Month: September 2021

JIM MCGUINNESS BELIEVES that Gaelic football’s experimental rules will affect All-Ireland champions Dublin more than any other side if they remain in place for the Allianz leagues. 

The controversial rules have been trialled throughout this month’s pre-season competitions, and will be reviewed by the GAA’s Ard Comhairle on 19 January to determine whether they will remain in place for the league. 

The handpass rule – whereby the ball must be kicked after a team completes three consecutive handpasses – has cut the most ice, with myriad critics arguing it does nothing to eradicate the deep, blanket defences that have become characteristic of the modern game. 

Speaking to The42, McGuinness accentuated their potential impact on Dublin’s style of play. 

Click Here: nrl jerseys

“Those rules are different for every single team in the country as you have a different set of players with different skill-sets”.

I think that the team that could be most impacted by those rules will potentially be Dublin. They have morphed into a team that are very conscientious on the ball: they want to keep the ball and keep the ball to wait for you to jump and press and when you do that, space opens up behind you and then they’ll make an incision with a runner ahead of the ball.

“That very conscientious, possession-based football that they have – the handpass rule won’t suit them”. 

McGuinness also foresees Dublin being hit by the proposed kickout rule, whereby restarts must be taken from the 20-metre line and pass the ’45.

“Their biggest asset over the last ten years has been Stephen Cluxton. They can beat you on the short kick-out every single time. And if the short’s not on, they can kick it a medium length, and if you push right up there is space in behind and they will knock it over the top of you.

“Now [under the proposed new rule] the short and medium-length kicks are gone. A huge part of their kick strategy – two-thirds of it – will potentially be gone.

“Cluxton is a master of what others call the dangerous kickout into his own 45 – they aren’t dangerous in his head as it is so easy for him. Taking that away pushes him into the category of all other goalkeepers.

If we had Neil Gallagher and Rory Kavanagh in the middle of the field five or six years ago, and you had to kick the ball out between the two 45s, we’d have been delighted with that. They are big, strong strapping lads who love to catch ball.

“A lot of teams because of short kick outs, like Tyrone for example, they don’t recruit big men. They don’t need big men”. 

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

UL 1-13
DIT 1-12

Conor McKenna reports from Grangegorman

UL ADVANCED TO round three of the Sigerson Cup after a narrow one point victory over DIT, with a Keelan Sexton masterclass sealing the victory.

Sexton was magnificent for UL throughout registering 1-10 throughout the match, in what was a fine individual performance from the Clare footballer.

Ronan O’Toole opened the scoring in the first minute of the game to give his side an early advantage.

DIT held a 0-3 to 0-1 lead after Callum Pearson’s effort but UL were superb in the opening half and held a three point lead after a goal from Keelan Sexton, which in truth had more than an element of fortune.

A dipping ball from Sexton found it’s way past Mark Jackson in the DIT goalmouth and Jackson will be very disappointed with the manner of the goal as it was one that could easily have been avoided.

DIT registered a goal before the interval courtesy of the impressive Ronan O’Toole, with the Westmeath star finding the net with a neat effort from close range.

The teams were level at 1-7 apiece at the break but a series of outstanding scores from Sexton gave his side a three point lead with time almost up.

Mark Jackson narrowed the deficit with a well struck free and a further place ball effort from Callum Pearson reduced the gap to a single point but UL held out for a one point victory.

Scorers for UL: Keelan Sexton 1-10 (0-7f), Plunkett Maxwell 0-1, Eoghan Lawless 0-2.

Scorers for DIT: Ronan O’Toole 1-4, Mark Jackson 0-3, (1 45, 0-2fs), James Conlon 0-2, Callum Pearson, Ross O’Brien and Tom Keane (0-1f) 0-1 each.

UL

1. Sean Long (An Gaeltacht, Kerry)

2. Michael Reidy (Ballymacelligott, Kerry)
22. Gavin White (Kerry)
4. Frank Flanagan (Portlaoise, Dublin) 

20. Plunkett Maxwell (Rosemount, Westmeath)
6. John Cunnane (Ballyhaunis, Mayo)
12. Joseph O’Connor (Austin Stacks, Kerry)

8. Darragh Bohannon (Shannon Gaels, Clare)
9. Ultan Harney (Clann na Gael, Roscommon)

10. Fionn McDonagh (Westport, Mayo)
18. Cormac Linnane (Kerry)
15. Eoghan Lawless (Suncroft, Kildare) 

11. Keelan Sexton (Kilmurray Ibrickane, Clare)
24. Tom Hoare (Kerry)
26. James Lyons (Mayo)

Subs

21. Brian Friel (Kerry) for McDonagh (28)
14. Nigel Rabbitte (Abbeylara, Longford) for Friel (43)
29. Josh Ronayne (Mayo) for Linnane (51)
7. Paul Maher (Adare, Limerick) for Hoare (59)

DIT

1. Mark Jackson (Baltinglass, Wicklow)

5. James McCusker (St. Vincents, Dublin)
3. Brian Power (Ratoath, Meath)
4. Andy Mc Gowan (Kilmacud Crokes, Dublin)

7. David Toner (Curraha, Meath)
6. Sean Flanagan (St. Loman’s, Westmeath)
20. Fintan O’Shea (Wicklow) 

8. Sean Hurley (Johnstownbridge, Kildare)
9. Ross O’Brien (Rathnew, Wicklow)

10. Callum Pearson (Kilmacud Crokes, Dublin)
11. Ronan O’Toole (St. Loman’s, Westmeath)
12. Brian Howard (Raheny, Dublin) 

13. Luke Loughlin (The Downs, Westmeath)
14. Oisin Lynch (Fingallians, Dublin)
15. James Conlon (St. Colmcilles, Meath)

Subs

17. Tom Keane (Dublin) for Toner (38)
18. Killian O’Gara (Templeogue, Synge Street) for Loughlin (52)
28. Donal Monahan (Cavan) for Flanagan (56)
21. Francis Maguire (Monaghan) for Pearson (60 + 1)

Referee: Anthony Nolan (Wicklow)

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

Click Here: maori all blacks rugby jersey

UCC 7-26
Athlone IT 2-4

John O’Shea reports from the Mardyke 

IN THIS SIGERSON Cup first round clash played at the Mardyke on tonight, UCC came out on top in quite devastating fashion.

UCC, who have won the Sigerson title on 21 occasions and most recently in 2014, set their stall out from the very start.

Paudie Clifford posted 3-1 for the hosts, while Conor Horgan (2-2) and Gary Murphy (1-4) also raised green flags in a devastating attacking performance.

There was a gulf from the outset between the two teams, as UCC made a very strong statement of their intent.

Killian Spillane, who finished with five points, is one of a strong Kerry contingent in the UCC squad and he made his mark on proceedings with a number of finely taken scores.

Sean O’Shea was among a host of players from the Kingdom that posed problems throughout.

By the half time break, UCC had a lead of 3-16 to the 1-1 of Athlone IT, the score told you everything about how one-sided this game transpired.

Click Here: crusaders rugby jerseys

Horgan was also to prove clinical in front of goal, as did Clifford, the older brother of highly rated Kerry footballer David.

The one-way traffic continued after the restart and right up until the very conclusion.

UCC showed no signs of letting up and they continued to find scores with clinical effect.

The Cork side now progress into the quarter-finals and will take some stopping based on this showing.

Athlone will lick their wounds, have to dust themselves down and go again in the back door stages.

Scorers for UCC: Paudie Clifford 3-1, Conor Horgan 2-2, Gary Murphy 1-4, Killian Spillane 0-5, Conor Geaney 1-1, Eimhin Courtney 0-4, Sean O’Shea 0-3, Cian Kiely, David Shaw 0-2 each, Ronan Buckley, James McEntee 0-1 each

Scorers for Athlone IT: Rian Brady, Billy Berry 1-0 each, David McManus 0-2, Gavin Horan 0-1.

UCC

1. Eoghan O’Brien (Churchill, Kerry)

2. Liam O’Donovan (Clonakilty, Cork)
3. Kevin Flahive (Douglas, Cork)
4. Graham O’Sullivan (Dromid Pearses, Kerry)

5. James McEntee (Curraha, Meath)
6. Dan O’Brien (Glenflesk, Kerry)
7. Cian Kiely (Ballincollig, Cork)

8. Pádraig Lucey (Killarney Legion, Kerry)
9. Jack Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials, Tipperary)

10. Paudie Clifford (Fossa, Kerry)
11. Sean O’Shea (Kenmare, Kerry)
12. Conor Horgan (Nemo Rangers, Cork)

13. Gary Murphy (Castletownbere, Cork)
14. Killian Spillane (Templenoe, Kerry)
15. Eimhin Courtney (Éire Óg, Clare)

Subs

23. Brian Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht, Kerry) for O’Brien (28)
29. Michael Flood (St Brigid’s, Kerry) for O’Donovan(HT)
34. Andrew Barry (Na Gaeil, Kerry) for Kennedy (HT)
31. Conor Geaney (Dingle, Kerry) for Clifford (HT)
18. David Shaw (Dr Crokes, Kerry) for Spillane (HT)
19. Ronan Buckley (Listry, Kerry) for Horgan (40)

Athlone IT

1. Cormac Haslam (Galway)

2. Darragh Healy (Westmeath)
3. Damien Carroll (Westmeath)
4. Eabhan Tully (Roscommon)

5. Einne O’Connor (Clare)
6. David McManus (Roscommon)
7. Jamie Smyth (Meath)

8. Killian Maguire (Cavan)
9. Gavin Horan (Kerry)

10. Sean Keogh (Cavan)
11. Rian Brady (Longford)
12. Daire Mullin (Roscommon)

13. Robbie Forde (Westmeath)
14. Billy Berry (Westmeath)
15. Sean Clarke (Longford)

Subs:

19 Ciaran McDonagh (Galway) for Smyth (12)
20. Cian O’Dea (Mayo) for Keogh (40)
17. Tommy Lennon (Westmeath) for Mullin (50)

Referee: Richard Moloney (Limerick)

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

STEPHEN O’BRIEN WAS an ever-present on the Kerry half-forward line last summer, meaning he had a front-row seat for David Clifford’s stunning breakthrough campaign. 

Stephen O’Brien celebrates scoring a goal against Cork with David Clifford.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

The Fossa star arrived into the season on the back of heavy interest from the AFL and a truckload of expectation on his young shoulders before he even kicked a ball with the seniors.

He enjoyed a few stand-out games in the league and played well in Munster, but Clifford really shone for the Kingdom in the Super 8s – scoring 4-14 across three games.

The 19-year-old’s impact in the championship saw him named Young Footballer of the Year and awarded with his first All-Star over the winter. 

“He has ferocious talent, it’s unbelievable,” says O’Brien of his fellow attacker.

Click Here: Germany soccer tracksuit

“I know he’s only a young fella, but he doesn’t look young. He’s huge. He’s well able for the physical side of things. His ability is there for all to see.

“He really kicked on in the Super 8s for Kerry in the championship, but I think everyone inside there knew that was in him. Even when the games weren’t going as well in him, it doesn’t take a genius to tell that he’s a class footballer.

“He’s a mighty man altogether. In fairness to him, he’s very down to earth. We were having a bit of a sing-song there (recently) and he’s unbelievable at singing as well so he just has it all.

“He won some golf tournament as well last year but he wasn’t eligible. He’s just one of these fellas that has it all. I’ll come back to ye if I find anything that he’s not good at!”

As well as his on-field talent, Clifford is a deep-thinker of the game.

“Talking football you can tell that he thinks about it a lot. He told me before that he goes to a lot of club games.

“He has ideas about what way the ball is coming in and stuff like that and runs – he has brilliant movement off the ball. He clearly has a ridiculous football intelligence as well.”

In addition to Clifford, Eamonn Fitzmaurice also brought through Sean O’Shea and Gavin White last year and both had major impacts on Kerry’s season.

Stephen O’Brien was speaking at the Allianz Football League launch in Croke Park.

Source: Brendan Moran/SPORTSFILE

Following the final round Super 8s win over Kildare in Killarney, which wasn’t enough to see the Kingdom progress, Fitzmaurice informed the team of his decision to step down.

He’d been there every step of O’Brien’s senior career with the county. Fitzmaurice managed him at U21 level in 2012 and introduced the Kenmare Shamrocks man to the senior set-up in 2014 – when they went on to lift the Sam Maguire.

Fitzmaurice did plenty for O’Brien off the field too.

“The man is class personified. He’s just a quality man really. He had a big impact on my life, outside of football even as well. He’s a role model or a kind of father figure, that’s how I would see him.

“At the end of the day, the last two years didn’t finish well. I don’t think through any fault of Eamonn, but at the end of the day it comes down to the manager. The book stops with him. 

‘It’s obviously emotional when he was such a huge part of your life for seven years or whatever it was, and then that’s gone.

“(He was) a role model, but even I used him as a work reference for a CV, things like that. He’d be handy that way. It meant a lot coming from him.”

****

The inter-county famine is about to end, giving way to a nine-week feast of Allianz Football League action between the weekend after next and the four divisional finals in Croke Park on 30/31 March. The exciting programme features 116 games across the four divisions in a campaign which will mark the 27th year of Allianz’ partnership with the GAA as sponsor of the Allianz Leagues, making it one of the longest-running sponsorships in Irish sport.

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

UCD 5-8
CIT 0-10

Kevin O’Brien reports from Belfield

UCD SURVIVED A ropey start before blitzing CIT with a five-goal haul in the opening round of the Sigerson Cup this afternoon.

Con O’Callaghan, Conor McCarthy, Evan O’Carroll, Fiachra Clifford and Conor Hartley all hit the net for the reigning champions, who now advance into round three of the third-level competition.

UCD trailed by seven points after an extremely slow start to the game, but Paul Walsh’s dismissal for CIT just before half-time severely dented their challenge.

The defeat means CIT head to the backdoor, where they’ll play the losers of tomorrow’s DCU and IT Carlow clash for a place in the third round.

With a host of inter-county stars at UCD’s disposal, including 2017 All-Star O’Callaghan, Monaghan forward McCarthy, Mayo’s Stephen Coen and Tyrone defender Conor Meyler, they took control after the break and powered to victory.

Corofin and Galway corner-back Liam Silke was introduced for the second-half, forming a formidable half-forward line alongside McCarthy and O’Callaghan.

The Cork college wilted after the restart, failing to score in the second-half with UCD’s Cillian O’Shea proving an effective sweeper as the spare man.

John Divilly cut a concerned figure on the sideline early on as UCD fell 0-8 to 0-1 behind inside the opening 18 minutes, with Cork native Daniel Ó Duinnín looking lively and contributing four points.

Hartley, a late addition to the starting team, rolled in a 20th-minute goal to settle the favourites. Five minutes later, McCarthy drilled a glorious outside the boot strike into the top corner, leaving UCD two behind at half-time.

Source: HE GAA/YouTube

By that stage, CIT had lost Walsh to a second yellow card for hauling down O’Callaghan, while Gavin O’Brien was black-carded for an off the ball hit on his marker Cian O’Connor.

The second period was merely a procession. Laois man O’Carroll flicked a Barry McGinn delivery into the net and then Clifford, who scored two goals for Kerry in the 2017 All-Ireland minor final, palmed in UCD’s fourth three-pointer from close range.

O’Callaghan finally raised the green flag himself shortly before the end after a strong run and finish past Christopher Kelly.

Scorers for UCD: Evan O’Carroll 1-2 (0-1f), Conor McCarthy, Con O’Callaghan and Fiachra Clifford 1-1 each, Conor Hartley 1-0, Barry McGinn 0-2, Liam Silke 0-1.

Scorers for CIT:  Daniel Ó Duinnín 0-4, Kevin O’Donovan 0-3, Chris O’Donoghue, Mark Buckley, Matthew Bradley 0-1 each.

UCD

1. Tommy O’Brien (Monaghan)

2. Mark Dempsey (Moorefield, Kildare)
3. Brian Byrne (Naas, Kildare)
4. Martin O’Connor (HWH-Bunclody, Wexford)

5. Cian O’Connor (Kilmacud Crokes, Dublin)
6. Conor Meyler (Omagh, Tyrone)
7. Cillian O’Shea (Kilmacud Crokes, Dublin)

9. Stephen Coen (Hollymount-Carramore, Mayo)
12. Darren Gavin (Lucan Sarsfields, Dublin)

21. Conor Hartley (Sarsfields, Kildare)
11. Conor McCarthy (Scotstown, Monaghan)
10. Con O’Callaghan (Cuala, Dublin)

13. Fiachra Clifford (Laune Rangers, Kerry)
14. Evan O’Carroll (Crettyard, Laois)
15. Barry McGinn (Doohamlet, Monaghan)

Subs

17. Liam Silke (Corofin, Galway) for Hartley (ht)
19. Frank Connolly (Monaghan) for Byrne (51)
23. Conor Crowley (Palatine, Carlow) for Meyler (54)
18. Dara Kennedy (Killygarry, Cavan) for O’Carroll (55)
24. Conor Moriarty (Curraha, Meath) for Clifford (57)
29. Niall O’Callaghan (Cuala, Dublin) for Con O’Callaghan (57)

Cork IT

1. Christopher Kelly (Éire Óg, Cork)

Click Here: monaghan gaa jerseys

2. Mike Lordan (Ballinora, Cork)
3. Aidan Browne (Newmarket, Cork)
4. Chris O’Donoghue (Glenflesk, Kerry)

5. Niall O’Donoghue (Firies, Kerry)
6. Eoin Lavers (Dohenys, Cork)
7. Brian Surgrue (Renard, Kerry)

8. Paul Walsh (Kanturk, Cork)
21. Ryan Walsh (Kanturk, Cork)

10. Gavin O’Brien (Kerins O’Rahilly’s, Kerry)
11. Daniel Ó Duinnín (Cill na Martra, Cork)
12. Kevin O’Donovan (Nemo Rangers, Cork)

13. Mark Buckley (Dohenys, Cork)
14. James Crean (Annascaul, Kerry)
15. Matthew Bradley (Aghabullogue, Cork)

Subs

17. Sean Walsh (Mitchelstown, Cork) for O’Brien (black card, 30)
18. Ben Hyland (Fr Sheehy’s, Tipperary) for Bradley (ht)
25. Sean Howard (Dromtarriffe, Cork) for Ryan Walsh (46)
19. Brian Hodnett (Carbery Rangers, Cork) for Buckley (46)
23. Donnchadh O’Sullivan (Firies, Kerry) for Crean (55)

Referee: Seamus Mulhare (Laois)

**********************

Garda College 1-15
IT Sligo 1-10

TODAY’S OTHER FIRST round Sigerson Cup game finished with a five-point victory for home side Garda College in Templemore.

They finished strongly in order to secure the spoils, outscoring IT Sligo by 1-4 to 0-1 in the closing stages.

Garda College were narrowly in front 0-7 to 0-6 at the interval and stayed in the ascendancy until Donegal’s Jamie Brennan netted from the penalty spot to edge IT Sligo in front by 1-9 to 0-11 in the 52nd minute.

Garda College held their nerve to register three points in succession as they went back in front before a late Ronan Carolan goal helped them seal an eventual five-point success.

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

STAR FORWARD DOIREANN O’Sullivan will captain 11-time All-Ireland champions Cork in 2019, taking over from her sister Ciara.

24-year-old Doireann had a stellar 2018 in the Rebel red and with her club Mourneabbey, reaching two All-Ireland finals and winning a first All-Star award.

O’Sullivan steered the Clyda outfit to a first-ever All-Ireland senior club title with inspiring displays throughout their campaign but her player-of-the-match performance in the final was key.

On the inter-county scene, her monstrous point-scoring and free-taking caught the eye as Ephie Fitzgerald’s side returned to the All-Ireland final in Croke Park following their 2017 absence.

They had to settle for 11 All-Ireland titles in 14 years though as they were edged out by old foes Dublin on a scoreline of 3-11 to 1-12.

Sisters: Ciara (left) and Doireann (right) O’Sullivan.

Source: Sportsfile.

Since linking up with the senior panel in 2012, Doireann has won five All-Ireland titles and five Division 1 league titles.

She captained the Leesiders to their 2017 league crown in the absence of her older sister Ciara, who was travelling at the time. 2018 Player of the Year nominee and four-time All-Star Ciara has been captain since 2015, when she took the reins from Briege Corkery.

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

Click Here: newcastle knights jersey

THE CLASH BETWEEN All-Ireland SHC champions Limerick and Tipperary will kick-start RTÉ’s Allianz League coverage next month.

The national broadcaster has announced three intriguing ties on its schedule for the 2019 hurling and football leagues which will be aired on Saturday GAA Live.

The coverage will be presented by Joanne Cantwell on RTÉ 2 and RTÉ Player and will commence on Saturday 2 February as Tipp travel to the Gaelic Grounds to take on John Kiely’s charges.

The broadcast will begin at 6.30pm for a 7pm throw-in.

Kerry’s clash with four-in-a-row All-Ireland SFC champions Dublin will be the second fixture on RTÉ’s schedule on 9 February followed by Clare’s meeting with Cork at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on 16 February.

Details for a fourth live game to be broadcast on RTÉ on 16 March will be announced closer to the date.

RTÉ’s coverage of the 2019 National Leagues follows on from the announcement of a braodcast deal between the GAA, eir sport and RTÉ  earlier this month, that will see the national broadcaster gain a greater share of the GAA calendar for live free-to-air games.

Meanwhile, Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1 will begin its 2019 coverage with a live outside broadcast from Clones on Sunday 27 January where Monaghan take on Dublin. Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport will have live commentaries each weekend.

Allianz League Sunday will also return to screens on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player on 27 January at 9.30pm.

RTÉ Allianz League Fixtures:

Saturday 2 February – Limerick v Tipperary, 7pm

Click Here: racing 92 rugby jersey

Saturday 9 February – Kerry v Dublin, 7pm

Saturday 16 February – Cork v Clare, 7.15pm

Ahead of the final weekend of European pool games, Murray Kinsella, Andy Dunne and Gavan Casey look at what each of the provinces can expect, and who impressed last weekend:

Source: Heineken Rugby Weekly on The42/SoundCloud

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

JOHN DIVILLY IS in the saddle long enough to know that overworking his players this time of year won’t do UCD’s Sigerson Cup chances much good. 

Most of the UCD squad are part of county panels all over the country and working under a different set of rules with inter-county football trialling experimental rule changes. Divilly made the decision not to train collectively over the Christmas period, as he tends to do each year.

Click Here: Paris Saint-Germain soccer tracksuit

It’s clearly a strategy that works. The Galway man was at the helm as UCD ended a 20-year wait for the Sigerson Cup in 2016 and they added a further title 11 months ago.

The reigning champions had their first game together since November yesterday, recovering from a seven-point deficit to beat CIT in Belfield by 13 yesterday.

“It’s the same as every year. It’s no different. We know what it is,” said Divilly.

“It’s just started a week earlier than normal. The lads are back in college officially next Monday. Every manager is different and every college does it differently. 

“I didn’t bring the lads back because it’s not fair on them to be asking them to travel up the road when they’re all over the country,” the two-time All-Ireland winner added.

“So you just rely that these guys are going to be fit, strong and it’s our job then when we get them to gel them together and try play an attractive brand of football that will win games.”

UCD manager John Divilly.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

The 20-point swing, after the hosts tightened up at the back and started breaking through for goals at the far end, was no major surprise given the lack of time the squad have spent together recently.

Divilly knows UCD have a lot to work on if they’re to lift their third title in four years next month. 

“Our guys are fairly rusty I would say,” he said. “First day out on the pitch really since November and they’re not back in college yet, so it’s going to happen like that.

“But Cork IT are an exceptional side and they’re not out of the competition. They’ll definitely come back in. They’re going to be a hard team for whoever has them next.

“They scored ten points and they were great scores, but we probably showed them too much respect. We stood off them.

“They were winning all the breaking ball around the middle of the field and their shot selection was superb. They fully deserved their seven-point lead at the time.

“They just ran at them and were fortunate. One goal was a lucky goal and the second was a great finish by Conor McCarthy. You just have to stay in these games and keep plugging away. We were happy enough at half-time, just being down by two.

“Once we drew it back level, we knew the scores were in us, but it’s another thing just to put them on the board. We’re just relieved to get out of here today with a victory.”

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

Ahead of the final weekend of European pool games, Murray Kinsella, Andy Dunne and Gavan Casey look at what each of the provinces can expect, and who impressed last weekend:

Click Here: canberra raiders rugby store

Source: Heineken Rugby Weekly on The42/SoundCloud

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

Westmeath 1-12
Dublin 0-10 

Kevin O’Brien reports from Parnell Park

WESTMEATH HAVE STARTED life under Jack Cooney by lifting the O’Byrne Cup for the first time since 1988, beating a developmental Dublin outfit in tonight’s final. 

Ger Egan gave a masterclass in attack for the visitors and scored 1-5, 1-4 from play, in their deserved five-point win. Dublin couldn’t live with Egan’s pace and power and he was arguably the main difference between the teams.

Westmeath won’t be getting too excited with this victory considering it’s effectively Dublin’s third-string outfit, but the Sky Blues defeated a Meath team last weekend that contained seven or eight of Andy McEntee’s regulars.

Some early season silverware will be a boost to Westmeath, who were beaten in last year’s final by Meath. They’ll head for their Division 3 opener next weekend against Offaly in good spirits following this victory.

Ger Egan keeps on delivering for @westmeath_gaa tonight as he hits the net with a well taken goal. pic.twitter.com/Iqc5RjG9uu

— The GAA (@officialgaa) January 18, 2019

On a positive note for Dublin, Aaron Byrne posted three points from centre-forward and might be the youngster that significantly increases his playing time under Jim Gavin this season.

Gavin tends to keep his championship 15 fresh with one or two introductions per season, with Eoin Murchan and Brian Howard the 2018 inductees to the starting team.

Byrne, the U21 Footballer of the Year in 2017, has been on the fringes of the squad over the past couple of seasons but looks ready to make the breakthrough this year. 

Dublin trailed by 0-5 to 0-4 at half-time and Paul Clarke called for two players with championship experience last summer – Conor McHugh and Colm Basquel. Raheny’s Sean McMahon, who has been tipped for a big career in blue, reverted to midfield from full-back.

But Westmeath defended well and held McHugh to just a point from play, while Egan did the damage at the far end.

Dublin started without UCD duo Cian O’Connor and Darren Gavin, who helped their college past CIT in the Sigerson Cup yesterday. 

This was the first televised game with the experimental rules, but Central Council may decide tomorrow not to proceed with some of them for the Allianz Football League, with the handpass rule under serious threat.

Cooney’s Westmeath frequently dropped 12 or 13 men behind the ball, but when they turned it over they broke at pace.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

Egan looked very lively up front and flashed over two points in the opening half. His second arrived after a terrific catch and run from Kieran Martin at midfield. 

Dublin might blame the restriction on four consecutive handpasses for significantly hampering their forward play, but whatever it was they struggled for scores in the first period. They had just 0-4 on the board by the interval and only three from play.

Despite the introduction of Basquel and McHugh, Westmeath continued to dominate and Egan added three scores in the third quarter to leave them 0-11 to 0-6 ahead.

Then a piercing run from substitute Tommy McDaniel split the Dublin defence and he passed to Egan, who thundered a strike into the top corner. 

That led Westmeath eight clear after 58 minutes. Dublin responded with scores from Byrne and a McHugh brace, but couldn’t find the goal they needed late on.

Scorers for Westmeath: Ger Egan 1-5 (0-1f), Tommy McDaniel 0-3, Ronan O’Toole 0-2, Kieran Martin 0-1, Ger Leech 0-1.

Scorers for Dublin: Aaron Byrne, Conor McHugh (0-2f) and Sean Bugler 0-3 each, Stephen Smith 0-1 (0-1f).

Westmeath

1. Kevin Fagan (Tubberclair)

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

Click Here: aviron bayonnais rugby jerseys

6. James Dolan (Garrycastle)
9. Noel Mulligan (Athlone)
7. David Lynch (St. Malachys)

15. Sam Duncan (Milltownpass)
8. Sean Flanagan (St. Loman’s Mullingar)

10. Ger Egan (Tyrrellspass)
11. Callum McCormack (Maryland)
5. Noel O’Reilly (Milltownpass)

12. Joe Halligan (Milltown)
13. Ronan O Toole (St. Lomans Mullingar)
14. Kieran Martin (Maryland)

Subs

18. Tommy McDaniel (Castleknock) for McCormack (10) 
21. Ger Leech (Coralstown/Kinnegad) for Halligan (51)
17. Conor Slevin (Tyrrellspass) for Flanagan (61)
20. James Maxwell (Coralstown/Kinnega) for McDaniels (70)
24. Ned Cully (St Mary’s Rochfortbridge) for O’Toole (72) 

Dublin

1. Andy Bunyan (Scoil Uí Chonaill)

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

24. Andrew McGowan (Kilmacud Crokes)
6. Conor Mullally (Cuala)
7. Robert McDaid (Ballyboden St-Enda’s)

22. Jack Hazley (St Sylvesters)
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)

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

Subs

25. Conor McHugh (Na Fianna) for Lynch (ht)
17. Colm Basquel (Ballyboden St Enda’s) for Pearson (ht)
23. Tom Lahiff (St Judes) for Hazley (ht) 
18. Shane Boland (Castleknock) for Baquel (50)
26. Declan Monaghan (Clontarf) for McGowan (55)
19. Cormac Diamond (St Vincent’s) for Smith (61)
20. Liam Flatman (Kilmacud Crokes) for Doran (64)
21. Lorcan Galvin (St Vincent’s) for Howley (64)

Referee: David Hickey (Carlow)

******

DCU advanced into the third round of the Sigerson Cup tonight with a 1-16 to 0-14 win over IT Carlow.

The Dublin college led by 1-11 to 0-3 at the interval, with Mayo’s Brian Reape their goalscorer. IT Carlow fought back in the second-half and forced the issue, but DCU prevailed by five points.

Tonight’s team @DCUGAAAcademy vs @ITCarlowGAA @HigherEdGAA pic.twitter.com/y64pxlJvWy

— Gavin Cawley (@gavcawley) January 18, 2019

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