Month: September 2021

STAR FORWARD DOIREANN O’Sullivan will captain 11-time All-Ireland champions Cork in 2019, taking over from her sister Ciara.

24-year-old Doireann had a stellar 2018 in the Rebel red and with her club Mourneabbey, reaching two All-Ireland finals and winning a first All-Star award.

O’Sullivan steered the Clyda outfit to a first-ever All-Ireland senior club title with inspiring displays throughout their campaign but her player-of-the-match performance in the final was key.

On the inter-county scene, her monstrous point-scoring and free-taking caught the eye as Ephie Fitzgerald’s side returned to the All-Ireland final in Croke Park following their 2017 absence.

They had to settle for 11 All-Ireland titles in 14 years though as they were edged out by old foes Dublin on a scoreline of 3-11 to 1-12.

Sisters: Ciara (left) and Doireann (right) O’Sullivan.

Source: Sportsfile.

Since linking up with the senior panel in 2012, Doireann has won five All-Ireland titles and five Division 1 league titles.

She captained the Leesiders to their 2017 league crown in the absence of her older sister Ciara, who was travelling at the time. 2018 Player of the Year nominee and four-time All-Star Ciara has been captain since 2015, when she took the reins from Briege Corkery.

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

Click Here: Pumas UNAM soccer tracksuit

THE CLASH BETWEEN All-Ireland SHC champions Limerick and Tipperary will kick-start RTÉ’s Allianz League coverage next month.

The national broadcaster has announced three intriguing ties on its schedule for the 2019 hurling and football leagues which will be aired on Saturday GAA Live.

The coverage will be presented by Joanne Cantwell on RTÉ 2 and RTÉ Player and will commence on Saturday 2 February as Tipp travel to the Gaelic Grounds to take on John Kiely’s charges.

The broadcast will begin at 6.30pm for a 7pm throw-in.

Kerry’s clash with four-in-a-row All-Ireland SFC champions Dublin will be the second fixture on RTÉ’s schedule on 9 February followed by Clare’s meeting with Cork at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on 16 February.

Click Here: malaysia rugby shirts

Details for a fourth live game to be broadcast on RTÉ on 16 March will be announced closer to the date.

RTÉ’s coverage of the 2019 National Leagues follows on from the announcement of a braodcast deal between the GAA, eir sport and RTÉ  earlier this month, that will see the national broadcaster gain a greater share of the GAA calendar for live free-to-air games.

Meanwhile, Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1 will begin its 2019 coverage with a live outside broadcast from Clones on Sunday 27 January where Monaghan take on Dublin. Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport will have live commentaries each weekend.

Allianz League Sunday will also return to screens on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player on 27 January at 9.30pm.

RTÉ Allianz League Fixtures:

Saturday 2 February – Limerick v Tipperary, 7pm

Saturday 9 February – Kerry v Dublin, 7pm

Saturday 16 February – Cork v Clare, 7.15pm

Ahead of the final weekend of European pool games, Murray Kinsella, Andy Dunne and Gavan Casey look at what each of the provinces can expect, and who impressed last weekend:

Source: Heineken Rugby Weekly on The42/SoundCloud

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

JOHN DIVILLY IS in the saddle long enough to know that overworking his players this time of year won’t do UCD’s Sigerson Cup chances much good. 

Most of the UCD squad are part of county panels all over the country and working under a different set of rules with inter-county football trialling experimental rule changes. Divilly made the decision not to train collectively over the Christmas period, as he tends to do each year.

It’s clearly a strategy that works. The Galway man was at the helm as UCD ended a 20-year wait for the Sigerson Cup in 2016 and they added a further title 11 months ago.

The reigning champions had their first game together since November yesterday, recovering from a seven-point deficit to beat CIT in Belfield by 13 yesterday.

“It’s the same as every year. It’s no different. We know what it is,” said Divilly.

“It’s just started a week earlier than normal. The lads are back in college officially next Monday. Every manager is different and every college does it differently. 

“I didn’t bring the lads back because it’s not fair on them to be asking them to travel up the road when they’re all over the country,” the two-time All-Ireland winner added.

“So you just rely that these guys are going to be fit, strong and it’s our job then when we get them to gel them together and try play an attractive brand of football that will win games.”

UCD manager John Divilly.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

The 20-point swing, after the hosts tightened up at the back and started breaking through for goals at the far end, was no major surprise given the lack of time the squad have spent together recently.

Divilly knows UCD have a lot to work on if they’re to lift their third title in four years next month. 

“Our guys are fairly rusty I would say,” he said. “First day out on the pitch really since November and they’re not back in college yet, so it’s going to happen like that.

“But Cork IT are an exceptional side and they’re not out of the competition. They’ll definitely come back in. They’re going to be a hard team for whoever has them next.

“They scored ten points and they were great scores, but we probably showed them too much respect. We stood off them.

“They were winning all the breaking ball around the middle of the field and their shot selection was superb. They fully deserved their seven-point lead at the time.

“They just ran at them and were fortunate. One goal was a lucky goal and the second was a great finish by Conor McCarthy. You just have to stay in these games and keep plugging away. We were happy enough at half-time, just being down by two.

“Once we drew it back level, we knew the scores were in us, but it’s another thing just to put them on the board. We’re just relieved to get out of here today with a victory.”

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

Click Here: sydney roosters team jersey

Ahead of the final weekend of European pool games, Murray Kinsella, Andy Dunne and Gavan Casey look at what each of the provinces can expect, and who impressed last weekend:

Source: Heineken Rugby Weekly on The42/SoundCloud

Click Here: England National Team soccer tracksuit

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

Westmeath 1-12
Dublin 0-10 

Kevin O’Brien reports from Parnell Park

WESTMEATH HAVE STARTED life under Jack Cooney by lifting the O’Byrne Cup for the first time since 1988, beating a developmental Dublin outfit in tonight’s final. 

Ger Egan gave a masterclass in attack for the visitors and scored 1-5, 1-4 from play, in their deserved five-point win. Dublin couldn’t live with Egan’s pace and power and he was arguably the main difference between the teams.

Westmeath won’t be getting too excited with this victory considering it’s effectively Dublin’s third-string outfit, but the Sky Blues defeated a Meath team last weekend that contained seven or eight of Andy McEntee’s regulars.

Some early season silverware will be a boost to Westmeath, who were beaten in last year’s final by Meath. They’ll head for their Division 3 opener next weekend against Offaly in good spirits following this victory.

Ger Egan keeps on delivering for @westmeath_gaa tonight as he hits the net with a well taken goal. pic.twitter.com/Iqc5RjG9uu

— The GAA (@officialgaa) January 18, 2019

On a positive note for Dublin, Aaron Byrne posted three points from centre-forward and might be the youngster that significantly increases his playing time under Jim Gavin this season.

Gavin tends to keep his championship 15 fresh with one or two introductions per season, with Eoin Murchan and Brian Howard the 2018 inductees to the starting team.

Byrne, the U21 Footballer of the Year in 2017, has been on the fringes of the squad over the past couple of seasons but looks ready to make the breakthrough this year. 

Dublin trailed by 0-5 to 0-4 at half-time and Paul Clarke called for two players with championship experience last summer – Conor McHugh and Colm Basquel. Raheny’s Sean McMahon, who has been tipped for a big career in blue, reverted to midfield from full-back.

But Westmeath defended well and held McHugh to just a point from play, while Egan did the damage at the far end.

Dublin started without UCD duo Cian O’Connor and Darren Gavin, who helped their college past CIT in the Sigerson Cup yesterday. 

This was the first televised game with the experimental rules, but Central Council may decide tomorrow not to proceed with some of them for the Allianz Football League, with the handpass rule under serious threat.

Cooney’s Westmeath frequently dropped 12 or 13 men behind the ball, but when they turned it over they broke at pace.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

Egan looked very lively up front and flashed over two points in the opening half. His second arrived after a terrific catch and run from Kieran Martin at midfield. 

Dublin might blame the restriction on four consecutive handpasses for significantly hampering their forward play, but whatever it was they struggled for scores in the first period. They had just 0-4 on the board by the interval and only three from play.

Despite the introduction of Basquel and McHugh, Westmeath continued to dominate and Egan added three scores in the third quarter to leave them 0-11 to 0-6 ahead.

Then a piercing run from substitute Tommy McDaniel split the Dublin defence and he passed to Egan, who thundered a strike into the top corner. 

That led Westmeath eight clear after 58 minutes. Dublin responded with scores from Byrne and a McHugh brace, but couldn’t find the goal they needed late on.

Scorers for Westmeath: Ger Egan 1-5 (0-1f), Tommy McDaniel 0-3, Ronan O’Toole 0-2, Kieran Martin 0-1, Ger Leech 0-1.

Scorers for Dublin: Aaron Byrne, Conor McHugh (0-2f) and Sean Bugler 0-3 each, Stephen Smith 0-1 (0-1f).

Westmeath

1. Kevin Fagan (Tubberclair)

4. Boidu Sayeh (Rosemount)
3. Ronan Wallace (Multyfarnham)
2. Killian Daly (Mullingar Shamrocks)

6. James Dolan (Garrycastle)
9. Noel Mulligan (Athlone)
7. David Lynch (St. Malachys)

15. Sam Duncan (Milltownpass)
8. Sean Flanagan (St. Loman’s Mullingar)

10. Ger Egan (Tyrrellspass)
11. Callum McCormack (Maryland)
5. Noel O’Reilly (Milltownpass)

12. Joe Halligan (Milltown)
13. Ronan O Toole (St. Lomans Mullingar)
14. Kieran Martin (Maryland)

Subs

18. Tommy McDaniel (Castleknock) for McCormack (10) 
21. Ger Leech (Coralstown/Kinnegad) for Halligan (51)
17. Conor Slevin (Tyrrellspass) for Flanagan (61)
20. James Maxwell (Coralstown/Kinnega) for McDaniels (70)
24. Ned Cully (St Mary’s Rochfortbridge) for O’Toole (72) 

Dublin

1. Andy Bunyan (Scoil Uí Chonaill)

2. Nathan Doran (Clontarf)
3. Seán McMahon (Raheny)
4. Ciarán Smith (Lucan Sarsfields)

Click Here: west tigers rugby store

24. Andrew McGowan (Kilmacud Crokes)
6. Conor Mullally (Cuala)
7. Robert McDaid (Ballyboden St-Enda’s)

22. Jack Hazley (St Sylvesters)
9. Cormac Howley (Round Towers Lusk)

10. Ryan Basquel (Ballyboden St-Enda’s)
11. Aaron Byrne (Na Fianna)
12. Seán Bugler (St Oliver Plunkett’s-Eoghan Ruadh)

15. Oisín Lynch (Fingallians)
13. Stephen Smith (Skerries Harps)
14. Callum Pearson (Kilmacud Crokes)

Subs

25. Conor McHugh (Na Fianna) for Lynch (ht)
17. Colm Basquel (Ballyboden St Enda’s) for Pearson (ht)
23. Tom Lahiff (St Judes) for Hazley (ht) 
18. Shane Boland (Castleknock) for Baquel (50)
26. Declan Monaghan (Clontarf) for McGowan (55)
19. Cormac Diamond (St Vincent’s) for Smith (61)
20. Liam Flatman (Kilmacud Crokes) for Doran (64)
21. Lorcan Galvin (St Vincent’s) for Howley (64)

Referee: David Hickey (Carlow)

******

DCU advanced into the third round of the Sigerson Cup tonight with a 1-16 to 0-14 win over IT Carlow.

The Dublin college led by 1-11 to 0-3 at the interval, with Mayo’s Brian Reape their goalscorer. IT Carlow fought back in the second-half and forced the issue, but DCU prevailed by five points.

Tonight’s team @DCUGAAAcademy vs @ITCarlowGAA @HigherEdGAA pic.twitter.com/y64pxlJvWy

— Gavin Cawley (@gavcawley) January 18, 2019

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

NEW KERRY BOSS Peter Keane must shuffle his pack for the first two games of the upcoming league campaign due to injures and player availability – including star forward David Clifford who looks set to miss out.

Keane also cited club commitments and Sigerson Cup involvement as reasons why he would have to explore his options.

As well as this, the 47-year-old confirmed that as of now the gates of Fitzgerald Stadium will be open to the public.

The move was in an effort to appease Kerry supporters who still grate with Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s decision to shut the gates back in 2014 which resulted in the infamous ‘Treegate’ before the year’s All-Ireland final.

As Kerry prepare to face last year’s beaten finalists Tyrone on Sunday week in Killarney, Keane will only to able to field a very experimental side.

“Jason Foley picked up a knock and David Moran will not be back from his honeymoon,” he said.

“[Moran] is back the day after the first game, but whether he will be available for our away game to Cavan is debatable. He’ll need time to settle in after being away for a month.

Kevin McCarthy is unavailable with a broken hand, while David Clifford is also unavailable. Mark Griffin picked up a knock about a week ago and we hoped he might be OK.

“We are currently just assessing him. Then, of course, the Crokes boys are out until after they win or exit the club championships.”

David Clifford looks set to miss out on the opening rounds of Kerry’s league campaign.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

But amid all the doom and gloom, Keane confirmed that Tommy Walsh is back training and could well be involved against Tyrone.

There is also over a dozen lads still in Sigerson Cup action, but the Kerry boss is hoping that some may be available to him.

It’s a difficult one because you want them to play Sigerson football which is important for them. We have 13 or 14 players involved in Sigerson.

“We have three involved on Sunday with IT Tralee; Gavin Crowley, Michael Potts and Dara Moynihan. Then we have lads in UCC, CIT and UL as well but both UCC and UL having come through and they will have a few weeks broken until 6 February.

“We’re hopeful that Seanie O’Shea and Brian Begley will also be available for us on Sunday week.”

Players who may start include Shane Ryan in goal, Jack Sherwood at back with Peter Crowley, Paul Murphy, Killian Young and Tom O’Sullivan.

The Na Gaeil pairing of Jack Barry and young debutant Diarmuid O’Connor could start in midfield, in the absences of Moran.

Former wing back Jonathon Lyne may move to wing forward while Sean O’Shea, Paul Geaney and Stephen O’Brien look set to be chosen up front.

Keane did reveal that he has strengthened his backroom team led by Jason McGahan, who is the new head of athletic performance.

“We have Jason and Niall O’Mahony in charge of strength and conditioning. Chris Flannery and Podge Murphy are the two new physiotherapists in plus Colm Whelan.

“It was a bit of a chance and fellows are getting used to each other and getting to know the players as well.”

Keane acknowledged that there is a big difference between his roles as an All-Ireland winning minor manager to that of being the senior manager.

“There is something going on all the time but I would say that there a good group around me even within the county board where you are getting help.

“There is much bigger workload, but I cannot quantify it. It’s a huge job and you are always busy with things going on.”

As a successful businessman in Killorglin and supermarket owner, he admits people are happy to engage with him about all things Kerry football now.

There are a way more people will come up to know wanting to talk football than when I was minor manager because I suppose minor football was very much under the radar.

“It only came of an issue in July and August. It’s not annoying in any way because if I am feeling stressful in January it will get a lot more stressful I imagine as the year goes on.

“I think you can only embrace that because if you don’t – you are sunk.”

Ahead of the final weekend of European pool games, Murray Kinsella, Andy Dunne and Gavan Casey look at what each of the provinces can expect, and who impressed last weekend:

Source: Heineken Rugby Weekly on The42/SoundCloud

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

Click Here: tipperary gaa jerseys

THE PROPOSED HANDPASS rule has been ditched ahead of the 2019 National Football Leagues but the other four experimental rules will continue, the GAA have confirmed.

Ciaran Kilkenny ready to handpass the ball.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Central Council met at Croke Park today to decide on the proposed changes and agreed that four of the five will undergo further examination through the league.

The new sin-bin, kickout, sideline kick and forward mark rules have all gotten the green light, but the controversial handpass change — which limits fisted passes to three before the ball must be kicked –  will not continue.

Trialled throughout this month’s pre-season competitions, the handpass rule was the one that cut the most ice, with critics, players and managers alike all slamming it and saying it does nothing to eradicate deep, blanket defences, as intended.

The trial rules will not apply to the 2019 Championship, the GAA also confirmed.

#GAA news: Ard Chomhairle has decided not to continue with the restricted hand pass experimental rule in the upcoming #AllianzLeagues!

— The GAA (@officialgaa) January 19, 2019

Here’s a reminder of the four rule changes that were finalised by the GAA’s standing committee on playing rules (SCPR) in November before they were implemented in inter-county fixtures: (The now-scrapped handpass rule has been excluded.)

1. 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)

2. 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.

Kildare’s Fergal Conway and Daniel Flynn with Aidan O’Shea of Mayo.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

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.

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.

3. 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.

Armagh’s Andrew Murnin sees yellow.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

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.

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.

4. 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.

Monaghan keeper Rory Beggan.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

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.

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.

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

Click Here: Portugal football tracksuit

Charleville (Cork) 1-15

Graigue-Ballycallan (Kilkenny) 1-13

CORK’S CHARLEVILLE HAVE booked their All-Ireland club intermediate hurling championship final date after an two-point win over Kilkenny kingpins Graigue-Ballycallan at Semple Stadium.

Coached by Ben O’Connor and with Cork star Darragh Fitzgibbon one of their key players, that experience was key for Charleville on the day.

Fitzgibbon hit the ground running, scoring all of their five points (two frees) in the first 19 minutes to make it 0-5 to 0-3. He added a later point to bring his total tally to 0-6.

Kevin O’Connor stepped up to notch their next score, followed by Jack Doyle, and it was 0-7 to 0-5 with 22 minutes on the clock.

From there though, Declan Browne’s Graigue-Ballycallan — inspired by Conor Murphy both from frees and play — took full advantage until half time, hitting the next four points and keeping Charleville scoreless.

.@CHARLEVILLEGAA are through to the All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Final! A two point win in the end after a hard fought battle against @graiguebcGAA! 👏🏼 #TheToughest pic.twitter.com/s5tXQMV0Ir

— AIB_GAA (@AIB_GAA) January 19, 2019

At the break it was 0-9 to 0-7 in favour of the Kilkenny side who boast inter-county players Eddie Brennan and Billy Ryan, and it was tit-for-tat on the restart until the Cork men rattled the net to make it 1-12 to 0-11.

Kevin O’Connor’s initial shot was saved, as was Fitzgibbon’s rebound but it was third time lucky for Andrew Cagney as Charleville finally made the breakthrough.

Click Here: Gold Coast Suns Guernsey

They kept the scoreboard ticking over and looked to be in control, but not without a late scare as Graigue-Ballycallan scored a goal of their own with two minutes left to put two between the sides. 

Teams for today, All Ireland Intermediate Club Championship Semi Final pic.twitter.com/41fFwyw5Jm

— Graigueballycallan (@graiguebcGAA) January 19, 2019

Charleville held on after that Brennan goal though and it finished 1-15 to 1-13. They now face either Galway’s Oranmore-Maree or Antrim’s St Galls in the All-Ireland club IHC final in Croke Park on Sunday, 10 February.

The second semi-final takes place tomorrow.

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

THE GAA HAVE confirmed several ticket price increases for the 2019 season.

Click Here: Argentina Rugby Shop

In the Allianz Leagues, tickets for Division 1 and 2 football matches and Division 1A and 1B hurling clashes will rise by €5, from €15 to €20.  

When pre-purchased before match day, they’ll still increase by €3, from €12 to €15. Admission for students and senior citizens will be €15.

In the Division 3 and 4 National Football Leagues and Divisions 2 and 3 in hurling, the prices remain unchanged at €10 and €5.

Juveniles (U16) will still get into league matches for free –  except where matches are all-ticket, meaning admission will then be €5.

All-Ireland final stand tickets will go up by a tenner, from €80 to €90, and there’ll be a €5 increase for Hill 16 tickets to €45. Semi-final stand prices increase to €50, and to €35 for the terraces.

All-Ireland quarter final ticket prices remain unchanged but there are further increases in the earlier rounds of championship.

Admission to the All-Ireland football qualifiers will increase from €15 to €20 for Rounds 1,2 & 3 and there’ll be a rise from €20 to €25 for Round 4.

The GAA confirmed these changes in a news release today following Central Council’s meeting at Croke Park, and “made a firm commitment to distribute all additional revenue back out into the Association at club and county level.”

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

Armagh 0-14

Tyrone 0-16

Declan Bogue reports from Athletic Grounds, Armagh.

WITH the GAA’S Central Council voting down the controversial and little-loved restriction on hand-passing there was a more familiar look about Saturday night’s Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup final.

Unfortunately for Armagh the flow of play was disturbingly familiar too.

After profiting from three successful dead ball conversions in the first eleven minutes they found themselves 0-4 to 0-1 up and looked to be up to the pitch of the game more than their neighbours.

However, only two more points followed from then as Tyrone, fielding a much-weakened starting side, showed that they are so much further down the road in terms of decision-making once the hectic start died down.

Tempers flared in tonight’s McKenna Cup final.

Source: Philip McGowan/INPHO

Five first-half pointed frees from Darren McCurry helped them along but Armagh could have little to complain about, having committed a total of 18 fouls in the first half alone, with four of the six starting defenders booked before half-time.

The second half was a rash of bust-ups and scores exchanged, with three red cards and two of those – Tyrone’s Ronan McNamee and Armagh’s Aaron McKay, continuing to fire shots at each other even after being red carded.

Armagh had a late chance to win it with a Rory Grugan penalty after Kieran McGeary touched the ball on the ground trying to clear it off the line, but Grugan’s effort flew over the bar.

Scorers for Armagh: Niall Grimley (0-5, 4f, 1x’45′), Rory Grugan (0-5, 4f, 0-1 pen), Stefan Campbell (0-2), Rian O’Neill 0-1, Jamie Clarke 0-1m

Scorers for Tyrone: Darren McCurry (0-9, 8f), Niall Sludden (0-2), Cathal McShane 0-2, 1m), Ronan McNamee, D McClure 0-1 each, Niall Morgan (0-1f)

Armagh

1. Blaine Hughes (Carrickcuppin)

2. Connaire Mackin (Shane O’Neills)
17. Aaron McKay (Dromintee)
4. James Morgan (Crossmaglen)

30. Ruairi McCaughley (Wolfe Tones)
6. Brendan Donaghy (Clonmore)
7. Greg McCabe (Shane O’Neills)

8. Stephen Sheridan (Forkhill)
9. Niall Grimley (Madden)

Click Here: melbourne storm rugby store

10. Jemar Hall (Forkhill)
11. Rory Grugan (Ballymacnab)
12. Ryan McShane (Armagh Harps)

13. Stefan Campbell (Clann na Gael)
14. Rian O’Neill (Crossmaglen)
15. Jamie Clarke (Crossmaglen)

Subs

18. Jarlath Óg Burns (Silverbridge) for McShane (HT)
20. Joe McElroy (Armagh Harps) for Donaghy (HT)
21. Charlie Vernon (Armagh Harps) for McCabe (50m)
22. Jason Duffy for Clarke (60m)
24. Ross McQuillan (Cullyhanna) for Hall (63m)

Tyrone

1. Niall Morgan (Edendork)

2. Ciaran McLaughlin (Omagh)
3. Ronan McNamee (Aghyaran)
4. Liam Rafferty (Galbally)

5. Tiernan McCann (Killyclogher)
6. Aidan McCrory (Errigal Ciaran)
7. Michael Cassidy (Ardboe)

8. Conan Grugan (Omagh)
9. Declan McClure (Clonoe)

10. Niall Sludden (Dromore)
11. Ronan O’Neill (Omagh)
12. Conal McCann (Killyclogher)

13. Darren McCurry (Edendork)
14. Peter Harte (Errigal Ciaran)
15. Cathal McShane (Eoghan Roes)

Subs

20. Matthew Donnelly (Trillick) for Cassidy (43)
25. Conor Meyler (Omagh) for C McCann (43)
18. Darragh Canavan (Errigal Ciaran) for O’Neill (50)
24. Kieran McGeary (Pomeroy) for Rafferty (50)
19. Kyle Coney (Ardboe) for Grugan (61)

Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)

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