Month: September 2021

TIR CHONAIL GAELS ended their three-year wait without a London SFC title with a two-point victory over Fulham Irish.

The Gaels edged a tight game with a 0-15 to 0-13 win. They led at half-time by 0-7 to 0-4 and a late score from Killian Butler sealed the win. 

It’s @theirishworld London SFC title No.17 for @TirChonailGaels 0-15 to 0-13 winners over @FulhamIrish At McGovern Park @LONDAINGAA @hoganstandgaa @RTEgaa @officialgaa @ConnachtGAA @RoscommonGAA @ClannGAA pic.twitter.com/JIhoVYXdFW

— the Irish World (@theirishworld) October 28, 2018

In the Leinster club SFC, Dunboyne, Moorefield and Rhode advanced to the quarter-finals with their respective victories today.

Rhode defeated St Pat’s by 2-16 to 1-9, just 24 hours after the latter were crowned Wicklow champions. Dunboyne were 1-12 to 1-2 winners against Shelmaliers while Moorefield beat Mullingar Shamrocks by 2-9 to 1-6.

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Here’s the line-up for the last eight:

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THE NIRE ARE the Waterford SFC champions for the third time since 2014, beating Kilrossanty in this evening’s final.

Kilrossanty were seeking their first county title in 29 years, but the more experienced The Nire outfit edged a low-scoring affair by 0-9 to 0-7.

Congratulations to @NireFourmile JJ Kavanagh & Sons Senior Football Champions 2018!

🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/oENN8WBhLC

— Waterford GAA (@WaterfordGAA) October 28, 2018

St Joseph’s Miltown enjoyed a 0-14 to 0-8 victory against Ennistymon in the Clare SFC final earlier today. They secured a second crown in four years after a storming finish in front of 5,533 at Cusack Park, with Eoin Cleary contributing 0-5 for the victors.

Finally, Moyle Rovers lifted the Tipperary SFC crown for the eighth time in their history after defeating Ardfinnan by 1-15 to 1-7. Shane Foley grabbed 1-2 and Liam Boland shot 0-6 for Rovers, who had Dubai-based Peter Acheson at midfield.

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BALLYHALE SHAMROCKS CAPTAIN Michael Fennelly and manager Henry Shefflin paid touching tributes to a deceased member of the panel following their victory in the Kilkenny SHC final on Sunday.

It was their 16th senior Kilkenny crown and amidst the celebrations, Fennelly and Shefflin remembered their teammate Eoin Doyle, who died following a motorbike accident earlier this year.

During his acceptance speech Fennelly spoke about the impact that Doyle’s death had on the team and mentioned his parents John and Ber and sisters Clodagh and Dearbhla before dedicating the triumph to him.

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“Back in April this year, we lost one of our team members. He was lost in a tragic bike accident on the road.

We brought him along the whole year. We had a jersey in the dressing room for every game and thankfully we did him justice and that is Eoin Doyle.

“Eoin really and truly was the backbone of this win today and I’d like to dedicate this cup to him.” 

TJ Reid hit 1-10 to help Ballyhale to a three-point win over a gutsy Bennettsbridge in Nowlan Park, as Shefflin marked his first year in charge by securing county honours.

“Eoin Doyle, one of our panel members passed away this year in a tragic accident,” he told TG4 after the game.

“I’m just delighted for his family. They’ve been really behind us.

“All over the country this day is a special day because of the community because of the bond.

“I would have loved if Eoin was here with us today but he looked down on us last week so I’m glad to say we’re looking up at him today happy.” 

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THE EUPHORIA IN the St Finbarr’s camp after yesterday’s Cork senior football final triumph was not just rooted in the fact that they were a team atoning for a reversal at the same hurdle twelve months before.

Ian Maguire captained St Finbarr’s to Cork senior football glory.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

For a club who had won their eighth crown at this level in 1985, it was a long time waiting for the ninth title to arrive.

Eight final losses in the interim heightened that sense of disappointment. A long-awaited victory sparked an emotive response, something which manager Ray Keane, a Caherciveen native and brother of newly-appointed Kerry senior boss Peter, could easily detect.

“I’ve grown men coming up to me crying, that’s just real passion and heart,” he remarked afterwards to local radio station C103.

“As an outsider, and a Kerry man on top of it, you’re kind of wondering what are they on about. It’s 33 years they’ve been waiting which is phenomenal when you think of the size of the club and the base they have.

“I’m just delighted for each and every one of them, the backroom team and more importantly the players. There’s 41 players in total, each and every one of them deserve a medal. I could not give them high enough praise.”

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🇺🇦 The Barrs champions returning home with the Cup ! Great atmosphere on Barrack Street Cork. Video: @MediaAperture @the_Barrs #ComeOnTheBarrs #BluesNews @OfficialCorkGAA @PaircUiCha0imh @pure_cork #champions pic.twitter.com/E7fIybcboy

— Drone Photography Cork (@DroneCork) October 28, 2018

In an exciting encounter that ebbed and flowed, the input of St Finbarr’s and Cork captain Ian Maguire proved a crucial ingredient in the success over Duhallow.

“When I took over first, the biggest issue I felt we had was we didn’t have leaders,” said Keane.

“There was five or six of them that I personally identified and they all stood up there. Ian, I don’t have the words to describe what he means to the team or the standing that I hold him in personally because I think he’s just a great man.

“I think he’s arguably one of the best players in the country if the team is built properly around him. I’m just thrilled for him. Last year he did everything he could to win that final and unfortunately it went against him.

“Mike Shields has been around there a long time, Colin Lyons, Denis O’Brien, Robbie O’Mahony coming on for the last 30 seconds, you don’t know what it means for some of these fellas. To be playing all your life and to get a chance at a county and to eventually get one, it’s amazing.”

St Finbarr’s goalkeeper John Kerins celebrates victory with team-mate Colm Scully.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

For Maguire the chance to share in a triumph with some of the club’s long-serving figures was crucial. For a bunch of the St Finbarr’s team, the memories of the losses in deciders in 2009, 2010 and 2017 spurred them on.

“I’m so happy for all the warriors, Robbie O’Mahony and Michael Shields, this is their day and I’m so happy I was able to help them get their county medal. Ross Dwyer, Glen (O’Connor), these fellas, they are the club. I’m delighted for them. No one deserves county medals more than them.

Robert O’Mahony celebrates victory for St Finbarr’s.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

“It’s just a great day for the club.  We’ve been there and we’ve lost. It’s been a tough couple of years and even last year with the loss of Kevin McTernan (the former club goalkeeper who passed away) was very hard.

“Look you’ve got to remember the good days. It’s a nice feeling. We know what Duhallow are going through. We were there last year. It can make you stronger if you learn from those mistakes. I think there’s a great bunch of lads here and this is a domino effect for the club please God, that we can push on in other sectors like the senior hurling section. It’s just an unbelievable day.”

Michael Shields with the trophy after St Finbarr’s triumphed.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

As opponents Duhallow were a divisional outfit, St Finbarr’s were guaranteed before the match to be Cork’s representatives in the club championship.

They will now enter that arena as champions against Dr Crokes or Moyle Rovers in a semi-final tie on 11 November.

“I’ll be honest, we’ll have a job getting a team together after the week this crowd will go on,” laughed Keane.

“They’d some week last year after losing so I can imagine what they’ll do after winning. Look our first and foremost goal this year was to try and win the county.

“We’ve done that, we’re missing a few players and they showed their resolve that we were still able to pull it over the line. We’ll gather together the middle of next week and we’ll see how we’ll go.”

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THE LAST THREE Galway senior hurling kingpins will all feature in semi-final showdowns next Sunday as this year’s championship reaches the last four stage.

Yesterday’s 1-23 to 2-19 quarter-final win for St Thomas over Clarinbridge completed the semi-final up as it was the remaining last eight fixture to be played.

It means 2016 title winners St Thomas, with David Burke and Conor Cooney on board, will take on 2015 victors Sarsfields, who have Joseph Cooney in their ranks, in the opening semi-final tie.

Then reigning champions Liam Mellows, victors last season for the first time in 47 years, will take on Cappataggle, who are aiming to contest a decider for the first time.

The draw was made after yesterday’s games with the semi-finals scheduled for a double-header next Sunday afternoon in Athenry. The winners will face each other in the final in the last remaining county senior hurling championship to be completed in 2018.

Galway senior hurling semi-finals

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Sunday 4 November
Sarsfields v St Thomas, Kenny Park, Athenry, 1pm
Cappataggle v Liam Mellows, Kenny Park, Athenry, 2.45pm

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Kilmacud Crokes 2-12
St Judes 0-13

Fintan O’Toole reports from Parnell Park

PAUL MANNION STAMPED his class all over the Dublin senior football decider on a night when his Kilmacud Crokes team ended their club’s eight-year wait for senior football glory and condemned St Jude’s to more disappointment.

Paul Mannion starred for Kilmacud Crokes tonight.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

Five points was the separating margin under the Parnell Park floodlights but it was not until Mannion netted in the 57th minute, that the contest was truly settled.

St Jude’s had thundered back into contention in the second half and cut the margin to two points, 1-11 to 0-12, when the winners notched their second goal of the game. Midfielder Craig Dias punted in a delivery which Mannion gathered before gliding past his marker and deftly finishing to the net.

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There was still time for a point apiece from either side but that strike from Mannion was the decisive one, bringing his tally for the night to 1-6.

Kilmacud Crokes are Dublin Senior Football Champions 2018! 🏆🏐

Cian O'Sullivan & Craig Dias lift the cup! @KCrokesGAAClub pic.twitter.com/egcMLPYMXe

— The GAA (@officialgaa) October 29, 2018

The other game defining moment arrived in the 41st minute. This time wing-back Cian O’Connor was the creator and it was the experienced campaigner Pat Burke that smashed home a fierce shot for the opening goal of a game where Kilmacud had been in front by 0-7 to 0-3 at the interval.

It was fitting that Mannion despatched the second goal as he was on song all night. 1-6 from play included some breathtaking points in the opening half, some scores to relieve the pressure in the second half and then that goal to wrap up matters at the finish.

It was a night that brought dejection again for St Jude’s as they went in search of their maiden county crown. They started slowly, taking 18 minutes to get off the mark on the scoreboard and were four in arrears at the break.

They exploded into life in the second half though, Kevin McManamon swinging over a lovely point 16 seconds after the resumption. Mannion responded but then St Judes notched three on the bounce courtesy of Padraic Clarke, Tom Lahiff and Chris Guckian to cut the deficit to the minimum by the 38th minute.

Kilmacud Crokes players celebrate their Dublin senior title victory.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

Just as St Jude’s started to think about drawing level, Kilmacud pounced with another Mannion point and that Burke goal. Five points was a sizeable margin and St Jude’s would spend the remainder of the game trying to eat into it.

They pounded hard against Kilmacud, another trio of points supplied by McManamon, Niall Coakley and Tom Devlin leaving just two in it with 11 minutes left on the clock.

Kilmacud were always able to protect that position as the teams traded points, didn’t allow Jude’s sight of David Nestor’s goal and were clinical when that goal chance arose for Mannion.

Callum Pearson almost added a third goal in injury-time but his stinging drive was swatted away by the palm of Liam Mailey. It didn’t matter though, Kilmacud’s place as Dublin kingpins was assured and a Leinster quarter-final awaits against Dunboyne.

A dejected Mark Sweeney at the final whistle tonight in Parnell Park.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

Scorers for Kilmacud Crokes: Paul Mannion 1-6, Pat Burke 1-0, Cian O’Connor (0-1 ’45), Craig Dias 0-2 each, Shane Cunningham, Callum Pearson 0-1 each.

Scorers for St Jude’s: Niall Coakley 0-4 (0-4f), Padraic Clarke 0-3 (0-1f), Kevin McManamon 0-2, Tom Lahiff, Chris Guckian, Seamus Ryan, Tom Devlin 0-1 each. 

Kilmacud Crokes

1. David Nestor

2. Liam Flatman
3. Andrew McGowan
4. Cian O’Sullivan

7. Cillian O’Shea
6. Ross McGowan
5. Cian O’Connor

8. Craig Dias
9. Conor Casey

12. Shane Horan
10. Shane Cunningham
15. Callum Pearson

11. Paul Mannion
14. Dara Mullin
13. Pat Burke

Subs

28. Kevin Dyas for Horan (50)
27. Tom Fox for Mullin (57)
26. Stephen Williams for Burke (60)

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

12. Kieran Doherty
17. Simon King
19. Ronan Joyce

13. Niall Coakley
14. Kevin McManamon
15. Padraic Clarke

Subs

24. Neal Mangan for Clarke (37)
10. Tom Devlin for King (45)
23. Brendan McManamon for Doherty (50)
18. Andy Sweeney for O’Reilly (60)

Referee: Seán McCarthy (St Vincent’s)

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DARRAGH FITZGIBBON IS in the running for a couple of awards on Friday night after his exploits with the Cork hurlers in 2018 and he got his week off to a great start by helping his club Charleville reach senior level for the first time this afternoon.

In the replay of the Cork premier intermediate hurling championship, Charleville saw off Courcey Rovers by 0-15 to 0-14 in Páirc Uí Rinn to confirm the north Cork club will play senior hurling in 2019.

Fitzgibbon shot 0-4 from placed balls to help his side come from behind in the final quarter to prevail by a narrow margin. Jack and Andrew Cagney, along with Mark Cavanagh also shone in the scoring stakes for the winners.

Next Friday night at the PWC GAA-GPA All-Star hurling awards, Fitzgibbon is one of six midfielders nominated for the two positions in the 2018 team. A Munster senior medal winner in July, Fitzgibbon is also set to battle it out for the Young Hurler of the Year award with Cork team-mate Mark Coleman and the man-of-the-match in the All-Ireland final, Limerick’s Kyle Hayes.

His club Charleville had a well-known figure coaching them from the sideline today in Cork’s 2004 All-Ireland winning captain Ben O’Connor. In his playing days with Cork, O’Connor won three All-Ireland senior titles, five Munster honours and two All-Star awards, along with four county, three Munster and one All-Ireland medal with his club Newtownshandrum.

He is now guiding the fortunes of neighbouring Charleville and this feat in his fledgling coaching career helps to complete a remarkable rise for the club.

It’s seven years since Charleville were plying their trade at junior level but after winning the county at that level in 2011, they went on to contest the All-Ireland junior decider in 2012 when they lost out to St Patrick’s Ballyragget from Kilkenny. 

The intermediate title arrived in 2015 and now this premier intermediate success elevates them to the top grade.

Charleville have little time to rest as a Munster assignment looms large. They face a provincial intermediate hurling semi-final next Saturday afternoon, away to Kerry senior champions Lixnaw. The other last four tie in that grade will see Clare’s Feakle take on Clonea’s Waterford in the Fraher Field next Saturday.

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HE KICKED OVER the first point of the 2018 Dublin county final and added the second soon after in a similar effortless fashion.

By the break he had chalked up 0-4, two more white flags were raised in the second half and concluded with a calm finish to net for a late goal that confirmed his side’s victory.

1-6, all from play, for Paul Mannion after his night’s work in Parnell Park, supplying half of the total that Kilmacud Crokes posted.

Veteran attacker Pat Burke needed no invitation to shower the Dublin attacker with praise after he spearheaded the display that delivered the title last night in Parnell Park for their club.

“He’s phenomenal. It just shows, himself and Cian O’Sullivan, the difference the county lads make is just incredible. They’re on a different level.

“We’re good club footballers I think but the difference between us and lads that are playing for Dublin, it’s just another step up. They really showed their class tonight, we’re just so grateful for the boys doing their stuff.

“To score 1-6 in a county final, I think that leaves a legacy behind. This was Mannion’s moment to deliver and by God did he deliver, it was incredible.”

It's half-time in Parnell Park in the Dublin SFC final!
Kilmacud Crokes 0-7 St. Jude's 0-3#GAANOW pic.twitter.com/4GkKkMIRfS

— The GAA (@officialgaa) October 29, 2018

Burke pitched in as well, the only other player to raise a green flag in the decider. His second-half effort came at a crucial stage in pushing Kilmacud clear at a juncture when St Jude’s were starting to rally.

“I felt we were under pressure and you don’t get many one on one opportunities against Jude’s. I was like if I get one, I’m going to go for it. It probably wasn’t the most sensible decision, I would have been caned if I’d missed.

“Shane Smith our coach is always telling me to hit it low and hard and it was the opposite. But thank God it went in, just delighted and glad it went in.”

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Pat Burke finds the back of the net for Kilmacud Crokes! pic.twitter.com/mk58GXBqP6

— The GAA (@officialgaa) October 29, 2018

For Burke this was a triumph to savour. He has already collected county senior medals and was to the fore in their 2009 All-Ireland club success in Croke Park.

But the eight-year wait since they last reigning in Dublin has dragged on, generating plenty disappointment and frustration.

“I think I won my first championship after about three months playing with the Crokes senior team. I’ve waited a long time, thought there was days we wouldn’t get this again, so yeah this is really, really special.

“Then from a club point of view, we haven’t done ourselves justice and when you feel years gone by, when you have talent and you’re not delivering, it’s a very frustrating feeling.

“On a personal level I’m 35, not going to get many more chances at this and I’m acutely aware of that.

Pat Burke in action against Cillian O’Reilly of St Jude’s.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

“The first round of championship (this year), I think I was eight years older than the next oldest outfielder. It was just crazy stuff, the team is completely changed but we’ve a group of young lads that have really bought into what the club’s about.

“We have certain values, we play football a certain way, we want to play football a certain way and I think the young lads have really bought into that and the management team we have in place here this year are just top class. I just couldn’t give them enough credit.

“It’s a different sort of team but it’s just been really enjoyable. Just so relieved, it’s been a long time. I’m going to savour this.”

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THE NUMBER OF Irish players currently in the AFL has risen to 14.

Sligo forward Red Óg Murphy has become the latest Gaelic footballer to make the move to Australia, after North Melbourne confirmed the signing of the youngster today.

Murphy was part of the Sligo team that reached the All-Ireland minor football quarter-finals in 2017, kicking 0-11 (0-4 from play) as they suffered a one-point loss to Derry.

He was in action for his club, Curry, on Sunday in their defeat to Shamrock Gaels in the Sligo intermediate football final replay.

During a trial in August, North Melbourne were particularly impressed by Murphy’s running capacity, which ranked in the top echelon of players at the club.

“Red was invited to Arden Street and we were really happy with his ability and character,” Cameron Joyce, North Melbourne’s General Manager of Football, told the club’s official website.

“Our recruiters, and in particular our Pro Scout Nick Byrne, have stayed in touch with him and his family over the past few months and we are really happy to have signed him as a Category-B rookie on our list.”

He added: “We did a variety of tests with Red and he was exceptional. We feel that he has the right foundations to enable him to have a real crack at playing in the AFL and we will give him every chance.”

Welcome, Red Óg Murphy! 🇮🇪

The man from Sligo will be hoping to become the next Gaelic footballer to play in the AFL, after signing on as Category-B rookie.#BeAShinboner

— North Melbourne (@NMFCOfficial) October 30, 2018

Conor Meredith from Laois was the last Irish player to line out for North Melbourne, who finished ninth in the 2018 regular AFL season.

Murphy’s move to the AFL sees him join a list of Irish players that already consisted of:

James Madden (Dublin – Brisbane Lions)
Mark Keane (Cork – Collingwood)
Anton Tohill (Derry – Collingwood)
Conor McKenna (Tyrone – Essendon)
Mark O’Connor (Kerry – Geelong)
Stefan Okunbor (Kerry – Geelong)
Zach Tuohy (Laois – Geelong)
Pearce Hanley (Mayo – Gold Coast)
Callum Brown (Derry – Greater Western Sydney)
Conor Glass (Derry – Hawthorn)
Conor Nash (Meath – Hawthorn)
Darragh Joyce (Kilkenny – St Kilda)
Colin O’Riordan (Tipperary – Sydney Swans)

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WICKLOW GAA HAVE defended their role in the farcical situation which saw county champions St Patrick’s play two championship games in the space of 24 hours last weekend. 

St Patrick’s defeated Rathnew in the Wicklow county final replay at Joule Park, Aughrim on Saturday and went down by 10 points to Offaly champions Rhode the following day at the same venue. 

“It can’t be done, it’s impossible to play two games in a row, especially with the effort that these other teams are putting in,” said St Patrick’s manager Casey O’Brien after Sunday’s game.

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“No matter how fit one team is, it can’t be an even playing field the next day. Surely to God somebody somewhere along the line must’ve been able to shift a few fixtures and put our match back. There has to be a weekend break somewhere.

“It was totally unfair to whoever was representing Wicklow and after being in a losing dressing-room, it takes a little bit of an edge off winning the day before.”

St. Patrick’s manager Casey O’Brien.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

The Wicklow county board explained that the replay couldn’t have been played last weekend citing the large number of dual players in action.

They also highlighted how their competition regulations do not provide for extra-time, how Joule Park does not have floodlights to accommodate a midweek replay, and how efforts to come to an agreement with Rhode could not be reached.

The statement reads:

“Wicklow GAA wish to congratulate St. Patrick’s GAA Club Wicklow on their winning of the Renault Wicklow Senior Football Championship. Their participation in the Leinster Club Championship 24 hours after the county final replay was caused by the fact that the County football final ended in a draw. The reason that the replay could not have been played earlier was that there was a cross-over of dual players participating in both senior hurling and senior football county finals.

Our competition regulations do not provide for extra-time in a county final and we are constrained by Joule Park Aughrim not having floodlights to host a replay mid-week. We made efforts to change the date of the Leinster Club Championship match with Rhode but no agreement could be reached.

“In a county where both hurling and football are treated equally, we do our best to plan our fixtures in a way that gives the dual club player the respect he deserves. It is however impossible to legislate for all possibilities and if we had allowed for the possibility that both county finals could have ended in draws we would have had to start and to finish our senior championships four weeks earlier.

We had a very positive year on the fixtures front. A review of the county was conducted last autumn with fixtures identified by the clubs as a key priority for improvement. Leinster Council GAA managed the review with Iar-Uachtarán Liam Ó Néill along with Shane Flanagan taking charge of designing a new fixtures calendar with the support of Wicklow County Committee and with the involvement of all Wicklow GAA Clubs.

“The 2018 fixtures plan took account of the new inter-county calendar and ongoing local issues including a request that the County Leagues be finished before the Championships began. The fixtures plan was presented to the clubs at the end of January and approved for implementation. The new calendar saw the reformatting of the club leagues and championships. The championship draws also took place in January to give added certainty to the club player.

“A number of benefits accrued from the new fixtures programme:
“Inter-County players were available for practically all league games.
“The league started earlier and was completed in advance of the championship.
“The club senior championship was played off on round-robin basis with clubs guaranteed at least five games as opposed to two games in 2017. The county finalists got nine games. Contrary to reports, the unavailability of J1 Visa players did not hold up the championship).
“The championship commenced the second week in July.

Wicklow GAA senior inter-county football team exited the All-Ireland championship on 9th June. In the time between that and the start of the club championship the concluding stages of the county league took place (as requested by the clubs). Other inter county competitions limited our opportunity to play the club championship any earlier. Our Under 20 football team exited the Leinster Championship on 16th June.

“From the start of the club championships in July football and hurling games took place week-on week-off despite the challenge faced by Wicklow as a dual code county. We also had to plan for the All-Ireland Under 21 B competition in July.

“Had the senior county football final ended in a victory for either of the participants the plan designed by the group led by Liam would have been an enormous success. The replay was unfortunate but must not take from what has been an enormously successful year for fixtures in Wicklow. Obviously Wicklow GAA will look to address the shortcomings highlighted this year.

“Looking back on the year we believe the club player had a better playing experience. We know we can still improve our competition structures. We had already planned a fixtures forum in the county on 6th November and further efforts will be made to fine tune our fixtures plan for 2019.”

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