Month: September 2021

LEITRIM STAR ÁINE Tighe has penned a new Australian Football League Women’s [AFLW] deal with Fremantle Dockers.

After two injury-ravaged seasons at the Perth outfit, it’s a massive show of faith in Tighe, who will look to finally make her AFLW debut in the upcoming season. 

The Kiltubrid forward has endured a torrid run of serious injuries over the past few years, back-to-back knee setbacks sustained in pre-season ruling her out of the 2020 and 2021 seasons respectively.

Tighe has now signed on for another campaign alongside Maggie MacLachlan and Ann McMahon, the latter also dealing with serious injuries through her two seasons at the club.

“Ann and Aine are very similar stories in that they have both had significant yet different injuries and haven’t been able to play over their two years at the Club,” head coach Trent Cooper said.

“Both of them have been absolutely exemplary with their work ethic and their abilities to overcome those injuries. We are hoping to see them both out on the park in season six of the AFLW.”

“Aine is recovering really well from her knee problems and we’re hoping to see her out on the track ready to go for night one of pre-season,” he added, with those collective preparations commencing in September.

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It’s been a cruel run of injuries for Tighe, whose most recent setback was a significant medial meniscal tear in her left knee sustained in January, leaving her “unlikely” to play in the 2021 season. She didn’t feature for the second year in-a-row, having ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament [ACL] on the same knee in Freo’s final pre-season fixture in January 2020.

“Resilient and dedicated” as she’s been described by her club so many times, she has stayed in Australia to rehabilitate throughout, having long been tipped to star in the AFLW and lead her side’s ruck division.

Tighe at the CrossCoders trial.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

Tighe’s torrid injury luck has been constant since 2018, when she tore her ACL for the first time. She underwent surgery that June and had made a full recovery by the following May, where she impressed at a CrossCoders training camp and signed for Fremantle alongside Louth’s Kate Flood.

“We have a great bunch of girls here, so fingers crossed I can keep building ahead of a big season,” Tighe, a massive player for Leitrim through the years, said after signing her new deal.

“The off-season is where the hard work gets put in. I’ll keep getting the work done to give myself the best chance to be on the track.”

One of 14 Irish players who were on the books of AFLW clubs for the 2021 season, the majority have re-committed for 2021/22, which is due to kick off earlier this year, in December.

Irish AFLW players officially re-signed for 2021/22

• Cora Staunton (GWS Giants / Mayo)
• Brid Stack (GWS Giants / Cork)
• Sarah Rowe (Collingwood / Mayo)
• Aishling Sheridan (Collingwood / Cavan)
• Lauren Magee (Melbourne FC / Dublin)
• Sinéad Goldrick (Melbourne FC / Dublin)
• Áine Tighe (Fremantle / Leitrim)
• Aileen Gilroy (North Melbourne / Mayo)
• Ailish Considine (Adelaide Crows / Clare)
• Orla O’Dwyer (Brisbane Lions / Tipperary)

An official announcement is yet to come from West Coast Eagles, but The42 understands its Irish trio will go again.

• Aisling McCarthy (West Coast Eagles / Tipperary)
• Niamh Kelly (West Coast Eagles / Mayo)
• Grace Kelly (West Coast Eagles / Mayo).

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Mo Nerney proved to be a lucky mascot for Laois in 2001 when they put the heartbreak of seven All-Ireland final defeats behind them to win the championship for the first time when they defeated Mayo.

Source: SPORTSFILE

TWENTY YEARS AFTER she proved a lucky mascot for Laois in the TG4 All-Ireland Senior final, Mo Nerney is again to the forefront as the O’Moore County bid for a national crown — only this time she is one of the key players.

Countless small children grow up all across Ireland dreaming of the same thing – to emulate their local inter-county stars. Whether it’s Joe Canning, Denise Gaule, David Clifford or Aimee Macken, every child has their own hero that they imagine togging out alongside for a big game at Croke Park.

In some cases, however, the connection goes even deeper than that – and that’s certainly the case for Mo Nerney, who has become an increasingly significant player for Laois since making her debut in 2013.

Last weekend she was Player of the Match as they beat Roscommon by three points in a thrilling Lidl National Football League Division Three semi-final, and that’s become par for the course for the Timahoe player.

It was all the way back in 2001, when she was just seven years of age, that Mo made her first big stage appearance in a Laois jersey. She had the honour of togging out as mascot for their memorable 2-14 to 1-16 All-Ireland final victory over Mayo at Croke Park, a famously auspicious day for the O’Moore County. Having lost their previous seven final appearances, they finally got over the line, Mary Kirwan pointing a late free to confirm a landmark win.

“I still remember so much of it. I can remember driving up, stopping in the Red Cow with all the team where they had a fry up for breakfast, you’d certainly never do that now!” says Mo.

“Then the team went to a club ground to do their warm-up and got a Garda escort into the ground, I got to shake hands with President Mary McAleese, and you had the incredible scenes at the end when Mayo messed up a short kickout and Mary got that free to win it.

Seven-year old mascot Mo Nerney meets President Mary McAleese prior to the 2001 TG4 All-Ireland final between Laois and Mayo at Croke Park.

Source: SPORTSFILE

“We were in the dressing rooms on the Cusack Stand side of the ground and I went to give back my jersey as if I was playing, and everyone told me to keep it. Then there was the open top bus celebration in Portlaoise after, it was all incredible.”

Happy memories, a famous and historic win, it’s everything a child could dream of – but for Mo, it meant even more as it had been an incredibly tough year for their family.

“I was seven years old, the youngest of five in the family, and my Mam had died earlier that year. On a personal level, it was really tough and the Laois ladies became a second family to me. Lulu Carroll and Mary Ramsbottom were in our local club, they brought me to all the training and the matches. It felt like such a close group, and even as a child I felt part of it, and it’s a feeling I’ll always remember.

“From the age of three or four, I just wanted to play football, but from that year on I was determined that I was going to play for Laois one day and be part of that group.”

The idea of just borrowing a county jersey, of leaving the county set-up in a better place than you found it, is a very common one among inter-county players of all codes. Yet because of this hugely formative experience, there’s extra resonance to Nerney’s words when she talks about this idea.

“When Laois got relegated from senior in 2017, it was a huge blow to all of us. We all grew up watching Laois teams compete for senior All-Irelands, and the county, and us as a group, have slipped away from the level we need to be at. That’s part of the reason why this coming League final against Kildare is so important, because we need to be playing better teams and to compete at a higher level.

“I remember how I felt as a child, that the Laois ladies were one big family. Now we need to get to a stage where the U-14s and U-16s in the county are looking on and thinking ‘I want to be one of them’.”

Mo Nerney shoots against Kildare in the opening round of the Lidl NFL Division 3 at MW Hire O’Moore Park last month. The sides meet again in the Lidl NFL Division Three final next week.

Source: Piaras Ó Mídheach/SPORTSFILE

Moving up the ranks won’t be easy. Laois have beaten Kildare already this year, but there was a significant gap between the Lilywhites’ form in the group stages, where they scraped over the line against Longford and Wicklow and were well-beaten by Laois, and how they performed in the semi-final against Sligo, when they were hugely impressive against the previously unbeaten Yeats County.

“That looked a lot more like the Kildare team of 2020,” says Mo, who adds that being drawn in the same group as their Leinster rivals in the TG4 Championship won’t have any bearing on the league decider on Sunday week.

“There won’t be anyone keeping anything in reserve, or not showing their hand. If you want to win an intermediate championship and get back up to playing senior football, which we definitely do and I’m sure Kildare do too, getting up to Division Two is very important.

“Westmeath will probably start as favourites for the intermediate championship this year, so they’re the benchmark. Look at what they’re doing in the league. They played top teams in the group, then had a great win over Tipperary to avoid relegation.

“The standard of football at intermediate level has gone so high, it’s not easy to get up out of it but I do think we have the talent in Laois to do that.

“(Manager) Donie Brennan has put in place a really professional set-up with Maggie and John Murphy there as well, we’ve a strong panel with nearly 35 players that has seen a good few changes from last year, and then a game like the league semi-final against Roscommon would make you feel good about where we’re at as well.

Mo Nerney shoots home a goal against Kildare in the opening round of the Lidl NFL Division 3 at MW Hire O’Moore Park last month. The sides meet again in the Lidl NFL Division Three final next week.

Source: Piaras Ó Mídheach/SPORTSFILE

“Roscommon always bring a championship-like intensity to things, there were nine goals in the game and we came from seven points behind to win, so we’re definitely on a good track. It’ll take time of course, but I do think getting back to being competitive at senior level is realistic.”

It’s been an incredibly busy year for Mo, on all fronts. When collective training was still not allowed within Gaelic games, she joined up with Athlone Town to prepare for their campaign in the Women’s National League, while she also manages ‘Pretty Woman’ Boutique in Naas, which is owned by her sister.

“To be honest I’ve felt like a business owner, such has been the stress of it all!” she says. “It’s been so stop-start, particularly having such a narrow window before Christmas, but since re-opening on 17 May it’s been very encouraging, business has been a lot better.”

So, it’s not just on the field that things are looking up for Mo Nerney – but on both fronts, there are some really big days coming that have the potential to make it either disappointing or a really great year for the former All-Ireland winning mascot!

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DUBLIN CAPTAIN SINÉAD Aherne says the unique circumstances surrounding the league this year enabled her side to be “a bit more focused” for the competition.

While Mick Bohan’s four-in-a-row All-Ireland-winning side are a dominant force in Ladies football at the moment, their league form has certainly been mixed.

They won only their first Division 1 crown back in 2018 and failed to reach the final in 2019. They also finished in fourth place in the top-tier table in last year’s campaign which could not conclude with a final due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dublin are back in a Division 1 decider this weekend against Cork, and will go into the tie with an unbeaten run of results including a one-point win over their Munster rivals last month.

Cork are effectively the defending league champions as they were the winners of the competition in 2019.

“With the nature of the league this year, and being so close to championship and being a bit further on in terms of the small number of games, the ground and the conditions and all that, it’s probably set us up to be a bit more focused than we probably might have been in years gone by,” says Aherne, who is now in her 18th season with the Dubs.

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“It’s been a great experience and the games we’ve had so far have brought us on. To have a final now to prepare us for the championship is great and with a bit of silverware on the line it would be lovely to take that away.

Elaborating further on how the league in 2021 differs from other years, Aherne adds:

“League games, generally, you wouldn’t have a lot of our younger college players and conditions obviously are very different. So you’re kind of working with a smaller panel and you’ve more games so you’re trying more things, more players, getting a lot of new players in.

“We generally would have had a very big breakdown with the nature of the Leinster championship, maybe one game only is all we were playing so we knew we had a big chunk of time to prepare for the championship.

“It was just trying to peak at the right time and to find your form but obviously with a shorter season this year that’s very much a different prospect.”

Dublin will be without the services of some crucial players when they take to the field later this evening. Veteran defender Sinéad Goldrick is still nursing a hamstring injury which required surgery, while star forward Noelle Healy has retired from inter-county football.

Like the camogie final last weekend, this fixture will also be a pilot event to test the gradual return of fans with 4,000 spectators permitted to attend the game.

“I suppose last year was very different,” says Aherne, referring to the All-Ireland final which was played at an empty Croke Park.

“You didn’t have family there and I suppose even afterwards, like, the team didn’t even get a chance to lift the cup, we haven’t seen it since. It was very much a kind of, you know, nearly done very quickly.

“Then there was a huge break before any of us got back together. That was very strange, even last year when we walked into Croke Park there was nobody around the place. It would be nice to see a bit of life around it again and with the weather and the sunny conditions, it’ll bring a bit of atmosphere hopefully.”

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Mayo 3-23
Sligo 0-12

Colm Gannon reports from Markievicz Park

MAYO DIDN’T MISS Cillian O’Connor on the scoreboard in Markievicz Park on Saturday afternoon where they put Sligo to the sword in impressive style, Aidan O’Shea scoring 2-2 for last year’s All-Ireland finalists.

Aidan O’Shea scores Mayo’s second goal.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

They ended up running out 20 point winners and were more than full value for that margin as they controlled the game from pillar to post.

They had the game well and truly wrapped up by half time going in leading 3-13 to 0-8 at the turn around with O’Shea getting two and Knockmore’s Darren McHale marking his first championship start with the third goal.

McHale was impressive throughout the opening 35 minutes ending the half with 1-4 all from play including the first three points of the day for Mayo.

The gap in class between division four and a team who were in last years All Ireland final was well and truly on show, as Mayo took Sligo’s defence apart at their ease.

They moved it at lightning pace and when they needed to, they slowed the ball down and worked the angles to find the right spot to take a point.

Sligo’s early tactic of dropping the ball in long on top of Barry Gorman, one of five changes to the team named in the programme, failed to deliver the desired result and it was only for some fine scoring by Niall Murphy and Sean Carrabine, that they stayed somewhat in touch on the scoreboard.

Mayo’s Paddy Durcan and Sligo’s Evan Lyons.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Mayo lead 1-7 to 0-2 at the first water break, with O’Shea getting his first goal 12 minutes in – they tagged on 2-6 more before the half time break, with O’Shea getting his second goal from close range and McHale finding the net after a Tommy Conroy shot forced Eamon Kilgannon into a good save.

Both sides also hit the crossbar in the first half with Paddy Durcan rattling the Sligo one and Murphy rasping an effort off Rob Hennelly’s bar.

The second half played out a far slower pace than the first with Mayo tagging on five points before the second water break and Sligo two, with McHale adding to his tally from the first half and Ryan O’Donoghue getting some more practice in as Mayo’s new free taker kicking two to go with the brace he tapped over in the first half.

Mayo and Sligo players battle for possession.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Scorers for Mayo: Darren McHale (1-5), Aidan O’Shea (2-2), Ryan O’Donoghue (0-5,4f) Conor Loftus (0-2), Eoghan McLaughlin (0-2), Tommy Conroy (0-2), Jordan Flynn (0-1), Paddy Durcan (0-1), Fergal Boland (0-1), Stephen Coen (0-1), James Carr (0-1).

Scorers for Sligo: Niall Murphy (0-6, 1f), Sean Carrabine (0-2), Mikey Gordon (0-1) Patrick O’Connor (0-1), Keelan Cawley (0-1), Liam Gaughan (0-1)

Mayo

1. Rob Hennelly (Breaffy)

2. Enda Hession (Garrymore), 3. Oisín Mullin (Kilmaine), 4. Lee Keegan (Westport)

5. Michael Plunkett (Ballintubber), 6. Paddy Durcan (Castlebar Mitchels), 7. Eoghan McLaughlin (Westport)

8. Matthew Ruane (Breaffy), 9. Conor Loftus (Crossmolina Deel Rovers)

10. Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore), 11. Darren McHale (Knockmore), 22. Jordan Flynn (Crossmolina Deel Rovers)

13. Tommy Conroy (The Neale), 14. Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy), 15. Ryan O’Donoghue (Belmullet)

Subs

25. Fergal Boland (Aghamore) for Flynn

18. Padraig O’Hora (Ballina Stephenites) for Keegan

20. Stephen Coen (Hollymount-Carramore) for Durcan

24. Paul Towey (Charlestown) for O’Donoghue

26. James Carr (Ardagh) for McLoughlin

Sligo

1. Eamonn Kilgallon (Naomh Fearnan)

2. Ryan Feehily (St Mary’s), 3. Eddie McGuinness (Tubbercurry), 25. Karl McKeanna (Shamrock Gaels)

23. Nathan Mullen (Coolaney/Mullinabreena), 6. Paul McNamara (Naomh Eoin), 19. Peter Laffey (Coolera/Strandhill)

8. Patrick O’Connor (Naomh Fearnan), 9. Paul Kilcoyne (St Mary’s)

10. David Quinn (Shamrock Gaels), 24. Liam Gaughan (Tourlestrane), 12. Mikey Gordon (Easky)

18. Barry Gorman (Coolaney/Mullinabreena), 14. Niall Murphy (Coolera Strandhill), 15. Seán Carrabine (Castleconnor)

Subs

4. Evan Lyons (Shamrock Gaels) for McKenna

5. Keelan Cawley (CooleraStrandhil) for Gaughan

17. Red Óg Murphy (Curry) for Gorman

26. Conor Griffin (Calry/St Josephs) for Gordon

11. Cian Lally (Drumcliffe–Rosses Point) for Cawley

Referee: Paul Faloon (Down)

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Meath 2-16
Kerry 1-9

By Daire Walsh 

STACEY GRIMES BAGGED an impressive tally of 1-5 at Croke Park as Meath were crowned Lidl National Football League Division 2 champions with a convincing final victory at the expense of Kerry.

The Royals were defeated by their Munster counterparts in the opening round of this year’s second-tier, but produced a superb team display to seal their place in Division 1 for 2022, ending a seven-year wait for a return to the top division.

Back at Jones’ Road for the first time since their TG4 All-Ireland intermediate football championship triumph against Westmeath last December, Meath raced four points clear early on courtesy of a superb Niamh O’Sullivan effort and three successive Grimes frees.

While Kerry raised white flags through Anna Galvin and Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh either side of a similar score by opposition corner-back Emma Troy, Maire O’Shaughnessy and Bridgetta Lynch subsequently pointed to give the Royals a 0-7 to 0-2 cushion at the first-half water break.

Kerry had lost centre-forward Emma Dineen to the sin-bin on 12 minutes, but with the elusive Ní Mhuircheartaigh knocking over three unanswered points, they were firmly in contention upon her return.

Vikki Wall of Meath shoots under pressure from Cáit Lynch of Kerry.

Meath rediscovered their Midas touch just in time for the interval, however, when Orlagh Lally released Emma Duggan for a coolly-struck goal on 27 minutes. Lally followed up with a point of her own and wing-back Aoibheann Leahy was also on target as the Royals led 1-9 to 0-5 at half-time.

After Bridgetta Lynch and Grimes points stretched their advantage on the resumption, Meath were awarded a penalty when Kingdom skipper Aislinn Desmond was adjudged to have fouled Duggan inside the square.

Grimes stepped forward to comfortably fire beyond the reach of Ciara Butler and offer her side a seemingly insurmountable 11-point buffer.

Grimes, first-half substitute Megan Thynne and Vikki Wall proceeded to dissect the uprights in quick succession, before Ní Mhuircheartaigh’s fifth of the game left Kerry 12 points adrift at the second water break.

Shauna Ennis of Meath lifts the trophy following her side’s victory.

Substitute Rachel Dwyer did rattle the net for the Kingdom – jointly-managed by Darragh Long and Declan Quill – in the 55th-minute, but Meath eased over the line with Lynch and Niamh Gallogly both chipping in with late points. 

Scorers for Meath: S Grimes 1-5 (1-0 pen, 0-4f), E Duggan 1-0, B Lynch 0-3, E Troy 0-1, A Leahy 0-1, V Wall 0-1, M O’Shaughnessy 0-1, O Lally 0-1, N O’Sullivan 0-1, M Thynne 0-1, N Gallogly 0-1.

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Scorers for Kerry: L Ní Mhuircheartaigh 0-5 (3f), R Dwyer 1-0, H O’Donoghue 0-2, L Scanlon 0-1, A Galvin 0-1.

MEATH: M McGuirk; E Troy, MK Lynch, K Newe; A Leahy, A Cleary, O Byrne; V Wall, M O’Shaughnessy; S Ennis, S Grimes, O Lally; N O’Sullivan, E Duggan, B Lynch.  

Subs: M Thynne for O’Sullivan (19), N Gallogly for Leahy (40), E White for Lynch (60), A O’Sullivan for McGuirk (60).

KERRY: C Butler; J O’Sullivan, A Desmond, C Murphy; A O’Connell, K Cronin, C Lynch; L Scanlon, N Carmody; L Galvin, E Dineen, A Galvin; N Ní Chonchúir, H O’Donoghue, L Ní Mhuircheartaigh.

Subs: A Murphy for Dineen (34), D O’Leary for Ní Chonchúir (34), M O’Connell for O’Sullivan (41), R Dwyer for A Galvin (41), M O’Connell for L Galvin (49). 

Referee: Barry Redmond (Wexford).

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Wexford 5-31
Laois 1-23

RORY O’CONNOR HIT 1-7 and Conor McDonald finished with 2-4 as Wexford easily got the better of Laois in Nowlan Park this evening to set up a Leinster championship semi-final clash with Kilkenny next Saturday. 

Wexford manager Davy Fitzgerald was confined to the stands as he served the second game of his recent sideline ban, but there was nothing to get the pulse raised here. 

Seoirse Bulfin wore the Bainisteoir bib and Keith Rossiter and Niall Corcoran had a visible role in the water break huddles but this was a procession from the start.

Wexford played with the breeze in the opening half and while Laois set up defensively, they didn’t match it with the type of intensity and aggression needed to make a game of it. 

On top of that they struggled on their own puck-out and were destroyed on turnovers. Wexford duly made hay. By the first water break they were 0-9 to 0-2 ahead and seven Wexford men had their name on the scoresheet. All Laois had to show was a PJ Scully free and a Jack Kelly point from distance. 

Conor McDonald came into his own in the second quarter. By the 26th minute Wexford were 0-16 to 0-4 ahead and while Laois rallied somewhat, it was 1-20 to 0-10 at the break, Wexford’s goal coming from O’Connor in the 34th minute after Lee Chin intercepted a Laois clearance.

Davy Fitzgerald had to watch on from the stands.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

Wexford continued to build their lead after half time, with McDonald getting in for the first of his two goals in the 41st minute after being played in by O’Connor. 

Ross King, Ciaran Collier and PJ Scully battled gamely to keep the Laois side of the scoreboard moving and sub Ciaran Comerford came on to score 1-1. 

But Wexford were in full control and they got three goals in the final quarter – two within a short spell just after the second water break, from McDonald and Chin. 

Sub David Dunne got their fifth and in the end they had 20 points to spare. 

Kilkenny await in the semi-final next weekend. They don’t need to be told it will be an entirely different proposition than this. 

Laois, for their part, play Antrim in the All-Ireland qualifiers in two weeks time, a fixture that also doubles up as the relegation playoff to decide who drops to the Joe McDonagh Cup.

Scorers for Wexford: Rory O’Connor 1-7; Conor McDonald 2-4; Paul Morris 0-5 (1f); Lee Chin 1-2 (0-1f); David Dunne 1-0; Kevin Foley 0-3; Diarmuid O’Keeffe, Mikie Dwyer and Liam Og McGovern 0-2 each; Cathal Dunbar, Mark Fanning (f), Shaun Murphy and Gavin Bailey 0-1 each.

Scorers for Laois: PJ Scully 0-8 (5f, 1 65): Ciaran Comerford 1-1; Cha Dwyer 0-4; Paddy Purcell 0-3; Ciaran Collier and Ross King 0-2 each; Matthew Whelan, Jack Kelly and Lee Cleere 0-1 each.

WEXFORD

Mark Fanning

Shane Reck, Liam Ryan, Simon Donohue

Gavin Bailey, Matthew O’Hanlon, Shaun Murphy

Diarmuid O’Keeffe, Liam Og McGovern

Paul Morris, Rory O’Connor, Conor McDonald

Mikie Dwyer, Lee Chin, Kevin Foley

Subs:

Jack O’Connor for O’Keeffe (49)

Connal Flood for Donohue (54)

David Dunne forn Dwyer (54)

Conor Firman for Bailey (60, inj)

Cathal Dunbar for Chin (66)

LAOIS

Enda Rowland

Donnchadh Hartnett, Ciaran McEvoy, Sean Downey

Stephen Maher, Ryan Mullaney, Jack Kelly

Paddy Purcell, Fiachra C-Fennell

Cha Dwyer, Ciaran Collier, James Ryan

PJ Scully, Ross King, Willie Dunphy

Subs:

Eanna Lyons for Ryan (HT)

Lee Cleere for Hartnett (47)

Aaron Dunphy for W Dunphy (52)

Ciaran Comerford for Purcell (52)

Matthew Whelan for Downey (53)

Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford) 

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Kerry 3-22
Clare 1-11

OPENING NIGHT IN Killarney got the home side up and running, Kerry ticking a box against Clare in the Munster championship as they go in search of a productive summer.

Sean O’Shea fires home Kerry’s first goal.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

The goalscoring treat served up against Tyrone a fortnight ago to round off the league had illustrated Kerry’s attacking capabilities. Clare’s resilience and organisation held them at bay for long stages but the scores flowed towards the end to leave Kerry 17 points clear.

Colm Collins’ team faced a familiar onerous task in heading to Kerry’s backyard, the knockout nature of the game making this prospect that bit harder.

Ultimately Kerry’s class up front told with predictable names to the fore. David Clifford hit 1-6 before he limped off near the end, moments after smashing home Kerry’s second goal. Sean O’Shea just bettered him with a tally of 1-7. Killian Spillane weighed in with 0-3 off the bench, Micheál Burns crashed home the third goal in injury-time.

Eoghan Cleary did his bit for the Clare cause, showcasing his marksmanship with a haul of 0-6. David Tubridy slotted home a fine left-footed goal in the 63rd minute but ultimately Clare saw their season shut down, a victim of the knockout nature in 2021.

Kerry’s Diarmuid O’Connor and Clare’s Darragh Bohannon.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

The game began with a personal demonstration of O’Shea’s skillset as he rattled off the first four points of the evening. The breakdown was instructive – three from play, two kicked with the right and one off his left, and his solitary free stemmed from a foul on himself.

But his most critical score arrived later in the half, drilling a shot to the net in the 34th minute for Kerry’s first goal. The concession was a sobering one for Clare as they were in control of the play around the middle, before Conor Jordan popped a handpass that Paudie Clifford intercepted.

His pass execution was wonderful, a smoothly-struck kick that travelled over the entire stretched Clare reaguard into the arms of O’Shea. The Kenmare man did the rest and it helped Kerry move 1-11 to 0-5 clear by the interval.

Kerry were glad of that input as their play had become ragged for a patch midway through that period. Clare profited with the Collins brothers pushing them on from their different berths and Eoin Cleary swept over three superb points between the 21st and 27th minutes.

The last of those left Clare only four adrift but any flare of hope was extinguished by the nine-point deficit at the break.

David Clifford and Podge Collins.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

In the third quarter Clare stayed competitive on the scoreboard but the floodgates opened in the closing stages with Clifford in the 66th minute and Burns in the 75th, raising those green flags. They’ll travel to Thurles with a pep in their step in two weeks time.

Scorers for Kerry: Seán O’Shea 1-7 (0-3f), David Clifford 1-6 (0-2f), Micheál Burns 1-0, Killian Spillane 0-3, Gavin White, Paudie Clifford 0-2 each, David Moran, Paul Geaney 0-1 each.

Scorers for Clare: Eoin Cleary 0-6 (0-2f), David Tubridy 1-1 (0-1f), Darragh Bohannon 0-2, Podge Collins, Emmet McMahon 0-1 each.

Kerry

1. Kieran Fitzgibbon (Kenmare Shamrocks)

2. Brian Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht), 3. Jason Foley (Ballydonoghue), 4. Tom O’Sullivan (Dingle)

5. Mike Breen (Beaufort), 6. Gavin Crowley (Templenoe), 7. Gavin White (Dr Crokes)

8. David Moran (Kerins O’Rahillys), 9. Diarmuid O’Connor (Na Gaeil)

10. Stephen O’Brien (Kenmare Shamrocks), 11. Sean O’Shea (Kenmare Shamrocks), 12. Paul Geaney (Dingle).

13. David Clifford (Fossa), 14. Dara Moynihan (Spa), 15. Paudie Clifford (Fossa)

Subs 

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18. Tadhg Morley (Templenoe) for O’Sullivan (53)

20. Killian Spillane (Templenoe) for Moynihan (53)

21. Tommy Walsh (Kerins O’Rahillys) for O’Brien (56)

17. Adrian Spillane (Templenoe) for Moran (58)

23. Micheál Burns (Dr Crokes) for David Clifford (inj) (68)

Clare

1. Stephen Ryan (Kilrush Shamrocks)

5. Cian O’Dea (Kilfenora), 2. Ciaran Russell (Éire Óg), 3. Cillian Brennan (Clondegad)

21. Conor Jordan (Austin Stacks) 6. Sean Collins (Cratloe), 20. Conal Ó hAiniféin (Ruan)

8. Darren O’Neill (Éire Óg), 12. Darragh Bohannon (Shannon Gaels)

10. Pearse Lillis (Cooraclare), 11. Eoin Cleary (St Josephs Miltown), 17. Podge Collins (Cratloe)

13. Gavin Cooney (Éire Óg), 9. Cathal O’Connor (Coolmeen), 15. David Tubridy (Doonbeg)

Subs

23. Emmet McMahon (Kildysart) for O’Connor (inj) (15)

24. Cillian Rouine (Ennistymon) for Ó hAiniféin (17)

14. Joe McGann (St Breckan’s) for Podge Collins (inj) (half-time)

7. Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry-Ibrickane) for Jordan (44)

25. Keelan Sexton (Kilmurry-Ibrickane) for Cooney (49)

Referee: Jerome Henry (Mayo)

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Dublin 2-15
Cork 1-13

ANOTHER CHAPTER OF this remarkable rivalry ending in a Dublin victory.

That said, this was just the Sky Blues’ second time lifting the Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 crown, having won their first and only in 2018.

Mick Bohan’s all-conquering side triumphed tonight in style, with another big win over Cork in Croke Park — which was a change from the traditional league final venue of Parnell Park. With fans back in situ, they were treated to another classic.

The four-in-a-row All-Ireland winners have certainly dominated the championship landscape of late, though failed to show consistent early season form in the league.

2021 was different, Dublin finding the perfect balance as they enjoyed a 100% record in the competition while blooding younger players and unearthing new talent.

Their major find was unquestionably Hannah Tyrrell, the recently-retired Ireland rugby international continuing her stunning form by top-scoring with 0-7 this evening.

Goals in either half from Niamh Hetherton and Carla Rowe were key, along with the free-taking displays of Tyrrell and captain Sinéad Aherne, and Siobhan McGrath’s Player of the Match-winning performance.

Though entertaining and a game which certainy had it all, it was frustrating and stop-start at times as both sides continuously coughed up frees. 

The early exchanges saw a free-taking contest between Aherne and Orla Finn, before the former and Siobhán Killeen notched the game’s first scores from play around the 10th minute to push Dublin into a 0-4 to 0-2 lead.

Dublin’s Siobhán Killeen and Martina O’Brien of Cork.

Source: Brian Reilly-Troy/INPHO

Cork responded almost immediately with a goal at the other end; dual star Libby Coppinger palming home after good work from experienced duo Ciara O’Sullivan and Finn in the build-up.

Áine O’Sullivan and Sadhbh O’Leary added two nice points as the Rebels made hay, though Tyrrell started to find her range from frees into Hill 16.

Dublin soon sparked to life, as Hetherton cut through the heart of the Cork defence – led by Róisin Phelan, who was solid throughout – and rattled the net to make it 1-5 to 1-4 just before the first water break.

The second quarter scored 0-5 to 0-2 to the Sky Blues; Bohan’s charges moving up the gears as Olwen Carey got in on the scoring act and Tyrrell kept firing over — from play too, to bring her first-half tally to 0-5 (3f).

Hetherton will feel aggrieved she was denied a second goal in the 27th minute after palming home when Tyrrell put it on a plate for her; referee Seamus Mulvihill scratching it off as a square ball.

Finn was Cork’s sole scorer in that period — a stunning effort from play and another routine free — and truth be told, Ephie Fitzgerald’s side were wasteful at times and lucky not to be further behind at the break (1-10 to 1-6).

On the restart, the free-taking battle continued, as Finn and Aherne traded efforts, before the evergreen Lyndsey Davey notched her first of the match to send Dublin into a five-point lead.

Though the pointed frees kept coming, that gap remained, with Dublin reduced to 14 when Martha Byrne was sin-binned just shy of the 40th minute. 

1-13 to 1-9 at the second water break, Cork had a goal disallowed shortly beforehand, Finn’s first missed free of the evening dropping short, before it was adjudged to be scooped off the line by Carey.

As Dublin’s start-studded bench made their impact felt and Cork failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage, Tyrrell and Aherne kept the scoreboard ticking over. The returning Eimear Scally landed an inspirational response at the other end, but Dublin soon extinguished any hopes of a comeback.

Back to 15 by the 40th minute, Rowe marked her returned to the biggest stage with a brilliant goal to make it 2-15 and 1-10 and all but assure Dublin of the crown.

The game turned scrappy from there, both teams finishing with 14 after Máire O’Callaghan and Lauren Magee were yellow-carded for different dangerous challenges.

To their credit, Cork never gave up as they went in hunt of a late goal – Scally had one questionably disallowed – but ultimately, all they could muster was consolation points in the dying minutes from O’Sullivan, Coppinger and Finn.

Scorers for Cork: Orla Finn (0-8, 7f), Libby Coppinger (1-1), Áine O’Sullivan, Sadhbh O’Leary, Eimear Scally and Ciara O’Sullivan (all 0-1).

Scorers for Dublin: Hannah Tyrrell (0-7, 5f), Sinéad Aherne (0-5, 4f), Niamh Hetherton (1-0), Siobhán Killeen, Jennifer Dunne and Lyndsey Davey (all 0-1).

Cork

1. Martina O’Brien (Clonalkilty) – captain

19. Méabh Cahalane (Éire Óg), 3. Roisin Phelan (St Brigid’s, Dublin), 4. Eimear Meaney (Mourneabbey)

5. Erika O’Shea (Macroom), 6. Aisling Hutchings (Fermoy), 7. Melissa Duggan (Doheny’s)

8. Máire O’Callaghan (Mourneabbey), 9. Hannah Looney (Aghada)

10. Áine O’Sullivan (Beara), 11. Bríd O’Sullivan (Mourneabbey), 12. Orla Finn (Kinsale)

13. Sadhbh O’Leary (Kinsale), 14. Ciara O’Sullivan (Mourneabbey), 15. Libby Coppinger (St Colums)

Subs:

21. Daire Kiely (Valley Rovers) for Áine O’Sullivan (15)

20. Emma Cleary (Éire Óg) for Daire Kiely (38)

23. Eimear Scally (Éire Óg) for Sadhbh O’Leary (39)

2. Shauna Kelly (Araglen Desmonds Bui) for Aisling Hutchings (42)

Dublin

1. Abby Shiels (Lucan Sarsfields)

2. Martha Byrne (Cuala), 3. Niamh Collins (Foxrock Cabinteely), 4. Hannah Leahy (Scoil Uí Chonaill)

5. Leah Caffrey (Na Fianna), 6. Olwen Carey (Thomas Davis), 7. Lauren Magee (Kilmacud Crokes)

8. Siobhain McGrath (Thomas Davis), 9. Jennifer Dunne (Cuala)

10. Hannah Tyrrell (Na Fianna), 11. Lyndsey Davey (Skerries Harps), 12. Siobhain Killeen (Clontarf)

13. Sinéad Aherne (St Sylvesters) – captain, 14. Niamh Hetherton (Clontarf), 15. Caoimhe O’Connor (Clontarf)

Subs:

21. Carla Rowe (Clann Mhuire) for Caoimhe O’Connor (32, blood sub)

15. Caoimhe O’Connor for Carla Rowe (36)

21. Carla Rowe for Niamh Hetherton (37)

23. Niamh McEvoy (St Sylvester’s) for Siobhan Killeen (39)

19. Lucy Collins (Na Fianna) for Hannah Leahy (46)

22. Kate Sullivan (St Sylvester’s) for Caoimhe O’Connor (47)

16. Ciara Trant (St Brigid’s) for Abby Shiels (52).

Referee: Seamus Mulvihill (Kerry). 

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IRISH RUGBY’S LOSS to Dublin football’s gain, the last few weeks of Hannah Tyrrell’s life have been like no other.

Hannah Tyrrell with the Division 1 league crown.

Source: Brendan Moran/SPORTSFILE

In brief, there’s been a Six Nations campaign, an inter-county recall, an international retirement and an unforgettable league run with the all-conquering Dublin footballers.

A Division 1 medal in Croke Park last night topped off a dream return to the Sky Blues, Tyrrell scoring a remarkable 3-29 across five wins.

Letting it all sink in in the Hogan Stand after the decider victory over Cork, the 30-year-old reflected on a crazy few weeks.

“It’s been incredible, very much a whirlwind of emotions for me and something I didn’t expect to happen so soon,” she smiled.

“Mick [Bohan, Dublin manager] and the girls have welcomed me in and been very, very supportive. I’m very lucky that things went our way and results went our way, and here we are today.”

Asked to expand on that emotional whirlwind and to sum up her feelings by The42, Tyrrell continued: “It’s unexpected… that’s probably the biggest thing.

“I never expected to be here today. The rugby coming to an end and my retirement was just a commitment issue unfortunately, with the World Cup being postponed, and then an opportunity came about from Mick and the girls bringing me into the squad. It was something that I didn’t ever think would happen so quickly. It was a dream of mine.

“I had a free summer, Mick and them had a place for me in the squad, and I’m very lucky to be wearing the jersey and getting better each day with these girls. I’m hoping there’s an incredible few months ahead.”

The opportunity to return to the Dublin fold was one she was never going to turn down, having last been involved during the 2014 league campaign before she landed a professional Sevens contract with Irish Rugby.

Tyrrell hails from Gaelic games roots, having enjoyed underage All-Ireland success as a Dublin goalkeeper, and club glory with her native Round Towers, Clondalkin.

Lining out in this year’s Six Nations.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Through her time focusing on the oval ball — she impressed at out-half for Ireland of late, earning 20 XVs caps and playing at the 2017 World Cup, while also featuring 103 times on the World Rugby Sevens Series — her beloved Gaelic football stayed on her mind.

“Look, it was always my dream. If it wasn’t this year, I would have hoped it would be next year or any time after my rugby retirement. I never thought my rugby career would go on for so long, but here we are.

“I don’t have a lot of words… it’s just incredible and very much unexpected. I’ll go home now and reflect on how amazing this has been. League titles don’t come around too often, as we know. We all came here for the big one, but this is a big win for us and a big stepping stone.”

A night full of surprises, many will be shocked to learn that the league title was just Dublin’s second, though they are four-in-a-row All-Ireland champions.

Another big surprise was the fact it was Tyrrell’s first outing on the hallowed turf of Croke Park. A regular fan at the venue, often with her Irish team-mates to support the Dubs on All-Ireland final day given there was no clash with their own matches, it was a memorable bow as she posted seven points.

“I always dreamt of being back on the pitch. This is my first night playing in Croke Park ever. It’s great to have a good experience and come away with a win. It’s mad…”

The whole thing certainly is.

She’s slotted in like she was never way, and taken to it all again like a duck to water.

Tyrrell modestly questions that, speaking of initial adjustments and how it’s all down to the unparalleled help of her team-mates. But there’s no hiding her enjoyment.

“It’s been fun. The biggest thing… it’s just been so much fun. I love playing GAA, I’ve played it for so long. As I said, I never meant to be away for so long, the rugby just took off for me and I’m very, very lucky to be welcomed back into the fold. I’ve had the best couple of weeks with the girls, and I’m hoping that there’s a couple more coming!”

Facing Erika O’Shea last night.

Source: Brian Reilly-Troy/INPHO

After another “tremendous fight” with Cork, that’s the focus: getting back to Croke Park for the bigger stage of an All-Ireland final.

Their flawless league campaign and silverware sets them up nicely for championship – which, to those on the outside looking in, is the Drive for Five.

“Look, we all came here to win an All-Ireland at the end of the year and there’s a lot of games to get there,” Tyrrell concludes. “This will give us a lot of confidence going into the championship, but we have our sights set firmly on that first game against Tyrone.

“We can’t look further than that, we don’t know what’s going to happen then, but we go back training, we go back to the drawing board and we go again.”

As  she always has, and undoubtedly always will. 

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

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