Month: September 2021

LORCAN MCLOUGHLIN HAS announced his departure from the Cork senior hurling ranks after nine seasons.

Lorcan McLoughlin won three Munster senior hurling medals with Cork.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

McLoughlin, who made his debut for Cork in 2010 in a league match against Offaly, described on Twitter his honour to represent the Rebel setup and wished the side well for the 2019 season.

Source: Twitter – @Mc_Lorcan

He won three Munster senior hurling medals during his career in 2014, 2017 and 2018, lining out at wing-back for the first final triumph against Limerick in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. The closest he came to a Liam MacCarthy Cup success was in 2013, starting at midfield as Cork lost out to Clare in the All-Ireland final replay.

His gametime was restricted in recent seasons with the emergence of Darragh Fitzgibbon seeing him forge a midfield partnership for Cork with Bill Cooper. McLoughlin’s solitary championship outing for Cork this year came in the Munster final win over Clare.

McLoughlin also achieved notable success in football, winning an All-Ireland U21 medal with Cork in 2009, and lining out for divisional outfit Duhallow in the recent county final.

Earlier this year he enjoyed glory with his club Kanturk in Croke Park as they won the All-Ireland intermediate hurling title against Kilkenny’s St Pat’s Ballyraggett, shooting 0-7 in that victory from his midfield berth.

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

Click Here: state of origin merchandise

THE WATERFORD COUNTY Board received majority support from clubs for the redevelopment of Walsh Park in a meeting in Dungarvan on Sunday night.

The only delegate opposed to the board’s plan came from Kilgobnet: WLR FM report that this particular representative stated their belief that Dungarvan, and not Walsh Park, should be redeveloped.

During an assembly attended by 79 people at Lawlors Hotel, chairman Paddy Joe Ryan maintained that a move to Carriganore — where Waterford train — was financially unviable despite an independent feasibility study recently scoring the WIT facility higher than both Walsh Park and Fraher Field. This study, which did point out that the latter two grounds were cheaper options, was explored on WLR FM’s Déise Today with Eamon Keane last week.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

The Waterford board intend to first renovate Walsh Park before turning their attention to Dungarvan in the medium-term future.

Walsh Park was deemed unfit to host Waterford’s two home games during the 2018 Munster Senior Hurling Championship because, when health and safety standards are applied, its reduced 8,000 capacity is well below the average attendance within the competition.

The county board are hopeful that Waterford will once more be able to host their fellow Munster counties at a new-look Walsh Park in 2020.

Click Here: soccer jerseys

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

THE GAA’S STANDING committee on playing rules (SCPR) have finalised the five new rule changes that they’re experimenting with in Gaelic football.

Aidan O’Shea and James McCarthy in the 2017 All-Ireland final.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

A restriction in handpasses, a plan to have all sidelines kicked forward, the introduction of an attacking mark, the implementation of a sin-bin and a new kick-out rule involving zoning have all been considered since the original list was issued on 2 October.

Set to be fully trialed in 2019, there have been some amendments made to the new sin-bin and kick-out proposals. A black card will now lead to 10 minutes off the field of play, while all kick-outs taken from the 20-metre line now need to clear the 45.

The committee engaged  in a consultation process during the month of October, dealing with players, coaches, referees and officials, which ‘elicited genuine engagement by many,’ according to the GAA. 

Nine trial games were played, featuring teams at every level, and ongoing one-on-one engagements with referees and the referee’s development committee took place, as well as numerous other SCPR consultations and meetings.

The proposed playing rules for experimentation will now go before An Coiste Bainistíochta and Central Council at their respective meetings on 23 and 24 November.

Should they be supported, it’ll then be decided how many of the rules will be trialled in the pre-season competitions, some of which begin in December, and next year’s Allianz Football League.

Click Here: south sydney rabbitohs jersey

Here is the SCPR’s “final, considered position” and the finalised list of proposals to go forward:

1. Handpass

To introduce a restriction of three consecutive passes of the ball with the fist or open hand by players of the team in possession.

Kerry’s David Clifford hand passes the ball.

Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

Penalty: Free kick from where the foul occurred except as provided under the Exceptions in Rule 2.2.

2. Sideline Kick

The ball shall be played forward from the kick except where the kick is inside the 20m line of the opposing team.

Penalty: Cancel side-line kick. Throw-in the ball in accordance with Rule 2.2 Exception (v)

3. The Advanced Mark 

To extend the application of the mark to the clean catching of the ball inside a 45m line from a kick in play (i.e. not from set-play) delivered by an attacking player on or beyond the opposing team’s 45m line, that travels a minimum of  20 metres and without it touching the ground.

The application of the mark shall be standardised as follows: 15 seconds shall be allowed for a free to be taken from a mark.

If the referee determines that the player who makes the mark has been injured in the process and unable to take the kick, the referee shall direct the player’s nearest team mate to take the kick, but this may only be allowed in exceptional circumstances.

A player shall signify he is taking a mark by immediately raising an arm upright.

A player that ‘plays on’ may be challenged/tackled.

A score may be made from a free awarded for a mark in all cases.

Brian Fenton and Colm Cavanagh contest a high ball in this year’s All-Ireland final.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

In the case of a mark being awarded to an attacking player on or inside the 13m line, the free, if availed of, shall be taken from the point on the 13m line directly in line with where the mark is awarded.

In the case of a mark being awarded to a defending player on or inside the 13m line, the free kick, if availed of, shall be taken from the point where the mark is awarded.

The normal rules governing free-kicks shall apply (e.g. players being 13m from the ball before it is kicked).

Exception: A free-kick from a mark shall be taken from the hand(s) only.

4. The sin-bin 

To have a penalty on the day for a black card Infraction by ordering off the offending player for ten minutes in a sin-bin.

The 10 minutes shall commence with the ordering off to the sin-bin and shall end on the expiry of the 10 minutes, irrespective of delays.

The 10 minutes shall be monitored by the 4th Official, where operating, and otherwise by the Referee.

The player may only re-join the game at a break in play and on the instruction of the fourth official or referee.

A subsequent black card Infraction shall be penalised by the showing of a black card followed by a red card.

Armagh’s Mark Shields is black carded by referee David Gough.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

In this case there shall be no substitution allowed.

• The maximum number of substitutions in normal time to return to five.
• The duties of a Referee and Sideline Official to be amended in accordance with the main proposal.

5. Kick-out

The kick-out shall be taken off the ground from a point on the part of the 20 m line that forms the semi-circular arc.

The ball shall not be played by a defending player until the ball has crossed the 45m line (nearest the kick-out point) or is played by an opposing player.

All players, other than the Goalkeeper (and another player if the goalkeeper is not taking the kick-out) shall be outside the 20m line, outside the arc and 13m from the ball until it has been kicked.

Penalties: For another player on the team taking a kick-out to play the ball before it has crossed the 45m line (nearest the kick-out point) or has been played by an opposing player:

• Cancel kick-out
• Throw in the ball on defenders’ 20m line in front of the scoring space.

For an opposing player not being outside the 20m line, outside the arc and 13m from the ball when it is kicked:

• Free kick 13m more advantageous than place of original kick-out.

Monaghan goalkeeper Rory Beggan.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

For another player on the team taking a kick-out not being outside the 20m line, outside the arc and 13m from the ball until it has been kicked:

• Cancel kick-out
• Throw-in the ball on defenders’ 20m line in front of the scoring space

*****

The Standing Committee on Playing Rules (SCPR) is comprised of:

David Hassan (Chair), Tracy Bunyan (Sec), Pat Daly, Seamus Kenny, Brian Cuthbert, Michael Delaney, David Collins, Alex McQuillen, Frank Murphy.

You can read more about aims, rationale and data compiled related to the proposed new rules here.

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

AFTER ANOTHER DOUBLE of All-Ireland titles in 2018, Dublin stars are putting their time into a really worthy cause and hoping to ‘Help Real Heroes’ in the off-season.

The auction of two signed Dublin jerseys will be the main attraction.

Click Here: rugby store

Dean Rock and Niamh McEvoy are running a charity event this weekend in aid of Stewarts Care, a centre that provides services for people with intellectual disabilities in Palmerstown.

“It’s an extremely worthy cause and I personally feel the people who will benefit are inspiring,” 2018 All-Star nominee McEvoy explains, adding that Rock is the fundraising manager and she has volunteered at many events over the past few years.

Her club, St Sylvesters, will host the coffee and cake afternoon on Saturday, 17 November between 2.30pm and 4.30pm — and it’s sure to be a treat for Dublin fans. 

With the Sam Maguire and Brendan Martin Cup both there on the day for photo opportunities, members of Jim Gavin and Mick Bohan’s talented panel will also be present.

“The name of the event is ‘Help Real Heroes,’” McEvoy continues, “playing on the fact that people will be coming to see cups which are associated with heroic, but momentary efforts by healthy athletes.

“Whereas people with disabilities fight their own fights every day, 24/7.”

“It’s an organisation which I have great passion for,” Rock previously told The42 of his work. “I enjoy what they do and I just want to help as many people as I can, have as much of an impact on their lives as I can while I can. It’s a great job and hugely satisfying.”

There’ll be a raffle on the day with donations welcome, but the main attraction on the day surely will be the result of the auction of two jerseys signed by the two 2018 All-Ireland winning panels.

With a reserve of €500 on the two jerseys, sold together as one lot, you can bid now via email at [email protected]. All funds raised go directly towards respite care.

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

SHANE O’DONNELL WILL be back in a Clare jersey far sooner than envisaged with confirmation that the 2013 All-Ireland final hero will be lining out for the Banner County in the Aer Lingus Fenway Hurling Classic in Boston on Sunday.

O’Donnell has moved to the United States after being awarded a prestigious year-long Fulbright Scholarship to Harvard University and is set to miss Clare’s national league campaign.

The 24-year-old, who graduated with a degree in Genetics from UCC, is continuing his studies at the renowned university in Boston but remains firmly in the plans of Clare joint-managers Gerry O’Connor and Donal Moloney.

It is expected he will be back in plenty of time for the start of the championship next year and Moloney has confirmed that O’Donnell will be part of their squad this coming weekend when they defend their Super 11s title at Fenway Park.

“Yes, he will be playing with us this weekend, which is great,” said Moloney. “He’s only over there for about six months. He went five or six weeks ago so it’s great to link up again.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for him to study over there and from speaking to him he loves it, he’s really immersed himself into it.

I think in terms of his career as a research scientist it is really important for him and will really set him for his life after hurling as well and players have to consider that at all times as well.”

Clare, who defeated Galway in the Fenway Hurling Classic final last year, will be bringing a strong squad to Boston but will be without Conor Cleary and Aidan McGuane, both of whom are on the Milltown Malbay team that has qualified for the Munster senior club football final for the first time.

O’Donnell and the Clare players at Fenway Park last year.

Source: Emily Harney/INPHO

Moloney said they want to defend their crown in Fenway Park on Sunday, not least as they found participating in it last year to be quite helpful in their preparations for the 2018 season.

“Last year, at the end of 2017, it was a privilege to be asked to participate in it and we used it to the maximum,” he adds. “We had a mixed year from a hurling perspective in league and championship and found it great to be able to bring the squad away together like that.

“We brought 27 or 28 guys and they applied themselves very well. They really enjoyed the competition very much. Counties often search for opportunities to go away and create that bond among players and build team spirit and going to Boston last year was ideal from our point of view. You have a competitive element to it and you have the novel aspect of playing in one of the most iconic stadiums in America in front of almost 28,000 people.

“For some of our lads last year was their first time in the States, so you put all that together and it was a real uplifting experience and one that was often mentioned subsequently throughout the season so we are really looking forward to going back.”

Clare will begin the defence with a semi-final meeting with Munster champions Cork, while in the other semi-final, All-Ireland champions Limerick will take on Wexford.

All of the matches will be broadcast live by TG4, starting at 5.30pm Irish time on Sunday.

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

Click Here: custom product design

JOE KERNAN, IRELAND’S International Rules boss last year, does not support the idea of GAA clubs being compensated for young players joining AFL clubs.

Joe Kernan after Ireland’s International Rules defeat last year to Australia.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

The issue has cropped up again recently with a group of young players – Dublin’s James Madden, Derry duo Anton Tohill and Callum Brown, Cork’s Mark Keane, Kerry’s Stefan Okunbor and Sligo’s Red Óg Murphy – all signing deals and making the move to Australia.

Meath’s Conor Nash, who plays with Hawthorn, and Kerry great Tomás Ó Sé have both suggested that it may be time for the GAA clubs of these players to be reimbursed after they have departed.

But Kernan is not sure about ‘going down that road’ to implement such a policy.

“We’re not professional and even though we put a lot of time into it, I suppose we don’t want to see anyone going away or the good players we have leaving.

“But these boys are amateurs and we’re always going to be amateurs. If they can go out and do something out in a different country and make a living for themselves who are we to say no?

“So, no, I wouldn’t be thinking of going down that road. I would just hope that, one, they wouldn’t go and that would solve all the problems. But if they do go we have to support them and wish them luck and hopefully watch them performing and hopefully they stay safe.

“The unfortunate thing is it is very physical and a lot of the boys that come back either retire early with injury or when they come back they’re never the same. That’s the only worry that I would have or the biggest worry.”

Joe Kernan in Crossmaglen with his son Aaron and grandson James.

Kernan’s GAA focus this weekend will be on Sunday afternoon in Omagh. Since 1996 his club Crossmaglen Rangers have picked up 20 Armagh titles, 11 Ulster crowns and 6 All-Ireland triumphs.

They are back on the provincial road with an Ulster semi-final against Donegal’s Gaoth Dobhair in Healy Park, on the back of emerging from a testing encounter with Tyrone’s Coalisland.

“We have a very young squad – there’s 17 U21 players – and it was probably a new experience for a lot of them, not winning a county title the last few years and it was the first time they came up against something like this.

“It was high intensity and we didn’t play as well as we can, but we got a few scores late on, some great scores, that turned the game for us in our favour and we’re delighted to be in the semi-final now.

“There’ll be nobody here talking about Ulster finals or All-Irelands – it’s just the next match. Gaoth Dobhair have come through a tough Donegal championship, so they’ll be looking forward to it. We met them a few years ago and we had a win over them so they’ll be wanting to turn that around.”

Click Here: new zealand blues jersey

• * Joe Kernan was speaking at the launch of Trócaire’s Christmas Gifts campaign. You can buy Trócaire gifts online at www.trocaire.org/gifts

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

1996 WEXFORD ALL-IRELAND winner Eamonn Scallan has been confirmed as the new Wicklow hurling manager. 

The Ferns-St Aidan’s club man takes his first step into senior inter-county management having built up valuable experience in charge of the Wexford minors recently.

Scallan has also been involved in the Model county’s senior backroom team. As a player, he won two Leinster titles through the 1990s, and of course that Celtic Cross in their 1996 Liam MacCarthy triumph.

“Wicklow GAA are delighted to announce Eamonn Scallan as the new Wicklow hurling manager,” the county tweeted last night.

Scallan hurling with Wicklow in 1997.

“Eamonn has extensive experience, winning Leinster Championships and an All-Ireland medal with Wexford. He will bring huge enthusiasm to the role.”

Wicklow are preparing for Christy Ring Cup action again in 2019, after being beaten in the semi-final by London last year. First, they’ll line out in Division 2B of the National Hurling League.

Scallan takes over from Seamus Murphy, who stepped down from the post in September after a two-year term, citing health reasons.

@wicklowgaa GAA are delighted to announce Eamonn Scallan as the new Wicklow Hurling Manager. Eamonn has extensive experience, winning Leinster Championships and an All-Ireland medal with Wexford. He will bring huge enthusiasm to the role. pic.twitter.com/kXGcjykkGg

— Official Wicklow GAA (@wicklowgaa) November 13, 2018

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

Click Here: rugby league jersey sale

ALL-STAR WINNING FORWARD Ian Burke will bolster the options of All-Ireland club champions Corofin by being fit for selection for Sunday week’s AIB Connacht decider.

Burke, who collected his first All-Star award recently after his exploits for Galway this summer, has missed Corofin’s last two games after fracturing a rib in their drawn county final.

He watched on as Corofin completed six-in-a-row in Galway with a replay victory over Mountbellew-Moylough and then dismantled Roscommon’s Clann na nGael in last Sunday’s Connacht semi-final.

“It’s fine, I’ll be 100% now for the next day. I fractured a rib in the semi-final, so missed the last two games (and) had to rest, that’s all you can do really with it.

“I played the first game but didn’t really realise the extent of the injury and then got the scan on the Monday after and then realised it was fractured. I just had to rest it really for the last two games.

“There’s nothing you can really do with it. It’s good, it’s feeling a lot better now this week, another while to the game now so it should be fine.”

Corofin will be bidding for three-in-a-row in Connacht on 25 November when they take on Mayo’s Ballintubber, in what will be their fifth successive season contesting the final in the western province. Burke has been part of a golden run of success that has also yielded two St Patrick’s Day triumphs in Croke Park.

His return enhances the scoring potential of a team that amassed 4-22 last weekend in Dr Hyde Park but he’s simply relieved to have an opportunity to make his mark after watching Corofin chisel out a draw in injury-time of the county final.

Corofin joint captains Micheal Lundy and Ciaran McGrath lift the cup.

Source: Lorraine O’Sullivan/INPHO

“The first day we were very lucky,” says Burke.

“Fair play to (Mícheál) Lundy (who scored the levelling point), the rest of them as well, they dug out the draw.

“Got a goal early on the second day which gave us a bit of a platform to build on. Still lucky to be still here I suppose.

“(Clann na nGael) winning in Roscommon, beating the likes of Brigid’s, we played them a lot lately and had great battles with them.

“So we knew what they were like, maybe on the day we got a couple of goals early and that, might maybe have killed it as a contest. The scoreline didn’t reflect what it was like out there. Lot of lads are carrying knocks and bruises after that. It was a tough physical game, the scoreline may not have reflected that but it was definitely a battle.”

• Corofin and Galway’s Ian Burke is pictured ahead of the AIB GAA Connacht senior football championship final where they face Ballintubber on Sunday 25 November. AIB is in its 28th season sponsoring the GAA Club Championship and will celebrate their 6th season sponsoring the Camogie Association.

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

Click Here: Tottenham Hotspur soccer tracksuit

“IT’S BEEN A mad few months”.

Shane Dowling reflects on a year of contrasting All-Ireland final experiences.

Late March generated the heart-breaking disappointment with Na Piarsaigh of a club final loss in a replay thriller. Mid August saw him reach the peak with the Limerick hurlers in Croke Park.

And next Sunday he’ll aim to round off 2018 by entering the Munster winners enclosure once more with Na Piarsaigh.

He’s declared himself fit for that provincial showdown, despite having his arm in a sling at the end of their recent semi-final win over Clonoulty-Rossmore.

“Basically the shoulder pops out and slips back in. It’s happened three or four times, I’ll eventually have to get an operation on it. It takes six months to recover from and I don’t have six months to spare.

“This can’t happen from a shoulder or anything, it’s me over-reaching or just having my arm in a particular way. Basically I’ve two bad shoulders and I’ve two massive bunions on the side of my feet so sometime I’ll go in, get the whole lot done, come out in a wheelchair and I’ll have had the full service done!

“But I don’t have the time for that now so I’ll stay going. It takes three or for days for the soreness to go away. The lads said does it play on your mind or anything, it’s happened me four times. But sure how many hurling matches have I played? It’s few and far between.”

He experienced the frustration of watching on last season, helpless due to a knee injury as he rested on crutches and watched Na Piarsaigh duel it out with Ballygunner, their opponents again this time around.

“It killed me, especially the way we played, the boys in the first half, Ballygunner tore them asunder. The only consolation was we only went in a point down. We hadn’t pucked a ball.

“I was hoping that they’d come to life in the second half and they did but it’s a very, very touch watch. Especially when you know you can be out there doing something but listen I’m 25, that was my first serious injury. I can’t be giving out too much, I’ve been lucky, touch wood.”

Dowling is helped off the Gaelic Grounds pitch by Dr. Kieran Breen.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

This season has made him appreciate the good moments in hurling, given the year started off with a setback.

“It was the worst experience of my life in March, no two ways about it,” says Dowling of the two-game saga with the Dublin champions.

“I won’t talk about that because I still can’t and probably never will be (able to). I mean at that stage there, you think your sporting career is a disaster.

“You’ve a free 40 yards out in front of the goal to put your team four points up and it’s game over and you miss it. Then a penalty goes in the other end and you’re beaten in a replay. You just couldn’t write that stuff.

“To go from literally an all-time low to five months later you’re at an all-time high. Sport is mad that way. The highs and lows are very, very close to each other. It was amazing the way it worked out.

“Would you have taken that club final if you knew what was going to happen five months later? You probably would. I was lucky enough to have one already and it was magic what happened. It’s something I always dreamed of. So it’s been a mad few months.”

Limerick saw off Galway in August’s All-Ireland decider.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Dowling filled a different role in the Limerick ranks, sprung into action as a substitute to make critical scoring contributions during the summer.

He was one of six Na Piarsaigh players in the squad yet only Mike Casey managed to nail down a starting berth.

“I don’t think victims of our own success is the right terminology but I hear what you’re saying. We started off with Limerick in November ’16, that finished in July ’17 when Kilkenny beat us.

“It was straight back in with Na Piarsaigh up until March ’18 and then it was straight back in with Limerick until August this year and it was straight back in with Na Piarsaigh. So it’s two years on the trot, an odd week here or two weeks here.

“It’s been fairly relentless but I’d rather be sitting here in front of ye talking to ye about that than saying my club was knocked out three months ago, I’ve done nothing for the last three months, bring on the New Year.

“You need a mental break more so than anything but listen we’ve a driven bunch of players. A competitive bunch of players.

“Peter Casey called over to the house the other night and we played a board game called 30 seconds and I’m not joking you, you don’t want to lose that because if you lose that, it’s bad.

“I’m not joking, the competitiveness within the group is huge and I think that’s what drives us on.”

Who won the board game?

“He did! I was disgusted.”

On Sunday they’ll bid to land another Munster title in Semple Stadium and write another successful chapter in their 2018 tale.

• Na Piarsaigh and Limerick’s Shane Dowling is pictured ahead of the AIB GAA Munster Senior Hurling Club Championship Final where they face Ballygunner on Sunday, November 18th at Semple Stadium.
• AIB is in its 28th season sponsoring the GAA Club Championship and will celebrate their 6th season sponsoring the Camogie Association.

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

Click Here: FIJI Rugby Shop

CORK SHARPSHOOTER PATRICK Horgan has said that while he was thrilled to win his third All-Star recently, it has only increased his desire for an All-Ireland medal.

The Glen Rovers clubman will head into his 12th season of senior championship hurling in 2019, and after watching Clare in 2013, Galway last year and Limerick this time round celebrate All-Ireland wins on the night of the All-Stars, he is just hoping it will turn for him and Cork next season.

Click Here: Geelong Cats Guernsey

Cork star Patrick Horgan.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

Cork haven’t won the All-Ireland since 2005, but Horgan believes they aren’t far away. He’s heading to Boston this weekend as Cork participate in the Aer Lingus Fenway Hurling Classic for the first time, and all his thoughts are on 2019, having picked up a second successive All-Star award.

“I was delighted to win it but you see who enjoyed it the most on the night are the lads who are after winning the All-Ireland. That’s the third time I have seen that,” he said.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m delighted and honoured to win an All-Star. Everyone has a great night at the All-Stars but it must be a really unbelievable night for the fellas who are just after winning the All-Ireland.

“But that’s the task. It fairly whets the appetite and that’s what we will be going for again. We have won Munster for the last two years but we want to go another step or two having lost the last two All-Ireland semi-finals,” said the 30-year old, who made his championship debut against Tipperary in 2008.

He hasn’t looked back at their heartbreaking All-Ireland semi-final loss to Limerick but knows that it wouldn’t have taken a lot more from them to go the whole way.

“We were well in control in the game against them but we didn’t see it out. They saw it out way better than us and fair play to them. They went the whole way then.

“But there’s nothing between the teams. I have never seen it as tight as it is in Munster, and then if you get out of there you find that there is little between any of the other teams as well. It’s a toss of a coin in most matches.”

Horgan tangling with Limerick’s Sean Finn and Michael Casey during Cork’s All-Ireland semi-final defeat.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Horgan is looking forward to playing in Fenway Park on Sunday and, as an avid follower of the New England Patriots, he is a regular visitor to the Boston area and can appreciate how fanatical American supporters can be.

“I’m really looking forward to getting to Fenway Park and seeing what it’s like. It’s a great experience for all of us. I was never there before but obviously it’s a big deal, especially after the Red Sox winning the World Series recently and all the hype that went with it. Now we are going in there to play.

“I watched it last year and again a good bit there recently to get familiar with the rules. There seemed to be a cracking atmosphere there last year and I believe there is another huge crowd expected on Sunday. It’s a bit of a break from the usual type of training at this time of the year and we are really looking forward to it.

“I go to see the Patriots a bit. I have followed them for a good few seasons and try get over at least once a year. I was over there to see them play Green Bay the week before last so it’s a bit special to go play hurling in one of these iconic venues,” he added.

Cork will take on Clare in the opening semi-final at Fenway Park on Sunday, with the winners meeting either Limerick or Wexford in the final. All three games in the Aer Lingus Fenway Hurling Classic will be broadcast live by TG4, starting at 5.30pm Irish time on Sunday. 

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