Month: September 2021

WHEN TADHG DE Burca felt a pop in his knee 20 minutes into last December’s All-Ireland hurling final, he instantly knew he’d torn his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) again.

De Burca was familiar with the popping sensation, having suffered the dreaded injury in the same knee while playing for his club Clashmore-Kinsalebeg in September 2019.

Had it not been for Covid, the centre-back might have missed Waterford’s 2020 season but the delayed championship gave him enough time to recover. He battled back from the initial cruciate injury to lead the county to their first All-Ireland final appearance since 2017, when disaster struck again.

“I knew straight away it was the cruciate again, I heard the pop,” he says. “I was weak after it.”

Sitting in the Hogan Stand among the Deise substitutes with almost three quarters of the final still to play, he tried to focus on the game.

But it was hard to stop his mind wandering to the lengthy rehabilitation process that lay ahead, having only just recovered from the injury that keeps most athletes out for around nine months.

“There weren’t great thoughts going through the head, knowing you are going through that nine month process again, even longer. A lot of rehab to be done and hard work. The first thoughts weren’t great.

“We weren’t going too well in the match either. Limerick were always those few points ahead in the game. That made it worse again.

“An All-Ireland final is one of the biggest days of your career. At the back of your mind, you are thinking you’re after doing your cruciate and you have a long few months ahead.”

The first time his cruciate was repaired they took a graft from his patella tendon. The second operation saw the surgeon take a hamstring graft to reattach the ligament in his knee, meaning his rehab is slightly different this time around.

“After the first cruciate I was back running after three and a half months,” he recalls, “this time around it’s five months because you need time for the hamstring to heal. A lot more emphasis on the hamstring this time and trying to build that up and get it stronger again.”

Over five months post-surgery, de Burca resumed some straight-line jogging last week.

He’s fully focused on making his return in the Waterford intermediate club championship later this year with Clashmore-Kinsalebeg.

“Sometimes you are fine with the rehab, some days you question the knee; is it where it is supposed to be? Sometimes the mental challenge can be difficult enough, but this year is different to the last time in 2019 where I was trying to rush back for inter-county.

Tadhg de Burca pictured at Croke Park at the launch of PwC’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of the All-Stars. Ireland’s most prestigious sports awards were first presented in 1971.

Source: Sam Barnes/SPORTSFILE

“This year, that kind of pressure is off. I know I won’t make inter-county, I’ll just try to be getting back for the club in maybe September, October. The pressure to get back isn’t as much as it was the last time around.

“I have taken a break from [being involved with Waterford] this year, just focusing on myself, trying to get the knee back right.”

He’ll be a frustrated spectator as Waterford begin their Munster campaign against Clare at the end of the month.

“Obviously you want to be part of the panel but I wouldn’t begrudge anyone [success]. Hopefully they do their best this year and I’ll be shouting for them.  

“I’ll be taking a backseat really but I’ll watch the matches alright and be cheering the lads on. I won’t be getting too involved with it, I’ll be trying to focus on myself and get myself back right again, get right for the club.

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“I’ll definitely watch the matches and I’ll have a strong interest in how championship goes first of all and obviously how Waterford get on too.”

De Burca believes there’s every chance that champions Limerick will be taken out this year, with a number of contenders capable of beating them on their day.

“Obviously Limerick are a serious team, it does look like they’re to the fore this year but I still think Galway are a serious opposition for them. Galway have that physicality to match them that way if they get their scores on the board I wouldn’t be surprised if Galway beat them this year.

“Also you’ve Waterford weren’t bad, Kilkenny have never gone away, they’ll be a serious opposition to anyone this year, Wexford, and like I said it’s very hard to know with the league this year how any team is going to go in the championship.

“But I wouldn’t be saying Limerick are clear-cut favourites. There will definitely be teams that put it up to them, maybe even beat them.”

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PAUL MANNION HAS opened up about his decision to step away from the Dublin panel, while not ruling out a return at some stage down the line.

The Kilmacud Crokes forward departed Dessie Farrell’s squad ahead of the 2021 season, informing the manager of his plans shortly before the new campaign.

The six-time All-Ireland winner, who missed the 2015 season to spend time in China and Chicago, said the time commitment involved was the primary reason for this departure. 

“It’s just the day-to-day and week-to-week commitment that you have to give to be at your best when you’re in that time,” he said.

“It’s not just training hours, it’s travel time, prep time, meeting time, making sure you get home to get your sleep in, eating the right food, recovering properly. Doing your homework, reviewing the opposition or your own matches, it is a huge commitment when you add all that up.

“It just got to the point over the last year or so that I was struggling to hold myself to the standards that I had in the time gone by. I found myself keen to spend time on different things.

“I spent a few weeks this year thinking of it, and bouncing it off a couple of people. Then when it came to the point that they were going to be planning for the 2021 season, I had to make a call on it.”

When Covid-19 forced a lengthy stoppage of the inter-county season in 2020, Mannion found the free-time available refreshing.

“Suddenly, when football stops and you don’t have to go to training and matches, you realise that wow, how much spare time you actually do have.

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“Then when you try different things, you get thinking, what if there wasn’t football, what could I do then. You get a flavour for life outside and that may have fed into the thought process. 

Paul Mannion in attendance at the launch of PwC’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of the All-Stars at Croke Park.

Source: Sam Barnes/SPORTSFILE

“It’s just about not needing to be checking your schedule two or three weeks in advance to can you commit to something. To be able to decide on the day if you want to have drink, go out somewhere tomorrow. It’s the freedom to pick and choose what you want to do at anytime. 

“I still have a commitment with Crokes, and stuff like that as well. It’s just a little less pressure in terms of the time commitment. A bit of soccer, a bit of golf, I’m hacking away at a guitar as well, trying to learn that. 

“It’s work as well. I started a new role in work [with Google Cloud] a couple of months ago. I was flat out busy with that. That’s been going really well. I’m able to spend a bit more time on that as well.”

The 28-year-old kicked a point off the bench in last December’s All-Ireland final win over Mayo. He says the enjoyment factor never left him despite spending the 2020 championship as a substitute, nor was his motivation dulled by all the success. 

“I’d have loved to have stayed on and won more because I do think there is so much potential in that dressing room. When we won last December, that honestly felt like we’d won for the first time, it was that good.

“The motivation to win more and be part of the team was there, it was really just pure and simply the day-to-day commitment in terms of the amount of hours you have to put in, that was the main reason.”

Mannion, who stormed onto the scene as a teenager during Jim Gavin’s first season in charge in 2013, found informing manager Farrell and his team-mates particularly tough. 

“It was a difficult conversation with everyone that I spoke to about it, because people are so invested in you. They’re my team-mates, friends, management. Dessie brought me into Gaelic football really at minor, and it was a particularly tough decision to make with him as manager because I feel like I do owe him so much and I’m so grateful for the opportunity he gave me.  

“It was a challenging conversation to have with everyone, but also at the same time, as with everyone else on the team, he was fully respectful and understanding of my decision once I’d talked through about my headspace and where I was at. I’ve had good chats with him since, caught up, nothing to do with football.  

“Some were surprised,” he says of the Dublin players. “Most were totally understanding. They are all my best friends. I’ve been playing with them for so long, and they know me. They were fully supportive.

Brian Howard and Paul Mannion celebrate after Dublin’s latest All-Ireland triumph.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

“There was no one that was begrudging in any way whatsoever. They were all fully understanding. It was emotional. Telling the players themselves was probably the most difficult. They are the people you soldier with for years and years. To step away from that is pretty sad.

“I just count myself so lucky that I’ve had so many good years, and I’ve made so many great friends and memories. First and foremost, that’s what’s in my head.”

Asked if he could see himself returning to line out with the Sky Blues in the future, Mannion replied: 

“I haven’t thought about that at all really. This time last year I wasn’t thinking that I wasn’t going to be involved this year. I generally just take one year at a time and see how I feel at any given time.

“If what I’m doing is making me happy and I’m enjoying it, I’m happy to go again for another year and I will. That’s it, I try not to think or plan too far ahead, because when I do plan too far ahead, it generally doesn’t work out that way.

“I’ll just take it one year at a time and who knows, if in a few years I’m fit and healthy and I’d like to give it a go, but it’s not something I’ve really thought about to be honest.”

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THE GAA HAS announced that 2,400 spectators will be permitted to attend the Allianz Football League Division 3 final between Derry and Offaly at Croke Park on Saturday [throw-in, 5pm].

A statement released by the association this evening confirms that the league decider has been designated an official pilot fixture for the return of spectators.  

The GAA announced on Monday that a Division 3 final would take place this weekend after it was initially expected that the title would be shared between the counties on account of the condensed GAA fixture calendar. 

The Faithful County get their Leinster championship campaign underway against Louth on 19 June, leaving this coming weekend as their only rest week ahead of the championship. Derry are not in Ulster championship action until 11 July.

“We are asking all of those who hope to attend to be mindful of restrictions that will be in place and to co-operate with stewards at all times while in the stadium,” a statement from the GAA reads.  

“Social distancing will be in operation and patrons will be required to wear masks for the duration of their visit.  

“We are also reminding supporters of the ongoing pandemic restrictions which still apply relating to pre and post-match gatherings and in planning journeys to and from the stadium.  

“The GAA looks forward to welcoming spectators back to our fixtures in the weeks and months ahead and is working hard to ensure the safety of those who will be present at all of our venues.”

Tickets for the Division 3 final are available here.

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MORE IRISH PLAYERS have earned new Australian Football League Women’s [AFLW] contracts as the focus switches to next season.

Mayo and Cavan stars Sarah Rowe and Aishling Sheridan have committed their immediate future to Collingwood, putting pen to paper in recent days.

Yesterday, Rowe was one of six players to have a new deal announced, signing on until 2023. The 25-year-old recently completed her third AFLW campaign, playing seven goals across an injury-hampered season, while kicking one goal.

Having undergone shoulder surgery as the curtain came down on the 2021 season, Rowe stayed on in Australia to rehabilitate, missing the Green and Red’s league campaign. The Kilmoremoy forward returned to home soil in recent days, though, so the race is now on for her championship involvement.

Her immediate focus will be on Gaelic games matters, though her new two-year deal will see her head back Down Under afterwards to continue to “live the best of both worlds,” as she so often says.

Sheridan’s status of being on a two-year deal was also confirmed this morning, as she officially penned a contract extension until 2023.

The Mullahoran ace lit up the AFLW last season, enjoying a stunning individual campaign with goals almost every week as she established herself as one of the Pies’ main forwards in her second year at the club.

24-year-old Sheridan has been back in Ireland for some time now, returning to inter-county duty with Cavan through their Division 2 league campaign, as they now prepare for an Ulster championship meeting with Donegal.

Elsewhere, Rowe’s Mayo countywoman Aileen Gilroy has re-signed for North Melbourne.

Gilroy in action for North Melbourne.

Source: AAP/PA Images

One of 24 players retained from the Kangaroos 30-strong 2021 AFLW list, Gilroy sparkled once again in her second season and has subsequently been rewarded with a longer stay.

The 28-year-old has excelled in Australia of late and has been touted as “one of the most exciting Irish talents” over there, though has opted out of the Mayo ladies football set-up for 2021. 

A former underage soccer international with Ireland, the Killala native missed most of the 2019 ladies football season with a devastating cruciate injury, before announcing her comeback with a stellar debut season Down Under.

She returned to line out in the Green and Red’s midfield last autumn, but has decided against it this time around.

“Aileen’s not one to half-arse anything,” as manager Michael Moyles recently said. “The last year or two, she’s struggled with it so she needs to take a year to get things around her. And that’s fine, no problem.”

• Tipp’s Premiership champion O’Dwyer among Irish stars returning to AFLW next season 

Tipperary’s Premiership champion Orla O’Dwyer, Melbourne’s Dublin duo Sinéad Goldrick and Lauren Magee, and Adelaide Crows’ Ailish Considine have all had their respective returns for the 2021/22 season confirmed in recent days, with further announcements expected.

The42 understands that several other Irish players — 14 were involved in the 2021 season — are on two-year contracts, and will return for another campaign. 

The league is set to expand over the coming seasons, with the 2022 edition — season six –  due to begin in December 2021 and the Grand Final to be held in mid-March, before the men’s season begins. The competition will increase from nine rounds to 10, plus three weeks of finals.

Over the past few years, the AFLW campaign opened in late January and ran until mid-April, allowing for the Irish contingent — much of whom play inter-county ladies football — to return to these shores for the tail end of the league and for the entire TG4 All-Ireland championship.

Covid-hit 2020 aside, they normally travelled Down Under in October/November for pre-season, so it’s expected that will be earlier this coming autumn, throwing up the potential of code clashes.

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IN-FORM DUBLIN FORWARD Hannah Tyrrell has scooped The Croke Park/LGFA Player of the Month award for May.

Tyrrell has enjoyed a sensational return to inter-county football over the past few weeks, establishing herself as a key figure for the Sky Blues after recently bringing the curtain down on a glittering Irish international rugby career.

With 3-22 to her name from four games, Irish rugby’s loss certainly has been Dublin football’s gain with the former international star taking to her Gaelic football roots once again like a duck to water.

The 30-year-old marked her comeback with 1-5 against Waterford at Parnell Park on 23 May, before clocking a hefty tally of 2-7 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh as Dublin beat Cork six days later.

Adding another dynamic to the All-Ireland champions’ already lethal attack, Tyrrell chipped in with three pointed frees against Tipperary in June, before she hit 0-7 (4f) in the Division 1 semi-final win over Mayo last weekend.

• Irish rugby’s loss is Dublin football’s gain as ‘fine athlete’ Tyrrell lights up the league

Next up is the top-flight final against Cork at Croke Park on Saturday, 26 June, as Dublin look to win just a second-ever Division 1 crown, and Tyrrell looks to continue her electric form on the biggest stage.

She is back in the Sky Blue fold for the first time since 2014, her international Sevens and 15s rugby career coming in the interim.

Now playing her club football with Na Fianna, having previously won an intermediate county championship with her native Round Towers, Clondalkin, Tyrrell is an All-Ireland U16 winning goalkeeper, and the holder of All-Ireland minor and Senior B titles.

Tyrrell was also nominated for the first-ever PwC GPA Women’s Player of the Month in football award, though that was won by Cork stalwart Ciara O’Sullivan.

*BREAKING*@dublinladiesg's @HannahTyrrell21 is the @crokeparkhotel | LGFA Player of the Month for May

Hannah scored 3-12 in two games against Waterford and Tipperary in May @clgNaFianna @LeinsterLGFA https://t.co/LtcGDGg4Zl

— Ladies Football (@LadiesFootball) June 16, 2021

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KILKENNY’S MIRIAM WALSH and Galway goalkeeper Sarah Healy say they can understand the logic behind setting their Division 1 camogie final for a 7.30pm throw-in on Sunday at Croke Park.

Source: David Fitzgerald/SPORTSFILE

Cats manager Brian Dowling told the Irish Examiner that he felt the evening start for the game was a “very strange” decision while the Camogie Association say the call was influenced by RTÉ’s television schedule.

The national broadcaster is also covering the Uefa European Football Championship at the moment, although there is only one live game on the station that day at 5pm.

However, Kilkenny All-Star Walsh believes the late billing will draw a bigger TV audience for what will be a repeat of last year’s All-Ireland final.

“It’s mad really half seven but I actually think, it’s good that it’s at half seven.

“Like I think we’d have more tuning in at that time you know, rather than if you think about it, the two o’clock to three o’clock throw in you know, people are going to be going off places and they mightn’t tune in, but I think half seven is a good time for people to tune in. And all of you see me as a player.

“I don’t really mind what time it’s at I’m just really looking forward to the match.”

When asked if the unorthodox throw-in time caused any disruptions in the squad in relation to work commitments, Walsh replied:

“I have to say now, no. It was like the majority of the team, most of them are teachers. So no, everyone’s kind of quite flexible in that sense. Camogie kind of comes first, so no, we’re just really looking forward to it and the time doesn’t really matter to us no.”

Galway shot-stopper Healy echoes Walsh’s feelings on the matter, and the importance of television exposure for camogie.

But she also points out that it will be a tiring day for both squads.

“It is a long day before it,” she begins. “We have had experience, the All-Ireland final last year was a late throw-in. We would be able to adapt.

“As long as you know what you’re doing for the day, and you have it planned out, I think we’d be able to cope with it.

“It’s great to have the final being on TV. That’s only going to better camogie as a whole. You have supporters now back in. People flicking through the channels, if they stop and watch one camogie game, they might come back and watch another one. Then they might go to the matches.”

The league final will also have spectators at Croke Park, as it has been selected as a test event for the return of crowds to live sports events. This means that 3,000 fans will be permitted to attend the game at GAA headquarters.

It will be different experience for both sets of players after battling out last year’s All-Ireland showpiece behind closed doors where Kilkenny prevailed by three points.

Source: Sam Barnes/SPORTSFILE

“Sure our families,” says Walsh, “were all watching the all Ireland from the sitting room, you know, so it’s, it’s so its so good that our spectators are coming back to Croke Park.

“Even for the little girls, the younger generation, you know, I’m sure some of them might go up and it’s just great to, you know, it might add to the atmosphere too, you know.”

Healy adds:

“Even as players, it’s great to hear the cheers, and just the atmosphere around it. It makes a lot of difference to us playing on the pitch. It’s good for everybody, I think.”

Littlewoods Ireland is proud to support both Camogie and Hurling for a 5^th year running. The Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League final is live on RTE this Sunday the 20 June at 7.30pm while the Division 2, 3 and 4 finals will be streamed live on LWI_GAA Twitter.

The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship begins Saturday 26 June #StyleOfPlay.

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Updated Jun 16th 2021, 5:03 PM

MAYO’S PREPARATION FOR the 2021 championship have been dealt a major blow with the news that star forward Cillian O’Connor is to undergo a procedure this week on an Achilles tendon injury.

O’Connor suffered the injury in last Sunday’s Division 2 promotion play-off against Clare in Ennis.

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The length of his layoff from action has not been specified in the statement released by Mayo GAA this afternoon.

But with Mayo in championship action in ten days time against Sligo when they head to Markievicz Park for their Connacht quarter-final on 26 June, the timing of the injury is a setback for the player and the Mayo squad.

Cillian O’Connor in action for Mayo against Clare’s Ciaran Russell.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

O’Connor made his 100th appearance for the Mayo senior side in last Sunday’s game, scoring 1-4 before he was forced off. A two-time All-Star winning forward, the Ballintubber man made his senior championship debut for the county in 2011.

He has become a hugely important figure in the Mayo side, particularly with several experienced colleagues having retired over the last couple of seasons.

The full Mayo statement in relation to his injury reads:

“Following last Sunday’s NFL game versus Clare GAA all injured players received further assessment with the Mayo medical team.

“Cillian O’Connor sustained an Achilles Tendon injury that will require a procedure this week.

“We wish him well and look forward to seeing him on the playing field again as soon as possible.”

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GALWAY DEFENDER SHANE Cooney says high-scoring games in hurling are good for the sport and for the entertainment of the fans.

Galway’s Shane Cooney.

Source: David Fitzgerald/SPORTSFILE

The game has come in for scrutiny in recent weeks. Various aspects of the sport have been criticised, including the high scoring tallies in matches, the weight of the sliotar, and the emergence of defensive playing styles.

Cooney’s team-mate, and 2017 Hurler of the Year, Joe Canning dismissed the commentary around the game this week and suggested that “people seem to give out about things a bit more lately than they ever did”.

Cooney agrees with the Portumna forward and believes the high volume of scores serves to improve the game as a spectacle.

“Every sport is going to evolve over the course of many years. Back years ago, you look at the Cork team from maybe ’04, ’05, you could say that running game at the time was a shock, but like that, the game keeps evolving.

“It just happens with time. You’ve a lot of very smart people in background teams working a lot of hours and [putting] a lot of resources into it so they’re always going to analyse what they need to do to solve the problem that’s in front of them.

“Overall, I think it’s great to see the higher scoring games, not necessarily from a backs’ point of view but from an entertainment perspective, I think it certainly benefits the game.”

The Tribesmen were crowned Division 1A champions on Sunday but will not progress to a league final to determine an outright winner in the top tier.

Galway rallied from six points down at half-time against Cork to win by a margin of five in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

That comeback result rounds off an encouraging run of games for Shane O’Neill’s side after previously picking up wins against Westmeath, Limerick, and Waterford.

Kilkenny prevailed in Division 1B and if the sides meet during the championship campaign, then that meeting will double up as a league decider.

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But changes to the league format on account of the condensed fixture calendar mean the league competition cannot be concluded the traditional way.

“The league is great,” says Cooney.

“It’s fantastic with the value it adds in terms of getting the opportunity to play at the level. I’d imagine that feeds across to the camogie side of things too where they’re getting massive value in terms of trying new players out as well. In terms of promotion as well – the league still does get a massive amount of focus.

“I think we’re lucky having the likes of Littlewoods who are willing to support the games. They’ve been doing it for over five years now, making sure that both games do get equal promotion whether that’s in the league or across championship as well.

“It’s disappointing that you don’t get to play a league final. I think we still have to drive on and focus on what’s in front of us and look onwards to championship.”

Galway will begin their Leinster SHC in July with a qualifier system returning again for the All-Ireland championship. 

Cooney is becoming a more regular face in the Galway starting line-up, although he missed out on selection against Cork after previously sustaining a knock to his thumb against Waterford.

The St Thomas’ man reports that the injury is not “as bad as initially thought” as the championship approaches.

“There’s a lot of competition for places which is great,” he says. “It’s what you want from a team point of view. All I can do is keep pushing myself as much as I can. I picked up one or two niggly injuries along the way which does kind of impact on momentum a little but you can’t let them interfere with pushing the overall team.”

Littlewoods Ireland is proud to support both Camogie and Hurling for a 5th year running. The Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League final is live on RTE this Sunday the 20th June at 7.30pm while the Division 2, 3 and 4 finals will be streamed live on LWI_GAA Twitter.

The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship begins Saturday 26th of June #StyleOfPlay.

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WEDNESDAY’S NEWS THAT Cillian O’Connor will undergo surgery to repair his Achilles tendon dealt a hammer blow to Mayo’s All-Ireland hopes.

The Ballintubber star posted 1-4 before he was forced off against Clare last weekend and although the exact nature of the injury has not been made public, it’s highly unlikely he’ll play any part in the remainder of the 2021 season.

Speaking on this week’s episode of The42 GAA Weekly, Kerry legend Marc Ó Sé said Dublin are the only side who could handle an injury to such a key player.

“For me, Dublin are the only team in the country that can deal with injuries,” he said.

“If you take Jack McCaffrey, he went last year and Robbie McDaid comes in – he had an unbelievable year. [Stephen] Cluxton is out at the moment, it’s no big deal, Evan Comerford is doing the job.

“You see Dean Rock out, that’s okay Cormac Costello can come in and he can be top scorer. So they can afford to lose players of that calibre and still replace them.

“For Mayo, unfortunately if Cillian O”Connor is not available to them, I can’t see how they’re going to replace a player of that calibre. Every other county in Ireland with the exception of Dublin is in the exact same bracket.”

Ó Sé says O’Connor offers far more than just his contribution to the scoreboard.

“In terms of the work-rate he does, even off the ball. I remember games playing against him and you’d never bring the ball into contact with him. He’s so strong, he’ll rip that ball off you. He reminds me of the likes of Johnny Crowley with Kerry back in the day. He just had the physicality, that’s huge.

“Just at the time where their players are coming back, the likes of Aidan O’Shea and Colm Boyle coming back from a serious injury last year, and to be fair young Tommy Conroy has stepped up. James Horan has invested in youth, he’s given youth a chance.

“But when you have fellas coming into a team, you need to have those seasoned, experienced campaigners to bring them along. Cillian O’Connor, if he’s gone for Mayo, you have to say their chances of getting to the latter stages of the championship have taken a huge it.”

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