Month: September 2021

No Kerry error this time, Clare’s short summer and the Clifford-O’Shea double act

1. No Kerry error this time as 2021 season starts 

230 days after one campaign began for them in disastrous fashion, Kerry set out to try to make amends. If the 2020 winter championship proved a major letdown for their silverware aspirations, they started their 2021 summer run on a more positive note.

Where the Cork game last November was a tight struggle from the off, Kerry never allowed themselves to get embroiled in a dogfight with Clare. They registered their first score after 12 seconds, their smallest advantage during the match was four points and they accelerated clear at the finish.

Kerry’s play was sloppy in places but for a start this was a win achieved with comfort. And after last November’s shock, that will do them for now.

2. Clare mistakes are punished

Colm Collins was in a downbeat mood afterwards. Not just at the result his Clare team had suffered but at one particular aspect of his team’s performance. The first-half goal they shipped stemmed from a Conor Jordan pass which was turned over and punished ruthlessly as Paudie Clifford fed Sean O’Shea for a Kerry strike to the net.

And that was symptomatic of a wider malaise as 1-7 of Kerry’s first-half total of 1-11, could be linked back to Clare turnovers in possession. To have any hope in fashioning a major upset, they needed to cut out such errors. Instead their mistakes were punished.

Clare held Kerry to three points between the 8th and 29th minutes, while only conceding two points in the third quarter. The issue was Kerry rattling off 3-17 in the remainder of the game, including 2-9 in the final quarter, to win with plenty to spare.

3. The Clifford-O’Shea double act shine

Kerry’s ambitions for this year will largely rest on how much they can utilise the talents of their two stars in attack. They both hit the ground running for Kerry last night.

Sean O’Shea set the tone as he struck the the first four points of the game in quick succession. His first-half goal checked momentum that Clare were building up before he finished off with a tally of 1-7. David Clifford was just a point shy of that, as he efficiently posted a total of 1-6. The second Kerry goal he blasted home was his parting shot as he departed with what the Kerry faithful hope will be a minor knock. 

His input and that of O’Shea’s will be critical in shaping this football summer.

4. Clare ponder a short summer

Losing to Kerry is not new for Clare, more a recurring outcome. This was their sixth time sustaining a provincial defeat to the Kingdom during Colm Collins time at the helm. What is different is that this loss in Munster represents the end of the road in 2021.

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Clare have generally been good at rebuilding during the qualifiers, they did that so successfully in 2016 that they ran into Kerry again in Croke Park, but they won’t get that chance this year with the reversion to knockout football. Their captain Eoin Cleary was superb as he amassed 0-6 but he’ll be in an observer role for the rest of the year. It’s a tough end to a shortlived inter-county campaign. 

5. Selection questions for Kerry 

For Kerry the focus is on moving forward. They play Tipperary in a fortnight in Thurles with selection questions to consider. Debuts were handed out to Kieran Fitzgibbon and Michael Breen last night, Paudie Clifford received his first senior championship start for Kerry and responded with a vibrant display.

Killian Spillane and Micheál Burns both came off the bench to get in on the scoring act. Jack Barry, Jack Sherwood and captain Paul Murphy were the experienced names that didn’t see a minute of action. Kerry boss Peter Keane has plenty options as he tries to sette on a consistent winning formula.

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‘That was a great hurling occasion’ – Dublin and Galway to meet in rematch of 2019 thriller

FOR THE SECOND time in his managerial reign, Mattie Kenny will lead Dublin into championship battle against his native Galway next weekend.

His first outing against the Tribesmen, in the 2019 Leinster round robin, saw Dublin seal a famous 3-19 to 0-24 victory at a heaving Parnell Park. The result, allied to the draw between Wexford and Kilkenny, meant Galway were sensationally dumped out of the championship on 15 June.

Oisin O’Rorke clipped over nine points as Eamonn Dillon, Sean Moran and Chris Crummey hit the net in a heroic Sky Blue performance.

Micheál Donoghue’s men were All-Ireland champions two years earlier and it turned out to be his final game in charge of the county.

“That was a great hurling occasion,” reflected Kenny yesterday. 

It was a major victory for the double All-Ireland winning Cuala boss, but the joy was short-lived. Three weeks later, Joe McDonagh Cup champions Laois stunned Dublin in Portlaoise to deliver a hammer blow to the project.

Perhaps that defeat knocked the wind out of their sails for some time. 

The team has undergone significant transformation in the intervening years.

Of the 15 that started against Galway two years ago, just seven did so against Antrim.

Liam Rushe lined out at full-forward, Danny Sutcliffe in the corner, Cian Boland at centre-forward, Chris Crummey at centre-back, Paddy Smyth and Eoghan O’Donnell in the full-back line and Alan Nolan in goals. 

In their opening championship tie of 2021, only the back three played in the same positions. Crummey has been reinvented as a scoring half-forward, with Sutcliffe on the far flank. Both are excellent puck-out options and scored three apiece in Pairc Tailteann in the 2021 opener.

Boland’s pace and athleticism is now being used as a roving corner-forward and Rush is a solid presence at centre-back. 

James Madden, Daire Gray and Ronan Hayes, who all arrived off the bench in 2018, now occupy vital roles on the starting side.

Kenny’s side had a good look to it against Antrim. Much of the criticism aimed at Dublin during the league was that he didn’t know his best team.

He tinkered throughout the league, even employing Rushe at full-forward in the final round against Wexford. It left many wondering about the direction the team was taking. 

But after the round 4 loss to Clare, Kenny confidently stated he was please with the way preparation had gone and saw them in ‘good shape’ going forward. 

He admitted yesterday that he rotated his team during the league with the view of avoiding injury during the hectic league schedule.

“I think a lot of counties look at it the same, when you look at the league there are five games in a short window.

Dublin manager Mattie Kenny.

Source: John McVitty/INPHO

“Some teams had a three-week break but we had only a two-week break. So that’s a quick turnaround.

“Coming into the last few games of the league, with so many games so quickly, you could see guys beginning to tire a bit so we had to be conscious of that and we had to make sure that we hadn’t a handful of injuries when the championship kicked off this evening.”

This win over Antrim, who finished above Dublin in the league after wins over Clare and Laois, and a draw with Wexford, will give the team a major shot in the arm. 

“You’re always trying to bring the stuff that you’re working on on the training ground to the pitch,” he said. “And that works some days. Other days you’ve got to play what’s ahead of you and what’s in front of you.

“But it’s all about the attitude and the mindset that you come into these games with. It’s championship, it’s the first round of the championship here tonight. You have to have that championship mindset and go for everything and attack every ball.”

Their opening game of last year’s knockout Leinster championship was eerily similar to yesterday’s 3-31 to 0-22 win. 

Dublin beat Laois by 2-31 to 0-23, in a game lit up by centre-forward Donal Burke (who scored 1-16).

The Na Fianna sharpshooter shot 11 points (0-6 frees) against Darren Gleeson’s side and pulled the strings by delivering some quality ball into the Dublin full-forward line. 

Cian Boland, Ronan Hayes and Cian O’Sullivan scored 3-6 between them and looked extremely sharp. 

Despite the perception they’ve stagnated in recent years, Dublin were close to having a very good season last year.

It’s been forgotten now, but they almost pulled off one of the comebacks of the championship against Kilkenny in the Leinster semi-final.

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Trailing by 16 points on 41 minutes, they launched a stirring fightback until two late Kilkenny scores saw them over the line. The Cats went on to beat Galway in the provincial final.

Galway are rated as the biggest challengers to Limerick’s throne, yet Dublin’s size and athleticism means an upset can’t be ruled out. Stranger things have happened.  

“Ask any hurling person in Ireland and I think they’d say that Limerick and Galway are the two favourites for the championship this year,” said Kenny.

“Galway are in massive form at the moment. I’ve watched all their games and the range of scores they have, the way they’re moving the ball, they’re in top, top form.

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Cian Boland scored 1-1 against Antrim.

Source: John McVitty/INPHO

“We know going down to Portlaoise next weekend that that’s going to be a massive, massive challenge for us but look, it’s the championship, this is where we want to be, it’s where we want to be playing.

“It’s going to be a big, big test for us and all we can do is look forward to it and go down and do our best. 

“Galway are a massive team and we’re going to go down there and we’re going to compete the best we can and we’re going to have a right crack off it and we’ll know more in a week’s time. 

“Look, it’s a Leinster semi-final, Galway and Dublin, and I expect it to be a really good game. All we can do is go toe to toe in that game and it’s a Leinster semi-final so you expect every player out on the pitch to give it everything they’ve got.”

Dublin haven’t beaten a big gun since that victory over Galway two years ago and will be looking to repeat the trick next weekend. 

“We’re getting ready for a Leinster semi-final, no matter who we’re playing we’re obviously trying to win it. What we’re looking for is to go in there and give the best performance we can on the evening and let the result look after itself.

“I expect it to be a really good game. All we can do is go toe to toe in that game and it’s a Leinster semi-final so you expect every player out on the pitch to give it everything they’ve got.”

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McNamee stars as Offaly enjoy thrilling extra-time win over Louth

Offaly 3-19
Louth 0-19

(after extra-time)

OFFALY SECURED JUST their third Leinster SFC victory since 2007, requiring extra-time to see off Mickey Harte’s Louth in a high-scoring and pulsating contest. 

Louth kicked the last three scores of the 70 minutes, almost won it with Sam Mulroy’s final kick of normal time that drifted narrowly wide and looked to have the momentum heading into extra-time. When Offaly needed leaders, it was veteran Niall McNamee who stood up.

The 35-year-old had two points to his name and was involved in the first goal before he scored 1-1 in the first period of the extra period. He set-up Peter Cunningham for Offaly’s third green flag to seal a nine-point victory for John Maughan’s side. 

Elsewhere, Cian Farrell helped himself to a six-point haul, David Dempsey showed serious pace at wing-back, Cunningham grabbed 1-1 from midfield and Ruairi McNamee had his moments up front.

The Faithful outscored Louth by 2-4 to 0-1 in extra-time, showing their impressive fitness during the extra 20 minutes.

Offaly arrived into this game with the worst record in Leinster over the last 10 years. They’d beaten only Longford (2016) and Carlow (2020) in the past decade, so this victory was welcome one.

The victors will play Kildare in next weekend’s Leinster quarter-final, while Louth’s season is over.

Mickey Harte’s first campaign over the Wee County ended in defeat at the first hurdle. For a man so accustomed to qualifier runs during his time in Tyrone, it’s a pity they won’t get the opportunity this year.

Ultimately poor shooting cost Louth. They shot 16 wides and dropped a further eight short, so it’s not hard to see where the game was lost.

Both these counties sealed promotion in league, though Offaly suffered a heavy Division 3 final defeat to Derry last weekend in Croke Park. It must be said they reacted impressively to that 12-point loss. They’ll fancy their chances against Kildare next weekend, the same opponents who dumped them out in last year’s championship.

This was a showdown between the two most experienced inter-county managers on the circuit. Harte and Maughan last met on the sideline in the 2005 league when Tyrone and Mayo clashed.

Shane Lowry, who recently announced a partnership with Offaly GAA, was in attendance alongside dad, 1982 All-Ireland winner Brendan.

Offaly goalscorer Bernard Allen.

Source: Brian Reilly-Troy/INPHO

Louth set-up like Harte’s Tyrone, regularly dropping 15 men behind the ball and counter-attacking at pace. Offaly picked them apart early on, scoring six points in the opening quarter.

McNamee, a late starter in place of Bernard Allen, looked sharp early on kicked two excellent scores. He stroked over the first on the loop from an Anton Sullivan assist after a fine Carl Stewart mark from the kick-out. 

18 years after his championship debut as a 17-year-old, McNamee won a 50-50 ball after Cian Farrell’s sideline and sent the Faithful three clear.

Former AFL man Ciaran Byrne’s second score from midfield left Louth 0-6 to 0-4 behind at the first water break, and they dominated the second quarter.

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Offaly were wasteful in possession with Sullivan guilty of three turnovers in quick succession that saw him called ashore by Maughan on the half hour mark.

It was a ruthless call by Maughan and somewhat harsh on the Rhode star who was later reintroduced, but the turnovers served as oxygen for a Louth team that threatened on the counter attack.

Three Sam Mulroy scores (two frees) helped them into a two-point interval lead. 

With Ruairi McNamee looking dangerous, he kicked a score and set-up another for Jordan Hayes, Offaly hauled themselves level by the 45th minute. James Lalor and Johnny Moloney were driving forces from defence and a deft handpass by McNamee set-up Farrell’s fifth point of the day.

When Niall Darby sent over one from outside the boot for Offaly’s third in succession, they led for the first time since the 31st minute. Dermot Campbell and Bill Carroll traded efforts, leaving Offaly ahead by 0-13 to 0-12 at the second water break. 

Ciaran Byrne, playing in just his fourth championship game for Louth, was picked out after a fine Grimes catch at midfield and he pointed, before his brother Declan added another after a short kick-out was turned over. 

Faithful keeper Paddy Dunican kicked a 30m free but Louth retook the lead immediately though Ciaran Keenan.

Offaly trailed by a point heading into the final seven minutes of normal-time, when Ruairi McNamee turned over a short kick-out by Craig Lynch to Niall Sharkey.

Offaly’s Eoin Rigney and Declan Byrne of Louth.

Source: Brian Reilly-Troy/INPHO

The Louth substitute recovered to pull off an excellent block on Niall McNamee but the rebound fell to Bernard Allen, who went for a point that dropped fortuitously into the top corner. 

Anthony Williams and Sam Mulroy reduced the gap to one as we entered four minutes of stoppage-time. Eoin Carroll fouled Ciaran Downey and Mulroy thumped over the free from 45m for his sixth of the day. 

The St Martin’s man had a last gasp chance to win it but sent the last kick of the game wide, sending the game to extra-time.  

Louth looked to have the momentum as we headed for a further 20 minutes until McNamee’s decisive intervention.

Cunningham burst through the middle and hand passed across goal to give McNamee an easy palmed finish. In the second period of extra-time, McNamee returned the favour for his team-mate to kill off Louth.   

Scorers for Offaly: Cian Farrell 0-7 (0-2f), Niall McNamee 1-3, Peter Cunningham 1-1, Paddy Dunican (0-1f, 0-1 45) 0-2, Bill Carroll, Niall Darby, Jordan Hayes, Ruairi McNamee, Mark Abbott and Eoin Carroll 0-1 each.

Scorers for Louth: Sam Mulroy 0-6 (0-4f), Ciaran Byrne 0-3, Ciaran Keenan 0-2, Dermot Cambell, Anthony Williams, Eoghan Callaghan, Liam Jackson, Ryan Burns, Declan Byrne and Ciaran Downey 0-1 each.

Offaly

1. Paddy Dunican (Shamrocks)

2. James Lalor (Raheen), 3. Eoin Rigney (Rhode), 4. Niall Darby (Rhode)

5. Colm Doyle (Clara), 18. Johnny Moloney (Tullamore), 2. David Dempsey (Ballycommon)

8. Peter Cunningham (Bracknagh),  9. Jordan Hayes (Edenderry)

10. Shane Horan (Kilmacud Crokes), 6. Carl Stewart (Clara), 12. Anton Sullivan (Rhode)

25. Niall McNamee (Rhode), 14. Cian Farrell (Edenderry), 15. Rúairí McNamee (Rhode)

Subs

10. Bill Carroll (Cappincur) for Sullivan (30)

9. Eoin Carroll (Cappincur) for Horan (ht)

13. Bernard Allen (Tubber) for Cunningham (56)

24. Cathal Mangan (Kilclonfert) for Moloney (60)

21. Mark Abbott (Edenderry) for Ruairi McNamee (70)

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12. Sullivan for Bill Carroll (start of ET)

8. Cunningham for Hayes (start of ET)

20. Cian Donohue (St Brigid’s) for Stewart (start of ET)

19. Jack Quinn (Ballycumber) for Doyle (78)

23. Joe Maher (Ferbane) for Niall McNamee (86)

26. Aaron Leavy (Tullamore) for Dempsey (86)

Louth 

1. Craig Lynch (St Martin’s)

2. Dan Corcoran (Geraldines), 3. Dermot Campbell (Dreadnots), 4. Donal McKenny (St Mary’s, Ardee)

5. Emmet Carolan (Newtown Blues), 6. Anthony Williams (Dreadnots), 7. Eoghan Callaghan (St Martin’s)

8. Bevan Duffy (St Fechin’s), 9. Ciaran Byrne (St Mochta’s)

10. Liam Jackson (St Mary’s, Ardee), 11. Sam Mulroy (St Martin’s), 12. Ciaran Downey (Newtown Blues)

13. Ciaran Keenan (St Mary’s, Ardee), 14. Conor Grimes (Glen Emmets), 15. Ryan Burns (Hunterstown Rovers)

Subs

17. Declan Byrne (St Mochta’s) for Burns (45)

26. Niall Sharkey (Glyde Rangers) for Corcoran (51)

24. Sean Marry (St Brigid’s) for Duffy (68)

25. Daire Nally (Newtown Blues) for Jackson (68)

23. Conall McKeever for Grimes (inj, 70+6)

20. Tommy Durnin (Westerns) for Nally (78)

10. Jackson for Keenan (HT in ET)

Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare) 

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Tony Kelly fires 1-12 as Clare get off to bright start in Munster with win over Waterford

Clare 1-22
Waterford 0-21

THE FINAL POINT of this Munster hurling afternoon, that was of the low-key rather than heart-stopping variety, turned out to be an insurance score as Tony Kelly tapped over the bar for Clare.

Tony Kelly celebrates scoring a late point for Clare.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

That settled it at last to ensure that Clare would begin their summer in an upbeat fashion, but in truth this encounter should never have unravelled to generate some Banner anxiety.

They were by far the more dominant team, Brian Lohan’s men getting to the pitch of the game from the off and rattling off the first four points to ensure Waterford were always in chase mode. Clare were nine points to the good at the break, in front by the same margin as they retreated for the second-half water break and yet Waterford hunted them down in the finale.

After a hitherto listless showing, the 2020 All-Ireland finalists struck 0-7 between the 60th and 70th minutes. Austin Gleeson hit the last of them and suddenly they were only three adrift, 1-21 to 0-21.

Stephen Bennett and Conor Cleary.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

But Clare closed the game out, Tony Kelly again showing the way with that last point to ensure he compiled an overall return of 1-12, the goal supplied from a penalty and five points whipped over from play. John Conlon was in masterful form in the Clare defence but 22 wides is illustrative of the key area that they need to tend to before facing Tipperary next Sunday.

Waterford were sluggish for so long in this match. They mounted that late rally, aided by a scoring touch from their substitutes while Stephen Bennett (0-12) and Gleeson (0-4) were the most proficient of their starting side.

Clare’s scoring star Tony Kelly.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

The game was shaped by the level of dominance Clare exerted in the first half. They may have been nine points in arrears at the finish when these counties played an All-Ireland qualifier last November, but they enjoyed that margin of supremacy by the break here, 1-13 to 0-7 in front.

It really should have been a more substantial lead. Clare hit nine wides in the first quarter alone and 14 over the half, their shot selection was rash at times as they launched efforts from distance.

But they still found their range at times. Kelly bagged 1-6 and had rifled over three points inside the first five minutes, including a couple of sublime shots from play.

Ryan Taylor and Shane Fives.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

The goal was a critical moment. Clare were ahead 0-10 to 0-6 and struggling to illustrate their territorial supremacy where it mattered most. Then Aron Shanagher wriggled clear and while he did release a shot, Shane Fives had fouled him in the process and was sent to the sin bin.

Kelly subsequently cracked the penalty to the net and Clare could start to feel better about themselves. David Reidy, Ryan Taylor and Aidan McCarthy all shot 0-2 apiece in the first half, while Diarmuid Ryan and particularly Conlon were excelled in the exchanges in the half-back line.

Waterford’s difficulties were expressed most vividly by the fact that Gleeson was their only first-half scorer from play. His two points were precisely struck from the wing but he hurled for most of the half at wing-back and their forward line was a largely blunt unit.

Matters didn’t improve noticeably after the break for Waterford. Four of their substitutes raised white flags and Stephen Bennett kept fighting but they never threatened Eibhear Quilligan’s goalmouth for the strike that could have shunted the game onto a different course.

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Despite their inaccuracy in attack, Clare were strong at the back and that was the platform on which to build the promising championship start that they sought.

Scorers for Clare: Tony Kelly 1-12 (0-7f, 1-0 pen), Aidan McCarthy 0-3, David Reidy Ian Galvin, Ryan Taylor 0-2 each, Diarmuid Ryan 0-1.

Scorers for Waterford: Stephen Bennett 0-12 (0-10f), Austin Gleeson 0-4, Calum Lyons, Patrick Curran, Kieran Bennett, Neil Montgomery, Mikey Kearney 0-1 each.

Clare

1. Eibhear Quilligan (Feakle)

4. Paul Flanagan (Ballyea), 3. Conor Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown Malbay), 2. Rory Hayes (Wolfe Tones)

5. Diarmuid Ryan (Cratloe), 6. John Conlon (Clonlara), 7. Páidí Fitzpatrick (Sixmilebridge)

8. Colm Galvin (Clonlara), 10. Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge),

15. Aidan McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona), 11. David Reidy (Éire Óg), 12. Ryan Taylor (Clooney-Quin)

14. Aron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones), 9. Tony Kelly (Ballyea), 13. Ian Galvin (Clonlara)

Subs

18. David McInerney (Tulla) for Fitzpatrick (50)

22. David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Ian Galvin (57)

19. Mark Rodgers (Scarriff) for Reidy (61)

20. Domhnall McMahon (Michael Cusacks) for Colm Galvin (66)

25. Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge) for Aidan McCarthy (70)

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Waterford

1. Billy Nolan (Roanmore)

3. Conor Gleeson (Fourmilewater), 5. Calum Lyons (Ballyduff Lower), 2. Shane Fives (Tourin)

4. Shane McNulty (De La Salle), 6. Iarlaith Daly (Lismore), 8. Austin Gleeson (Mount Sion)

7. Kevin Moran (De La Salle), 9. Darragh Lyons (Dungarvan)

11. Jack Fagan (De La Salle), 10. Peter Hogan (Ballygunner), 15. Jack Prendergast (Lismore)

13. Dessie Hutchinson (Ballygunner), 12. Stephen Bennett (Ballysaggart – captain), 14. Shane Bennett (Ballysaggart)

Subs

21. Kieran Bennett (Ballysaggart) for Moran (33)

19. Patrick Curran (Dungarvan) for Fagan (44)

22. Neil Montgomery (Abbeyside) for Prendergast (47)

20. Billy Power (Clonea) for Lyons (52)

23. Mikey Kearney (Ballyduff Upper) for Hogan (63)

Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)

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I don’t expect Stephen Cluxton to play for Dublin next week: Whelan

CIARÁN WHELAN DOES not think Stephen Cluxton will be playing in Dublin’s Leinster SFC opener next weekend and says his return to the panel for the 2021 season is “still of concern.”

Dublin star Ciarán Kilkenny said the veteran goalkeeper had returned to training last week and indicated that their All-Ireland-winning captain was on a “return to play list.”

Kilkenny was speaking after a period of doubt regarding Cluxton’s inter-county future, with former Mayo player David Brady saying on OTB AM that he believes the Parnell’s clubman has effectively retired.

Cluxton played a league match for his club over the weekend, something which suggests to Whelan that he may not be involved with Dublin when they take on Wexford in the Leinster SFC quarter-final on Sunday.

“I know the reports during the week indicated that he was back in the panel but I think Ciarán Kilkenny was quite shrewd in saying he was on the list of players to return,” he said on the Sunday Game.

“So, there still are question marks out there whether he has actually returned to training.

“And you would envisage with championship next week [that] if he was part of the plans, that he wouldn’t be playing with his club for a league game. It’s still is of concern whether he has walked through that dressing-room door yet, so, time will tell. There’s only a week to go until championship.”

Evan Comerford is currently the first-choice goalkeeper for Dublin and Cluxton’s absence could pave the way for Comerford to continue holding onto the number one jersey.

When asked if he thought Cluxton would be named to start next weekend, Whelan replied:

“I don’t expect him to play next week. That’s being honest, and I do hope I’m wrong and I hope he returns in the next few weeks.”

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Ciarán Whelan does not expect Stephen Cluxton to be between the posts for Dublin's championship opener against Wexford #rtegaa @DubGAAOfficial pic.twitter.com/q2FDShROKr

— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 27, 2021

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‘We’re going to be obviously upset after the loss but we literally have to get over it’

THE DISAPPOINTMENT SHONE through after another big-match defeat to Dublin, but the focus moves swiftly on.

Cork captain Martina O’Brien was keen to look forward after Saturday night’s Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 final defeat, which her side lost on a scoreline of 2-15 to 1-13.

Though four-in-a-row All-Ireland champions, this was just Dublin’s second top-flight league crown, having won their first in 2018.

The Rebels – who were reigning champions from 2019 – have been league specialists through the years, targeting title number 13 at Croke Park on Saturday night.

The sides have dominated the ladies football landscape of late, sharing every All-Ireland title and all but two league crowns – Monaghan won in ’12 and Mayo in ’07 – since 2005.

They’ve unquestionably established themselves as the top two, with Dublin dominating since 2016, following Cork’s unparalleled reign of terror under the late, great Éamonn Ryan.

In the build-up to the final, O’Brien said she felt the gap was closing. “We have beaten them along the way, just not in the important matches,” she also noted.

While the Leesiders have won some league games between the counties over the past few years, the Sky Blues had the upper hand in both in 2021, having prevailed by a single point in the Páirc Uí Chaoimh round-robin tie.

The decider defeat was certainly a hammer blow, but O’Brien says there are positives to take for Ephie Fitzgerald’s side.

“Look we aimed to make it to the league final and we did,” she said afterwards. “Dublin are All-Ireland champions for the last four years so we weren’t coming up thinking we were going to get anything easy here.

We made a lot of mistakes again, but look, all you can do is learn from them. We hope to keep learning. Championship in two weeks time, we’re now concentrated on Meath. We have to learn quickly, we’re just going to go back to the drawing board and go again.”

“I suppose we don’t have too much time to dwell on it which is actually really good,” she added on the defeat. “There’s some years where you would have lost a game and you’d have 10 weeks to think about it. It’s probably good to kind of just get back to training.

“You can literally put the league away now, you learn what you can from it and take that forward. We can literally just put it aside and start fresh. Looking forward to championship starting now.”

Hard luck to our fantastic team , well done to @dublinladiesg on their victory .
Roll On The Championship .@eastcorklgf @mid_cork @NorthCorkLF @westcorkladies https://t.co/lwT9qGUbvV

— Cork LGFA (@CorkLGFA) June 26, 2021

Cork open their championship bid against the Royals, promoted to the senior ranks following last year’s All-Ireland intermediate championship triumph, on 10 July.

Meath will come in on a high, having sealed another promotion after being crowned Division 2 champions at HQ on Saturday night, so the Rebels know the height of the challenge which lies ahead.

With Tipperary – severely weakened by injury – also in Group B, the top two progress to the quarter-finals, and Cork will be hell-bent on stopping Dublin’s Drive For Five.

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To do so, improvements are needed, says O’Brien.

“I do think we need to learn from mistakes that we make in every match,” the goalkeeper concluded. “There seems to be a few that will reoccur.

“It’s just keeping that togetherness. When you lose like that, you can lose that… you can lose the forward momentum that you did have. We need to keep that.

“We’re going to be obviously upset after the loss or whatever but we literally have to get over it. By Wednesday night, get back training, and go again.”

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8,000 fans allowed into Croke Park next Saturday for Leinster hurling semi-finals

CROKE PARK HAS been confirmed as the venue for the Leinster SHC semi-finals this Saturday, with 8,000 fans permitted to attend the games.

Leinster GAA announced the news this evening, the venue switched from Portlaoise, in what will be a significant step forward for the gradual return of fans to live sport. The decision also follows on from a successful series of pilot events which have taken place in recent weeks. Details regarding tickets will be released tomorrow.

It is part of a significant weekend for GAA attendances with 2,400 permitted in Thurles on Saturday night as Limerick play Cork and 1,049 allowed in Dr Hyde Park on Sunday afternoon as Roscommon meet Galway. Both games had recently been flagged as part of the series of outdoor pilot sport events for the safe return of spectators.

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The first of the semi-final ties will see Dublin take on Galway at 2pm before defending champions Kilkenny face off with Wexford later in the afternoon at 4.30pm.

Leinster GAA are delighted to announce the Senior Hurling Semi Finals this Saturday will now take place in Croke Park.

8,000 spectators will watch Dublin v Galway (2pm) and Kilkenny v Wexford at (4.30pm)

Ticketing details and relevant information will be confirmed tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/IHeojXWIr3

— Leinster GAA (@gaaleinster) June 28, 2021

Dublin and Wexford booked their place in the final-four of the competition after emphatic wins over Antrim and Laois at the weekend.

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Mattie Kenny’s charges produced a clinical 3-31 to 0-22 victory against the Saffrons while Rory Connor registered 1-7 to help Wexford ease past Laois.

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How Mayo forwards are sharing attacking duties without O’Connor

JAMES HORAN FACED the unenviable task of replacing the championship’s all-time leading scorer on the eve of Mayo’s Connacht campaign.

Mayo’s Cillian O’Connor watches on from the stand.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Still only 28, though it feels he’s been round forever, O’Connor’s numbers are remarkable.  

He already has 10 years and 100 competitive games racked up. He has scored 30-337 in his 60 championship outings. He finished top of the All-Ireland scoring charts in five of the last 10 seasons.

He boasts a scoring average of 7.1 points per game in the championship, and his scoring rate rises to 7.8 points in All-Ireland series games against Dublin.

He’s a big game player and one that sets the tempo on Mayo’s last line of attack. Last season, no Mayo player forced more turnovers than O’Connor. 

It goes without saying that a player of his calibre and experience can’t be easily replaced. Factor in the six retirees over the winter and that’s a significant amount of know-how lost from the dressing room since their run to the 2020 All-Ireland final. 

O’Connor’s season-ending Achilles injury was softened somewhat by their relatively easy path to the provincial final with just Sligo and Leitrim standing in the way of the Connacht champions. 

It gives Horan the opportunity to find out what Mayo’s attack looks like without O’Connor, before they most likely face Roscommon or Galway in the Connacht final. 

On the first day out against Sligo, it was a collective effort by the Mayo forwards to replace what they’ve lost in O’Connor.

Given O’Connor is a elite free-taker, right up there with Dean Rock, the big question was who’d assume the placed ball responsibilities. 

Belmullet ace Ryan O’Donoghue, a 2020 All-Star nominee, lined out in the corner and clipped four frees in addition to one from play. The real test of his mettle on frees will come later in the summer, but it was a bright start. 

But it was debutant Darren McHale and old warhorse Aidan O’Shea who hit the headlines by firing 3-7 between them.

Obviously, the standard of the opposition must be taken into account. Sligo lost their last three games in Division 4 and were powerless to prevent Mayo from freewheeling to victory.

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Horan’s men looked on a different level athletically and they had this game wrapped up by half-time. 

Mayo’s scoring threat without O’Connor won’t be properly road tested until they reach the provincial decider and possibly until the All-Ireland series. So it’s important not to read too much into this 70 minutes, but there were some interesting aspects about how they set-up. 

O’Shea’s deployment at full-forward gives Mayo that aerial threat. His strength and quick hands means that when Mayo get runners off him, like this Stephen Coen score, he’ll draw defenders and set-up scoring chances for others.

In this scenario it takes three Sligo defenders to halt O’Shea, and Coen times his run off the shoulder and kicks a good score.

Sometimes O’Shea gets criticised for his lack of scoring threat, but Kieran Donaghy was never judged by his contribution to the scorers column. It was his ability to create havoc and shooting opportunities for others around him that made Donaghy special. 

Mayo will miss O’Shea in the middle, but with Matthew Ruane, Conor Loftus and Diarmuid O’Connor all capable midfielders they can make do without him.

With the speed and direct running of Tommy Conroy and O’Donoghue either side of O’Shea, there’s plenty to like about this full-forward line. Again, the real tests will come down the line, but it’s a start. 

One of O’Shea’s best attributes is his tackling so Mayo’s strong pressing game won’t suffer too much without O’Connor.

The first goal arrived after O’Donoghue and Kevin McLoughlin doubled up on a Sligo defender before O’Shea pounced to drive forward and hit the net.

Earlier in the game, Sligo tried to work the ball out of defence through the hands….

…and O’Shea eventually forced the turnover…

…before feeding Conroy’s run at the posts that resulted in a fisted score.  

Another excellent run along the end line from Conroy created McHale’s goal after the initial shot was blocked.

Conroy has added a few kilos of muscle since last year and he may well be the man that ultimately takes a more central role in the Mayo attack without O’Connor. 

McHale’s tally of 1-5 from centre-forward on his first championship start was a welcome boost for Horan. He starred on Knockmore’s run to the Mayo SFC title last year and looks to have the ingredients to make it at this level. 

In addition to O’Donoghue’s free-taking, he displayed great unselfishness when setting up O’Shea’s second goal.

After racing through, many young forwards would have shot themselves in that situation so the Belmullet star showed his maturity in picking out the man in the best position.

It’s a trait that will serve his team well as the championship rolls on. 

Mayo have exceptionally powerful ball carriers in defence with Oisin Mullin, Lee Keegan, Eoghan McLoughlin and Paddy Durcan all suiting a running game from deep.

It will result in a steady supply of ball for the forward line so the trick will be making it stick inside. 

With McHale at centre-forward and the inside trio of Conroy, O’Shea and O’Donoghue, there’s still plenty of attacking quality in this group.  

Can they make up for O’Connor’s prolific scoring together? Time will tell. 

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‘To have her in the dressing room again is brilliant’ – retired Dublin star making impact felt in different capacity

EARLY IN THE second half of Saturday’s league final between Dublin and Cork, a familiar face took to the field in Croke Park.

Noelle Healy was called upon, but not as an impact substitute. This time, the recently-retired five-time All-Ireland champion was on the pitch as the team doctor.

While she made her way out to the forward line she so often starred in through the years, the 2017 Footballer of the Year donned a ‘Dochtúir’ bib rather than the famous Sky Blue jersey.

There, the intensive care doctor and anaesthetist attended to Caoimhe O’Connor, helping the 21-year-old off as a blood sub.

Healy bowed out as a legend of the game in April, with a remarkable list of achievements to boot, though has stayed involved with the panel.

An interesting addition to Mick Bohan’s backroom team, her presence alone is a massive boost to team-mates she soldiered with for so long.

Just as the evergreen Siobhán McGrath vouched for in the Hogan Stand straight after her Player of the Match winning display, which helped land Dublin’s second-ever Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 crown.

“To be honest, it was devastating [when she retired],” McGrath told The42.

“A lot of us had grown up playing together, playing senior together for a long time so her leaving the panel was devastating. It was the right thing for her – but just to have her back here, to have her in the dressing room again, her character, her personality is just brilliant, so we’re happy to have her in any capacity we can have her in.”

Great to see former @dublinladiesg player & 5 time All Ireland winner Dr Noelle Healy who retired earlier this year back on pitch in Croke Park with the Dubs as team doctor. #COYGIB pic.twitter.com/mlLkyAvQtg

— Darren Chambers (@dmcambrois) June 26, 2021

The Thomas Davis ace produced another towering performance around the middle for the four-in-a-row All-Ireland champions, and reflected on a rare league final win afterwards, understanding many people’s disbelief that this was just their second top-flight crown.

“That’s what we were just saying there. We were really, really going after the league this year, we wanted it, because we’ve only had one. To get it now is really sweet.”

In recent years, Bohan has used the league to blood younger players and unearth new gems on the Dublin fringes.

It’s often been said there may be a bit of a hangover from the previous year’s championship success, but the Jackies certainly found a nice balance this season, winning silverware and their five games, using 31 players, and getting championship ready.

“I think our panel has really shone through this year,” McGrath agrees. “Girls that have been working hard the last few years have really come to the fore now.

“Caoimhe [O’Connor], Hedgo [Niamh Hetherton], getting Hannah [Tyrrell] back, our panel is really strong at the moment and we’re really enjoying training with the panel we have.”

On the younger talent coming through, she continued: “To be honest, it’s great to see that. When a few of us leave the panel, this year maybe [laughs], just to know that them girls have really, really stepped up now and the future is bright for Dublin.

“It’s very pleasing and satisfying for us, all the girls to feel like we can, as Mick says, pass the baton.”

Siobhán McGrath with her player of the match award afterwards.

Source: Brian Reilly-Troy/INPHO

Tyrrell, a huge success story from the campaign having made her impact felt since retiring from international rugby, echoed her team-mates words afterwards.

“We have some incredible players coming through the ranks. Obviously we have the likes of the Lyndsey Daveys, Siobhan McGraths, Sinead Ahernes who have been here for years on end, that know how to play the game.

“With those younger players coming in in their debut season – Hannah Leahy and Abby Shiels in goal – it’s great to have that coming through because they’re pushing for the jerseys and keeping everybody on their toes. That’s what you need.”

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What was playing in a game like that, which had it all, like? “Tiring,” Tyrrell laughed.

“No, look, it’s an absolutely massive pitch and Cork always give us a tremendous fight. It was very much tit for tat in the first half and thankfully, we just managed to get a few crucial scores put away at the right time, and get the win.”

McGrath nodded: “It was the usual with Cork. It’s always nip and tuck, we’re very similar teams in nature. I don’t think it was much different to what we’re usually against but I think we tried to learn from the last day and tried to stop them coming through the middle.

“You can never rest on your laurels with Cork, they’re such a good side. But yeah, we’re just really happy we got the victory today.” 

Both delighted to have fans back in Croke Park — “spread out but you could really hear them,” McGrath assured — focus now switches to championship, where the defending champions find themselves in a group with Tyrone and Waterford.

The Drive for Five well and truly cranks into gear on 10 July, and no doubt, there’ll be another meeting with old foes Cork along the way.

“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 concluded.

“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.”

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‘It’s an amazing story’ – A first senior championship start for Clare hurlers at the age of 30

IN THE 50th minute of Sunday afternoon’s game, Páidí Fitzpatrick was summoned to the sideline at Semple Stadium.

The Clare defender gestured with his fist as he ran off, saluting David McInerney who was coming on as a replacement. The message was clear.

He had put in a huge shift to help establish a winning platform for his team as they were nine points clear.

Now the focus shifted to supporting the rest of the team as they attempted to finish the job.

Ultimately Clare were successful by four points. It was a victory to savour for their team to kick-start the 2021 ambitions but for Fitzpatrick it held a deeper meaning, this was an experience that he had waited some time to share in.

A first senior championship start for Clare at 30 years of age, seven weeks shy from his 31st birthday.

It was almost 13 years exactly, since he had previously started a championship game of any description for a Clare team.

On 25 June 2008 he featured in a Munster minor semi-final against Tipperary.

On 27 June 2021 he featured in a Munster senior quarter-final against Waterford.

It was a notable journey from one point to the other. His maiden competitive senior appearance for Clare arrived on Sunday 1 March last year. He acquitted himself well in a nine-point league win over Dublin in Ennis but any aspirations for channelling that momentum were soon wrecked. The country shut down 11 days later and the pandemic ripped up everyone’s plans.

Source: Bryan Keane/INPHO

Well done to Paidi Fitzpatrick who made his competitive debut for Clare in the National Hurling league versus Dublin in Ennis at the weekend. Joined by club mate Cathal Malone as the other wing back. #clareseniors #paidifitz #sixmilebridgegaa https://t.co/J9WwzPxMYT pic.twitter.com/CRAwWBSiRE

— Sixmilebridge (@SMBClare) March 2, 2020

When the 2020 inter-county programme of games resumed, Fitzpatrick made the bench for Clare’s four winter outings. He got pushed into the action in Portlaoise last November, a championship milestone arriving in the 60th minute of their triumph over Wexford.

2021 brought league starts against Wexford and Dublin before the big chance arrived on Sunday. He seized it, blotting out the threat of Waterford’s Jack Fagan to announce himself on the senior stage.

“It’s an amazing story,” admits Syl O’Connor, the Clare FM GAA commentator and Sixmilebridge club-mate of Fitzpatrick.

“Páidí would have been looked upon as one of the best man-markers in the county at club level. No question about that.

“Some of his greatest battles were marking Conor McGrath, when he was in his prime. The ‘Bridge and Cratloe were very prominent for a period, playing each other. Conor was one of the top players, Páidí always got the task of marking Conor.

“He probably has a unique style as well, he’s a real man-marker. He’d probably never run 100 yards and pop it over the bar. But the man that’s on him, won’t do that easily either.

“He’s a massive player from the ‘Bridge point of view. Very influential and very well got with the team.”

Back in 2008 he moved from club underage ranks to fill the centre-back spot for the Clare minor hurlers in a team powered by the inside attacking duo of McGrath and Darach Honan. It was a campaign where they made a rousing start by beating Cork but were then knocked out by Tipperary.

Fitzpatrick was on the fringes of the county U21 squad in 2010 and 2011 without ever managing to break into the first fifteen.

Then followed a long spell away from the inter-county game yet his hurling never declined. He focused on his work with the club and prospered.

When Sixmilebridge lifted the Canon Hamilton Cup last September, it ensured Fitzpatrick would pick up his fifth Clare senior hurling medal since 2013. He had started in all five final wins, captaining them in 2017, while covering a range of positions including full-back, wing-back, midfield and centre-forward.

Source: Lorraine O’Sullivan/INPHO

In his homeplace they appreciated his worth as a golden age for the club was enjoyed.

“I’d often think of the example of Shane Prendergast in Kilkenny,” says O’Connor.

“Came in the first year and won the All-Ireland (in 2015), he was captain the next year for the All-Ireland and was gone the following year. He was 29 when he came in.

“Look, everybody would be surprised to see you make your senior championship debut at 30 years of age. There’s no doubt about that. But you’d have to look at it and say, how did that happen?

“I think he’s come into the scene now, based on the type of player that I believe Brian Lohan looks for. Big men and trying to get power into the team. Páidí has fallen into the category then of making his championship debut at 30 years of age.

“That half-back line is a massive unit with himself, John Conlon and Diarmuid Ryan. The size of Páidí is a big plus and his man-marking ability.”

Playing club hurling at an elite level gave him a strong grounding, to the fore for a dominant side in Clare, then testing himself in Munster against heavyweights like Na Piarsaigh and Ballygunner.

His older brother Stiofan was midfield on the Clare minor team that lifted the All-Ireland crown at the expense of Clare in 1997. His father PJ has been a club coach of renown in the county, a long-serving principal in Clonlara National School where he was one of the early influences in the hurling careers of current Clare stalwarts Colm Galvin and John Conlon.

Cathal McInerney and Páidí Fitzpatrick in the 2019 Clare county senior final.

Source: Lorraine O’Sullivan/INPHO

Fitzpatrick spent some time travelling as well, switching careers around 2016 from chartered accountancy to mobile and web development.

On the day of the 2019 All-Ireland hurling final, he was lining out at Treasure Island in San Francisco to help Na Fianna win the senior hurling final against the Tipperary club. Wolfe Tones player Rory Hayes was a team-mate that day, now they are both part of the Clare defensive unit.

And this week they’ve a Munster semi-final to prepare for.

Back in 2006, Munster’s U16 inter-divisional hurling tournament culminated with East Clare pipping Mid Tipperary by a point in the final. Páidí Fitzpatrick was on the winning side, Noel McGrath on the losing team. Given their general positioning, they’re likely to renew acquaintances on the pitch next Sunday.

McGrath’s inter-county career exploded to life after that game 15 years ago, Fitzpatrick’s has taken a bit longer to take flight.

“It’s unusual nowadays to be starting so late,” admits O’Connor.

“But then again there’s nothing unusual nowadays about a fella blazing a trail of glory at 18 or 19 and then he’s gone. Maybe for a change, it’ll go the other way for a while.

“He stuck at it. The worst thing you can do is stand beside Páid Fitzpatrick, you’d only be looking up at him. He’s a massive lad.

“And if there’s a job to be done on the hurling pitch, he’ll do it.”

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– First published 06.00, 29 June

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