0-8 each).

Wexford manager Davy Fitzgerald.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

Martin Keoghan appeared to stabilise Kilkenny with a couple of points as they led 0-10 to 0-9 on 44 minutes. But Wexford then asserted control to transform matters by 0-14 to 0-11 after 59 minutes as Foley (3), Aidan Nolan and Diarmuid O’Keeffe helped seized the initiative.

Crucially the tie lacked any goal-scoring potential outside of the Kilkenny ‘keeper’s potential early mistake, and Wexford saw out the game to avenge three successive defeats to the black-and-amber since having defeated Kilkenny after a shoot-out in last year’s Walsh Cup final.

Scorers for Wexford: Pádraig Foley 0-7 (6f), Harry Kehoe 0-3 (3f), Aidan Nolan, Ian Byrne, Jack O’Connor (f), Diarmuid O’Keeffe, Conor McDonald (f), Seamus Casey (f) 0-1 each.

Scorers for Kilkenny: Kevin Kelly 0-5 (4f), Martin Keoghan 0-2, Luke Scanlon, Conor Fogarty, Conor Delaney, Ger Malone, Paddy Deegan, Richie Hogan (f) 0-1 each.

Wexford

1. Eanna Martin (Carrickshock)

Click Here: maori all blacks shop

2. Shane Reck (Oylegate Glenbrien)
3. Liam Ryan (Rapparees)
4. Conor Firman (St Martin’s)

5. Simon Donohoe (Shelmaliers)
6. Pádraig Foley (Crossabeg Ballymurn)
7. Shaun Murphy (Oulart The Ballagh)

8. Aidan Nolan (HWH Bunclody)
9. Diarmuid O’Keeffe (St Anne’s)

10. Harry Kehoe (Cloughbawn)
11. Kevin Foley (Rapparees)
12. Ian Byrne (Ferns St Aidan’s)

13. David Dunne (Davidstown Courtnacuddy)
14 Cathal Dunbar (Naomh Eanna)
15. Conor McDonald (Naomh Eanna)

Substitutes: 19. Liam Óg McGovern (St Anne’s) for Byrne (ht); 23. Jack O’Connor (St Martin’s) for Kehoe (ht); 20. Seamus Casey (Oylegate Glenbrien) for Nolan (temp., 49); S Casey for Dunne (51); 18. Darren Byrne (Blackwater) for S Murphy (63).

Kilkenny

1. Darren Brennan (St Lachtains)

2. Robert Lennon (Bennettsbridge)
3. Huw Lawlor (O’Loughlin Gaels)
4. Tommy Walsh (Tullaroan)

5. Conor Delaney (Erin’s Own)
6. Paddy Deegan (O’Loughlin Gaels)
7. Enda Morrissey (Bennettsbridge)

8. Jason Cleere (Bennettsbridge)
9. Conor Fogarty (Erin’s Own)

10. Ger Malone (Mullinavat)
11. Martin Keoghan (Tullaroan)
12. Liam Blanchfield (Bennettsbridge)

13. Kevin Kelly (St. Patrick’s)
14. John Donnelly (Thomastown)
15. Luke Scanlon (James Stephens)

Substitutes: 17. Paul Murphy (Danesfort) for Cleere (ht); 21. Richie Hogan (Danesfort) for Kelly (46); 24. Niall Brassil (James Stephens) for Scanlon (65).

Referee: John Keenan (Wicklow).

Subscribe to our new podcast, Heineken Rugby Weekly on The42, here:

ARMAGH AND TYRONE will meet in the McKenna Cup final after both sides won their respective semi-finals today.

Rory Grugan kicked a late winner for Kieran McGeeney’s men, who were 0-14 to 1-10 winners over Donegal in Healy Park.

Jason McGee netted a first-half goal for Donegal, but 0-4 from Niall Grimley and a three-point haul from Stefan Campbell helped Armagh to victory.

Click Here: china factory direct sale

Tyrone had three points to spare over Derry in the other last four clash, prevailing on a scoreline of 0-14 to 1-8. Peter Harte top-scored for the Red Hand with five points, despite only arriving off the bench at the interval.

Patrick Coney goaled for Derry in the 44th minute to give them a one-point lead, but Tyrone finished far stronger with Harte to the fore. 

Subscribe to our new podcast, Heineken Rugby Weekly on The42, here:

THE FIRST LEAGUE games of the second reigns in charge of Liam Sheedy and James Horan will commence the 2019 live GAA coverage on eir sport.

TV cameras will be there for the league openers for Liam Sheedy and James Horan.

Source: INPHO

The broadcaster has today announced their planned schedule for this year’s Allianz GAA leagues with the first live games to air on 26 January.

That date will see Sheedy’s Tipperary side entertain the Clare hurlers in Semple Stadium while on the same night Horan’s Mayo team are in action at home to Roscommon in Elverys MacHale Park.

In total there are 15 games pencilled in for live coverage on eir sport in the coming months with the breakdown seeing 10 Gaelic football, three hurling and two ladies football matches set to be broadcast.

All-Ireland champions Dublin and Limerick will have their respective league ties against Galway and Tipperary both televised live on 2 February. That will be the first of four matches involving Jim Gavin’s Dublin side while Mayo are set to feature in five matches.

There will also be live coverage of All-Ireland ladies football champions Dublin in their games against Donegal and Mayo.

Declan Hannon, Niamh Collins and Cillian O’Connor were present at today’s eir sport launch.

Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

Here’s the full list of games set to be aired:

26 January

Tipperary v Clare (H) – eir sport 1 – 7pm
Mayo v Roscommon (F) – eir sport 2 – 7pm

2 February

Dublin v Donegal (LGFA) – eir sport 1 – 5pm
Dublin v Galway (F) – eir sport 1 – 7pm
Limerick v Tipperary (H) – eir sport 2 – 7pm

9 February

Kerry v Dublin (F) – eir sport 1 – 7pm
Mayo v Cavan (F) – eir sport 2 – 7pm

16 February

Cork v Clare (H) – eir sport 1 – 7pm

23 February

Dublin v Mayo (LGFA) – eir sport 1 – 5pm
Dublin v Mayo (F) – eir sport 1 – 7pm
Tyrone v Monaghan (F) – eir sport 1 – 7pm

2 March

Mayo v Galway (F) – eir sport 1 – 7pm
Donegal v Armagh (F) – eir sport 2 – 7pm

Click Here: spain rugby shirts

16 March

Dublin v Tyrone (F) – TBC – 7pm
Kerry v Mayo (F) – TBC – 7pm

Subscribe to our new podcast, Heineken Rugby Weekly on The42, here:

THE CORK LADIES are set to make history next month as they prepare for their first ever competitive outing in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, the LGFA has announced.

The 11-time All-Ireland champions are scheduled to play two Lidl National Football League Division 1 fixtures at the county’s main grounds this year, starting with a clash against Tipperary on Saturday 23 February.

That historic fixture will form part of a double-header alongside their male counterparts, who will take on Meath in Division 2 of the Allianz League in the same venue at 7pm.

Ephie Fitzgerald’s charges will line out for their second game at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday 16 March, with Donegal providing the opposition in what will be a repeat of last year’s All-Ireland semi-final.

Click Here: north queensland cowboys rugby store

That fixture will also be part of a double-header and precede’s the men’s fixture between the same counties. 

The Cork camogie team has played at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in the past and there have been repeated calls for the Cork ladies to be given that opportunity.

Speaking ahead of last year’s ladies and men’s Munster finals between Cork and Kerry, Cork’s ladies selector James Masters said it would be a “missed opportunity” not to arrange a double-header of the provincial deciders.

The Cork Ladies will play at the main county grounds during the National League.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

“It’s a real pity that some great players for Cork who have had such decorated careers, haven’t set foot in Páirc Uí Chaoimh,” he said at the time.

The LGFA says they have been in close consultation with the Cork county board and Páirc Uí Chaoimh in recent weeks about organising these historic fixtures for the Cork Ladies.

It follows on from the recent announcement that reigning Lidl NFL Division 1 and TG4 All-Ireland champions Dublin will also play two ‘double-headers’ at Croke Park on 2 February and 23 February, against Donegal and Mayo respectively.

The LGFA has also revealed that they are working on confirming a number of other double-header fixtures, and will reveal the full list of confirmed games later this week.

Subscribe to our new podcast, Heineken Rugby Weekly on The42, here:

SENAN CONNELL BELIEVES more counties should take advantage of the parentage rule to restore the balance in the All-Ireland football championship.

As the playing numbers in rural areas continue to decline and the population steadily rises in the capital, Connell says more sides should follow the example of Offaly and bring in players who have links to the county.

Kilmacud Crokes forward Shane Horan recently pledged his inter-county allegiance to the Faithful County, where both his parents hail from. 

“We were looking at different ways you could tackle the glut of players that are in Dublin, even just to give lads in Dublin the chance to play inter-county football,” says Connell.

“I think there’s an opening there for other counties to tap into those resources. There’s a lot of guys who wouldn’t mind playing under the parentage rule, playing down the country, to get a chance to play inter-county football.

“There’s so many guys – the Basquels (Ryan and Colm) have Mayo connections. The team I played in, Paul Curran, one of the best ever Dublin footballers ever, his dad Noel won an All-Ireland with Meath. The connections are there, open the door – why not tap into it?”

Clare footballers recruited several ‘outside’ players in the early part of this decade, including Horan’s clubmate Pat Burke who helped the Banner reach the 2016 All-Ireland quarter-final.

Click Here: f1 t shirt,mens f1 jacket

eir Sport football pundit Senan Connell.

Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

Connell has strong links to Clare himself through his father. “There’s a lot of Dubs who would spend their summer holidays down with their cousins down the country,” he said.

“I spent a lot of time down in Clare over the summers – my father played with Clare, played Railway Cup too. I was a Dub but I was lucky enough to play with Dublin.”

Would he have considered a transfer to Clare if he wasn’t good enough to play with the Dubs?

“It was a different time back then. If you didn’t make it with Dublin, that was it – you stuck with your county, it was in you to stay.

“I don’t think I would have myself – I was a Dub, a Dub only. The criteria is different now, the openings to play with Dublin that were there in my time aren’t there anymore.

“How many come through now? Maybe one a year. I think, give them the chance to play inter-county football if they want it.”

****

eir sport have today announced details of its Allianz Leagues coverage for 2019, while also confirming it will broadcast two games from the Lidl Ladies National Football League. In total eir sport will broadcast fifteen live games in the coming months with up to three live matches available to GAA fans some weekends. The coverage begins on January 26th on the home of live GAA on Saturday nights under lights. 

Subscribe to our new podcast, Heineken Rugby Weekly on The42, here:

DUBLIN STAR DEFENDER Niamh Collins has paid tribute to her now-retired Cork counterpart Bríd Stack, saying she’s been “the leader in that role for so, so many years.”

Cork defender Bríd Stack has announced her retirement.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

11-time All-Ireland senior champion Stack first confirmed her decision to bring her inter-county career to a close at the age of 32 to The Irish Examiner over the weekend.

Stack was crowned Footballer of the Year in 2016, the same year she became just one of four players to win 11 senior All-Ireland medals — Briege Corkery, Rena Buckley and Deirdre O’Reilly are the others.

She has played every minute of every final in which the Rebels were successful and finishes up with seven All-Stars.

While 24-year-old Collins would have locked horns with Stack on the field, she says that she always admired and looked up to her.

“Absolutely,” the Foxrock-Cabinteely defender told The42. “I mean especially in my position on the field. She would have been the leader in that role for so, so many years.

“Obviously I would never have come directly up against her because we would have been at different ends of the pitch. But yeah, she would have been one of the most formidable full-backs for most of our full-forward line. It’s sad to see her go but she had an absolutely great career.”

Niamh Collins at today’s eir sport launch.

Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

While a lot of her heroes were closer to home as a child, Collins recalls that as she broke onto the scene, she watched Stack in action more and more. 

“Being honest when I was younger, I was entirely fixated on the Dublin ladies. They were what drove me on. But when I was coming up minor and young on the senior team that’s when I would have seen her more.

“She came in to do talks for a couple of the girls when they were in college and they’d talk about how motivational she was for them as well. She gave a lot to the game as a woman in sport, absolutely, and she has quite a phenomenal cabinet of silverware at this point.”

Over the past few days, many players past and present have come out with kind words for Stack and Collins joins her teammates Sinead Goldrick and Sinead Aherne in paying tribute to the Cork legend. 

11- All Ireland medals…..mic drop 🎤 for @BridStackie in her retirement. Legend of the game #BestOfLuck

— Sinead Goldrick (@Goldieface) January 14, 2019

Congrats on a fantastic intercounty career @BridStackie. Always a rock in defence and a thorn in many Dublin teams' side on far too many occasions 🙈. Will remain a legend 🏐 https://t.co/ZY2cf531BZ

— Sinead Aherne (@sinead_aherne) January 15, 2019

After three heartbreaking defeats to the Rebels in 2014, 2015 and 2016, Mick Bohan’s Dublin finally exacted sweet revenge on them in the September’s All-Ireland final in Croke Park.

In 2017, Dublin got that monkey off their back and beat Mayo in the decider to lift the Brendan Martin Cup after the Westerners knocked Stack’s Cork side out in the semi-final.

Plagued by injury, she opted to sit out in 2018 but the fierce rivals locked horns once again in the showpiece for the fourth time in five years. Beating Cork, for Dublin, was massive.

“It’d be a lie to say it wasn’t,” Collins continues, “especially having been on the team in 2014, ’15 and ’16… it was something that was going to play on your mind even if you tried to not let it.

Click Here: cronulla sharks team jersey

“I think for a lot of us, while winning an All-Ireland was always the ultimate goal, I don’t think we really would have felt that we’d have achieved everything we wanted to in our careers until we beat them. But like, you know…. we go again!”

Collins facing Cork’s Doireann O’Sullivan.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

She adds: “It’s a rivalry completely built out of respect.

“Every game I think we’ve played against them in the past few years has always been close; them edging us out and then us last year finally edging them out.

“It’s a rivalry that’s there because we both give the best we can to each other, every single time we play each other.”

Attention now turns to 2019 for the back-to-back champions with the first task at hand defending their first-ever Lidl Ladies National League Division 1 title.

They’ll open their defence in Croke Park against Donegal on Saturday, 2 February, one of two double-headers which were confirmed last week. They’ll also face Mayo at HQ as part of a double billing with their male counterparts, with both games to be shown live on eir sport.

“It really is nice,” she says of the double-headers and added exposure. “Games like that are really contributing to the whole 20×20 vision for women’s football. It’s great excitement for players being able to go out and play in Croke Park at the beginning of the season.

Celebrating September’s win with teammates.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

“It almost brings the freshness to the league and it gets the team excited. It brings a totally new element to it. I really, really enjoy those matches and long may it continue.

“People say, ‘We’ll go in and take a look [at the ladies game before the men’s]‘. My opinion is they’ll generally be very pleasantly surprised. The level of skill that’s there, the game really is growing. The skill has come on so much in ladies football in the last 10 years.

“It’s almost a different game to watch than men’s football. There’s different elements to it to what the guys bring. It’s open to that audience, for new people.”

And of course, there’s already plenty of talk around three in-a-row and whether Bohan’s Sky Blues can break that new ground in 2019.

“To be honest I have heard a few rumblings about it,” Collins grins. “It’s not really something that has been playing on my mind, probably because we’re only coming back but yeah, you have to be cognitive of it.

Collins, Declan Hannon and Cillian O’Connor at today’s launch.

Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

“It’s not something that you want to get into your head or into the team’s mindset. At the end of the day with county football, there’s a big turnover every year. Conditions can change, teams can change. Just because you won last year doesn’t mean anything.

“That’s the line that I would take on it. We’ve seen how easy it is to come the whole way and not get over the line. So, yeah, 2018 is last year in my opinion.”

****

eir sport have today announced details of its Allianz Leagues coverage for 2019, while also confirming it will broadcast two games from the Lidl Ladies National Football League. In total eir sport will broadcast fifteen live games in the coming months with up to three live matches available to GAA fans some weekends. The coverage begins on January 26th on the home of live GAA on Saturday nights under lights. 

Subscribe to our new podcast, Heineken Rugby Weekly on The42, here: