Month: September 2021

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Updated at 21.44

DONEGAL GAA HAVE confirmed Stephen Rochford will join Declan Bonner’s backroom team for the upcoming season.

Rochford spent three years in charge of Mayo before departing last month and will replace outgoing coach Karl Lacey in the Donegal set-up.

Before taking charge of Mayo, Rochford managed Corofin to All-Ireland club glory. 

Donegal confirmed that Anthony Mc Grath and John McElhome have also stepped away from Bonner’s management team. Aaron Kyles joins Rochford as Bonner’s additions to his set-up.

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CORA STAUNTON HAS conceded that she is unlikely to return for a remarkable 25th senior inter-county season with Mayo next year.

The football legend was one of 12 players who withdrew from the Mayo Ladies squad this summer citing unspecified “player welfare issues”, setting off a summer-long saga which played out very publicly.

Manager Peter Leahy, and the players who remained to see out this year’s championship, have left the door open for all involved to return to the Mayo panel next season if they so wish.

But Staunton, 36, revealed on Friday night that her incredible inter-county career has now come to an end.

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“I can’t see myself playing for Mayo again,” she said on The Late Late Show where she appeared to promote her autobiography, Game Changer, written in collaboration with journalist Mary White.

“I’m blessed. I’ve played with Mayo for 24 years. There’s not many people that can say they’ve played with their county for that long. 

"I can't see myself playing for Mayo again" – Cora Staunton. pic.twitter.com/ryqsG4CG7w

— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) October 19, 2018

“I still have my club, Carnacon. We play at the weekend [in the Mayo SFC final].

“When you come to my age and you’re 36, you have to take every year as it comes. I can’t say I’d love to be playing with Mayo in two years’ time because my body mightn’t be able.”

Staunton made the switch to Australian Rules this winter, playing professionally with the Greater Western Sydney Giants before returning to the Mayo panel ahead of the championship.

She added: “I probably said before I had made the decision to go back this year that this was probably going to be my last year, in any event.

“Obviously with Australia coming into the mix, I want to stay a bit longer over there this year. I want to get involved in a little bit of coaching and spend a little bit more time out there. I’d be coming home later so I wouldn’t have been able to do both.”

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SARSFIELDS ARE THE first club into the Galway SHC semi-finals after their 1-12 to 0-13 win over Castlegar today. 

The sides were level at 0-8 apiece at half-time in Kenny Park, but Sarsfields put in an impressive second-half to take the two-point victory. 

Senior A Hurling #Championship Qtr Final #1
Fulltime in Kenny Park Athenry@SarsfieldsGAA 1-12@CastlegarGAA 0-13#GalwayHurling #GAA#SarsfieldsAbú
🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬
Well done lads!!

— Sarsfields GAA (@SarsfieldsGAA) October 20, 2018

Meanwhile, Shelmaliers are the Wexford SFC champions after a comprehensive 4-14 to 1-7 win over seven-times champions Kilanerin in the county final replay. 

Shelmaliers collected their first ever title at the grade after goals from Simon Donohoe, AJ Lehane, Ross Banville and Eoghan Nolan – who finished with 1-2 from play.

The winners, who were promoted from intermediate ranks just 11 years ago, led by 1-6 to 0-1 at the interval and powered to victory in the second period.

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Shelmaliers are the @tdsupplies Senior football champions after a comprehensive and very impressive win over Kilanerin by 4-14 to 1-7. Hard luck to the north county men but this first-ever senior football title is a richly-deserved win for @shelmaliers – enjoy the celebrations!

— Wexford GAA (@OfficialWexGAA) October 20, 2018

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GARRYSPILLANE ARE LIMERICK Premier intermediate hurling champions after their 2-12 to 0-12 win over Bruff today in Kilmallock. 

Ex-Limerick boss TJ Ryan was in charge of the victors, while his brother David captained the side from full-back and another brother Donie top-scored with 0-8.

TJ’s son Colin starred at midfield for the winners.

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Garryspillane dropped down to intermediate grade in 2014 but will be back in senior ranks next year.

Garryspillane led by 1-7 to 0-5 at the break and had six points to spare at the finish.

Callum Sheehan bagged a goal at the beginning of either half to help them to victory.

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Duhallow 3-13
Castlehaven 0-16

John O’Shea reports from Páirc Uí Rinn

DUHALLOW ARE NOW one game away from winning their first Cork senior football championship crown since 1991.

In what has been an epic trilogy overall in this semi final tie between themselves and Castlehaven, it is the men from the North Cork region that deservedly progressed in what was the third instalment between these two teams.

Duhallow were to hit the ground running through and they got the opening score through a Jerry O’Connor point.

The divisional side were then awarded a penalty kick by referee Pat O’Leary, which 2010 All Ireland Senior Football championship winner with Cork Donnacha O’Connor converted successfully in pristine fashion.

Castlehaven responded with early points from Michael Hurley and Damien Cahalane. But they were unable to stem the Duhallow tide in the opening thirty minutes, who were at this point moving the ball about impressively and with purpose.

Paul Walsh, Michael Vaughan, Fintan O’Connor and Eoghan McSweeney all were to add well taken points for Duhallow, before they would find the net for a second time.

Just like in the replayed game, some calamitous defending and a misplaced handpass was to cause Castlehaven problems.

Seamus Hickey was to duly seize the opportunity and he slotted the ball into the back of the net.

Duhallow would go into the half time break with a 2-7 to 0-7 lead, with Donnacha O’Connor to slot over a free before the interval.

Things got even better for Duhallow shortly into the second half, when Jerry O’Connor ran through and drilled the ball powerfully beyond Anthony Seymour in the Castlehaven goal.

Try as Castlehaven might, Duhallow always did enough to keep in front and deservedly progressed. St Finbarr’s await now in the final.

Scorers for Duhallow: Donnacha O’Connor (0-3 frees) 1-3, Jerry O’Connor 1-2, Seamus Hickey 1-1, Eoghan McSweeney, Michael Vaughan 0-2, Paul Walsh, Fintan O’Connor, Anthony O’Connor, 0-1 each.

Scorers for Castlehaven: Mark Collins (0-7 frees) 0-8, Damien Cahalane (0-1 ‘45’), Brian Hurley, Michael Hurley 0-2 each, Conor O’Driscoll, Conor Cahalane 0-1 each.

Duhallow

1. Patrick Doyle (Knocknagree)

2. Bart Daly (Newmarket)
3. John McLoughlin (Kanturk)
4. Kevin Crowley (Millstreet)

5. Lorcan O’Neill (Kanturk)
6. Kealan Buckley (Knocknagree)
7. Lorcán McLoughlin (Kanturk)

8. Paul Walsh (Kanturk)
9. Aidan Walsh (Kanturk)

10. Fintan O’Connor (Knocknagree)
11. Donnacha O’Connor (Ballydesmond)
12. Eoghan McSweeney (Knocknagree)

17. Jerry O’Connor (Boherbue)
14. Seamus Hickey (Rockchapel)
15. Michael Vaughan (Millstreet)

Subs:

22. Kevin Cremin(Boherbue) for Crowley(b/c)(22 mins).
15. Anthony O’Connor(Knocknagree) for F O’Connor (53).
21. Alan Ryan(Newmarket) for M Vaughan (58).
24. John F Daly(Knocknagree) for D O’Connor (60 +2).

Castlehaven

1. Anthony Seymour

2. Ronan Walsh
3. David Limerick
4. Ciaran O’Sullivan

5. James Davis
6. Damien Cahalane
22. Steven Collins

8. Mark Collins
20. Darragh Cahalane

10. Shane Hurley
19. Conor Cahalane
12. Cathal Maguire

13. Conor O’Driscoll
14. Brian Hurley
15. Michael Hurley

Subs:

17. David McCarthy for S Hurley (20).
24. Chris Hayes for James Davis (32)
11. Roland Whelton for Collins (41)
25. Seanie Cahalane for McCarthy (41)
18. Johnny O’Regan for O’Sullivan (50).
23. Shane Nolan for O’Driscoll (56).

Referee: Pat O’Leary(Kilmurry).

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Ballintubber 0-12
Breaffy 1-8

Colm Gannon reports from MacHale Park

WHEN IT CAME down to the winning moment of this game, Diarmuid O’Connor was the man who came good and kicked the winning score at the end of hard fought local derby in MacHale Park.

Ballintubber battled back from conceding a goal early on and thanks to seven points from Cillian O’Connor and some experienced play from Alan Dillon in the final few minutes they had enough to claim their fourth Mayo senior title since 2010.

Aidan O’Shea was posted at the edge of the square at the start and five minutes in he was fouled as he tried to break for goal and the outsiders were awarded a spot kick which was dispatched by Peter Dravins.

Ballintubber cut the gap back to two not long after when Steven O’Malley fired over from close range. The gap was brought back to one point on the ten minute mark through a Cillian O’Connor free and the same man had the game level from another free by the 11 minute mark.

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Gareth Dunne and Damien Coleman traded points to have the game level as the quarter of an hour mark approached.

Cillian O’Connor put his side in front the for the first time from a close range free after he was fouled himself with 18 minutes gone on the watch. The same man stretched his sides lead out to two points on 23 minutes from another placed ball, as Breaffy’s ill discipline in defence began to cost them.

Seamus O’Shea is challenged by Brian Walsh.

Source: Tommy Grealy/INPHO

Breaffy keeper Robert Hennelly at this stage missed three long range frees that his side could really have done with getting. They did get the last score of the game through a Conor O’Shea free from 35 meters out after he was fouled himself on the way to goal.

Cillian O’Connor edged his side two clear again a minute into the second half with a long range free from beyond the 45-metre line. It was fourth time lucky for Robert Hennelly who landed a 45 to leave just one between the sides two minutes later.

Alan Dillon then rolled back the years with a brilliant score after Ballintubber capitalised on a slack pass from Peter Dravins. Then Tommy O’Reilly and Cillian O’Connor traded points from play to leave the Tubber 0-9 to 1-4 up after 35 minutes.

O’Connor nailed another long rang free with 15 minutes to go to keep Breaffy at arms length as the game entered it’s final furlong. The gap was cut to one by a Tommy O’Reilly point two minutes later and it was all to play for still.

Steven O’Malley doubled the lead after Alan Dillon got in behind the rearguard to set him up with eight minutes left, but that was responded almost instantly too from a Conor O’Shea free.

With five minutes to go Conor O’Shea pointed a close range free to level it up, but the man who has lit up the closing rounds of the club championship Diarmuid O’Connor stepped up to put his side back into the lead just before the end of normal time and they saw out the five minutes of extra time to reclaim the Mayo senior title.

Scores for Ballintubber: Cillian O’Connor (0-7, 6f), Steven O’Malley (0-2), Damien Coleman (0-1), Alan Dillon (0-1), Diarmuid O’Connor (0-1)

Scores for Breaffy: Peter Dravins (1-0), Conor O’Shea (0-3, 3f), Tommy O’Reilly (0-2), Gareth Dunne (0-1), Robbie Hennelly (0-1, 1f), Robert Fadden (0-1)

Ballintubber

1. Brendan Walsh

2. Gary Loftus
3. Cathal Hallinan
4. Brian Murphy

5. Damien Coleman
6. Michael Plunkett
7. Ruaidhri O’Connor

8. Jason Gibbons
9. Diarmuid O’Connor

10. Ciaran Gavin
11. Alan Dillon
12. Alan Plunkett

13. Bryan Walsh
14. Cillian O’Connor
15. Steven O’Malley

Subs: 21. Jamsie Finnerty for Alan Plunkett, 18. Myles Kelly for Loftus, 20. Padraig O’Connor for Gavin (BC), 19. Joe Geraghty for Ruaidhri O’Connor.

Breaffy

1. Robert Hennelly

2. Marke Servan
3. James Minogue
4. Colm Kelly

5. Keith Mulchrone
6. Seamus O’Shea
7. Dylan Cannon

8. Matthew Ruane
9. Peter Dravins

10. Robert Fadden
11. Aidan O’Shea
12. Rory Martyn

13. Tommy O’Reilly
14. Conor O’Shea
15. Gareth Dunne

Subs: 20. Michael Hall for Martyn , 18. Colm Dravins for Dervan, 19. Gerry Jennings for Colm Dravins (BC), 22. Gary Walsh for Peter Dravins, 24. Stephen McDermott for Fadden, 17. Daire Morrin for O’Reilly.

Referee: Vincent Neary (Bonnicolon).

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JOURNEYS THROUGH THE Clare hurling landscape.

Kevin Sheehan has been through a few and can appreciate the varying directions they can take.

He can remember the days when Ballyea toiled away in the junior club hurling ranks in the 90s, battling for recognition.

He ploughed away as they climbed up over the next decade or so, in the midst of the outfield battles for the club on the outskirts of Ennis, but at the outset of the 2016 season he was not giving much thought to be a key cog in the Ballyea machine.

Sheehan did not envisage reinventing himself as a goalkeeper who would help the club win their maiden Clare senior hurling title in last October that year or triumph on the Munster stage in Semple Stadium that November.

It wasn’t mapped out for him to be back at the Thurles venue in February 2017 for an All-Ireland semi-final or to grace Croke Park for a St Patrick’s Day decider when Ballyea’s wondrous journey just came up short at the final hurdle.

And it wasn’t forecast then that he’d be getting set now in mid-October to manage his club tomorrow afternoon on the showpiece day of Clare hurling, in their quest for supremacy against Cratloe and the pursuit of the Canon Hamilton Cup. 

First up the tale of how he ended up between the posts.

“It wasn’t overly planned. I’d have played all my career out the pitch and I’d a fairly serious back injury and drifted away for a year. At the time Shane O’Neill would have transferred down to Clonmel with work and left a gap in goal and Barry Coote would have been quite young to fill the gap.

“I played a junior game or two in goals and they were stuck and out of the blue, the senior manager thought a bit more experience around the goal would have helped. I took the chance and it worked out the best.”

Kevin Sheehan was in goal when Ballyea won the 2016 Clare county title against Clonlara.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

That phrase undersells the magnitude of the campaign that Ballyea embarked on after claiming that county crown in 2016.

“It’s hard to even believe it still. We went into such a battle with Clonlara over the two games in the county final. The other evening I just sat down and threw on the first half of the drawn game, the tackling in that was something you’d more associate with All-Ireland final day than club championship, it was just relentless.

“Once we got over Clonlara, we wouldn’t have even told you where we were going next. We didn’t train until the Wednesday night, we’d a good session, maybe 100 minutes long and during it lads started to get cranky, the bite came back into it. Maybe you felt then you wouldn’t be a million miles off Thurles.”

Moments burst forth in his recollections. Gary Brennan cutting through the Thurles Sarsfields defence for that magical Munster semi-final goal.

The splendour of their first-half play when they took down Glen Rovers in the provincial final. Facing off against St Thomas, a former national powerhouse, and streaking clear in the first half before digging in at the finish as they booked a 17 March date for themselves.

Tony Kelly and Paul Flanagan celebrate Ballyea’s 2017 club semi-final victory over St Thomas.

Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

“Against Cuala, we thought we had everything right but they just seemed to be a different step up and physicality on the day. We just weren’t really able to get to grips with them.

“While you could look back at little things over the course of the hour, I think we were well beaten.”

The hangover from that loss lingered throughout 2017 and the exertions of a marathon campaign sapped their energy base. They relinquished their county title at the quarter-final stage against Newmarket-on-Fergus.

By then Sheehan was mindful of handing on the club’s number one jersey.

“I was still kind of anxious with Barry’s age profile compared to mine, it would have been important not to stagnate in the position. You could lose Barry at 23 or 24 when he was coming into his prime, and I’d be coming into my mid 30s and you could leave another hole there.”

Then he got roped into a new role as manager when they needed someone to take charge of a league encounter earlier this year. Barry Coffey had done stints with their underage sides and agreed to coach the senior outfit.

Sheehan got to work but was working with a squad that undergone a vast overhaul. Of the starting fifteen that won the recent county semi-final against O’Callaghan Mills, there were seven changes from the All-Ireland decider 19 months ago.

Cathal Doohan and Stan Lineen had both flagged they were moving to Australia after that club final. Then earlier this year
Gearoid O’Connell and Pat Joe Connolly decided to head to the United States.

Injuries robbed them of their defensive rock Paul Flanagan, who had to undergo surgery to correct a knee issue in September.

But they had Eoghan O’Donnellan, who sustained a serious neck injury in training in late 2016, back in action and Sheehan recruited a few more.

“It’s been a big change,” admits the Ballyea manager.

“But we were just lucky enough that we’d an awful lot of lads around the 22-23 mark. They were maybe a bit frustrated not getting game time last year and they’d built up the experience.

“There’s a couple I would have approached that would have maybe fallen away. Ryan Griffin would have joined the Clare football panel, he’s come back into the hurling this year. Cillian Brennan has been a major addition too.

“Brandon O’Connell had pulled away a little bit, he’s back now. With club rather than county, you do get away a bit more in trusting new lads.”

And he still has a few towering figures to base their side around, Clare’s football talisman Gary Brennan forging a midfield partnership with the hurling wizardry that Tony Kelly routinely supplies.

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Which of these Clare hurling stars will be smiling on Sunday evening? Cratloe's Conor McGrath and Ballyea's Tony Kelly will be in opposition in the county final showdown in Ennis. #GAA #clare #hurling #cratloe #ballyea

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“Gary’s influence might be under-estimated but he’s a real lynchpin in the dressing-room, it’s phenomenal. That 10 minute period when we’re getting ready to go out in the pitch, I suppose Gary and Tony really take over the dressing-room and look at lads and their work-rate.

“In training they chase down everything they can. It’s not like Tony only thinks about scoring his few points every game, he puts in the shift behind him. You’ve Jack Browne and Niall Deasy as well, lads who are well respected, and drive that work-rate.”

It’s all propelled them back to within touching distance of the peak in Clare hurling.

“I’d say it’s a surprise,” admits Sheehan.

“The penny only dropped for me when we went that fourth point up in injury-time in the semi-final that we were going to be back in the county final. The parish might be the same, I think that we were still a little bit of an unknown entity during the year.

“The bunting and flags have started to go up early in the week which was nice to see. We’re a small parish and it’s tight-knit.”

Tomorrow is the next stop as part of a new hurling journey.

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Clonoulty/Rossmore 0-23
Nenagh Eire Og 2-13

Shane Brophy reports from Semple Stadium, Thurles

CLONOULTY/ROSSMORE ENDED a 21 year wait for their fourth Tipperary senior hurling championship title after finishing strongly to defeat favourites Nenagh Eire Og at Semple Stadium today.

The West Tipperary side struck the last four points, four from the stick of Timmy Hammersley who finished with twelve points as they overwhelmed Nenagh down the home straight after Eire Og looked to have timed their run to victory when Paddy Murphy goaled in the 53rd minute to put his side back in front.

However, as they did throughout the game to every set-back Clonoulty responded with Tom Butler, and Dillon Quirke in particular winning crucial frees which the long serving Hammersley converted with the similarly impressive Cathal Bourke putting the seal on the win deep in injury time.

Source: Ken Sutton/INPHO

Despite the manner of the win, they were fully deserving victors, having played most of the game on their terms, leading 0-12 to 1-8 at the end of the first half, despite playing into a still breeze.

Philip Hickey scored Nenagh’s first goal in the 19th minute to put them in front but throughout their forwards struggled to break free of a strong Clonoulty rearguard where John O’Keeffe was to the fore.

Scorers for Clonoulty: Timmy Hammersley 0-12, 9 frees; Cathal Bourke 0-3; Dillon Quirke 0-2 sideline-cuts; Paudie White 0-2; John O’Keeffe, Tom Butler, Fiachra O’Keeffe, Michael Ryan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Nenagh Eire Og: Jake Morris 0-6, 5 frees; Philip Hickey, Paddy Murphy 1-1 each; Killian Gleeson, Barry Heffernan, Tommy Heffernan, Michael Heffernan (sideline-cut), Andrew Coffey 0-1 each.

Nenagh Eire Og

Shane Hennessy

Conor McCarthy
Noel Maloney
Daire Quinn

Conor Ryan
Hugh Maloney
Barry Heffernan

Pearse Morris
Killian Gleeson

Paddy Murphy
Jake Morris
Andrew Coffey

Tommy Heffernan
Michael Heffernan
Philip Hickey

Subs:

James Mackey for P Morris (40)
Adam Gratton for N Maloney (48 inj)

Clonoulty/Rossmore

Declan O’Dwyer

Ciaran Quirke
Joey O’Keeffe
James Ryan 

Sean O’Connor
John O’Keeffe
Enda Heffernan

Michael Ryan
Conor Hammersley

Paudie White
Dillon Quirke
Tom Butler

Cathal Bourke
Timmy Hammersley
Fiachra O’Keeffe

Subs:

Ronan Heffernan for F O’Keeffe (48)
James Hammersley for Joey O’Keeffe (55 inj)
Thomas Butler for White (55)

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels).

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CARNACON CONCLUDED A difficult campaign by hammering Knockmore to take the Mayo ladies SFC title this afternoon.

Eight players from the club departed the Mayo panel during the summer, kicking off a lengthy dispute which saw the club fine, and the players suspended on grounds of bringing the game into disrepute.

The reigning All-Ireland champions had an incredible 33-points to spare in the final, winning on a scoreline of 9-10 to 0-4. They showed no mercy as they collected the 19th senior title in the club’s history. 

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

Cora Staunton, Erina Flannery (2), Amy Dowling hit the net in the first-half as Carnacon led by 4-2 to 0-2 at half-time and they added a further five goals after the break. 

“This has been a long, hard road,” captain Michelle McGing said in her acceptance speech.

“But do you know what? This is sweet.”

After a busy few weeks on and off the pitch, current All Ireland champions Carnacon won their 19th Mayo senior ladies club title in a row with a 33 point win over Knockmore. Afterwards captain Michelle McGing accepted the cup. Here's a flavour of her speech. pic.twitter.com/s0NfMZkBNv

— Mayo News – Sport (@mayonewssport) October 21, 2018

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