Month: September 2021

LIMERICK MANAGER JOHN Ryan is hoping that some of John Kiely’s hurling magic will have rubbed off on his team as they face a first TG4 Ladies All-Ireland junior final since 2010 against Louth this Sunday.

Kiely joined a star-studded panel in a 400-seat sold out fundraising breakfast for the Limerick Ladies team on Tuesday morning, where he rallied the troops ahead of Sunday’s decider.

And while the excitement in the county has subsided slightly following that famous victory for the hurlers over Galway on 19 August, Ryan is intent on adding to the county’s success by claiming the West County Hotel Cup on Sunday.

“We’re pretty excited, the build-up has been good,” said Ryan. “There’s huge positivity about Limerick GAA now at the moment. We are getting massive feedback on that now from the players and supporters and they’re delighted that we’re in Croke Park on Sunday as well.

“The breakfast morning at the Woodlands Hotel was a huge success for us. This was organised within two weeks and it was heartening to see the supporters and local businesses there to help us.

“Having so many of the county’s sport’s people there was brilliant. John (Kiely) passed on his best wishes to us. It’s an All-Ireland final and he’s been through it at under 21s and senior and he’s come out the other side of it.

“The one thing about it is that when you play sport, you play sport for enjoyment. You might not enjoy an All-Ireland final as a player until the final whistle goes, but he told us how important it is to deal with that occasion.”

Source: LadiesFootballTV/YouTube

Louth have defeated Limerick twice so far this year in the Lidl National League, including at the semi-final stage in Division 4.

Ryan conceded his side has been disregarded by many, but he says they are keen to be competitive.

“We were not expected to beat London in the semi-final and when we went down five points in that game we rallied and came back.

“Look, we’re in an All-Ireland final and it’s where you want to be at the end of the year. But we know what to expect from Louth. They’re the favourites and we’re trying to build a squad for the future. It’s a great place to be: Croke Park, All-Ireland final day; it’s where you want to be.”

With such an inexperienced team, Ryan made the bold move to call one of the county’s legendary stars, Dymphna O’Brien, out of retirement. She has previously broken Louth hearts with her match winning performance in the 2010 junior final, but Ryan sees her largely as a guiding hand for his side.

Source: Lorraine O’Sullivan/INPHO

“Dymphna is back in out of retirement and she is a massive asset to us. Dymphna was one of one of the top players in the country and she still very dangerous and she can cause problems.

“But she’s in more or less back in to support the younger players. Especially on a day like this, coming up to Croke Park to unfamiliar surroundings we’ll be hoping that she will influence the players. She’s been there a few times and she knows exactly what to expect.

“It’s great to be in Croke Park and an All-Ireland final but we have to be realistic as well. We’re coming from a low base and were trying to get our team to a certain level.

“We have a good united camp at the moment and it’s going well. We’re delighted that the girls have progressed and it’s all to play for on Sunday.”

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IT’S A CLEAN sweep for All-Ireland champions Limerick as their starting fifteen from last month’s final success have all been nominated for the 2018 GAA-GPA PWC All-Star hurling awards.

Limerick players celebrate their All-Ireland final victory.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

The 45-player shortlist has been released today for this year’s awards which recognise the star players from the 2018 hurling championship action.

All of Limerick’s players will be chasing their first All-Star with the three most recent recipients from the county – Richie McCarthy, Seamus Hickey and Shane Dowling – all amongst the substitutes for the decider triumph over Galway.

Eight counties in total have nominations. Limerick are followed in the rankings by beaten finalists Galway with nine nominees, there are seven Cork players recognised, with five hurlers from both Clare and Kilkenny in the running.

Clare’s John Conlon.

Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO

Two players from Wexford – Liam Ryan and Paudie Foley – along with Dublin’s Chris Crummey and Tipperary’s Jason Forde complete the list.

Tipperary’s Jason Forde.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

There are seven players from the 2017 All-Star side nominated on this occasion – Padraic Mannion, Daithi Burke, Mark Coleman, David Burke, Joe Canning, Conor Whelan and Patrick Horgan.

Both David and Daithi Burke will be chasing their fourth consecutive All-Star.

Galway’s David Burke

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

The list of nominees in full is:

Goalkeepers

1. Anthony Nash (Cork)
2. Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny)
3. Nickie Quaid (Limerick)

Defenders

1. David McInerney (Clare)
2. Mark Coleman (Cork)
3. Colm Spillane (Cork)
4. Chris Crummey (Dublin)
5. Daithi Burke (Galway)
6. Adrian Tuohy (Galway)
7. Padraic Mannion (Galway)
8. Aidan Harte (Galway)
9. Cillian Buckley (Kilkenny)
10. Padraig Walsh (Kilkenny)
11. Sean Finn (Limerick)
12. Mike Casey (Limerick)
13. Richie English (Limerick)
14. Diarmaid Byrnes (Limerick)
15. Declan Hannon (Limerick)
16. Dan Morrissey (Limerick)
17. Paudie Foley (Wexford)
18. Liam Ryan (Wexford)

Kilkenny’s Cillian Buckley.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Midfielders

1. Colm Galvin (Clare)
2. Darragh Fitzgibbon (Cork)
3. David Burke (Galway)
4. James Maher (Kilkenny)
5. Cian Lynch (Limerick)
6. Darragh O’Donovan (Limerick)

Cork’s Darragh Fitzgibbon.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

Forwards

1. Peter Duggan (Clare)
2. John Conlon (Clare)
3. Shane O’Donnell (Clare)
4. Daniel Kearney (Cork)
5. Seamus Harnedy (Cork)
6. Patrick Horgan (Cork)
7. Joe Canning (Galway)
8. Cathal Mannion (Galway)
9. Conor Whelan (Galway)
10. Jonathan Glynn (Galway)
11. TJ Reid (Kilkenny)
12. Kyle Hayes (Limerick)
13. Gearoid Hegarty (Limerick)
14. Tom Morrissey (Limerick)
15. Aaron Gillane (Limerick)
16. Seamus Flanagan (Limerick)
17. Graeme Mulcahy (Limerick)
18. Jason Forde (Tipperary)

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GALWAY’S JOE CANNING is in the hunt to retain his Hurler of the Year award after being nominated for the 2018 accolade along with team-mate Padraic Mannion and Limerick’s Cian Lynch.

Canning would become the first player to win the honour for two successive years if he is voted the victor. It is his third time being nominated after also being recognised in 2012 and 2017.

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Mannion and Lynch are both first-time nominees with Lynch aiming to become the first Limerick player to claim the honour which is part of the 2018 GAA-GPA PWC All-Star awards.

Portumna attacker Canning scored 2-78 during the 2018 championship, Ahascragh-Fohenagh club man Mannion was again central to Galway’s progress and Patrickswell’s Lynch sparkled in midfield for Limerick.

The nominees were decided by a committee made up of GAA media and chaired by GAA President John Horan. The award will be voted on exclusively by inter-county players.

This year’s All-Star awards take place on Friday 2 November in Dublin’s Convention Centre and will be screened live by RTÉ TV.

Who do you think was the best hurler this season?

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THE ALL-IRELAND final man-of-the-match winner from Limerick and a pair of rising Cork stars have all been shortlisted for the Young Hurler of the Year accolade as part of the 2018 GAA-GPA PWC All-Star awards.

Limerick’s Kyle Hayes, Cork’s Mark Coleman and his Rebel team-mate Darragh Fitzgibbon are the trio in contention after the nominations have been decided.

Hayes and Fitzgibbon are both in their second senior season of inter-county hurling while Coleman made his debut in the summer of 2016 when Cork lost out in the championship to Wexford.

All three players impressed last year and then stepped up their level of performances this season. Hayes was central to Limerick’s progress during the summer as he hit 1-13 from play from his centre-forward role.

His point to grab a draw against Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh and the 0-4 tally the Kildimo-Pallaskenry club man chalked up in the final against Galway were some of the highlights of his campaign.

Charleville player Fitzgibbon contributed 0-14 during the season as Cork retained their Munster title and only lost out after extra-time in the All-Ireland semi-final against Limerick, while Coleman was also impressive in Cork’s run as he built on the showing that saw him claim an All-Star award last year.

The shortlist for the Young Hurler of the Year prize is confined to players who are U21. The most recent Limerick hurler to win it was Séamus Hickey in 2007 while Brian Murphy was Cork’s last victor back in 2004.

The nominees were decided by a committee made up of GAA media and chaired by GAA President John Horan. The award will be voted on exclusively by inter-county players.

This year’s All-Star awards take place on Friday 2 November in Dublin’s Convention Centre and will be screened live by RTÉ TV.

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MAYO LADIES FOOTBALL manager Peter Leahy has refuted Cora Staunton’s claims that the Mayo set-up is an unsafe environment to be in, calling her accusations “close to slanderous.”

Staunton was one of 12 players to left the Mayo panel earlier this summer. Initially, they cited “player welfare issues” as the reason for their departure.

The remaining members of the Mayo squad then released a statement to The42 saying that “no player welfare issues exist or have ever existed under the current management.”

In response to the statement, Staunton said: “The environment for us wasn’t right within the county set-up, we didn’t feel it was a safe environment to be in so we decided to leave.” 

Leahy was unhappy to hear Staunton call the Mayo camp “unsafe” and “unhealthy” and defended his set-up.

“The word unsafe is the reason I’m (speaking out),” Leahy told the GAA Hour yesterday.

“The minute safety was brought into it I had to protect my management team. Safety and unhealthy was mentioned last week, enough is enough.

“There is a chartered physio at every single training session. We have live heart-rate monitoring to make sure none of the girls are over-worked.

“We had a meal after every session. We had top facilities. We had a fully qualified strength and conditioning coach. What we have a lot of senior men’s teams don’t have.

“We have a liaison officer there so if there is an unsafe situation, they have to be contacted. She has never heard a word about unsafe.

“These are close to slanderous accusations being put out there. It is not fair on my management team. If somebody wants to come out and say, Peter Leahy did X, Y, and Z, I’d welcome it. It has to be put out in the public domain at this point.”

Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

In the wake of their Connacht final defeat to Galway, the Mayo management had one-on-one meetings with the players. Leahy says some players were unhappy with team selection and “feelings” were hurt over the feedback certain players were given.

“Some of the players weren’t happy with my selection, simple as that,” he explained.

“We only had nine players from the All-Ireland last year playing, that was a problem to a lot of them. In my opinion, it’s not a problem. It’s whoever is the best goes on the pitch on the day.

“All my selectors, including the selector who has left, have agreed on every team selection we’ve made all year. It was about selection. It was, ‘Oh my feelings are hurt.’ It was a feelings situation. I’m sorry but if we start bringing feelings into this equation, it becomes very, very muddled.”

He added that there was an attempt to remove the management and other members of the panel were encouraged to leave.

“We had girls who still remained on the panel who two or three days before we played Cavan were asked to leave, to join them. ‘Oh, if you go they won’t be able to field’, so this is the kind of stuff that was going on, which is cloak and dagger stuff, it’s not nice, it doesn’t reflect well.”

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CONOR NASH HAS retained his place in the Hawthorn team to face Melbourne in tomorrow’s AFL finals series semi-final.

Nash has featured in just four games this campaign, but he’s been an ever-present since making his debut in the regular season against Geelong on 11 August.

The Meath native recently penned a new two-year deal with the club and is averaging 9.5 disposals and 2.5 marks so far in his fledgeling Aussie Rules career.

The 20-year-old is flying the Irish flag after Zach Tuohy and Mark O’Connor exited the competition when Geelong fell to Melbourne last weekend. He’ll start at full-forward for the Hawks at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with the game starting at 10.50am Irish time tomorrow.

Hawthorn lost by 95-64 to Richmond in the first qualifying final of the series in front of 91,446, which sent Richmond safely through to the last four.

Victory over Melbourne would see Nash’s side into a preliminary final – which is effectively a semi-final – against West Coast on 22 September.

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BOTH TIPPERARY AND Waterford are likely to have new senior hurling managers in place by early next week as their focus turns to 2019.

The Premier and Deise are the only Liam MacCarthy Cup counties with vacant hot-seats but county board meetings next week should confirm their respective appointments. 

Waterford were beaten in the 2017 All-Ireland final but suffered an injury-ravaged 2018 and failed to make it out of the Munster round-robin group stage. It was always expected to be Derek McGrath’s last season in charge and confirmed his departure in June after five seasons over the team.

Tipperary, All-Ireland champions in 2016, were also unexpectedly dumped out in Munster. While it initially appeared he would stay on, Michael Ryan stepped down in August. 

Both counties are facing big decisions to replace managers of the quality and expertise of McGrath and Ryan. 

Waterford look set to turn to Paraic Fanning as McGrath’s replacement. The Mount Sion man worked as a selector with Davy Fitzgerald during his time over Waterford and in Wexford for the past two seasons. He was also Laois coach under Seamus ‘Cheddar’ Plunkett in the past, while he managed the Waterford IT side this year.

The Waterford clubs will be asked to ratify Fanning at a county board meeting in Dungarvan on Monday night. He’s likely to include at least one former Deise hurler as part of his backroom team. 

The situation is a little less clear in Tipperary, but All-Ireland U21 winning boss Liam Cahill is the front-runner to succeed Ryan. 

Cahill guided the unfancied Tipp U21s to the All-Ireland crown last month, defeating Cork in the final after shipping a heavy defeat to the Rebels in the Munster final. He also led the county’s minors to All-Ireland success in 2016.

In the wake of Tipp’s late victory over Cork, Cahill confirmed he was open to taking on the role.

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Cahill is facing competition from his Ballingarry club-mate Willie Maher, who managed Tipperary minors to an All-Ireland title in 2012 and served as a Waterford selector under Derek McGrath in 2014. 

But Cahill is believed to be in pole position and he’s expected to bring on Toomevara’s Michael Bevan as coach. The Tipperary county board will present a candidate for ratification at a meeting of delegates next Tuesday. 

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MOTHERHOOD. WORK. COLLEGE. Club. County. In no particular order of significance, but each as important as the next. Dublin’s Amy Connolly isn’t afraid of hard work, nor does her world solely revolve around football anymore.

Connolly in action for Dublin.

Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO

The arrival of son Ciabhan four years ago could have marked the end of her inter-county career, ditto the serious knee injury she suffered in 2017, but the Foxrock-Cabinteely midfielder is as determined and hard-working as she is skilful.

Ahead of Sunday’s All-Ireland ladies football championship final against Cork at Croke Park, Connolly is the latest Dublin footballer to be profiled in AIG’s video series around the county’s teams.

Becoming a mother has given her new perspective on life, and the strong support system around Connolly has allowed her to continue to flourish in a sky-blue jersey. 

This is her story.  

Source: AIG Ireland/YouTube

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WESTMEATH GAA HAS this evening announced the appointment of Jack Cooney and Joe Quaid as the county’s senior football and hurling managers respectively.

Jack Cooney (centre) was previously part of the Donegal coaching staff.

Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

Cooney becomes the first native of the county to take charge since 1992 and having emerged as the leading candidate for the job in recent weeks, his appointment was ratified at a county board meeting on Thursday evening.

He brings an impressive CV to the role having been a selector under Páidí Ó Sé when Westmeath won their first and only Leinster title in 2004, while he also was involved in Rory Gallagher’s Donegal backroom team.

Most recently, Cooney has managed Rhode, Newbridge and his home club Coralstown/Kinnegad and replaces Colin Kelly in the Westmeath post after his resignation back in June. 

“It’s an honour and a privilege to be, first of all, considered and then passed through by the county board and the clubs so I’m absolutely delighted now to be appointed the new Westmeath manager,” Cooney said.

“For years as a player representing the county and then being involved for a number of years with different management teams, it’s a lifelong interest and it’s lifelong passion and I guess the time has come now to actually take on the roll and I’m delighted to do that.”

Quaid, meanwhile, takes charge of the Westmeath hurlers ahead of the 2019 season after enjoying huge success with Kildare, culminating in a Christy Ring Cup triumph this year.

The former Limerick hurler stepped aside as Kildare boss in August and had been linked with the vacant managerial post in Laois as well as the Westmeath job.

Joe Quaid.

Source: Tommy Grealy/INPHO

Commenting on his appointment, he said: “During my time at Kildare I got to know Westmeath hurling better than I had from a Limerick perspective.

“The one thing that always struck me was the level of hurlers that was in Westmeath. We always had good battles with them. I always thought there was potential there.

“I felt this year I won the Christy Ring with Kildare — the Westmeath job was up for grabs.

“I suppose timing is everything in life. I said I’d throw my hat into the ring for it. I’m delighted to get it because they are a team with potential but won nothing. I’m hoping to change that over the next couple of years. That Westmeath are no longer a team with potential.” 

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LAST NOVEMBER, LOUTH ladies football manager Mícheál McKeown set a goal for his team: to play in the TG4 All-Ireland junior final in Croke Park.

On Sunday, they’ll do just that as they take on Limerick with the West County Hotel Cup and promotion to the intermediate grade on the line. 

But the very man that set that goal, that aim for Louth won’t be there to witness it.

The Louth team celebrate their Leinster title win with Mary McKeown.

Source: Warren Matthews

In early June, McKeown passed away at the age of 67. He took ill before Louth’s Leinster championship clash against Kilkenny and died in hospital two days later. 

A cloud of sadness was cast over GAA and ladies football circles as well as further afield with tributes pouring in from far and wide for the much-loved character and highly-respected coach.

Football took a back seat for some time as the panel and management team pulled together to grieve and come to terms with the loss. But championship still had to be played. There was a Leinster final right around the corner.

Darren Bishop, a close family friend of McKeown’s, had been roped in to take a few training sessions prior to the untimely passing and the PE teacher was then approached to take the reins and drive on with the team.

“At the start I was a little bit unsure but after speaking with Micheál’s wife Mary, who I know very well, she asked would I continue on his legacy,” he tells The42.

“That’s what I’ve tried to do. I’ve come in and tried to continue it on. Thankfully we’ve gotten to the 16th September, where he wanted to get the team in the first place.”

An interesting move, but one he couldn’t turn down. Bishop knew he had to do it for Mícheál, to build on the great work he had done and to keep edging towards that goal to run out on the Croke Park turf.

“He was an absolute character,” he grins, his eyes glossing over slightly as the memories come flooding back. All fond, of course. It’s fair to say that McKeown meant a lot to anyone lucky enough to cross paths with him.

GAA | There's some awfully sad news to report this evening after the passing of @LouthLGFA Ladies manager Micheál McKeown. Micheál fell ill before Sunday's Leinster Junior Championship tie with Kilkenny and will be sadly missed by all. Thoughts with his family and friends. RIP. pic.twitter.com/zf2hj0BTGU

— Gavin McLaughlin (@DundalkSport) June 5, 2018

“Anyone that met him, you’d have been left going, ‘Was that a true story he told me?’ He was a monkey like, he’d mess with you completely.

“I think what he brought back into Louth Ladies football was a bit of humour and a bit of enjoyment. Perhaps that’s what it was lacking and that seemed to really work with this group of girls. He got them together from a poor season last year to turn it around and get to a Division 4 final.

“That’s solely down to him and what he had done with them. He was an incredible man for what he’d done with Louth Ladies. The girls I’d say are very thankful for what he’s done.”

And of course, likewise, they’re very grateful for Bishop coming in and the leaps and bounds they’ve made since.

Controlling emotions and maintaining a positive atmosphere in the set-up was of optimum importance as the Wee county looked to do their talking on the field, and play in memory of their late manager.

“I tried to reign in the emotions of the girls a little bit. It was definitely very tough within the first couple of weeks,” Bishop continues.

“We went straight into a Leinster final. That was my first job: to win a Leinster final with them. They done incredibly well. From that day on, what I could see was the respect that they’d shown Mícheál was the same respect that they’d show me.

“I can’t question the commitment, the sacrifice, it’s been unbelievable for me. That’s what they would have done for Mícheál, I’m pleased that they’ve done that for me as well.”

Source: The42.ie/YouTube

The highly-charged scenes at the final whistle of that Leinster final victory over Carlow said it all. The players had McKeown’s wife, Mary, right at the heart of all the celebrations as they rallied through the outpour of emotion together.

That remarkable bond has continued as she keeps in touch with the girls and is sure to lend her utmost support as they prepare to do battle with Limerick on Sunday.

“She’ll be the first woman here on the 16th September to cheer them on,” Bishop smiles.

“It’s brilliant for her as well, brilliant for her and Mícheál’s extended family to see that the work he put in, he’s in some way getting a reward for it by the girls getting here on the 16th September.

“I suppose it’s up to them to carry it through and hopefully get the wish that he wanted at the start of the year.”

After that successful Leinster campaign came the next block, the next challenge which was the group stages of the All-Ireland series. Three steps to get to an All-Ireland semi-final; wins over Antrim, Kilkenny and London followed.

Then it was 2017 All-Ireland finalists Derry in the last four, which turned out to be a pretty crazy game. With six minutes left on the clock, Louth were two points down.

Their full-back Michelle McMahon was involved in an accidental collision and sustained a head injury which led to a lengthy delay.

“Going to the changing rooms, we were there for an hour,” he recalls.

“I knew myself with the girls, there was definitely going to be a kick-back. You could see it in them, they were absolutely devastated with the way they performed. I didn’t have to tell them.

Louth Ladies captain Kate Flood with Limerick Ladies captain Cathy Mee.

Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

“They knew themselves and there had to be some sort of a kick-back. Within 30 seconds that happened. We got our goal, we held out with a point-win. Very tough on Derry but that’s sport, there has to be a winner and a loser like there will be on Sunday.”

The mood in the camp is upbeat and positive, training has been enjoyable with preparations in full flow. But it’s all about producing that performance on Sunday, the team doing themselves justice on the big stage. 

There’s a nice blend of youth and experience, with captain Kate Flood one of few who contested junior finals in 2010, 2012 and 2015. 

But this one, you could say, carries that little extra weight.

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