Month: September 2021

The Nire 1-18
Adare 0-12

Paraic McMahon reports from Gaelic Grounds

DOMINANT FROM START to finish, The Nire were deserving winners over an Adare side competing in the Munster club championship for the third year in succession.

The Nire did everything in numbers whether it was forcing turnovers, runners off the ball or providing options from every possession as they set up a semi-final against Clare’s St Joseph’s Miltown-Malbay, just a week after winning their county title.

This movement was typified with the only goal of the game which came in the final attack of the first half. Tom Barron playing at wing back ventured forward and remained in space, he was duly found and his finishing was up to scratch as he fired past Brendan Carmody to give his side a nine point lead at the break. Crucially this was a counter-attack from an opportunity at the other end which saw Charlie McCarthy dispossessed metres from goal.

Prior to that, the West Waterford side had already been on top. They kicked the first three scores of the game and did allow Adare two unanswered points but into the second quarter they upped the ante again with Shane Ryan, Darren Guiry, Diarmuid Murphy and Conor Gleeson all registering on the scoreboard.

Barron’s goal formed a gap that Adare could never bridge, even though they gave an improved display in the second half which saw them reduced to fourteen as vice-captain Aodhan O’Connor was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Having nailed down a position with the Waterford senior hurlers during Derek McGrath’s time in charge, Conor Gleeson is more known as a crafty corner back but his ability on the football field was clear to see as he kicked four points from play over the hour. It was an excellent team display from The Nire. Along with Gleeson, Shane Walsh and Tholom Guiry stood out.

While they will be disappointed with the result, Adare can take solace in the fact they are improving each year. Having gone from winning the 2016 intermediate championship, they have learned from a heavy defeat to Nemo Rangers in last year’s provincial campaign and no doubt this loss will stand to them. However, the fact that no Limerick club has won a game in this competition since Dromcollogher-Broadford’s final success of 2008 is of serious concern for football in the county.

Scorers The Nire: Conor Gleeson, Shane Walsh 0-4 each, Tom Barron 1-0, Darren Guiry 0-3 (0-2f), Tholom Guiry, Shane Ryan (0-1f) 0-2 each, Craig Guiry, Diarmuid Murphy (0-1f), Jamie Barron 0-1 each.

Scorers for Adare: Hugh Bourke 0-6 (0-6f), Robbie Bourke, Shane O’Connor 0-2 each, Stephen Keely 0-1.

The Nire

1: Diarmuid Murphy

2: David Meehan

3: Thomas O’Gorman

4: Michael Moore

6: Tom Barron

5: James McGrath

7: Darren Guiry

15: Tholom Guiry

9: Craig Guiry

13: Jamie Barron

11: Dylan Guiry

23: Shane O’Meara

10: Shane Ryan

12: Conor Gleeson

8: Shane Walsh

Subs

14: Dermot Ryan for S O’Meara (43)

20: Ciaran Walsh for Gleeson (50)

22: Jake Mulcahy for Moore (54)

18: Kenny Brazil for Walsh (56)

21: David Nugent for Dylan Guiry (61)

Adare

1: Brendan Carmody

3: Aodhan O’Connor

4: David Connolly

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2: Jack Fitzgerald

7: Paul Maher

6: Eoin Ryan

5: Oran Collins

8: Stephen Keeley

9: Jack English

18: Charlie McCarthy

11: Hugh Bourke

10: Davy Lyons

13: Mark Connolly

14: Robbie Bourke

12: Mikey Lyons

Subs

19: Shane Doherty for Keely (HT)

15: Shane O’Connor for McCarthy (HT)

17: Eoghan Costelloe for Fitzgerald (47)

22: Ronan Connolly for English (53)

21: James Hickey for Collins (57)

Referee: David Murnane (Cork)

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THE LEINSTER CLUB SHC semi-final pairings are starting to take shape following victories for the Wexford and Offaly champions on Sunday.

A brace of first-half goals from David O’Brien, coupled with another from Conor McDonald, sent Naomh Éanna on their way to victory over Laois side Camross in O’Moore Park.

That result sees them safely through to the final four of the Leinster championship, where they will take on Kilkenny champions Ballyhale Shamrocks, who scored a narrow victory over Bennettsbridge in the county decider last weekend.

And the #GreenMachine marches on, Well done to @NaomhEannaGAA 5 point win over Camross 3-18 to 2-16 @gaaleinster @AIB_GAA Senior Hurling Club Championship #TheToughest

— Wexford GAA (@OfficialWexGAA) November 4, 2018

McDonald and O’Brien were among the top-scorers for Naomh Éanna while Padraig Doyle pointed the way with 0-9 (0-5f, one ’65).

Camross did try to respond after conceding the trio of goals as Zane Keenan netted from a free, but they were unable to curtail Naomh Éanna’s influence for the remainder of the game.

Meanwhile, Coolderry finished with 13 men as they came away with a six-point win over Carlow’s Mount Leinster Rangers.

A Stephen Corcoran 63rd minute save deferred a MLR comeback in the Leinster senior hurling quarter-final FT Coolderry 1-22 MLR 1-16. Very exciting game of hurling! pic.twitter.com/xHz5QVdO6l

— Ann Marie (@AnnMarieGuinan) November 4, 2018

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Former Offaly star Brian Carroll hit 1-5 in total to book a semi-final spot for his side against either Ballyboden St Enda’s and Clonkill, whose quarter-final has been postponed to Tuesday due to a bereavement in the Clonkill club.

Carroll’s goal came in the 19th minute of the first half while goalkeeper Stephen Corcoran also starred for Coolderry, scoring five points from frees and saving a second-half injury-time penalty. 

Coolderry were reduced to 13 men in the second half with Kevin Brady going off with two yellow cards while Mark Bergin was dismissed on a straight red card. 

Results:

Camross (Laois) 2-16 Naomh Éanna (Wexford) 3-18

Coolderry (Offaly) 1-22 Mount Leinster Rangers (Carlow) 1-16

Fixture:

Ballyboden St Enda’s (Dublin) v Clonkill (Westmeath) – Parnell Park, Tuesday [throw-in, 8pm]

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MONAGHAN ALL-STAR goalkeeper Rory Beggan kicked a point from play to help his side Scotstown progress to the Ulster SFC semi-finals on Sunday.

Beggan – who proved to be a controversial choice for All-Star this year – finished with a tally of 0-2, including a free, as his side narrowly got the better of Burren to set-up a final-four date with Eoghan Rua Coleraine.

The Monaghan net minder reportedly advanced up the pitch on many occasions throughout the tie, and his point from play was the result of a quick one-two.

Standing over a free, Beggan decided to go short and chipped the ball to midfielder Frank Caulfield before getting the return pass and popping the ball over the bar.

Scotsdown were dominant throughout but their Down opponents showed great resilience to come back from seven points down at one stage to trail by just one point in the dying stages.

Is there anything Rory Beggan can't do?

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⭐️GAA All-Star
🏐Point from play

The @monaghangaa keeper pops over a point from play in @ScotstownGAA's Ulster SFC last-eight win over Burren

📱 Highlights available later this evening

👉 https://t.co/7kgKJ1me76 #bbcgaa pic.twitter.com/pCpN78dVWX

— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) November 4, 2018

The Monaghan champions held firm however and clinched the win as Monaghan stars Kieran Hughes 0-2 and Shane Carey 0-5 (0-2f) all got their name on the scoresheet.

Gaoth Dobhair also had to fight for their victory over Antrim’s Cargin, after first-half goals from Kevin Cassidy and Cian Mulligan put them 10 points clear at half-time.

Cargin had the better start at the start of the second half with Paul McCann cutting the gap to just five points following points from Michael McCann and Jamie Gribbin.

But their comeback was killed off by a late goal from Michael Carroll to push Gaoth Dobhair over the line while Cargin finished the game with 14 men after defender Donagh McKeever picked up a second yellow card.

Gaoth Dobhairwill now face Crossmaglen in their semi-final.

Derry’s Eoghan Rua Coleraine survived a second-half fightback from 14-man Castlerahan to send them through for that clash with Scotstown.

After relinquishing a six-point lead at the break they were just one point in front of the Cavan outfit in the final minutes.

A brace of goals from Colm McGoldrick proved crucial for Eoghan Rua Coleraine, palming both of his efforts to the net to help steer his side to victory.

Castlerahan produced a spirited performance throughout the tie but lost a number of players to injury, while midfielder David Wright was dismissed after a second yellow card.

Results:

Gaoth Dobhair (Donegal) 3-11 Cargin (Antrim) 1-13

Eoghan Rua Coleraine (Derry) 2-11 Castlerahan (Cavan) 0-11

Scotstown (Monaghan) 0-13 Burren (Down) 0-10

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WATCHING KATRINA PARROCK slot the ball into the back of the net for Wexford Youths in the Women’s FAI Cup final on Sunday, you would think she has been playing at this level all her life.

The 28-year-old walked away from camogie in 2017 having enjoyed a stellar career in GAA, being an integral member of a golden generation of players in her county at the time; one who collected four All-Ireland titles in the space of six years.

She picked up three All-Stars in that time, but walked away from the game having spoken about her loss of love for the sport and how it had become more of an effort than a genuine devotion in later years.

The story goes that when Parrock’s retirement from camogie was revealed in the local newspaper, she received two offers right away: to play for the county’s gaelic footballers, or to line out for Wexford Youths and dabble her hand at soccer at a national level.

Wexford Youths won the Women’s National League, Women’s FAI Cup and Developmental Shield this season.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Parrock accepted Wexford manager Laura Heffernan’s offer last year, with yesterday’s winning goal in the FAI Cup final marking a tremendous crescendo for someone who had joined the reigning Women’s National League champions less than two years before.

Wexford secured their fourth WNL title in five seasons in 2018, also picking up the Development Shield last month. Yesterday’s 1-0 triumph over Peamount United at Landsdowne Road brought the club’s titles to three in new manager Tom Elmes’ first year in charge.

It’s unbelievable,” Parrock said speaking yesterday after full-time. “I didn’t expect to be getting three titles this year with Wexford Youths. The girls have put in so much work from the end of January to now. We’ll enjoy the break and celebrate well tonight.”

At this stage she is well accustomed to being asked about the differences and similarities between her time lining out as one of the most talented centre forward’s in camogie, and now a goal-scoring midfielder in a completely different sport.

“It’s hard to compare,” she explains. “It’s a totally different game, different skill, different fitness, different pitch. So look, you’re winning at the end of the day, so it’s amazing either way.”

Katrina Parrock puts the Youths ahead #rtesoccer #WFAICupFinal pic.twitter.com/qImGm7opnN

— Soccer Republic (@SoccRepublic) November 4, 2018

Sunday’s goal saw Parrock finish off a fine move from Wexford. Some exceptional turning and twisting from team-mate Emma Hansberry down the right flank sold her marker sweetly to begin with.

Her cross into the box was then headed on further by Ireland international Rianna Jarrett, with Parrock taking one touch and then another inside the box, before clipping a superb finish past Peamount goalkeeper Naoisha McAloon for 1-0 after 37 minutes.

Emma is the right player you want to be whipping them in, Rianna flicked it on as she does so well all of the time. Look, I didn’t even think about it,” says Parrock.

“I was just so determined to get it into the back of the net because we had so many chances and we have to take chances on big days like today, when you’re playing in such a big stadium and with such a big title up for grabs. It went into the back of the net and thank God for that.”

The 28-year-old won four All-Ireland titles and three All-Stars with Wexford.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Her finish was the midfielder’s 12th goal of the season in 2018, with the former Kilmore United player admitting that she does have a keen eye for goal, just like she did a number of years ago lining out up front in Croke Park.

“I don’t know what it is,” she laughs. “Maybe it’s just a hunger for goals. But look, I probably wouldn’t be the greatest at tracking back or defending.

I like to get on the end of attacks and get them into the back of the net. As long as we’re winning, we’re all happy. Obviously I was delighted. We were after going 1-0 up in a cup final in the Aviva Stadium.”

She speaks fondly about the busloads of Wexford fans who made the long journey up to support her team on Sunday afternoon at the Aviva, adding that magnificent days like yesterday’s brought a spark back to her love for sport.

“Through my years of camogie, playing 11 years with Wexford, we achieved a lot and I was lucky, to be honest, to be on such a successful camogie team.

Wexford Youths' Katrina Parrock is the player of the match and the matchwinner #RTEsoccer pic.twitter.com/XQqAiqrRkS

— Soccer Republic (@SoccRepublic) November 4, 2018

“Maybe I just lost the appetite, I probably ticked the boxes I wanted to tick in that sport. I suppose looking at soccer now I have more boxes to be ticked and I’m achieving them now, thank God.”

An international cap under Colin Bell with the Irish Women’s National Team could be another potential box to be ticked on her list, she admits.

Well, I have an U19 international cap from 2007, so I wouldn’t mind adding more to that,” Parrock says.

“Maybe I’ve gone too old for that stage now, but sure look, we’ll keep achieving. You’d never say no to an Ireland jersey being handed to you. At the end of the day it’s your country and it would be an amazing achievement for me.”

It has been a truly phenomenal season for Wexford Youths in 2018. The Ferrycarrig Park club have secured the league title, FAI Cup and Shield — losing one league game all season, while also getting to the League Cup final.

Parrock has won back-to-back Women’s National League titles since arriving at Wexford Youths in 2017.

Source: Oisin Keniry; ©INPHO/Oisin Keniry/INPHO

The side also competed in Champions League qualifiers back in August, initially taking a 1-0 lead against Dutch giants Ajax before succumbing to a 4-1 defeat during the summer. Achieving even more success, defending all of their titles and making even greater strides in European competition is the focus for next year, Parrock says.

We can’t wait for next year, but many of us aren’t thinking about that at this stage because we’ve had such a long season since the end of January, playing Champions League this year as well as being involved in so many of the cups and the league.

“We’ll look to that now after a few weeks. Playing in the Champions League is brilliant. We had a good year this year playing Thor of Iceland, and Ajax and Linfield. It was a great experience for everyone.

“But look, we’re always looking to achieve and to go one step further, so we’ll work on that for next year.” 

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KILDARE DEFENDER JOHNNY Byrne has opted to step away from their senior football squad ahead of the 2019 season. 

The Allenwood player has cited ‘new challenges I’ll face in the coming months and goals to fulfil that will require 100% from me’ as the reasoning behind his departure, which he announced in a statement on his Twitter account.

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Byrne was a regular at half-back for Kildare in the 2018 championship as they emerged through the qualifiers, claiming a famous win over Mayo in Newbridge, and contesting the inaugural Super 8s with ties against Monaghan, Galway and Kerry.

The news robs Kildare boss Cian O’Neill of a defensive option ahead of next season. O’Neill recently finalised his management team for 2019 with highly-rated coach Alan Flynn, a former Galway All-Ireland U21 winning boss, coming on board along with new selectors in Tom Cribben and Karl O’Dwyer.

Byrne did not rule out the prospect of a return to the Lilywhites in the future with his statement in full reading:

“The time of year to knuckle down and go again has come, but the decision I had to make was the toughest yet. With new challenges I’ll face in the coming months and goals to fulfil that will require 100% from me, I’ve decided it’s best to step away from the Kildare senior football team.

Johnny Byrne in action for Kildare against Monaghan in Croke Park.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

“I’m grateful for my time in the Kildare jersey and to have met such exceptional people on my journey – players, managers and supporters.

“I’d like to thank family and friends that have been there through it all without question, I’m forever thankful. To my two clubs Allenwood GFC and Coill Dubh Hurling Club, your support has been endless and mine to you will be the same. So for now it’s a farewell, but I’ll never rule out playing in the Lilywhite jersey again!!”

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DUBLIN BACK-TO-back All-Ireland winning duo Sinéad Aherne and Lyndsey Davey, and Cork captain Ciara O’Sullivan, will battle it out for the 2018 TG4 senior Players’ Player of the Year award.

The 2018 senior Players’ Player of the Year nominees.

The three-player shortlist was revealed by the Ladies Gaelic Football Association today, along with the intermediate and junior nominees. 

Mick Bohan’s Dublin side retained their All-Ireland title in Croke Park in September with a 3-11 to 1-12 win over Cork, and they also added a first-ever Division 1 Lidl Ladies National League crown to their cabinet earlier this year.

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2017 and 2018 captain Aherne was key throughout and has deservedly been rewarded with a Player of the Year nominee. This is the third successive year that the St Sylvesters star has been shortlisted for the award, her team-mate Noelle Healy claiming it in 2017.

Back-to-back All-Ireland winning captain Aherne.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

Davey, meanwhile, has also been recognised for her incredible exploits in the Sky Blue forward line — her glittering display in the showpiece was one of the standout individual performances of the year. She was previously shortlisted for this award in 2015.

Rebels captain O’Sullivan joins the Dublin duo after another outstanding year in the red jersey, as she prepares for the All-Ireland senior club semi-final where her Mourneabbey side will face Galway and Connacht kingpins Kilkerrin-Clonberne.

In the intermediate grade, likewise, it’s two nominees for the All-Ireland champions and one for the finalists. 

Tyrone captain and All-Ireland final Player of the Match Neamh Woods, her team-mate Gemma Begley and Meath captain Niamh O’Sullivan go head-to-head for the accolade.

Tyrone’s Neamh Woods.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

And at junior level, Limerick All-Ireland winning captain Cathy Mee and Player of the Match Rebecca Delee have been selected alongside Louth’s inspirational skipper Kate Flood. Flood previously won the award in 2015.

The three winners will be revealed at the All-Stars banquet, hosted by the Citywest Hotel on Saturday, 1 December.

The nominees in all three categories were chosen by their inter-county peers, with players not allowed to vote for their own team-mates.

**BREAKING**

✔️ The 2018 @SportTG4 @TG4TV Senior Players' Player of the Year nominees are @dublinladiesg's captain @sinead_aherne and @LyndseyDavey, who are joined on the shortlist by @CorkLGFA's @ciaraosull90 #TG4Allstars pic.twitter.com/pvl2AlbgZU

— Ladies Football (@LadiesFootball) November 5, 2018

TG4 Senior Players’ Player of the Year Award Nominees

• Sinéad Aherne (Dublin)*
• Lyndsey Davey (Dublin)*
• Ciara O’Sullivan (Cork)*

TG4 Intermediate Players’ Player of the Year Award Nominees

• Gemma Begley (Tyrone)
• Neamh Woods (Tyrone)*
• Niamh O’Sullivan (Meath)

TG4 Junior Players’ Player of the Year Award Nominees

• Rebecca Delee (Limerick)
• Cathy Mee (Limerick)
• Kate Flood (Louth)

*(also nominated for a TG4 All Star award) 

The list of All-Star nominees in full can be found here.

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AN 18-POINT win in a Munster hurling semi-final and the prospect of a provincial decider in a fortnight would generally indicate an extremely positive afternoon’s work.

Shane Dowling is helped off the pitch by team doctor Kieran Breen.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Yet the ease at which Na Piarsaigh triumphed yesterday was clouded by the casualties they suffered during the encounter at the Gaelic Grounds.

By half-time Na Piarsaigh were 14 points clear of Clonoulty-Rossmore and had essentially booked their place in the Munster final but saw star attacker Shane Dowling withdrawn an arm injury prior to the interval.

By the three-quarter mark Ronan Lynch had joined Dowling in the list of casualties and deep in injury-time defender Kieran Kennedy limped off to add to the list of injuries.

The prognosis on Lynch is positive ahead of the Munster decider against Ballygunner on 18 November after he suffered a facial injury.

In the cases of Dowling (arm) and Kennedy (ankle), Na Piarsaigh are waiting to learn of the extent of their injuries. The pair are long standing pillars of their side, their involvement stretching back to the club’s seismic breakthrough in Munster in 2011.

“I’m waiting for further updates today on Shane with his arm injury and Kieran Kennedy with his ankle injury,” stated Na Piarsaigh manager Paul Beary.

Na Piarsaigh manager Paul Beary.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

“Ronan Lynch is fine, just a facial injury, he got stitched up last night, so he’s okay. We’re hopeful that Shane would be okay for the final, all going well. We’re hopeful it’s not as serious as first thought.

“In terms of the evaluation and assessment of it, we should have a more clearer picture in the next 24 hours.”

Eight days after scaling the peak of Limerick hurling, Na Piarsaigh hit their stride early to breeze past the Tipperary champions in their Munster opener.

“We were well prepped, we wanted to get off to a good start,” outlined Beary.

“It was worrying in so far as it was the first time we had the problem of playing a Munster club match within a week of the county final. It’s a good complaint but nevertheless one we hadn’t experienced it before.”

Once they had taken care of business in their own game, which commenced at 1pm, Beary was engrossed in the clash between Ballyea and Ballygunner, which had a 1.30pm throw-in and unfolded into a classic as the afternoon progressed.  

Pauric Mahony in action for Ballygunner against Ballyea yesterday.

Source: Ken Sutton/INPHO

“I kind of had a vested interest myself because my wife is from Ballyea so I would have seen a lot of Ballyea in the last few years, especially with the Munster club win and All-Ireland run a couple of years back,” reflected Beary.

“I actually got to see it on a phone in the dressing-room shortly afterwards. It was a titanic battle really between the two of them. It looked like a great match, great intensity and everything like that, and really just represented everything that’s good about club hurling.”

It sets up a final for Na Piarsaigh that breeds familiarity. They’ll take on Ballygunner in a rematch of last year’s decider and the third final instalment between this pair in four seasons. It’s the first time that a Munster club hurling final is a repeat of the corresponding fixture 12 months previously.

An eight-point victory for Na Piarsaigh against Ballygunner last November.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

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“The one word I’d associate with Ballygunner is resilience, they’ve fantastic resilience, they always keep coming back in matches,” said Beary.

“To do what they’ve done in Waterford especially in terms of winning is it four, five years in a row. Fantastic respect for them and we know what we’re up against in the final in terms of what they’re bringing.”

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Mattie Kenny celebrating last year’s Dublin senior hurling final victory.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

“WHETHER WE CAN hold onto him now I have my doubts, but he has been super for us and he owes us nothing.”

Kieran Fitzgerald was tipping his hat towards the man who had steered Corofin to the title they had so desperately coveted.

Trooping out of the dressing-room after the 2015 All-Ireland club final, he was offering his thoughts on Stephen Rochford, the Mayo man who had steered Fitzgerald’s Galway home to glory.

By the end of the year his suspicions had been confirmed, Rochford’s club feats attracting the attention of his native county board as he was installed as Mayo manager.

Stephen Rochford with the Corofin players .

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

It is a path that several have taken. Work in the club game and contest at All-Ireland level to illustrate your worth as a manager before using it as a springboard to land a gig on the elite inter-county stage.

Rochford was part of a trend that is well-defined in football – Eugene McGee, John Evans, Tommy Lyons, Billy Morgan, Mickey Harte, Joe Kernan and Pat O’Shea all examples of managers that have made that jump to directing county operations on the sideline after previously steering clubs to St Patrick’s Day appearances.

In hurling it may not be as widespread a practice but Mícheál Donoghue reigned with Clarinbridge on 17 March 2011 and then backed that up by landing the Liam MacCarthy Cup for Galway last year.

The same principles govern these moves, a desire for bosses to test themselves in the county arena after ticking boxes at the highest level of club action.

Mattie Kenny becomes the latest to follow that career path. After presiding over a wave of club success with Cuala, Saturday night’s confirmation of his appointment as the new Dublin manager propels him into the national conversation for 2019.

The county game is not alien to him. Stints with Galway U21 teams culminated in All-Ireland wins, a senior spell alongside Anthony Cunningham featured the rapid rise to take Kilkenny to a September replay in 2012 before the team’s form unravelled in 2013 and he stepped away.

It’s not his first bid to land a senior job. He was linked with the main post in Galway hurling a couple of times, lost out to Pat Gilroy in the Dublin race last year and found that travel exertions would be too much as he bowed out of contention for the Waterford job this autumn. 

The Dublin role hands him the inter-county managerial reins he craved and ultimately it is the body of work he compiled at club level in the capital which made for the most compelling reasoning to entrust him with the position.

Three Dublin titles, two Leinster crowns and a pair of All-Ireland accolades with Cuala between October 2015 and March 2018. Scratch the surface and statistics leap out from that golden run over the course of 29 months.

Kenny sent Cuala teams out into action that could win any which way they pleased or respond to the circumstances presented to them. They ended a county final 21-year county title wait in emphatic fashion with a 10-point success in 2015 and won the next two Dublin deciders by a margin of a single score.

In Leinster their nine games over three campaigns yielded eight victories and a solitary defeat to Oulart-the-Ballagh at the close of 2015. Of the eight wins, they achieved five by double-digit margins and only one was by less than five points (against Kilkenny’s Clara in 2015).

Some of their victories in the All-Ireland series were claimed with comfort – Slaughtneil by 13, Ballyea by 12 and Liam Mellows by eight – and they displayed the steel when required last March against Na Piarsaigh in two shuddering collisions between highly-rated club sides.

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Kenny’s team were down by three points the first day but snatched a goal to secure extra-time and then notched a pointed free to send the game to a replay. In that second affair they trailed by a point in the 59th minute before raising four unanswered white flags to seal the deal.

Cuala players celebrating their All-Ireland final replay victory last March.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Becoming just the eighth club in GAA history to defend their All-Ireland title and the first hurling side since Portumna in 2009, had a natural affect. Cuala were not able to return to that pitch in their performance levels and a late rally could not prevent a Kilmacud Crokes success in the Dublin semi-final in October.

Still Kenny’s credentials were sound and now he must see can he translate that winning habit to the Dublin camp. It’s a different environment, a group of Cuala’s hurling stars opted out of the Dublin setup this year and it will be interesting to see if Kenny can coax them back. Con O’Callaghan was a leading light for him at club level but his county allegiances lie firmly in Jim Gavin’s football dressing-room.

After Ger Cunningham’s tenure concluded with Dublin having regressed, Gilroy’s lone campaign did generate stability. 2018 may not have seen qualification from the Leinster round-robin by Dublin but the results masked the progress in their performances with their three defeats occurring by an aggregate margin of five points. 

A dejected Chris Crummy after Dublin’s loss to Kilkenny in May.

Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO

Kenny takes charge though at a time when the hurling scene has never looked more competitive. Aside from the title holders Limerick, the other three All-Ireland semi-finalists from this year will approach 2019 with optimism and there is a pack behind them of illustrious names who will be eager to fight back.

Still after the abrupt departure of Pat Gilroy in September, Dublin have ushered in a replacement in the space of seven weeks and can kickstart the process of preparing matters for 2019. 

Their new manager has proved he can conquer the club game in the capital.

Now Kenny will seek to make his mark with Dublin on the county stage.

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A YEAR AGO Kieran Fitzgerald overtook clubmate Trevor Burke as the record Galway championship winner, but after winning his 13th county medal at the weekend he thinks this was one of the sweetest of them all, despite being sent off for the first time in his lengthy career.

It took a replay for Corofin to get past Mountbellew/Moylough and along the way Fitzgerald picked up the first red card of his career, but after seeing his side written off in some circles, the 37-year-old former Sam Maguire winner is excited by the future.

Roscommon champions Clann na nGael are next up as Corofin take the next step towards the defence of their Connacht and All-Ireland club titles, but for a day at least Fitzgerald will savour another historic win.

“That’s 13 now but this one was a lot sweeter than many of them. The way it had to be won we were asked a lot of questions, but we got there,” said Fitzgerald.

“We were probably written off a bit before that Annaghdown semi-final and then in the drawn final we didn’t perform at all. We were very grateful to get another opportunity but it wasn’t a great performance at all.

“But we are under no obligation to entertain either. We just want to win again and that’s the way it turned out.”

After Sunday’s county final 1-8 to 0-5 victory, Corofin manager Kevin O’Brien proclaimed that Fitzgerald is still one of the best full-backs in Galway. He was tasked with marking current inter-county star Barry McHugh and he kept him scoreless from open play.

In an ugly game both players were involved in plenty of off the ball wrestling and in the end they were both sent off have being twice booked together. Even on their way off the pitch the duo had to be pulled apart as they refused to finish at the final bell. Fitzgerald regrets his indiscretion.

“Barry is a good footballer and you have to keep as tight as possible to him. I’ve never been sent off in my life before so that was a shame. I was a bit disappointed but that’s the way it happens sometimes.”

Both the draw and replay were very tense affairs, where Mountbellew/Moylough sought to smother Corofin with an ultra-defensive set-up. It worked for the most part, but the champions retained possession more in the replay and their patience paid off. Fitzgerald says he doesn’t expect to see such tactics too often.

“Ideally I suppose we would have liked to play a bit more. We did the best we could but it was a terrible game. It wasn’t the way we wanted to play but it was put in front of us and that’s what we have to do. We dealt with it well and we learned a lot.

“I don’t think we’ll see that anymore. I think a lot of teams just want to play football. I don’t think we see it again to be honest and if we do football is in a bad spot.

“Clann na nGael are a good footballing team and I saw their county final. They were very impressive against Brigid’s.

“I worked in Athlone for 10 years and I would have followed them quite closely. I’ve always watched out for themselves and St Brigid’s and watch their players, but we’ll worry about them later in the week. We just go again.”

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IF MONAGHAN AND Scotstown goalkeeper Rory Beggan was feeling any pressure after the fleet of ex-players turned pundits coming out last week to criticise his selection on the All-Star team ahead of Dublin’s Stephen Cluxton, he didn’t show it in their Ulster club win over Burren on Sunday.

Beggan contributed two points in the game but what was highly-unusual was that one of them in the first half came from open play, when he took a free kick short to Frank Caulfield and collected the return pass to point from 21 yards.

He actually managed the feat last year in a league game against Clontibret.

Afterwards, he spoke of his joy in picking up the award on Friday night at Dublin’s Convention Centre.

“Players will tell you and it’s the truth – you don’t think about an All-Star, it’s about trying to help the team and I suppose if an All-Star nomination comes at the end of the year that’s brilliant, and if you win the All-Star it’s even better,” he said.

“I’m not going to hide the fact that it’s an absolute privilege to win it. Every footballer will tell you that. You could see the impact it had on my family and the club and there’s only one other person that’s won one at our club and that’s Ray McCarron (1986).

“That adds a wee bit to it. I was delighted, it could have been a distraction this weekend but I tried to make it not to be.”

Beggan was a constant option for Scotstown, drifting up into midfield for prolonged spells to offer himself as an outlet, but it is not something that is discussed at length with management, he maintains.

Is there anything Rory Beggan can't do?

🙌Safe hands
⭐️GAA All-Star
🏐Point from play

The @monaghangaa keeper pops over a point from play in @ScotstownGAA's Ulster SFC last-eight win over Burren

📱 Highlights available later this evening

👉 https://t.co/7kgKJ1me76 #bbcgaa pic.twitter.com/pCpN78dVWX

— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) November 4, 2018

“I think it’s ‘keeper’s initiative, really,” said Beggan.

“There is always space there when teams are attacking and when you are going down the side of the field nobody is focussing on the goalkeeper, everyone is focussing on their own man.

“If you get that space, why not? Goalkeepers can play football too. I’m sure teams will clamp down on it after today. I’ll always be an option because you could see at the end there teams are pinning us back and I’m the extra man, so I might as well help us out.”

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Should Scotstown beat Coleraine in the Ulster semi-final, Beggan will prioritise the Ulster final over the All-Stars trip, which goes to Philadelphia the same weekend.

“My aim is to win trophies with the club. I can go to Philadelphia any other day of the year. If I get to an Ulster Club final that’s my focus and if we’re not then you can talk about the trip,” he added.

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