Month: September 2021

ANTHONY DALY HAS refused to be drawn on speculation linking him with the Dublin hurling job, despite reports he is one of three men being considered for the position.

According to reports in the capital, Daly, Mattie Kenny and Anthony Cunningham are the three men shortlisted to replace Pat Gilroy, but the Clare native has remained tight-lipped on the rumours. 

Daly is currently in charge of Kilmacud Crokes, who defeated Cuala in the Dublin hurling semi-finals last weekend. They’ll face Ballyboden St Enda’s in the county final on Sunday week and that’s where Daly’s focus remains.

“I have no control over what papers are going to say,” Daly said at the 2019 championship draw in RTÉ last night.

“I was obviously with Dublin for six years. When Pat Gilroy vacates the post – no more than when Ger Cunningham vacated it – I see my name linked. I have a county final to concentrate on. There’s no sideshows for me.”

When asked if the role appealed to him, Daly responded: “Yeah, but sitting in the couch here has a huge appeal. And writing for the Examiner has a huge appeal. You can criticise everybody!

“I’ve six years done in Dublin and three in Clare. You’d be wondering would you have that hunger ever again. I haven’t thought about it.”

Michael Duignan and Anthony Daly at the 2019 GAA championship draw tonight

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

James Horan and Liam Sheedy were recently reappointed as bosses in Mayo and Tipperary respectively. Daly previously managed Dublin between 2009 and 2014 and admits if the situation is right, he can see no issue with managers returning for a second spell over a county.

“Not at all. Nothing is ever really in stone in any of these things. That’s only a load of rot. It’s whatever is right is right for you. And what is right for you and the squad. If it’s the right thing to do and you want to do it and there’s no disgruntlement among the players that you’re going back.

“Pointing out stories about people who didn’t do it when they went back…sure Jesus, if (Ger) Loughnane went back in the morning, he’d do a job. Look, I don’t get that bit.”

Dublin are searching for their third manager in as many years, but Daly paid tribute to the work done by departing boss Gilroy.

“Look, he was certainly a stabilising effect on the whole thing. For whatever reason with Ger (Cunningham)…I’m great friends with Ger and I would have thought he was a great appointment.

“The first year was relatively solid. But there was a bit too much turmoil. Too many stories and that kind of thing.

“Pat came in and wiped the slate clean with everybody. He gave everybody a go and obviously trained them like absolute savage because the league wasn’t hectic.

“Because to be fair, they were really the most consistent team in the championship. They never had a down day. If you go through Munster, everyone had a down day. Dublin didn’t and were desperately unlucky.

“That day against Kilkenny looked like nothing but a Dublin win. Was it a foul on Paddy Smyth? Seán had gone on the overlap expecting the hand-pass and just that little hole was left and then Blanchfield nails it.

“After that it was going to be difficult. But still, they played great stuff in Salthill. They played great stuff against Wexford. So whoever takes over now has a fair platform to build on.”

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

Click Here: gaa 2 stripe jersey

IF ST PETER’S Dunboyne win the Meath senior football title on Sunday, it’ll be their first since 2005 and just the third in their history.

Dunboyne after their junior victory two weeks ago

Click Here: cheap dragons jersey

It’s been a difficult 15 months in the local community and while there are some things in life far more important than sport, winning the county title would be a nice way for Dunboyne to finish the year.

When tragedy strikes, a local team can sometimes channel the pain and achieve something special. Dunboyne are on the cusp of managing just that by doing the junior and senior football double.

A victory today would be a fitting tribute to two of their own.

Prominent club member and former chairman Sean Cox was the victim of a brutal attack by Roma fans as he attended a Liverpool game in April, suffering severe brain injuries. He is currently undergoing extensive rehab in the National Rehabilitation Centre in Dun Laoghaire, but it’s still unclear what sort of recovery he’ll make.

“We just hope that we get some resemblance of Sean back,” his wife Martina said last week.

In August 2017 Lyndsey Comer, the wife of junior footballer and former London panellist Barry Comer, passed away.

Two weeks ago, Sean Cox’s son Jack kicked four points from play as Dunboyne annexed the Meath junior title. Captain of that team was Barry Comer, who dedicated the victory to his late wife in a very emotional speech as he collected the cup.

Barry Comer lifts the Meath JFC title

Source: Damien O’Reilly/Twitter

It was an emotionally charged few days. On the Monday, club chairman Fergus McNulty and Jack brought the trophy into Sean in the hospital. He was well enough to hold the cup in his hand with his son.

“It is a very tight community,” McNulty told The42. “Sometimes these things are more unspoken. So yes it was very emotional after the match but in terms of the run-up and preparation.

“I think these things are more quietly acknowledged as opposed to necessarily being front and centre. 

“Certainly after the game it was obviously an emotional day for Barry and his family, it was quite poignant, Jack had a fantastic game and scored four points. Clearly, we all would have liked to have Sean there on the day but that wasn’t to be.

Sean Cox

“Those are more important things than winning football games but I think the win definitely helps with rallying around Barry and Jack. That certainly gave people a lot of satisfaction on Sunday last.

“Jack is a very talented player, he’s a dual player. He scored seven points in a Junior C final a number of years ago when he was just 18.

“On one level I wasn’t surprised at all. He seems to be a big day player as well which is great. But it was nice for him.”

Meath Junior Champions @DunboyneGAA celebrate after beating St Vincents in Pairc Tailteann yesterday. Well done to both teams on a super game of football!! @MeathGAA pic.twitter.com/rALpnghRtg

— Meath Daily TV (@MeathDaily) September 30, 2018

McNulty is a close friend of Sean’s and praised the work he’s done in his adopted club over the years.

“Sean has been involved in the club for many, many years. He’s a former chairman and secretary so he’s been centrally involved in how the club has grown and developed. His impact has been extremely positive.

“He’s also involved in the athletics club and they have been very supportive with us in terms of getting the campaign up and running.

“We’d describe Sean as a real community leader and somebody who in a quiet way, a very quietly spoken man, has a real interest in where he lives and trying to make the place as positive a place to live and grow up in.

“He’s been a real community leader in that context.”

The club has won just two senior crowns before today but did produce All-Ireland winning manager Sean Boylan and current Royals boss Andy McEntee.

“We have a very strong identity and Sean certainly is very visible around the club as is Andy,” said McNulty.

Dunboyne’s Meath star Donal Lenihan

Source: Bryan Keane/INPHO

Dunboyne provided five players to the Royals this season – Donal Lenihan, Seamus Lavin, Shane McEntee, David Gallagher and Gavin McCoy. 

A fine club spirit has been fostered in the village as the senior players are heavily involved at coaching underage players and it’s something McNulty is proud of.

“It’s interesting in underage our players get quite involved in supporting the academy on a Saturday and Sunday. 

“That’s certainly one thing we’re trying to emphasise as a club. It’s not just the senior footballers but the ladies footballers – all of our adult teams we encourage to get involved as much as possible in the juvenile section albeit they clearly have to give priority to their teams. That’s something which has a high impact from a club perspective.” 

Our young fans wishing the lads best of luck in next week's @MeathGAA SFC final
Ádh mór lads 🖤💛🖤💛 pic.twitter.com/LJpOnozpjE

— Dunboyne GAA (@DunboyneGAA) October 7, 2018

A year after they led an 11-point lead slip to eventual winners Simonstown in the quarter-final, Dunboyne defeated the same opposition in a semi-final. After a shaky start, they dominated the second-half and outscored the two-in-a-row champions by 2-13 to 0-1 in that period.

Last year’s beaten finalists Summerhill prove the challenge ar 3.30pm in Navan’s Páirc Tailteann.

“In some respects, Summerhill are quite similar in style (to us),” said McNulty. “They’ve been putting up big scores. They have that final day experience which I do think counts for a lot.

“Obviously, they have a number of players who seem to have to hit form so from that perspective there’s quite a similar style between the teams. It’s an intriguing final and I guess whoever maybe gets that edge on the day may shade it.

“(Dunboyne) are a talented group but the final will be a different proposition. Finals are very tense affairs. We know this is a very talented bunch of players so we know they’re capable but at the same time we also know that Summerhill have a lot of pedigree.

“They were in the final last year which will stand to them. I don’t think for a second we’ll be assuming that just because we turned in a good half in the semi-final that that match will be carried through to the final.

The scoreboard after Dunboyne’s semi-final win over champions Summerhill

Source: Dunboyne GAA/Twitter

“The clock starts again. On their day they are capable of turning in a very good performance. Finals are very, very difficult to win so we’re certainly not taking that for granted.

“We learned a lot from last year but also we’ve been able to infuse some new players into the team, the likes of Sean Ryan and Liam Byrne have been great additions. They were previously members of the Meath U17 squad from a couple of years ago.

“We knew we weren’t that far away last year it was just one of those things. But we learned a lot and that combined with injecting a bit of new blood into the squad has definitely worked.”

For anyone who cannot make the SFC final on Sunday, we have you covered. We'll be live streaming both the MFC and SFC finals @DonAshGAA @SummerhillGFC @StColmcillesGAA @DunboyneGAA pic.twitter.com/f5FOjJFyxe

— Meath GAA (@MeathGAA) October 12, 2018

Dunboyne have a good record in finals, winning on their only appearances in the decider in 1998 and 2005. 

“We’ve been trying to keep it low-key with the team. Last week was more about the Junior As following their victory. As we get closer you can feel the level of excitement starting to build-up.

“They don’t come along that often. A lot of the players playing on Sunday were underage players for 2005 and they remember it well actually.

“It’s just an interesting way of looking at it. It certainly doesn’t happen often so in that context it is a big day from a club perspective and one we’re looking forward to.”

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

Off the field, the club is organizing a fun-run on 29 October to raised funds for Sean Cox.

“It’s essentially an opportunity for the community and beyond to come out and run, walk, jog for Sean. It’s as much about demonstrating solidarity and support for Martina and the family and for Sean. 

“Obviously it’s a fundraiser as well and we’d love to see as big a crowd out as possible. I think we will get a response and it’s something that we’re looking forward to.”

You can contribute to the Support Sean campaign here

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

Source: PA Archive/PA Images

1. It was a Sunday get-together that featured Manchester United royalty. Sir Matt Busby was there and so was Nobby Stiles, among others. It was the early 1990s; the venue a wine bar in Sale, and the question was for Stiles, then in charge of the B team at Old Trafford. Who was the best up-and-coming youngster at the club?

Stiles did not hesitate. “Ben Thornley,” he replied. What, even including Ryan Giggs? “Ben is the closest I’ve seen to George Best in all my time at the club,” Stiles said. Busby did not bat an eyelid.

The story of the wonderkid who fails to fulfil his potential for whatever reason is an old one, if invariably sad. Yet Thornley’s has come to resonate more deeply because of his time and place. Everybody knows about United’s Class of 92, the band of brothers who won the FA Youth Cup that year – the club’s first success in the tournament since 1964 – to launch stellar careers. But not everyone knows that Thornley was the best of the lot of them.

“Ben would have outdone us all – that’s the sad part,” David Beckham says. “Without a doubt, he would have been one of the best for United and England.” Paul Scholes describes Thornley as “a step above all of us, he could do everything”, while Gary Neville says he was “one of the most outstanding talents I ever played with”.

From better than Giggs to ‘drinking and drinking’, The Guardian’s David Hytner explores how former Manchester United wonderkid Ben Thornley battled back.

Source: John Locher

2. Back in 2010, Nick and Nate Diaz achieved cult status by brawling on national television in Nashville, right in the center of the cage after their training partner, Jake Shields, fought in a Strikeforce main event. That particular incident left CBS’s Gus Johnson lamenting to his national audience, somewhat comically, “These things happen in MMA.” Unsurprisingly, the Diazes are both icons in the game now.

The truth is, when all hell breaks loose in MMA, big things seem to follow. McGregor’s second fight with Nate Diaz was trending toward being a top five PPV, but it wasn’t until the water bottles started flying during the UFC 202 press conference that it became guaranteed to be the best-selling fight in UFC history. Dana White always shakes his head and worries aloud about how the Nevada Athletic Commission will drop the hammer on the offenders, but he knows a little lawlessness goes a long way. (He also knows that the NAC isn’t going to punish itself by banishing people who make money for the state.)

Chuck Mindenhall of The Ringer examines how the UFC consistently turns controversy into financial gain.

Source: Martin Rickett

3. Muir tries to avoid taking any medication in an attempt to be totally natural and clean. “I can count the number of paracetamol I’ve taken in my life on one hand. I don’t like taking anything. There is medication out there that is perfectly fine to take – like paracetamol – but if something is sore I don’t want to mask it. Yeah, you can take something if your achilles flares up but I like to work through the pain.

“Even with protein shakes I take them between the rounds of a championship only because it’s important to recover. During and after training sessions I always just have water and a banana. I don’t have any special shakes. I don’t even drink coffee. I tried it once but it made my heart race.”

Muir sounds scrupulous but how often she is tested by anti-doping officials? “Sometimes you can be tested three times a week. Then a month can pass. In Berlin, at the European championships, I was tested when I arrived and then after the race. So it can be multiple times in a few days or once every month. I’m happy to be tested every day of the year but the problem is when you don’t feel those same principles are being applied to everyone else.”

Donald McRae sits down with Scottish middle-distance running star Laura Muir, who is aiming for gold at Tokyo 2020.

Source: Mike Egerton

Click Here: factory direct kids products

4. Football should be for the people. This does not have to be a utopian idea. There is no reason why the major actors in the game today cannot come together and support the social aspect of football. All of us, whether we are rich or poor, whether we are immigrants or 10th-generation citizens, find the same simple joy in the game of football. We speak the same language. We feel the same emotion.

All the time, I get asked the same questions about my career.

“What was it like playing for those United teams? Why did you do so well?”

People want some kind of complex answer. They want some kind of secret, I think. But the answer is very simple. Sir Alex Ferguson was the master of one thing: Whenever we took the pitch for a match, after hours and hours of work, we were allowed to be free. We felt total freedom to move where we wanted, to play how we wanted.

I could tolerate football no other way.

What is football if it is not about freedom?

Eric Cantona, somewhat fittingly, ponders the meaning of life in The Player’s Tribune

Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO

5. There was some fraternisation but it was limited: “There was no hostility between the Gaelic and rugby clubs but we weren’t as close as we should have been, thanks to the divisive GAA ban.”

And then the crysallis moment: a group of student doctors organised a novelty match and a group of GAA players in the college played a rugby match.

And it appears to have been just a riot of fun. Allowing for the fact that the stories from that day have undoubtedly been burnished with time, the one that stands out is where Moss Keane (the Kerry footballer) threw out a pass to Billy Morgan (the Cork footballer) in such a way that Morgan got floored by a tackler.

Morgan and Keane were great friends, but Morgan made it clear what he thought of the quality of the pass: ‘Mossy, that oval-shaped yoke is a ball and you are supposed to pass it and not shovel it out like cow shite from some Kerry dunghill.’

Paul Rouse examines how Moss Keane was at the epicentre of a changing Ireland

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

Doon 2-17
Patrickswell 0-22

Páraic McMahon reports from the Gaelic Grounds

WING-BACK DENIS Moloney nailed the all-important winning point to send Doon on their way to the county final at the expense of 2016 champions Patrickswell.

Despite failing to score in the final 11 minutes of normal time, Doon held off the challenge of a determined Patrickswell before Moloney stole the show with his injury-time winner.

Throughout this campaign, Patrickswell never hit the heights that saw them lift the county title two seasons ago.

Scores from Calvin Carroll and Aaron Gillane put them in front early on. Doon’s first score was a goal courtesy of Dean Coleman who finished off a move created by Darragh Stapleton catching a Cathal McNamara puckout.

This goal ensured Gary Kirby’s Patrickswell never gained a significant advantage throughout the first half.

Limerick senior Pat Ryan scored a sensational goal on 27 minutes to put Doon ahead for the first time. It was a lead they would never relinquish.

It was Doon’s day because of their ability to field their own puckouts in their half-forward line which were the launchpad for several scores plus Barry Murphy’s 100% striking rate from frees. Richie English was solid at full-back with Darragh Stapleton, Pat Ryan, Barry Murphy and Denis Moloney pivotal to their success.

Scorers for Doon: B Murphy 0-8 (6f), P Ryan 1-2, D Coleman 1-0, D Stapleton 0-3, D O’Donovan 0-2, J Ryan, D Moloney 0-1 each.

Scorers for Patrickswell: A Gillane 0-9 (5f), C Carroll 0-5, T O’Brien, D Byrnes (2f, 1 65) 0-3 each, L Considine 0-2.

Doon

1. Cathal McNamara

2. Brian McPartland
3. Richie English
4. Stevie Ryan

5. Denis Moloney (0-01)
6. Mikey O’Brien
7. Eddie Kiely

8. Josh Ryan (0-01)
9. John Hayes

11. Patrick Cummins
17. Darragh O’Donovan (0-02)
10. Darragh Stapleton

13. Dean Coleman (1-00)
12. Barry Murphy (0-08 6f)
14. Pat Ryan (1-02)

Subs:

18. Jack Cummins for John Hayes (45)
21. Jack Ryan for P Cummins (52)
15. Michael Ryan for Kiely (55)
23. Michael Barry for Stapleton (62)

Patrickswell

1. Brian Murray

2. Mark Carmody
3. Nigel Foley
4. Josh Considine

5. Sean O’Brien
6. Diarmuid Byrnes (0-03 2f 1’65)
7. John Flynn

8. Jack Kelleher
9. Calvin Carroll (0-04)

12. Kevin O’Brien
11. Cian Lynch
15. Tom O’Brien (0-03)

13. Lar Considine (0-02)
14. Peter Harty
10. Aaron Gillane (0-09 5f)

Subs:

19. Darragh Aherne for Harty (29)
18. Jason Gillane for L Considine (55)

Click Here: munster rugby shirts

Referee: Mike Sexton (Bruree)

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

East Kerry 2-10
Dingle 1-13

Paul Brennan reports from Austin Stack Park

A 66TH MINUTE point — two minutes after the signaled four minutes of additional time — from Kerry defender Tom O’Sullivan rescued a dramatic draw for Dingle against a fancied East Kerry team in the first of the Kerry SFC semi-finals in Tralee this afternoon.

When the teams met in Round 2A of the Championship a few weeks ago, there were 17 points between them at the end, in East Kerry’s favour, but Dingle will probably feel they left this one behind them having dominated and led for much of the match.

The second half was played with 14 players against 14 after Dingle’s Paul Devane was red carded on 30 minutes and then Shane McSweeney followed him for a double yellow dismissal right on the half-time whistle.

Dingle led 0-8 to 0-4 at the interval and were good value for their lead, even though David Clifford had dragged his 16th minute penalty wide for East Kerry, when they trailed 0-3 to 0-5 after the first quarter.

Dingle were still leading by three, 0-10 to 0-7, when Paul Geaney played an ingenious pass to Tom O’Sullivan for a simple goal to put the club side six ahead, but East Kerry responded immediately with Clifford finishing a super counter-attack to the net.

Six minutes later, another East Kerry counter-move ended with Clifford rolling in his second goal, and with the momentum shifting to the divisional team, the favourites looked more likely to win.

Jack Sherwood’s fisted point in the 60th minute looked like it might be good enough to get East Kerry into a first county final since 1999, but then O’Sullivan spirited upfield to hammer over the equaliser for a dramatic end to a spiky game.

Scorers for Dingle: Paul Geaney 0-6 (5f), Tom O’Sullivan 1-1, Tomas Sheehy 0-2, Michael Geaney 0-2, Michael Flannery 0-1, Barry O’Sullivan 0-1.

Scorers for East Kerry: David Clifford 2-4 (0-1f), Dara Roche 0-2 (1f), Jack Sherwood 0-1, Philip Casey 0-1, Paudie Clifford 0-1 ’45′, Liam Kearney 0-1.

Dingle

1. Gavin Curran

2. Michael Flannery
3. Tom Leo O’Sullivan
4. Padraig O’Connor

5. Michael Begley
6. Tom O’Sullivan
7. Aidan O’Connor

8. Billy O’Connor
9. Barry O’Sullivan

10. Brian O’Connor
11. Michael Geaney
12. Paul Devane

13. Tomas Sheehy
14. Paul Geaney
15. Matthew Flaherty

Subs

28. Eoin Murphy for A O’Connor (55)
22. Niall Geaney for M Flannery (64)

East Kerry

1. Brendan Kealy

2. Darren Brosnan
3. Dan O’Donoghue
4. Shane Courtney

5. Sean O’Leary
6. Jack Sherwood
7. Philip Casey

8. Shane McSweeney
9. Kevin O’Gorman

10. Darragh Moynihan
11. Paudie Clifford
12. Kevin McCarthy

13. Evan Cronin
14. David Clifford
15. Darragh Roche

Subs

Click Here: Williams Racing Suit

21. Liam Kearney for D Brosnan (35)
20. Chris O’Donoghue for S Courtney (46)
24. Ronan Buckley for K McCarthy (46)
17. Brian O’Donoghue for E Cronin (55)
26. Michael O’Donoghue for K O’Gorman (b/c, 61)
25. Jeff O’Donoghue for D Moynihan (65)

Referee: Sean Joy (Laune Rangers)

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

Imokilly 4-19
Midleton 1-18

Fintan O’Toole reports from Páirc Uí Chaoimh

THE SIMILARITIES WITH the Cork decider last year were striking and the outcome was the same.

Imokilly’s penchant for bagging goals proved a crucial ingredient once more in a Cork senior hurling final this afternoon in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, firing four in this victory over Midleton a year after three had proved central to their success over Blackrock.

Shane Hegarty and Seamus Harnedy celebrate an Imokilly goal.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

Captain and star man Seamus Harnedy hit a terrific shot to the net, Paudie O’Sullivan contributed a key brace of goals and when Shane Hegarty notched their fourth goal in the 43rd minute, it essentially settled this contest in Imokilly’s favour.

The timing of the goals were critical in hampering Midleton’s hopes of snatching the spoils. There was no easing into the action from the throw-in as Imokilly struck with an early statement of intent. Within two minutes a long Mark O’Keeffe delivery had evaded the Midleton rearguard with ex-Cork senior O’Sullivan alert to read the play and finish calmly to the net.

Another inter-county figure Harnedy pounced for Imokilly’s second goal in the 20th minute, a super individual effort as he weaved a path through the Midleton defence before finishing powerfully to the net. Cork captain Harnedy’s influence was visible throughout that opening period, he bagged 1-4 from play and Midleton couldn’t contain his incisive running from the half-forward line berth.

Midleton had grown in stature as the half progressed, bagging three points on the bounce to cut the deficit to two just before Harnedy netted and then boosted by Patrick White raising a green flag in the 28th minute. It was a clever finish after he read the flight of a clearance from Sean O’Leary-Hayes. But despite Conor Lehane and Luke O’Farrell shining at stages, Imokilly were in the ascendancy with a 2-11 to 1-9 advantage at the interval.

Click Here: brisbane lions guernsey 2019

Midleton would make a positive start to the second half, hitting four of the first five points registered after the break. Three were swung over on the trot courtesy of Lehane, Cormac Walsh and Luke O’Farrell. With 20 minutes to go, they were two adrift and very much in the hunt.

But then the hammer blows arrived. O’Sullivan finishing clinically past Midleton goalkeeper Tommy O’Connell in the 41st minute, Harnedy clipping over a point and then Hegarty surging into space before finding the net. In front 4-13 to 1-13, Imokilly were sailing clear into the winners’ enclosure at that stage.

Imokilly’s Michael Russell with Midleton’s Patrick White.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

Scorers for Imokilly: Seamus Harnedy 1-6, Paudie O’Sullivan 2-1, William Leahy 0-5 (0-2f, 0-1 ’65), Bill Cooper 0-4, Shane Hegarty 1-1, Declan Dalton, Barry Lawton 0-1 each.

Scorers for Midleton: Conor Lehane 0-7 (0-6f), Patrick White 1-1, Cormac Walsh 0-4, Luke O’Farrell 0-3, Seán O’Meara, Cormac Beausang, Paul Haughney 0-1 each.

Midleton’s Sean O’Meara with Imokilly’s Colm Spillane.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

Imokilly

1. Dara O’Callaghan (Watergrasshill)

2. Michael Russell (Aghada)
3. Colm Barry (Castlelyons)
4. Colm Spillane (Castlelyons)

5. Ciarán O’Brien (St. Ita’s)
6. Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons)
7. John Cronin (Lisgoold)

8. Bill Cooper (Youghal)
9. Mark O’Keeffe (Fr. O’Neills)

10. Brian Lawton (Castlemartyr)
15. Seamus Harnedy (St Ita’s)
12. Shane Hegarty (Dungourney)

11. William Leahy (Aghada)
13. Paudie O’Sullivan (Cloyne)
14. Barry Lawton (Castlemartyr)

Subs

17. Ger Millerick (Fr O’Neill’s) for O’Keeffe (47)

Midleton

1. Tommy Wallace

18. Eoghan Moloney
3. Finbarr O’Mahoney
2. Seadnaidh Smyth

4. Luke Dineen
6. Sean O’Leary Hayes
7. James Nagle

8. Paul Haughney
9. Seamus O’Farrell

14. Luke O’Farrell
10. Cormac Walsh
13. Cormac Beausang

5. Sean O’Meara
11. Conor Lehane
15. Patrick White

Subs

12. Padraig Nagle for O’Meara (half-time)
23. Tommy O’Connell for White (43)
24. Ross O’Regan for O’Mahoney (45)

Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Éire Óg)

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

St Vincent’s 0-8
St Jude’s 2-11

Stephen O’Meara reports from Parnell Park

ST JUDE’S HAVE torn up the script for the second round in a row to topple St Vincent’s in the semi final of the Dublin Senior Football Championship.

Having already dumped out Ballymun Kickham’s in the previous round, a fortnight ago, their appetite would surely have been whetted, having been level with Vincent’s in last year’s semi, before being reduced to 14, and in turn, 13.

The big talking point as the side lined up was the omission of Diarmuid Connolly from Vincents’ starting line-up for the second time since returning from Boston, not to mention Enda Varley.

Connolly’s absence, however, wasn’t felt in the opening eight minutes, as Vincent’s ran up a 0-4 to no score lead, despite not looking particularly dominant.

With Jude’s typically filtering a sweeper from the half-back line, while Vincent’s typically held Ger Brennan or Brendan Egan to keep a four-v-three inside their “65”, Jude’s would remain composed and work themselves back into the game.

With Mick Concarr’s man-marking limiting Kevin McManamon’s input to one point from play throughout, it was Padraic Clarke who caused the most damage in the opening half, as Jude’s brought the score-line back to five apiece by the 25th minute.

And it was Clarke who pounced in the 26th minute with a fisted goal, when Vincent’s got their lines mixed after Kieran Doherty sent a tasty cross-field ball into the square, seeing Jude’s into a 1-6 to 0-5 half-time lead.

Despite the arrival of Connolly and Enda Varley off the bench at half time, the Marino men would score just one point in the next 23 minutes.

With Jude’s playing an ominous possession game, with the lead, they picked Vincent’s apart from end to end for Séamus Ryan to net in the 41st minute, extending their lead to six.

They would continue to control the game methodically to the finish, never letting Vincent’s mount anything like a comeback, running out winners by an impressive 2-11 to 0-8.

Having overcome 5/1 and 4/1 bookies’ odds respectively in the quarters and semis, they now face Kilmacud Croke’s, who they knocked out in 2016, in the final in a fortnight’s time.

Scorers for Vincent’s: Tomás Quinn 0-2 (2f), Enda Varley 0-2 (2f), Éamonn Fennell 0-1, Lorcan Smyth 0-1, Gavin Burke 0-1, Nathan Mullins 0-1

Scorers for Jude’s: Padraic Clarke 1-2 (1f), Séamus Ryan 1-1, Niall Coakley 0-3 (1f), Kevin McManamon 0-2 (1f), Chris Guckian 0-1, Simon King 0-1, Tom Devlin 0-1

St Vincent’s

1 Michael Savage

15 James McCusker
2 Mick Concarr
18 Fiachra Breathnach

7 Brendan Egan
6 Ger Brennan
10 Gavin Burke

9 Nathan Mullins
23 Éamonn Fennell

8 Lorcan Galvin
11 Lorcan Smyth
12 Cormac Diamond

17 Adam Baxter
14 Shane Carthy
15 Tomás Quinn

Subs

19 Diarmuid Connolly for Diamond (HT)
13 Enda Varley for Baxter (HT)
22 Joe Feeney for Smyth (47)
26 Rian McBride for Mullins ((55)
25 Seán Lambe for Burke (58)

St Jude’s

1 Liam Mailey

2 Oisín Manning
3 Ciarán Fitzpatrick
4 Cillian O’Reilly

5 Tom Lahiff
6 Niall O’Shea
7 Chris Guckian

8 Mark Sweeney
9 Séamus Ryan

19 Ronan Joyce
17 Simon King
12 Kieran Doherty

13 Niall Coakley
14 Kevin McManamon
15 Padraic Clarke

Subs

10 Tom Devlin for Joyce (39)
24 Neal Mangan for King (51)
18 Andy Sweeney for Clarke (60)
20 Billy Sheehan for Coakley (64)

Referee: Damien Burnett

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

Click Here: NRL Telstra Premiership

St Peter’s (Dunboyne) 1-11
Summerhill 0-9

Dunboyne captain Cathal Finn reacts at the final whistle

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

Paul Keane reports from Pairc Tailteann, Navan

HE MADE HIS name initially on the Dublin club scene but Stuart Lowndes is quickly emerging as a key player across the border in Meath.

Three years after playing for Dublin against Meath in the 2015 O’Byrne Cup, Lowndes blasted the crucial goal that secured the Meath SFC title for Dunboyne’s St Peter’s club.

It’s only their third-ever title win — their first since 2005 — and it required a late burst of 1-2 without reply to shake off a determined Summerhill side in Navan.

Lowndes, older brother of Dublin star Eric, pounced on a loose ball in the 55th minute and blasted it to the net, turning a one-point lead into four.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

Robert McCarthy scored his seventh point of the game shortly afterwards and Dunboyne held onto that five-point advantage to win by a slightly flattering margin.

It was an emotional win, also, for David Gallagher, the former Meath and Ireland goalkeeper, who is the only player to have featured in all three of the club’s title successes — the first way back in 1998.

Captain Cathal Finn gave a special mention to Sean Cox in his victory speech and urged supporters to remember the club official who was the victim of a high-profile attack in the UK earlier this year.

Before lifting the trophy, Cathal Finn gave a special mention to Sean Cox

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

It wasn’t a classic encounter in truth and the Wexford representatives, who face Dunboyne in the Leinster club championship in a fortnight, won’t be intimidated by the task.

There were only nine points in the first half, four of them from frees, as Summerhill led 0-5 to 0-4.

Dunboyne began both halves with three unanswered points and took a 0-7 to 0-5 lead in the third quarter as they threatened to pull clear.

But Summerhill, champions in 2011 and 2013 and runners-up last year, refused to throw in the towel. Points from Padraig Geraghty and Barry Dardis tied it up at 0-9 apiece.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

That was as good as it got for the ‘Hill as Cathal Lacey edged Dunboyne ahead before Lowndes, who previously played for St Peregrine’s in Dublin before transferring to nearby Dunboyne and representing Meath in early 2017, pounced on a breaking ball and blasted to the net.

Scorers for St Peter’s (Dunboyne): Robert McCarthy 0-7 (0-5f), Stuart Lowndes 1-0, Donal Lenihan 0-1 (0-1f), Liam Byrne 0-1, David McEntee 0-1, Cathal Lacey 0-1.

Scorers for Summerhill Barry Dardis 0-4 (4f), David Larkin 0-2, Michael Byrne 0-1, Sean Dalton 0-1, Padraig Geraghty 0-1.

St Peter’s (Dunboyne)

1. Cian Flynn

29. Cian O’Dwyer
7. Seamus Lavin
6. Gavin McCoy

5. Cathal Finn (C)
3. Shane McEntee
2. Sean Ryan

8. David Gallagher
9. Niall Jones

10. Stuart Lowndes
30. Ronan Jones
12. Liam Byrne

11. David McEntee
13. Robert McCarthy
15. Donal Lenihan

Subs: 19. Craig Lowndes for Ryan (44′); 20. Cathal Lacey for David McEntee (44′); 17. Conor Doran for Byrne (47′); 23. Shane Comiskey for Gallagher (52′); 18. Jack Donnelly for Niall Jones (58′); 4. Jack Scannell for O’Dwyer (63′)

Summerhill

1. Tony McDonnell

2. Iarla Hughes
3. Caolan Young
4. John Lavelle

7. Padraig Geraghty
6. Willie Ryan (C)
23. Ross Ryan

8. Michael Byrne
9. John Keane

10. Kevin Ryan
11. David Larkin
12. Cian Devlin

13. Sean Dalton
14. Barry Dardis
15. Davy Dalton

Subs: 17. Ronan Ryan for Lavelle (37′); 19. Ciaran Gillespie for Keane (44′); 5. Stephen Husband for Devlin (50′); 20. Paul Larkin for Sean Dalton (55′); 18. Liam Shaw for Kevin Ryan (56′)

Referee: Colm McManus (Gaeil Colmcille)

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

Click Here: southern kings rugby jersey

Dr Crokes 2-19
Kerins O’Rahilly’s 2-10

Paul Brennan reports from Austin Stack Park

DR CROKES’ TITLE defence remains on course after they eased into their third Kerry county final in a row on the back of a nine-point win over a Kerins O’Rahillys team that had beat them earlier in the Championship.

That surprise result in Round 2 added a little extra heat to this rematch with a few flashpoints breaking out in a game that wasn’t really decided until the game almost spilled into eight minutes of additional time at the end of the hour.

Dr Crokes were just a point to the good after 55 minutes before Jordan Kiely’s goal put the first bit of daylight between the teams since Gavin O’Brien’s goal for O’Rahillys after just 30 seconds. That Kiely goal was another damaging blow to the Tralee club who had lost Kerry panelist Jack Savage to a red card after 44 minutes, and Crokes smelled blood and went after it.

Brian Looney’s sending off in the 59th minute evened up the playing numbers for the last nine minutes but late points from Brosnan, Johnny Buckley and Kieran O’Leary, along with Kiely’s second goal fashioned by O’Leary, was enough for the champions to advance to the final with something to spare.

That O’Brien goal after just 30 seconds teed up a fascinating first half that saw the teams level, 0-6 to 1-3, after the first quarter. It looked as if Crokes would take a slim lead to the interval but O’Brien struck again for his second goal on the brink of the break to leave it honours even, 2-5 to 0-11, at half-time.

Colm Cooper came on at half-time but only lasted 15 minutes before being black carded just after Savage’s dismissal, at which stage the teams were still deadlocked, 0-14 to 2-8.

An injury to Kerry and Dr Crokes goalkeeper Shane Murphy punctuated the action for a while and when play resumed, Crokes hit O’Rahillys for 1-2 in a couple of minutes to open up a lead they wouldn’t lose again.

The county champions await the winner of next Sunday’s replay between East Kerry and Dingle, after they drew in the first semi-final earlier in the day.

Scorers for Dr Crokes: Tony Brosnan 0-6 (0-3f), Jordan Kiely 2-0, Kieran O’Leary 0-5, Johnny Buckley 0-2, Micheal Burns 0-2, David Shaw 0-2, Shane Murphy 0-1 ’45′, Brian Looney 0-1.

Scorers for Kerins O’Rahillys: Gavin O’Brien 2-1, Jack Savage 0-3f, Barry John Keane 0-2, David Moran 0-2 (1 ’45′), Karl Mullins 0-1, Tommy Walsh 0-1

Dr Crokes

1. Shane Murphy

2. John Payne
3. Michael Moloney
4. Fionn Fitzgerald

17. Shane Doolan
6. Alan O’Sullivan
7. Gavin White

8. Johnny Buckley
9. Daithi Casey

10. Micheal Burns
11. Gavin O’Shea
12. Brian Looney

25. David Shaw
14. Kieran O’Leary
15. Tony Brosnan

Subs:

13. Colm Cooper for D Shaw (HT)
20. Jordan Kiely for G O’Shea (44)
19. Michael Potts for C Cooper (b/c, 48)
16. Johnny O’Leary for S Murphy (51)
22. Eoin Brosnan for M Burns (63)
29. Billy Courtney for T Brosnan (67)

Kerins O’Rahillys

1. Gary Kissane

Click Here: New Zealand Rugby Shop

2. Cormac Coffey
24. Darragh McElligott
4. Danny O’Sullivan

5. Ross O’Callaghan
6. Shane Brosnan
7. Ryan Carroll

8. David Moran
9. Con Barrett

10. Gavin O’Brien
11. Barry John Keane
12. Karl Mullins

13. Jack Savage
14. Tommy Walsh
15. John Ferguson

Subs:

19. Tom Hoare for R Carroll (b/c, 8)
17. John C O’Connor for J Ferguson (55)
18. Gearoid Savage for D McElligott (61)
20. Padraig Griffin for G O’Brien (68)

Referee: Brendan Griffin (Clounmacon)

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

THE TWO CLUBS that have shared the last six Tipperary county senior football titles were both knocked out at the semi-final stage today.

Reigning champions Clonmel Commercials and Loughmore-Castleiney, most recent winners in 2016, both lost their last four games after dominating the scene with three titles apiece since 2012.

Instead there is a chance for Moyle Rovers, victors last in 2009, and Ardfinnan who triumphed in the 2005 final, to grasp silverware on Tipperary county senior final day.

A last-gasp goal by Sean Carey in injury-time handed Moyle Rovers a 2-7 to 0-11 semi-final success over local rivals Clonmel Commercials in Cahir. It looked like Seamus Kennedy had struck the winning point moments before when he edged Commercials in front 0-11 to 1-7 before they conceded that late goal.

Click Here: new zealand chiefs rugby jersey

The teams were tied 0-3 apiece at the break before Commercials forged in front early in the second half through Jack Kennedy and Jason Lonergan. A goal from a penalty by Liam Boland in the 41st minute was a boost for Moyle Rovers, drawing them level at 1-4 to 0-7. The teams traded points thereafter before the late drama unfolded.

Manager John Evans steered Ardfinnan to a 0-9 to 0-8 success over Loughmore-Castleiney in Holycross in their semi-final. Loughmore were in front 0-6 to 0-5 at the break but Ardfinnan came from behind to book a first final spot in 13 years.

In Clare, 2015 champions St Joseph’s Miltown-Malbay are through to the decider after a 1-15 to 1-8 semi-final success over Cratloe. The victory sets up a final against Ennistymon, through to their first final after dethroning holders Kilmurry-Ibrickane yesterday.

St Joseph’s put paid to the ambitions of Cratloe, who contest the senior hurling decider next Sunday, of doing the double this year in Clare. The Miltown Malbay club were ahead narrowly 0-8 to 1-4 at the interval before moving 1-9 to 1-5 clear by the third quarter and running out victors at the final whistle by seven points.

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