Month: September 2021

FORMER MAYO LADIES football manager Frank Browne has been appointed as the new Dublin camogie boss.

From Mayo football to Dublin camogie: Frank Browne.

Source: Tom Beary/INPHO

Browne, who steered the Westerners to the All-Ireland final in 2017, will take the reins from five-time All-Ireland winning goalkeeper David Herity.

The Kilkenny man resigned from the position in September and has since been confirmed as Kildare’s new hurling manager.

Wexford native Browne has been out of inter-county management since stepping away from the Mayo helm after three years in charge last October.

He was linked with the Galway camogie side shortly afterwards but nothing came of that in the end. The code switch may come as a surprise to some, but that said, Browne is no stranger to the small ball game.

Browne steered Mayo to the 2017 All-Ireland final.

Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

His hurling track record involves a previous stint with the Mayo senior hurlers and at club level, he helped out with Ballyhaunis in 2016, when they lost out in the Connacht intermediate club final after a replay.

The appointment comes as another major boost to Dublin Camogie, along with the recent appointment of Philly McMahon to Head of Performance.

Browne will now look to work on Herity’s stellar work with the side. In 2017, he saw 27 years of history erased as he guided the Sky Blues to their first All-Ireland semi-final since 1990.

This summer, they bowed out at the quarter-final stage following a comprehensive 0-20 to 0-4 loss to Galway. That said, they won more games in total in competition in 2018.

Herity with the Dublin camogie team.

Source: Bryan Keane/INPHO

“The Dublin Camogie Board are delighted to announce the appointment of Frank Browne as the new Senior Camogie Manager for 2019,” read a statement, released this morning.

“Frank brings with him a proven track record with senior Inter County squads in both Hurling and Ladies Football. He managed the Mayo Senior Ladies football team and took them to an All-Ireland Final in 2017.

“In addition he has also managed the Mayo Senior Hurling team. He has also worked with the Roscommon Senior Hurling team as Director of Fitness & Coaching.

“We wish Frank every success in his new role with our Senior Camogie team. Currently, Frank is putting to-gather his Selectors and a full list will be released once finalised.”

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ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONS DUBLIN and their Leinster rivals Meath are set to meet in a challenge match to raise funds for seriously injured Liverpool fan Sean Cox. 

Dublin manager Jim Gavin and Meath boss Andy McEntee.

The Irish Independent first reported that Jim Gavin and Andy McEntee’s sides will lock horns in aid of the Dunboyne clubman and former chairman, and a spokesperson for Meath GAA confirmed the news to The42 this afternoon.

It was reported that the counties will meet in Páirc Tailteann, Navan, with throw-in provisionally scheduled for 1.30pm on 16 December but those details are yet to be finalised. 

53-year-old Cox, originally from Dublin but living in Dunboyne, was seriously injured before the Champions League semi-final against Roma, near Anfield on 24 April.

Sean Cox.

Source: Merseyside Police.

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Suffering severe brain injuries from the assault, he returned to home soil after months of receiving treatment in the UK and is currently under the care of the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire.

The news of the charity match — and a possible curtain-raiser featuring their female counterparts — comes as another boost, after Liverpool raised £59,104 (€67,000) for the Sean Cox appeal following a fundraising campaign at Anfield two weeks ago.

The match should take place in Navan.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

Supporters gave generously ahead of the Reds’ Premier League clash against Cardiff City at Anfield.

Donations can continue to be made towards Cox’s ongoing medical costs through a dedicated GoFundMe page. Almost €220,000 has been accumulated since it was launched last month.

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WITH COUNTY AND provincial champions crowned across the length and breadth of the country, attention now turns to the business end of the All-Ireland ladies football club championships.

Courtney, Goldrick, O’Sullivan and Ward will all be key for their respective sides.

The Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) today announced the full fixture details of the forthcoming All-Ireland club semi-finals across the three grades, with six huge battles down for decision on the weekend of the 17/18 November.

The race for the Dolores Tyrrell Memorial Cup is an exciting one with with four of the most consistent teams in the country over the last few years vying to prize the All-Ireland senior title from Carnacon. 

The six-time champions are out of the running, of course, after suffering defeat to Galway kingpins Kilkerrin-Clonberne on Saturday. Next up for the Kevin Reidy’s newly-crowned Connacht champions is Cork and Munster standard-bearers Mourneabbey.

Galway star Louise Ward captained Kilkerrin-Clonberne to Connacht glory.

A home fixture for the Galway side on 18 November, this will be an intriguing battle, no doubt. It’s Kilkerrin-Clonberne’s first time in the All-Ireland stages of the competition since 2015 — their exit coming at the hands of Mourneabbey back then.

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Shane Ronayne’s charges have won the last five Cork and Munster senior titles, but are yet to reach the Holy Grail. In 2014, they were defeated in the final by Donegal side Termon. In 2015, another final loss came against Donaghmoyne. 

In 2016, the same side ended their quest in the semi-finals and in 2017, it was Carnacon that broke their hearts as the ‘fourth time lucky’ mantra crashed and burned.

Mourneabbey have come close time and time again.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

Is this it? On the fifth time of asking, could they do it? All of the hurt, all of the heartbreak through the years finally put to bed. But Kilkerrin-Clonberne are on their own revenge mission.

On the other side of the draw it’s an Ulster-Leinster affair with some similar coloured histories. Foxrock-Cabinteely have won the last four Dublin and Leinster crowns but likewise, the All-Ireland crown has been elusive.

They’ve fallen short at the semi-final stage two of the last three years and were beaten in the showpiece in 2016. Who by? Donaghmoyne: their next opposition.

Donaghmoyne beat Fox-Cab in the 2016 decider.

Source: Tommy Grealy/INPHO

The Monaghan aces clinched their 11th Ulster crown in 15 years on Saturday, regaining the silverware after defeat in 2017. Back-to-back All-Ireland champions in 2015 and 2016, they’re on the hunt for a sixth title.

That last four showdown will also throw-in at 1pm on 18 November, with plenty more action on the cards at intermediate and junior level that weekend.

In the second tier, clubs from Monaghan, Scotland, Galway and Dublin are contesting the two coveted final places on offer while at junior level, it’s still a five-horse race.

Donaghmoyne were champions in 2015 and 2016.

Source: Tommy Grealy/INPHO

Dublin’s Castleknock and Carlow’s Old Leighlin must replay their Leinster final first before the successful outfit join the semi-final line-up. There, they’ll meet the Sligo and Connacht champions while it’s Cork-Tyrone on the other side of the draw.

The full details are below, with the annual All-Ireland senior and intermediate final double-header at Parnell Park penciled in for Saturday, 8 December on the LGFA master fixture plan. The junior decider is set for the following day.

17 November 2018

All-Ireland intermediate club championship semi-final

• Emmet Óg (Monaghan) (H) v Dunedin Connollys (Scotland); Aghabog Emmets, 1pm – Result on the Day (Rule 421)

The pre-match parade at Parnell Park last year.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

18 November 2018

All-Ireland senior club championship semi-finals

• Kilkerrin/Clonberne (Galway) (H) v Mourneabbey (Cork); Clonberne Sports Field, 1pm – ET if Necessary
• Foxrock Cabinteely (Dublin) (H) v Donaghmoyne (Monaghan); Bray Emmets, 1pm – ET if Necessary

All Ireland intermediate club championship semi-final

• St Brendans, Ballygar (Galway) (H) v Clontarf (Dublin); TBC, 1pm – ET if Necessary

All Ireland junior club championship semi-finals

• Trillick (Tyrone) (H) v Glanmire (Cork); Trillick St Macartan’s, Gargadis Rd., 1pm – ET if Necessary
• Castleknock (Dublin)/Old Leighlin (Carlow) (H) v Tourlestrane (Sligo); TBC, 1pm*- ET if Necessary

*Castleknock v Old Leighlin Leinster Final Replay on Saturday, 10 November, at 2pm in Athy.

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Ballyboden St Enda’s 2-25
Clonkill 2-19

Paul Keane reports from Parnell Park

BALLYBODEN ST-ENDA’S prevailed at the end of a tense and emotional evening at Parnell Park to take their place, as expected, in the semi-finals of the AIB Leinster club SHC.

Yet the manner of the win which was achieved after extra-time was anything but routine as Paul Ryan’s 0-15 haul ultimately tipped the balance in the Dubliners’ favour.

Ballyboden’s Simon Lambert consoles Clonkill’s Luke Loughlin after the game.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

Substitute Paul Doherty hit a crucial 1-2 in the extra period also as Joe Fortune’s side progressed through to a semi-final clash with Coolderry of Offaly on Sunday week.

Progress, victory and defeat all seemed like irrelevant issues at the end of a desperately sad day for the Clonkill club which remains shrouded in grief.

The funeral of Annabel Loughlin, the young daughter of club stalwart and former Westmeath player Enda Loughlin, took place hours before the game and, in the circumstances, it was a remarkable display of character from the Westmeath side.

Brendan Murtagh hit 11 points for Clonkill and sent the game to extra-time with the point that levelled it at 1-17 apiece. Luke Loughlin, a relative of Enda Loughlin, also weighed in with 1-2 while Eoin Price had a strong game and contributed 0-4.

They started the bright in normal time and surged 0-6 to 0-2 clear though Niall Ryan’s goal for Ballyboden shortly before half-time left the hosts 1-9 to 0-10 ahead.

Conal Keaney secures possession for Ballyboden against Clonkill.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

They were back level at 1-11 apiece when Luke Loughlin netted in the 43rd minute and were tied on five occasions throughout the second-half.

Clonkill briefly led early in extra-time but four points in a row from Ballyboden, two each from Paul Ryan and Doherty, gave the south Dublin side a vital cushion.

Joe Fortune’s side maintained their momentum in the second-half of extra-time and moved six points clear before Niall Mitchell pulled back a late goal for Clonkill.

There was to be no fairytale ending though as Doherty exploited space in the Clonkill defence in the 82nd minute to hit ‘Boden’s second goal, sealing a memorable six-point win.

Scorers for Ballyboden St-Enda’s: Paul Ryan 0-15 (0-12f, 0-3 ’65), Paul Doherty 1-2, Niall Ryan 1-1, Conal Keaney, Aidan Mellett 0-2 each, Niall McMorrow, James Roche, Stephen O’Connor 0-1 each.

Scorers for Clonkill: Brendan Murtagh 0-11 (0-7f), Luke Loughlin 1-2, Eoin Price 0-4, Niall Mitchell 1-0, Mark Keegan, Anthony Price 0-1 each.

Ballyboden St Enda’s

16. Conor O’Donoghue

7. Dean Curran
3. Luke Corcoran
2. James Madden

4. Shane Durkin
6. Simon Lambert
18. David O’Connor

5. Stephen O’Connor
8. Finn McGarry

10. Conal Keaney
14. Conor Dooley
9. Niall Ryan

17. Aidan Mellett
12. Conor McCormack
13. Paul Ryan

Subs:

C Basquel for McCormack 44, P Doherty for Dooley 52, N McMorrow for McGarry 52, J Roche for N Ryan 62, N Ryan for Basquel 70+1, M Travers for Lambert 81, C O’Neill for S O’Connor 81.

Clonkill

1. Andrew Mitchell

2. Darragh Egerton
3. John Kenny
4. Mikey McGrath

5. Alan McGrath
6. Paddy Dowdall
7. Luke Folan

8. Shane Power
9. Christopher Austin

12. Luke Loughlin
11. Mark Keegan
15. Alan Dowdall

10. Anthony Price
13. Eoin Price
14. Brendan Murtagh (c)

Subs:

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N Mitchell for L Folan 9, J Smyth for A Dowdall 44. A Dowdall for A Price e/t, J O’Brien for Power 74, J Fagan for McGrath 75.

Referee: David Hughes (Carlow).

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IT WAS A highly-charged, emotional affair at Parnell Park last night, but despite their AIB Leinster club SHC quarter-final exit, Clonkill can hold their heads high after an extremely difficult few days for the club.

Clonkill’s Luke Loughlin and Shane Power.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

The scoreboard read 2-25 to 2-19 as the final whistle sounded after extra-time and Dublin champions Ballyboden St Enda’s progressed. 

But it was what it read soon after that mattered most to the tragedy-stricken Westmeath townland: “Rest In Peace Little Annabel”.

Three-year-old Annabel Loughlin, the daughter of Clonkill stalwart and former Westmeath hurler Enda, tragically passed away late last week. 

#whatalovelytouch @Bodengaa @DubGAAOfficial 💖💖💚💛💙 pic.twitter.com/J4imcoqNHt

Click Here: welsh rugby jerseys— Clonkillhurling (@Clonkillhurling) November 6, 2018

The heartbreaking circumstances meant that the match was postponed from Sunday, with the funeral taking place just hours before throw-in yesterday.

Her cousin Luke hit 1-2 for his side and contributed greatly to Clonkill’s brave performance, while another cousin, Adam, was also involved.

On a night where victory and defeat seemed irrelevant as the curtain came down on a desperately sad day, there were some lovely gestures on show in the capital.

A lovely gesture from @BodenGaa who gave the @ClonkillHurling squad a guard of honour as they left the field! 👏🏼#GaaFamily #TheToughest #LSHC #Gaa pic.twitter.com/1Zkjto3q09

— DubMatchTracker (@DubMatchTracker) November 6, 2018

The scoreboard, the comforting scenes at full-time and a guard of honour from Ballyboden players as the Clonkill men exited the field to name a few; the Westmeath champions can take solace in the fact that they honoured Annabel and her family accordingly.

Manager Kevin O’Brien hailed his players afterwards, tweeting: “Very proud to manage a great group of men in the Clonkill senior hurling team. 

“Sorry we didn’t get the job done. Thanks to everyone for their support. I hope we did Enda and his family proud. Best of luck to Ballyboden. Rest In Peace Annabel.”

Speaking to RTÉ Sport, he explained the tragic build-up.

“I spoke to the players last night and we said we’d try and give the people of the club a bit of a distraction,” O’Brien said.

“Sometimes sport can be a good distraction, after the awful tragedy we had in Clonkill last Friday. We lost a little girl, three years of age, Annabel Loughlin.

“Her father Enda Loughlin would have been a star from Clonkill and Westmeath and her uncle Sean is my Maor Foirne on the senior team this year and her two cousins Adam and Luke Loughlin would have been playing.

Clonkill observe a minute’s silence.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

“So they’re steeped in Clonkill and we went out and honoured them tonight.

“It’s a very tight group of players and as manager I’m very proud of them. They were asked last night to leave every bit of them out of the pitch for themselves, for our club, for Enda, and try and give the people of Clonkill a small little bit of a distraction with a game of ball.”

@Clonkillhurling @Bodengaa @westmeath_gaa little Annabelle was on the shoulders of every clonkill players as she pucked everyball along with them tonight in a fantastic performance by each player including her cousin @LukeLoughlin13 who gave a fantastic performance #annbelle❤️

— Westmeath Gaa NY (@westmeathgfcusa) November 6, 2018

Loughlin and Dowdall at full-time.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

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LOUTH LADIES FOOTBALL manager Darren Bishop has been re-appointed as manager for 2019, Louth LGFA have confirmed. 

Bishop, who helped steer Louth to Leinster junior glory and to the All-Ireland final in 2018, was ratified at a county board meeting last night and will remain at the Wee county helm.

The Monaghan native took over after the untimely death of Míchéal McKeown in early June. The 67-year-old passed away after a short illness. 

A close family friend of McKeown’s, Bishop had overseen a few training sessions prior to McKeown’s passing so the PE teacher was approached to take the reins and drive on with the team.

After Míchéal’s wife, Mary, asked if Bishop would continue on his legacy, he accepted the offer and duly obliged. The first job at hand was to steer them to the Leinster title on 2 July, and the Reds beat Carlow on a scoreline of 3-9 to 0-8 to do so. 

From there, they successfully navigated the All-Ireland series, but fell short in Croke Park to Limerick in September.

2018 Leinster junior champions: The Louth team with Mary McKeown.

Source: Warren Matthews

With Bishop’s backroom team yet to be confirmed, Louth are preparing for Division 4 league football and junior championship in 2019.

Louth LGFA released a short statement on their website this morning confirming the news:

“Darren Bishop has been re-appointed as Louth Ladies manager following Tuesday’s County Board meeting.

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“Following a series of meetings with the County Board executive officials, chairman Dermot Woods recommended Darren to the delegates present who duly ratified his re-appointment.”

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FORMER ARMAGH CAPTAIN Ciaran McKeever has taken his first step into inter-county management after being appointed to take charge of the county minor side for 2019.

Former Armagh footballer Ciaran McKeever.

Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO

McKeever was ratified last night as the new Armagh minor football manager where he will succeed 2002 All-Ireland winner Paul McGrane in the role. 

In August last year McKeever brought the curtain down on a 14-year inter-county career with the Armagh senior football side.

He had been part of four Ulster senior football triumphs with Armagh during that time and represented Ireland at International Rules level.

In 2004 the St Patrick’s Cullyhanna club man captained Armagh to All-Ireland U21 glory while he had also picked up league medals after success in Division 1 and 3 finals with the county. 

Armagh’s Ulster minor championship campaign this year saw them suffer defeats to Down and Derry.

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IN 2015 GER Aylward was a breakout star for the Kilkenny hurlers.

By the end of the season he had an All-Ireland medal and an All-Star award populating his trophy cabinet.

His debut yielded a stunning scoring salvo that summer, a tally of 3-5 in the pulverising of Wexford. The bar had been set at an inordinately high level yet while there was no more green flags raised that summer, he chipped in regularly with points from his corner-forward berth.

If that was the peak, he wasn’t to know that the fall was coming. The following January in an All-Ireland club semi-final he felt ‘a dunt inside of the knee’ and a torn cruciate was confirmed after.

That wrote off the 2016 season and 2017 proved tricky to regain his form. This season saw him shuttle in and out of the starting side as well, more injury setbacks prompting frustration for the Glenmore man.

There were signals of recovery in popping up with a brace of points against Galway in the draw Leinster final and booting home a goal in the replay.

He’ll be crossing paths with the Tribesmen again on Sunday but in rather different environs. For the first time an inter-county hurling match will be played in Australia, the two counties meeting in Sydney to compete for the inaugural Wild Geese Trophy.

“Yeah (it’s been) very frustrating,” reflected Aylward.

“Hopefully everything is alright now again. I’m going well and I’m hoping I can stay right for the coming season, touch wood.

“The hamstring went straight away the minute I came back. I nearly pulled it off the bone. That was another six weeks out. And then I did my shoulder. It was just all sorts of hardships after coming back from the knee.

“Hopefully this year now I’ll be able to get a good run at it again. Yeah, (2015) it was a great season. I’m trying to get back to that now because I haven’t been there for the last two years. Getting back to that level is what I’m aiming for, yeah.

“I have to focus first on getting my place on the panel and then just drive it on from there.”

Ger Aylward lifts the Liam MacCarthy Cup after the 2015 All-Ireland final.

Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

The landscape has shifted for Kilkenny since that 2015 victory. Sunday’s opponents Galway have claimed the Bob O’Keeffe Cup for the last two seasons and contested the last two All-Ireland deciders.

“We were there doing that for a few years and now Galway are doing it. We have to get back to the standard where Galway have been for the last two years.

“This is the start of the new season in terms of trying to do that and hopefully we can push it on again in 2019.”

This weekend’s trip will see Aylward return to familiar territory.

“I was working out here in 2014 so I’ve a good few lads to meet up with. I was working out here in 2014 so I’ve a good few lads to meet up with.

“There are a good few lads from Glenmore over here at the minute and lads I would have went to school as well.  There’s around 10 or 12 lads I have to meet so it should be a great trip.

“It’ll be nice to spend some time with the other Kilkenny lads and hopefully the match goes well too.”

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IT WAS A BUSY day on the GAA club circuit across football and hurling codes, with a number of key intermediate and junior provincial ties down for decision.

In Connacht, Galway’s An Spidéal overcame a Béál an Mhuirthead/Belmullet side which features Mayo star defender Chris Barrett, to book their place in the intermediate football final.

Extra-time was needed to separate the sides and the Galway champions prevailed to progress to the Connacht decider where they will face either Roscommon’s Fuerty or Sligo’s Shamrock Gaels. That semi-final clash takes place on Sunday.

Ár mbuíochas le @BelmulletGaa as an gcluiche den scoth. Coimhlint chrua a bhí inti agus ní raibh tada idir na foirne. Bua mór a bhí ann dúinn. https://t.co/AId4pdWqEn

— CLG An Spidéal (@CLG_AnSpideal) November 10, 2018

Tooreen came out on top against London’s St Gabriel’s which puts them through to the Connacht IHC final against Galway’s Oranmore-Maree, while fellow Mayo side Balla lost out to Easkey from Sligo in the Connacht JFC semi-final.

There was plenty of football and hurling action in Leinster too with four IFC quarter-final ties taking place with the winners advancing to the semi-finals on 24 November.

Kildare duo Peter Kelly and Chris Healy helped Two Mile House to victory over Round Towers Lusk, while Offaly’s Shamrocks overcame Carlow side Ballinabranna.

💚💛Full Time Score💚💛
Two Mile House 4-15
Round Towers Lusk 1-16
Well done to the team and management!#honthehouse

— Two Mile House GAA (@TwoMileHouseGAA) November 10, 2018

Goal for the House! The brilliant and inspirational Peter Kelly applies the finish after Mark Sherry’s catch in midfield and a final pass from Joe Darcy, TMH 2-11 Round Towers 0-12, 40 mins

— K Nationalist Sport (@KildareNatSport) November 10, 2018

Elsewhere, Wexford champions Horeswood squeezed past Longford’s Rathcline and Courtwood (Laois) edged out St Mochta’s from Louth.

There were also three Leinster JFC quarter-finals down for decision on Saturday with wins for Dundalk Young Irelands (Louth), St Brigid’s (Offaly) and Kildare outfit Milltown.

St Maur’s from Dublin were convincing winners against Carlow’s Erins Erins Own in the Leinster JHC quarter-final.

Finally, Limerick’s Tournafulla brushed aside Kilgarvan (Kerry) to book their spot in the Munster JHC semi-finals, while Beaufort and Dromtarriffe progressed to the last four in the Munster JFC competition.

Connacht

IFC semi-final
An Spidéal (Galway) 0-13 Béal an Mhuirthead (Mayo) 0-9 [AET]

JFC semi-final
Balla (Mayo) 0-9 Easkey (Sligo) 3-7

IHC semi-final
St Gabriel’s (London) 1-13 Tooreen (Mayo) 0-18

Leinster

IFC quarter-finals
Shamrocks (Offaly) 1-15 Ballinabranna (Carlow),  1-10
Horeswood (Wexford) 1-11 Rathcline (Longford) 0-13

Two Mile House (Kildare) 4-15 Round Towers Lusk (Dublin) 1-16

St Mochta’s (Louth) 1-10 Courtwood (Laois) 2-9

JFC quarter-finals
Dundalk Young Irelands (Louth) 2-15 Annanough (Laois) 0-5
St Brigid’s (Offaly) 3-13 St Finian’s Newcastle (Dublin) 4-8
Milltown (Kildare) 1-8 Naomh Eoin (Carlow) 1-7

JHC quarter-final
St Maur’s (Dublin) 1-22 Erins Own (Carlow) 1-9 

Munster

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JHC quarter-final
Tournafulla (Limerick) 1-22 Kilgarvan (Kerry) 2-9

JFC quarter-finals
Dromtarriffe (Cork) 2-10 Kildimo Pallaskenry (Limerick) 1-7
Ballylooby-Castlegrace (Tipperary) 1-9 Beaufort (Kerry) 5-16

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Galway 4-23
Kilkenny 3-26

(Galway win free-taking competition 4-3)

John Harrington reports from Spotless Stadium

GALWAY CLAIMED THE inaugural Wild Geese Trophy after a dramatic comeback against Kilkenny in the Spotless Stadium, Sydney.

The Tribesmen looked down and out when they trailed by 14 points towards the end of the first half.

But they were a transformed team in the second, and a late, great goal from substitute Joe Mooney levelled a cracking match at the death which meant it had to be decided by a free-taking contest.

Galway converted four of their five attempts from the ’65 yard line whereas Kilkenny could only manage three from four so they lost a match they had looked like winning for most of the contest.

The teams were level at three points apiece after a cagey enough opening ten minutes, but thereafter Kilkenny really took the initiative.

A tigerish defence where debutant Huw Lawlor impressed at full-back gave them a good platform to build on, and as the half progressed they really began to dominate in the middle third of the field too.

James Maher and Liam Blanchfield were proving to be a dynamic midfield partnership, while Richie Hogan sparked at centre-forward.

Kilkenny’s Liam Blanchfield.

Source: Lorraine O’Sullivan/INPHO

He’s had a tough two years with persistent back injuries, but he looked back to his best here as he gave the normally unflappable Gearoid McInerney serious strife with his movement and accurate shooting.

Two points each from Maher and Hogan had Kilkenny 0-7 to 0-5 ahead by the 15th minute, but they were only warming up.

Maher and Hogan hit another each in quick succession to move Kilkenny six points clear within another five minutes, and then they landed the heaviest blow of the match yet when Ger Aylward hit his and Kilkenny’s first goal.

Galway goalkeeper Fearghal Flannery got his hurley to the sliotar, but couldn’t stop it squirming into the bottom corner of the net.

Six minutes later Aylward had his second goal, and it was a thing of beauty. John Donnelly did well to catch a high ball and then even better to pop a perfect hand-pass into the path of Martin Keoghan who picked out Aylward.

Gearoid McInerney was unflappable for Galway during his side’s win (file pic).

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

The angle was tight, but Aylward is a predator in these sorts of positions and finished coolly to the far corner. Richie Hogan followed up quickly after that with a free, and Kilkenny were leading by 2-14 to 0-6 and in complete control.

Galway manager Micheál Donoghue responded by bringing on Brian Concannon and Davy Glennon for Conor Whelan and Joseph Cooney, and both men would go on to have a big impact on the game.

Before they did though, it was Cathal Mannion and Niall Burke who chiefly inspired a Galway revival in the final few minutes of the first half.

Mannion struck two classy points and Burke bagged a goal that meant Galway’s deficit was a more manageable eight points at the break, with Kilkenny leading by 2-15 to 1-10.

Game over – @Galway_GAA 4-23 @KilkennyCLG 3-26 a draw. Galway win 4-3 on ‘65’s pic.twitter.com/2zw1PXXXdU

— Sportsfile (@sportsfile) November 11, 2018

The tide turned against them though in a ten-minute spell between the 40th and 50th minute when Galway outscored them by 1-5 to 0-1 to reduce the gap to just three.

The goal was scored by the Tribesmen’s best player on the day, Cathal Mannion, after he was put through by Johnny Coen, and came after lively sub Concannon had hit a quick-fire brace of points.

It looked like Galway’s comeback might be derailed when Joe Canning was red-carded for a high tackle on Enda Morrissey on 54 minutes, but instead his departure seemed to fire up his team-mates.

Davy Glennon scored their third goal of the match to leave just a point between the teams, but Kilkenny looked to have survived that wobble when they went straight down the field and scored one of their own through the excellent Walter Walsh.

Galway hurling boss Micheál Donoghue (file pic).

Source: Bryan Keane/INPHO

Galway just refused to die, though, and were driven forward time and again by the inspirational duo Padraic Mannion and Aidan Harte.

The Tribesmen traded point for point with Kilkenny down the home straight and were rewarded for their perseverance when Mooney smashed a brilliant equalising goal to the roof of the net.

And so, to the free-taking contest. Kilkenny started flawlessly by converting their first three from three whereas Jason Flynn missed for the Tribesmen.

Jason Cleere and Conor Martin then missed Kilkenny’s next two though, while Shane Moloney and Niall Burke converted theirs to ensure Galway took home the inaugural Wild Geese Trophy.

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Scorers for Galway: Cathal Mannion 1-4, Joe Canning 0-7 (5f, 1’65), Niall Burke 1-3 (3f), Davy Glennon 1-1, Joe Mooney 1-0, Aidan Harte 0-2, Brian Concannon 0-2, Conor Whelan 0-1, Shane Moloney 0-1, Johnny Coen 0-1, Fearghal Flannery 0-1.

Scorers for Kilkenny: Richie Hogan 0-11 (6f, 2 ’65), Ger Aylward 2-0, Walter Walsh 1-2, James Maher 0-3, Conor Fogarty 0-2, Richie Leahy 0-2, Martin Keoghan 0-1, Jason Cleere 0-1, Liam Blanchfield 0-1, John Donnelly 0-1, Luke Scanlon 0-1, Eoin Murphy 0-1 (f).

GALWAY: Fearghal Flannery; Paul Killeen, Daithi Burke, Sean Linnane; Padraic Mannion, Gearoid McInerney, Aidan Harte; Johnny Coen, Sean Loftus; Joseph Cooney, Joe Canning, Jason Flynn; Conor Whelan, Niall Burke, Cathal Mannion. Subs used: Davy Glennon for Conor Whelan, Brian Concannon for Joseph Cooney (both 29), Shane Maloney (41), Shane Bannon for Paul Killeen (50), Joe Mooney for Johnny Coen (63), Colm Callanan for Fearghal Flannery (63), Jack Coyne for Jason Flynn (63)

KILKENNY: Eoin Murphy; Enda Morrisey, Huw Lawlor, Conor Browne; Jason Cleere, Conor Delaney, Conor Fogarty; Liam Blanchfield, James Maher; Martin Keoghan, Richie Hogan, Richie Leahy; Ger Aylward, Walter Walsh, John Donnelly. Subs used: Bill Sheehan for Ger Aylward (47), Luke Scanlon for John Donnelly (49), Conor Martin for Liam Blanchfield (62), Pat Lyng for Richie Leahy (68)
Referee: James Owens (Wexford)

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