Month: April 2022

THIRTY YEARS on and it’s still the soundtrack of the GAA championship. Other television stations have secured broadcasting rights and encroached on viewership figures, but we always seem to gravitate back to The Sunday Game.

Maybe it’s the warmth that radiates from presenter Michael Lyster or the energy surrounding the panelists that keeps us coming back. Or perhaps it’s the eternal link to our childhood etched in the intro music. In any case, there will always be something about The Sunday Game that would make us grieve a bit if it ever left us.

2016 was another dour championship overall but the flagship GAA programme still managed to eke out some significant moments throughout their transmissions.

Colm O’Rourke and Joe Brolly deriding Tipperary Football

At the outset of the football championship, it was reported that Tipperary had lost some 11 players from the previous year’s panel. Work commitments, personal reasons and a preference for hurling were among the causes for the drop-off.

But Liam Kearns managed to orchestrate a Tipperary charge that would not only exceed expectations, but obliterate them. It started with an upset against Cork and ended with a respectable defeat to Mayo in the All-Ireland semi-final. You can throw in an emphatic All-Ireland quarter-final win over Galway in there as well, just to illustrate the strength of their achievement.

Source: MuscularChristianity/YouTube

But at half-time in the Munster final against Kerry, Joe Brolly and Colm O’Rourke were already planning Tipperary’s funeral.

Amidst the sniggering, Colm O’Rourke managed to blurt out:

It’s not a proper championship match in the context of say a Donegal v Monaghan game where every ball was fought for.

Omissions on the Team of the Year

Two notable exclusions from The Sunday Game Team of the Year sparked division online.

Of course social media should never be perceived as the most accurate way of gauging the general consensus, but conducting surveys everyday is a strain on resources so it will have to do.

After the team was announced, the irksome reaction on Twitter focused on the absence of Tyrone’s Peter Harte and Ryan McHugh of Donegal from the final cut.

Joe Brolly’s strange obsession with Mayo

This isn’t necessarily a moment, rather a sequence of incidents which revolve around Joe Brolly’s peculiar interest in Mayo. His Sunday Independent columns tend to contain offensive references to Mayo football but his actions as a Sunday Game pundit sometimes expose a side of him that is longing for Mayo to win the All-Ireland.

On the day of the drawn All-Ireland final, Brolly produced a Mayo jersey and vowed to wear it if Mayo won the game. In explaining his inspiration for the gesture, Brolly told this heartwarming story.

I’ll tell you a story. A beautiful young girl – Laura Donnellan – before she died of cystic fibrosis, she asked me ‘I want you to do something for me’. She had very little time to live. She said ‘Look, if Mayo win the All-Ireland, I want you to wear the Mayo jersey in the Sunday Game studio after the final whistle’.

“Her mother reminded me during the week. She said ‘I hope you’ll be faithful to your promise to my daughter. She’ll be watching down’. The Mayo board actually sent me the jersey – the number 13 which I will wear. It gives you an idea of how important it is and how special it is to everyone in Mayo. The team are bound to understand that this is the time and it’s more than just a medal and more than just a cup.”

When picking his GAA moment of the year after Dublin finally settled the tie, Brolly paid tribute to another Mayo person – this time Shane Halligan, the Mayo kitman. Halligan was close to death last year, before being rescued by a lung transplant. Brolly’s own personal history with organ donation is well documented and he told the studio that he visits Halligan every time Mayo are in Croke Park.

“That transformation from death to life I think it’s something very special. Gaelic football in the end is something that’s just fun for us but that’s serious business.”

Marty Morrisey’s stirring speech ahead of the All-Ireland Hurling Final

All-Ireland final day is perhaps one of the few occasions when the Irish diaspora feel closest to home. And when commentators read out the names of those watching/listening from all pockets of the world, the distance shortens a little bit more because no matter where you are in the world, we’re all following the same game together.

Marty Morrissey’s speech ahead of this year’s hurling All-Ireland final had a unifying effect on us all.

Pat Spillane advertising his coaching services 

It was a bizarre moment during a Sunday Game highlights show in June when Pat Spillane put his name forward for inter-county management.

He begins by verbally laying out his credentials for management before declaring that Cork’s current slump could be revitalised by the assistance of an outside manager.

But he doesn’t quite take the significant step to directly advertise himself for the job.

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WITH THE PAIN of last year’s final defeat to Clara still fresh in the memory, O’Loughlin Gaels centre-back Brian Hogan couldn’t contain his delight after his side scored a surprise victory against Ballyhale Shamrocks in this year’s Kilkenny SHC final.

The former Cats defender was beaming after their 0-19 to 1-12 victory against TJ Reid, Henry Shefflin and Co yesterday, and struggled to explain how important the victory was to the club, their first county title since 2010.

“I can’t say how much this means, it’s unreal,” club captain Hogan told Newstalk’s Oisin Langan after the game in Nowlan Park.

“It’s always worth it. In Kilkenny, they are [county titles] so bloody hard to get.

“I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t some soul searching done over the winter.

“The panel were just so focused after the disappointment of last year.”

Hogan and his team-mates formed a united front this campaign, and embarked on a fundraising mission to build a gym in the club.

But it was a speech from his fellow stalwart Martin ‘Gorta’ Comerford after last year’s final that Hogan felt really brought the players together.

“Anyone who is the dressing room last year after we lost to Clara will know where that [motivation] came from.

“Gorta was captain last year and he said some words in the dressing room.

“We didn’t talk about it all year until today really. It was emotional. He just said, ‘look lads it’s in our hands to come back next year and it’s a test of what we’re made of’.

“We didn’t make a big deal of it during the year and today was the day to bring it back to the forefront, to use it in a constructive way.

“And we did I think. You could see that in the second half. There was no way we were losing that match, no way.”

An emotional Comerford, who scored two points in the win, was equally delighted but keen to highlight how difficult the Kilkenny crown is to win, especially considering the gaps in the club schedule.

“The Kilkenny championship is not conducive to many games sometimes.

“There are two parts to the season. You start off in April and then there’s a big break.

“We could go 12 weeks without a competitive game which is absolutely ridiculous but we just have to try to peak at the right time.

“It’s difficult to get that right. And we did, and we’re absolutely delighted to get over the line.”

Comerford singled out Mark Bergin for particular praise after the forward chipped in with 11 points from placed balls.

Mark Bergin celebrates the win.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

“Mark is always a star for us, he’s a great club man,” Comerford added.

“He hit the frees spot on, one after the other.

“I suppose when he’s up against a free-taker of TJ Reid’s standard you want to be on your game. Thankfully Mark hit frees from all angles.

“It’s a dagger in the opposition’s heart every time they go over.

“After last year’s pain and hurt we’re delighted to put the club back in a good position going forward.”

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HIGHLY-RATED MEATH footballer Conor Nash has completed a deal to join AFL outfit Hawthorn.

Having already spent time in Australia training with his new teammates, the club opted to offer Nash a professional contract. And the 18-year-old, who also grew up playing rugby, will be joined at Hawthorn by Derry’s Conor Glass, who signed with the club last October.

“I grew up playing Gaelic footy and rugby and that’s where I was spotted,” Nash told the Herald Sun. “I’ve been three times out here I think and each time have gotten in with the boys and become a full-time player for those couple of weeks that I’m there and training.”

But Nash, who helped his GAA club Simonstown Gaels to their first-ever county championship yesterday, may now not be available to play for Colm O’Rourke’s side in the Leinster quarter-final tie against Rhode, with pre-season in Australia starting next month.

“I’d love to see him playing for Simonstown and centre-field for Meath, but he could play rugby for Ireland, he’s had offers there, and now he’s got the offers of Aussie Rules, so we wish him well,” O’Rourke told RTÉ.

“But at the same time I’d love to see him back. I’d like to confiscate his ticket and let him go out in January.”

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KIERAN DONAGHY IS a player you’d love to have on your team, but hate to play against. Aggressive, brash, physically imposing and an in-your-face approach. A win at all costs mentality. A divisive figure, you either worship him or can’t stand him; there’s no real in-between, as he admits himself.

“If you look at me on the pitch, I’m easy not to like,” he says. “I know that like, it’s the way I play. Definitely up in Dublin I wouldn’t be number one, public enemy number one is what I’d be.”

But beyond the on-field persona, there’s much to like, and admire, about the Kerry footballer. Still formidable in size, Donaghy is best described as a gentle giant. He’s softly-spoken, intelligent and, believe it or not, level-headed.

In recent media appearances to promote his autobiography, Donaghy has spoken about his future, the black card, Philly McMahon and GAA pensions. His book, after all, is about his GAA career.

But what of Kieran Donaghy the person? He’s known as one of the most recognisable Kerry footballers of recent time, winner of six Munster titles, four All-Irelands, three league crowns and three All Star awards. But what of the young lad from Tralee who came through a difficult childhood and the tragic death of his father?

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

We read of his rags to riches story into football stardom and the incredible success he’s enjoyed during a sparkling career, but perhaps the most revealing aspect of it is the personality behind the facade.

“I’m no saint on the pitch but that’s the way I play,” he tells The42. “I play on the edge and do what I have to do to win a game but people don’t know the other side of me. They probably think I’m referencing Joe Brolly in my book’s title (What do you think of that?) but I’m not.

“If I wanted to reference Joe Brolly properly I would have called it ‘What do you think of that, Joe Brolly?’ but I’m asking the reader that question.

“Read it and tell me what you think of me. If you still hate me that’s fine but I think people will get a better understanding of why I play the way I play and what drives me as a player.

“I’m a bit of a softie underneath it all. That’s me, I was predominately raised by two women and they brought me up the right way and to respect my elders and when I cross the white line yeah I turn into this guy who’s trying to win for Kerry or Austin Stacks or Munster or for Ireland.”

As he’s entered the twilight of his career, that competitive streak has remained but perspective has been gained. It was once all about winning and the cut-throat environment that such a mindset engendered. Losing simply wasn’t an option.

“I would have cut your hand off to win,” he admits. But now football is not all about winning. He still loves it, no doubt, but there’s more to it than that; the friendships, the team-mates, the life lessons and the journey.

Source: The42.ie/YouTube

“I came to the realisation in doing this book and the way last year finished up is that of course you want to win the All-Ireland, it’s the ultimate goal,” he explains.

“Every other year when I didn’t win the All-Ireland I was completely in a hole for a few weeks after, feeling all sorry for myself and getting all down about it but when I did this book I came to realise that I’m very lucky to be on the journey.

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“To have 12 years as a Kerry senior footballer, to contest eight All-Ireland finals, to win four of them. To be on a county like Kerry and deliver for them on the big stage and then there’s the flip side of that, be on a county like Kerry and not deliver on the big stage.

“There has been days I’ve let Kerry, there’s been days I’ve let myself and my family down with my performances but that’s just with what comes with it but then there are times I’ve given them huge pride and I’ve given myself pride in what I’ve been able to do on the big days for Kerry.

“The trust the management teams, my respective management teams of Jack, Pat and Eamonn have shown me. I’ll always be thankful for them, it’s been unbelievable and I think I’ve come to realise that it’s more than just about a result or medal or winning an All-Ireland.

“I’ve come to a point where I’m thinking you know what ‘it’s been a great journey, it has been a hell of a ride and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it and wouldn’t change a thing.”

Whether that ride is over just yet remains to be seen. Donaghy has insisted his decision on whether or not to continue his inter-county career into 2017 won’t be made until the New Year.

Until then, his focus is on his first love – basketball.

Donaghy returned to playing senior basketball for Tralee Warriors last year and helped his side return to the Super League top tier for this season. It has given him a new lease of life.

“It probably is my first love,” he reveals. “I’d consider myself a natural basketball player, much more natural on a basketball court than I am on a football pitch. It’s the sport I was better at when I was younger and probably still better at today.

Source: The42.ie/YouTube

“It’s definitely a sport which today is an enjoyable sport to play and almost pressure-free for me. I’ve been lucky enough to win and achieve all my goals in basketball and the reason I’m back playing was to bring the Super League back to Tralee and all the good young players for Tralee, try and be a good mentor for them for two or three years before the body just doesn’t allow me to play basketball at the highest level anymore.

“I’m delighted that it’s going so well. I’m really enjoying it. We beat an excellent Swords Thunder team from Dublin in a cup game at the weekend. We had a 1,000 people at it, we had to turn people away.

“The atmosphere, they’re turning off the lights and doing players intros. We’re trying to jazz it up as much as we can. The reaction we’re getting on Facebook from parents and kids who were at the game, they’ve been blown away by it. If the rest of the league could nearly copy us down in Tralee and get that atmosphere at all the games in the National Basketball League and it got supported by basketball people in general, who watch all the NBA.

“Go down and watch your local guys play. Go watch your Templeogues, your Swords, your DCU Saints. Go watch those guys play, the young Irish players and the talent levels are very high in the league. There are excellent Irish players and of course every team has a very good American. I’d encourage people to get out and watch it.

Donaghy’s return to basketball coincided with his return to form for Kerry. He featured in 11 league and championship games this year for Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s side.

After a frustrating couple of years with injury, 2016 was a good one for the forward as he returned to peak form and enjoyed an extended period in the starting XV until Kerry were dumped out at the semi-final stage by Dublin.

“I don’t think it did me any harm,” he says when asked whether basketball has helped his football career.

Donaghy with his daughter Lola-Rose.

Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

“I played for the first time in seven years last year and I went on to play 11 games in a row for Kerry in both league and championship and played quite well in most of them and covered a lot of ground. It definitely did me well, I was in great physical condition, I was very fit after the basketball.

“I was doing basketball and I was training with Damien Ray and the Kerry backroom team when it came to fitness. I came in a very good position with a good base and was able to attack it from where I wanted to attack it.

“A lot of the skills are transferable but I think the biggest one and most important one is the decision making. In a basketball game you can touch the ball 130-150 times, sometimes more.

“You’re touching it every time you go down the court, you’re touching it in defence, touching it every time you grab a rebound and you can make decisions constantly. You could make up to 200 decisions where as in football, in the 2014 final, I was nominated for man of the match and I touched the ball 11 times but I made nine or 10 good decisions with that and that comes from the basketball, learning how to make the right decisions all the time.

“There’s obviously the hands and vision, in basketball you have to use your peripheral vision to see what’s around you and I felt I probably used that to the best of my ability on a football pitch for Kerry.”

Whether you like him or not, Donaghy leaves an impression.

On his whistle-stop media tour, he popped into our Dublin office last Monday to complete a full morning of interviews. The same questions, the same answers. Over and over again; it’s the modern way.

Source: Andrew Paton/INPHO

So when he’s asked about basketball, and something other than football and whether he’ll be around next year, he speaks passionately. He deflects the attention away from himself and uses the opportunity to promote the sport, still very much a minority one in Ireland, and to endorse the product he’s very much part of.

“I run a basketball camp every year at Halloween in Tralee,” he continues. “I’m delighted to be part of that and delighted to be helping bringing that back to Tralee. Now I can say to my kids in my camp, which I couldn’t say the last three of four years, that’s there’s something to aim for with the Super League.

“When I was a young lad going to Dungarvan for a basketball camp, we had an American coach who told us to sleep with the ball. I went home every night for I’d say about six or seven months until I got too annoyed where I was rolling over onto a basketball every night and I threw it out. I listened to the coach and I slept with the ball every night to get my hands used to the ball and that’s what he was saying, I can tell kids now to do stuff and they can do it with an aim.

“Signing autographs for kids after the game, young guys on the Warriors team who wouldn’t be used to it signing autographs and seeing their face doing that, seeing kids looking up at these guys, now they have an aim and a goal to chase and we didn’t have that in Tralee for the last seven or eight years.

“It’s back, it’s fantastic and it’s definitely given be a new lease of life.”

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PAUL FLYNN ADDED club glory to his inter-county success in 2016 as he helped Fingallians to the Dublin intermediate football championship title this afternoon.

The Swords club defeated Ballymun Kickhams 2-16 to 2-7 and their emphatic nine-point victory not only secures a first title since 1957 but qualification for the Dublin SFC.

Having fallen at the final hurdle in 2012, 2013 and 2014, Fingallians will feel their time has come as they return to the senior ranks after been relegated in 2011.

Flynn and his team-mates will now face St Joseph’s of Louth in the Leinster IFC quarter-final on Saturday 5 November at Cluskey Park.

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THE SEMI-FINAL line-up for the Ulster senior football championship has been revealed this afternoon with Killyclogher, Slaughtneil, Maghery and Kilcoo all safely advancing to the last four.

Mark Bradley’s sweet strike was the highlight as Tyrone champions Killyclogher made light work of Cargin at Healy Park. The hosts eventually ran out 2-10 to 1-8 winners with a late Cargin goal adding gloss to the scoreboard.

They’ll be joined in the semi-finals by Maghery as they survived a brave effort from Ramor United at the Athletics Grounds with a late flurry of points.

The Cavan champions led at the break but five unanswered points from the home side settled the contest on a 1-13 to 1-10 scoreline.

2014 Ulster champions Slaughtneil secured a five-point victory over Derrygonnelly Harps at Celtic Park. The Derry side advanced as 0-12 to 0-7 winners while Kilcoo booked their place in the semi-finals with a hard-fought win over Glenswilly.

Ramor’s Conor Bradley with Conor Mackle of Maghery.

Source: Presseye/Philip Magowan/INPHO

Meanwhile, in the Leinster senior club football championship first round, there were victories for Sean O’Mahony’s, Rhode and Mullinalaghta.

Finally, St Loman’s were crowned the Westmeath football champions for the second successive year after a six-point win over Tyrrellspass at TEG Cusack Park.

Ulster SFC quarter-finals

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• Killyclogher (Tyrone) 2-10 v Cargin (Antrim) 1-8, Healy Park, Omagh
• Slaughtneil (Derry) 0-12 v Derrygonnelly (Fermanagh) 0-7, Celtic Park
• Maghery (Armagh) 1-13 v Ramor United (Cavan) 1-10, Athletic Grounds
• Kilcoo (Down) 1-12 v Glenswilly (Donegal) 1-6, Páirc Esler, Newry

Leinster SFC club first round

• Baltinglass (Wicklow) 0-9 Sean O’Mahony’s 0-10 (Louth), Aughrim
• Gusserane O’Rahilly’s (Wexford) 0-4 Rhode (Offaly) 5-22, New Ross
• Mullinalaghta St Columba’s (Longford) 1-17 Stradbally (Laois) 2-09, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park

Westmeath SFC final

• St Loman’s 1-13 Tyrrellspass 0-10, TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar

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O’Loughlin Gaels 0-19
Ballyhale Shamrocks 1-12

A POWERFUL SECOND half performance helped O’Loughlin Gaels shoot their way to the Kilkenny senior hurling title.

A year after they were in the losing dressing-room, the city side stormed back to the big stage and made no mistake as they came from behind to beat Ballyhale Shamrocks in Nowlan Park.

The Shamrocks, favourites for the spoils, took control in the early stages and seemed to be on a course for victory when T.J. Reid weaved his way through the Gaels backs for a sixth minute goal.

Reid contributed 1-3 in the opening half but, with Ballyhale giving away needless frees, the accuracy of Mark Bergin meant O’Loughlin’s were just two points behind at the break.

O’Loughlin’s were quickly back on level terms in the second half, Martin Comerford and Bergin striking the opening scores but two from T.J. Reid and a Patrick Reid point soon had Ballyhale ahead again. It was the last time they would have such an advantage, however, as O’Loughlin’s took over the scoring in the final 20 minutes or so.

Bergin got them going with a free and a 65, then turned provider when setting up Danny Loughnane and Martin Comerford for points as they went 0-15 to 1-11 in front with ten to play.

O’Loughlin Gaels’ Mark Bergin celebrates at the final whistle.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

The Gaels were the dominant force in the closing stages. The Shamrocks drew level when Eoin Reid found room to grab a point but with momentum moving their way O’Loughlin’s surged ahead.

Loughnane, sub Sean Bolger and Paddy Deegan fired over three points in quick succession, helping their side open up a lead that Ballyhale just couldn’t claw back, before Bergin’s tenth free of the game sealed a fourth senior title for the Gaels.

Scorers for O’Loughlin Gaels: Mark Bergin (0-11, 0-10f, 65), Danny Loughnane, Martin Comerford (0-2 each), Paddy Butler, Paddy Deegan, Sammy Johnston, Sean Bolger (0-1 each).

Scorers for Ballyhale Shamrocks: T.J. Reid (1-5, 0-3f), Bob Aylward, Mark Aylward, Henry Shefflin, Colin Fennelly, Eoin Reid, Patrick Reid, Patrick Mullen (0-1 each).

Ballyhale Shamrocks:

1. James Connolly

2. Kevin Mullen
3. Padraig Holden
4. Darren Mullen

5. Richie Reid
6. Joey Holden
7. Bob Aylward

8. Mark Aylward
9. Henry Shefflin

10. Colin Fennelly
11. Eoin Reid
12. T.J. Reid

13. Ronan Corcoran
14. Patrick Reid
15. Patrick Mullen

Subs:

19. Joe Cuddihy for Corcoran (46)
20. David Hoyne for P. Reid (59)

O’Loughlin Gaels

1.Stephen Murphy

2. Anthony Forristal
3. Andy Kearns
4. Eddie Kearns

5. Alan O’Brien
6. Brian Hogan
7. Huw Lawlor

8. Paddy Butler
9. Paddy Deegan

10. Alan Geoghegan
14. Mark Bergin
12. Danny Loughnane

13. Sammy Johnson
11. Mark Kelly
15. Martin Comerford

Subs:
21. Sean Bolger for Johnston, 48 mins.
Referee: Richard Dowling (Kilmacow)

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Ballyea 2-14
Clonlara 1-14

BALLYEA POWERED TO their first-ever Clare senior hurling title after finally shaking off Clonlara with the last three points to end a titanic 120 minute battle.

In a reverse of the drawn game, it was Ballyea who led the way for the majority only to be reeled in by a John Conlon equalising goal approaching the final quarter.

Crucially however, Ballyea never let their opponents get ahead as after swapping points twice in the closing stages, they finished with successive scores from man of the match Niall Deasy, substitute Damien Burke and talisman Tony Kelly to complete a historic afternoon.

With Gary Brennan their chief target man at full-forward, Ballyea hit the ground running to surge 1-4 to 0-1 clear by the 10th minute, book-ended by 1-2 for the All Star football nominee.

Indeed, Clonlara were fortunate to only be trailing by six at this stage as goalkeeper Ger O’Connell had pulled off three important saves to keep his side in this replay.

Niall Deasy battles with Cormac O’Donovan.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

Clonlara finally settled with points from Cathal O’Connell, John Conlon and Micheál O’Loughlin only to be rocked once more by a second Ballyea goal when Deasy soloed through to push his side 2-4 to 0-4 clear by the end of the opening quarter.

The rebuilding work was predominantly carried by full-forward Conlon who earned frees for O’Connell to reduce the arrears to just three by the break at 2-5 to 0-8.

It had to take Conlon’s 41st minute goal set-up by a Colm Galvin lineball to finally gain parity however at 2-09 to 1-12.

However, any doubts that Ballyea would wilt would be banished as Deasy and Kelly led a late surge to become the tenth different winner of the Clare SHC in the past 13 seasons.

Scorers for Ballyea: Niall Deasy 1-3 (1f); Gary Brennan 1-2; Tony Kelly 0-4 (1f, 1’65); Pat Joe Connolly, Joe Neylon, Brian Carrigg, Jack Browne, Damien Burke 0-1 each

Scorers for Clonlara: Cathal O’Connell 0-8 (7f); John Conlon 1-1; Colm Galvin 0-2; Micheál O’Loughlin, Nicky O’Connell (1f), Darach Honan 0-1 each

Ballyea

1. Kevin Sheehan

4. Brian Carrigg
3. Jack Browne
2. Joe Neylon

6. Paul Flanagan
5. Gearoid O’Connell
7. James Murphy

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8. Tony Kelly
9. Stan Lineen (Captain)

10. Niall Deasy
13. Pat Joe Connolly
12. Cathal Doohan

17. Martin O’Leary
11. Gary Brennan
15. Pearse Lillis

Subs:

18. Damien Burke for O’Leary (44)
19. David Egan for Connolly (54)

Clonlara

1. Ger O’Connell

2. Cillian Fennessy
7. Domhnall O’Donovan
29. Garrett Kenned

9. Cormac O’Donovan
5. Nicky O’Connell
6. Neil Ryan

3. Oisin O’Brien
8. Colm Galvin

15. Michael O’Loughlin
10. Darach Honan
13. James Hastings

18. Ger Powell
14. John Conlon (Captain)
11. Cathal O’Connell

Subs:

27. Shane O’Brien for Ryan (24)
17. Pat O’Hare for C. O’Donovan (39)
12. Paraic O’Loughlin for O’Hare (58)
23. David Fitzgerald for Galvin (61)

Referee: Damien Fox (Clooney-Quin).

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Carbery Rangers 2-11
Monaleen 0-7

CORK COUNTY CHAMPIONS Carbery Rangers will face either Stradbally or Abbeyside of Waterford in the Munster semi-final following an impressive 2-11 to 0-7 win over Monaleen of Limerick today.

The entertaining clash, played in perfect conditions at the Gaelic Grounds, saw Monaleen come out of the blocks flying, racking up three excellent goal chances in the opening 4 minutes.

Unfortunately for Muiris Gavin’s side, the Carbery net was not rattled and the Cork title holders responded with three points from John O’Rourke, two from John Hayes and a Seamus Hayes score to put the green, white and gold 0-6 to 0-1 in front after the opening 20 minutes.

Ger Collins did reply for Monaleen before the break however, but further points from Alan Jennings and Michael Kelly left the half time score 1-8 to 0-2.

The second thirty began much like the first half ended. Carbery Rangers, effortless in their ball skills and score taking, fashion a penalty when the excellent John O’Rourke was pulled down by Monaleen’s Finbar Nash.When O’Rourke chipped the ball beyond the diving Monaleen joint captain Donal O’Sullivan, the game was over as a contest.

Monaleen did not give up and former Limerick football star Ger Collins continued to threaten a well disciplined Carbery defence.

Paul Hodnett is congratulated by a Carberry Rangers supporter after the game.

Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

Limerick’s current hurling coach, Paul Kinnerk, came off the bench to raise a white flag for the Limerick city men, but there was not enough time or indeed space on the pitch for Monaleen to make any more of a dent on the Carbery lead.

The final scoreline of 2-11 to 0-7 truly reflected the dominance of the Cork champions, who live to fight another day.

Monaleen:

Donal O’Sullivan, Colm Moran, John O’Dwyer, Evan Quinlan, Padraig Quinn, Jack Hoare, Shane Cusack, Barry Fitzpatrick, Ross Mc Grath, Daniel Enright, Luke Kavanagh, Ed Doyle, Brian O’Donovan, Ger Collins, Graham O’Connell.

Subs: Nash for Cuasck (29), Kinnerk for Kavanagh (30), Barry for Quinlan (42), Kelly for Quinn (45).

Carbery Rangers:

Paul Shanahan, Micheal Kelly, Brian Shanahan, Rob Hegarty, Robbie Kiely, Thomas O’Rourke, Jerry O’Riordan, Kevin Mc Mahon, James Fitzpatrick, Alan Jennings, Chris O’Donovan, Mike Mennis, John O’Rourke, Seamus Hayes, John Hayes.

Subs: Kieran Fitzpatrick for Seamus Hayes (45), P Hodnett for Hegarthy. (48), Sean O’Neill for Chris O’Donovan (56), B Hodnett for Minnis (58).

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