Month: September 2021

LIMERICK HAVE HANDED a senior hurling debut to teenager Colin Coughlan for Saturday’s hurling league clash against Cork.

Coughlan’s introduction is one of seven changes from Limerick’s last outing against Waterford.

There’s a first start of the year in goal for Kilmallock’s Barry Hennessy with Barry Nash and Diarmaid Byrnes introduced to the defence.

William O’Donoghue is drafted in at midfield while David Dempsey and Pat Ryan come into the attack.

Throw-in on Saturday night is 7.15pm.

Limerick

1. Barry Hennessy (Kilmallock)

2. Richie English (Doon), 3. Sean Finn (Bruff), 4. Barry Nash (South Liberties)

5. Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell), 6. Declan Hannon (Adare – captain), 7. Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown)

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

10. Tom Morrissey (Ahane), 11. Cian Lynch (Patrickswell), 12. David Dempsey (Na Piarsaigh)

13. Pat Ryan (Doon), 14. Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell), 15. Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh)

Subs

16. Jason Gillane (Patrickswell)

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17. Conor Boylan (Na Piarsaigh)

18. Jerome Boylan (Na Piarsaigh)

19. Adrian Breen (Na Piarsaigh)

20. Ronan Connolly (Adare)

21. Robbie Hanley (Kilmallock)

22. Barry Murphy (Doon)

23. Darren O’Connell (Kildimo/Pallaskenry)

24. Brian O’Grady (Kilteely/Dromkeen)

25. Cathal O’Neill (Crecora/Manister)

26. Mark Quinlan (Garryspillane)

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Updated Jun 4th 2021, 12:00 PM

IT’S COUNTY FINAL weekend in London with a difference.

To start with, this is the conclusion of a competition that began in the early stages of 2020 and has dragged on interminably ever since.

Then there is the timing, the first week of June seems unseasonably early in the year to be chasing championship silverware.

No one prepared Lorcan Mulvey for this when he was first persuaded to dip his toes into managerial waters with Fulham Irish, the Cavan native taking charge of their senior football outfit after life took Owen Mulligan back to Tyrone.

It has been a grinding process, just another slice of everyday life thrown out of kilter by the pandemic.

But in London, the end is in sight. The first of the GAA’s county senior finals that the organisation couldn’t wrap up in 2020, will take place in Ruislip on Sunday afternoon. Time to tend to unfinished business.

London SFC championship semi-final final score: @StKiernansGAA 1:11 – Fulham 3:13

Credit to players on both sides – a battle like that after months of no football is massively impressive. Well done to @LorcanMulvey & co on the win too.

Final against TCG in a few weeks.

— Fulham Irish GAA (@FulhamIrish) May 9, 2021

“It’s not too often we’ll be bringing sun cream to a county final,” laughs Mulvey.

“It’s been a long road but we’re nearly there. It can’t have many more twists and turns.

“An 18-month season for my first in charge of Fulham. It’s been a learning curve. I was asked by a few of the players to give it a go after Mugsy stepped aside for work and travel reasons. I’ve grown into it a bit and enjoyed it really.

“I still dabble in a bit of playing. Hard to get training sessions under my belt when I’m putting the cones down and doing the talking and running drills.

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“It’s hard to juggle both and obviously bringing on yourself in games is very contradictory stuff as well. But speaking to the senior lads in the group, they were keen there was still some involvement from myself on the playing front. I suppose it’s always good to have an experienced big lad as an option off the bench.”

He was an ideal candidate to take charge, a figure well-versed in London GAA.

It’s a decade since Mulvey first landed in the English capital, forced to park his football hopes and dreams back in Cavan, as work had dried up in the construction industry.

Lorcan Mulvey (right) in action for Cavan against Monaghan.

Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

He linked up with Fulham Irish in 2011 and the impact was instant, helping them land their maiden senior championship crown, five years after they had first come into existence.

Ever since the club has been a constant companion.

“I thought I’d be here for six months and go back to Ireland. But London is home from home now.

“Obviously it took Ireland a bit longer time than everyone expected to recover. I’m settled here now and no plans to go home for the foreseeable future. Between Fulham Irish and Butlersbridge (in Cavan), my two clubs have looked after me very well.

“It was crucial to me to be able to settle and stay and be comfortable in London. I would imagine it’s the same for numerous people who come over here. If you don’t get in with a group of lads and enjoy your time away from work, then you won’t be long getting a bit miserable and homesick. It’s vital to people settling and earning a living over here.”

He spread his wings further than the club scene and flew high. In 2013 when London enjoyed that memorable summer run that propelled them towards a Connacht final, Mulvey was the scoring fulcrum of their attack and recognised with an All-Star nomination.

Lorcan Mulvey (left) with Mark Gottsche after London’s 2013 win over Sligo.

Source: Jim Keogh/INPHO

He hit 1-2 in the win over Sligo, 1-1 in the draw with Leitrim, 0-5 in the replay win and 0-7 in the Connacht decider loss. That provincial decider saw Cillian O’Connor hurt Londons’s cause with a tally of 3-3, now the Mayo star’s brother Ruaidhri has been part of the Fulham Irish defensive unit for this campaign.

That 2013 London journey ended in a qualifier against Cavan, Mulvey scored 0-3 in a surreal experience as he took on players he had shared a dressing-room with a few years previously.

After that the forward remained a focal point for London teams and even after his playing role halted, he stayed involved as a selector.

That is a position he continues to fill, albeit for a team that have seen their development stalled as they remain in the inter-county wilderness since March 2020.

“It’s a hard one to swallow. We are the forgotten team at present. But you have to be realistic, it’s a worldwide problem.

“For the GAA to facilitate us, it would have been very difficult and people would have had to go to expensive lengths. It was probably the best decision for everybody’s safety but still disappointing and it’s going to be extremely difficult for us to rebuild when we do get back after having had two seasons away.

“We’ll be starting from scratch, which you have to do to a certain extent every year in London, your panels aren’t very consistent. This will be new ground for everybody.”

London players in action against Galway in May 2019.

Source: ©INPHOGerry McManus

As they have shifted in and out of lockdown in London over the past year, club football was a source of hope, an interest they could continue to invest time in, even if there was so much uncertainty.

“You tried to keep the communication levels as high as you can. You would have Boris Johnson announcing whatever on a Friday on the news and people would expect the following weeks for things to kick in and start happening.

“But it had to filter down through Croke Park, provincial council in Birmingham, down to London GAA and down to the clubs. That can be a slow process. We’re a second-tier amateur sport over here so there was no special treatment like the clubs and counties got at home last year with lockdown rules.

“It was stop-start and it was difficult but at the same time, it was the only thing that got you out of the house so in that sense it was probably a God send.”

Seeing his native county soar to the heights they did in Ulster last winter was a boost.

“Cavan is steeped in football history and the outpouring of emotion, even from Mickey Graham in the interviews on the day, just shows you what it means to the people of Cavan. It was refreshing to see Cavan win it again and the real emotion that comes with that.

“Huge year for them and good to see them getting a few All-Stars in recognition. When I was there playing with Cavan, Gearoid (McKiernan) would have been around, Raymond Galligan, Martin Reilly, those few people. (Dermot) McCabe, a selector, would have played in my time. There’s always a few links there.”

Raymond Galligan and Gearoid McKiernan celebrate after Cavan’s Ulster final win last November.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

By mid-March, Fulham Irish had got back training themselves. The long hiatus from activity was reflected in the large numbers drawn to their sessions at Wormwood Scrubs in White City.

After a hard winter, players were eager to get going. Mulvey oversees the senior team, working in tandem with Cork man Alex Kelleher, the manager of the reserve side. Both are featuring in county finals on Sunday.

There is a high level of familiarity with their opponents as well, meeting Tír Chonaill Gaels for the fourth season at this stage.

In 2017 Fulham Irish won by a point, they lost in 2018 after a replay by two and in 2019 were defeated by one. His old London boss Paul Coggins will be on the opposite sideline as well on Sunday and there will be some fans permitted to pass through the turnstiles at McGovern Park, another sign that normality beckons again.

All roads lead to Ruislip this Sunday in what is a huge day for the club.

📆 Sunday 6 June
📍 McGovern Park, Ruislip @McAleerRushe SFC final:

Fulham Irish v @TirChonailGaels – 🕒 15:00

Reserve Championship Final:

Fulham Irish v @theshamrocks1 – 🕐 13:00

📷 Sheila F pic.twitter.com/1HjDvN4Q3Y

— Fulham Irish GAA (@FulhamIrish) June 2, 2021

“It is the local rivalry of London over the last decade,” says Mulvey.

“It’s always a big game, even if it’s the league between us. There’s a bit of bite every time. You talk about gameplans and reports from previous games but you nearly don’t need them, we’re both that familiar with how we play. It’d be a brave man to call it.

“It’s probably the biggest day for the club, to have our first and second teams in championship finals on the one day is huge.

“It’s just been a long, hard road for every team involved and it’s been great to get this far to the final on Sunday.”

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IN HIS 15TH season lining out for the Clare footballers, David Tubridy is looking as sharp as ever. 

The 34-year-old racked up 1-8 against Cork in Ennis last Sunday and the Banner will need Tubridy in top form if they are to have any hope in their upcoming fixtures. 

They face Mayo in an Allianz Football League Division 2 semi-final on Sunday, 13 June, before their first outing in the 2021 championship a fortnight later — against Kerry at Fitzgerald Park.

On this week’s episode of The42 GAA Weekly, former Kingdom stalwart Marc Ó Sé remembers coming up against the veteran Clare forward during his playing days.

Clare’s David Tubridy scoring a penalty against Cork.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

“I marked him a few times and I met him last year in Doonbeg,” Ó Sé says. “Kieran Donaghy was with him, I think Kieran was trying to squeeze a free round of golf off him!

“He looked fit. The longevity he has shown is just incredible. It was Páidí [Ó Sé] who brought him in first and I think he has played under six different managers.

I remember marking him. Oh Jesus, it was nightmare stuff because he’s a serious forward. What sets the great forwards aside for me is their movement off the ball and the way they’re able to create space for themselves and get away from their marker. David Tubridy certainly has that.

“He shot the lights out again the last day to kick 1-8. That’s phenomenal scoring and he’s going to be a really tough task for the Kerry defence to try and nullify.”

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Tubridy facing Cork’s Mattie Taylor at Cusack Park.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Ó Sé added: “You just mention the quality of players that are gone and it’s so hard when you’re playing with a county that doesn’t have the success of the Kerrys, the Corks, the Dublins, the Galways, the Mayos or Donegal and come back year in year out.

“The other guy I thought was a really hard draw was, God rest his soul, Michael O’Shea from Clare as well. So those two fellas, and Tubridy is still going strong.

“You also have Jamie Malone and Podge Collins to come back in so they’re going to be a real threat and it will be a real tough battle against Mayo.”

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KERRY DEFENDER TADHG Morley is set to miss their football league semi-final, after his one-match was upheld following last Sunday’s red card against Roscommon.

Morley requested a hearing which took place last night, after he had been sent-off in the second half of the game in Dr Hyde Park.

The Central Hearings Committee (CHC) found the infraction – ‘behaving in any way which is dangerous to an opponent’ – proven and imposed the penalty of a one-match suspension.

That means Templenoe club man Morley is set to be suspended for next Saturday’s game in Killarney against Tyrone.

Morley does have the option of appealing against the decision of the CHC to the GAA’s Central Appeals Committee.

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AILISH CONSIDINE BELIEVES that the AFL Women’s league has become one of the standard-bearers for inclusiveness for LGBTI+ athletes.

But the Adelaide Crows star feels that male sports across the world have a lot of work still to do when it comes to an open culture around sexuality.

Clare’s Considine made history in her debut AFLW in 2019, winning the Premiership title with the Crows and becoming the first Irishwoman to do so.

And her experience in the league to date has been of a culture which celebrates inclusiveness as highlighted by the introduction of a Pride Round this season which saw several teams wear specially-designed guernseys and many players wear rainbow socks and laces.

“You’re the exception if you’re not gay in AFLW because so many of the girls are part of that community,” Considine explains.

“It’s so open. It’s so respectful. It’s so normal to be gay over there. Out of the 30 girls on the team, I think 22 are gay.”

She adds: “It’s so accepting. Having a whole round dedicated to LGBTI+ is just incredible. They’ve really pushed to make it a normal thing and make it really acceptable to be yourself and not to have to hide who you are.”

Considine is an ambassador for Aviva Ireland’s #LaceUpWithPride campaign which invites Irish players to wear rainbow laces in support of the LGBTI+ community.

“I think Australians are generally quite more open and honest about things and upfront of things,” she says. “I think in Ireland we can be a bit more reserved and a bit quieter in fact.”

“I would have come from a very remote, isolated west Clare village where the norm is boy meets girl. They get married in a few years time and that’s it. That’s the norm.”

Her older sister and ally Eimear, an Irish rugby international and Munster player, likewise sees the acceptance of the LGBTI+ community within Irish sporting circles.

“I’m very lucky that I play a sport where inclusion is so key and so many of my friends are in the community. It’s just normal and I think it’s normalising is the key thing,” Eimear says.

“Sportspeople are in such a good position to be role models and ambassadors and make other people outside of our sporting community aware that it’s ok.

“And at the end of the day, once you put on your jersey and step onto the field, you know, you all have one common goal. And I think that’s the key. Doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, you’re accepted no matter what.”

Looking back on her own experience, Ailish has never felt the need to make a statement about her sexuality, though she often mentions her partner and their relationship in the course of interviews and other media work.

“You don’t have to make a big deal about, you know, you being different,” Ailish says. “It’s just part of who you are.

“I think [Eimear] nailed it in the head. We were just chatting about the whole campaign and stuff, and she was like, ‘Well, I never had to come home and tell my mother that I’m not gay or that I’m hetero’.

“She never had to have that conversation with our family, so she was like, ‘Well, why do you have to have it with ours as well?’ That you have to come out and say that you’re gay. It’s no different. It doesn’t change who you are. So I think that’s something that has always been kind of part of me.

“I don’t want to make a big deal of it because, you know, it should be far more normalised at this stage in our lives. So I think while it’s a conversation that probably has to be had with family and friends, [and] I think overall in the media, I just want to normalise it as much as possible.”

While acceptance is the norm in many female sports, Considine feels that there is more work to be done in the men’s games. As it stands, there are no openly gay players in the AFL.

“The AFLW have a really powerful stance on that and have had from the get-go. I think just having a pride round really cements that in their ethos and in their game. But it’s not as open on the men’s side of things.

“I think society makes it a little bit easier for females to come out as gay in some shape or form. I’m not sure why that is because it’s all the same. It doesn’t matter who you are.

“It’s not that it’s not talked about, or that it’s not an issue. It is definitely something that needs to be worked on in every sport. The campaigns are just more open and honest with the female side of things.”

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CORK BOSS KIERAN Kingston has placed the emphasis on youth for tomorrow night’s league clash with Limerick as part of ten changes while Tipperary welcome captain Seamus Callanan back to face Westmeath on Sunday.

Only two players in the Cork starting fifteen, Damien Cahalane and Alan Cadogan, are over the age of 24 for the trip to the Gaelic Grounds as ten changes are made from the landslide win against Westmeath last time out.

Patrick Collins returns in goal while Cahalane, Niall O’Leary, Ger Millerick and Mark Coleman, who captains the team, are brought into the defence. Billy Hennessy is introduced to the midfield while the attack sees Shane Kingston, Robbie O’Flynn, Declan Dalton and Jack O’Connor all handed starts.

Cork team vs Limerick in Allianz Hurling League pic.twitter.com/ziAgITxTnd

— Cork GAA (@OfficialCorkGAA) June 4, 2021

Fr O’Neills duo Millerick and Dalton are both set to make their first appearances in this year’s league while there are newcomers on the bench in Cormac O’Brien and Daire O’Leary, both part of last year’s U20 squad that have qualified for the All-Ireland final, which is scheduled to take place in July. 

Tipperary have named Callanan at full-forward with goalkeeper Brian Hogan also drafted in, along with centre-back Brendan Maher and wing-back Brian McGrath.

Michael Breen comes in at midfield to partner Paddy Cadell while Willie Connors is drafted into the attack at wing-forward.

Barry Hogan, Seamus Kennedy, Ronan Maher, Alan Flynn, Dillon Quirke and John O’Dwyer are the players to make way for Tipperary.

Tipperary Senior Hurling Team Announcement – https://t.co/lPLh2TEpWM pic.twitter.com/7wIFqYLM6t

— Tipperary GAA (@TipperaryGAA) June 4, 2021

Cork

1. Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig)

2. Sean O’Leary-Hayes (Midleton), 3. Damien Cahalane (St Finbarr’s), 4. Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons).

5. Ger Millerick (Fr O’Neills), 6. Mark Coleman (Blarney – captain), 7. Robert Downey (Glen Rovers).

8. Billy Hennessy (St Finbarr’s), 9. Daire Connery (Na Piarsaigh).

10. Conor Cahalane (St Finbarr’s), 11. Shane Kingston (Douglas), 12. Robbie O’Flynn (Erins Own).

13. Alan Cadogan (Douglas), 14. Declan Dalton (Fr O’Neills), 15. Jack O’Connor (Sarsfields).

Subs

16. Ger Collins (Ballinhassig)

17. Cormac O’Brien (Newtownshandrum)

18. Niall Cashman (Blackrock)

19. Daire O’Leary (Watergrasshill)

20. James O’Flynn (Erins Own)

21. Luke Meade (Newcestown)

22. Sean Twomey (Courcey Rovers)

23. Shane Barrett (Blarney)

24. Tadgh Deasy (Blackrock)

25. Alan Connolly (Blackrock)

26. Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers)

Tipperary

1. Brian Hogan (Lorrha-Dorrha)

2. Cathal Barrett (Holycross-Ballycahill), 3. Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields), 4. Barry Heffernan (Nenagh Éire Óg).

5. Robert Byrne (Portroe), 6. Brendan Maher (Borris-Ileigh), 7. Brian McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney).

8. Michael Breen (Ballina), 9. Paddy Cadell (JK Brackens).

10. Dan McCormack (Borris-Ileigh), 11. Noel McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney, 12. Willie Connors (Kiladangan).

13. John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), 14. Seamus Callanan (Drom & Inch), 15. Jason Forde (Silvermines)

Subs

16. Barry Hogan (Kiladangan)

17. Eoghan Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs)

18. Alan Flynn (Kiladangan)

19. Paul Flynn (Kiladangan)

20. Mark Kehoe (Kilsheelan-Kilcash)

21. John Meagher (Loughmore-Castleiney)

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22. Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs)

23. Jake Morris (Nenagh Éire Óg)

24. Andrew Ormond (JK Brackens)

25. James Quigley (Kiladangan)

26. Dillon Quirke (Clonoulty-Rossmore)

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WATERFORD HAVE MADE three changes for Sunday’s hurling league clash with Galway. 

Shaun O’Brien comes in to start in goal, Shane McNulty is named at left corner-back and Neil Montgomery is selected at right half-forward.

Billy Nolan, Iarlaith Daly and Jack Fagan are the three Deise players to make way.

Galway have made six changes, as they draft in Shane Cooney, Gearoid McInerney and Fintan Burke to their defence. Cathal Mannion and Sean Loftus both come in to the half-forward line.

Throw-in time at Pearse Stadium on Sunday is 3.45pm.

Brian Cody has made six changes to his Kilkenny team for their clash with Laois on Sunday. Joey Holden and Michael Carey are brought in to the defence while Conor Fogarty is selected at midfield.

The attacking additions are Martin Keoghan, Liam Blanchfield and Eoin Cody.

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❗TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT ❗
Your team to play Port Láirge 🙌🏼 Sunday June 6th @ 15.45
📺@TG4TV#riseofthetribe @SupermacsIRE pic.twitter.com/O1vdyOB91D

— Galway GAA (@Galway_GAA) June 4, 2021

📣The Waterford Senior Hurling Team to play Galway this Sunday in Round 4 of the Allianz National Hurling League has been named⬇️

Best of luck to Liam Cahill, his management team and all of the panel! #deiseabú ⚪️🔵 pic.twitter.com/B62dtr3BIB

— Waterford GAA (@WaterfordGAA) June 4, 2021

Kilkenny team Vs Laois for this Sunday’s AHL 4th round fixture. Throw-in at 13.45pm and the game can be viewed on ⁦@SportTG4⁩. pic.twitter.com/WiblIgrjtk

— Kilkenny GAA (@KilkennyCLG) June 4, 2021

Waterford

1. Shaun O’Brien (De La Salle)

2. Conor Gleeson (Fourmilewater), 3. Conor Prunty (Abbeyside), 4. Shane McNulty (De La Salle).

5. Calum Lyons (Ballyduff Lower), 6. Austin Gleeson (Mount Sion), 7. Seamus Keating (Ardmore).

8. Jamie Barron (Fourmilewater), 9. Jake Dillon (De La Salle).

10. Neil Montgomery (Abbeyside), 11. Shane Bennett (Ballysaggart), 12. Kieran Bennett (Ballysaggart).

13. Dessie Hutchinson (Ballygunner), 14. Stephen Bennett (Ballysaggart), 15. Jack Prendergast (Lismore).

Galway

1. Eanna Murphy (Tommie Larkins)

2. Shane Cooney (St Thomas), 3. Daithi Burke (Turloughmore), 4. Darren Morrissey (Sarsfields).

5. Padraic Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh), 6. Gearoid McInerney (Oranmore-Maree), 7. Fintan Burke (St Thomas).

8. Johnny Coen (Loughrea), 9. Joe Canning (Portumna),

10. Adrian Tuohey (Beagh), 11. Cathal Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh), 12. Sean Loftus (Turloughmor). 

13. Conor Whelan (Kinvara), 14. Conor Cooney (St Thomas), 15. Brian Concannon (Killimordaly).

Kilkenny

1. Eoin Murphy (Glenmore)

2. Tommy Walsh (Tullaroan), 3. Joey Holden (Shamrocks Ballyhale), 4. Paddy Deegan (O’Loughlin Gaels).

5. Darragh Corcoran (Shamrocks Ballyhale), 6. Huw Lawlor (O’Loughlin Gaels), 7. Michael Carey (Young Irelands).

8. Richie Reid (Shamrocks Ballyhale), 9. Conor Fogarty (Erins Own).

10. Adrian Mullen (Shamrocks Ballyhale), 11. Martin Keoghan (Tullaroan), 12. Billy Ryan (Graigue-Ballycallan).

13. James Bergin (Conahy Shamrocks), 14. Liam Blanchfield (Bennettsbridge), 15. Eoin Cody (Shamrocks Ballyhale).

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KILKENNY’S GRACE WALSH felt something was a bit off when both of her parents offered to drop her to the team bus on All-Ireland final day last year.

Grace Walsh and Anne Dalton.

Usually, it would be a job for just one of them on match days. Dad was in the driving seat on this occasion but Walsh’s mother offered to come along “for the spin.” Their daughter assumed she was probably just coming in to get a coffee, but there was actually another secret motive behind the curtain.

As the bus pulled away with Croke Park as their destination, the Kilkenny players looked out the window to a joyful sight that “hit the spot” according to Walsh.

Families and friends of all the members of the squad lined up along the road to form a guard of honour as Brian Dowling’s side headed for their fifth All-Ireland final in-a-row.

The supporting cast saluting their players in the only way they could under the Covid-19 restrictions of that period, which prohibited crowds from attending games.

“I couldn’t describe it, it was incredible,” Walsh recalls as she located her folks in the bunch.

“They had the whole family and my boyfriend and everybody else spread out along the road and it was just unbelievable.

“It was emotional for a lot of people. Even thinking back, it hit the spot. It was unbelievable and it was nice to see that before you went off to play because obviously they couldn’t be there in the crowd. It was incredible I must say.”

The scale of the task was laid bare for Kilkenny that December evening. They were coming into this decider as defeated finalists in the previous three All-Ireland finals.

Commentary around the final suggested that the reigning champions Galway would be defending their title against wounded cats who had forgotten how to win.

Walsh paid little attention to that “outside noise” and gave a player-of-the-match display as Kilkenny avenged the hurt of 2017, 2018 and 2019 with a 1-14 to 1-11 win. A Denise Gaule penalty in the 57th minute proved to be the decisive score an a fitting conclusion to a gripping game.

“Obviously I wouldn’t wish Covid on anyone again but I think Covid really helped us in that we actually got a nice break,” Walsh replies when asked about what was different in the Kilkenny camp last year.

Walsh celebrating Kilkenny’s All-Ireland win over Galway.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

“When you’re playing in an All-Ireland final every year and in those three finals that we lost, that’s a lot of disappointment. And then the minute you finish those games, you’re straight into club.

“And once club is finished, you’re nearly back to training with county again. You don’t really have any time to reflect or any time to accept what has happened.

“We had been on the trot for so long that we never actually got that break that we probably needed. During Covid, we did take a big break where we weren’t expected to do any training and I think anyone playing at inter-county level wants to stay fit and girls did stay fit.

“I just think that break did us the world of good. So by the time we were able to go back training, everyone was just so excited to be back. And I think then when we did get to go back training and go back playing, we probably realised how lucky we were and how fortunate we were that we got to still play while other people probably didn’t.”

Kilkenny are two games deep into the 2021 National League. Two wins against Dublin and Offaly saw them top Group 3 and assure them of a place in the quarter-finals where they will take on Limerick this evening [throw-in, 5pm].

County panels go through a process of flux every year and the post-2020 shakeup saw two key players exit the Kilkenny dressing room. Midfielder Anna Farrell has stepped away from the panel, Walsh says, while two-time All-Ireland winner and one of the best players of her generation, Anne Dalton, announced her retirement in January.

“I probably expected it,” says Walsh about the departure of their veteran star player who had the versatility to play in almost every position on the pitch.

“I suppose with Covid, she has three new kids with Karen at home. That’s a lot of hard work so I wasn’t even sure if she was going to stay with us in 2020 and when she did I thought it was unbelievable.

Grace Walsh celebrating World Milk Day on 1 June.

Source: National Dairy Council

“We would always be messing with someone who is a bit older and say, ‘Oh, you’ll surely stay on for another year.’ I don’t even think I said that to her this year because I kind of knew.

“I actually remember going out in the All-Ireland final into the second half and I remember grabbing Dalton and I just said, ‘If this is going to be your last year playing, make sure it’s worth it.’

“You kind of just know. She has a young family at home and you’re not going to put anyone under that sort of pressure to come back again.

“I suppose after getting the win, she realised it was time for her to go and enjoy family life for a while.

“You’d never know, she could make an appearance back.”

Being a defender by trade, Walsh often had the displeasure of marking Dalton and trying to keep pace with her elusive runs and impressive reading of plays.

Unsurprisingly, it’s an exhausting task with little to no margin for error.

“She is just so, so intelligent you’ve no idea,” Walsh elaborates. 

“She actually makes a lot of selfless runs or she might tell people to make a certain run that she sees. Her vision is just incredible. She could be on the pitch five minutes and she’ll know exactly what the other team is doing and she’ll know how to play against it.

“She was very special, a brilliant, brilliant player.

“I actually marked her in a good few club games and sometimes when you’re marking her, you’re only focused on her and you can’t really focus on your own game. Take your eye off her for a split second and she’ll be gone and have scored.

“She’s so gifted that you literally can’t give her a bit of space or she’ll have a goal or a point.”

As the Covid-19 situation worsened in Ireland at the turn of 2021, the Kilkenny players were forced to return to individual training programmes. Walsh works as a nurse in Dublin and while some of her team-mates are also based in the capital, she chose to train on her own out of concerns about her exposure to Covid-19 in the hospital.

Returning to collective training was a huge relief for her and she has a newfound appreciation for athletes in individual sports who, more often than not, train in isolation.

The camogie season is now in full flow and the sport received an added boost recently with the inclusion of the league finals as test events with a crowd of up to 3,000 allowed in Croke Park.

The prospect of playing in a final can’t enter the minds of the Kilkenny players just yet. A long season, hopefully, lies ahead.

But the possibility of having family and friends back in the stands again is an encouraging thought for Walsh.

“It’s brilliant for the game and it’s brilliant for the country because you start to see a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel and that.

“It will be good, it’ll be good for camogie as well to be one of the first test events with crowds. Hopefully that plan stays in place.”

Grace Walsh is working with National Dairy Council (NDC) and Everything Starts with Milk this World Milk Day to support the essential part milk plays in their pre and post training regime.

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Limerick 0-33
Cork 2-19

THIS WAS QUITE a way for champions to end their losing streak and get off the winning mark for a new season.

Cork’s Robert Downey in action against Limerick.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

If there were any whispers of concern swirling around about Limerick’s recent form, they were dispelled in a ruthless fashion under the Saturday evening sun on their home patch. John Kiely’s team shot 20 points in the first half, finished with 33 overall and amassed 20 wides, evidence of the dominance they enjoyed in this game.

The key context for this match was what lies ahead, the teams facing off in a league dress rehearsal four weeks before their championship showdown. That will be the Saturday night meeting of greater importance and Cork’s team selection here placed a huge emphasis on raw youth, but this was still a clear statement of intent issued by Limerick.

The first half was an expression of utter dominance by the All-Ireland champions. They looked every inch the more experienced and sharper side while their hunger was visible after not winning any of their opening three league ties.

That motivation helped propel them ahead 0-20 to 1-7 by the interval after they were in front 0-11 to 1-3 at the first water break. Another degree of ruthlessness and that advantage could have been greater as Limerick recorded 11 wides in the first half.

Cian Lynch was the conductor of the show for Limerick, in irrepressible form as the hub of their attack. He started at centre-forward, fired over three points from play and floated around to devastating effect as he sprayed passes to set up points for colleagues.

Cork’s Conor Cahalane and Limerick’s William O’Donoghue.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Cork endured a dreadful first-half. They struggled desperately on their own puckouts,  whether they went short or long, Limerick swallowed them up. Their best move of the period did yield a goal in the 12th minute, Conor Cahalane hammering a shot off the bar and Jack O’Connor whipping home the rebound.

That was the first of two goals for O’Connor as he acclerated clear for a fine individual effort in the 54th minute, just prior to the second-half water break.

The second half was a marked improvement in Cork’s form. Patrick Horgan and Luke Meade came off the bench to make an impact while they carved open the Limerick rearguard for a series of goal chances. Limerick’s defence produced a few brave late blocks, man-of-the-match Diarmaid Byrnes impressing in that regard.

Limerick finished with 12 different scorers, teenagers Colin Coughlan and Cathal O’Neill both landing a brace of points. Cork did limit the damage in the second half on the scoreboard, winning that spell by 1-12 to 0-13.

But the game provided plenty food for thought for the next four weeks, as to how they will manage to close the gap to a Limerick team that turned on the style.

Scorers for Limerick: Aaron Gillane 0-10 (0-9f), Tom Morrissey 0-4, Cian Lynch 0-4, Diarmaid Byrnes 0-3 (0-1f, 0-1 ’65), Colin Coughlan 0-2, Peter Casey 0-2, Pat Ryan 0-2, Cathal O’Neill 0-2, Adrian Breen 0-1, William O’Donoghue 0-1, Darragh O’Donovan 0-1, Barry Nash 0-1.

Scorers for Cork: Patrick Horgan 0-9 (0-6f,  0-2 ’65), Jack O’Connor 2-1, Shane Kingston 0-2, Declan Dalton 0-2 (0-2f), Mark Coleman 0-2 (0-2f), Conor Cahalane 0-1, Damien Cahalane 0-1, Robbie O’Flynn 0-1.

Limerick

1. Barry Hennessy (Kilmallock)

2. Richie English (Doon), 3. Sean Finn (Bruff), 4. Barry Nash (South Liberties).

5. Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell), 6. Declan Hannon (Adare – captain), 7. Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown).

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

14. Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell), 11. Cian Lynch (Patrickswell), 10. Tom Morrissey (Ahane).

15. Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh), 17. Conor Boylan (Na Piarsaigh), 13. Pat Ryan (Doon).  

Subs

18. Jerome Boylan (Na Piarsaigh) for Finn (inj) (48)

25. Cathal O’Neill (Crecora-Manister) for Conor Boylan (55)

19. Adrian Breen (Na Piarsaigh) for Casey (59)

23. Darren O’Connell  (Kildimo-Pallaskenry) for Ryan (59)

21. Robbie Hanley (Kilmallock) for O’Donovan (65)

20. Ronan Connolly (Adare) for Hannon (66)

26. Graeme Mulcahy (Kilmallock) for Gillane (66)

Cork

1. Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig)

2. Sean O’Leary-Hayes (Midleton), 3. Damien Cahalane (St Finbarr’s), 4. Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons).

5. Ger Millerick (Fr O’Neills), 6. Mark Coleman (Blarney – captain), 7. Robert Downey (Glen Rovers).

8. Billy Hennessy (St Finbarr’s), 9. Daire Connery (Na Piarsaigh).

10. Conor Cahalane (St Finbarr’s), 11. Shane Kingston (Douglas), 12. Robbie O’Flynn (Erins Own).

24. Tadgh Deasy (Blackrock), 14. Declan Dalton (Fr O’Neills), 15. Jack O’Connor (Sarsfields).

Subs

18. Niall Cashman (Blackrock) for Downey (half-time)

21. Luke Meade (Newcestown) for Connery (half-time)

26. Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers) for Dalton (half-time)

23. Shane Barrett (Blarney) for O’Flynn (48)

22. Sean Twomey (Courcey Rovers) for Deasy (57)

25. Alan Connolly (Blackrock) for Kingston (67)

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17. Cormac O’Brien (Newtownshandrum) for Conor Cahalane (70)

Referee: Alan Kelly (Galway)

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A WEEK AFTER TJ Reid shot 1-18 for Kilkenny, Tony Kelly clipped over 20 points on his return to the Clare team in yesterday’s win over Dublin. 

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It handed the Banner their second straight league win and gives them some momentum as the league nears its conclusion.

Perhaps Clare are not in the dire straights many thought. The put up 2-27 and 0-34 in away wins over Laois and Dublin respectively, following a game they dominated for long spells against Wexford before a second-half red card cost them dearly. 

Kelly was in imperious form. He scored 16 placed balls and four from play. Of his tally, 0-8 arrived in the first-half, 0-12 in the second and he missed just three of his 23 shots at the posts all afternoon. 

“What did TJ Reid get, 1-18 last week?” asked Clare boss Brian Lohan. “Each team has quality players that are well able to take the responsibility of scoring. We’re lucky enough that we have Tony”

Clare’s star man missed the win over Laois with a dead leg, but was back to his very best in Parnell Park.

It was an exceptional display from Kelly, who put over a handful of frees from inside his own half during the 70 minutes – including one from the Clare 45.

WATCH:

'That a boy Kelly!'

Dublin 2-16
Clare 0-27

Tony Kelly with another masterclass point from distance!

Live on eir sport 1!#AllianzLeagues #DUBvCLA pic.twitter.com/xM4wEFTYfO

— eir Sport (@eirSport) June 5, 2021

Mattie Kenny was unhappy with some of the frees awarded to the visitors, but felt the Dublin players didn’t help themselves with some of their tackling.

“I felt as the game was going on that we were giving away too many frees,” he said. “Tony Kelly was scoring from all sides so that’s something we’ve got to look at. Clare played really well tonight but our lads played really well also.

“I thought some of the frees were maybe of the bit softish nature. It’s something we’ve got to look at, that we’re a little bit more disciplined in the tackle.”

It follows the trend of big scoring tallies from free-takers, with Reid, Patrick Horgan, Jason Forde, Evan Niland and others responsible for the majority of their team’s scores.

The debate will continue on whether the sliotar should be made heavier, with hurlers now better conditioned and shooting off hurleys with a far bigger bas and shorter in length, which allows for a better strike. 

Then there’s the debate over refereeing, the advantage rule, tackling with the spare hand and whether the physicality is being whistled out of the game. 

But whatever about hurling’s ills, Kelly’s masterclass of shooting was glorious to watch.

The 2013 Hurler of the Year, who was nominated for the top prize again last year, played at centre-forward and his fingerprints were over most of Clare’s good play. 

Any suggestions that Clare needed to add goals were rendered null and void by Kelly’s exceptional display of marksmanhip.

But aside from his frees, there were two scores from play in particular that summed up his class. 

Early in the second-half, after a poor Paddy Smyth sideline cut in the corner, Kelly came away from a ruck involving three Dublin players with the ball in his hand. It was a ball he had no right to win.

He engineered enough space to have a pop at the posts from the sideline and sent over a sensational score. 

(Click here if the clip above doesn’t play)

Shortly before the second water break, Kelly stood over a free on the opposite side of the field. Dublin expected the talisman to have a strike at the posts, but thinking on his feet, he spotted Aidan McCarthy unmarked nearby and played it short.

Kelly received the return on the run and fired over on the run from much closer to goal. 

(Click here if the clip above doesn’t play)

Those two points summed up his work-rate, intelligence and fitness levels. He’s far from just a free-taker and makes this side tick from the middle third.

“The league this is year is kinda different, it’s more of a ramp up for championship,” Kelly told eir Sport after the game. “We probably didn’t get off to the greatest start in the league above in Antrim or, I suppose, against Wexford as well. 

“But we’re pretty satisfied with our performance especially in the second-half. It was very good. We made a few mistakes in the first-half but the second-half it was very good.

“We’re just [happy with] the application all over the field. It’s a tough place to come, Parnell Park. We’re delighted with the game we knew we’d get, we did get and we’re looking forward to another good game next week which is a good lean-in into championship.”

They’ll conclude their league campaign against Kilkenny next week in Ennis, with the Munster quarter-final date with Waterford arriving two weeks later.

“You’re under pressure to win every game that you play,” remarked Lohan.

“While we’re happy enough to get the victory here, we’ve got a good test coming next Saturday in Cusack Park. Kilkenny are the benchmark. Leinster champions and such a good. It will be another great test for our lads.”

A league campaign that started with controversy and turbulence, now sees Clare finding some form and confidence at the right time. 

Lohan was happy to draw a line under the Covid episode that transpired after the Wexford game last month. 

“From our perspective, we had two guys identified as close contacts, both of them tested negative the first time. They served their 10 days isolation, they were tested a second time and tested negative as well.

“So they’re back in the squad and back working hard.”

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