Month: September 2021

Captain Diarmuid Connolly lifts the Leinster club football trophy.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

St Vincent’s 1-16
Rhode 0-12

FOR THE THIRD time in four years, St Vincent’s are heading into Christmas with the satisfaction of being crowned Leinster champions and the anticipation of an All-Ireland assault in the spring.

The Dublin club staved off the challenge of Offaly’s Rhode by seven points this afternoon at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise to deservedly clinch a provincial title.

Captain Diarmuid Connolly drilled a left-foot shot to the net in the early stages to put St Vincent’s into a lead that they would never subsequently relinquish.

Brian Darby offloads the ball under pressure from Ruairi Trainor

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

It transpired to be the only goal of the game but St Vincent’s had enough attacking weapons in their arsenal to keep the scoreboard ticking over with quality points.

Connolly, Mossy Quinn, Gavin Burke, Enda Varley and Shane Carthy contributed 0-11 from play between them. It was a level of quality that Rhode could not supress with the Offaly club only mustering 0-6 from play.

St Vincent’s players celebrate with the Leinster club trophy

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for the Pascal Kelleghan managed outfit. It marks the club’s fifth Leinster final loss in 11 seasons, their fourth to a Dublin club in that time frame and a repeat of their 2014 loss to St Vincent’s at the same stage.

Rhode did double their scoring tally from that final two years ago in striking 0-12. Yet there was always a sense that they needed a goal to cause an upset and they suffered a major setback in that regard before the interval.

They’d recovered from the concession of that Connolly goal to trail 1-4 to 0-4 after the first quarter and they were 1-7 to 0-6 behind approaching the break.

Then Rhode were awarded a penalty after Niall McNamee was felled by Ger Brennan and the former All-Ireland winner was shown a black card.

Ruairi McNamee stepped up to plant the ball towards goal but St Vincent’s netminder Michael Savage got down brilliantly to make a save.

St Vincent’s rounded off that spell of play in first-half injury-time with a point by Burke and Rhode found themselves staring at a five-point deficit at the break.

St Vincent’s Nathan Mullins and Rhode’s Niall McNamee

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

The Offaly men continued to battle in the second-half and had trimmed the gap to four points – 1-11 to 0-10 – when Niall McNamee knocked over a free in the 37th minute.

But then St Vincent’s upped the ante once more to reel off four points without reply – Quinn (2), Joe Feeney and Ruairi Trainor – and entering the finale, they had the game wrapped up.

An All-Ireland semi-final date with Slaughtneil beckons in February.

Scorers for St Vincent’s: Diarmuid Connolly 1-2, Mossy Quinn 0-4 (0-2f), Gavin Burke 0-3, Enda Varley, Shane Carthy 0-2 each, Cormac Diamond, Joe Feeney, Ruairi Trainor 0-1 each.

Scorers for Rhode: Niall McNamee 0-6 (0-5f), Darren Garry 0-2, Paul McPadden, Conor McNamee, Niall Darby, Ciaran Heavey 0-1 each.

St Vincent’s

1. Michael Savage

2. Michael Concarr
3. Jarlath Curley
4. Craig Wilson

7. Cameron Diamond
6. Ger Brennan
24. Nathan Mullins

8. Daithi Murphy
9. Shane Carthy

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10. Gavin Burke
11. Diarmuid Connolly
12. Cormac Diamond

14. Enda Varley
13. Ruairi Trainor
15. Tomas Quinn

Subs

21. Fiachra Breathnach for Brennan (black card) (half-time)
26. Albert Martin for Murphy (39)
25. Joe Feeney for Martin (inj) (45)
28. James McCusker for Cormac Diamond (58)
19. Kevin Bonnie for Varley (63)

Rhode

1. Kenny Garry

3. Shane Sullivan
17. Ciaran Heavey
10. James McPadden

2. Brian Darby
6. Eoin Rigney
7. Niall Darby

8. Alan McNamee
19. Darren Garry

10. Pauric Sullivan
11. Niall McNamee
9. Conor McNamee

15. Stephen Hannon
14. Ruairi McNamee
13. Paul McPadden

Subs

20. Glenn O’Connell for Pauric Sullivan (40)
22. Dylan Kavanagh for Heavey (53)
18. Gareth McNamee for Shane Sullivan (56)
24. Shane Lowry for McPadden (64)
25. Eoghan Byrne for Conor McNamee (black card) (64)

Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare)

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SINCE THE COMPETITION began in 1970, Dublin sides have been crowned top dogs in the Leinster club SFC a record 21 times.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Laois are their nearest challengers thanks to Portlaoise’s seven provincial titles. Dublin sides have enjoyed near-total dominance in Leinster over the last decade. Since 2007, Portlaoise and Garrycastle are the only clubs outside the capital to claim provincial honours.

In that time Kilmacud Crokes, Ballymun Kickhams, Ballyboden St Enda’s and St Vincent’s have all reigned supreme in the province. The Marino club are now level with Portlaoise at the top of the tree on seven titles.

They’ve won Leinster three times in four years and are now gunning for a fourth All-Ireland title in the club’s history.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

In contrast, Rhode’s losing run in provincial finals continues.

Their fifth Leinster final defeat will be a bitter pill to swallow, especially for manager Paschal Kellaghan who played in the first four, and veterans like the McNamee brothers, Niall and Alan, the Sullivans, Pauric and Shane, the Darbys, Niall and Brian, and Ciaran Heavey.

It’s a tough day too for Jake Kavanagh and the youngest Sullivan brother, Anton, who missed the biggest game of their careers as they’re serving with the Defence Forces in the Lebanon.

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What’s even more frustrating for The Village is their inability to account for Dublin teams on the big occasion. Kilmacud Crokes (2008 and 2010) and St Vincent’s (2014 and 2016) have twice defeated the Offaly champions, while it was Kildare’s Moorefield who beat them in 2006.

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Carbery Rangers and Glen Rovers were the 2016 Cork senior champions.

THE DUST IS settling on the 2016 club championships but the focus has already switched in places to 2017.

The draws took place this afternoon for the first rounds of next year’s Cork senior hurling and football championships at the county’s annual GAA convention.

In football reigning champions Carbery Rangers – who won a historic first title this year – are up against local rivals Clonaklity in a West Cork derby in their first round tie.

This year’s beaten finalists and 2014 champions Ballincollig were paired against St Finbarr’s while 2015 kingpins Nemo Rangers will take on O’Donovan Rossa.

In hurling the title holders Glen Rovers – who will be bidding for three-in-a-row in 2017 – will meet Bride Rovers in their opening round and if they win that game, they will take on Sarsfields in a repeat of the 2014 and 2015 county senior finals.

This year’s beaten finalists Erins Own are paired against fellow East Cork side Killeagh.

The draws in full are:

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Senior Football Championship

Preliminary Round

Newcestown v Douglas
Dohenys v Aghada

Round 1

A. Avondhu v Kiskeam
B. Carrigaline v Bishopstown
C. Cork IT v Castlehaven
D. Clyda Rovers v Newcestown/Douglas
E. O’Donovan Rossa v Nemo Rangers
F. Seandun v St Nicholas
G. Carbery Rangers v Clonakilty
H. Duhallow v Muskerry
I. UCC v Dohenys/Aghada
J. Beara v Valley Rovers
K. St Finbarrs v Ballincollig
L. Ilen Rovers v Carbery

Round 2A (Winners of Round 1)

D v G
C v L
E v B
A v I
K v J
H v F

Round 2B (Losers of Round 1 & Preliminary Round 1)

Losers Newcestown/Douglas v K
Losers Dohenys/Aghada v C
E v D
G v H
A v I
L v F
B v J

Senior Hurling Championship

Preliminary Round

Glen Rovers v Bride Rovers
Bandon v Muskerry

Round 1

A. Avondhu v Carbery
B. Na Piarsaigh v Newtownshandrum
C. Killeagh v Erins Own
D. Bishopstown v Imokilly
E. Ballymartle v St Finbarrs
F. Glen Rovers/Bride Rovers v Sarsfields
G. Cork IT v Douglas
H. Duhallow v Youghal
I. Blackrock v Bandon/Muskerry
J. UCC v Carrigdhoun
K. Ballyhea v Newcestown
L. Carrigtwohill v Midleton

Round 2 (Winners from Round 1)

L v C
A v B
D v J
I v E
G v K
H v F

Round 2B (Losers from Round 1& Preliminary Round)

Losers Glen Rovers/Bride Rovers v A
Losers Bandon/Muskerry v J
L v I
D v K
B v H
C v G
F v E

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Updated at 20:00

The Irish rugby team and Tipperary hurlers are amongst the nominees

Source: INPHO

THE NOMINEES FOR RTÉ’s Sport Team of the Year have been announced with 12 outfits in contention for the award after their heroics in 2016.

The Irish rugby team are nominated after a year of historic wins over New Zealand and South Africa, while PRO12 champions Connacht are also in the running.

From soccer, both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland teams are in the running after featuring in Euro 2016 in France. Dundalk have also been nominated after their SSE Airtricity League triumph and exploits in Europe.

On the GAA front there are four All-Ireland champions nominated in the Dublin footballers, the Tipperary hurlers, the Cork ladies footballers and the Kilkenny camogie team.

Finally the Irish Paralaympic cycling and athletics teams will contest the award along with Olympic silver medal rowing winning O’Donovan brothers, Paul and Gary.

Anthony Joshua enters the ring before his IBF World Heavyweight title fight

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Diarmuid Connolly and Mossy Quinn share a moment after their Leinster final success

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

A view of the scrum during the interprovincial womens game between Munster and Connacht

Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

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The referee stops the fight between Anthony Joshua between Eric Molina

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Runners and riders cross the line in the The Old House, Kill Flat Race  at Punchestown Raceocurse

Source: Niall Carson

Ulster’s Peter Harte scores a penalty past Munster goalkeeper Evan Comerford during the inter provincial semi-final

Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO

West Ham United’s Michail Antonio celebrates scoring his side’s second goal against Liverpool at Anfield

Source: PA Wire/PA Images

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

Adam Lallana celebrates with James Milner after scoring for Liverpool against West Ham today

Source: PA Wire/PA Images

A bloodied Viviane Obenauf reacts during her fight with Katie Taylor

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

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THERE WAS PLENTY anger last month in Tipperary when Semple Stadium did not make the cut for the longlist of 12 venues for Ireland’s 2023 Rugby World Cup bid.

But one prominent Tipperary GAA official can understand the logic behind the decision.

Tipperary secretary Tim Floyd believes they ‘fell victim to a strategic decision’ to pick two venues in each province while the low population in Thurles and lack of a tourism profile also costs them.

Floyd addressed the issue when writing in his annual report ahead of the 2016 Tipperary GAA Convention next Friday night.

“Different reasons have been put forward for our failure to make the cut but much of this is sheer speculation as I haven’t heard any official reason.

“We have heard about poor access, lack of accommodation, not a tourist area, but at the end of the day this was an IRFU decision in conjunction with the consultants and bidding committee headed up by Dick Spring and its Ambassador Brian O’Driscoll.

Arlene Foster, Brian O’Driscoll, Dick Spring and Martin McGuinness at the recent Rugby World Cup bid launch

Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

“I am sure they had a long list of pre requisites drawn up before they ever visited our Stadium. I believe they went away after two visits very satisfied that our facilities and infrastructure were top notch so it seems when it came to ticking other boxes our location fell short.

“I believe we fell victim to a strategic decision which geographically selected venues based on capacity, location and tourism. Regarding location I believe they selected eight GAA venues which divided into two in each Province. Cork’s city base and Kerry’s tourism scored a lot heavier than Thurles where we have just an 8,000 population capacity and a low profile tourism tradition .

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“Semple Stadium ranks second only to Croke Park with over 50,000 just marginally ahead of the Gaelic Grounds Limerick which incidentally did not win their favour due I suppose to their close proximity to Thomond Park.

Thomond Park

Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO

“Having watched previous Rugby World Cups on TV I saw a lot of mismatches in half full stadiums which I suppose does not give a good impression. Therefore I believe the bidding committee were well catered for capacity wise with Croke Park, The Aviva and Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

“These three are well capable of hosting potential big audience games featuring the All Blacks, England and not forgetting the home side Ireland plus the closing stage playoff games and the final which looks destined for Croke Park (if it happens).

“Semple Stadium’s 50,000 capacity plus our non-traditional tourist area were I believe the biggest factors for our non-inclusion. Nowlan Park ticked the box due to its city base in the Leinster province and its 25,000 approx capacity possibly put it ahead of Semple Stadium as its closest rival in the South East Region.

Nowlan Park

Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO

“Maybe it’s better to get the bad news now as you can imagine the excitement now if Semple Stadium was included and in November 2017 the disappointment if the bid fails. Worse still if the bid was successful and Semple lost out in the possible cut from twelve to eight venues required.

“If we were lucky enough to survive as a named venue in 2023 and we end up with two games between the less renowned countries which might attract only a handful of spectators then we would say “What was all the fuss about seven years ago” Worse still we could have lost out on big GAA games as a result.

“Maybe I am just trying to soften the blow to alleviate the disappointment of not being selected.”

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Martin O’Neill and Jim Gavin’s 2016 exploits have been recognised.

ELEVEN COACHES FROM across eight different sports are in the running for the 2016 RTÉ Sport Awards Manager of the Year.

The nominees have been announced for an award that will be voted on by RTÉ Sport editorial staff with the winner announced at the RTÉ Sport awards next Saturday 17 December.

From GAA, Jim Gavin, Michael Ryan, Ephie Fitzgerald and Ann Downey are nominated while Michael and Martin O’Neill along with Stephen Kenny are the soccer representatives.

Two horse racing trainers are in the running – Aidan O’Brien and Willie Mullins – while Dominic Casey, the coach to the Olympic silver medallist rowers Gary and Paul O’Donovan, is also nominated.

The shortlist is completed by Connacht coach Pat Lam, who guided them to the PRO12 crown this year.

Who do you think should win the award? Let us know.

THE FINAL GAMES of the 2016 GAA campaign take place his week as the interprovincial championships are concluded.

A lone spectator looks on during the Ulster-Munster football semi-final on Sunday.

Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO

The times and venues for the football and hurling deciders have been announced by the GAA.

The small ball game is taking place on Thursday night, while the Gaelic football is on Saturday afternoon.

• Interpro hurling final: Munster v Leinster, Semple Stadium (Thursday December 15 at 7.45pm)
• Interpro football final: Connacht v Ulster, Carrick on Shannon (Saturday December 17 at 2pm)

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Munster lead the hurling roll of honour with 45 titles, with current holders Leinster in second on 29. Leinster have won four of the last six installments of the competition, with Munster winning the other two.

In football, Ulster’s 31 interpro titles leaves them sitting at the top of the tree, while their opponents Connacht have been crowned champions just 10 times.

Munster’s Gary Brennan in action against Ulster player Eoin Donnelly.

Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO

Connacht are the current holders of the football competition, and their victory in 2014 was their first since 1969. Prior to that, Ulster completed a three-in-a-row between 2009 and 2013.

In its heyday back in the 1950s and 60s, the competition attracted large crowds to the games but since then the club finals took their slot on St Patrick’s Day in the GAA calendar.

The interpros have been moved around the calendar regularly over the past few years, and have been cancelled on a number of occasions, including due to bad weather in 2015.

There were paltry attendances at the semi-finals over the weekend, with less than 100 people taking in Ulster’s football win over Munster in Parnell Park.

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Cork’s Briege Corkery in pursuit of Cora Staunton in 2005.

Source: Andrew Paton/INPHO

CORK DUAL STAR Briege Corkery has revealed how the words of Cora Staunton, motivated her to chase more All-Ireland glory this year.

The perennial All-Ireland champions were facing into the unknown at the outset of the 2016 season following some key losses in personnel. Their manager Éamonn Ryan stepped down to take up a backroom role with the Cork men’s football team. They were also without the services of star forward Valerie Mulcahy, who announced her retirement form the inter-county scene in April. 

Those doubts were later put to rest as they went on to claim their 11th Brendan Martin Cup under Ephie Fitzgerald in September. 

Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO

Earlier in the year, Staunton said that the loss of Éamonn Ryan would be “unsettling for Cork for the first while but with the calibre of player they have and a winning mentality, you could never write them off.”

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The Cork ladies team are renowned for attributing their success to a composed game-by-game approach. But speaking to RedFM over the weekend, Corkery, who now has 17 All-Ireland medals across both GAA codes, pointed to Staunton’s words, as another motivating factor behind their sixth consecutive All-Ireland title.

There was a lot of drive behind it. People were saying, “would we do it without Valerie Mulcahy, would we do it without Éamonn (Ryan)?” I suppose one thing that I kept on my phone from the start of the year, was Cora Staunton saying that we were very vulnerable without Éamonn and I had that saved on my phone. I dug my heels deep for that and I told a lot of the girls about it.

“I suppose we felt as players that, you have to run as a team. Once you work well together, things can work out if you do it properly.”

Corkery was joined in the interview by fellow dual-player Rena Buckley, who added that a change in management was significant thing for players to adjust to, having served under Ryan for over a decade.

“We were use to it in camogie where there would be changes in management every now and again. From the football front, it had been so steady for so long, it was a big change to people. Thankfully, things worked out well. Éamonn was fantastic but it was great to see Cork football doing well under different management as well.”

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Diarmuid Connolly strikes home the only goal of the game against Rhode.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

YESTERDAY SAW the 2016 GAA club provincial championships conclude as St Vincent’s swept to Leinster glory against Rhode.

Analyst Rob Carroll takes a closer look at the impact of St Vincent’s captain, man-of-the-match and star man Diarmuid Connolly.

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MAN-OF-THE-match, scorer of 1-2 and a direct hand in two other points seems like it was just another day for Diarmuid Connolly in yesterday’s Leinster senior club final.

Connolly has a habit of doing the spectacular better than anybody but often that can seem to magnify his influence on a game.

The moments of skill last a lot longer in our brains than the routine.

People are always taken aback when you show them how few touches of the ball a player might have in a game.

For example Connolly averaged around 22 possessions per game in the 2016 championship. Of these 22 possessions he took on average five shots, scoring a little under 50%.

Although he is not Dublin’s most prolific ball carrier (Ciaran Kilkenny) he is their most frequent shooter. With so few possessions it highlights the importance of quality over quantity.

As it was after yesterday’s game Connolly was awarded the man-of-the-match award from TG4 but when you look across his numbers he had 13 possessions and made 4 tackles.

There were a few players who had more touches of the ball in Portlaoise but few who had the same influence.

Last week Connolly spoke of how the role of an inter-county half-forward has changed and was now expected to get in 10-12 tackles a game, be the link between attack and defence and tag on a few scores. His role yesterday was not very dissimilar to that.

Below is a touch map of Connolly’s possessions (blue) and tackles (orange).

His first pass of the game was close to St Vincent’s own ’21 and you can see from the cluster of orange dots that he was doing his defensive duties yesterday but was on a lot of ball around the opposition ’50 where he can be most dangerous.

This is the touch map of his possessions from the All Ireland Replay. Again you can see a couple of times where is picking the ball up at the back but a lot of his work is done from the half-way on.

His impact was in much wider locations against Mayo, where against Rhode he is able to penetrate the middle. In the 15th minute he picked out a wonderful pass to find Shane Carthy and to extend St Vincent’s lead back out to a goal.

Connolly is fouled close to the Rhode ’50 and even though the free is awarded Connolly never stops looking for a pass.

Source: TG4 GAA BEO

He looks to take it instantly but it’s not on. The camera zooms in on his face, so you can’t see the runs being made, but his gaze is penetrating, never for a second does he take his eyes off what is in front of him.

A few seconds later he spots Shane Carthy open. It’s an inch perfect pass.

Source: TG4 GAA BEO

Rhode have plenty of bodies back but he’s kicked it to the outside of Carthy, which makes it very difficult for the defender to get a hand on.

The marking isn’t as tight as it should be but the ball from Connolly is inch perfect and Carthy takes the score.

Source: TG4 GAA BEO

Of course we have seen this before. In the drawn All-Ireland Final Connolly picked out an equally sublime pass to setup a Dean Rock goal chance. Even from a dead ball situation, when teams have time to get defensively set Connolly can pick a wondrous pass.

Connolly Fear

Rhode didn’t get caught on the counter too often yesterday but there was one moment towards the end of the first half which showed the sort of fear Connolly can give teams.

Vincent’s win a free just outside their own ’45, with Rhode committed to the attack.

Connolly is highlighted and screaming for the ball.

Source: TG4 GAA BEO

As he makes his way forward there are three Rhode defenders, with a 4th on the way. There is nobody inside to worry about so Rhode should be able to deal with this. However such is the influence of Connolly they just keep backing off.

Source: TG4 GAA BEO

By the time Connolly takes his shot he has traveled 40 metres and is now the furthest forward Vincent’s player.

The Rhode defenders should be in better communication here and they need to get pressure on Connolly but sometimes a county player can simply frighten the opposition into making a tackle.

Source: TG4 GAA BEO

Connolly Speed of Thought

As the two touch maps above show, Connolly rarely finds himself in easy scoring chances close to goal. He is prone to attempt some pretty long range efforts but often when games are in the melting pot, his ability to create space is a joy to watch.

In the replayed final his only point of the game came from this speed of thought and footwork. As the ball was delivered in Connolly has Lee Keegan breathing down his neck and a full set Mayo defence.

Source: TG4 GAA BEO

Although he gathers the ball first time he does lose his footing slightly.

Source: TG4 GAA BEO

His footwork buys him just a yard of space but it’s enough to kick a magnificent point off his left foot.

Source: TG4 GAA BEO

Similarly yesterday – in match that admittedly was not at the same level of intensity – it was the quickness to what he does that makes defending Connollly close to goal almost impossible.

Vincent’s send in a diagonal ball that takes a deflection.

Source: TG4 GAA BEO

This sort of ball if executed properly can disarm the sweeper completely. Time and again Rhode had the bodies back but Vincent’s were just that bit further ahead in bypassing the Rhode defensive setup.

The deflection has probably wrong footed the defender to an extent but Connolly has a little look while in the air to see where his man is.

Source: TG4 GAA BEO

Once he doesn’t feel the hand on his back he has time to turn a kick a nice score.

Connolly rarely finds himself in this sort of position, effectively as the full forward, but similar to the All-Ireland final he doesn’t need much of a gap to kick points off either foot.

Diarmuid Connolly against Chrissy McKaigue looks a very lively match up in February in the All-Ireland club semi-final when St Vincent’s meet Slaughtneil.

Chrissy won’t be content to sit back and will be aggressive in the tackle. Connolly will have as much work to do going towards his own goal as he will launching St Vincent’s attacks.

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