Month: September 2021

ALL ROADS LEAD to Dr Hyde Park on Saturday 25 August for ladies football fans with an exciting All-Ireland championship semi-final triple-header on the cards.

A general view of Roscommon’s Dr Hyde Park.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

There’s an All-Ireland intermediate championship final spot up for grabs first as Meath and Roscommon go head-to-head (throw-in 1pm, live on TG4) before the two senior last four battles go down for decision.

11-time All-Ireland winners Cork meet Ulster champions Donegal in the first of the two semi-finals (throw-in 2.45pm, live on TG4) making for an interesting battle.

Both have looked strong through the summer to date and with some of the best forwards in the country on each side, it’s sure that this shoot-out will come right down to the wire.

Ephie Fitzgerald’s Rebels exited at this stage last year so they’ll be hoping to make amends and appear in Croke Park once again, while Donegal — bidding for a first-ever All-Ireland senior title — will be looking to also take that crucial last step.

The four senior semi-finalists.

Source: Seb Daly/SPORTSFILE

Holders Dublin and Connacht champions Galway then face off for the second coveted All-Ireland senior final spot on offer, with throw-in for that one 4.30pm (live on TG4).

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The sides have had two interesting clashes in 2018 so far, going head-to-head twice in Division 1 of the Lidl Ladies National Football League.

Stephen Glennon’s Tribeswomen came out on top in their round robin fixture, but the Sky Blues edged past them thanks to a late, late goal and subsequent one-point win in the semi-final.

✅ *VENUE CONFIRMED*

🏆 @SportTG4 @TG4TV All-Ireland semi-finals

🏟️ Dr. Hyde Park, Roscommon

1⃣ IFC: @RoscommonLGFA v @meathladiesMLGF 1pm
2⃣ SFC: @CorkLGFA v @DonegalLGFA 2.45pm
3⃣ SFC: @GalwayLgfa v @dublinladiesg 4.30pm#properfan pic.twitter.com/yd7tiAQjEs

— Ladies Football (@LadiesFootball) August 15, 2018

Saturday 25 August 2018

TG4 All Ireland Intermediate and Senior Semi Finals – ET if Necessary, all live on TG4

• IFC: Meath v Roscommon, 1pm, Dr Hyde Park, Roscommon
• SFC: Cork v Donegal, 2.45pm, Dr Hyde Park, Roscommon
• SFC: Dublin v Galway, 4.30pm, Dr Hyde Park, Roscommon

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HURLERS FROM EIGHT counties that lit up the championship action in the 1990s will be honoured in Croke Park this Sunday on All-Ireland final day.

Traditionally the jubilee team is honoured 25 years on from their triumph, in between the All-Ireland minor and senior deciders.

Kilkenny were Liam MacCarthy Cup victors in 1992 and 1993, and after they were recognised last year, the GAA have opted to salute the star hurlers of the 1990s this year.

Offaly, Clare and Wexford each have three players apiece in the side. Martin Hanamy, Brian Whelehan and Johnny Dooley represent the Faithful while Brian Lohan, Seanie McMahon and Jamesie O’Connor are the Banner trio. The Wexford players selected are Damien Fitzhenry, Liam Dunne and Martin Storey.

Ciaran Carey and Gary Kirby are the Limerick duo to be honoured with Cork’s Brian Corcoran, Galway’s Michael Coleman, Kilkenny’s DJ Carey and Tipperary’s Michael Cleary completing the side.

A group of senior GAA correspondents under the chairmanship of GAA President John Horan selected the team.

The players honoured won a combined total of 26 All-Ireland senior hurling medals and 54 All-Star hurling awards during their careers. They will be guests of the GAA on Sunday and will be presented to the crowd in between the minor and senior finals.

Hurling Team of the 1990s

1. Damien Fitzhenry (Wexford – Duffry Rovers)

2. Brian Corcoran (Cork – Erins Own)
3. Brian Lohan (Clare – Wolfe Tones)
4. Martin Hanamy (Offaly – St Rynagh’s)

5. Brian Whelahan (Offaly – Birr)
6. Seánie McMahon (Clare – St Joseph’s Doora Barefield)
7. Liam Dunne (Wexford – Oulart the Ballagh)

8. Ciarán Carey (Limerick – Patrickswell)
9. Michael Coleman (Galway – Abbeyknockmoy)

10. Martin Storey (Wexford – Oulart the Ballagh)
11. Gary Kirby (Limerick – Patrickswell)
12. Jamesie O’Connor (Clare – St Joseph’s Doora Barefield)

13. Michael Cleary (Tipperary – Nenagh Éire Óg)
14. DJ Carey (Kilkenny – Young Irelands)
15. Johnny Dooley (Offaly – Seir Kieran)

The selectors were: John Horan (Uachtarán CLG), Martin Breheny (Irish Independent), Sean Moran (Irish Times), Michael Lyster (RTÉ TV), Brian Carthy (RTÉ Radio), Jim O’Sullivan (formerly Irish Examiner), Martán Ó Ciardha (Iar RnaG), Sean Bán Breathnach (RnaG).

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ALL-STAR HURLER Ollie Moran believes Limerick will be ‘very conscious’ of Galway’s recent habit of stuttering over the line as the sides prepare to meet in the All-Ireland SHC final.

Ollie Moran pictured illustrating pride in his county colours at a media day ahead of this weekend’s GAA Hurling All-Ireland Final.

Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO

The defending All-Ireland champions struggled to secure victories in their last three championship outings after building up convincing leads against Kilkenny and Clare  respectively.

Limerick on the other hand produced a strong finish in their semi-final clash with Cork, rallying from six points down in the closing stages to force extra-time and ultimately secure their spot in a first All-Ireland decider since 2007.

Moran believes Limerick have the resilience to survive any challenge that Galway bring to Croke Park, but stresses that the Shannonsiders cannot allow their opponents rush off into an early lead.

“Galway have gotten off to very good starts in their last three games and again ultimately, that’s what won out the day for them,” says the Ahane clubman.

“They were probably faltering in the last three games and hanging on really.

I think Limerick will be very, very conscious of that. I didn’t think Limerick started particularly well against either Kilkenny or Cork.

“Now they weren’t behind and they didn’t get any sucker punches but I feel they cannot afford to give Galway a start. That’s an absolute no-no for Limerick.

“They’re the more experienced team, I think the last thing you want starting an All-Ireland final is to be facing an uphill battle and trying to get momentum and try and get back on top of a team of Galway’s quality.

“I think they’ll be acutely aware of it as well.

“If we can ask enough questions and get scores at the right times and be well in the game coming down the stretch… I do feel we need to be ahead coming down that last 10-minute stretch because Galway are the more experienced team and they’re well conditioned.”

Shane Dowling.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Limerick’s decision to close themselves off from the ‘hype’ and excitement has become a discussion point in recent weeks.

Shane Dowling asked for fans to ‘leave the players to focus’ in his post-match interview after their victory over Cork, while manager John Kiely has insisted that ‘hype is for supporters.’

Moran, who lined out for the Shannonsiders in the 2007 final, says the external hype had no negative impact on their preparations for that meeting with Kilkenny and suspects that the cautious approach might be rooted in Limerick’s defeat to Clare during the 2013 championship when they were expected to win that tie.

He understands that Limerick people naturally want to celebrate qualifying for a first All-Ireland final in over a decade, but he also backs Kiely and his team for how they are handling their own build-up.

“Look, they’ve a job to do and they’re job isn’t to please the public. They don’t have a duty to go out and meet spectators or meet the press or do events.

Both Pete Finnerty and Ollie Moran have teamed up with Guinness as part of their GAA campaign ‘Bound Together.’

Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO

“They’re putting their heart and souls into achieving their goals and their goal is to be as successful as they possibly can. Ultimately, that’s going to bring massive happiness to the county and I think that’s been the message.”

He added:

“It’s not that people are coming in on the space or anything like that but I just feel [the message is] ‘let us prepare the way we normally do and let us go out and do what we’re supposed to do and that is perform on the day.’

“I would absolutely applaud John Kiely and the management and maybe the players too. I think the players to be fair, are very, very relaxed, and they’re very grounded.

Moran in action during the 2007 All-Ireland SHC final.

Source: Lorraine O’Sullivan/INPHO

“I don’t think they’d be very fazed by it but at the end of the day it’s an All-Ireland final, it’s a huge occasion, it’s massive for a county like Limerick as I said. But look, keep a lid on it and hopefully we’ll be celebrating Monday on and they’ll make up for it.”

1973 is the last time Limerick won the Liam MacCarthy Cup and they have suffered All-Ireland final defeats on five occasions since then.

Moran is confident that the players won’t be burdened by the 45-year gap, but says they must make the most of this opportunity to end the famine while they have it.

“I do think that the form this team is in, they have to strike while the iron is hot.

“In Limerick we’re aware you don’t get these opportunities every second year.

We’ve lost five All-Ireland finals since we won the last one, so that’s certainly something that they need to be aware of, that you’re not there to get experience for the next time you’re there.

“Make the most of it when you’re there.”

Hurling legend Ollie Moran has teamed up with Guinness as part of their GAA campaign ‘Bound Together’ which celebrates the power of the GAA to unite, and heroes the fans and their passionate commitment and connection to their local communities. Enjoy Guinness sensibly. Visit www.drinkaware.ie.

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GALWAY HURLING LEGEND Pete Finnerty fears that Limerick will have a superior bench than the Tribesmen for their All-Ireland final showdown this Sunday [throw-in, 3.30pm].

Shane Dowling scoring a penalty for Limerick in their All-Ireland semi-final.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Limerick’s substitutes made a notable impact in their All-Ireland semi-final victory over Cork, with Shane Dowling converting a crucial extra-time penalty while Pat Ryan also found the back of the net after being sprung from the bench.

Finnerty has been impressed with their contribution to Limerick’s overall championship campaign and has also observed that Galway struggled in this area in their All-Ireland semi-final clash with Clare.

They’ve made an impact every time they’ve come off the bench and they have a stronger bench than us being honest,” says Finnerty.

“When we had to replace Gearóid McInerney, we had to bring a forward back to do it. We had no obvious direct swap and if Gearóid is playing on Sunday and he is fit but his leg was to go again well, then we’re going to be down a forward.

Pete Finnerty illustrating pride in his county colours at a media day ahead of this weekend’s GAA Hurling All-Ireland Final.

Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO

“Ok we have [Jason] Flynn to come in and maybe Niall Burke to come in or Jonathan Glynn or whoever starts.

But if you take another man out of that and bring in one, you only two marquee forwards to bring in then.

“When our subs come in this time, they have to perform because we can’t let a lead slip again like we have against Kilkenny and Clare.”

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While Finnerty has concerns about this aspect of Galway’s game, he was pleased with the character they showed against Clare the first day out when All-Star talents including McInerney, Joe Canning and David Burke were all on the bench at a crucial stage in the game.

Joe Canning receiving medical attention during Galway’s All-Ireland semi-final clash with Clare.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

“You have to give credit to Galway the day that we were two points down and a few minutes to go in extra-time, there was a time you looked at the bench and you looked at five All-Stars who were injured or taken off.

“Johnny Coen missed an easy point to win the match and still he had the guts and determination to throw it over the bar to put us a point again.

“They showed an awful lot of character under an awful lot of pressure that day and I know they have ran it close at times. But nine games is a lot too. We would be hoping that some of the Limerick lads would get caught in the headlights and mightn’t turn up on the day.

And we’d be hoping with our experience and our forward power, when we click, we can be virtually unmarkable at times but doing it for 20 or 25 minutes is not going to win an All-Ireland.”

Finnerty was a vital defensive cog in the Galway team who secured back-to-back All-Ireland titles between 1987 and 1988.

He quotes their famous manager Cyril Farrell when he says that ‘there’s no winter when you win an All-Ireland’ on account of the celebrations and good times that sustain the players through the dark and cold nights.

It was an experience which Finnerty and his crew were able to enjoy over successive Christmas periods before a 29-year drought set in.

Finnerty and the Galway team of 1987.

Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO

The Mullagh clubman opines that All-Ireland success helps a player ‘ grow up a little bit and get a bit more mature.’ He saw it in his own teammates at the time and he is seeing history repeat itself among the current Galway players who are seeking to emulate those successful teams of the late 80′s.

“I can even see it in Adrian Tuohy and John Hanbury, lads like that that weren’t maybe that confident maybe two years ago or a year ago. They’re now playing with a different panache and different style,” he says.

It would be an incredible feat if they win on Sunday. It’ll be their ninth game and nobody else has had to play nine games to win an All-Ireland. Back in our day we probably would have three All-Ireland finals won for nine because we only really played three games if we played three at all.

“So it would be an incredible feat to put back-to-back All-Irelands with such a tough and fantastic campaign.

It’s something special to do the second one because not many teams have done [it] outside of Kilkenny. They were an exceptional team and we were blessed to see them. There is a lot of pressure, but they’re capable of doing it as well.

Hurling legend Pete Finnerty has teamed up with Guinness as part of their GAA campaign ‘Bound Together’ which celebrates the power of the GAA to unite, and heroes the fans and their passionate commitment and connection to their local communities. Enjoy Guinness sensibly. Visit www.drinkaware.ie.

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Updated Aug 15th 2018, 9:34 PM

Source: INPHO

IT’S ALL-IRELAND hurling final week and a novel pairing with Galway and Limerick taking centre stage on Sunday in Croke Park.

Galway ended a 29-year wait for the Liam MacCarthy Cup last year, Limerick are aiming to end a 45-year barren spell this year.

Both counties have had their share of final outings but can you recognise some of the stars from those teams that previously featured in deciders?

Test your knowledge.

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WHEN THE BATTLE lines are drawn on Sunday afternoon, one key area of combat will be the middle third.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

In the maroon corner are David Burke and Johnny Coen. Micheal Donoghue stumbled across the midfield partnership halfway through his first campaign in charge back in 2016 and they’ve been mainstays ever since.

Galway’s second-half collapse against Kilkenny in the Leinster final that summer, where they lost by seven points after leading by three at the interval, signalled the end of the Burke-Davy Glennon combination at 8 and 9.

By the time the Tribe faced Clare in the All-Ireland quarter-final three weeks later, Coen was repositioned from corner-back to centre-field alongside Burke. It wasn’t unfamiliar territory – the pair were a midfield partnership with Galway U21s in 2011.

Coen retained his place alongside Burke the one-point semi-final defeat to Tipperary – Galway’s last defeat in championship hurling. They’ve been mainstays of the Tribe midfield ever since.

Coen’s defensive nose means he’ll typically pick up the danger man in midfield, like he did by tracking Tony Kelly against the Banner. Coen will likely be handed man-marking duties on Cian Lynch, giving Burke the freedom to drive forward and add to Galway’s scoring threat.

Off the field, Coen and Burke are also close. They went to secondary school together in Loughrea and both studied in UL for four years. After finishing college, Coen (a metalwork teacher) and Burke (a woodwork teacher) returned to St Brigid’s in Loughrea to take up teaching positions.

Johnny Coen in action against Clare

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

Their classrooms are even located across the hall from one another. The pair are currently enjoying their summer holidays, but during the school term they sometimes discuss gameplans or upcoming opponents.

“I’d be always telling Johnny in school, ‘If we win midfield at all we’ve a great chance of winning the game,’” says Burke.

“And if you’re getting on a lot of ball there, you’re setting up a lot of attacks as opposed to them. So it’s simple when you look at it like that.”

They’ll face their most formidable test yet against Limerick’s duo of Lynch and Darragh O’Donovan in the Croke Park trenches.

“Cian Lynch is a big playmaker for them and any good plays they’ve had all year, he’s been in the centre of it. And Darragh Donovan has been working really hard.

“They’ve been playing pretty well and a lot of the comeback they got the last day was down to them winning a lot of dirty ball near the end.

“They’re good hurlers and I think the way they’re playing, they’re playing a deep half-forward line, the half-back line sitting, it’s suiting the two lads they have there and Cian Lynch can attack from deep positions. It’s something that we’ll have to look at…”

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

Galway arrived into the final 12 months ago seeking a first Liam MacCarthy crown in 29 years and looking to end a run of six defeats at the All-Ireland final stage. Limerick have lost the last five deciders they’ve been to and are 45 years without the big prize.

“It’s such a long time, it’s hard to know what’s the best way to (approach) it,” says Burke.

“The worst thing was just dealing with people you’d meet. Talking to them at work, or your own family, and the expectation that was probably on them and being so excited and hoping that it was done. You kind of have to deal with it in a certain way, and really just focus on the game in hand.

“I know it’s a cliché but that is the only way around it, and the rest is a sideshow for them. Obviously afterwards you enjoy it with everyone, but beforehand you have to have just one mind with the rest of the team that ‘Look, this is my job, I’ve to go out and execute it and get it done.’”

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

It’s been suggested in some quarters that Galway are under less pressure than their opponents, given they’ve already ended the long wait for All-Ireland success.

“There’s always pressure definitely on every game,” argues Burke. “And we’re the worst, ourselves, for putting pressure on ourselves going into any game.

“Players just want to get better, naturally, but look Galway people are still hungry for more success and this team is hungry for more as well. Look, that’s the way we’ll be approaching it, another game, and another game that we really want to win.”

The appointment of James Owens as the final referee received plenty of attention in the wake of James McGrath’s subsequent retirement from inter-county duty, but how will Owens ref the game?

“It’s hard to know,” says Burke. “If you compare the game we had the last day and the first day (against Clare) they were two completely different games.

“Probably defences were a lot more on top the last day, 2-13 to 1-17 compared to the high-scoring first game. Every game is different with refereeing as well.

“Look, at the high level, there’s pressure on everyone to perform – especially referees, they’re going to be looked at and there’s pressure on them as well. It’s a big day and we’ll focus on our own job and let James and the linesmen focus on theirs as well.”

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CORK LEGEND SEÁN Óg Ó hAilpín is confident his county will revive their challenge for the Liam MacCarthy Cup in 2019, but he feels that the All-Ireland semi-final stage has become a ‘graveyard round’ for the Rebels.

Seán Óg Ó hAilpín.

Source: Piaras Ó Mídheach/SPORTSFILE

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The Munster champions crashed out at the final-four stage for the second consecutive season after an extra-time thriller against Limerick in which they coughed up a six-point lead in the closing stages of normal time.

The three-time All-Ireland winner believes that Cork would have prevailed in that tie had it been in the Munster championship, and he’s trying to figure out why the penultimate stage of the All-Ireland competition is proving difficult for them.

“As good as I’ve followed Cork teams and had been involved with some good teams, we’ve never beaten the teams in Munster like Cork have this year to retain it.

What kind of disappoints me more is if that semi-final game was down in Thurles against Limerick under the Munster Championship guise, they would have hammered Limerick.

Ó hAilpín’s gaze darts from left to right at the mention of the defeat as he sits in a Croke Park at the launch of the 2018 Croke Park Charity Challenge.

Despite hanging up the number seven jersey when he announced his inter-county retirement in 2012, he still feels the pain of a Cork defeat as acutely as ever.

Cork hurling manager John Meyler.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

The rebel blood still runs in his veins but he knows they will rise again next year.

“I don’t have the answers, I’m still trying to work it out that you have that same team, same players, and when they get here in a semi-final and the mettle is put to them, you just don’t see the same team from a month before in the Munster Championship.

They need to work more on that, because it seems to be the graveyard round for Cork. Getting to semi-finals is no issue now, winning semi-finals was up to a certain point no issue, Jesus Cork teams when they got here, if they got a sniff of whatever, they were going for it.

“Having said that, I would back this Cork group of players to come back. There was an element last year when Waterford beat us [in the semi-final] that come the 70 minutes people knew the game was over.

“This one really hurt, I’d imagine it did because basically it was there in the grass. As a player there was no harm in bottling that hurt over winter and going through. With a thought like that, you start to realise what an extra five per cent means after defeats like that.”

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

The younger players are impressing during this year’s championship with players like Limerick’s Cian Lynch excelling in midfield despite not being long out of the U21 grade. Similarly, Galway’s Conor Whelan has quickly established himself as a marquee forward at the age of just 21 after making his senior championship debut in 2015.

He will compete in his third All-Ireland final this weekend and looks to be in a strong position to collect a second All-Star award later this year.

Ó hAilpín has noticed a shift in how hurling is played which has lead to teams becoming more populated with younger talent.

“I think the focus has switched from physicality. From experience, physicality contested the stuff back then.

Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO

“If you were 23 or 24 you were only breaking onto the team, you had to sit on the bench to serve your time and make way for the likes of Jim Cashman and all these fella’s that had been there. That seemed to be the way back then.

Now the game has switched, it’s all about speed now. I’d imagine with that in mind, a lot of people are going for younger type players with a bit of speed.

“Because most coaches will realise now that if you get a fast guy in, he can do more damage to you than having a stationary guy under dropping ball that’ll pull all day.”

Former Cork hurler and footballer Seán Óg Ó hAilpín was speaking at the launch of the highly anticipated 2018 Croke Park Charity Challenge, organised by Alan Kerins in partnership with Self Help Africa.

The event will see people from the world of business,sport, media and entertainment partake in a charity sporting spectacle on the 23rd October to raise funds for Self Help Africa.

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FORMER GALWAY DUAL star Alan Kerins was confident that Micheál Donoghue would be a successful manager with the hurlers after working alongside him at club level in Clarinbridge.

Source: Piaras Ó Mídheach/SPORTSFILE

Donoghue is on the cusp of guiding Galway to a second consecutive Liam MacCarthy Cup this Sunday after helping them to end a 29-year drought last year.

And Kerins is not surprised to see him thriving at the helm.

The pair won a Galway county title together in 2001 with Donoghue as captain before he went on to assume the manager position in Clarinbridge and guide them to All-Ireland success in 2011 while Kerins was still playing.

Kerins saw influential qualities in him at that stage that would be of benefit to him at inter-county management level, having experienced the kind of belief he instilled in that successful Clarinbridge team.

“He always had a great sense of leadership about him,” says Kerins.

“He was quiet but when he said something you listened he had that presence in the dressing room. He stopped playing then he had a back injury and he took us over then in 2009 and we won the county in 2010 and All Ireland final in 2011 so he was really good, great man manager and can make tough decisions when he has too.

We were flittering around for ten years and he transferred us into coming out of nowhere to win an All Ireland title and we were at the end of our careers a lot of us.”

“He got us to believe in ourselves and got the older players to demand more of ourselves set higher standards and not to accept mediocrity.

Kerins celebrates Clarinbridge’s 2011 All-Ireland success with Micheál Donoghue.

Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

“He brought a great team around him in Noel Burke and Tom Helebert and we never had injuries we had just 16 of a panel and he emphasised good quality backroom staff if we had one injury that year it might not have gone our way.

“He would meet us regularly individually and made you believe in yourself and he demanded that we set standards as players and that the other guys around us lived up to those standards as well.”

Kerins finished his Galway dual career with an All-Ireland football title to his credit after the Tribesmen defeated Meath in the 2001 decider.

Kerins in action in the 2001 All-Ireland hurling final against Tipperary.

Source: INPHO

But he was unable to complete the double after suffering defeats in the 2001 and 2005 All-Ireland SHC finals as Galway failed to bridge the gap on the successes of the 1987 and 1988 teams.

Looking on at the current Galway outfit however, he can see how Donoghue has helped players develop and mature as they seek to secure more All-Ireland glory this weekend when they take on Limerick.

“I knew that he would successful when he went in because of my experience with him he was a phenomenal manager and a lot of the players have really come on under his wing, Gearóid McInerney Joseph Cooney they are real leaders and all the forwards have stepped up too with Joe and their S&C with Lucasz [Kirszenstein] they are at a different level than they were.

They are so big and strong and they can move and they can hurl are they are cohesive it is all about the collective there is no individualism its a collective on and off the field.

“He is a big believer in that and once they are all on the same hymn sheet anything is possible.

“The back room team is the same they are all really good guys, Damien Joyce, Franny Forde, Noel Larkin really good people as well as excellent at what they do and they are all human beings at the end of the day so how you get on has a big bearing on things.

“They really cultivate that team spirt and you can see that when the shit hit the fan they responded well and the fight for each other and play for each other there is no one taking dat shots the right man in the right place gets it.”

Former Galway dual star Alan Kerins was speaking at the launch of the highly anticipated 2018 Croke Park Charity Challenge, which he is organising in partnership with Self Help Africa.

The event will see people from the world of business,sport, media and entertainment partake in a charity sporting spectacle on the 23rd October to raise funds for Self Help Africa.

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A CONTRAST IN hurling seasons.

David Reidy has spent 2017 and 2018 working under two Limerick figures that battled as players in the 90s to end the county’s Liam MacCarthy Cup barren spell.

David Reidy is back in the Limerick hurling ranks.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

This year it has been with John Kiely in Limerick, the twist lies in that last year it was with Joe Quaid in Kildare.

Having operated on the fringes of the Limerick team for a couple of seasons, the plug was pulled at the start of the 2017 campaign.

“John rang me and said I wasn’t in the plans for 2017 and Joe Quaid is a Limerick man managing Kildare. I’m living and working in Kildare so he rang me to see would I come in for a trial or whatever.

“So I spent a couple of weeks in there, I was thoroughly enjoying it, so I kept going.”

He teaches in Rathcoffey in north Kildare and immersed himself in their county scene when the chance arose.

“I didn’t have any knowledge of Kildare hurling really, but there was a good few Limerick lads in there. Adrian O’Sullivan was the strength and conditioning coach and trainer inside there from Ahane as well.

“There was a good Limerick influence. It was a thoroughly enjoyable year and I have nothing, but good things to say about Kildare people in Kildare hurling.

“The effort is brilliant, no more so than it is down here. Maybe they don’t get the recognition they deserve. Kildare won the Christy Ring this year so hopefully they will be promoted. I was delighted for them, they put in a lot of effort, they got a good few lads back this year so that was excellent to see.”

Kildare players celebrate their Christy Ring Cup final victory this year.

Source: Tommy Grealy/INPHO

His form prompted a recall. When Kiely was assembling his squad for the 2018 season, Reidy, a 2016 Fitzgibbon Cup winner with Mary Immaculate College, was recruited.

“I can remember exactly where I was (when he rang), I can’t remember the date, (it was) in October sometime. He just wanted me to come back in for a trial.

“There was a panel of about 40 there and I didn’t hesitate to say yes, it was exactly what I wanted. Thankfully it worked out and it has been a very enjoyable year so far.

“I came into it surprised, but maybe it was the kick I kind of needed to get myself back into where I should be and to work on things I needed to work on, be it hurling wise or maybe mentality wise as well.

“So getting back in with Limerick was always the plan, thankfully it worked out.”

It’s five years since Reidy was first ushered into a Limerick senior squad. His maiden summer opened like a dream as he was present when the county delivered Munster hurling glory for the first time in 17 years.

“My first year was 2013, the year we won the Munster. I was only a garsún. That was a great experience. A couple of lads brought me along the way, Gavin O’Mahony and Paudie O’Brien from Kilmallock were brilliant to me.

“I was only a young fella, I thought there would be more days like this when we won the Munster in 2013. I thought it was all glory days.”

He’s seen the flipside of hurling since then.

David Reidy in action for Limerick against Galway in 2014.

Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

“The following years were tough, but I always knew there was a good bunch of hurlers there. Maybe things, I just can’t put my finger on it, but the influence of the young fellas has brought a carefree attitude.

“Their togetherness and unity, and the skill level and obviously the confidence that comes from winning U21s is maybe the influence we needed in the senior ranks.

“Difficult days, yeah. It has been a long road to get here, especially this year commuting and travelling up and down from Kildare to training was tough.

“When you are in an All-Ireland final them days seem like a long time ago and you are happy to be there.”

The Limerick squad is ferociously competitive, chances of game time must be seized when they arise. Reidy came on in that semi-final epic against Cork and did his bit, chipping in with an extra-time point.

For a player hailing from Dromin-Athlacca, a club in south Limerick hard against the Cork border, it was a sweet success.

David Reidy celebrates Limerick’s All-Ireland semi-final victory with Tom Condon.

“I tried to keep away from it as much as possible, there was a good build up at home before. I tried to keep the head down, to stay away from it as much as I could.

“Nickie (Quaid) went to school in Charleville as well, I went to the CBS. A good lot of my friends would be from the north Cork area – Ballyhea, Newtown, and Charleville so there was a good buzz.”

– Correction: An earlier version of this article stated Ballyea as being part of the North Cork area, that should be Ballyhea.

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A SERIES SEEKING to determine Ireland’s greatest sportsperson is among the sporting highlights for the new season on RTÉ.

‘Ireland’s Greatest Sportsperson,’ presented by Des Cahill and Evanne Ní Chuilinn, will aim to identify the country’s top athlete from the 1960s to the 2000s, with a similar format expected to last year’s programme, ‘Ireland’s Greatest Sporting Moment’.

In addition, ’1982: Prayers of the Faithful’ is described in the broadcaster’s release as “the story of when the most unfancied team to ever win an All-Ireland football title – Offaly – beat a Kerry team considered to be the greatest in GAA history. A team that came from nowhere to upset the odds when Seamus Darby scored the most famous goal in GAA history to send shockwaves through Irish sport.”

And on the morning of the All-Ireland hurling final, ‘The Dressing Room’ will serve as a preview of the big match live from the Croke Park Hotel.

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Jacqui Hurley and Darren Frehill have been announced as the programme’s presenters, with panellists John Mullane, Shane McGrath, Tomas Mulcahy and Anthony Daly joining them.

‘Philly McMahon – The Hardest Hit,’ featuring the accomplished Dublin footballer, is described as a show that “explores the underbelly of illicit drug use in Ireland and makes the case for decriminalisation in Ireland”.

Once again, Darragh Maloney will present The RTÉ Sport Awards, while the following events have also been confirmed to be shown.

• Guinness Series – Irish men’s Rugby team take on Argentina, New Zealand and the USA at the Aviva Stadium in November
• Women’s 6 Nations, begins February
• The All-Ireland Hurling Final, August 19
• The All-Ireland Camogie Final, August 26
• The All-Ireland Football Final, September 2
• The Republic of Ireland’s UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifiers from March 2019
• UEFA Champions League Live moves to Tuesday nights
• FAI Cup Finals Day, November 4
• World Rowing Championships from Bulgaria (9-16 September)
• Christmas Racing from Leopardstown (26-29 December)

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