Month: September 2021

Jackie Tyrrell at yesterday’s launch of Littlewoods Ireland’s partnership with the GAA and Camogie Association.

Source: Stephen McCarthy/SPORTSFILE

JACKIE TYRRELL’S LAST day out with Kilkenny was in a familar setting but with an unfamiliar outcome.

He’d grown accustomed to marquee days in Croke Park, typically embracing that winning feeling after a thunderous battle in his corner-back slot.

But on 4 September, Kilkenny were ripped apart by Tipperary’s attack and suffered a sound beating. The pain of that All-Ireland final loss was made all the more acute with Tyrrell never sprung from the bench to aid their defensive effort.

“It was very disappointing,” admits Tyrrell.

“You could see lads were in trouble. You could see our team were struggling and it was disappointing but it’s not about me. Brian Cody is well qualified to make a decision as he feels.

Jackie Tyrrell after September’s All-Ireland final loss

Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

“I can’t remember the minute but myself and Rob Lennon were called to go down and warm up. We were actually warming up when Kevin Kelly got the goal because we were right in front of it.

“Two or three minutes after the goal, I said to Rob ‘better take it easy’ because I could see by the body language we weren’t coming on.

“I thought we might be coming on at some stage but I said to Rob, ‘I’m going back up to the stand,’ and I never left my seat again.”

Just over two months later, Tyrrell called time with Kilkenny with that game in Croke Park proving the last act in a trophy-laden career.

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A Kilkenny hurling great bows out. Jackie Tyrrell has retired today after a brilliant career. #hurling #kilkenny #cats #jackietyrrell #gaa

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His last championship appearance was in the 2015 Leinster final with injuries providing roadblocks thereafter. Tyrrell may not have departed in a blaze of glory but he’s not nursing regrets on that front either.

“I wouldn’t even individualise it like that. Last year would probably make me appreciate all the other years more often.

“At times it was frustrating when you’re not playing. That’s just par for the course. It’s not about me, it’s about the team and if you don’t have that mentality, you’ll not be successful.

“Absolutely you’re frustrated but it’s just about parking it then and moving on. JJ (Delaney) is the ultimate ending, ride off into the sunset with an All-Ireland, an All-Star and that hook he made on Seamus Callanan.

“But I went back and I said, ‘am I comfortable with every scenario?’. That being the top end and the other not making the 30. I said to myself that actually I am.

“I was comfortable with that decision. When you’re comfortable with that you can deal with it if you don’t play or you don’t win an All-Ireland.”

Still the moment when he pulled the plug, did see a wave of emotion engulf him.

“The day I retired was very, very emotional. I didn’t think I’d be that emotional at all.

“Obviously your teammates might make contact and lads you played against or people like you’d meet in Kilkenny, they’d come up shaking your hand.

“It was a lovely day. I really enjoyed it.”

There was praise as well from his Kilkenny leader and James Stephens club mate, when Tyrrell informed Brian Cody to scratch him off any list planning ahead to 2017.

Jackie Tyrrell and Brian Cody celebrate at the final whistle of the 2014 All-Ireland final replay.

Source: Lorraine O’Sullivan/INPHO

“(It was) pretty short, matter of fact. He said some nice things about me, and we spoke briefly about our time, the journey.

“And I thanked him for giving me the opportunity. I said, Brian, in fairness, you put your head on the block for me. I came in off not a great underage career.

“It was just reflective of me and what he felt I brought (to) the setup. And you had to listen, because they don’t come very often.”

A very different type of photoshoot today with @LittlewoodsIRL with @AnnaGCork & @AussieGleeson #LittlewoodsIrlGAA

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Nine times Tyrrell clambered up the steps of the Hogan Stand to savour September success with Kilkenny. One of those occasions stands clear of the pack.

“2014, the All-Ireland replay against Tipperary was an amazing, amazing day. That was definitely my best 70 minutes in a Kilkenny jersey.

“Obviously we hadn’t had the best day as a set of backs the previous one and I remember marking Bubbles O’Dwyer that day and after 45 seconds I blocked him down in the middle of the field and Paul Murphy came up and blocked Lar.

“That was just the tempo for the day and we brought it for 70 minutes. It was just a hugely satisfying day for us.”

Life after Kilkenny will provide a different narrative. The absence of inter-county demands allows him more time for work and family, while he wouldn’t rule out entering the world of punditry.

He’s already been signed up for a new role with James Stephens as a football selector.

“To go from an All-Ireland with being a football selector with your club team, it’s going from the top to the bottom pretty quickly,” laughs Tyrrell.

“A good friend of mine is the manager. He rang me up and said it to me and I was laughing.

“He said, ‘look, all you have to do is there’s three selectors, we’re going to break up into groups of three and get the lads out to the matches’.

“That’s it, I said, ‘I can do that!’”

He feels life without Kilkenny will hit home most once the 2017 season dawns. But the satisfaction of playing on a truly legendary team will never leave him.

“I can definitely say I played with some of the greatest hurlers ever. Were we the greatest hurling team ever?

“I haven’t seen a whole lot of history but I would say we’re up there anyway. It’s hard to know.

“I would feel we were part of something hugely special and unique that I don’t think will ever be replicated again, not on a hurling field.

“I’d say it was hugely skilful, hungry and ambitious guys that would do anything to win at that one time and sprinkle in some of the greatest hurlers you’ll ever see in Tommy Walsh, JJ and Henry.

“And guys that when they won one they wanted more.

“I think when you win an All-Ireland it’s natural to become soft and not as hungry but we had a burning desire in us every year to be the best.

“There wasn’t a motto or anything but if we didn’t win an All-Ireland it was a waste of a year, no matter what you did personally or if you won a league or a Leinster.

“I’ve never witnessed a raw hunger (like that) within a group of lads.”

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PETE McGRATH IS used to proving people wrong on the pitch.

So when he stares you in the eye and insists Fermanagh have the personnel to win a first Ulster senior football championship, you’d be foolish not to listen.

The Erne County haven’t been in a provincial decider since 2008 but they have been showing signs of bridging the gap in recent seasons under McGrath’s seasoned stewardship.

It’s been a tough few years for Fermanagh; their last Ulster championship victory against a side other than Antrim came against Cavan in 2010.

But McGrath, who guided Fermanagh to the All-Ireland quarter-finals in 2015, where they lost to eventual All-Ireland champions Dublin by eight points, is forecasting a breakthrough season in 2017.

After consolidating their position in Division 2 of the league this year, following their promotion from Division 3 in 2015, confidence is growing in McGrath’s setup.

A seven-point loss in their Ulster quarter-final with Donegal and a controversial five-point qualifier defeat to eventual All-Ireland finalists Mayo eventually put paid to this year’s championship campaign.

But the two-time All-Ireland winning manager is certain Fermanagh will be much stronger on the back of such a tough campaign, and now he feels the county’s first Anglo-Celt Cup is within reach.

“I’m convinced they can do it (win a first Ulster title), absolutely convinced,” McGrath, the Ulster manager for this weekend’s Interprovincial Championship in Parnell Park, said.

“I have no doubt. I’m not just saying that, I’m convinced they can do it. They’ve got the stuff.”

But with a preliminary round tie against Monaghan looming as Fermanagh’s Ulster opener, McGrath concedes his panel will need to go to a whole new level in 2017.

“We’ve now hit that major challenge, getting them from there up to here through hard work and organisation.

“They are a good squad … but getting them up now to where they can actually take a big scalp [is the challenge].

“Monaghan in the first round of the championship, that’s the real litmus test at this stage.

I know the quality is there. We’ve been building and I think the experience of big matches last year will help. That’s what I keep telling the players.

“If you’re 23 or 27 or 28, playing for Fermanagh, and you could be on the first team ever to win an Ulster championship sure that would drive you to any kind of lengths … to be part of a history-making team.

“It’s within their reach, they can do it.

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“The Donegal match, the Mayo match, Castlebar, even the Dublin match a couple of years ago here, all of that is in the bank so I think we’re building something quite big.”

There was uproar in Fermanagh after the Mayo defeat; Aidan O’Shea went down easily under the challenge of Che Cullen and a penalty was awarded to the Connacht giants.

Before the complaints had abated the Ulster side’s one-point lead had been wiped out by Cillian O’Connor’s right boot and they found themselves two points in arrears.

Fermanagh’s championship ended that July afternoon in Castlebar, Mayo’s, meanwhile, continued into October.

The incident still rankles with McGrath.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

“It’s been well documented since that it should never have been a penalty, we all know that, that’s established.

“My argument then and my contention still would be that if they hadn’t got the penalty, we were leading by a point at the time with seven minutes to go, I’m not saying we would have won but the match would have gone down to the wire and anything could have happened.

“The penalty took away that opportunity for us to push them right to the wire.

“The way Mayo went after our game, we can take a lot of encouragement from that, but that in itself is no guarantee.”

McGrath may radiate positivity when it comes to Fermanagh’s prospects, but when it comes to the build-up to Ulster’s semi-final tie with Munster (4pm) on Saturday he admits it hasn’t been plain sailing.

Star names such as Sean Cavanagh of Tyrone, Donegal’s Michael Murphy and Monaghan ace Conor McManus are unavailable for a variety for reasons.

“Michael Murphy is taking a complete break from football for the moment, Conor McManus needs this time of year for rehab and that type of thing.

The two Cavanaghs, Sean and Colm, are on holiday that weekend. There’s no doubt that a number of GAA players take holidays in December because it’s one of the few times they’re sure of not missing out on anything.

“There is a wedding in Donegal involving quite a lot of their players so they’re out. You get on with it.”

McGrath had hoped to have the likes of Sean Quigley (groin), Barry Mulrone (knee) and Ruairi Corrigan (shoulder) from the Fermanagh panel available this weekend but all three will miss out through serious injuries, although he expects them to be available for the start of the national league in February.

“Sometimes when you’re contacting players from other counties and you see they’re getting rehab done you might be sceptical but I’m not because I know what’s happening in my own county,” McGrath explains.

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Ger Loughnane feels Brian Cody should have walked away

Source: INPHO

GER LOUGHNANE SPARKED quite a storm last week when he suggested that Brian Cody should have stepped down in Kilkenny in the wake of their All-Ireland final loss to Tipperary.

The Clare All-Ireland winning boss pointed to legendary GAA figures Mick O’Dwyer and Sean Boylan as examples of managers that he felt stayed too long at the helm.

But one of the players who thrived under Cody’s guidance has branded Loughnane’s views as ‘absolutely crazy’.

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Jackie Tyrrell claimed nine All-Ireland senior hurling medals under Cody’s watch and has questioned whether Loughnane is trying to stay relevant, when speaking at yesterday’s Littlewoods Ireland GAA sponsorship announcement.

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“Ah, sure Ger is Ger. I’d say maybe if Ger spent more time on his hurling and concentrating on hurling rather than worrying about Brian Cody and Kilkenny and our physicality, he might have a few more All Ireland medals in his back pocket as a player, well actually he might have one.

“It is a time of the year that is quiet on the GAA scene. Is Ger trying to make himself a bit relevant? I don’t know.

“It is absolutely crazy. I don’t know what his motivation is behind it, but in a logical world it doesn’t make any sense at all.

“Then to compare him to Sean Boylan and Alex Ferguson it is madness really. I have no real logic to it and I can’t see any background to why he would say that.”

It’s not the first time that Loughnane has stirred emotions on Noreside. Back in April, he offered his view to the GAA website that Kilkenny were too functional to be chasing a Liam MacCarthy Cup three-in-a-row.

Brian Cody celebrates Kilkenny’s 2015 All-Ireland win with Jackie Tyrrell

Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

“We don’t pay any heed to that,” states Tyrrell.

“It doesn’t go up on a wall. It’s very rarely mentioned; it might be mentioned in Langtons after training.

“It’s a bit of a laugh, to say that we’re functional. It’s another one of those outlandish comments. We paid no heed to it, really.”

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Glen Rovers forward Patrick Horgan and Carbery Rangers attacker John Hayes

Source: INPHO

CORK SENIOR HURLER Patrick Horgan and former Cork footballer John Hayes landed GAA club awards last night after helping their respective clubs to win county senior titles this year.

Horgan, part of the Glen Rovers team that lost out recently in the Munster senior club hurling final, helped his club retain their Cork senior title in October.

He shot 0-12 in that final success with that superb display ensuring he secured the ‘Hurler of the Year’ award at the Reardens Club Allstar awards, which took place last night in Cork.

Glen Rovers saw off Erins Own in the county senior hurling final

Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

John Hayes, who retired from the inter-county game last winter, was integral to his club Carbery Rangers achievement in claiming a historic first Cork senior football crown. He struck 0-5 in the final victory over Ballincollig and won the Footballer of the Year award.

Roisin O’Sullivan won the Ladies Footballer of the Year award as her club Mourneabbey again triumphed while Joanne Casey was handed the Camogie Player of the Year award after her club Inniscarra stunned reigning All-Ireland champions Milford.

John Hayes, Roisin O’Callaghan, Patrick Horgan and John Casey (representing his daughter Joanne) at last night’s awards.

Source: Eddie O’Hare

The hurling and football All-Star teams were also named with Glen Rovers (7) and Carbery Rangers (8) leading the way on the respective sides.

Hurling

1. Shay Bowen (Erin’s Own)

2. Jack Sheehan (Erin’s Own)
3. Brian Moylan (Glen Rovers)
4. Shane Murphy (Erin’s Own)

5. David Noonan (Glen Rovers)
6. Aidan Ryan (Midleton)
7. Graham Callanan (Glen Rovers)

8. Donal Cronin (Glen Rovers)
9. Brian Murray (Bishopstown)

10. Dean Brosnan (Glen Rovers)
11. Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers)
12. Robbie O’Flynn (Erin’s Own)

13. Alan Cadogan (Douglas)
14. Eoghan Murphy (Erin’s Own)
15. Conor Dorris (Glen Rovers)

Football

1. Paul Shanahan (Carbery Rangers)

2. Liam Jennings (Ballincollig)
3. Brian Shanahan (Carbery Rangers)
4. Thomas O’Rourke (Carbery Rangers)

5. Tomás Clancy (Avondhu)
6. Robbie Kiely (Carbery Rangers)
7. Jerry O’Riordan (Carbery Rangers)

8. Seán Kiely (Ballincollig)
9. James Fitzpatrick (Carbery Rangers)

10. John Miskella (Ballincollig)
11. Patrick Kelly (Ballincollig)
12. John O’Rouke (Carbery Rangers)

13. Luke Connolly (Nemo Rangers)
14. John Hayes (Carbery Rangers)
15. Cian Dorgan (Ballincollig)

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Source: Eddie O’Hare

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The UCD team celebrate their Sigerson Cup triumph.

Source: Presseye/Declan Roughan/INPHO

SOME OF THE leading GAA players in the country discovered their early season assignments in 2017 when the draws for next year’s Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cup took place.

Footballers like Dublin’s Jack McCaffrey (UCD), Donegal’s Ryan McHugh (UUJ) and Galway’s Damien Comer (NUI Galway) will be involved in the Sigerson this year while hurlers involved include Dublin’s Cian O’Callaghan (UCD) and Limerick’s Richie English (Mary Immaculate).

Reigning Sigerson Cup champions UCD were drawn to face IT Sligo or GMIT at the last sixteen stage. Last year’s beaten finalists DCU will take on Queen’s University.

The Mary Immaculate College team celebrate their Fitzgibbon Cup win

Source: Ken Sutton/INPHO

In the Fitzgibbon Cup, reigning champions Mary Immaculate will be in a group with IT Carlow, Dublin IT and GMIT.

Here’s the draws in full.

Sigerson Cup

(First team named at home)

Preliminary Round – 25/26 January

NUI Galway v Trinity College
Garda College v Cork IT
GMIT v IT Sligo

Round Two – 25/26/31 January

A. UL v Maynooth University
B. Athlone IT v Dublin IT
C. Garda College/Cork IT v UUJ
D. GMIT/IT Sligo v UCD
E. Queen’s University v DCU
F. NUIG/Trinity College v St Mary’s
G. IT Carlow v IT Tralee
H. St Pat’s Drumcondra v UCC

Quarter-Finals – 8 February
Semi-Finals – 17 February – Connacht GAA Centre, Bekan
Final – 18 February – Connacht GAA Centre, Bekan

Ryan McHugh will be part of the UUJ setup this year

Source: Seb Daly/SPORTSFILE

Fitzgibbon Cup

Group A: IT Carlow, Mary I, GMIT, DIT
Group B: UL, NUIG, DCU St Patrick’s, CIT
Group C: DCU, LIT, Trinity, WIT
Group D: UCD, UCC, University Ulster, Maynooth University

Round 1 – Tuesday 24 January
Round 2 – Thursday 2 February
Round 3 – Tuesday 7 January

Quarter-Finals – 14 February
Semi-Finals – 24 February – NUI Galway
Final – 25 February – NUI Galway

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KERRY DOMINATE THE quarter-final line-up of the 2016 Munster Colleges Corn Uí Mhuirí competition after the group stages concluded today.

Reigning champions St Brendan’s – who also won the Hogan Cup in Croke Park in last April – finished top of Group C and are joined by fellow Kingdom outfit IS Killorglin.

Tralee CBS topped Group A, Mercy Mounthawk have qualified from Group B while PS Chorca Dhuibhne – four-in-a-row winners between 2012 and 2015 – go forward from Group D.

Two Cork schools have reached the quarter-final stage with Rochestown College and Coláiste Chríost Rí sealing their progression with victories this afternoon.

St Flannan’s are the sole side not from Kerry or Cork, that will feature in the quarter-final draw on 15 December.

Meanwhile St Colman’s Fermoy saw off St Flannan’s Ennis by 4-22 to 2-19 today after extra-time to reach the quarter-finals of the Dr Harty Cup.

That result brings to seven the number of confirmed Dr Harty Cup quarter-finalists. The county breakdown of the schools is Cork (3), Tipperary (2), Limerick (1) and Waterford (1).

Brian Ryan (Ardscoil Rís) in action in the Croke Cup final last year

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

The remaining second round tie will be contested by Thurles CBS and Abbey CBS on 14 December before the draw takes place the following day. That game was postponed last week due to a frozen pitch.

Corn Uí Mhuirí quarter-finalists

1. St Flannan’s (Ennis)
2. PS Chorcha Dhuibhne
3. St Brendan’s (Killarney)
4. IS Killorglin
5. Tralee CBS
6. St Francis College Rochestown
7. Coláiste Chriost Rí
8. Mercy Mounthawk Tralee

Dr Harty Cup quarter-finalists

1. Thurles CBS/Abbey CBS
2. Our Ladys Templemore
3. Nenagh CBS
4. Árdscoil Rís
5. De La Salle Waterford
6. Christians Brother College Cork
7. Midleton CBS
8. St Colman’s Fermoy

Today’s results

Corn Uí Mhuirí

Mercy Mounthawk 3-16 Clonakilty CC 0-8
IS Killorglin 1-12 De La Salle Macroom 2-8
Rochestown College 1-12 Coláiste na Sceilge 2-8
Tralee CBS 1-10 Coláiste Choilm Ballincollig 0-4
Coláiste Chríost Rí 2-9 High School Clonmel 0-6
St Brendan’s Killarney 2-24 Hamilton HS 0-8

Dr Harty Cup

St Colman’s Fermoy 4-22 St Flannan’s Ennis 2-19 (after extra-time)

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Home

Stephen Kenny has enjoyed a frutiful year with Dundalk FC this year.

Source: Lorraine O’Sullivan/INPHO

• Ireland assistant coach Andy Farrell has been appointed the Lions’ defence coach for next summer’s tour of New Zealand.
• Tipperary hurling legend Mick Roche has passed away at 73.
• Dundalk boss Stephen Kenny picks up the Philips Sports Manager of the Year for 2016.
• Dana White does not expect to see Conor McGregor fighting again for another 10 months.
• Wiehahn Herbst has signed a new deal with Ulster that will see him remain at the province for at least the next two seasons.
• Connacht’s Craig Ronaldson has been ruled out for at least a month with a thigh injury.

Away

Jose Mourinho supervises a Manchester United training session in cold temperatures.

Source: Efrem Lukatsky

•  A caddie collapsed and died at the Dubai Ladies Masters where play has been suspended until tomorrow.
• South African referee Craig Joubert has announced his retirement from officiating Test matches in order to take up a new role with World Rugby.
• Jose Mourinho has hit out at Uefa for staging Manchester United’s Europa League game against Zorya Luhansk tomorrow, in freezing Ukraine.
• Fifa Pesident Gianni Infantino says he wants to expand the World Cup finals to 48 teams featuring 16 groups of three.
• New York Knicks president Phil Jackson has admitted that marijuana is part of the NBA culture.

The Best Thing We Shared

The expected hostility between Dereck Chisora and Dillian Whyte descended into a table-throwing farce today ahead of their British heavyweight title bout on Saturday.

On The Record

Pat Lam speaking at a press conference in the Sportsground.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

Pat Lam says Axel Foley’s sudden death prompted him to think about his family’s future and consider the offer from Bristol. 

I went to Killaloe and the removal, saw Olive and the two kids. Axel was in my environment. I could picture the situation. I’m the second Pat Lam, my grandfather died at 55 when I was nine. My dad was going through a triple by-pass recently.

“Driving home (I thought): ‘if that was me, what would happen to Steph and the kids?’”

Where We Were Today

UCD’s Jack McCaffrey pictured at the Sigerson Independent.ie Higher Education GAA Senior Championship Launch & Draw at Croke Park.

Source: Seb Daly/SPORTSFILE

Fintan O’Toole was at the Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cup draws in Croke Park, chatting to Dublin’s Jack McCaffrey. John Fallon was at a Connacht press event in the Sportsground in Galway, while Murray Kinsella attended a press conference for the Lions at Carton House.

The Fixture List

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Dundalk are still in with a chance of qualifying in the Europa League.

Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

There’s a feast of UEFA Europa League action coming up tomorrow including the Group D clash between Dundalk and Maccabi Tel-Aviv (kick-off at 18.00) with Dundalk currently sitting one point off AZ Alkmaar in third place.

Elsewhere, Zorya Luhansk face Manchester United (kick-off at 18.00) in Group A while in Group K, Southampton take on Hapoel Be’er Sheva (kick-off at 20.05).

Showbiz, Baby!

This video of an Iguana evading the charge of some hungry snakes to the tune of Marshawn Lynch’s words, is both terrifying and uplifting in equal measure.

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2015 FOOTBALLER OF the Year Jack McCaffrey has yet to discuss a potential return to the Dublin senior squad with manager Jim Gavin for next season.

McCaffrey missed this year’s championship as he spent 11 weeks in Africa as part of his medical studies and to do some travelling.

But McCaffrey admits that he would ‘love to get back in’ to the Dublin setup.

“I haven’t no (talked to Jim) and I’m not sure what the procedure is. Obviously this year is different with everything shifted two weeks.

“I think the lads are going on their holiday later than they usually would. I’m going to be in Dublin playing football, for somebody, this summer so I’d love to get back in.

“(I) just finished up there with the club. We won the Division 2 play-offs, so promoted to Division 1 which is great for Clontarf.

“The lads won the minor championship as well. I’ve exams done as well, so kicking back and relaxing ’til Christmas.”

Jim Gavin and Jack McCaffrey celebrating Dublin’s 2012 All-Ireland U21 final win

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Aside from his club football duties, McCaffrey has also dabbled in a bit of hurling in recent weeks.

“(I) just played a few of the games for the junior E’s,” laughs McCaffrey.

“There’s a manager, Kev Collins, who’s fairly notorious for getting all hands on deck. So he roped me into a game or two.”

“Great fun, yeah. I’m not very good unfortunately, but it’s great craic. It’s a good bunch of lads.”

McCaffrey harbours no regrets at his decision to take a step back from the inter-county scene and is confident that he could get back up to speed quickly to the rigours and demands of top-level Gaelic football.

“I really enjoyed it anyway. I’m glad I did it. Hopefully it does turn out to be a good thing.”

“You can get back in. You can get back up to it. Ah, there is no doubt about it.

“There is countless examples of people even through injury who have been forced to take seasons off and that.

“I definitely don’t think it’s going to be a bad thing. I am not sure if it will be a massively good thing either.”

UCD’s Jack McCaffrey at yesterday’s Sigerson Cup draw launch

Source: Seb Daly/SPORTSFILE

Sitting in the stands in Croke Park through Dublin’s exhilarating encounters against Kerry and Mayo (twice) provided a different view for McCaffrey.

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“The first All-Ireland final was one of the most bizarre games of football I’ve ever seen. It was kind of hard to enjoy, just because it was so weird. And obviously I was terrified that Dublin were going to lose.

“But then the second final was a cracking game and obviously the Kerry semi-final was unbelievable. So it was great to be back as a fan.

“Watching the warm-up you’re trying to to see if you can pick up any hints. The parades and that, it’s kind of cool that you know what it’s like to be down there.

Dublin players celebrating their All-Ireland final win

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

“When you’re on the pitch you’re so focused on the match, you kind of forget the sense of occasion for everyone in the stadium. It definitely added a different perspective to it but it was quite enjoyable.

“I always try to embrace it a bit and have a little look around, It’s dreams come true kind of stuff so you don’t want to completely block it out but at the end of the day you can’t sit back.

“You have to chase someone around the pitch for 70 minutes. You probably can’t savour every second of it as much as you can as a fan.”

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Ryan McHugh in action against Jonny Cooper in August

Source: Lorraine O’Sullivan/INPHO

IT WAS AGAINST Dublin that Ryan McHugh burst to prominence, bagging a brace of goals in that seismic victory for Donegal in the 2014 All-Ireland semi-final

Source: Ar an taobh líne/YouTube

He found the net again against Dublin in August, once more in front of the Dublin hordes in Hill 16.

Ryan McHugh raised a green flag for Donegal against Dublin in August.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Yet this was a different Dublin force Donegal were facing. In 2014 those McHugh goals spooked Dublin and they never regained their composure thereafter.

In 2016 the concession of a McHugh goal only proved to be a momentary setback for Dublin. They responded by closing out the game in a clinical fashion.

“I think they’re a lot more smart, a lot more streetwise,” reflects McHugh.

“They’re just getting more experienced, they know how to win games. They’re such a good team with experienced players all over the pitch. Just runners coming from everywhere.

“You go out and you have to mark six forwards, it’s hard to leave men free. You don’t realise until you actually play against them.

“In 2014 it’s hard to know, if Diarmuid Connolly finishes the goal then we could be talking about a completely different thing. Football is thin margins.

“Dublin are definitely the number one team in Ireland at the minute, the team that everyone in Ireland is trying to beat, they’re trying to knock them off the perch.

“I read somewhere that Sir Alex Ferguson, he said that every team when they play United it’s like a cup final.

“Teams in Ireland are facing Dublin now and it’s a cup final, it’s the biggest match when you’re playing the Dubs.

“From the Dublin point of view, it is phenomenal what they’re doing. I know when I came into the Donegal panel first in 2013, when you win something it’s hard to get back up.

“They’re a phenomenal (team), they’ll definitely go down as one of the best teams ever to play the game.”

The off season has brought an ebb and flow to the Donegal panel. They’ve lost Colm McFadden and Eamonn McGee to retirement.

But there’s a wave of young talent enveloping their squad while Frank McGlynn and Karl Lacey are sticking around for an assault on the 2017 campaign.

“It’s great, these boys aren’t extremely old,” says McHugh of the latter pair.

Ryan McHugh will be part of the UUJ setup this year

Source: Seb Daly/SPORTSFILE

“They’re only 31 or 32, so they’re not definitely past their sell by date yet. It’s great to have them back.

“Even for the young lads coming in, it’s great to have experienced figures about the dressing-room.

“That’s the way it goes, football, it goes in cycles, so it does. The younger lads are coming in now and they’ll be enthusiastic and they’ll be raring to go.”

McHugh will have another football assignment to write in his diary early in the New Year. His Jordanstown team were yesterday pitched against Garda College or Cork IT in the Sigerson Cup draw.

The team is managed by his father Martin and they will be hoping to build on last week’s Ryan Cup success.

Source: HE GAA/YouTube

“A good match against DCU in the final, tough conditions. It was a great match, a funny match, both teams could have won it. It went to extra-time and we just got the goal at the right time and pulled away.”

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MOST PEOPLE IN Ireland are aware of the curse of the Mayo GAA football team.

But it’s not the kind of thing you’d expect to see pop up on Countdown on Channel 4 of an afternoon.

But on Tuesday’s show, guest panellist Colin Murray started into the daily story and told the viewers all about 1951

The Northern Irish BBC presenter regaled them of the GAA tale – and eagle-eyed Peter McArdle caught it all on video.

And his caption was a positive take on their recent All Ireland failures:

“Looks like the Countdown is on for Mayo”

Source: Facebook

Sitting beside Susie Dent, Murray explained why the curse being broken is a double edged sword:

“You will not win another All Ireland trophy as long as every member of this team has passed away”

Source: Facebook

Presenter Nick Hewer was a little taken aback with this particular story:

“Quite… eh… chilling that one”

Source: Facebook

Still, Foxford getting a shoutout on Channel 4 was something else

Bringing Mayo to the masses

One of the best sports curse stories has just gone international

Written by David Elkin and posted on DailyEdge.ie

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