Month: September 2021

GAA UNDERAGE COUNTY teams have been given the green light to resume collective training from next Monday 10 May.

Click Here: rapid prototyping

Counties have been informed by the GAA today that training is permitted for both 2020 and 2021 minor and U20 squads, on a full contact basis. Games will then be allowed from Monday 7 June for these teams.

The news is a welcome one to all underage squads but particularly those who have yet to complete their competitions from last year.

The All-Ireland series at U20 hurling along with minor football and hurling are still to be finished. The CCCC will publish a schedule for the completion of these 2020 championships in the coming days, along with the dates for the 2021 U20 and minor action.

U20 Hurling

Cork won their Munster final on 23 December last and are through to the U20 hurling decider where they will play the winners of the Leinster final that is to be contested by Galway and Dublin. It is understood these games are not likely to take place until after the Leaving Cert exams have been concluded.

Limerick hurlers toast their Munster minor final victory in December.

Source: Ken Sutton/INPHO

Minor Hurling

There are four teams still in contention for the All-Ireland minor hurling title. Munster winners Limerick are due to play Galway in one semi-final. The Leinster final involving Offaly and Kilkenny is also an outstanding fixture with the winners here advancing directly to the All-Ireland decider.

Roscommon players celebrate their Connacht minor football title win.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

Minor Football

Only two provinces completed their minor football championships in December with Kerry winning in Munster and Roscommon triumphing in Connacht.

Offaly and Meath are still waiting to play each other in the Leinster final. In Ulster they have only reached the semi-final stage with Fermanagh, Tyrone, Derry and Monaghan all still involved.

The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!

Cork’s Patrick Collins and Waterford’s Billy Nolan.

Source: INPHO

IN JUNE 2014, the spotlight fell on both hurling goalkeepers in action in Thurles.

Anthony Nash had been the All-Star winner for the previous two years, an illustration of his prowess with Cork. Stephen O’Keeffe was establishing himself with Waterford, two years after making his senior championship bow. 

In injury time in the first half, Nash ventured upfield to take a penalty but found his piledriver blocked by O’Keeffe charging out to meet him halfway.

In the aftermath of a replay that Cork won comfortably, the incident was heavily scrutinised and it ultimately prompted changes to the hurling penalty rule.

Nash and O’Keeffe were central characters then, those positions remained as the Cork-Waterford hurling relationship developed.

Anthony Nash strikes a penalty for Cork in 2014.

Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

Last year, in the most chaotic and challenging season hurling has known, Cork and Waterford met twice. First in January, on the opening weekend of the league, and later in October, on the second weekend of the championship.

Both represented starting points in a strange campaign, Nash and O’Keeffe were in their customary spots at opposite ends of the pitch as Waterford won out on both occasions. 

The teams renew acquaintances next Sunday, again facing off as the GAA emerges from a period of enforced hibernation. But if it is a familiar pairing, there is a different twist in the goalkeeping situation that both counties now face.

On Sunday December 6 last, Nash formally drew a line under his lengthy playing relationship with Cork. After 15 seasons, the 36-year-old was bowing out of the inter-county game.

23 days later as the year edged towards a close, the news broke that O’Keeffe was opting out of the Waterford scene for 2021.

Recently-retired Cork goalkeeper Anthony Nash.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Waterford’s Stephen O’Keeffe.

With Nash’s statement on Twitter there was a sense of finality. The announcement concerning O’Keeffe from the Waterford county board placed a pause on his career without a guarantee of a return.

It removes two mainstays from the setups as Kieran Kingston and Liam Cahill plot new campaigns. Kingston is well informed of Nash’s capabilities from his two spells as Cork boss and previous stint as selector under Jimmy Barry-Murphy.

Cahill only had one season working with O’Keeffe but even if time was restricted in 2020, he still saw the 30-year-old superbly anchor a team that journeyed all the way to the All-Ireland final. Just over a fortnight after that loss to Limerick, O’Keeffe’s departure was made official.

So what now for both camps? Who steps up to fill the void?

In goalkeeping, serving apprenticeships is a largely accepted practice. Nash was parachuted in for Cork’s 2007 Munster semi-final against Waterford but then had to wait five years for his next championship outing.

It’s six years since Patrick Collins made his competitive Cork senior debut while still a teenager. He turns 25 in September and has had to be patient as understudy ever since.

The Ballinhassig’s man credentials are strong though. He was a two-year minor with Cork and four-year U21. His underage career passed without medals to show for his efforts, succumbing to a star-studded Clare team in 2014 in a Munster U21 final and to a similarly talented Limerick outift in 2017 at the same stage.

Collins has been immersed in the Cork senior setup since he came out of minor, relying on league games for appearances. There was a tough lesson to absorb in 2016 against Kilkenny when John Power pounced on his loose clearance to lash over a late winner. He started for John Meyler’s first major game in charge against Kilkenny in January 2018 and amassed three spring outings last year before the March lockdown.

Patrick Collins in action for Cork against Limerick.

Source: Lorraine O’Sullivan/INPHO

Billy Nolan has not had to endure as long a wait in Waterford but has also been earmarked for this goalkeeping step up. Since Ian O’Regan’s retirement in October 2018, he moved up the pecking order to the number two slot behind O’Keeffe. The 22-year-old squeezed in a championship debut in June 2019 against Cork, at the end of a sorry summer for Waterford.

He had played four times in the league that year when O’Keeffe was busy with Ballygunner’s All-Ireland club commitments and Cahill gave him gametime twice in the league in 2020.

Nolan was a precocious underage talent. At 16 he was selected for the Waterford U21 side when they defeated Cork in 2015, Collins in action at the other end. But new eligibility rules came into play the following year for GAA grades, with Nolan deemed too young to line out in a season when the Deise won the All-Ireland.

Before that the versatility of the Roanmore man was showcased in early 2017, he got runs in January fixtures against Limerick and Clare in attack, where he notched 0-6 apiece. Collins has also spent time hurling outfield, playing in the forward line for his club Ballinhassig as they had former Cork senior Martin Coleman between the posts.

Billy Nolan in action for Waterford against Limerick in 2017.

Source: Ken Sutton/INPHO

Collins and Nolan are the front-runners but there are challengers. The Cork situation is intriguing, Patrick’s younger brother Ger is another netminder involved. He has plenty underage experience, contesting All-Ireland finals in 2017 (minor), 2018 (U21) and 2019 (U20) in Cork colours, and if defeat was his lot in a luckless sequence, his goalkeeping talents were displayed.

Cork hurler Ger Collins.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

Waterford drafted Shaun O’Brien from De La Salle into their group for 2020. He was the third-choice then but featured against Limerick in the league and now jumps up the ranks.

It’s the start of new goalkeeping eras for both counties. Cork last started without Nash in goal in the championship arena, when they lost to Galway in the qualifiers in 2011. He totted up 42 championship outings since then.

O’Keeffe has played 36 times for Waterford in championship, starting out with his debut against Clare in 2012. O’Regan played twice in that time frame and Nolan got the nod for that Cork clash in 2019 but the Ballygunner man had principal ownership of the number one jersey.

Billy Nolan featured for Waterford against Cork in 2019.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Neither Nash or O’Keeffe managed to land the ultimate team honour in hurling despite persistent efforts but their consistency, reliability and excellence made them integral to their county’s prospects.

They won three All-Stars and had another three nominations between them. The main men between the posts for so long.

Back in January 2019, on the second night of a new year, Cork played Waterford in a Munster league game in Mallow. Collins and Nolan filled the goalkeeping slots for that pre-season fixture. 

Now with vacancies to be filled, they’ll hope to seize opportunites in games of greater consequence.

For Cork and Waterford, the process of moving on begins on Sunday.

The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!

Click Here: Scotland Rugby Shirt

TOMMY DUNNE WAS Tipperary’s All-Ireland winning captain in 2001 and the Toomevara player won three All-Star awards during a glittering hurling county career.

In the following extract from ‘Tipperary: Game Of My Life’, he reflects on that 2001 All-Ireland final win over Galway.

***********

WHEN I WAS a child I used to say a prayer every night before going to bed that I’d be as good as Nicky English. That’s what it meant to me when I was a kid.

Hurling was everything, and Nicky was the player I wanted to ‘be’. I didn’t want to do anything else with my life only hurl.

One of my earliest memories is of the 1984 Munster final between Tipp and Cork in Semple Stadium. I was hugely affected by that and can still feel the colour and the
excitement of the day, the sense of atmosphere and above all, the passion of the
players and the crowd.

I will never forget it. I was very young that day in Thurles but even before that I’d have given anything to hurl with Tipperary.

Fast forward to All-Ireland final day in 2001 against Galway and that’s the game for me. We hadn’t won an All-Ireland since 1991. In those days there was one chance only in May or June, so it was a harsh environment.

Quality teams were often knocked out after the first game.

Nicky English was in his third year in charge and the team had been knocking on the door for a few years without ever reaching the final, but that year we went on a run and were unbeaten in every game, league and championship, right up to September.

Nicky English celebrating after Tipperary’s 2001 All-Ireland final win.

Source: INPHO

It was the day that shines brightest from my 14 or 15 years hurling with Tipp. Being the captain of the team made it extra special but it was a long, long road to get to that day.

Babs Keating brought me onto the Tipp team for the National League at the end of 1992. I came on as a sub against Offaly, marking the great Brian Whelehan, so that was my first introduction to county hurling!

I really came onto a Tipp team that was full of superstars, so I had to wait to get established. I was a sub for the Munster final win over Clare in 1993 and started in ’94 when we were beaten by Clare. Then Limerick, led by Ciaran Carey and Gary Kirby, beat us in Munster in ’95 and again after a replay in ’96. That powerful Clare team beat us in the provincial and All-Ireland final in 1997, so there was a lot of hard luck stories. In 1998 we were beaten in the first round, so I spent some time that summer hurling in Chicago.

At times I thought it would all pass me by and that the team of our time wouldn’t win an All-Ireland at all. We tried as hard as we could but it was tough because so many other counties were strong then. We just had to get on with it. Some of those years I found it challenging to mix work and hurling. I can recall working nights with Intel in Kildare, where I went to work at 7pm on a Saturday and finished at 7am on Sunday morning, then travelled home to train with Tipp.

That was just the way life was at the time.

When Nicky English came in as manager for the 1999 season he asked me to be captain. You never forget those kind of things. Being asked to captain Tipp by the person I had looked up to when I was a child was a dream come true. To develop such a close friendship with mutual respect… well, that was incredible. It was a massive honour to be chosen and I held the position until 2002.

I look back very fondly to think that people thought enough of me to make me captain of a team with powerful personalities such as Brendan Cummins, Philip Maher, Eamon Corcoran, David Kennedy and Declan Ryan. We had some extraordinary players so to lead that team on the pitch was really special. I really enjoyed those years from 1999 on.

Tipperary goalkeeper Brendan Cummins.

Source: INPHO

By then I was working day-time hours locally which aided my routine and allowed me focus on hurling. Progress was gradual year-on-year. There was a professional approach, new players were uncovered and the ante was upped as to what was required from players.

Jim Kilty was our strength and conditioning coach, with Ken Hogan and Jack Bergin in as selectors. We had cracking games at that time, particularly with Clare, and when we finally broke the Clare stranglehold on us, our world grew broader.

We pushed them hard in an outstanding drawn game in 1999, eventually beating them in 2000, then again by a point in the 2001 Munster semi-final. After that we beat Limerick to win Munster and then after a replay we overcame Wexford to qualify for the All-Ireland final.

It was an amazing time.

I really felt the buzz the week of the game. To have a Toomevara player as captain meant a lot locally and there were visitors to my home with relations, friends and neighbours coming over. I liked it but I was always superstitious coming up to big games. I’d chat away about everything bar the match. I only liked talking about the match with the people I was training with and those in the backroom team.

That was just my way of preparing mentally for it.

I was very particular about my hurleys.

Phil Bourke of Upperchurch was an absolute genius who made special hurleys that just fitted me perfectly. He has a wisdom and an approach to life that made me feel grateful to know him. I felt in a good frame of mind that week and felt we had every possibility covered for the test ahead.

We travelled up to Dublin by train the night before the final and I remember waking up early on the Sunday morning.

On the day in Croke Park I remember wanting to be sure to introduce the players appropriately to President Mary McAleese. It all felt a little surreal once the moment arrived. When I look back now at highlights of it, I remember knowing there was a lot at stake.

You carry the hopes and the expectations of the people when you’re hurling with Tipperary, and more so in an All-Ireland final. It’s bigger than you. It’s a stand-alone day but at the same time you have to trust what you’re doing and ocus on getting the basics right, just as you do in every other game.

Tipperary’s Tommy Dunne and Galway’s David Tierney.

Source: INPHO

You have to grasp the opportunity.

Once the game started it was frantic. There was an electric atmosphere and we fed off the crowd. The Tipp supporters were vocal early on and we got some confidence from it. Both sides were trying to break the stalemate. A couple of minutes passed without either team scoring so there was a lot of nerves around the pitch.

Alan Kerins was wearing No 13 for Galway but playing out around the middle of the field early on. I remember making an early tackle in the middle of the field; he got on the ball but we turned it over and the ball broke high up in the air and I got a good touch onto it and into my hand.

Next I broke another tackle, ran down the touchline and suddenly found a bit of room to get a good strike on it and watched as it sailed over the bar. We settled and started to play then.

It felt like we made a statement early on which was important to us. While Galway had a good win over Kilkenny in the semi-final, they hadn’t won it since 1988 so they were as nervous as we were! Being tight all through, there were lots of scores and saves. We were probably dictating the game but we weren’t dominating.

Mark O’Leary got a great goal in the first half off a pass from Declan Ryan, so we were out in front. Declan was influential for us and was on top at 14, laying off some great ball. Eoin Kelly got a great score off his left hand side that lifted the crowd again. Coming towards half-time though, Galway closed the gap.

It was very seldom players spoke at half-time, even the captain. I don’t ever remember speaking at half-time during the year but for some reason I spoke that day. I remember reinforcing the message that I was sick of getting beaten with Tipp all my life and it wasn’t going to happen today.

I let that out. We knew we had the ability to win but we needed to make sure we did. That was the point I wanted to make to the team. Getting a good start again and not
letting Galway catch their breath kept us focused.

We were playing into a stiff breeze which was blowing into the Railway End. We got a boost when Mark O’Leary got an early goal, a scrappy enough goal and I pointed a ‘65’. Our play was measured but Galway were in the game all the way through.

Kevin Broderick, who was a really important player for them, got through one-on-one against Brendan Cummins who made a really important save. We got a bit of luck at times in fairness, but I thought we used the ball very well.

As the game wore on in the second half we could feel that we were getting closer to the finishing line. There was a fair bit of pressure in the closing stages. Micheal Ryan came off the subs bench and made a big difference, as did Paddy O’Brien and Conor Gleeson. The pitch wasn’t in the best condition as the Hogan Stand was under construction but it was the same for both sides.

As the clock ticked by I was taking it moment by moment and second by second, as I’d been through too many dark days with Tipp to get ahead of myself.

The frame of mind I was in was that if it went on for three or four more minutes over time, no problem… let’s play away! There was no shortcut. I was conscious that we needed to be smart and not do anything stupid. It was one thing drilled into us over and over again.

‘Play smart.

‘Be smart on the ball.’

And we did that.

Two very special people came straight over to me at the final whistle which I clearly remember. My brother, Terry who was also on the panel that year, raced over. We had played on so many teams and soldiered together for a long time with Toome.

The other was Brian O’Meara from Mullinahone, who had missed out on the final through suspension. Brian and I had played with Tipp since 1994, sharing many disappointments and an odd good day!

He missed out on playing that day through a very harsh suspension which he picked up against Wexford in the All-Ireland semi-final replay. It was incredibly hard on Brian to miss out on it and he was a huge loss to the team.

There was a motivational drive within the team to perform for Brian as he was missing out on the final. So in some ways he contributed, albeit in a different way than he had during the year. The three of us just locked into each other at the final whistle.

With the Hogan Stand under construction the cup presentation was on the pitch but we didn’t care where it was once we had the cup in our hands! I often drift in my mind back to those moments of lifting the cup and sharing it with the people around me.

Some family and friends got in through the security and onto the pitch. The joy that win brought was immense. We took the cup to the supporters and then sat on the pitch for a long time after. To finally win something that was so elusive for so long stands out and when I reflect now, certain people were there encouraging all along the way, people like my parents, Recie and Tony as well as my uncle Jimmy.

Also Neil Williams, who was over juvenile teams in Toome was a huge source of learning about the game for years as were John Costigan, Jody Spooner and Willie Butler in school at Our Lady’s, Templemore.

I met my wife, Deirdre in Templemore too and had a brilliant time hurling in Our Lady’s, winning a Kinane Cup and a Rice Cup medal. While I did well at soccer and badminton in school, hurling was the be-all and end-all, so captaining Tipp that day meant everything.

When you play for Tipp you feel the history.

Maybe I didn’t understand it fully, but I know it’s there. It’s a really exciting, powerful brand from way back in time right through to the present day.

Periods of dominance are exceptional; we’ve no right to expect to win all the time but just like the success, the years of failure and famine are part of Tipp hurling too. The 1987 breakthrough was special because of it.

There will be lulls again and, hopefully, Tipperary hurling will come through it stronger. The challenge is to keep the lulls short and stay competitive. Our win in 2001 is proof that you can reap what you sow.

****************

Tipperary Game Of My Life is written by Stephen Gleeson and published by Hero Books. More information available here.

****************

The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!

Click Here: mens state of origin jersey

CAVAN CAMOGIE MANAGER Jimmy Greville says the logistics of the association’s controverisal proposed 2021 fixture plan will “never work” and says that his side does not want to be in a position where they may not fulfill league games.

Click Here: cronulla-sutherland sharks rugby store

Cavan manager Jimmy Greville.

Source: Lorraine O’Sullivan/INPHO

The Camogie Association has been heavily criticised in the wake of its plan to deviate from the GAA and LGFA by implementing a different schedule this season. The format will see inter-county leagues begin first, before the players return to their clubs for county championships.

The inter-county All-Ireland championships will then take place later in the year.

The Gaelic Players Association [GPA] revealed at the weekend that 84% of players who responded to a survey voted that they will not participate in the Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Leagues later this month, should the current season structure be retained.

In response to the backlash, the Camogie Association announced that they would be polling its members about the issue and that the result “will guide our fixture calendar”.

Greville — whose Cavan side is due to open their Division 4 campaign against Wicklow on Saturday — says the proposed format will have a significant impact on dual players.

“For ourselves in Cavan, the All-Ireland Premier Junior championship is going to be ran, from the current situation, alongside the club football championship. 95% of my panel is dual club players, they play both.

“I’ve seven dual players in Cavan that play camogie and football with the county.

“Cavan is a football county and that’s just the way it is. I know other counties are in the same boat and they’re might be other counties on the other side of it where it’s just all camogie.

“For us, you can’t expect the girls to choose between club and county. At the end of the day, club is number one, where you learn everything. 

“It’ll never work.”

“I can definitely see the pros in it as well in having a split season and you can see both sides of it. But when you go into the terms and conditions of it, it gets very messy and gets to the point where it’s not enjoyable. If it’s not enjoyable, there’s no point doing it.”

The Camogie Association confirmed their intention to poll its members on Sunday and said they will continue to do so over the next seven days.

When asked for his prediction about the outcome of that process, Greville replied:

“It’s very hard to know. All I wish for and hope is that all the girls that are polled are given the correct information by their clubs or county boards. That you don’t have a county board pushing their own agenda as such or their own thoughts on it.

“If the members come back and vote for the way the Camogie Association have done it, then that’s it, put it to bed. That’s the way it’s going to be done, let’s concentrate on the league.

Roisin O’Keefe in action for Cavan in the Premier Junior final.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

“But this should have been done in January, February, March before there was ever a ball hit. Get it sorted.

“Now we’re 10 days out from the first fixture of 2021, and it’s all up in the air. It’s just crazy, the length of time they left the decision.”

Cavan have made impressive strides in camogie in recent times, effectively reaching two All-Ireland finals last year after a decade away from the inter-county scene.

They captured the Nancy Murray Cup in November before falling short against Armagh in the All-Ireland Premier Junior Final a few weeks later.

Remarking on the prospect of boycotting the league if the situation is not resolved, Greville stressed that his players want to fulfill their fixtures and continue their progression in camogie.

“At the end of the day, we want to play games. Last year was the first in 10 or 11 years where Cavan competed at national level. If we don’t compete this year, it will be a backward step. We can’t afford that.

“We need to be playing games and be competing. I hope it doesn’t come to that because that’s not good for camogie. But at the end of the day, will the Camogie Association take the so-called weaker counties into account?

“It’s the bigger counties. If they say they’re not going to be participating, that’s where the alarm bells will ring because the high-profile names and teams… that’s where the notice will be taken.

“The last thing I want personally and the last thing the players want is not to play next Saturday. They’re looking forward to it. We’re only playing in-house games and competing drills and stuff like this.”

Greville concluded by emphasising the importance of hearing what the players have to say about the schedule for the 2021 camogie season.

“Let’s listen to the players because, realistically, without the players, you wouldn’t have the association. That’s it. If the GAA and LGFA went the opposite way and the Camogie Association were trying to do the split season, it’s just, ‘Why can’t we come together as three organisations and say this is the plan and just go at it?’

“The Camogie Association want the best for camogie, the players want the best for camogie so they have to meet there in that middle ground to say what is the best for camogie.”

WEXFORD MANAGER DAVY Fitzgerald has named his side for tomorrow’s Division 1B National Hurling League clash against Laois.

The Yellowbellies welcome Seamus ‘Cheddar’ Plunkett’s side to Wexford Park, with throw-in set for 1.45pm and live coverage available on TG4.

Fitzgerald opts for a much-changed line-up from the side that crashed out of the championship after their qualifier defeat to Clare last November.

Interestingly, Seamus Casey starts in goal, with last year’s first-choice ‘keeper Mark Fanning on the bench. Best known as a forward, Oylgate-Glenbrien man Casey scored 1-11 against Galway in the 2018 Leinster U20 final and bagged a goal against Tipperary in the 2019 senior league.

Shelmaliers star Conor Hearne is handed a big opportunity in midfield, starting alongside Diarmaid O’Keeffe, while Lee Chin is among the big names on the bench.

The Wexford Senior Hurling team to face @CLGLaois tomorrow in @ChadwicksIE Wexford Park. Throw in at 1.45pm, live on @SportTG4 and @SouthEastRadio pic.twitter.com/qRxgkoCJqT

— Wexford GAA (@OfficialWexGAA) May 8, 2021

Plunkett, meanwhile, has shown his hand in his first game back the Laois helm since succeeding Eddie Brennan in the role.

In what is the Portlaoise man’s second stint in charge, his selection has been hampered by injuries, though he’s recalled experienced duo Charlie Dwyer and Ciaran Collier to the side; with both players starting tomorrow after a year’s absence.

The O’Moore county are looking forward to a “fair challenge” against Wexford, Plunkett says, having also drawn each other in the Leinster championship.

“We want to test ourselves against these teams and no better way to do that than in the league.”

Snr Hurling Manager Seamas Cheddar Plunkett has announced his team to play Wexford GAA tomorrow in Chadwicks Wexford Park @ 1.45pm

Unfortunately our fans won't be able to attend but you will be able to watch the game live on @SportTG4 @GAA_BEO #laoisgaa #bestseatinthehouse pic.twitter.com/yarwDFxzHT

— Laois GAA (@CLGLaois) May 8, 2021

Wexford

1. Seamus Casey (Oylegate-Glenbrien)

2. Damien Reck (Oylegate-Glenbrien)
3. Liam Ryan (Rapparees)
4. Conr Firman (St Martin’s)

5. Gavin Bailey (Ferns St Aidan’s)
6. Simon Donohoe (Shelmaliers)
7. Conal Flood (Cloughbawn)

8. Diarmuid O’Keeffe (St Anne’s)
9. Conor Hearne (Shelmaliers)

10. Paul Morris (Fearns St Aidan’s)
11. Jack O’Connor (St Martin’s)
12. Mikie Dwyer (St Mogue’s Fethard)

13. David Dunne (Davidstown-Courtnacuddy)
14. Conor McDonald (Naomh Éanna)
15. Kevin Foley (Rapparees)

Subs

16. Mark Fanning (Glynn-Barntown)
17. Shane Reck (Oylegate-Glenbrien)
18. Matthew O’Hanlon (St James’)
19. Shaun Murphy (Oulart-The Ballagh)
20. Liam Óg McGovern (St Anne’s)
21. Aidan Nolan (HWH Bunclody)
22. Rory O’Connor (St Martin’s)
23. Conor Devitt (Tara Rocks)
24. Lee Chin (Faythe Harriers)
25. Harry Kehoe (Cloughbawn)
26. Joe O’Connor (St Martin’s)

Laois

1. Enda Rowland

2. Lee Cleere
3. Sean Downey
4. Donnchadh Hartnett

5. Jack Kelly
6. Podge Delaney
7. Ryan Mullanney

8. Fiachra Fennell
9. Paddy Purcell

10. Aaron Dunphy
11. Charlie Dwyer
12. Ciaran Collier

13. David Dooley
14. Roddy King
15. Ciaran Comerford.

Source: Laois GAA.

Click Here: cheap adidas originals shoes

Limerick 0-20
Tipperary 0-20

RETURN WAS THE key word of the day.

A return to competitive hurling in 2021, a return to action on their home turf for All-Ireland champions Limerick and a return to Tipperary’s difficulties to get a win over their Munster neighbours.

Tipperary’s Jason Forde and Limerick’s Darragh O’Donovan.

For long stretches of this Saturday afternoon May clash, Tipperary seemed set to arrest the recent sequence of their meetings with Limerick, a single win from six matches.

The immaculate striking of Jason Forde from placed balls yielded a rich harvest as he scored 0-14.

The shot he converted in the 54th minute pushed them 0-19 to 0-14 clear, just after the second water break, yet Tipperary only added a single point thereafter. Limerick mounted a late charge that drew them level and they chased a winner in injury-time.

Tom Morrissey launched a shot from halfway that drifted wide and Diarmuid Byrnes sized up a free from his own 45-yard line that fell short. Time was called, both John Kiely and Liam Sheedy had to be content with a draw.

Arriving at firm conclusions after this contest is tricky, there was a flatness to the play at times that smacked of two teams with little collective training to rely on. The key matter was they at least got their 2021 endeavours up and running. Now there is something to work on.

Limerick will be pleased at how they started and finished but their form in between will lead to mixed feelings. For instance Tipperary trailed 0-7 to 0-5 after the first water break but outscored Limerick by 0-13 to 0-7 from that juncture until the start of the third quarter.

Limerick’s William O’Donoghue and Tipperary’s Dan McCormack.

Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

There was a clear pattern of Limerick dominance in the second quarter of matches last season, Tipperary’s response here was telling in that sense. The two-point deficit they faced was quickly erased.

Their work rate jumped up a few notches, spearheaded by Dan McCormack, and they outscored Limerick 0-5 to 0-1 with a rapid-fire burst of points. Forde was the experienced scoring figure in attack and he responded with 0-6 in the first half. Ronan Maher, released from the number three spot to the wing, launched over a couple from deep in defence. It all helped and the teams were deadlocked at 0-12 apiece by the break.

Having shifted into a winning position, Tipperary couldn’t kill off this match. They only got one true sight of goal, a Jake Morris first-half snapshot that was dealt adeptly with by Nickie Quaid, and had to rely on reeling off points to stay in front.

Limerick overcame their lethargy in the midway phase. Peter Casey added some vibrancy to their attack and picked off a pair of points in the latter stages. Of the starting crew, Seamus Flanagan was electric early on and Adrian Breen looked lively. For that pair, 0-7 was a decent combined return.

And Reidy potted his frees with composure, four in the final quarter saw Limerick drag Tipperary towards them.

No one popped up as the match-winning hero. Honours even then.

A start made to the hurling campaign at last, after the uncertainty and chaos that plagued the start of 2021. That’ll do for now.

Scorers for Limerick: David Reidy 0-8 (0-6f), Seamus Flanagan 0-4, Adrian Breen 0-3, Peter Casey 0-2, Diarmaid Byrnes (0-1f), William O’Donoghue, Darragh O’Donovan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Tipperary: Jason Forde 0-14 (0-11f, 0-1 ’65), Ronan Maher 0-2 (0-1f), Michael Breen, Dan McCormack, Niall O’Meara, Willie Connors 0-1 each.

Limerick

1. Nicky Quaid (Effin)

2. Aaron Costello (Kilmallock)
3. Sean Finn (Bruff)
4. Richie English (Doon)

5. Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell)
6. Kyle Hayes (Kildimo/Pallaskenry)
7. Barry Nash (South Liberties)

8. William O’Donoghue (Na Piarsiagh) Captain
9. Darragh O’Donovan (Doon)

10. Tom Morrissey (Ahane)
11. David Reidy (Dromin-Athlacca)
12. Conor Boylan (Na Piarsaigh)

13. Adrian Breen (Na Piarsaigh)
14. Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh-Castlemahon)
15. David Dempsey (Na Piarsaigh)

Subs

22. Cian Lynch (Patrickswell) for O’Donovan (46)
18. Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh) for Dempsey (46)
21. Gearoid Hegarty (St Patrick’s) for Boylan (56)
23. Darren O’Connell (Kildimo-Pallaskenry) for Breen (59)
24. Brian O’Grady (Kilteely-Dromkeen) for O’Donoghue (67)

Tipperary

1. Barry Hogan (Kiladangan)

2. Cathal Barrett (Holycross-Ballycahill)
5. Brian McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney)
4. Barry Heffernan (Nenagh Éire Óg)

7. Bryan O’Mara (Holycross-Ballycahill)
6. Seamus Kennedy (St Mary’s Clonmel)
3. Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)

8. Alan Flynn (Kiladangan)
9. Michael Breen (Ballina)

10. Dan McCormack (Borris-Ileigh)
11. Patrick Maher (Lorrha-Dorrha)
12. Niall O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs)

13. Willie Connors (Kiladangan)
14. Jason Forde (Silvermines)
15. Jake Morris (Nenagh Éire Óg)

Subs

24. Noel McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney) for Patrick Maher (53)
26. Dillon Quirke (Clonoulty-Rossmore) for O’Meara (53)
19. Cian Darcy (Kilruane McDonaghs) for Connors (59)
21. Mark Kehoe. (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) for Flynn (62)
22. Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields) for O’Mara (inj) (68)

Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)

The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!

Click Here: cheap converse classic chuck shoes

BETWEEN LAST YEAR and this one, Brian Cody has probably endured more hurling-free weekends than he did in the rest of his 66 years combined. 

Kilkenny manager Brian Cody.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

On the back of the worst disrupted GAA season since the First World War, Cody couldn’t get his players back together on the field until the middle of April.

The pain of last year’s All-Ireland semi-final collapse to Waterford would have sat with them for quite some time. 

He’s up to speed with Zoom and remained in contact with the players through regular sessions. Since returning, he reckons they’ve only had four or five training sessions together.

Click Here: injection mold

Yesterday’s game was the start of a run of five games in six weeks. Three weeks later they’ll put their Leinster crown on the line against Wexford or Laois, with a showdown against Davy Fitzgerald’s men the anticipated outcome. 

So from here on in, it’ll be relentless. There will be injuries, red cards, controversial refereeing decisions, heroic performances, defensive errors and media scrutiny. 

But Cody looks ready for all of it. Even as he enters his 23rd year as Kilkenny manager, it’s clear the fire inside him still burns bright.

His overriding emotion after last night’s 1-20 to 0-18 defeat of Dublin was joy at returning to what he knows best. 

“We’re back out on the field, we’re hurling,” he said. “It’s just great to be out there.

“It was the first game after being out for so long. Everybody was wondering what the hurling would be like.”

The lack of atmosphere at games certainly takes away some of the adrenaline buzz, yet there’s still enough there to keep Cody hooked.

Adrian Mullen captained Kilkenny for the first time.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Watching him give his post-match interview, you could tell he missed it.

He was full of praise for the condition his players returned in and for their effort against Dublin.

“Great credit to the lads, to the physical trainer and physios, the way they came back in such good shape.

“That’s a tribute to the honesty of effort they put in. I haven’t met the players since whenever we played [Waterford in the All-Ireland semi-final] last year. I literally hadn’t met them at all.

“We Zoomed alright. But they were given individual programmes from Mickey Comerford our physical trainer, and physios were checking on them for injuries and that. They’ve earned the right to get out there.

“Physically they lasted the pace fairly well, and their hurling was decent. But the thing I liked most was the attitude. Top class I thought.”

Teed up to heap praise on an individual player in interviews, Cody often speaks about the team instead. 

But here he was, heaping praise on young forward Martin Keoghan, who scored of 1-4 on a fine outing.

“The goal was a big score obviously. The goal was a huge score in the game. I thought Mossy did very, very well to get that goal.

“He had a great game. The work he put in, the effort he put. He was there, winning balls, you thought he was out on his feet but then he was gone again. He’s one of those great honest players, and 1-4 is a huge contribution.”

He sympathised with Richie Leahy after the midfielder was forced off inside 11 minutes with a hamstring injury.

“Desperate for Richie. I feel so sorry for Richie Leahy. There’s nobody who trains better than Richie, nobody has more honesty and effort and everything else. He’s a terrific player.

“He’s having hardship with both hamstrings. The physios have done powerful work. Whatever happens, you see different sportspeople in different sports as well, hamstrings can [go]. But Richie will grind his teeth and come back.”

He confirmed that the injured Walter Walsh and Richie Hogan, who helped out Kilkenny’s stats team for the game in the stand, will also miss next weekend’s visit of Antrim to Nowlan Park.

His hope for the rest of the league?

“Well more of that to be honest. Building on that and improving on that. That would be our starting point. I’d be hoping we improve every facet of the play after that. Again, we’ve got to look at different players.

“Again, we’ll have an opportunity over the next couple of games to look at different options as well. We want at the end of the league to have a hugely competitive panel.”

TJ Reid was held scoreless from play.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Even Dublin boss Mattie Kenny wasn’t too disheartened by the defeat, pointing at the game time he got into the legs of Liam Rushe at centre-back until his late dismissal.

“We want to get game time into them. We want to build and to sharpen our hurling and games like this are going to bring us on a lot.

“The league and games like this are going to be really good preparation for the championship. We’re happy with the performance tonight, the result didn’t go our way but we stuff to work on and lots to take into the league going forward.”

Updated May 10th 2021, 8:20 AM

1. Cork’s goalscoring spree

Cork have not exactly been goalscoring kings during their league endeavours in recent years. Granted they raised 11 green flags last season but across 2017, 2018 and 2019, they hit the net ten times over three campaigns. They didn’t manage to hit five goals in one of those league runs and yet that was the tally they registered yesterday in their 2021 opener.

Robbie O’Flynn, Jack O’Connor, Shane Kingston and Alan Connolly (twice) all profited from an attitude that indicated this was a team with goals on their mind. They created another four clearcut chances as well, O’Connor sending a shot whistling wide while Patrick Horgan was denied on three occasions by a mix of the Waterford defence and goalkeeper Billy Nolan.

Cork will be heartened by the increased creativity they showed yet the large caveat to accompany that is the rustiness of the opening day setting and the quality of defending they faced.

2. Waterford defensive difficulties

For a team that prided themselves on their defensive solidity last year, Waterford’s showing at the back didn’t represent an early boost for the new season. 5-22 was a striking total to concede, the trio of goals in a rapid-fire burst towards the end, even if they were down to 14 men after Calum Lyons was shown red, was a glaring area for Liam Cahill t reflect on.

“I think what really worried was our naivety and our inability to counteract Cork’s movement. Now Cork in fairness to them today were really good, they really came out with real intent and asked a lot of questions of us.

“(It) very much had a challenge match feel towards the end, that’s always disappointing because it is the National Hurling League and it should be all guns blazing throughout the match. But I think it definitely fizzled out, our lapse in concentration again towards the end hurt us.”

Cahill did rightly stress that it had to be viewed as an opening effort. Waterford were without some experienced figures like Kevin Moran and Jamie Barron. That pair will at least return soon but Tadhg De Búrca is going to be absent for 2021 due to the cruciate he tore last December.

He was responsible for so much of the good things that anchored Waterford’s challenge last year, what defensive strategy can they devise without him this year?

3. Cork’s new faces

Kierna Kingston was busy in the off-season putting a new look on his Cork squad. Some long-serving stalwarts left through retirement or non-selection, a bunch of emerging talents were drafted in on the back of strong club form last autumn or bright performances with Cork underage sides.

The last game before yesterday in Páirc Uí Chaoimh was on 23 December when Cork defeated Tipperary in the Munster U20 final. Shane Barrett hit 0-5 that night, Alan Connolly contributed 0-4. They have both been touted for bigger things, yesterday they returned to the same venue for a milestone on their senior journey.

Barrett got the nod from the off and apart from the 0-2 he scored, it was his insatiable appetite for work that stood out with his harrying of Waterford defenders directly leading to three Cork points. Connolly came on towards the end to display his scoring instincts with his positioning helping him execute two tidy finishes to the net.

Sterner tests naturally await, but as a positive start, they will both take it.

The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!

Click Here: cheap nike air zoom shoes

CORK ALL-IRELAND winner Donal Óg Cusack hailed the achievement of the Antrim hurlers with their opening day league win over Clare but still feels they ‘will struggle’ at the top level this season.

Antrim lifted the Joe McDonagh Cup last December and at the time Cusack suggested their performance would make it difficult to bridge the gap between them and the leading sides.

They delivered a decisive blow in their opening game of the 2021 season with a two-point victory over Clare yesterday at Corrigan Park in Belfast.

They now travel to take on Kilkenny and Dublin over the next two weeks.

Cusack believes yesterday’s win was a huge boost but their fixture list will prove hugely challenging over the next while.

"It's an absolute fillip to the National League and to hurling… but I still think Antrim will still struggle in this division"

Dónal Óg Cusack reacts to Antrim's surprise win over Clare on Allianz League Sunday

Watch live on @RTE2 & @RTEplayer #RTEGAA pic.twitter.com/eMCbYQrxVW

— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) May 9, 2021

“On the evidence that day, there was a stark difference in terms of physicality and the quality of the McDonagh Cup final as to the game afterwards (Limerick against Waterford),” remarked Cusack on RTÉ Allianz League Sunday.

“Nobody was as happy as me with that result today. Every other hurling person in Ireland was delighted to see it – an absolute fillip to the National League and to hurling. I’d be delighted if this pundit here would be proved wrong on many, many more occasions.

“But I still think they are going to struggle in this division.”

Cusack and former Limerick hurler Shane Dowling both discussed the change to the advantage rule in hurling which was a major topic of discussion over the weekend.

"That advantage rule is the worst thing I've seen brought into the game since the rubber sliotar was introduced in 2003"

Dónal Óg Cusack and Shane Dowling share their reactions to the impact the new rules made on the opening weekend of the Allianz Hurling League #RTEGAA pic.twitter.com/h2hiLuehbd

— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) May 9, 2021

The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!

Click Here: cheap nike air zoom shoes