Month: September 2021

CORK FOOTBALL BOSS Ronan McCarthy’s attempt to have his 12-week ban overturned has been rejected by the Disputes Resolution Authority

The independent DRA ruled that the GAA’s disciplinary groups were right in issuing the suspension to the Cork manager which was handed out for the team’s training session on a beach in Youghal in January. The session was a contravention of the GAA’s ban on collective activity.

A statement has been released by the DRA in the aftermath of last night’s hearing which took place remotely.  

The DRA, who have former Offaly hurler Rory Hanniffy as their secretary, did outline that the GAA’s CHC should have provided reasons why the length of the ban exceeded the minimum, the suspension remains in place as no ‘missaplication of rule or breach of fair procedures’ was proven.

McCarthy’s ban is set to expire before the start of Cork’s Division 2 south football league campaign in the middle of May.

The statement in full reads:

“An application to the DRA by Ronan McCarthy, challenging the decision of the Central Hearings Committee to impose a 12 week suspension for an infraction of Misconduct Considered to have Discredited the Association in breach of Rule 7.2 (e) T.O. 2020, which said decision had been upheld by the Central Appeals Committee, was heard remotely tonight by a DRA Tribunal comprised of Mr Rory Mulcahy SC, Mr Niall Cunningham and Ms Orlaith Mannion.

“Having considered detailed submissions from all parties, the Tribunal held that while the Central Hearings Committee had erred in failing to provide reasons for the imposition of a penalty in excess of the minimum set down in rule, the Claimant had failed to establish any misapplication of rule or breach of fair procedures by the Central Hearings Committee in their finding that the infraction had been proven.

“Therefore, the Tribunal dismissed the claim and the decision of the Central Hearings Committee stands.”

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1. This is a strange in-between Masters, because of the feeling that we just did this in November, and because Tiger Woods is at home and not here – although the news that he was speeding before his wreck is still bigger golf news than anything that might happen in Georgia this week – and because of the small masked crowd of patrons who are walking around a course made oddly unfamiliar without the huge grandstands set up as landmarks. Tournament veterans have stood near the 15th green and looked around in confusion, trying to get their bearings. It feels reflective of a larger national mood where many people are no longer fully in their mental and physical COVID-19 bunkers but still anxious about crowds and a return to normalcy.

ESPN’s Wright Thompson sets the scene from Augusta.

2. It is right to feel appalled, alienated and generally overpowered by the sums of money here. Most mega‑money transfers are a nonsense in any case. Look down the list and of the top eight deals of all time only Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid actually looks a solid return – a function of Ronaldo’s miraculous talent rather than any kind of logic.

The unpalatable heart of this deal is that it is happening right now, at a time when there is contraction everywhere else, when community clubs are menaced by collapse and when the everyday people who fund this show, noses pressed against the glass, are suffering.

The Guardian’s Barney Ronay looks at the big impending transfer saga of the summer window, as Mino Raiola plots Erling Haaland’s exit from Borussia Dortmund.

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Updated Apr 13th 2021, 12:00 PM

THE DRAWS FOR the 2021 All-Ireland senior championships will take place early next week as the new GAA season inches into view.

The draws for both codes will be made across Monday and Tuesday of next week, starting with the pairings for the Munster senior football championship, which will be made following the 7.30am news on RTÉ Radio 1.

The draw for the Munster hurling championship will follow an hour later at around 8.35am.

Next up will be the draw for the Connacht football championship, which will be made live on Monday’s Six One news on RTÉ One.

Tuesday will see the draw for the Leinster football championship following the 7.30am news on Radio 1, with the Leinster hurling draw to follow the 8.30am slot.

The draw for the Ulster football championship will then take place on Tuesday’s Six One news.

This year’s All-Ireland senior football championship will once again follow a straight knock-out format, although the back-door qualifier system will be in place for the hurling championship.

The Leinster and Munster hurling championship are due to start on the weekend of 26/27 June, with the provincial football championships set to get underway the same weekend.

This year’s National Leagues get underway with the hurling league starting on 8 May, followed the football league one week later.

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IT IS HARD to believe that 10 years have now passed since Cavan beat Tyrone in the 2011 Ulster U21 decider in Brewster Park, Enniskillen. That April night will long be remembered for the joy it created and the demons it banished.

Cavan players celebrate their 2011 Ulster U21 final victory.

Source: ©Russell Pritchard/Presseye

On the sound of the final whistle, players raced to hug each other like we had never hugged before. Supporters emptied out of the stands to slap backs, rub heads and add to the hug count. I will never forget the moment that Gearoid McKiernan, a friend, teammate and captain wrapped his overgrown Swanlinbar arms around the trophy. In some ways, it feels like yesterday. In other ways, a lifetime ago.

*****

Former Cavan U21 goalkeeper Alan O’Mara.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Life was pretty simple back then. Most of us went to college lectures in different parts of the country but Cavan remained the central part of our existence. We came home regularly for training and games because we enjoyed being with each other and part of something bigger than ourselves. The mission to change Cavan football united and connected us.

Despite years of disappointing championship defeats and hard luck stories, there was something special about the chemistry, character and personality of our group. The management team of Terry Hyland, Anthony Forde, Ronan Carolan, Joe McCarthy and Ciaran Fitzpatrick empowered us to overcome the psychological baggage that had eroded the belief of too many Cavan people. They dared us to dream big and aim higher. And we did.

Terry Hyland celebrates Cavan’s Ulster U21 final win in 2011.

Source: ©Russell Pritchard/Presseye

*****

After losing the All-Ireland U21 final to Galway in Croke Park, we were drafted in bulk into a Cavan senior squad at a low ebb. Still boys on our way to becoming men, it looked like the stars had aligned when our victory was followed swiftly by an Ulster Minor Championship and then three more provincial titles at the U21 grade.

We expected to lead a revolution but playing chess was a lot harder than playing checkers. The seasons became longer and the travel demands increased. Mentally, it was difficult to go from being a leader amongst peers of the same age to being in an adult group that initially lacked cohesion and connection.

As the commitment and challenge rose, our control and confidence was further tested. I don’t think people fully appreciated the effort it took to rebuild the foundation required to gradually climb up the National Football League and win Ulster championship matches, never mind titles.

*****

Bar one good run to the All-Ireland quarter-finals in the summer of 2013, the emotional, mental and physical investment each year was rarely matched by the reward. As our mid-20s approached, life started to get harder and more complicated too. Instead of a few lectures a day to manage, there were 40-hour working weeks. Careers had to be built and not all employers prioritised Cavan football, particularly in Dublin.

As relationships got more serious, some wanted to bed down roots and reduce the amount of time spent back in Cavan. Others weren’t ready to bed down roots at all. Places like London, America, Canada, Asia and Australia grew in appeal.

By the time Cavan won the Ulster Senior Championship title in 2020, most of the class of 2011 were long gone, replaced by the younger, faster and more athletic models produced by the much-improved Cavan conveyor belt. Niall Murray and Gearoid McKiernan proved to be the most resilient and committed – playing crucial roles in the cultural reboot under Mickey Graham. Only two players on the field that day, Raymond Galligan and Martin Reilly, had given longer service. Inter-county football is a young man’s game.

Gearoid McKiernan with the cup after the 2011 Ulster final victory.

Source: ©Russell Pritchard/Presseye

*****

As much as we thought we were shaping Cavan football back in 2011, it was also shaping us. Success at the elite level eluded most of the group but the life lessons gathered in the Breffni blue jersey have helped develop better community leaders, entrepreneurs, employees, teammates, sons, husbands and fathers.

The likes of Kevin Meehan and Barry Reilly have been true stalwarts on the club scene and inspired many more young people to play the game. As well as role models on the pitch, Jack Brady, Niall McDermott, Niall Smith and Feargal Flanagan added huge value to classrooms around the county.

Oisin Minagh has lived in Asia for many years working in education and has been a prominent member of that GAA community. Conor McClarey is in San Francisco managing investments in global companies and leading the Sons of Boru/Celts GAA club. Colm Smith works for West Ham United’s strength and conditioning department and remains involved with London GAA.

I last spoke to Marc Leddy last year as he was walking his young daughter into McDonald’s in Cavan, Dara Tighe after a club championship game in Killygarry and Packie Leddy when he came to the launch of my book. Each conversation was as effortless and enjoyable as they were when we were younger. Life moves on but winning a trophy has a strange way of cementing the connection between people.

When I looked at the 39 faces in our team photo from ten years ago, I was filled with pride and gratitude. I still love that team. I love what we stood for and how we rebelled against the status quo.

We are bonded forever by memories, experiences and the mission we once shared to leave the Cavan jersey in a better place. I would love to share a pint with the men from that team when the world allows it.

***********

This article first appeared in this week’s Anglo Celt

Alan O’Mara is the Founder of RealTalks.ie and author of ‘The Best Is Yet To Come’. He was the goalkeeper on the Cavan U21 team in 2011 and lives in New York, where he works as a performance and wellbeing consultant.

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UPCOMING INTER-COUNTY league fixtures will be spread across Saturdays and Sundays for live TV coverage from broadcast partners Eir and TG4 in a similar manner to the 2020 season. 

The Allianz Hurling League will begin on the weekend of 8/9 May, with football commencing a week later.

It’s understood that fixtures across all four Allianz Football League divisions in addition to hurling’s Division 1 which are not covered by the national broadcast partners will be aired on GAAGO, the Association’s streaming app.

It’s anticipated that host counties in the second and third tiers of hurling will be entitled to stream their own league games.

The GAA sent out provisional fixture lists to county boards on Monday evening with their own league schedules to be rubber-stamped. It’s expected the GAA will release the full list of league fixtures next week at some stage.

Once again, with Covid in mind, there will be no double-headers at grounds.

The glamour tie on the opening weekend of hurling games will see Limerick clash with Tipperary in Limerick to kick off the inter-county’s return on Saturday, 8 May.

All-Ireland hurling finalists Waterford are set to play Cork in their opening game of 2021 in Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Sunday, 9 May.

And in football reigning league champions Kerry are understood to be starting at home to Galway on Saturday, 15 May.

It’s expected Dublin, Monaghan, Cork and Down will all lose home advantage for one of their football league games after their training breaches. 

Meanwhile, the government will not allow any inter-county challenge games take place before 4 May.

Counties were hoping to arrange warm-up games to prepare for the start of the Allianz Football and Hurling Leagues, but they won’t be permitted before the Covid-19 restrictions are reviewed near the end of the month.

“The public health regulations permit Senior Inter-County training only from 19 April,” the Department of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media told The42.

“The Gaelic Games Associations have been informed that from 19 April training matches can only take place between authorised players on the inter-county panels concerned.

“The question of permitting inter-county matches, challenges or otherwise, will be considered by government towards the end of this month in advance of 4 May.”

-Additional reporting by Kevin O’Brien

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TIPPERARY’S ORLA O’DWYER became the second Irish player to win an AFLW Premiership title after helping her Brisbane Lions team to glory today.

To be sure 🍀#AFLWGF pic.twitter.com/L1vZ9e075m

— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) April 17, 2021

Brisbane Lions players celebrate.

Source: AAP/PA Images

The Lions defeated the Adelaide Crows 38-20 at the Adelaide Oval today before a crowd of 22,934 fans to win their maiden crown.

O’Dwyer had 16 disposals and six tackles in her performance as she joined Clare’s Ailish Considine in the group of Irish players who have enjoyed this success. Considine was part of the defeated Crows side with 11 disposals.

Deni Varnhagen of the Crows and Orla O’Dwyer of the Lions compete for the ball.

Source: AAP/PA Images

The Crows entered the game chasing a third title after previous wins in 2017 and 2019 but Brisbane atoned for final defeats in 2017 and 2018 (the latter to the Western Bulldogs) to make the breakthrough.

The Lions lost their captain Emma Zielke through injury in the third quarter but still held for a triumph while the Crows had lost their stand-in skipper Angela Foley in the same time frame.

By half-time the Lions held a five-point lead and they kicked on thereafter with three goals without reply to establish a winning platform.

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CORK’S MARK KEANE is facing a one-match suspension in the AFL while there is contrasting team news for Kerry’s Mark O’Connor and Meath’s Conor Nash before tomorrow’s games that conclude the Round 5 action in Australia.

Keane made his second appearance for Collingwood in the AFL yesterday after recovering from a finger injury he suffered in pre-season. The Mitchelstown native had made his debut in the AFL last August before commanding the headlines when he returned home in November to score the match-winning goal for Cork in the Munster SFC semi-final against Kerry.

Yesterday’s game ended in disappointment as Collingwood lost out 103-76 to the West Coast Eagles.

Keane is now in line to miss a game, offered that suspension for a delibrate trip on West Coast Eagles player Josh Kennedy. Keane, who signed a new two-year contract with Collingwood last October, has 24 hours to appeal the decision.

Mark Keane has been offered a one-match ban for tripping Josh Kennedy during the clash against West Coast. pic.twitter.com/TPNpj68uiA

— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) April 17, 2021

Meanwhile Kerry’s Mark O’Connor misses out through injury for the Geelong Cats for tomorrow’s game with North Melbourne as they seek to bounce back from last week’s loss to Melbourne Demons.

Meath’s Conor Nash is set to play his first game of the 2021 season for Hawthorn after being listed in the interchange for their clash against Melbourne Demons tomorrow.

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Ireland’s second-ever AFLW champion: Orla O’Dwyer.

Source: AFL Women’s.

THE PICTURE SPOKE a thousand words.

A beaming Orla O’Dwyer celebrating Brisbane Lions’ first-ever Australian Football League Women’s [AFLW] Premiership title win after a simply sensational season. Silverware in hand, smiling from ear to ear; all the hard work had paid off.

She was a long way from Tipperary, but right at home on the biggest stage on the other side of the world. In this, her adopted sport — and third at the highest level possible.

The 22-year-old already has two All-Ireland intermediate football medals to her name, and has captained the Premier camogie side, and after her second season Down Under, she’s won the biggest prize possible there.

Not only that, but she’s had a glittering individual campaign. She was one of the best on the ground for Brisbane as they stunned Adelaide Crows 6.2 (38) to 3.2 (20) in this morning’s Grand Final.

O’Dwyer starred on the wing as 22,934 fans watched on at the Adelaide Oval, accounting for 16 disposals and six tackles, while setting up a stunning soccer-style Courtney Hodder goal with her wand of a left boot.

COURTNEY. HODDER.

How has she kicked this one?!#AFLWGF pic.twitter.com/BOursproHm

— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) April 17, 2021

Her GPS tracker must have been through the roof too, her remarkable athleticism shining through as she covered almost every blade of grass on the field en route to becoming just the second Irish player to win an AFLW Premiership.

The other was on the losing side this morning: Ailish Considine, champion and Grand Final goal-scorer in 2019. After a rollercoaster of a season between a scary concussion and a dog bite, the Clare woman battled back to make the Crows matchday squad — and produce an impressive performance at that, also named among the best on the ground with 11 disposals.

Both old college friends and team-mates from University of Limerick [UL], it was O’Dwyer celebrating at the final whistle, however, as she joined Considine in the history books.

• Munster final Down Under as Clare and Tipperary stars vie for AFLW Premiership crown

She certainly put Tipperary in the AFLW ones too, and continued an incredible week for the county’s top sportswomen. Rachael Blackmore, from the nearby Killenaule, has been riding the crest of a wave of late and won the Grand National last weekend, while Dorothy Wall of Fethard produced a stunning performance in Ireland’s Six Nations win against Wales. She’s in action again against France in Donnybrook this afternoon, with another Tipp woman in Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe in line for her XVs debut off the bench. What a group of phenomenal athletes at the top of their respective games, all positive role models for those following in their footsteps.

O’Dwyer is an absolute all-rounder, it must be said. Given her exploits with the Tipperary and Boherlahan-Dualla footballers, and the county and Cashel camogie teams, she was backed to take the transition to AFLW in her stride from the off. After submitting a statement of interest to the CrossCoders programme, she attracted immediate interest from clubs. Off the back of just video footage and interviews, she was snapped up by Brisbane — and backed to succeed immediately.

“For a multi-talented athlete like Orla, I don’t think it’s going to be much of a stretch to pick up a third sport,” her agent Jason Hill told The42 in May 2019.

While settling in to her new life Down Under — she was actually born in Sydney — was by no means easy, she made it look so in her debut, scoring a beautiful Gaelic football-style goal with her first touch. Brisbane’s new #9 went on to impress through the season, always learning and growing as she laid solid foundations.

O’Dwyer has always been about hard work and perseverance, giving it 110%. That was evident from early doors, as her mother, Mary, told TG4 this week:

“People are surprised to hear that her sporting career didn’t start right out of the blocks. She was a slow starter.

“She liked running, she played soccer, she played basketball in school. She liked them all and was reasonably good at a lot of sports when she got over her initial slow start. I never thought she’d play [AFLW] I mean to be a PE Teacher was probably the closest she was going to get to a career in sport.”

Again, it was evident as she cut her inter-county commitments short last Autumn, heading for Brisbane and watching her camogie side in the All-Ireland quarter-final from a hotel room.

She outlined her intentions and lofty AFLW ambitions for season number two from the get-go, getting a full pre-season under her belt while the majority of the rest of the 14-strong Irish contingent had limited preparation time.

Seo liosta 'hellos' Orla O'Dwyer tar éis gur bhuaigh na Brisbane Lions an #AFLW ar maidin!

☑️ Mam & Dad
☑️ Siblings
☑️ Cousins
☑️ Friends
☑️ @TG4TV

Full deferred coverage of the
'Grand Final' and more from Orla's interview on AFL Aussie Rules na mBan at 17:10 pic.twitter.com/NtP16dNfg5

— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) April 17, 2021

O’Dwyer’s decision, which she assured The42 was a hard, and bittersweet, one, certainly paid off as she was at her brilliant best all season. Named AFLW Ireland’s Player of the Year, she was instrumental for the Lions as they enjoyed a memorable run and made it third time lucky in the decider.

Their Irish import kicked goals week on week, racked up possessions, disposals and tackles and was one of Brisbane’s best, without a doubt.

“This season has been a bit of a fairytale for Orla who has come on leaps and bounds in her own game and now looks very at home in the sport and on the wing for Brisbane,” as Hill told The42 ahead of this morning’s Grand Final.

“The wing is one of the hardest positions to play in the game but she has taken to it like a duck to water for someone so unfamiliar with the sport.”

Far from unfamiliar she looked on the biggest stage, always one to step up on big occasions.

And an absolute fairytale ending it was indeed, for this phenomenal talent and incredible athlete, a long way from Tipperary.

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IT’S THE MIDDLE of April but at last there is set to be some clarity this week for county teams around the country as to their summer championship plans.

The draws for the 2021 provincial championships in football and hurling take place across tomorrow and Tuesday on RTÉ radio and TV.

Munster football and hurling are in the focus tomorrow morning, then it’s Connacht football tomorrow evening. Tuesday morning will put Leinster football and hurling in the spotlight before Ulster football completes the draws that evening.

With a knockout format in football and no hurling round-robin system again, there will be heightened interest as to the identiy of opponents.

Here’s the formats across the four provinces.

Munster

In football the finalists from last year are both straight through to the semi-finals, the reigning champions Tipperary and beaten finalists Cork.

The quarter-finals will be an open draw involving Kerry, Clare, Limerick and Waterford. The two winners here advance to a draw for the semi-final pairings against either Tipperary or Cork.

Diarmaid Byrnes celebrates after winning last year’s Munster hurling final.

Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

In hurling there are five teams involved – current kingpins Limerick, Waterford, Tipperary, Cork and Clare – in an open draw.

The first two teams drawn out play each other in a semi-final, the third team is also through to a semi-final where they will play the winners of the quarter-final tie involving the fourth and fifth teams.

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Connacht

Cillian O’Connor and Aidan O’Shea after last year’s Connacht final.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Five counties are in the frame for the football here – Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo. The first and second teams drawn play each other in the quarter-final.

The third team drawn goes into the first semi-final where they will play the quarter-final winner. Then the fourth and fifth teams face off in the other semi-final.

Leinster

In football, Bowl 1 will contain Dublin, Kildare, Laois and Meath while Bowl 2 features Carlow, Wexford, Wicklow, Longford, Offaly, Louth and Westmeath.

Stephen Cluxton lifts the Delaney Cup after last year’s Leinster final.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

The four teams in Bowl 1 are straight through to the quarter-finals. The first six teams picked from Bowl 2 play off in three first round games, the winners here meeting the corresponding team from Bowl 1 in the last eight.

The last team from Bowl 2 picked out will go straight through to a quarter-final against the last team drawn from Bowl 1.

A separate semi-final draw will take place after the quarter-final games.

In hurling there are four teams in the draw for the quarter-finals – Antrim, Dublin, Laois and Wexford – while Kilkenny and Galway are through to the semi-finals.

There will be an open draw for the quarter-finals with the winners of these games included in an open semi-final draw with Kilkenny and Galway.

Kilkenny players celebrate last year’s Leinster hurling final win.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Ulster

In football here, there are five teams in Bowl 1 – Antrim, Armagh, Donegal, Down and Fermanagh. Then Bowl 2 will contain champions Cavan, Derry, Monaghan and Tyrone.

The first two teams drawn from Bowl 1 will meet in a preliminary round. The four teams from Bowl 2 are then added to Bowl 1 where the third team drawn plays the preliminary round winners of the quarter-final.

The remaining three quarter-final pairings are drawn from the six remaining teams.

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