A NEW HURLING league campaign heralds the start of a familiar process.
Managers are afforded the chance to introduce newcomers to the inter-county stage and figure out who could make a swift rise.
The spring of 2019 will be no different. Here’s some youngsters from a collection of counties that could make their mark in the coming weeks.
1. Diarmuid Ryan (Clare – Cratloe)
Was on the fringes of the Clare panel last year while sitting his Leaving Cert at Ardscoil Rís and aiding the Limerick school’s triumph in the Dr Harty Cup. Capped a productive January when firing 0-3 in the pre-season league final win over Tipperary and the younger brother of 2013 All-Ireland winner Conor, looks poised to shine this season.
Diarmuid Ryan played for his club Cratloe in last year’s Clare county senior hurling final.
Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO
2. Robert Downey (Cork – Glen Rovers)
Twelve months ago Downey was preparing for a Dr Harty Cup semi-final with Christian Brothers College against an Ardscoil team that had Ryan operating at the core. He now is set for a maiden senior campaign as part of John Meyler’s setup, featuring at wing-back in their two pre-season ties in Munster. A versatile operator, Downey was full-forward on the Cork minor side that reached the 2017 All-Ireland final.
Downey featured when Cork lost the 2017 minor final to Galway.
Source: Tommy Grealy/INPHO
3. Lee Gannon (Dublin – Whitehall Colmcille)
Another new era commences in Dublin with Mattie Kenny taking the managerial reins. He’ll likely use Division 1B as a platform for players to impress. Young defender Lee Gannon could be one that will come into the frame.
A combative operator in the rearguard, Gannon was part of the Dublin minor team that contested an All-Ireland semi-final in 2017. He featured for the U21 side last summer and has recent senior exposure in the Walsh Cup.
Lee Gannon (right) with team-mate Jake Malone after a Walsh Cup game in December.
Source: James Crombie/INPHO
4. Fintan Burke (Galway – St Thomas)
The solitary Galway presence on the Bord Gáis Energy U21 hurling team of the year that was unveiled last October, Burke produced some powerful displays for that county side. He captained the U21 side that won out in Leinster last July and while they didn’t manage to claim an All-Ireland triumph, he rounded off the year in style with St Thomas in the Galway senior arena. That club glory means Burke will be pre-occupied first in 2019 with an All-Ireland bid at grassroots level but could then be an asset for Mícheál Donoghue.
Fintan Burke captained Galway when they defeated Wexford in last year’s Leinster U21 final.
Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO
5. Barry Murphy (Limerick – Doon)
A forgotten figure in a way from Limerick’s season of success. It was Murphy’s composure in finding the net that secured an opening day victory over Tipperary last May, an outcome that kick-started a journey that concluded in memorable fashion for the county.
Part of a Doon side that reached the senior final in Limerick last autumn and has hit some eye-catching totals from frees for UL in the Fitzgibbon Cup of late. The Limerick forward line will be difficult to break into but Murphy is a talented hurler.
Barry Murphy goes up against Cork’s Colm Spillane in the Munster championship last summer.
Source: James Crombie/INPHO
6. Adrian Mullen (Kilkenny – Ballyhale Shamrocks)
Much like Fintan Burke in Galway, Mullen’s immediate focus will be on club matters. He’s gearing up for Ballyhale Shamrocks All-Ireland assignment against Ballygunner in a fortnight, hitting 2-1 in the Leinster final dismissal of Ballyboden St-Enda’s in December.
Has showcased his attacking capabilities with some distinction for St Kieran’s teams and in the Kilkenny underage ranks. A call-up from Brian Cody may beckon once his club commitments cease.
Adrian Mullen hit key scores in Ballyhale’s 2018 Leinster club final win.
Source: INPHO
7. Mark Kehoe (Tipperary – Kilsheelan Kilcash)
A different atmosphere circulates around Tipperary hurling as Liam Sheedy returns to the hotseat. 2018 ended prematurely for their senior outfit, the expectation is that he will pitch plenty U21 winners in action this spring as he attempts to fuse together a winning combination.
Mark Kehoe could be one of those handed time to audition. A strong focal point in attack, he won an All-Ireland U21 medal last August and was notably impressive when striking 1-1 in the semi-final success over Waterford. Bagged 0-2 in the Munster league final loss to Clare recently and impressed during the week for UCC in the Fitzgibbon Cup.
Mark Kehoe in action for Tipperary in last year’s All-Ireland U21 decider.
Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO
8. Conor Prunty (Waterford – Abbeyside)
In 2016 as Waterford cruised to an impressive All-Ireland U21 victory, Prunty was wing-back on a team dotted with established seniors. Still eligible for the U21 ranks last year, he may be now poised for a major senior breakthrough. A key cog in the defensive wheel of the Abbeyside team that progressed to the Waterford senior decider in 2018, he’ll be eager to impress under new county boss Paraic Fanning.
Conor Prunty goes up against Aron Shanagher in the Fraher Field earlier this month.
Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO
9. Seamus Casey (Wexford – Oylegate Glenbrien)
In a thrilling U21 showdown last summer in Portlaoise, Casey was one of the chief protagonists as Wexford were pipped in dramatic extra-time fashion by Galway. He shot 1-9 in that Leinster final and recruitment to the senior stage has ensued as he came off the bench in last Saturday’s Walsh Cup final against the Tribesmen. Will be interesting to see how he fares in Davy Fitzgerald’s 2019 plans.
Seamus Casey in action against Galway’s Jack Fitzpatrick last July.
THE TABLES WILL turn for Dublin ladies nutritionist Kate McDaid today.
Source: nutrikate_com Instagram.
While she normally helps elite players and athletes achieve their nutrition goals and target the extra percentages en route to success, she’s eyeing national glory herself as she lines out with Killester in the National Basketball Arena, Tallaght, this afternoon.
The Dubliners welcome Fr Mathews to the capital as they face off in the Hula Hoops NICC Women’s National Cup final [12pm].
“We’ve got the Big Dance this weekend,” McDaid smiles at the Gourmet Food Parlour HEC Ladies Football Championship launch on Tuesday.
“I’m really, really looking forward to it. It’s my first final now since I was U18 so it’s nice. Particularly when you’re working with successful athletes and you’re seeing them reap the rewards.
“Hopefully I’ll get to reap some rewards with my personal training now this weekend.”
“A Cork team,” she adds on Fr Mathews as the memories of Dublin’s All-Ireland final win over the Rebels last September come rushing back.
“You know Cork, they’ll always put up a battle. They’re definitely not going to lie down and roll over. Really, really looking forward to it. It should be a good clash. I’m ready for it!”
Also working tirelessly with the Longford men’s footballers and keeping the flag of her professional nutrition consultancy, NutriKate, flying high, McDaid spends the vast majority of her time getting her athletes, and other clients, ready for battle.
Obviously with an extensive background in basketball, she has also recently started playing Gaelic football, perhaps inspired by her attachment to Mick Bohan’s Sky Blues since last April.
2018 was a big one for the side: they successfully defended the Brendan Martin Cup and made it back-to-back All-Ireland titles for the first time in the county’s history, they lifted their seventh Leinster crown in-a-row and finally got their hands on the Division 1 league trophy.
“Fortunately for me, the girls are well tuned in,” McDaid begins, explaining her involvement in the set-up. ” They’re always looking to improve, take it a step further and always looking to be better.
“I just try to feed that hunger so to speak and help them with little areas that they need to work on. They’ve made work so easy, I’ve felt welcome from day one and we just really started pulling together and trying to work on those extra percentages.
“Any area that we could improve on, the girls wanted to improve. I just tried to compliment that as best as I could. Fortunately, we had a very successful campaign — plenty of hard work went into it but the process and the journey to get us there was really an experience in itself and something I think we’re always very grateful for.
“Moving into this season now, we’ve learned a few bits from last season. We’re again looking at where we can be better, what I can do better for the group from my role with the team. They’re the things we’ll be trying to fine tune now. I’m looking forward to the challenge of this year and trying to stay at the top.”
On a week-to-week basis, there’s a variety of different approaches when it comes to a team environment, the UCD and Loughborough University graduate, says.
Dublin celebrate winning the 2018 All-Ireland.
Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO
There’s a welcome mixture of talks and presentations with the team all together, one-on-one discussions and group chats while she tailors player’s diets individually.
“We’ve got a mix,” she enthuses. “ I suppose when you’re working with a team, there’s core values and people need to meet certain standards, but you’re also dealing with 30-40 individual people.
“Girls who are going home to different home environments, girls working full-time, other girls are in college; what are the demands there, so on and so forth. I would try and work with the girls on a one-to-one basis.
“We’d have some presentations in there too, everything is really interactive and engaging. You’re trying to make players see where this falls into their life and how it might benefit them.
“Obviously, I find my job extremely interesting and I know the value in it but for everyone, it’s like, ‘Just tell me what I need to do, I don’t care.’ And fair. It’s my job to facilitate that. You’re trying to keep it fresh the whole time and get people as engaged as you can.”
She adds, on tailoring dietary requirements and nutritional needs individually: “That can be extremely time consuming but it’s also, I think, the most rewarding for them and for myself.
“My job is to give them every chance to get the most gains out of what they’re doing and to really take advantage of all the hard work that they do on a day-to-day basis for training and matches. It’s my job to make that part of their programme easier.
“I think the only way to do that is to really listen to the athletes in front of you. It’s like, ‘Ok, let’s not go full tilt here, you’ve got enough things to be worrying about… what can we work on now that’s going to have the biggest impact? Ok, you’ve started to nail that, what can we move onto now?’
“That’s what I love to do. Players have enough pressures and the last thing you want to do is throw another load on top of them. It’s bit by bit, and getting a sustainable approach is really important.”
Extra percentages and extra inches have almost become buzz words in this day and age as teams across the length and breadth of the country bid to be the best, and do absolutely anything they can to get over the line.
Over the past few years, nutrition has become vital and is now a central part of the inter-county player’s life.
“We heard the girls speaking there,” McDaid notes after the panel discussion at the launch, “and just the demands that are put on them… one of them only having one weekend off in a year, that’s not something that is easily done.
“When you’re fuelling and you’re recovering adequately and sufficiently, and trying to make the most of the rest that you’re given, that gives you longevity as a player. It’s so, so important.
“Too many times you see people fall down with injuries that are avoidable. You’re trying to limit that as much as possible and keep the girls healthy. A healthy individual is always going to have a better chance at reducing their risk of picking up unnecessary illnesses and injuries.
“That’s what you’re looking to do. It’s making people right across the board realise that. It’s just trying to stay on top of recovery and fuelling adequately, which players can fall down on unknowingly and not for not wanting to know. Sometimes it’s just ironing out the missing pieces for them.”
McDaid speaking to the media at the launch.
Source: Ladies Football.
While a seriously increased amount of focus has been put on nutrition of late, McDaid still feels that there are major gains to be made by teams.
“It’s kind of an educating process,” she adds. “I think there’s a lot of misconceptions out there, there’s a lot of poor information out there and our job, as practitioners, is to try and unmuddy that water and debunk a few myths.
“Nutrition actually isn’t as difficult as it’s made out to be sometimes. You’re just trying to get people into better habits maybe, just fine-tuning. You’re not trying to upturn anyone’s life or anything. It’s just about educating them a little bit better.
“Little things like instead of having that slice of toast after training, you’d probably be better off having a pint of milk. It’s as easy as that.”
Other misconceptions and bad habits people have fallen into, she says, are eating too late at night, confusion surrounding carbohydrate intake and honing in on sugar intake. The important thing is looking at the bigger picture.
“Do you know what’s a massive misconception,” she interjects, “thinking what works for the person next to you should automatically work for you.
“That can be quite defeatist if you don’t recognise how different you are from your team-mates and what different responsibilities or pressures lie on you as an individual.
“Recognising that you should listen to yourself and try to work out, ‘Actually, what does make me feel a bit better? What does actually work well for me?’ It’s a really important thing, I think athletes need to start thinking about and listening to themselves a little bit more.”
The health and performance nutritionist doesn’t see any real differences between working with ladies and men’s teams: it just comes down to different personalities in the respective set-ups.
“I adore working with both of them and they do set up their own challenges. Sometimes you might have to deliver a message in a different way.
“But at the end of the day, you’re working with people who are extremely committed, extremely passionate and love what they do. I’m just trying to compliment that and make sure that they stay as healthy and as fit and injury-free as possible. It’s great.”
After a short but sweet, and really informative, conversation, it’s clear to see that McDaid loves what she does. And that her hard work is well and truly paying dividends.
I have written about this before but this topic was brought up on a podcast I was recording so it got me thinking. This year, I made the decision to play a lower division in basketball. It was for a number of reasons; I work 7 days per week most weeks, so playing twice a week in Dublin with no weekend games was a lot more manageable. Last season, I felt like stress was the main outcome rather than enjoyment. Work, with late mornings and early starts was taking it’s toll on me, I wasn’t able to give basketball the headspace it needed, my body wasn’t getting the rest it needed and I grew more and more frustrated as I felt like I was continuously underperforming and letting myself and my team mates down. _____________________ 🍍🍍🍍 _____________________ I have learned a lot from basketball and sport over the years and I know that I am a lot happier as a human when I have an outlet, provided I play in a capacity that fits in with my life. My priorities have changed. Div 1 team was the solution – still allowing me to play sport at a competitive level but without the additional pressure or commitment. 3 months in and I am back loving basketball because it fits within my constraints. It allows me to switch off twice each week, be more creative, think clearer and it is great to have the social element of it all too. Having an excuse to meet with friends each week. Something which you can let slide very easily when things get busy. _____________________ 🍍🍍🍍 _____________________ No matter what your schedule, there is an option and solution for us all to look after our physical and mental health. You just need to find out what that looks like for you. What it is that works for you to achieve that? Is it playing a lower league? Is it going to the gym twice per week or is it meeting friends to go for a walk every Sunday? Sport can be an excellent outlet and support system you just need to find your team! _____________________ 🍍🍍🍍 _____________________ #nutrition #health #sport #basketball #nutrikate
A post shared by Kate McDaid (@nutrikate_com) on
Working with one team, she agrees, requires a lot of time, never mind two or three, along with other clients through her company NutriKate.
“It’s hard, it is,” she laughs, sharing the news that she has an intern starting shortly which will come as a “Godsend”.
“But I mean I love what I do and that makes it so much easier. It is difficult but I adore it. I would go in working with the girls, and same with the lads — if I’m being perfectly honest, any of my clients — and it doesn’t feel like work. There’s been quite a few times where I’m sitting at my laptop being like, ‘Oh my God, this is my job!’ It’s really nice.”
“Now, don’t get me wrong,” she concludes, “there are times where you’re like, ‘Oh my God, how am I going to get past the week?’ But no, all in all, I’m very fortunate.
“I adore what I do and I suppose from my perspective, it’s just making sure that I can manage things effectively and efficiently so that my clients and the teams that I’m working with get the best possible advice and support that they deserve.”
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JIM GAVIN HAS named his starting team for tomorrow’s Allianz National Football League opener away against Monaghan, as the All-Ireland champions seek to defend their title and secure a sixth league crown in seven seasons in 2019 [throw-in 2pm].
Gavin makes six changes from the side which defeated Tyrone to lift the Sam Maguire for the fourth time in a row in September, with big-hitters like Stephen Cluxton, Philly McMahon, James McCarthy, Jack McCaffrey and Cian O’Sullivan all rested.
Captain Cluxton makes way as Evan Comerford starts in goal, with a new full-back line of Eric Lowndes, Mick Fitzsimons and Conor Mullally picked for the curtain raiser in Clones.
Eoin Murchan is given the nod at half-back alongside the usual pairing of Jonny Cooper and John Small, while Michael Darragh MacAuley partners Footballer of the Year Brian Fenton in the middle of the park.
Con O’Callaghan is named at corner forward against Malachy O’Rourke’s All-Ireland semi-finalists, with Cormac Costello picked to start in the half-forward line as Ciaran Kilkenny is rested.
CORK’S CHRISTIAN BROTHERS College will contest the Munster PPS Dr Harty Cup final for the first time since 1918 following a fine victory over Thurles CBS at Kilfinane this afternoon.
Having lost the inaugural decider to Rockwell College, CBC has become more renowned as a rugby school but recent years have seen them make an impact in the Harty and they will look to take the last step in the all-Cork final against Midleton CBS on 16 February.
They had to work for victory here, having trailed by two points at half-time. Though Jack Cahalane’s goal helped CBC to lead by 1-1 to 0-1 after three minutes, frees from Devon Ryan helped Thurles to take control on the scoreboard.
Points from Paddy Creedon and Keith Ryan had Thurles ahead by 0-9 to 1-3 after 23 but Pádraig Power replied for CBC and Thurles had three more wides before half-time, giving them a first-half tally of seven compared to just one for their opponents.
While Luke Cashin extended the Thurles advantage on the resumption, CBC were level after Shane Barrett’s super goal on 35. Ryan put Thurles in front again but it was the last time they led.
A pair of Power frees gave CBC the lead and though Ryan levelled, five points in a row – two from Power and Declan Hanlon and one by Barrett – had the Cork school in a strong position.
Ryan’s ninth point cut the gap for Thurles and they might have had an injury-time goal but Kieran Moloney’s shot hit the crossbar and Eoin Purcell’s follow-up was saved by Cian Long.
Yet another Power free restored CBC’s five-point advantage, ensuring that they progressed.
Scorers for CBC Cork: Pádraig Power 0-8 (0-7 frees), Shane Barrett 1-2, Jack Cahalane 1-0, Declan Hanlon 0-2.
Scorers for Thurles CBS: Devon Ryan 0-9 (0-8 frees), Luke Cashin 0-2, Keith Ryan, Paddy Creedon 0-1 each.
13. Owen McCarthy (Inniscarra)
14. Patrick McBarron (Carrigaline)
15. Jack Cahalane (St Finbarr’s)
Subs
30. Jack O’Kelly (St Finbarr’s) for McBarron (41)
24. Carthach Daly (Lismore) for O’Donovan (50)
18. James Scally (Bishopstown) for O’Kelly (inh) (60)
Thurles CBS
1. Kevin Bracken (Thurles Sarsfields)
6. Kevin Hayes (Moycarkey-Borris)
3. John Kirwan (Moycarkey-Borris)
4. Jack Hickey (Emeralds)
7. Jack Ryan (Holycross-Ballycahill)
22. Eoin Morris (Holycross-Ballycahill)
2. Peter Melbourne (Moycarkey-Borris)
8. Max Hackett (Moycarkey-Borris)
9. Kieran Moloney (Thurles Sarsfields)
10. Keith Ryan (Upperchurch-Drombane)
11. Devon Ryan (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams)
12. Eoin Purcell (Thurles Sarsfields)
13. Paddy Creedon (Thurles Sarsfields)
14. Darren Flood (Moycarkey-Borris)
15. Luke Cashin (Roscrea)
Subs
25. Jack Leamy (Golden-Kilfeacle) for Flood (45)
27. Éanna Ryan (Holycross-Ballycahill) for Cashin (53)
21. James Synott (Roscrea) for Melbourne (55)
19. Jack Taylor (Moyne-Templetuohy) for Creedon (57)
Referee: Mike Sexton (Limerick)
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MIDLETON CBS ADVANCED to the Dr Harty Cup Final thanks a dramatic stoppage time goal from midfielder Ryan McCarthy following a ding-dong battle with De La Salle College in Dungarvan today.
McCarthy’s lofted free deceived De La Salle goalkeeper Mark Kilgannon and sailed into the Town End goal, shell shocking a Waterford side which had one foot in the provincial showpiece.
Having won the toss and opted to play with the strong wind, Midleton led by the minimum at half-time (0-7 to 0-6), rueing Kilgannon’s third minute penalty save following Joe Stack’s effort from the dead ball. The sides were level on four occasions during the opening half, with De La Salle’s Eoghan Reilly catching the eye with three excellent points from play.
Ten minutes after the resumption with De La Salle then leading by a point, Reilly was charging through on goal when he was brilliantly hooked by Midleton full-back Dylan Hogan. And try as De La Salle did, they could not shake off a Cork side who were driven on by centre-back Ciaran Joyce.
DLS led by two points with eight minutes remaining, with wing-back Tom Gallagher raising the roof thanks to a stunning run and point, but Midleton dug deep, levelling through Ross O’Regan and Ryan McCarthy.
Mark Fitzgerald’s 59th minute free edged De La Salle back in front, but McCarthy’s stoppage time free ultimately proved decisive at the end of a pulsating contest.
Scorers for Midleton CBS: Ross O’Regan 0-5 (0-2f), Ryan McCarthy 1-1 (1-1f), Gary Carroll 0-2, Joe Stack, Cathal Hickey, Ciaran Joyce 0-1 each.
Scorers for De La Salle College: Mark Fitzgerald 0-5 (0-1f), Eoghan Reilly 0-4, Cormac Power 0-2 (0-1f), Tom Gallagher 0-1.
17. Harry White (Roanmore) for Kirwan (HT)
18. Reuben Halloran (De La Salle) for Corbett (37)
19. Eoin O’Brien (Ballygunner) for Power (53)
21. Tom Dalton (Ballygunner) for Walsh (64)
Referee: John McCormack (Tipperary)
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CARRIE DOLAN SHOT 10 points as Galway got their Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League Division 1 campaign off to a flying start with a 1-14 to 1-6 win over Tipperary at The Ragg.
Defending champions Kilkenny and Clare were the other winners, while All-Ireland champions Cork had an unscheduled weekend off following the postponement of their tie with Wexford.
There was plenty of interest in how Galway would look after a first pre-season under Cathal Murray, who took over the reins following last year’s Semi-Final defeat to Kilkenny and the early impressions are promising.
Following a very strong showing last week in going down by just three points to Cork, Tipperary would have been hoping to take a prized scalp but Bill Mullaney’s troops were unable to land a telling blow.
Cáit Devane’s absence was keenly felt and though Niamh Treacy gave the hosts a third-minute lead from a free, Dolan was on fire from placed balls herself, landing four frees and scoring six points in total as the Maroons led at the interval by 0-8 to 2.
Ailish O’Reilly and Niamh Kilkenny completed the scoring for Galway in that opening period, with Megan Ryan adding to Treacy’s opener for Tipp.
Caoimhe Maher is challenged by Lorraine Ryan, Ciara Murphy and Niamh McGrath.
Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO
The margin increased by one approaching the end of the third quarter but an O’Reilly goal in the 46th minute, after a blistering run by Niamh Hanniffy, made a home victory very unlikely indeed. It was tremendous work by Hanniffy, who left a raft of defenders in her wake despite the difficult conditions, before cleverly hand-passing across the danger zone for O’Reilly to flick to the net.
To their credit, Tipperary responded immediately, Eilish McDonald ending her own display of pace with a sharp hand-passed goal but they could never creep any closer, Dolan and Niamh McGrath adding to the scoresheet.
Kilkenny produced a storming second-half burst in Callan to shatter the aspirations of a Dublin outfit starting life without hugely influential manager David Herity, on a 1-14 to 0-6 scoreline. Former Mayo ladies football boss, Frank Browne is the new boss and he would have been delighted by the application of his team, who led at the interval by 0-6 to 0-5.
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Aisling Maher, the 2017 All-Star returned after taking a year out, opened the scoring and added another beauty later on, while Siobhán Kehoe and Ali Maguire also landed a brace each. That was enough to edge them ahead, Danielle Morrissey (two), Miriam Walsh, Denise Gaule and Steffi Fitzgerald registering points for the Cats.
Ann Downey certainly galvanised her charges during the break as they imposed themselves on the visitors straight from the restart, keeping Dublin scoreless and relentlessly opening up a significant gap at the other end. Morrissey, Gaule, Walsh and Player of the Year, Anne Dalton were multiple scorers and a 60th minute goal by Katie Nolan made it emphatic.
There was disappointment for Offaly as they fell to a second consecutive narrow away defeat, this time to Clare, in Whitegate, by 0-10 to 1-5. Ger O’Connell’s side were helped considerably by a strong start that saw them lead by three points early on, Bridín Dinan and Andrea O’Keeffe among the scorers.
Michaela Morkan and Mairead Teehan helped Offaly settle but a couple of more points from Dinan gave the home team a 0-5 to 0-3 lead at the change of ends.
A 39th minute goal from Morkan brought the Faithful girls level, after Dinan had briefly stretched the advantage, and after Dinan and Aisling Brennan exchanged scores, the Offaly freetaker converted a placed ball to put Mike Wall’s crew ahead with nine minutes left.
The Tricolours couldn’t finish it off however and instead, it was Clare that found another gear, finishing as they started with three points, this time from Eimear Kelly, Dinan and Susan Fahy to bag the spoils.
Division 1 results:
Group 1 Clare 0-10 Offaly 1-5
Kilkenny 1-15 Dublin 0-6
Group 2 Cork v Wexford – postponed
Tipperary 1-6 Galway 1-14
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A FIRST NIGHT back in the league arena for Liam Sheedy and a successful outing for his Tipperary side on home soil.
Seamus Callanan was fouled for a 3rd minute penalty for Tipperary.
Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO
New captain Seamus Callanan hit 2-7 to help clinch victory with his pair of second-half strikes sending them clear of a Clare team that finished with 14 men after the dismissal of Tony Kelly.
The game spun firmly in Tipperary’s direction in the third quarter. Clare had wheeled a big name trio of Collins, Duggan and Galvin off the bench at the break which helped them eat into deficit they faced. They were 0-13 to 1-5 adrift when their talisman Kelly saw his involvement end abruptly in the 44th minute, a red card brandished in his direction after a challenge on Padraic Maher.
Tipperary pounced on the numerical advantage. In the 50th minute Jake Morris and Robert Byrne combined to arrow the ball across to Callanan and he finished to the net. A minute later and Tipperary’s attacking star had raised a green flag once more, again benefitting from the approach work of Morris. 2-14 to 1-6 clear entering the final quarter had the home side flying high.
Penalties featured heavily in the narrative of the opening half, Tipperary repelled in their attempts to get a goal and Clare energised by their strike to the net. Tipperary’s new captain Seamus Callanan was thwarted by Donal Tuohy’s reflexes in the 3rd minute after being dragged down himself while Niall Deasy was clinical in despatching his shot for Clare in the 28th minute after a foul on Colin Guilfoyle.
But Callanan’s accuracy from placed balls, he struck five in all, helped propel Tipperary in front at the break with Noel McGrath pitching in with 0-3. Clare struggled for scores as they hurled into the wind. They amassed 1-3 in the first half with John Conlon (20th minute) and Tony Kelly (31st) suppling their early points from play.
Clare trailed 0-13 to 1-3 at the break and then after that encouraging second-half start were hit by a series of setbacks with a red card and goal concessions at the back. They fought on until the finish with Duggan and Michael O’Malley picking off points from placed balls while Collins was denied a goal late on by a smart save from Brian Hogan.
Tipperary were awarded another penalty late on, Callanan electing to despatch it over the bar on this occasion. Job done on the opening night, they’ll take on All-Ireland champions Limerick next weekend.
Scorers for Tipperary: Seamus Callanan 2-7 (0-6f, 0-1 pen), Noel McGrath 0-3 (0-1 sideline), Jake Morris 0-2, Alan Flynn, Michael Breen, Willie Connors, Robert Byrne 0-1 each.
Scorers for Clare: Peter Duggan 0-4 (0-3f, 0-1 ’65), Niall Deasy 1-1 (1-0 pen, 0-1f), Tony Kelly (0-1 sideline), Michael O’Malley (0-1f, 0-1 ’65) 0-2 each, Padraic Collins, John Conlon 0-1 each.
23. Mark Kehoe (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) for McGrath (61)
24. John O’Dwyer (Killenaule) for Morris (64)
25. Killian O’Dwyer (Killenaule) for Donagh Maher (70)
20. Cian Darcy (Kilruane McDonaghs) for Byrne (72)
Clare
1. Donal Tuohy (Crusheen)
20. Jack Browne (Ballyea)
3. David McInerney (Tulla)
2. Jason McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona)
13. Colin Guilfoyle (Newmarket-on-Fergus)
25. John Conlon (Clonlara)
15. Michael O’Neill (Kilmaley)
Subs
21. Colm Galvin (Clonlara) for Jason McCarthy (half-time)
17. Padraic Collins (Cratloe) for O’Neill (half-time)
19. Peter Duggan (Clooney-Quin) for Deasy (half-time)
18. Michael O’Malley (Kilmaley) for Taylor (52)
22. Ian Galvin (Clonlara) for Conlon (64)
Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)
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THE HALF-TIME introduction of Donal Burke was crucial at Parnell Park where hot favourites Dublin came from behind to secure a battling Allianz NHL Division 1B win.
Burke, among a group of Dublin players who featured for DCU in the Fitzgibbon Cup this week, didn’t start but bailed his team out with 1-4 after coming on.
Dublin trailed by two points at the interval and looked to be in real trouble on a miserable night for hurling in the capital.
But Burke and fellow sub Danny Sutcliffe combined to turned the game on its head with strong second-half performances.
Tomas Connolly and Oisin O’Rorke, two more subs, each pointed as new manager Mattie Kenny just about avoided the banana skin presented by the McDonagh Cup champions.
Carlow were 8/1 outsiders to win beforehand but aided by the excellent Marty Kavanagh, who hit 0-12 on the night, pushed Dublin all the way.
Kavanagh took the frees for Colm Bonnar’s side but was hugely influential in open play also and scored eight of their first-half points.
Ted Joyce and Seamus Murphy were also on the mark as Carlow led 0-11 to 1-6 at half-time despite conceding a fourth minute goal to Dublin’s Darragh O’Connell.
The break seemed to settle Dublin and they returned for the second-half a different team, opening up with a 1-3 blast to regain the lead.
Eamonn Dillon scored their goal in the 40th minute after good work by John Hetherton who had a strong game for a Dublin side missing Conal Keaney, Cian O’Callaghan and Mark Schutte.
Connolly and Paddy Smyth added points and Burke hit three in a row to keep Carlow at bay though the visitors refused to throw in the towel and were just two behind in the 65th minute, largely thanks to Kavanagh’s free-taking.
That’s when Burke was played in by Dillon for Dublin’s third goal and the strike at the Church end of the ground ultimately settled the game.
Scorers for Carlow: Marty Kavanagh 0-12 (0-9f), Ted Joyce 0-2, Chris Nolan 0-2, James Doyle 0-1, Seamus Murphy 0-1.
Dublin
1. Alan Nolan
4. James Madden
3. Eoghan O’Donnell
2. Paddy Smyth
5. Chris Crummey
6. Sean Moran
7. Shane Barrett
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8. Jake Malone
9. Darragh O’Connell
10. Fergal Whitely
11. John Hetherton
19. Fiontan McGibb
12. Riain McBride
14. Liam Rushe
15. Eamon Dillon
Subs
17. Tomas Connolly for Madden (9)
13. Donal Burke for Whitely (h/t)
21. Danny Sutcliffe for Rushe (48)
25. Davy Keogh for Malone (60)
23. Oisin O’Rorke for McGibb (67)
Carlow
1. Brian Tracey
2. Alan Corcoran
3. Paul Doyle
4. Michael Doyle
5. Eoin Nolan
6. David English
7. Richard Coady
8. Jack Kavanagh
9. Sean Whelan
10. John Michael Nolan
12. Seamus Murphy
14. Edward Byrne
15. Chris Nolan
13. Ted Joyce
11. Martin Kavanagh
Subs
23. James Doyle for Murphy (43)
24. Jon Nolan for Joyce (49)
25. Richard Kelly for E Nolan (57)
22. Jack Murphy for Byrne (62)
21. Ger Coady for M Doyle (62)
Referee: Alan Kelly (Galway).
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A BRIAN REAPE goal five minutes from time was the vital score as Mayo overcame a four point half time deficit in awful conditions to see off local rivals Roscommon in MacHale Park.
Roscommon made the most of a the advantage of an almost storm force gael that blew in from the Bacon Factory end of MacHale Park in the opening half of this local derby.
Mayo did get the first score of this local derby through an Evan Regan free three minutes in, but from then on in Mayo had very few shooting chances in the opening half as they struggled to play into the teeth of a wind blowing into their faces.
Colin Compton got the Rossies moving with a wind assisted effort four minutes in, five minutes later Enda Smith landed a free to edge Anthony Cunningham’s men in front for the first time.
Aidan O’Shea pictured amid the heavy rain on Saturday night.
Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO
Shane Kilronan put the visitors two clear on 11 minutes when he converted as Mayo struggled to retain the ball from their own kick-out against the conditions.
Cathal Cregg almost got in for a goal just before the quarter of an hour mark, but Rob Hennelly tipped it over the bar for Roscomon’s fourth point of the evening . Two minutes later the final score of the half came from an outrageous wind assisted effort from Donie Smith who was at least 55 meters out from goal.
Mayo struggled to move the ball in their attack, moving the ball through cycle after cycle of hand pass before being turned over by the Roscommon defence. The Rossie’s could have grabbed a goal five minutes before the turnaround when Rob Hennelly’s solo went back over his shoulder but Cathal Cregg drove his effort wide.
There was a bout of handbags after a clash between Keith Higgins and Enda Smith saw most of the players on the field end up in a few rounds of pushing and shoving, with Smith ending up with a yellow card seven minutes before the half time whistle.
Mayo hit the ground running in the second half through a Diarmuid O’Connor point, but it took them another 13 minutes to land their third score of the night through a long range Jason Doherty free.
James Horan shakes hands with Enda Smith at the final whistle.
Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO
A minute later he drove over a free from even further out the field to put just one between the sides with Roscommon leading 0-6 to 0-5.
The FBD League winners edged themselves two points clear again when Cathal Compton was played in by a brilliant Cathal Cregg ball – he had a chance to go for the goal but opted to fist it over the bar.
Donal Vaughan replied almost instantly for Mayo with a well taken effort but then their chances looked to have taken a major blow when Colm Boyle was black carded for a lunge on Ultan Harney.
But it actually had the opposite response with Mayo kicking three points on the spin the first from Paddy Durcan, then a huge effort from play off the boot of Paddy Durcan and finally a close range finish from Brendan Harrison to put Mayo into a 0-8 to 0-6 lead with ten minutes to go.
Five minutes from time they wrapped it up with a brilliant goal from league debutant Brian Reape -who sold his man a great dummy before hammering home the ball right footed from just inside the area to send Mayo into a 1-8 to 0-6 lead.
Ultan Harney cut the gap back to four points with a close range finish as the game moved to injury time and plenty of 10,941 who had braved the elements made an early exit as did Harney before the finish when he was shown a red card in injury time.
Those who did leave early missed a late, late goal from Roscommon’s Shane Killoran which deflected off a Mayo defender into the net and leave just a single point between the sides at the final whistle a few seconds later.
Scorers for Mayo: Brian Reape (1-0), Jason Doherty (0-3, 2f), Brendan Harrision (0-1), Paddy Durcan (0-1), Diarmuid O’Connor (0-1), Donal Vaughan (0-1), Evan Regan (0-1)
Subs: 26. Andy Moran (Ballaghaderrren) for Boland, 21. Stephen Coen (Hollymount-Carramore) for Vaughan, 22. Fionn McDonagh (Westport) for Diskin, 19. James McCormack (Claremorri) for Boyle (BS)
13. Donie Smith (Boyle)
14. Ciaran Lennon (Clann na nGael)
15. Cathal Cregg (Western Gaels)
Subs: 21. Ultan Harney (Clann na Gael) for Lennon, 22. Hubert Darcy (Padraig Pearses) for Cregg, 18. David Neary (Strokestown) for Patterson, 19. Caoilean Fitzmaurice (Michael Glaveys) for O’Rourke
Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry)
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LAOIS CAME FROM behind to defeat Down by six points in Paddy Tally’s first league game in charge of the Ulster outfit.
John Sugrue’s side were 0-9 to 0-5 behind at half-time, but scores from Donie Kingston and Evan O’Carroll helped draw them level by the midway point of the second-half.
Colm Murphy and Donal O’Hare traded goals, before Laois substitute Paul Cahillane raised Laois’s second green flag with a well-taken effort. The Leinster finalists ran out 2-15 to 1-12 winners in the Division 3 opener.
A late free from goalkeeper Mark Jackson helped Wicklow to a narrow 1-7 to 0-9 win over Waterford in Division 4 tonight.
Patrick O’Connor’s goal left the John Evans-managed team just a point behind nearing the closing stages. He then equalised and Jackson slotted over the winning free at the death.