Month: September 2021

CLARE HAVE RANG the changes for tomorrow’s Division 1A hurling league encounter at home to Kilkenny.

After last weekend’s opening round defeat to Tipperary, joint managers Gerry O’Connor and Donal Moloney have made six changes.

Rory Hayes replaces Jason McCarthy at corner-back, David Fitzgerald is in for Aidan McCarthy at wing-back, while Colm Galvin starts in midfield in place of Tony Kelly who is suspended.

Podge Collins and Peter Duggan start in the half-forward line place of Niall Deasy and Ryan Taylor while Ian Galvin replaces Michael O’Neill at corner-forward.

Clonlara’s John Conlon captains the side and throw-in at Cusack Park is at 2pm.

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Clare

(numbers as per match programme)

1. Donal Tuohy (Crusheen)

20. Rory Hayes (Wolfe Tones na Sionna)
3. David McInerney (Tulla)
4. Jack Browne (Ballyea)

26. David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona)
6. Conor Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
7. Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge)

8. Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge)
21. Colm Galvin (Clonlara)

10. Diarmuid Ryan (Cratloe)
17. Podge Collins (Cratloe)
12. Peter Duggan (Clooney-Quin)

13. Colin Guilfoyle (Newmarket On Fergus)
14. John Conlon (Clonlara – captain)
22. Ian Galvin (Clonlara)

Subs

16. Keith Hogan (Clooney-Quin)
2. Jason McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona)
5. Aidan McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona)
9. Ryan Taylor (Clooney-Quin)
11. Oisín O’Brien (Clonlara)
15. Michael O’Neill (Kilmaley)
18. Michael O’Malley (Kilmaley)
19. Niall Deasy (Ballyea)
23. David Conroy (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield)
24. Paul Flanagan (Ballyea)
25. Gary Cooney (O’Callaghan’s Mills)

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IT WILL BE an all-Kerry clash once again in the Corn Uí Mhuiri final this year in Munster after PS Chorca Dhuibhne and St Brendan’s won their respective semi-final ties this afternoon.

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Dingle-based outfit PS Chorca Dhuibhne saw off Rochestown College 0-13 to 2-6 in Fitzgerald Stadium while St Brendan’s Killarney ran out victors by 2-11 to 0-8 against Clonakilty Community College in Cill na Martra.

PS Chorca Dhuibhne made all the early running to go in front 0-7 to 0-0 by the interval before pushing on to lead 0-9 to 0-0 after 40 minutes. Then Rochestown College rallied with goals from Adam Cantwell and Ray Halloran helping leave them 0-11 to 2-2 adrift entering the finale.

PS Chorca Dhuibhne, who had Kerry All-Ireland minor winners Ruaidhri Ó Beaglaoich and Dylan Geaney in their forward line, were in front 0-13 to 2-2 by the 56th minute and despite the Cork side reeling off the last four points of the game, time ran out on their challenge as they attempted to draw level. 

St Brendan’s, who were convincing victors over Clonakilty in the group stages, moved in front 1-5 to 0-4 at the break and added a second goal early in the second half before claiming a nine-point success.

It will be the first time the two schools have faced off in final of the premier colleges football competition in Munster since 2013. They met at the semi-final stage last year with PS Chorca Dhuibhne running out victors and subsequently lifting the title.

Between they have carved up the last seven titles at this grade since 2012 with PS Chorca Dhuibhne winning five and St Brendan’s lifting the crowns in 2017 and 2018. The final takes place on Saturday 23 February.

Munster Corn Uí Mhuirí Results

PS Chorca Dhuibhne 0-13 Rochestown College 2-6
St Brendan’s Killarney 2-11 Clonakilty CC 0-8

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Galway 1-8
Cork 0-5

GALWAY GOT THEIR Lidl NFL Division 1 campaign off to a winning start as four points from captain Tracey Leonard points helped them to get the better of Cork in Mallow today.

The visitors were deserving winners as they played the far better football over the hour and showed they are going to be a force to reckoned with this season.

It was evident early on that this was the first outing for both as they gave the ball away easily and took some time to settle into the game. Defences were very much to the fore, with both sides finding it hard to create scoring chances.

Galway were first off the mark, four minutes in, when Roisin Leonard set up Tracey Leonard for the opening point. Two minutes later Cork, the TG4 All-Ireland runners-up in 2018, were back on level terms when Aine O’Sullivan pointed.

But straight from the restart Galway worked the ball down the pitch to retake the lead, through Riona Ní Flahartha.

In a low scoring start it took Cork 18 minutes to level, this time Orla Finn pointed after a good exchange of passes with Eimear Scally.

But the game exploded into life in the last seven minutes before half-time with first Mairead Seoighe finding herself in the sin-bin.

But this didn’t bother her side as they were back in front a minute later, when Tracey Leonard split the posts, and she doubled their advantage, to make it 0-4 to 0-2, with 25 minutes gone.

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With 27 minutes played Cork found themselves down to 14 when Aine T O’Sullivan followed Seoighe into the sin-bin. But just before half-time Galway took a grip on the game, when a great ball from Megan Glynn set up Roisin Leonard for the game’s opening goal, to see her side lead 1-4 to 0-2 at half-time.

Finn got the first score of the second half for Cork, with three minutes gone and they weren’t to score again until the game was in injury-time.

Seoighe increased Galway’s lead, with 36 minutes played and she was on target again three minutes later, and this was to be the last score for the next 15 minutes.

Both sides, particularly Cork, were guilty of missing chances, before Tracey Leonard extended Galway’s lead and in the 29th minute Louise Ward made it 1-8 to 0-3.

Cork got two points in injury-time, both from O’Sullivan, with one coming back off the bar as she went for goal and she put the breaking ball over, as Galway ran out deserving winners.

Scorers for Galway: T Leonard 0-4 (0-1f), R Leonard 1-0, M Seoighe 0-2, R Ni Flahartha, L Ward 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cork: A T O’Sullivan 0-3, O Finn 0-2 (0-1f).

Galway

D Gower; M Coyne, S Lynch, F Cooney; S Molloy, L Ward, C Cooney; O Divilly, M Glynn; M Seoighe, T Leonard, L Coen; R Ni Flahartha, R Leonard, S Conneally.

Subs: L Hannon for M Glynn (33), A Thompson for S Conneally (43), B Murphy for R Ni Flahartha (55), B Hannon for R Leonard (56), L Booth for M Coyne.

Cork

M O’Brien; S Kelly, H Looney, A Hutchings; M Cahalane, M Duggan, D Kiely; C McCarthy, A T O’Sullivan; E Kiely, N Cotter, L O’Mahony; L Coppinger, E Scally, O Finn.

Subs: S O’Leary for C McCarthy (h-t), A Kelleher for M Cahalane (h-t), C Collins for S Kelly (40), M Ambrose for D Kiely (50m).

Referee: J Murphy (Carlow)

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Limerick 1-21
Tipperary 1-14

John Fallon reports from Gaelic Grounds

LIMERICK MADE IT two wins in a row as they came from behind to defeat neighbours Tipperary at the Gaelic Grounds in front of a crowd of 8,559.

The All-Ireland champions produced a solid display in the second-half to see off the Tipperary challenge for a deserved win.

The teams were level five times in the opening half but Tipperary went in leading by 1-9 to 1-8 on a freezing night in Limerick.

The cold and frosty conditions made hurling difficult but neither of these neighbours stood on ceremony during an entertaining opening half.

The sides exchanged points three times in the opening 21 minutes but Darragh O’Donovan edged Limerick in front for the first time.

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But then Willie Connors set Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher for a goal for Tipperary and a point from Robert Byrne put them 1-4 to 0-4 in front.

Tipp pulled four points clear after Seamus Callanan, who had earlier missed two scoreable efforts, got his second point of the night.

But then the All-Ireland champions hit back with Graeme Mulcahy neatly finishing overhead to the net after a long delivery from Tom Morrissey.

Aaron Gillane pointed a free to tie the sides at 1-6 apiece before he and Callanan swapped points.

Jason Forde, on for the injured Dan McCormack, and wing-back Barry Heffernan, pushed Tipp two in front but Tom Morrissey cut the gap to the minimum at the break.

Diarmuid Byrnes set up Mulcahy for the equaliser and then edged Limerick in front after 40 minutes.

Callanan levelled for the seventh time but Limerick, with Byrnes and Dan Morrissey dominant in the wing-back positions, pushed clear as league debutant Conor Boylan hit two good points as Gillane, twice, and Dan Morrissey also found the range in a good spell.

A couple of points from Forde and a Callanan free left Tipp trailing by 1-16 to 1-13 with ten minutes remaining.

Gillane scored a magnificent point from the left wing to put four between them with nine minutes remaining as Tipperary struggled to stay in the game.

Limerick never looked like letting the game slip from them and in the end ran out deserving seven point winners.

Scorers for Limerick: Aaron Gillane 0-9 (0-5f, 0-2 65), Diarmaid Byrnes 0-4 (0-2f, 0-1 65), Tom Morrissey 0-2, Graeme Mulcahy 1-1, Conor Boylan 0-2, Darragh O’Donovan 0-1, Dan Morrissey 0-1, Peter Casey 0-1.

Scorers for Tipperary: Seamus Callanan 0-5 (0-5f), Patrick Maher 1-0, Jason Forde 0-3, Michael Breen 0-1, Noel McGrath 0-1, Willie Connors 0-1, Barry Heffernan 0-1, Robert Byrne 0-1, Padraic Maher 0-1.

 LIMERICK

1. Nickie Quaid (Effin)

2. Tom Condon (Knockaderry)
3. Sean Finn (Bruff)
4. Richie English (Doon) 

5. Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell)
6. Declan Hannon (Adare)
7. Dan Morrissey (Ahane) 

8. Darragh O’Donovan (Doon)
9. Colin Ryan (Pallasgreen)

10. Gearoid Hegarty (St Patricks)
11. Tom Morrissey (Ahane)
12. Conor Boylan (Na Piarsaigh) 

13. Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell)
14. Kevin Downes (Na Piarsaigh)
15. Graeme Mulcahy (Kilmallock). 

Subs: 17. Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh) for Downes (45), 25. Paddy O’Loughlin (Kilmallock) for Hannon (50), 21. Kyle Hayes (Kildimo-Pallaskenry) for Boylan (57), 26. Pat Ryan (Doon) for Mulcahy (64), 22. Cian Lynch (Patrickswell) for O’Donovan (69).

TIPPERARY

1. Brian Hogan (Lorrha-Dorrha)

2. Donagh Maher (Burgess)
3. James Barry (Upperchurch-Drombane)
4. Alan Flynn (Kiladangan)

5. Barry Heffernan (Nenagh Éire Óg)
6. Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)
7. Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)

8. Robert Byrne (Portroe)
9. Michael Breen (Ballina)

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

13. Jake Morris (Nenagh Éire Óg)
14. Seamus Callanan (Drom & Inch)
15. Patrick Maher (Lorrha-Dorrha)

Subs: 19. Jason Forde (Silvermines) for McCormack (13), 26. Niall O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for Byrne (50), 25. Killian O’Dwyer (Killenaule) for D Maher (55), 22. Mark Kehoe (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) for Morris (55), 24. John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney) for Breen (63).

Referee: Sean Cleere (Kilkenny).

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Donegal 1-13
Meath 0-14

Alan Foley reports from Ballybofey

DONEGAL TURNED THINGS on their head to take the points against Meath with a bulldozing last 11 minutes at MacCumhaill Park in tonight’s Division 2 league tie.

The side managed by Declan Bonner might still be missing a host of more experienced players and the Gaoth Dobhair contingent ahead of their All-Ireland Club SFC against Corofin, but those on show tonight were far from their best for the first hour.

Meath were a point in front, 0-8 to 0-7, at half-time and from there seemed to be going from strength to strength. Daire Campion scored on 54 minutes to put the visitors within touching distance of the win at 0-14 to 0-10 up.

But then they stopped.

Donegal managed to muscle out a 0-16 to 0-13 win in Ennis last weekend and although still a little wet behind the ears as a panel, had enough wherewithal about them to come through.

Caolan McGonagle’s goal wasn’t a thing of beauty, with the ball trickling past Andrew Colgan in the Meath goal on 59 minutes following a diagonal ball from Eoghan ‘Ban’Gallagher. It did, though, get Donegal on the road and on a freezing night in the north-west it brought some life to the crowd.

From then on, it was almost all one-way traffic. Ciaran Thompson, with his fifth point levelled it at 1-11 to 0-14, before Donegal kicked three decent chances wide. On the timer, it slipped from black to red.

Donegal were not going to be undone. Eoin McHugh, a second half substitute, kicked them ahead in the second of what evolved into eight minutes of injury time and to finish it off, Jamie Brennan gave the scoreboard a look of much more comfort that had in fact been the case.

With Meath just one down, before Brennan’s clincher, Thomas O’Reilly missed a simple effort to tie it up. Andy McEntee must’ve been wondering whether the gods contriving against his troops.

Meath looked good for the most part. Ethan Devine’s score to put them one up at half-time was the least they deserved. Wing-backs Niall Kane and James McEntee were impressing in their forages up the field and Campion, O’Reilly and Michael Newman were strong inside.

As the second half took shape, it seemed as though the result was taking shape too. The lead of one became two, became three, became four. Bryan Menton and Shane McEntee, the centre-field partnership, both scored.

Sixteen minutes remained. That passed, as did eight minutes injury time and Meath didn’t add to their total and Donegal took full advantage.

Scorers for Donegal: Ciaran Thompson 0-5 (0-2f), Niall O’Donnell 0-3 (0-2f), Caolan McGonagle 1-0, Jamie Brennan 0-2, Michael Langan, Martin O’Reilly (1m), Eoin McHugh 0-1 each.

Scorers for Meath: Daire Campion, Michael Newman (2f) 0-3 each, James McEntee, Shane McEntee, Niall Kane 0-2 each, Ethan Devine, Brian Menton 0-1 each.

Donegal

Mark Anthony McGinley; Conor Morrison, Brendan McCole, Eoghan Ban Gallagher; Caolan Ward, Eamonn Doherty, Ryan McHugh; Hugh McFadden, Michael Langan; Niall O’Donnell, Ciaran Thompson, Caolan McGonagle; Martin O’Reilly, Martin McElhinney, Jamie Brennan.

Subs: Leo McLoone for Langan (half-time), Jason McGee for McElhinney (45), Stephen McMenamin for O’Reilly (45), Eoin McHugh for Doherty (67), Paul Brennan for O’Donnell (75).

Meath

Andrew Colgan; Seamus Lavin, Conor McGill, Ronan Ryan; James McEntee, Donal Keogan, Niall Kane; Bryan Menton, Shane McEntee; Ethan Devine, Ben Brennan, Bryan McMahon; Darragh Campion, Mickey Newman, Thomas O’Reilly.

Subs: Cillian O’Sullivan for Brennan (half-time), Graham Reilly for Devine (47), James Conlon for Bryan McMahon (55), Jason Scully for Campion (67), Michael Burke for Newman (72)

Referee: Jerome Henry (Mayo)

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

Carlow 2-7 Westmeath 1-10

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WHEN STEPHEN O’HANLON jogged onto the Clones turf as a 43rd-minute substitute for his Monaghan debut last Sunday, an old basketball coach Joey Boylan sat up on his couch at home.

Conor McManus celebrates after the game with Stephen O’Hanlon.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

“I was actually watching it and when I saw Stephen coming on, it was a surprise,” admitted Boylan, who worked with O’Hanlon as coach with Ireland U18s and DCU Saints. “I didn’t actually realise he was on the senior panel.”

A huge cheer rolled down from the home crowd but all eyes were on the Farney’s star forward Conor McManus, who was entering the fray alongside the 21-year-old.

It took all of about 90 seconds for O’Hanlon to show the home crowd what he was all about. Wearing number 25, the youngster from Carrickmacross had an immediate impact.

Colin Walshe sent a searching ball towards McManus, but it was slightly overhit. From nowhere, O’Hanlon soared and fetched the ball as he was sandwiched in between McManus and Jonny Cooper.

Stephen O'Hanlon finds the net for Monaghan pic.twitter.com/z1tvoeISjM

— The GAA (@officialgaa) January 27, 2019

What was most impressive was when he landed, he was already on the half-turn. Leaving Cooper stumbling behind him, O’Hanlon soloed twice on his right foot, turned onto his left and placed a placed a low strike past the onrushing goalkeeper Evan Comerford.

His first touch in a Monaghan jersey resulted in a goal against the All-Ireland champions, leaving a two-time All-Star trailing in his wake.

If his appearance on the field surprised Boylan, nothing about that goal did.

“His first step took him away from everyone anyway,” he says. “That would have been one his main attributes in basketball.

“He was a point guard. He was very quick. His first step was very quick and you saw that with his goal against Dublin where he took off as soon as he caught it. He was gone.

“He was never afraid to go in against the big boys when he was going to the basket. The 6’6″ and 6’7″ lads, he wasn’t afraid to go up against them.”

Six minutes after his introduction, O’Hanlon laid a goal on a plate for Shane Carey after a devastating run from McManus.

Shane Carey Goal after getting on the end of a good Monaghan move pic.twitter.com/A7pVsVAaID

— The GAA (@officialgaa) January 27, 2019

That six-minute spell made the country sit up and take notice. All of a sudden, Monaghan may have an accomplice for McManus in the full-forward line, joining a formidable attack alongside Conor McCarthy and Jack McCarron.

O’Hanlon’s debut was a long time coming. He scored 2-11 in last year’s U21 county final for Carrickmacross and linked up with the Monaghan squad soon after. Malachy O’Rourke extended the offer for the past couple of years, but O’Hanlon’s interests in basketball meant the advances were knocked back.

The game took him on a scholarship to prep school Trinity-Pawling School in New York state. He was an electric point guard with the varsity basketball team, he also did athletics, running in the 200m and with the 4x400m relay team.

He remained involved with the Irish underage set-up, flying home to represent his country from U16 to U20 level. Boylan was his coach during their U18s FIBA European Championships where Ireland finished in a respectable 17th place.

DCU Saints coach Joey Boylan.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

“He came home to train with us at Christmas for a couple of sessions and then the actual championships were in the summer after he had finished. He was back with the Irish team in May, June and July.”

Their two key players were O’Hanlon and 6’8″ forward Jordan Blount, who is now averaging 10.1 points per game for NCAA Division 1 side UIC Flames.

“The two of them would have been the best two players on the team. They were kind of opposites.”

Boylan believes O’Hanlon’s height (5’11″) worked against him in the race to get noticed by some US colleges. “There would have been a chance (of him getting offers) but it’s very hard for an Irish point guard. It’s the bigger players that make it in the States.”

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Jordan Blount in action for Ireland.

Anyway, basketball’s loss became football’s gain.

After school, he came home and played with DCU Saints, where his brother Kevin was playing and Boylan was coach.

But O’Hanlon struggled with injury that year played in just six games of the Super League season.

“He only played few games,” explained Boylan. “It was his back, he was crippled with his it at the time.

“He played a game and then he was out, then he played a couple of others but he was never really fit.”

He started studying in Maynooth and eventually, football started to take hold.

“He was back into the football then. Stephen was down in Maynooth in college and travel-wise he was going back to Monaghan to play football so he couldn’t play basketball at all last year.”

His spectacular debut last weekend means O’Hanlon is no longer an unknown quantity, but Boylan is confident he has the temperment to handle whatever comes his way.

“He’s a very nice kid, a very nice kid. Very good personality. There’s humour and a bit of messing in him, you know?

“He’s always up for it and he could growl after a game if we lose, but then would start getting up again and start geeing the other guys up. He’s a good guy to have in the dressing room.”

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1. Brother against brother

Skill, Heart, and Respect: all learned in the garden!

Brothers Michael Carey of UL & Sean Carey of UCD – sons of Kilkenny great DJ Carey – were up against each other in tonight’s Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup match at Belfield.

📸 @sportsfilesteve https://t.co/RfFk393T7h pic.twitter.com/4bMCkxqEJt

— Sportsfile (@sportsfile) January 31, 2019

2. Max Holloway loves a bit of GAA

Croke Park seats 82,000 and they play Irish football, hurling, hand ball and rounders here. There is no pay even at highest levels so players have their own jobs. Teams are the counties… https://t.co/01WTBfDZgv

— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) January 27, 2019

3. Here’s to you, Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson would’ve been 100 today. Happy birthday to an all-time legend. pic.twitter.com/h7bDsNGvZ6

— Meredith Frost (@MeredithFrost) January 31, 2019

4. Once a red, always a red Rafa

Mood pic.twitter.com/6FOkkorNww

— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) January 29, 2019

5. Shades of Maurice Fitzgerald about this

The incredible sideline kick from Kerry’s Seanie O’Shea and the reaction from new manager Peter Keane 👌🏻 pic.twitter.com/nw336TBOfm

— Stephen McCarthy (@sportsfilesteve) January 28, 2019

6. He’s come a long way from Sligo Rovers

Amazing to think that 10 years ago today, Seamus Coleman (still at @sligorovers) could not get onto the Ireland u21 squad. pic.twitter.com/6wbvzDSPUi

— Aidan Fitzmaurice (@fitzmaidan) January 28, 2019

7. Captain fantastic

Sinead Aherne confirmed as 2019 Dublin Senior Captain!

Since making her debut back in 2003, Aherne has gone to win

3 SFC All Irelands
1 Div 1 NFL
2 Div 2 NFL
12 Leinster SFC titles
7 All Stars.

In 2018 she was named TG4 Snr Players’ Player of the Year!#COYGIB #LEGEND pic.twitter.com/hnysoRJaUk

— DublinLGFA (@dublinladiesg) January 31, 2019

8. Ah, Pro Evo

The Pro Evo version of Phil Jagielka is on the move pic.twitter.com/woZmiWFcYa

— Adam Hurrey (@FootballCliches) January 31, 2019

9. All together now

Warming down with the fans @LimerickCLG pic.twitter.com/v7y0OefDRO

— Liam Mulcahy (@LiamMulcahyTSM) February 2, 2019

10. And the Auld Triangle…

With statues going up to the great man, worth having a look again at the greatest Luke Kelly pic. pic.twitter.com/LwGOPQnSbe

— Kieran Cunningham (@KCsixtyseven) January 30, 2019

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Kevin O’Brien report from Croke Park

WHEN KEVIN WALSH was asked about his aims for the league campaign after last night’s defeat to Dublin, his response said a lot.

“I suppose it’s our second year in Division 1. We definitely haven’t as much (fitness work) done as we would have done this time last year. There’s a few reasons for that: injuries, colleges and club maybe finishing a bit later.

“But either way, our priority would be to try and keep guys a bit fresher than they were last year, maybe coming into the summer.

“And to get the injuries right so we have everyone available and in proper knick and hopefully find two or three new players that might tip up. That’s probably our priorities – and to stay in Division 1.”

Galway’s priorities have certainly shifted since last year’s league, which was their first top-flight football campaign in seven years.

The Tribe’s starting team for yesterday’s 11-point loss to Dublin saw nine survivors retained from their All-Ireland semi-final defeat to the same opponents. Dublin similarly lined out with nine players who started that 1-24 to 2-12 victory last August.

But there has been a deliberate shift in Walsh’s approach to the league this time around. Last year, Galway went through the regulation stage unbeaten and lost by four points to Dublin in the Division 1 final.

But by the time the sides met in the last four of the All-Ireland series, 11 points separated them and a Dublin victory never looked under threat. A week earlier, Galway went down meekly to Monaghan at Pearse Stadium in the Super 8s.

For all the promise of Galway’s spring campaign and their subsequent run to the Connacht title, they fell flat when it really mattered in August.

The Tribe boss is a financial advisor and he tends to analyse football in a similar fashion. The 2018 “end of year accounts”, as he often puts it, would have highlighted the fact that Galway need to peak later in 2019.

Often times, sides who are promoted into Division 1 put in a heavy pre-season campaign in order to hit the league running. But after regaining their provincial title and reaching the last four of the championship, the priorities have shifted for Walsh’s men.

Rather than proving they belong with the big boys, Galway are more comfortable in their own skin. The aim now is to maintain their Division 1 status and try blood one or two youngsters for the year ahead.

Galway’s Padraig Cunningham with Liam Flatman of Dublin.

Source: Tommy Grealy/INPHO

In Cillian McDaid and Liam Silke, Walsh has a pair of top-class players to introduce into his team this season. It offsets the loss of the Sweeney twins, Patrick and Cathal, who opted out of the squad for 2019.

Silke played in the first round against Cavan, but is now focusing on Corofin’s upcoming All-Ireland semi-final against Gaoth Dobhair. McDaid featured for 35 minutes yesterday, before his withdrawal at the interval with a foot injury. He showed enough promise in the opening period to suggest he’ll be a key figure for the county in the coming year.

The Monivea-Abbey clubman, who returned from a one-year stint in the AFL, kicked two points off John Small in the first quarter, which is no mean feat.

“He was lively,” said Walsh. “He broke the line and certainly was missed in the second-half.”

The injury list includes star names like Damien Comer, who’ll “be another little while” before he returns to the field according to his manager, and Paul Conroy. The midfielder is on the comeback trail after his horror double-leg break during last year’s Super 8s win over Kerry.

Meanwhile, Corofin’s All-Star Ian Burke, Silke, Michael Farragher, Kieran Molloy, Dylan Wall and Bernard Power are all club-tied until 26 February at the earliest. Barring a disaster against the Ulster champions, they won’t be available to return before round 7 of the league.

Players like Padraic Cunningham and Gearoid Armstrong gained some important big-day experience at HQ. But the nature of the 11-point loss will be a little concerning for Walsh, even if he maintained they played well for the opening 50 minutes or so.

“We’ll take the learnings from this,” added Walsh.

“It’s important that we look and say, ‘What did we do well and what did we do poorly?’ When the goal went in I have to say we wouldn’t be happy that maybe defeat was accepted at that time.

“That’s probably our first league defeat when there’s points on offer in the last two years almost, so it’s not a bad consistency with the team.

“But there’s been times before where we’ve been down six or seven points and they fought to the end. Maybe fatigue kicked in a bit, as I said we haven’t as much work done and losing Cillian McDaid at half-time was a bit loss.

“We need that impetus to be breaking the line. It’s still only the second game from seven, but we’ll see what we’ll learn from it.

“Not a bad first-half, not a bad first 20 minutes of the second-half. We were still well in the game at 0-9 to 0-6. We had 12 kicked turnovers in the second-half which is just unacceptable. Five in the first-half, which is just about acceptable. Allowing Dublin counter-attack by kicking away so many stupid balls is going to put you under pressure.

“So I’d be very unhappy with that and also there was a stage when the goal went in, the reaction to that wouldn’t have been that pleasing. We allowed them fetch a lot of ball in the air as well without contesting properly.

“That’s something we have to work on. Overall, disappointed with the finish but there was a good 50 minutes there, particularly down a number of players it wasn’t too bad early on.”

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Kildare 1-10
Cork 0-10

Fintan O’Toole reports from Páirc Uí Chaoimh

BY THE FINAL whistle Kildare were playing out with 13 men and Cork would close out with 14 but amidst the cards being brandished, it was the away team who would round out this Division 2 league encounter on a successful note.

Kildare’s Keith Cribbin goes up against Cork’s Mark Collins.

Source: Ken Sutton/INPHO

On an afternoon where the Páirc Uí Chaoimh surface proved troublesome for both sets of players, it was Kildare who snatched the spoils in a game where both teams were going in search of their first victory after opening day draws last Sunday.

Kildare were cut to 14 men in the 43rd minute, a black card brandished in the direction of Fergal Conway and allied to an earlier yellow card, it resulted in his dismissal. That came at a juncture when Cork had drawn level, Michael Hurley bringing his personal tally to 0-5 for the afternoon from open play.

But the experience and intelligence of Kildare’s seasoned operators Eoin Doyle and Kevin Feely proved crucial as they coped with that setback to forge ahead. Substitute Neil Flynn also made a vital contribution as he picked off 0-3 in the closing stages.

Keith Cribbin was sent to the sin bin in injury-time as Kildare fought to repel Cork’s attempts to salvage something from the game but the home side would also lose a player late on as Brian Hurley was shown a red card for an off-the-ball incident.

Kildare had made a decisive burst in the 12th minute, Kevin Feely calmly rolling a penalty into the bottom corner after Jimmy Hyland was fouled by Cork midfielder Ronan O’Toole. It proved to be the solitary goal of the game and a crucial score that Kildare could fall back on.

Cork packed their defence with bodies early on but struggled with the transition element of their game to attack. Luke Connolly’s accuracy from frees proved costly as he missed four attempts in the first half with Hurley proving Cork’s brightest attacking spark as he picked off 0-3 from play in that opening period.

Kildare were in the ascendancy 1-4 to 0-5 at the interval but Cork quickly wiped out that deficit thanks to Hurley’s attacking interventions. The teams were locked together at 1-5 to 0-8 by the 48th minute but despite the personnel advantage, Cork could not translate it to the scoreboard.

Ruairi Deane saw one piledriver tipped onto the bar by Mark Donnellan and the Kildare netminder got down well on another occasion to divert a Matthew Taylor shot from a narrow angle. It was 1-7 to 0-9 in Kildare’s favour entering the final ten minutes when a trio of Flynn scores created a sizeable advantage.

Cork poured forward yet Kildare were resilient and a Mark Collins converted free was all the home side could muster.

Scorers for Kildare: Kevin Feely 1-1 (1-0 pen, 0-1f), Neil Flynn 0-3 (0-1 ’45), Adam Tyrrell (0-2f), Ben McCormack 0-2 each, Fionn Dowling, Jimmy Hyland (0-1 mark) 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cork: Michael Hurley 0-5, Luke Connolly 0-2 (0-1f, 0-1 mark), Mark Collins (0-1f), Ruairi Deane (0-1 mark), Sean White 0-1 each.

Kildare

1. Mark Donnellan (Maynooth)

2. Mark Dempsey (Moorefield)
3. Mick O’Grady (Celbridge)
4. David Hyland (Athy)

5. James Murray (Moorefield)
6. Eoin Doyle (Naas – captain)
7. Keith Cribbin (Johnstownbridge)

8. Kevin Feely (Athy)
9. Fergal Conway (Celbridge)

10. Conor Hartley (Sarsfields)
11. Fionn Dowling (Suncroft)
13. David Slattery (Confey)

12. Adam Tyrrell (Moorefield)
14. Ben McCormack (Sarsfields)
15. Jimmy Hyland (Ballyteague)

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Subs

20. Aaron Masterson (Moorefield) for Hartley (half-time)
24. Neil Flynn (Maynooth) for Dowling (44)
19. Cian O’Donoghue (Clane) for Murray (54)
18. Eoghan O’Flaherty (Carbury) for Tyrrell (56)
21. Jason Gibbons (Kilcock) for Hyland (65)

Cork

1. Mark White (Clonakilty)

2. Kevin O’Donovan (Nemo Rangers)
3. Kevin Flahive (Douglas)
4. Conor Dennehy (St Finbarr’s)

5. James Loughrey (Mallow)
6. Stephen Cronin (Nemo Rangers)
7. Mattie Taylor (Mallow)

8. Ian Maguire (St Finbarr’s – captain)
9. Ronan O’Toole (Éire Óg)

10. Tomás Clancy (Fermoy)
11. Eoghan McSweeney (Knocknagree)
12. Mark Collins (Castlehaven)

13. Michael Hurley (Castlehaven)
14. Ruairi Deane (Bantry)
15. Luke Connolly (Nemo Rangers)

Subs

22. Paul Kerrigan (Nemo Rangers) for McSweeney (half-time)
23. Sean White (Clonakilty) for O’Toole (48)
19. Liam O’Donovan (Clonakilty) for Loughrey (54)
26. Brian Hurley (Castlehaven) for Connolly (56)
21. Killian O’Hanlon (Kilshannig) for Clancy (61)

Referee: Sean Lonergan (Tipperary)

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Carlow 0-20
Galway 0-20

Conor McKenna reports from Dr Cullen Park

CARLOW AND GALWAY could not be separated after what was a fantastic game of hurling played out in Dr. Cullen Park.

Carlow were magnificent throughout and were full value for the draw which will be remembered for a long, long time in GAA circles.

Carlow lifted the Christy Ring trophy in 2017 and the Joe McDonagh Cup in 2018 and this result may finally give them the respect they deserve.

It was Galway who opened the scoring with a point from Thomas Monaghan and two place ball efforts from Joe Canning gave the visitors a three advantage in the early stages of the game.

One could have been forgiven for thinking this was going to be a one sided affair after the start Galway had but Carlow responded superbly with a free from Martin Kavanagh opening his sides account.

Galway replied with two points from Sean Kilduff and Thomas Monaghan but three successive Carlow scores reduced the deficit to a single point.

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Galway hit ten wides in the opening half alone but the Tribesman still held a 0-11 to 0-7 lead at half time which was deserved.

A close range free from Joe Canning after the interval gave his side a 0-12 to 0-7 lead but it was all Carlow from this point onwards.

Four points in succession, three of which came from Martin Kavanagh, reduced the deficit to a single point and momentum was with Carlow at this stage.

Galway could never quite pull away from the home sides who never took the lead throughout the game.

An inspirational score from Aidan Harte looked to have won the game for Galway but Carlow were awarded a free in the last minute, which gave them a chance to level the game.

Martin Kavanagh showed serious guts to slot the free and give his side a historic draw which was fully deserved.

Scorers for Carlow: Martin Kavanagh 0-11 (10f), Seamus Murphy and Chris Nolan 0-2 each, Edward Byrne, Ted Joyce, David English (1f), James Doyle and Sean Whelan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Galway: Joe Canning 0-10 (8f), Sean Kilduff, Johnny Coen and Thomas Monaghan 0-2 each, Brian Concannon, Sean Loftus, Cathal Mannion and Aidan Harte 0-1 each.

Carlow

1. Brian Tracey (Naomh Eoin)

2. Alan Corcoran (Erins Own)
3. Paul Doyle (St. Mullins)
4. Michael Doyle (Mount Leinster Rangers)

5. Eoin Nolan (Naomh Eoin)
6. David English (Ballinkillen)
7. Richard Coady (Mount Leinster Rangers)

8. Jack Kavanagh (St. Mullins)
9. Sean Whelan (Ballinkillen)

10. John Michael Nolan (Naomh Eoin)
11. Martin Kavanagh (St. Mullins)
12. Seamus Murphy (St. Mullins)

13. Ted Joyce (Mount Leinster Rangers)
14. Edward Byrne (Mount Leinster Rangers)
23. James Doyle (St. Mullins)

Subs:

15. Chris Nolan (Mount Leinster Rangers) for Joyce (54)
24. Jon Nolan (Mount Leinster Rangers) for Byrne (59)

Galway

1. Colm Callanan (Kinvara)

2. Darren Morrissey (Sarsfields)
3. Jack Fitzpatrick (Killimordaly)
9. Sean Loftus (Turloughmore)

5. Greg Lally (Gort)
6. Padraig Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh)
7. Aidan Harte (Gort)

8. Johnny Coen (Loughrea)
4. Sean Kilduff (Clarinbridge)

14. Brian Concannon (Killimordaly)
10. Cathal Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh)
12. James Flynn (Tommy Larkins)

11. Joe Canning (Portumna)
13. Thomas Monaghan (Craughwell)
15. Davy Glennon (Mullagh).

Subs:

25. Sean Bleahene (Ahascragh-Fohenagh) for Glennon (10),
19. Sean Linnane (Turloughmore) for Lally (h-t)
22. Ronan O’Meara (Portumna) for Monaghan (65),

Referee: Cathal McAllister (Cork)

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