Month: September 2021

IT MAY WELL go down as the greatest All-Ireland senior hurling championship of all-time, but what was your favourite moment from the summer? 

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

Here are the main contenders:

1. The 18-second turnaround in Tipperary vs Clare

A six-point swing over the course of 18 dramatic seconds helped Clare keep their Munster campaign alive with a 1-23 to 1-21 win over Tipperary back in June.

The key moment of the game arrived in the 65th minute. The Premier were four in front when Jake Morris’s effort beat Donal Tuohy but struck the post and bounced back into play.

Clare worked the ball upfield and Podge Collins released Ian Galvin, who buried a strike past Brian Hogan. Instead of going seven in front, Tipp’s advantage was cut to a single point. The Banner eventually levelled and surged to victory in stoppage-time.

Six Point Swing! Jake Morris from Tipperary hits the post, Clare go down the field and score a fine goal through Ian Galvin. pic.twitter.com/dXb3nUQaJV

— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 10, 2018

2. Tipperary’s ghost goal vs Waterford

The officiating gaffe of the summer goes to Alan Kelly and his umpire who awarded Tipperary a ghost goal in their 1-22 apiece draw with Waterford in Munster.

Jason Forde’s shot at goal was adjudged to have been carried over the line by Waterford’s Austin Gleeson and the three-pointer helped Tipperary force a share of the spoils after trailing by 11 points at one stage in the second-half.

The umpire raised his green flag without consulting his colleague and replays showed that Gleeson hadn’t crossed the line. The GAA tweeted a video of the incident before later deleting it.

'The Waterford players and supporters not at all happy' – Controversy at the Gaelic Grounds as Waterford v Tipp ends in a draw #rtegaa #TheSundayGame pic.twitter.com/ptZ4SfOPYE

— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 3, 2018

3. Eoin Murphy’s brilliant saves vs Limerick

A heroic display of goalkeeping from Eoin Murphy against Limerick wasn’t enough to keep Kilkenny in the championship.

Murphy pulled off two incredible saves on Treaty corner-forward Aaron Gillane to deny him a goal in either half. The first stop was on a Gillane kick from point-blank range.

Aaron Gillane makes a tremendous catch and kicks a superb shot towards goal only for Eoin Murphy to pull off a top corner save. Watch the highlights at 9.30pm @rte2 tonight #RTEGAA #GAA pic.twitter.com/2ZGOoQZtBs

— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 15, 2018

Murphy’s second save was an even more acrobatic effort.

Aaron Gillane gets the point after a superb save from Kilkenny's Eoin Murphy! pic.twitter.com/eo7brTdy8y

— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 15, 2018

4. TJ Reid’s equaliser vs Galway

The Leinster final packed some late drama as three stoppage-time scores from Kilkenny sent their decider with Galway to a replay.

TJ Reid bagged 10 points, none more important than his 72nd-minute equaliser from midfield. When John Donnelly fed Reid with a handpass, the Croke Park crowd buzzed with excitement as he wound up to shoot.

The Ballyhale Shamrocks ace had time to turn onto his favoured left side and he smashed the ball over the bar to level the game up.

TJ Reid draws the match with a monster point! pic.twitter.com/dpf1FGOPFl

— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 1, 2018

5. Peter Duggan’s stunning point vs Galway

The score of the summer and one of the greatest ever in Croke Park. Peter Duggan’s incredible solo run and one-handed strike on the volley despite the close attention of four Galway defenders was mesmerising.

Duggan’s score was a remarkable display of strength, skill and sheer doggedness that set the pulses of hurling fans racing.

Peter Duggan with a lovely skilful point. pic.twitter.com/gOME4yoYJU

— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 28, 2018

6. Jason McCarthy’s extra-time equaliser vs Galway

Galway looked set to advance into the All-Ireland final when they led by a point deep into stoppage-time at the end of the second-half of extra-time, but Jason McCarthy had other ideas.

The Banner worked a ball from the back through the lines and it made its way into the paw of 21-year-old substitute McCarthy, who slotted over the clutch score to send this tie to a replay.

Jason Mc Carthy makes it all square to bring it to a replay after extra-time. pic.twitter.com/c2jIZqp8zQ

— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 28, 2018

7. Nickie Quaid’s stoppage-time flick vs Cork

It’s likely that Limerick wouldn’t have even made it to the final had it not been for Nickie Quaid’s amazing save on Seamus Harnedy in the 72nd-minute of their last four clash with Cork.

With the sides locked at 1-26 apiece, Harnedy looked to have the goal at his mercy but Quaid kept his eyes on the ball and flicked it away to deny the Rebels. The game went to extra-time where Limerick eventually prevailed.

Such was the quality of Quaid’s stop it was featured in US sports magazine Sports Illustrated as their highlight of the weekend.

Check out this unbelievable save by Nickie Quaid! pic.twitter.com/Y3deg0CM18

— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 29, 2018

8. Jonathan Glynn’s one-handed goal vs Clare

Jonathan Glynn’s phenomenal 20th-minute goal was the highlight as Galway raced into a 1-9 to 0-3 lead against Clare in the semi-final replay in Thurles.

Full-forward Glynn fetched the ball from the clouds while holding off a Banner defender, before he collected possession, spun away from another Clare man and slammed the ball one-handed past Tuohy.

GOAL for Galway's Jonathan Glynn! pic.twitter.com/Eix7u2IjW4

— The GAA (@officialgaa) August 5, 2018

9. Shane O’Donnell solo goal vs Galway

Shane O’Donnell’s wonder goal in the same game dragged Clare back into the contest.

He flicked up possession, danced past John Hanbury, Daithi Burke and sold David Burke a dummy before striking it on the half-volley past James Skehill.

Even his celebration oozed class.

'I think we have seen one of the goals of the Championship Brendan' – Ger Canning was rightly impressed by this Shane O'Donnell goal. Game on! Highlights 9.30pm on @RTE2 #RTEGAA https://t.co/SlPERfO9xW pic.twitter.com/lS4fV2nodp

— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) August 5, 2018

10. Pat Ryan’s deft finish vs Cork

Pat Ryan was part of a Limerick bench that contributed 2-6 against Cork. His goal, a stunning lob in the second period of extra-time, pretty much confirmed Limerick’s progression to their first All-Ireland final in 11 years.

Ryan collected the ball in the corner, burned his man down the end line and showed a cool head by lofting a delicate finish over Anthony Nash.

Another goal for Limerick! Pat Ryan increases Limerick's lead. pic.twitter.com/KZWvBylgCC

— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 29, 2018

***********

What was your favourite moment from the championship? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Limerick players in jubilant mood as they head home with Liam MacCarthy Cup pic.twitter.com/c6fQGMJosd

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) August 20, 2018

THE LIMERICK HURLERS were given a heroes’ welcome home after ending a 45-year wait for an All-Ireland title on Sunday.

John Kiely’s side earned a dramatic 3-16 to 2-18 victory over Galway, prompting jubilant scenes in the county.

Thousands of fans consequently have turned up today at the Gaelic Grounds and elsewhere to greet the team.

It’s been a busy day for the Limerick players and staff, who earlier visited Dublin’s children’s hospitals to continue a fine GAA tradition.

The homecoming party is set to include musical acts Beoga – fronted by Limerick woman Niamh Dunne – as well as The Blizzards and DJ Mark McCabe.

Limerick’s William O’Donoghue boards the train to Limerick.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

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Limerick’s Declan Hannon with driver John Hanrahan.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

Limerick manager John Kiely arrives at Heuston Station.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

Crowds gather outside Limerick Colbert railway station to welcome home the Limerick team.

Source: TommyDickson/INPHO

Limerick’s Gearoid Hegarty and Kyle Hayes lift the Liam MacCarthy Cup.

Source: TommyDickson/INPHO

Declan Hannon lifts the Liam MacCarthy Cup outside Limerick Colbert railway station.

Source: TommyDickson/INPHO

Manager John Kiely lifts the Liam MacCarthy Cup outside Limerick Colbert railway station.

Source: TommyDickson/INPHO

Manager John Kiely as the Limerick bus makes its way to the reception at the Gaelic Grounds.

Source: TommyDickson/INPHO

Declan Hannon and Mayor of Limerick James Collins with the Liam MacCarthy Cup.

Source: TommyDickson/INPHO

The Limerick bus makes its way through Limerick City to the reception at the Gaelic Grounds.

Source: TommyDickson/INPHO

Manager John Kiely with former Limerick player Paddy Kelly and his wife Tina.

Source: TommyDickson/INPHO

Manager John Kiely salutes the crowds.

Source: TommyDickson/INPHO

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THE SOLITARY LIMERICK survivor.

It only took Seamus Hickey two seasons as a Limerick senior hurler to grace All-Ireland final day.

Cast your mind back to 2007. Hickey was a symbol of a Limerick team powerless to stop a Kilkenny side at the peak of their considerable powers. A teenage corner-back detailed to pick up Eddie Brennan come throw-in, by the final whistle he had been taken for 1-5 by an attacker in a lethal mood.

It was one of those instructive experiences that a lot of youngsters go through, the problem for Hickey was it took him so long to get back to that stage and attempt to make amends.

The final whistle in Croke Park at the end of July carried a deep personal significance. After an extra-time epic, Cork had been despatched. Limerick were returning to a final and Hickey found himself the only long-serving figure still partaking.

“I couldn’t believe it would take this long to get back here. Especially when we won Munster in ‘13, I could not believe it would take this long to get to the big day.

“Listen I was on the field for the final whistle against Cork and the realisation sunk in after Dowling buried the penalty, that we’re going to an All-Ireland final. It was a special occasion to be a part of.”

Séamus Hickey celebrates Limerick’s win over Cork in late July.

It took until his 13th season as Limerick senior hurler for his second involvement on All-Ireland final day. This time he had number 21 on his back, he ended up stationed in the seats in the Lower Hogan Stand for the afternoon but when that final whistle blasted and Limerick had got over the line with a point to spare, the significance of the result was not diluted.

In essence, Hickey was just grateful to be afforded the chance to be a part of the group that made that breakthrough for Limerick, halting 45 hurling years of setbacks and disappointments and hardship.

“It’s incredible, absolutely incredible. It is everything I hoped it would be to be on the winning side of it. It’s humbling to be part of the group we’re part of. All the people and past players that I’ve played with, that were close, never got there, it’s humbling to believe that we got there. After 45 years it’s amazing and special to be part of this.

“There’s enormous gratitude. I’ve been so blessed. It’s not about me. All the young lads that have been there that have lead the line this year, all the experienced lads that have lead the line this year. The individual has been lost to a sense of unity and a spirit that carried us over. The reality is any successful team needs to have that or you won’t be successful.”

When success arrived at last, there was plenty to share it with. Himself and his wife Ellen’s daughter Anna turns three in a fortnight. Last March their family grew with the arrival of twin boys, Matthew and Patrick.

2018 was already defined by a milestone off the pitch. To allow Hickey the time to commit to the Limerick hurling cause and have a front-row view for yesterday’s momentous occasion, required no shortage of support.

“This year was tough, with the two boys arriving in March and the strain my wife has been under. Everybody who has played the game will tell you important it is to have the people around you, bought in and supporting you all the way.

“I couldn’t do this without my wife and without my family supporting us at home. I feel like I’m living a boys dream and I’m a grown-up man. It’s something special. I’m glad I have this special feeling. It feels surreal, it feels giddy, it feels all that good stuff that you imagined it would be.

“At the end of the day, they’re my everything, they’re my number one. To have them on the field with me afterwards, that’s my ultimate moment. You don’t want to let yourself think too far ahead the week of the final but for me that was the dream come true to have them with me to do it. I’m very, very lucky and I know I am.”

Seamus Hickey lifts the Liam MacCarthy Cup with his daughter Anna.

He suffered his fair share of hurling hard knocks before then. In the spring of 2006 Hickey was first parachuted into a Limerick senior side. He was a Leaving Cert student who lined out in a league final against Kilkenny and a Croke Cup final with St Flannan’s in the space of 24 hours on the May Bank Holiday weekend. Lost them both. It was a first taste of the need for perseverance.

Hickey has served under seven different Limerick hurling managers. County legends in Joe McKenna and Richie Bennis, then a trio of Cork men – Justin McCarthy, Donal O’Grady and John Allen – before a spell with TJ Ryan in charge and then the victorious incumbent John Kiely.

He’s witnessed championship exits at the hands of six counties, Kilkenny their tormentors on four occasions. 2010 was a lost season, Hickey one of many absent players in a messy and chaotic time for hurling in the county. After the 2007 decider there were defeats in the All-Ireland series – twice in quarter-finals and three times in semi-finals.

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He talks freely about the ‘horrors in Croke Park’ that he has gone through. That final loss to Kilkenny. The 24-point hiding to Tipperary in 2009. Tearing his cruciate and being wheeled off 15 minutes in on a dispiriting day against Clare in 2013. A wholehearted defensive showing in 2014 yielded a man-of-the-match award but Limerick slipped to a two-point reversal against Kilkenny.

Hickey went off injured early in the 2013 All-Ireland senior hurling semi-final.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Yet there were also high moments. The Munster title win in front of the locals five years ago. The personal satisfaction in an All-Star award in 2014, just over a year after his knee had snapped.

And the growing sense this summer that Limerick were building to something big.

“I think everything John (Kiely) has done about representing, being the face of the team and the way he spoke has been so measured and so on the money,” says Hickey.

“I thought after the semi-final he nailed it. I thought the message to the group was excellent. I thought the message to people outside the group was even better.

“It was just apt yesterday with Tom (Condon) and Richie (McCarthy) coming on. There was enormous confidence that regardless of who went down, there was a capable person to step in. You can’t fake that.

“We’ve a tremendous management team, tremendous focus and discipline to our play this year. We’ve tried to change the direction of our attack, we’ve tried to keep it changeable. But it’s always to a masterplan and every person knew their place in that plan. That’s what’s special about it.”

That role of observer was a test of emotions in those nerve-shredding phases when Galway chipped away at Limerick’s sizeable advantage.

“It was agony,” reflects Hickey.

“After Dowling’s goal, I was quids in, we’re done and this is it. Then after Whelan scored the goal, the first one, when eight points goes to five, it’s like falling off a cliff.

“Eight is comfortable, five is not. In hurling that is absolutely nothing. For the free then to go against us and when Joe stood over it, I thought his striking had picked up very well towards the end of the game. I thought he could bury this. Two points, it was a nail-biter.

“But if we’ve shown anything this year, it’s been character in tight games. I’m not going to say I was fully convinced in the last minute and a half that we were going to do it but when the whistle did go, it was just pure relief and joy.”

Limerick’s players celebrate their Liam MacCarthy Cup victory.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

He knows that sense of relief is shared throughout a county that was fed up with their time away from the podium in Croke Park continuing to drag on.

“Limerick is exorcised. Limerick is free of the history. The men of ‘73, Joe McKenna, Richie Bennis, there’s so many there, they’re free as well.

“They wanted this as much for us as we wanted it. They’ve always wanted that, they wanted it in ‘07, they wanted it in ‘13, they wanted it all the times we’ve good teams. It was them that was driving it. It’s amazing that their history has been passed on and we can make it a bit more.

“Just Declan (lifting) the cup and what he has been (through) stood out. The journey he has been on since ‘13. I empathise with him.

“Just the type of leader he is and when you think of the Anthony Dalys, you think of the captains that have walked up those steps for counties that have broken famines, I couldn’t think of a better member of our group to do that. I’m so proud of him. It’s great. That stood out.”

He appreciated the Monday after an All-Ireland final as a winner. Morning trips with the silverware to hospitals in Dublin, the journey home to Limerick and the prospect of celebrating in his home place of Murroe-Boher in the next while.

“I’m just back from Temple Street and Crumlin which I think is such a fabulous tradition. The gratitude and appreciation from the nurses and the staff and the kids is mind blowing. If you want perspective in life, that gives it to you. If you want happiness and joy, it’ll show you that too. It’s great.

Niamh Collins with Limerick’s Seamus Hickey and Liam Tomney, three and a half weeks old, from Dublin.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

“We’re going to enjoy this. I plan to enjoy this for as long as it goes. I don’t see any reason not to. To be fair every Galway man to a man that I shook hands with after the game, told me to enjoy this, that it’s special.”

Recruiting a couple of babysitters to help during the celebrations is the only box left to tick.

“They’ve put up with me for this long, I’m hoping they’ll row in for another week or two,” laughs Hickey.

“It’s bonus territory, it’s great. I just feel like I’m witness to something special in Limerick and Limerick history and to be a part of it is pretty cool.”

12 years after he started out, the hurling prize he craved is finally in his grasp.

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LAST NIGHT JOHN Kiely got to come home to Limerick and celebrate in familiar environs.

The night before he got to appreciate a different occasion in the Citywest Hostel. The Limerick manager had seen his share of Sunday All-Ireland post-mortems, this one was different and worth savouring.

“We’ve been through the crappy banquets. Where you have nothing to bring back to the banquet and everybody is very disappointed and it’s a hard occasion.

“So it was fantastic to have the real deal and have that special occasion where you come into that room with what everybody had come to see.

“There was four tables from my own parish in Galbally. That’s a lot, that’s 40 people who wanted to be there with us and share that occasion. And of course your family are all there. They know what’s been put into it.

“They’ve heard the door opening at one or two o’clock in the morning when you were heading out into the back yard to look up at the stars and figure out the solution to some problem that you were worried about.

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“So yeah, it was great to have our family and our club mates there. Even just for us as a group to sit down together last night and dance if off, if you like.”

John Kiely and his daughter Aoife in the Gaelic Grounds last night.

Source: TommyDickson/INPHO

Sunday may have been a breakthrough moment for Limerick hurling but Kiely is not interested in it becoming the closing note of their story.

“I said it after the game, this is not the end. It’s the beginning. I’m just so thrilled for all the young kids that are at home this morning in Limerick because that’s the real dividend from this.

“That spin-off for the thousands of youngsters that are going to go around with hurleys this week, next week and the week after, dreaming of being Cian Lynchs and Shane Dowlings and Peter Caseys.

“And not thinking they should be Seamie Callanan or Patrick Horgan or Henry Shefflin, even though they’re great players.

“They have their own standards and their own heroes.”

The theme of standards is one that Kiely returns to. It was an area he insisted on improvements in as Limerick began the long road of preparations that brought them to All-Ireland final Sunday.

“The backroom team as a whole, the standards rose. That’s why we did the boxing because the previous year the standards were allowed to let slip because fellas weren’t challenging enough whereas this year the standards were set because of the boxing. There was no drop.

“I don’t think there was a single session I went home unhappy about. We simplified things, took out a lot of the rubbish that was in there.

“We kept communication to a minimum instead of bombarding these lads. They’re only 20, 21, 22. Kyle Hayes doesn’t want 20 texts a day, he just wants to know where he is to be on a Tuesday and a Friday – ‘that’s it, boss, leave me alone’.

Aaron Gillane and Kyle Hayes celebrating Limerick’s success at Heuston Station.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

“I didn’t speak to the players this week on my own. Players need to be left alone. If I ring them, they could spend four or five hours and they’re thinking about what the conversation was about.

“So that’s a whole load of bloody energy wasted. At the end of the day, you need to trust them to go out on the field and do the job and play his part on the field, which he does.”

Limerick players celebrating in the Gaelic Grounds last night.

Source: Cian Lynch/INPHO

The demands in shaping a team to win an All-Ireland senior title are obvious. Kiely is grateful to the staff in Abbey CBS in Tipperary Town, where he is principal, for helping him achieve that.

“Obviously it does have an impact. There’s no getting away from that. But I’ve huge support from the board of management.

“The staff are incredible in terms of their support. I’ve actually only taken off two days in two years – two full days where I actually wasn’t in school.

“You’re there until half four, five o’clock. Then you’re gone out the door like a bullet to get to Rathkeale or the Gaelic Grounds.

“It’s just a busy day. That’s all. I’m not the only one in the country that’s busy. It’s just the responsibility because when you get to training, you have to be on point.

“Paul Kinnerk needs to know how many players are there for training so he can design the session around those numbers.

“Listen, we managed it quite well this year. We didn’t allow the phones to take over. Sometimes the phones can take over and you can do all your business over the phone.

“Young fellas, they see me every day on the corridors, in the class rooms, in the office, out of the pitch. For kids to understand that the teacher they know or knew can be involved in such a special thing, that’s great for them to figure out.

“They know I work hard at it. They know I’m in there every morning. They know I’m last in there most evenings. So they know if you work hard, good things will happen.”

After the semi-final victory over Cork, it was striking how Kiely immediately sought to shift the focus to getting right for the final rather than basking in the glow of this sucecss.

“On a personal level after the semi-final was a very difficult situation. You’re being pulled and dragged, left, right and centre, fired into a room full of reporters and I’m a fighter.

“So when I’m put into a corner, I will fight. That’s the bottom line. I’m a protector, I’m a teacher, I’m a parent. I wanted to protect the people that mean most to me and I was protecting the Limerick players.

“I do know the following day by eleven o’clock in the morning, I had six players who had been individually contacted by various media outlets. So they were confused. Once they pushed back, that was the end of it.

“So it did help an awful lot that we were left to do what we wanted to do for the three weeks and that’s continuing to do what we were doing all year.”

He still managed to savour the build-up without being able to fully immerse himself in it. Over the next while, Kiely will seek to soak up the joy generated in Limerick by this win.

“My own village at home in Galbally was nuts. I haven’t been in the village for very long, I’ve gone down for a haircut or a newspaper or whatever it might be.

“But I’m looking forward to going down there tomorrow or the day after and spend a few hours and enjoy what they enjoyed for the last few weeks.

“It’s hugely important because I know the benefit it brings to a whole county, where it be a county community or a village community or a town community or a school community. These things lift people and give people a great sense of satisfaction and pride and happiness and they need it.”

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KILDARE GAA HAVE announced they’ve been granted planning permission for the redevelopment of county grounds St Conleth’s Park.

The venue was at the centre of the ‘Newbridge of Nowhere’ saga back in June after the GAA announced Kildare’s Round 3 qualifier game against Mayo would be moved to Croke Park because St Conleth’s Park was not fit to host the game.

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A stand-off ensued, with Kildare insisting they would not fulfil the fixture unless it was played in their home venue. Eventually, the GAA backed down and Kildare went on to enjoy a famous victory over Mayo in front of 8,200.

Last night, Kildare confirmed they would be going ahead with plans to renovate St Conleth’s Park and they released a number of images of the proposed plans.

Updated Aug 21st 2018, 8:41 AM

TYRONE MANAGER MICKEY Harte has doubled down on their position regarding RTÉ’s coverage of their team.

The national broadcaster released a statement yesterday morning at 9.01am stating they had made an approach to do pre-match and post-match interviews with the Tyrone camp ahead of the upcoming All-Ireland final.

A boycott has been in place since 2011, when Harte felt aggrieved over a letter he had sent to RTÉ in private was leaked to journalists, and a radio sketch featuring the track ‘Pretty Little Girl from Omagh’ aired six months after the death of his daughter, Michaela.

Asked if he was subject to any approach from RTÉ himself at the press event, Harte replied; “Not with me anyway.”

Having been informed about the statement, Harte added, “Well, if that’s what they did with those who have the choice over the contact, then that’s fine, I’m happy with that.”

Meanwhile, Harte has answered criticism of his management by former players-turned-pundits as ‘a cheap shot.’

Three-time All-Ireland winner Owen Mulligan has been critical of his former manager in the past, most recently in May after Harte started Colm Cavanagh, Lee Brennan and Tiernan McCann in the Ulster Championship defeat to Monaghan, all of whom were carrying knocks into the game.

“What was criminal from Harte was that he started three injured players Cavanagh, Brennan and McCann. None of them made an impact and they were taken off early. When you’re playing a quality side at this intensity you can’t expect to carry anyone with an injury. Surely Harte knows this?” said Mulligan at the time.

Harte’s former captain Sean Cavanagh has used even more incendiary language this season in his media appearances, suggesting at one stage in May that; ‘Mickey’s the man, and that’s just the style of leadership he has, it’s quite an autocratic style at times but that’s just where he’s at’.

Harte responded to the various criticisms, saying, “It’s not a big issue. I mean, it’s only a big issue if you allow it to be. I mean, everybody has their opinion and sometimes that opinion is solicited from them to make a headline – and I understand that.

“Let that be as it may. I learned a long time ago that we shouldn’t determine how well we feel ourselves by what somebody else says. That’s really handing away the power of your well-being to somebody else.

“So let people make their comments, and if they have substance to back it up, then I’ll appreciate it. And if they haven’t, I’ll recognise it for what it is – a cheap shot.”

Ahead of the final, Tyrone only have Cathal McCarron ruled out through injury, with Conor Meyler making a good recovery from bone bruising around the knee, sustained in the Super 8′s win over Donegal.

“Conor obviously had quite a knock and he’s working very hard to overcome that, and the signs are positive that he will be available for some part of this final,” Harte said.

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TRIBUTES HAVE BEEN paid after the death yesterday of former Clare footballer Michael O’Shea, who lined out for his county at senior level for 15 seasons.

Clare’s Michael O’Shea celebrating their 2012 Munster semi-final win over Limerick

Source: INPHO

Kilkee native O’Shea, who passed away after a cancer illness, made his debut for the Clare senior side in 1999 and was involved until he retired from the inter-county game in 2014.

O’Shea, a member of An Garda Síochána, is survived by his wife Orlaith and daughter Éirinn.

O’Shea was a forward on Clare senior teams and made one Munster final appearance in 2012, kicking 0-4 as the Banner lost out to Cork. He won two McGrath Cup medals, starting in Clare’s final victories in the pre-season competition in 2002 and 2008.

O’Shea brought his Clare career to an end in May 2014 just after helping the county claim Division 4 league promotion. With his club St Senan’s, O’Shea won Clare senior football medals in 2003 and 2005, helping them in both seasons to go on to contest Munster club finals against Kerry’s An Ghaeltacht and Cork’s Nemo Rangers respectively.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

After retiring, he was appointed manager of the Clare U21 football side and got involved at club level, helping Kilmihil to a county intermediate title last year.

Tributes have poured in from several Clare GAA clubs.

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IN RETROSPECT, GALWAY’S failure to defend their All-Ireland crown may not have been all that surprising.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

They roared to life in the concluding minutes of the All-Ireland final against Limerick to set-up a tense finish, and had there been more legs in Joe Canning’s last-minute free, we could well be preparing for a replay at this point.

But in truth, there were signs that a defeat was on the horizon for Galway considering how they stuttered to victory against Kilkenny and Clare on the way back to the All-Ireland final.

They seemed to be stuck in a habit of coughing up big leads which certainly hampered their performances, and their captain David Burke has since revealed that some of the Galway players were getting treatment for injuries at 3am, such was the physical impact of their nine-game run to the 2018 decider.

But Galway were also guilty of not introducing new blood into the starting line-up to help develop the squad as they sought to defend their All-Ireland crown.

Aside from James Skehill replacing Colm Callanan in the goalkeeper position, the same 14 outfield players started both the 2017 and 2018 All-Ireland finals. Position wise, the teams are almost identical.

James Skehill

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

That’s not to suggest that players don’t deserve their place in the team.

Regular starters such as Daithí Burke and Joe Canning have been immense during the championship while defender Pádraic Mannion was the unanimous choice on the Sunday Game panel for Hurler of the Year.

But without more players challenging for those jerseys, it leaves their starting teammates prone to falling into a comfort zone and developing a complacent mindset.

The Galway management brought eight players into the extended panel back in January, including Brian Concannon who made his senior championship debut in their Leinster opener against Offaly.

He featured regularly throughout the rest of the campaign including the drawn Leinster final against Kilkenny, and would most likely have contested for a place in the lead-up to the All-Ireland final had he not been suspended.

But a team needs more fresh faces consistently pushing to get into the team in order for the side to grow.

Niall Burke and Jason Flynn deservedly drew all the plaudits for their contribution off the bench in last year’s All-Ireland final against Waterford, hitting a combined four points from play to help Galway end a 29-year famine and reclaim the Liam MacCarthy Cup.

Jason Flynn celebrates scoring a point during the 2017 All-Ireland SHC final.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

The problem however, is that both players were still Micheál Donoghue’s main options as impact subs during this championship. And when the team was stung with injuries to key defenders like Gearóid McInerney, there were concerns as to who could come in to replace him.

Joseph Cooney ended up coming back into their defence for the Clare replay to help fill the void.

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Speaking on Off The Ball on Monday night, Tommy Walsh remarked that Kilkenny used to make an average of three changes per game during his time in the jersey. That kind of number brings an injection of freshness to the team without causing any major disruption to the overall line out.

Tommy Walsh

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

More importantly, it keeps players on their toes and reinforces the message that no one’s hold of the jersey is secure.

Brian Cody’s legacy as the Kilkenny manager is largely down to his proactive approach to making changes in personnel, and for the most part, his instincts have proven to be correct even when the changes weren’t obvious to everyone else.

Many were left puzzled when he began moving 2008 All-Ireland winning captain James ‘Cha’ Fitzpatrick out of the team’s regular rotation, but Kilkenny continued to succeed in his absence and the Ballyhale Shamrocks clubman eventually retired from inter-county hurling in 2011.

Additionally, Cody has developed a reputation for springing new talents into the team who have gone on to have a major influence in big games.

Starting Walter Walsh in the Kilkenny forward line for the replay of the 2012 All-Ireland final against Galway proved to be a masterful move on Cody’s part. Walsh was previously a fringe player in the panel but he picked up an impressive 1-3 in that replay.

Joe Canning.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

To Galway’s credit, they did come through each of those nine championship games unbeaten this year, and when Clare and Kilkenny posed questions of them, the Tribesmen responded each time to get the result.

As Joe Canning pointed out in his post-match interview with the Sunday Game after the All-Ireland semi-final replay, Clare never led at any stage in that game despite the pressure they applied in the final stages of the tie.

Galway forward Joe Canning named man of the match in the semi-final replay victory over Clare #SundayGame pic.twitter.com/nnxfmdxKiU

— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) August 5, 2018

Galway’s ability to get back to the All-Ireland final in what will surely be remembered as one of the greatest hurling championships is also a notable achievement.

But their lack of player rotation in the team was a costly factor in their loss of the All-Ireland crown.

– An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that James Fitzpatrick was a James Stephens’ clubman. This has been amended to note his club is Ballyhale Shamrocks.

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MEATH NATIVE CONOR Nash has signed a new two-year deal with AFL outfit Hawthorn, the club has confirmed.

Nash made his debut at the MCG 11 days ago as his Hawks edged out a Geelong side which counted his compatriots Zach Tuohy and Mark O’Connor among its ranks.

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The former Royals minor kicked his first goal at AFL level in Hawthorn’s win over the Saints on Saturday night, and has averaged 13 disposals and four marks in thus far in his fledgeling Aussie Rules career.

Nash joined the Hawks in late 2016 as a Category B rookie, and has penned a new deal along with two fellow youngsters, Kaiden Brand and Oliver Hanrahan, both of whom will be kept on for an extra year.

Hawthorn have also extended the contract of key forward Jack Gunston for a further three years.

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PETER DUGGAN HAS had some year in the Clare jersey.

Peter Duggan.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

It ended in a heartbreaking one-point defeat in their All-Ireland semi-final replay meeting with Galway in Thurles and while there is still that sense of disappointment, the Clooney-Quin star is pleased with his contribution and his individual progression.

Things were very different this time last year.

“I was close enough to packing it in,” Duggan admitted this morning as he collected his PwC GAA/GPA Player of the Month accolade for July. “Very close.

“I’d say if Clooney didn’t go well last year, I’d say I wouldn’t have went back. I was on the panel a long time and I couldn’t really make the break on.”

Thankfully though, the 24-year-old attacker shone as his club reached their first county final in 75 years and that gave him the confidence to pursue his inter-county career for at least one more year.

“It’s a huge commitment,” he explains at the close of his seventh season. “You’re a hurler before anything else. If you’re a teacher, the first thought people look at you — you’re a hurler. It’s very tough then, no one really cares what you’re at outside of hurling.

“All they ever ask you (about) is hurling, hurling, hurling. When you’re on the fringes then, it’s very tough because you’re still putting in the same hours but you’re not really getting any game time. It’s very hard to stay going at it.

“When you’re not able to contribute, it’s just tough to take really. You’d be low, you’d be down.”

With fans after their All-Ireland championship exit.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

He recalls one phonecall in particular which helped him make up his mind. He reached out to his older brother Martin over in London, an All-Ireland intermediate winner with Clare himself.

“‘I remember ringing the brother and he was just like, ‘Peter, go full hog for a year. If it doesn’t work out, if you don’t make it again this year, we’ll leave it at that and you can’t say you didn’t try. But just go full hog and see what happens.’”

And that’s what he did. All in.

He says he didn’t do anything majorly different. He always trains hard, but confidence was a big thing. Surely scoring 2-76 in seven matches for Clooney over the championship helped.

• 2-13 against Feakle in a group stage game.
• 0-12 against Clonlara in the semi-final.
• 0-10 (0-8f, 0-1 ’65) in the drawn final against Sixmilebridge.
• 0-10 (0-6f, 0-2 ’65, 0-1 sideline) in the replay.

“Lucky enough I had a little bit of confidence and things kind of went a little bit my way this year compared to other years where they wouldn’t,” he smiles.

“I was just lucky really.”

Scoring the point which leveled the 2017 county final.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

If he had to have thrown in the towel, he grins that he might have moved to Melbourne. That said, he’s not 100% sure what he would have done but he knows he wouldn’t be where he is today, reflecting on ‘one of the greatest’ summers of hurling ever.

Duggan’s personal highlight was beating Tipperary in Semple Stadium and knocking them out of the championship but for many others, the player in question was the subject of a special moment of magic.

That wonder point against Galway in Croke Park.

He’s seen it a few times, but is as modest as can be as he reflects on the moment.

“I didn’t think that’s what happened at all, looking back on the TV like,” he continues. “I didn’t realise what happened, I just thought I hit the ball over the bar.

“I can’t really think back on it too much now. I didn’t know if I gave away a free or someone gave away a free, but I thought there was some sort of a free supposed to be going – if it was me for steps or for pulling, I don’t know what it was.

“I just remember seeing a small little bit of a breakthrough and I said, ‘Ah sure look, I’ll give it a go and see if it goes over’. I think in my head I thought for some reason I had an advantage so it was a kind of a win-win. Shoot, sure look. Shoot for the craic and see what happens like, we might have a free anyway.”

Peter Duggan with a lovely skilful point. pic.twitter.com/gOME4yoYJU

— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 28, 2018

He adds: “Ah look, it’s cool. It’s nice to have a little bit of a thing to look back on. But at the same time, you’d sacrifice 100 of them for getting into the All-Ireland final.

“It’s a small little novelty to have to look back on that you got a cool score but at the same time, still in the back of your head, it kind of hurts.

“Imagine if we got another one of them we would have been in the All-Ireland final.”

The Holy Grail. He comes back to it several times during the conversation, and rightly so. Like when he’s asked if he enjoyed the year on an individual level:

“It was nice to be able to start a few games anyway. At the same time, you’d give it all back for that All-Ireland. That’s the pinnacle, that’s what you want.

“In general, I’m somewhat happy to have a starting place. It makes it easier.”

He was on the All-Ireland-winning squad in 2013, it was his ‘first real full year’ as he puts it. Not a bad place to start, he agrees, but concedes that perhaps it’d be more significant to him now rather than back then.

“To win it now, would mean a lot more and it’s the same for everyone on the Clare team,” he adds.

“That’s our main objective: to get back and win another All-Ireland. It would be something special.”

For now however, all he can do is watch on as his Limerick neighbours bask in the glory after they ended a 45-year wait for the Liam MacCarthy Cup on Sunday.

Lifting the Liam MacCarthy in 2013.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Duggan is good friends with Diarmaid Byrnes so he’s pleased for him in particular, among others. Gracious in victory, humble in defeat.

“Absolutely thrilled and delighted for them,” he says. “It’s brilliant to see them get what they deserve.

“I think every inter-county team, most deserve getting something from it. You put so much time and effort into it. We were lucky enough in 2013 but it shows how hard it is because we haven’t been able to get back to that All-Ireland final since 2013.

“It’s tough to take that Limerick did win but at the same time, it’s brilliant for them. I’m delighted for them to have won. Looking back, we had so many opportunities to be in the final with them but we weren’t really clinical enough to hit in a final blow or anything.

“Ah, but in general no, delighted for Limerick.”

But there’s a raging fire in his belly to go again. And emulate his neighbours’ feat.

– Additional reporting by Fintan O’Toole

– This article was updated to correct the length of Limerick’s wait for All-Ireland SHC glory.

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