Month: September 2021

RONAN McCARTHY HAS announced his Cork senior football team to play Limerick in the semi-finals of the McGrath Cup.

The neighbours will begin their 2019 seasons by squaring off at Mick Neville Park in Rathkeale at 2pm on Sunday afternoon.

An experimental Cork line-up captained by Ian Maguire features eight members of the side that started when the Rebels exited the championship with a heavy defeat to Tyrone last July.

The reward on offer on Sunday is a meeting with the winners of the game between Clare and Waterford in the McGrath Cup final.

Cork are the holders, having beaten Clare in last year’s decider.

Cork (v Limerick) 

1. Mark White (Clonakilty)

2. Kevin O’Donovan (Nemo Rangers)
3. James Loughrey (Mallow)
4. Conor Dennehy (St Finbarrs)

5. Kevin Crowley (Millstreet)
6. Kevin Flahive (Douglas)
7. Paul Walsh (Kanturk)

8. Ian Maguire (St Finbarrs — captain)
9. Cillian O’Hanlon (Kilshannig)

10. Tom Clancy (Fermoy)
11. Sean White (Clonakilty)
12. Mattie Taylor (Mallow)

13. Damien Gore (Kilmacabea)
14. Ruairi Deane (Bantry)
15. Brian Hurley (Castlehaven)

Subs

16. Chris Kelly (Eire Óg)
17. Peter Murphy (Bandon)
18. Aidan Browne (Newmarket)
19. Liam O’Donovan (Clonakilty)
20. Tadhg Corkery (Cill Na Martra)
21. James Fitzpatrick (Carbery Rangers)
22. Ronan O’Toole (Eire Og)
23. Eoghan McSweeney (Knocknagree)
24. Mark Collins (Castlehaven)
25. Peter Kelleher (Kilmichael)
26. Chris Óg Jones (Iveleary)

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MICHAEL ‘BRICK’ WALSH will begin his 17th inter-county senior hurling season tonight in Mallow after being named at half-back in the Waterford team to face Cork.

The sides clash in Round 2 of the Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League with Brick Walsh selected in defence for the first game of the Padraic Fanning era as the new Waterford boss takes charge.

Walsh broke the senior inter-county hurling championship appearance record last June when he lined out against Cork in what was Waterford’s last outing of 2018 as their Munster round-robin campaign concluded.

There had been speculation he would retire after that 74th championship appearance but he has returned to the fold.

The Stradbally man is joined in the starting side tonight by other experienced players in new captain Noel Connors, defender Shane Fives, the midfield pairing of Jamie Barron and Brian O’Halloran and wing-forward Kevin Moran.

Cork have named the same side that was announced in advance of last Saturday’s game against Clare with four pre-match changes taking place before throw-in at Cusack Park.

Stephen McDonnell, Eoin Cadogan, Damien Cahalane – who will captain the side – Christopher Joyce and Aidan Walsh are some of the more experienced figures in their setup.

Throw-in tonight is 7.30pm.

Waterford

1. Billy Nolan (Roanmore)

2. Shane McNulty (De La Salle)
3. Shane Fives (Tourin)
4. Noel Connors (Passage – captain)

5. Jordan Henley (Tallow)
6. Mark O’Brien (Ferrybank)
7. Michael Walsh (Stradbally)

8. Jamie Barron (Fourmilewater)
9. Brian O’Halloran (Clashmore-Kinsalebeg)

10. Kevin Moran (De La Salle)
11. Mikey Kearney (Ballyduff Upper)
12. DJ Foran (Portlaw)

13. Thomas Ryan (Tallow)
14. Stephen Bennett (Ballysaggart)
15. Colm Roche (Shamrocks)

Cork

1. Pa Collins (Ballinhassig)

2. Stephen McDonnell (Glen Rovers)
3. Eoin Cadogan (Douglas)
4. David Lowney (Clonakilty)

5. Damien Cahalane (St Finbarr’s – captain)
6. Tim O’ Mahony (Newtownshandrum)
7. Eoghan Murphy (Sarsfields)

8. Conor Cahalane (St Finbarr’s)
9. Christopher Joyce (Na Piarsaigh)

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10. Cormac Murphy (Mallow)
11. Michael O’Halloran (Blackrock)
12. Aidan Walsh (Kanturk)

13. Shane Kingston (Douglas)
14. Jamie Coughlan (Newtownshandrum)
15. Robbie O’ Flynn (Erins Own)

Subs

16. Ger Collins (Ballinhassig)
17. Ross O’ Regan (Midleton)
18. David Griffin (Carrigaline)
19. Robert Downey (Glen Rovers)
20. William Kearney (Sarsfields)
21. Declan Dalton (Fr O’ Neills)
22. Cormac Beausang (Midleton)
23. Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons)
24. Simon Kennefick (Glen Rovers)
25. Conor O’Callaghan (Dromtariffe)
26. Paul Leopold (Sarsfields)

Murray Kinsella, Gavan Casey and Andy Dunne look back on a memorable year for Irish rugby.

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Waterford 1-24
Cork 1-18

Denis Hurley reports from Mallow

WATERFORD WILL PLAY Clare on Sunday for a place in the final of the CoOpSuperStores.ie Munster hurling league after they got the better of Cork in Mallow tonight.

Cork’s Conor Cahalane and Waterford’s Michael Walsh challenge for possession.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

Stephen Bennett scored 13 points as Páraic Fanning’s reign got off to a winning start, with an early second-half scoring burst turning the game Waterford’s way.

Having trailed by 1-11 to 0-12 at half-time, they fell further behind as Michael O’Halloran pointed for Cork, but Michael Walsh – beginning his 17th season in white and blue – netted to level and Thomas Ryan put them into a lead they wouldn’t lose.

After an opening ten minutes in which Cork shaded affairs, leading by 0-4 to 0-3, the Déise assumed superiority as they outscored Cork by seven points to one to lead by 0-10 to 0-5 after 21 minutes.

Waterford’s Shane McNulty with Cork’s Cormac Murphy.

Stephen Bennett’s dead-ball accuracy was excellent throughout – Cork’s Declan Dalton was similarly deadly from placed balls – while Kevin Moran, Jamie Barron and Mikey Kearney were also on target as they seized control, with Dalton having the hosts’ sole response.

However, on 22 the Rebels struck for a goal as Dalton’s sideline ball broke in the goalmouth, allowing Aidan Walsh to fire home, and it was their turn for a scoring flurry as the game turned.

Waterford goalkeeper Billy Nolan up against Cork’s Michael O’Halloran.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

Five points from Dalton, including three excellent frees, were joined by a Cormac Murphy point as they led by 1-11 to 0-12 at half-time and Michael O’Halloran extended the advantage to a goal on the resumption.

That goal materialised, though, as Walsh, having been moved from midfield to full-forward, capitalised on a defensive mix-up to fire home and Ryan (two) and Barron added points. As the half wore on, Waterford strengthened their grip, with Bennett metronomic as they eased clear.

Michael Walsh hit the net for Waterford tonight.

Scorers for Waterford: Stephen Bennett 0-13 (0-12 frees), Mikey Kearney 0-4, Michael Walsh 1-0, Jamie Barron, Kevin Moran, Thomas Ryan 0-2 each, Jack Prendergast 0-1.

Scorers for Cork: Declan Dalton 0-9 (0-7 frees), Cormac Murphy 0-3, Aidan Walsh 1-0, Michael O’Halloran 0-2, Tim O’Mahony, Christopher Joyce, Robbie O’Flynn, William Kearney 0-1 each.

Waterford

1. Billy Nolan (Roanmore)

2. Shane McNulty (De La Salle)
3. Shane Fives (Tourin)
4. Noel Connors (Passage)

5. Jordan Henley (Tallow)
6. Mark O’Brien (Ferrybank)
10. Kevin Moran (De La Salle)

8. Jamie Barron (Fourmilewater)
7. Michael Walsh (Stradbally)

12. DJ Foran (Portlaw)
11. Mikey Kearney (Ballyduff Upper)
9. Brian O’Halloran (Clashmore/Kinsalebeg)

13. Thomas Ryan (Tallow)
14. Stephen Bennett (Ballysaggart)
15. Colm Roche (Shamrocks)

Subs

21. Conor Prunty (Abbeyside) for O’Brien (55)

23. Stephen Roche (Mount Sion) for Walsh (56)

22. Austin Gleeson (Mount Sion) for Moran (66)

25. Jack Prendergast (Lismore) for Roche (67)

17. Kieran Bennett (Ballysaggart) for McNulty (70)

Cork

1. Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig)

23. Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons)
18. David Griffin (Carrigaline)
4. David Lowney (Clonakilty)

9. Christopher Joyce (Na Piarsaigh)
6. Tim O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum)
19. Robert Downey (Glen Rovers)

8. Conor Cahalane (St Finbarr’s)
20. William Kearney (Sarsfields)

10. Cormac Murphy (Mallow)
11. Michael O’Halloran (Blackrock)
12. Aidan Walsh (Kanturk)

14. Jamie Coughlan (Newtownshandrum)
21. Declan Dalton (Fr O’Neills)
15. Robbie O’Flynn (Erin’s Own)

Subs

22. Cormac Beausang (Midleton) for O’Flynn (inj) (25)
25. Conor O’Callaghan (Dromtarriffe) for Lowney (inj)  (25)
7. Eoghan Murphy (Sarsfields) for Walsh (half-time)
5. Seán O’Leary Hayes (Midleton) for Downey (65)
26. Paul Leopold (Sarsfields) for Coughlan (66)

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)

Murray Kinsella, Gavan Casey and Andy Dunne look back on a memorable year for Irish rugby.

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LIMERICK BOSS BILLY Lee has named his starting team to face Cork in Sunday’s McGrath Cup semi-final.

It’s the first game of the season for both sides, with Waterford and Clare facing off in the other last four clash. 

The Treaty manager starts with one debutant – full-forward Adam Kearns – for the 2pm meeting in Rathkeale. 

Returning to the team is goalkeeper Donal O’Sullivan, with the Monaleen netminder back in the county set-up after a spell abroad. Seamus O’Carroll, who plays his club football with Castleknock in Dublin, leads the attack. 

Limerick’s Iain Corbett during the 2017 McGrath Cup final.

Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

Iain Corbett missed last year’s league as he was away with the Irish army, but he takes his place at midfield alongside Darragh Treacy.

Cork announced their side earlier this week.

Limerick

1. Donal O’Sullivan (Monaleen) 

2. Michael Donovan (Galbally) 
3. Sean O’Dea (Kilteely/Dromkeen) 
4. Paul Maher (Adare) 

5. Brian Fanning (Pallasgreen) 
6. Tony McCarthy (Kildimo/Pallaskenry) 
7. Gordon Brown (Na Piarsaigh) 

8. Darragh Treacy (St Kierans) 
9. Iain Corbett (Newcastlewest) 

10. Jim Liston (Gerald Griffins) 
11. Sean McSweeney (St Kierans) 
12. Mike Fitzgibbon (Feohanagh/Castlemahon) 

13. Peter Nash (Kildimo/Pallaskenry) 
14. Adam Kearns (St Senans) 
15. Seamus O’Carroll (Castleknock)

Subs:

16. John Chawke (Kildimo/Pallaskenry) 
17. Oran Collins (Adare) 
18. Gareth Noonan (Dromcollogher/Broadford) 
19. Colm McSweeney (Gerald Griffins) 
20. Luke Murphy (Monaleen) 
21. Denis Greaney (Athea) 
22. Tommy Griffin (Gerald Griffins) 
23. Padraig De Brun (Firies) 
24. Kieran Daly (Na Piarsaigh) 
25. Davy Lyons (Adare) 
26. Jamie Lee (Newcastlewest)

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ARMAGH ASSISTANT MANAGER Jim McCorry has questioned whether university football teams should continue to participate in the Dr McKenna Cup, arguing that they are struggling to compete against county teams.

Jim McCorry standing alongside Armagh boss Kieran McGeeney.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Ulster University Jordanstown [UUJ], St Mary’s University and Queen’s University Belfast are the three college teams currently competing in this pre-season competition and McCorry is concerned by the one-sided results in some of the games.

Armagh scored a comfortable 6-17 to 1-7 victory over St Mary’s in their opening Dr McKenna Cup tie last month while Donegal had 10 points to spare in their win over Queen’s.

UUJ did manage to come away with a draw against Fermanagh, but McCorry argues that perhaps county teams and college teams should no longer be in the same competition.

“Do we really need the universities in the McKenna Cup?” he said in an interview with the Irish News.

With the greatest respect to them, they might get the odd draw or win but they are heavily beaten in other games.

“A lot of players want to be playing for their county because that’s what they want to do longer term. But then managers are having to discuss with the colleges over players.”

Hurling and football college teams use these pre-season provincial tournaments to fit in some tough matches to help with their Fitzgibbon Cup [hurling] and Sigerson Cup [football] preparations.

However, McCorry says that the college teams would benefit more from the fixture calendar being adjusted rather than staying in a competition like the Dr McKenna Cup.

Tyrone’s Ronan McNabb in action against St Mary’s during the 2018 Dr McKenna Cup.

Source: Lorcan Doherty/INPHO

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“The key point here is if Sigerson took place after the Ryan Cup that concludes the universities’ seasons [before Christmas] and allows the players to get on with their studies and county football would be able to get on without conflict [over players] trying to serve different masters.

“Certainly there are debates every year over players availability.”

Universities might not be happy as they like the McKenna Cup for their Sigerson Cup preparations but you’ve got to ask yourself the worth to both [county and university]?

“It’s about trying to get the calendar right but that has never been properly addressed… The new rules are occupying people at the minute and the calendar hasn’t got as much focus.

“The calendar is probably one of the most important things that needs to be sorted out.”

Murray Kinsella, Gavan Casey and Andy Dunne look back on a memorable year for Irish rugby.

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ARMAGH ASSISTANT MANAGER Jim McCorry added his name yesterday to the growing list of voices who’ve questioned the value of retaining university sides in the Dr McKenna Cup.

Queen’s University, Ulster University and St Mary’s College have competed in the Ulster pre-season since the early 2000s, but they may not be doing so for much longer.

In the Section B opener, St Mary’s, who were without several inter-county players, shipped a heavy 25-point beating to Armagh in the opening round of the competition. It prompted McCorry to ask: “Is there any benefit for the county in that? Is there any real benefit for St Mary’s?”

Ulster University managed to snatch a draw with Fermanagh in Section C despite the absence of seven players who were all involved with their counties – Benny Gallen, Brian Kennedy, Ben McDonald and David Mulgrew (Tyrone), Ryan Owens and Jason Duffy (Armagh), and Gareth McKinless (Derry). 

Following the game, Ulster University GAA President Tommy Joe Farrell called for a new McKenna Cup law to prevent counties from picking players named on college panels. “Every year it’s the same old chestnut: ‘Who should the university boys play for?’ In my opinion they should be playing for their university,” he stated.

On 30 December in Section A, Queen’s University lost to Donegal by a convincing 10-point margin. They were well under-strength and manager Shane Mulholland admitted the absentees due to county bosses refusing to release players for the game was “a massive complicator.”

College sides were placed into the inter-county pre-season competitions almost two decades ago with the idea of giving them the experience of playing at a higher standard ahead of the Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cup campaigns.

Tyrone’s Darragh Canavan scores a point against Derry in their recent McKenna Cup meeting.

Source: Lorcan Doherty/INPHO

The universities were supposed to have first choice on their players, but that idea has gently eroded over the years. Some managers are pressurising players to put inter-county games and even training sessions first, but in many cases youngsters are calling the shots as they look to establish themselves on county panels.

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As McCorry put it: “A lot of players want to be playing for their county because that’s what they want to do longer term.”

Last year, Brian Howard made the decision not to line out with DIT in the Sigerson Cup quarter-final against Tralee IT, instead focusing on nailing down his place for Dublin’s Division 1 clash against Donegal that weekend.

At the time, Jim Gavin said his players “simply make their decisions based on what is best for their professional, academic or sporting careers.” It becomes more complicated when scholarships are at stake for individuals.

It worked out alright for Howard, who returned to the DIT team for their semi-final loss to NUIG. He became a nailed-on starter with Dublin in the summer, winning an All-Star and a Celtic Cross after a brilliant season.

With the Allianz Hurling and Football League campaigns beginning in January once again, there’s a danger some players may follow Howard’s lead and opt out of third-level championship matches to focus on inter-county league games.

Brian Howard takes on Peter Cooke in the Sigerson Cup semi-final.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

In terms of the pre-season competitions, Ulster is the only province that allows third level sides enter (apart from the Kehoe Shield where DCU’s St Patrick’s campus take part). The O’Byrne Cup, McGrath Cup and FBD League only involve inter-county sides these days, as do hurling’s Walsh Cup, Munster Senior Hurling League and Kehoe Cup. 

But as has been the case for a long number of years, players between the ages of 18 to 22 continue to be dragged left, right and centre as they juggle various club, college and county commitments.

Over-use injuries are rife in the game with hip and groin operations reaching epidemic levels – and the players going under the knife in their early 20s have become worryingly common.

The farcical nature of Kieran Molloy being forced to play an All-Ireland club semi-final and Sigerson final on the same afternoon was an indictment on the Association, but little has been done. Moving the All-Ireland U21 football championship to a developmental U20 grade was the equivalent of using a band-aid to treat a broken leg.  

It all comes back to the issue of a proper fixtures calendar.

University teams are likely to have less and less access to their elite players as the demands in the inter-county game continue to rise. 

With the dissenting voices growing in Ulster, the McKenna Cup may well follow suit and shed its university sides in the next year or two.

But unless there’s a period set-out in the GAA calendar where third-level teams have exclusive access to their players, there’s only going to be one winner in the college vs county stakes. 

And that may signal trouble for the future of the Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cups.

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DARRAGH CANAVAN AND Matthew Murnaghan will make their first senior starts for Tyrone in Sunday’s Dr McKenna Cup clash with Ulster University at Healy Park. 

Cavanan, the son of Red Hand legend Peter, is regarded by many as one of the finest attacking talents to emerge from the county in recent years.

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The 18-year-old scored a point on his first appearance off the bench against Derry last month and will be looking to impress Mickey Harte as the beginning of the Allianz Football League looms. 

Canavan features at corner-forward, with Murnaghan lining out at wing-back.  Hugh Pat McGeary and Conor Meyler anchor the defence and Conal McCann comes in to start on the half-forward line. 

All-Star nominees Peter Harte and Niall Sludden are named on the bench.

Tyrone

1. Benny Gallen (Aghyaran)

2. Ciaran McLaughlin (Omagh)
3. Hugh Pat McGeary (Pomeroy)
4. Aidan McCrory (Errigal Ciaran)

5. Liam Rafferty (Galbally)
6. Conor Meyler (Omagh)
7. Matthew Murnaghan (Killyclogher)

8. Conan Grugan (Omagh)
9. Brian Kennedy (Derrylaughan)

10. Declan McClure (Clonoe)
11. Kyle Coney (Ardboe)
12. Conal McCann (Killyclogher)

13. Darragh Canavan (Errigal Ciaran)
14. Ronan O’Neill (Omagh)
15. Ruairi Sludden (Ardboe)

Subs

16. Niall Morgan (Edendork)
17. Rory Brennan (Trillick)
18. Ryan Gray (Trillick)
19. Peter Harte (Errigal Ciaran)
20. Ben McDonnell (Errigal Ciaran)
21. Cathal McShane (Eoghan Ruadh)
22. David Mulgrew (Ardboe)
23. Niall Sludden (Dromore)

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OFFALY BOSS JOHN Maughan has bolstered his squad for the 2019 campaign with the addition of Kilmacud Crokes forward Shane Horan.

Kilmacud Crokes forward Shane Horan.

Source: Bryan Keane/INPHO

The Irish Daily Mirror reports that Horan, whose parents hail from the Faithful County, completed an inter-county transfer to Offaly earlier this month through the parentage rule. He will continue to play his club football with the Dublin champions. 

Horan is eligible to feature in the O’Byrne Cup tie against Carlow tomorrow afternoon, having trained for the first time with the squad on Wednesday. 

Offaly manager John Maughan.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

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The 27-year-old was a key figure on the Kilmacud half-forward line in 2018, scoring five goals in the Dublin SFC as they delivered the club’s first county title since 2010.

The Stillorgan outfit went on to reach the Leinster final, where they fell to Mullinalaghta in Tullamore. 

Just last week, Maughan lamented the lack of players who made themselves available for county duty in his first year in charge.

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JAMES HORAN HAS shuffled his pack ahead of his first game back as Mayo manager, including several new faces to face Leitrim in their FBD League opener on Sunday afternoon [Throw-In 1.30pm].

James McCormack, Fionn McDonagh, Colm Moran and Brian Reape all start for Mayo, attempting to re-energize a side that made it to just Round 3 of the All Ireland qualifiers in 2018 – crashing out against Kildare in Newbridge last June.

Stephen Rochford’s side fell at the first hurdle in the Connacht Championship against Galway prior to this and Horan will be hoping not to repeat that feat during this year’s campaign.

The team selection has certainly put his stamp on this new-look Mayo, but he has retained some of the county’s brightest stars over the last five years.

Ger Cafferkey, Lee Keegan and Stephen Coen are among those retained from Mayo’s last starting line-up. Cillian O’Connor and Tom Parsons continue their return from injury, while Aidan O’Shea is omitted from the squad.

Stephen Coen is retained from last year’s defeat to Kildare and Mayo will be boosted by the inclusion of All Stars Ger Cafferkey, Brendan Harrison and Lee Keegan.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

Mayo XV to face Leitrim

1. Rob Hennelly (Breaffy)

2. Eoin O’Donoghue (Belmullet)
3. Ger Cafferkey (Ballina Stephenites)
4. Brendan Harrison (Aghamore)

5. Lee Keegan (Westport)
6. James McCormack (Claremorris)
7. Donal Vaughan (Castlebar Mitchels)

8. Seamie O’Shea (Breaffy)
9. Stephen Coen (Hollymount/Carramore)

10. Fionn McDonagh (Westport)
11. Jason Doherty (Burrishoole) (c)
12. Fergal Boland (Aghamore)

13. Colm Moran (Westport)
14. Brian Reape (Bohola Moy Davitts)
15. Evan Regan (Ballina Stephenites)

Gavan Casey, Murray Kinsella and Andy Dunne preview the weekend’s action:

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