Month: April 2022

Simonstown Gaels 1-14
Donaghmore-Ashbourne 0-8

COLM O’ROURKE FINALLY got to experience that winning feeling on Meath SFC final day with Simonstown Gaels following a surprisingly comfortable win over Donaghmore-Ashbourne in Navan.

Powered on at midfield by his son, Shane, and the AFL bound Conor Nash, the Navan side burst out of the traps and led by 10 at half-time, holding on for an easy win and their maiden title.

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The favourites had no answer for the power and purpose of Simonstown who were expertly led in attack by former Meath captain Seamus Kenny.

It was Simonstown’s third county final in total having lost the previous two under Meath legend O’Rourke in 2003 and 2004.

They opened the scoring after just 10 seconds, saved a penalty in the third minute and roared into a 1-9 to 0-2 lead at half-time.

Simonstown ultimately finished up with nine points to spare having come into the contest as considerable underdogs and will take on in form Rhode of Offaly in the AIB Leinster club championship on 13 November.

Meath captain Seamus Kenny powered his club to victory.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Meath teams have made little mark in Leinster in the last 15 years or so but Simonstown look a classy outfit with real quality and focus.

They tore into Sean Kelly’s Donaghmore-Ashbourne from the off and moved 0-7 to 0-2 up before Joe Lyons took advantage of a deflection in defence to blast home the game’s only goal.

Man of the Match and free-taker Pauric McKeever hit five first-half points for Simonstown – six in total – while Donaghmore-Ashbourne’s two points came from their full-back and a midfielder.

Andrew Tormey, who missed the early penalty for Donaghmore-Ashbourne, pointed early in the second-half but the miracle they needed never materialised.

Dublin’s Michael Deegan did add three points but they went for goals and were continuously denied as Simonstown picked off enough points to keep a considerable gap between the sides.

Kenny got a point to put his team 11 points clear at one stage while Brian McGrath and Michael Brennan were also on the mark with fine points.

Scorers for Simonstown Gaels: Pauric McKeever 0-6 (0-4f), Joe Lyons 1-0, Shane O’Rourke 0-2, Conor Nash 0-2, Conor Sheridan 0-1 (0-1 45), Seamus Kenny 0-1, Brian McGrath 0-1, M Brennan 0-1.

Scorers for Donaghmore-Ashbourne: Michael Deegan 0-3 (0-2f), Andrew Tormey 0-2, James Colgan 0-1, Conor Carey 0-1, Dylan Brady 0-1.

Simonstown Gaels:

1. Robbie Burlingham

4. Stephen Moran
3. Niall McMahon
2. Shane Gallagher

17. Michael O’Rourke
6. Brian Conlon
7. Niall Kane

8. Shane O’Rourke
9. Conor Nash

10. Joe Lyons
11. Seamus Kenny
12. Mark McCabe

13. Pauric McKeever
14. Conor Sheridan
15. Eanna Donoghue

Subs:

29. Sean Tobin for Sheridan (39)
5. Brian McGrath for M O’Rourke (44)
20. Michael Brennan for Nash (50, black card)
19. Shane Barry for Lyons (59)

Donaghmore-Ashbourne

1. Jack Hannigan

6. Thomas McGovern
3. James Colgan
2. Sean Curran

7. Paul Gilligan
4. JP Casserly
5. Daragh McGovern

8. Conor Carey
9. David Morgan

12. Conor Carton
15. Bryan Menton
10. Cathal Field

13. Dylan Brady
14. Andrew Tormey
11. Michael Deegan

Subs:

19. Cormac McGill for Morgan (14)
17. Eoin Riordan for Casserly (25)
20. Ciaran Ellis for Field (h/t)
22. Aidan Hughes for Carton (45)
23. Jack Giles for D McGovern (49)
18. Shane Melia for Gilligan (56)

Referee: Cormac Reilly (St Mary’s).

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Loughmore-Castleiney 1-9
Moyle Rovers 1-6

A THIRD COUNTY senior football title in four years went the way of Loughmore-Castleiney as they out-paced Moyle Rovers in a tense, low-scoring second half.

It’s been a great year for many of the Loughmore men, most notably the McGrath brothers with multiple All-Ireland medals, but the dual club celebrated just as wildly as ever at the final whistle in Cashel.

Tomas McGrath and John Meagher.

Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

The first half saw Loughmore-Castleiney start and finish the stronger team, going 0-3 in front without reply in the opening minutes before Moyle Rovers got off the mark in the 12th minute with a Stephen Quirke 45.

As the half wore on Moyle Rovers came into it more, although they shot seven wides during this period. The led briefly just before the break as Dara Ryan brilliantly finished off a move created by Luke Boland and Liam Boland with a low shot to the net.

That made it 1-3 to 0-4 in their favour but, seconds later, Cian Hennessy had restored Loughmore-Castleiney’s advantage with a goal at the other end, despite the best efforts of Rovers’ goalkeeper Ian Browne to get a hand to the shot.

Points from Cian Hennessy and John McGrath put them 1-6 to 1-3 ahead at the interval.

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Scores were at a premium in the second half with Moyle Rovers failing to score at all in the third quarter, while Loughmore-Castleiney gradually pulled further ahead – Liam Treacy and Liam McGrath sending over fine efforts, the latter twice.

A black card for hurling star Noel McGrath in the closing minutes couldn’t prevent Loughmore hanging on.

Scorers for Loughmore-Castleiney: C Hennessy (1-2), N McGrath (0-2), J McGrath (0-1), L Treacy (0-1), L McGrath (0-1), J Hennessy (0-1), A McGrath (0-1).

Scorers for Moyle Rovers: D Ryan (1-0), S Quirke (0-3, 1 45’, 2f), L Boland (0-3, 2f).

Loughmore-Castleiney:

D Brennan, L Egan,J Meagher, T McGrath, J Ryan, C McGrath, J Hennessy, N McGrath, J McGrath, B McGrath, L Treacy, A McGrath, L McGrath, E Sweeney, C Hennessy.

Subs: W Eviston for N McGrath (black card, 56), E Connolly for E Sweeney (58).

Moyle Rovers:

I Browne, P Morrissey, A Campbell, D Lyne, D McGrath, R Mulcahy, T Fitzgerald, L Boland, D Owens, D Foley, S Quirke, S Foley, L Boland, C Condon, T Hill.

Subs: D Ryan for T Fitzgerald (10), M Dunne for C Condon (50).

Referee: David Grogan (Aherlow).

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Thursfield Sarsfields 0-17
Ballygunner 0-16

PA BOURKE NABBED nabbed a late, late victory for Thurles Sarsfields with a 65 in the fifth added minute to put them through to the Munster semi-finals.

Ballygunner rallied from four points adrift to get on level terms with the home side entering injury time.

In a thrilling finish, Stephen O’Keeffe batted away Tommy Doyle’s tame shot for a 65.

Bourke stepped up to strike his seventh point of the afternoon and clinch a place in the last four.

Midfielder Stephen Cahill also starred for the Tipp treble winners with 0-4 from play. Padraic Maher shored up the defence at centre back while Ronan Maher drove forward to hit two points.

Pauric Mahony converted eight frees on the losing side. David O’Sullivan and Peter Hogan also threatened for Denis Walsh’s men.

Thurles celebrate victory.

Source: Ken Sutton/INPHO

In a first provincial meeting between these clubs, they traded three points apiece across the opening ten minutes. Shane O’Sullivan edged the Gunners ahead but Thurles replied with four on the spin. Cahill delivered three points in a prolific opening quarter.

Centre backs Padraic Maher and Philip Mahony acted as spare defenders at opposite ends. A pair of Pauric Mahony frees narrowed the deficit to one (0-7 to 0-6).

Peter Hogan created the only goal chance of the first half but Patrick McCormack was equal to it.

Bourke and Stephen Lillis sent Thurles to the dressing rooms 0-9 to 0-7 in the clear.

The Tipp champions were awarded a penalty a minute into the second perriod after a foul on Conor Lanigan by Philip Mahony. Bourke didn’t rise the sliotar properly however and O’Keeffe saved comfortably. Cahill notched his fourth from an acute angle.

Harley Barnes and Mahony closed to the minimum. Sarsfields retrieved their three point cushion with back to back efforts through Ronan Maher and Aidan McCormack. The Gunners retaliated again with David and Brian O’Sullivan on target from long range.

The home team stretched four points away with ten minutes remaining. Wing back Denis Maher nailed his first before Bourke added a brace (0-15 to 0-11).

The determined visitors managed to pare it down to a point once again. Bourke responded to leave it 0-16 to 0-14 entering stoppage time. Mahony (free) and David O’Sullivan dragged the Waterford champions level on 62 minutes.

Dejection for Stephen O’Keefe.

Source: Ken Sutton/INPHO

Bourke had the last laugh as Tommy Maher’s charges advanced by the slimmest of margins.

Scorers for Thurles Sarsfields: Pa Bourke 0-7 (3fs, 1 65’), Stephen Cahill 0-4, Ronan Maher 0-2, Stephen Lillis, Denis Maher, Aidan McCormack, Lar Corbett 0-1 each.

Scorers for Ballygunner: Pauric Mahony 0-8 (8fs), David O’Sullivan 0-3, Peter Hogan 0-2, Harley Barnes, Shane O’Sullivan, Brian O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Thurles Sarsfields

1. Patrick McCormack

2. Stephen Maher
4. Michael Cahill
17. Rory Dwan

7. Denis Maher
6. Padraic Maher
5. Stephen Lillis

3. Ronan Maher
9. Stephen Cahill

12. Pa Bourke
11. Aidan McCormack
15. Lar Corbett

13. Conor Lanigan
14. Richie Ruth
10. Billy McCarthy

Subs

8. John Maher for Dwan (16)
19. Tommy Doyle for Ruth (31)
20. David Kennedy for Michael Cahill (48)
21. Michael O’Brien for Lanigan (51)
26. Cathal Moloney for Corbett (58)

Ballygunner

1. Stephen O’Keeffe

2. Eddie Hayden
3. Barry Coughlan
4. Ian Kenny

5. Wayne Hutchinson
6. Philip Mahony
7. Shane Walsh

8. Harley Barnes
10. David O’Sullivan

9. Shane O’Sullivan
12. Pauric Mahony
13. Conor Power

15. Tim O’Sullivan
14. Brian O’Sullivan
19. Peter Hogan

Subs

20. Stephen Power for Conor Power (50)
11. Billy O’Keeffe for Tim O’Sullivan (50)

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)

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Dr Crokes 1-14
Kilmurry-Ibricknane 0-8

DR CROKES CANTERED into a home Munster club semi-final tie with the Tipperary champions on 13 November, easing past Kilmurry-Ibrickane in Quilty.

They outscored the home club 1-7 to 0-4 in the second half.

In their previous Munster club meetings in 2011 and 2012 the Kerry club were narrow winners but this time they were completely dominant, following a competitive opening 15 minutes.

Kilmurry half forward Shane Hickey was the only home player to score from play, which illustrated their primary issue.

Dr Crokes, who led 0-7 to 0-4 at half-time, withstood a decent start from the West Clare club who defeated Cratloe last Sunday to win their 14th county championship.

However the Pat O’Shea managed Killarney club settled with points from Daithí Casey and Brian Looney taking the sting out of Kilmurry, who were backed by the majority of the 2,557 attendance.

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Colm Cooper in action.

Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO

Four successive points from Kieran O’Leary (0-2), Eoin Brosnan, who started in midfield, and Gavin O’Shea, established a 0-7 to 0-4 lead for the winners.

The games decisive score was put away from the penalty spot byCasey, four minutes into the second half.

Kilmurry defender Martin McMahon was penalised for a foot block on Kieran O’Leary and Casey’s goal established a 1-7 to 0-5 advantage for the winners for whom substitutes Tony Brosnan, Jordan Kiely and Micheál Burns kicked 0-4 from play in that second half.

Scorers for Kilmurry-Ibrickane: Keelan Sexton (0-4f), Ian McInerney (0-3f), Shane Hickey (0-1).

Scorers for Dr Crokes: Daithí Casey (1-2, 1-0 pen), Colm Cooper (0-3, 2f), Kieran O’Leary, Tony Brosnan (0-2 each), Brian Looney, Eoin Brosnan, Gavin O’Shea, Micheál Burns, Jordan Kiely (0-1 each).

Kilmurry-Ibrickane:

1. Ian McInerney

2. Mark Killeen
3. Darren Hickey
4. Ciaran Morrissey

21. Declan Callinan
6. Martin McMahon
7. Darragh Sexton

8. Mark McCarthy
9. Keith King

11. Michael O’Dwyer
5. Shane Hickey
12. Michael Hogan

14. Enda Coughlan
24. Peter O’Dwyer
15. Keelan Sexton

Subs

13. Steven Moloney for Michael O’Dwyer (24)
19. John McNamara for Declan Callinan (31)
10. Niall Hickey for Michael Hogan (40)
30. Keith Sexton for Mark McCarthy (52)
18. Kieran Killeen for Shane Hickey (56-BC)
20. Thomas O’Connor for Enda Coughlan (60).

Dr Crokes:

1. Shane Murphy

2. John Paye
3. Michael Moloney
4. Fionn Fitzgerald

5. Gavin White
6. Alan O’Sullivan
7. David O’Leary

8. Ambrose O’Donovan
9. Johnny Buckey (captain)

10. Daithí Casey
11. Gavin O’Shea
12. Brian Looney

13. Colm Cooper
14. Kieran O’Leary
18. Eoin Brosnan

Subs:

23. Micheál Burns for Johnny Buckley (22-inj),
22. Luke Quinn for Michael Moloney (28-BC)
15. Tony Brosnan for Gavin O’Shea (50)
20. Jordan Kiely for Brian Looney (50)
17. Mike Milner for Kieran O’Leary (55)
21. PJ Lawlor for Colm Cooper (59).

Referee: Kevin Murphy (Cork).

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IN A CITY that never sleeps, amidst the skyscrapers, Lake Michigan and general hustle and bustle, lies a small but close-knit Ladies Gaelic football club.

Despite the abundance of male clubs, there are just two senior female sides in Chicago – one north of the city and one southside.

Located just 15 minutes from the heart of downtown, Aisling Gaels is the northside club, formed in December 2008 by local Irish girls living in the city.

Every year, the Gaels welcome girls on both graduate and J1 visas to play alongside their resident members, helping temporary players with employment and accommodation.

“We pride our club on the great friendships we have made over the years with players home and abroad while winning local and national championships,” club chairperson Anne Marie McCormack told The42.

The Windy City club have numerous titles to their name both from Chicago competitions and further afield, among them a North American Junior A Championship from 2015 and two Intermediate North American titles won in 2011 and 2013.

“We’re a small club built on big hearts for winning and each other. We train hard, but play and party harder,” McCormack continued.

“I only started playing Gaelic football in my early twenties when friends of mine decided to start the club.  Being first generation Irish here in the states, I am surprised I never got involved with the sport at a younger age.

“Our American players learn so much from the experienced players who always help encourage them.  It creates great camaraderie among our team.”

This year, the club fielded two teams, competing at both senior and junior level. The senior side progressed to the North American Finals in Seattle, but were narrowly beaten by a strong San Francisco contingent in the semi-final.

Source: Aisling Gaels

Aisling Gaels sanctioned at least 20 J1 visa players this summer, with most of them living together for three months. One of these players was Kate Fitzgibbon from Dublin’s O’Tooles club.

“Some of us arrived in June not knowing what to expect from the summer. We genuinely had the time of our lives!” the Dublin U21 star told The42.

“The hard work and dedication of the home-based players (both American and Irish) in the club cannot be commended enough and they will truly make it their best interest for you to have a summer you won’t forget.

You wouldn’t think that from just three months with a team could you become as closely bonded as your club at home but certainly my expectations were proven wrong and it does feel just like home.

“The craic you’ll have in Gaelic Park on a Sunday couldn’t be written and you’ll cherish these days when you come home and wish you were back.”

Source: Aisling Gaels

Despite most of the football happening in summer time, the club also welcomes players throughout the year on graduate visas.

Kate Brennan played with Aisling Gaels on her J1 in 2014, and returned shortly after on a graduate visa.

“Leaving your close-knitted clubs at home in Ireland, you never expect to get that same bond from playing with a team across the pond. Well, my expectations were wrong. The team becomes your family for the summer,” Brennan said.

“Making the decision to play with Aisling Gaels will leave you with endless memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.” McCormack finished.

If you’re interested in going to Chicago to play football, get in touch with Aisling Gaels – Chicago Ladies Football on Facebook or email [email protected]

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Carbery Rangers players celebrate their Cork senior final victory

THERE WERE SIX players who featured during the 2003 Cork junior final that also saw gametime earlier this month when Carbery Rangers at last experienced the winning feeling on county senior final day.

If vaulting from junior kingpins to senior champions seems meteoric, they needed plenty patience as well to get to the stage where today they enter the Munster senior club football arena for the first time at the Gaelic Grounds against Monaleen.

An All-Ireland winner with Cork in 2010, John Hayes was the hub of the Carbery Rangers attack during that junior success (2003) and the intermediate win (2005).

What followed was a long slog to reach the summit, pockmarked by a succession of near misses in the knockout stages.

• 2010: Semi-final – St Finbarr’s 1-10 Carbery Rangers 0-8
• 2011: Semi-final – Castlehaven 2-12 Carbery Rangers 0-5
• 2012: Semi-final – Castlehaven 2-9 Carbery Rangers 0-9
• 2013: Quarter-final – Bishopstown 5-10 Carbery Rangers 0-14
• 2014: Final – Ballincollig 1-13 Carbery Rangers 1-10
• 2015: Semi-final – Nemo Rangers 1-11 Carbery Rangers 0-13

They were remarkably consistent over the past six season before this year all those lessons was absorbed and successfully translated into the victory they desperately craved.

Victory over Ballincollig was a testament to their patience and resilience. A first county senior title was duly cherished.

• History makers! O’Rourke stars as Carbery Rangers clinch first Cork senior football title

“We have been up senior 11 years, so those (junior and intermediate) wins are a little bit of a distant memory.

“Eventually it’s something we can look back on that we’ve come a long way but at the moment, all the last few years have been focusing on to make sure Ross are one of the stronger senior sides in Cork.

“There would have been a feeling out there that this year was our last chance. To finally win a final was just a brilliant feeling.

“For us this is a natural progression. It’s a new experience for everyone in terms of the Munster senior championship. It’s an exciting challenge.”

Carbery Rangers players celebrate their Cork senior final victory

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

On a personal level, the county final day was one to savour. Hayes kicked 0-5 en route to Carbery Rangers victory, his brother Seamus chipped in with 0-2 alongside him in attack.

Before the game, word had reached him that his cousins Darren and Ronan Crowley had enjoyed victory with Bandon in the intermediate final curtain-raiser.

!It put pressure on us a small bit after the lads won. I met the two of them when we were going out on the pitch, they were doing the lap of honour with the football cup. It was a great achievement.

“For my mom and my aunt Carmel, it was obviously great satisfaction. A lot of my family would have got a lot of enjoyment out of the day.

“In GAA there’s a lot of bad days and a lot of hard days. Your family suffers along with you when things are going badly so it was nice to see things working out well on this occasion.”

Carbery Rangers finally entered the winners enclosure with Douglas man Ronan McCarthy at the helm. It was a native of the Rosscarbery club Micheal O’Sullivan – a teammate of McCarthy’s on the Cork team that contested the 1999 All-Ireland final against Meath – that had laid the foundations.

Former Cork footballer Micheal O’Sullivan

Source: INPHO

“They’d be different guys. Haulie was an excellent coach. He was very close to a lot of guys on the panel as well so it’s not easy always for a guy who’s been involved with a lot of players to get straight into management.

“But he did an excellent job. We probably should have achieved the county title when he was in charge, so no one would lay the fault at his door.

“I think Ronan came in and a lot of the work the lads over the last few years had done, probably added a bit of freshness and opportunities for guys that weren’t featuring as much previously.”

Former Cork selector Ronan McCarthy

Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

Hayes had a ringside seat for Carbery Rangers preparations, breaking away from the inter-county game for good last January to concentrate on club endeavours, and can see the fixture frustrations that engulf club players.

“It is a benefit being around the whole time training with the club but I think the first six months are a big struggle for club players. (It’s) something the GAA need to look at.

“There’s talk of a players’ body being set up but it shouldn’t need to be done to give a little bit of respect to the club competitions.

“I’ve looked at it myself in the past with other guys and as long as the inter-county structure is set up as it is with the drawn-out nature, then the club players are going to suffer and they are going to have to wait.

“As far as I can see so far there’s only lip service being paid to it in terms of actually doing anything to it.

“But at the moment, I’m only focusing on Sunday and progressing in the Munster championship is all I can worry about.”

Carbery Rangers player John Hayes

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

The provincial stage is one they want to shine on. Carbery Rangers have previous experience of Munster football at junior and intermediate level.

Rather than this being a novel bonus experience, they are treating it the same as any demanding championship encounter.

“If we go out and don’t perform, it’s going to leave a sour taste after winning the county regardless. I don’t really buy that it’s a pressure off situation.

“I want us to progress in the Munster championship. We’ve been knocking on this door, having hoped to get to this stage with a few years.

“Now we have the opportunity, it’s up to us to go out. It’s a step up in quality and a step up in class.

“There is pressure on us in wanting to represent ourselves on the Munster stage.”

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Munster SFC club quarter-final: Monaleen v Carbery Rangers, Gaelic Grounds, 3pm

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Henry Shefflin and Ballyhale players celebrating their 2016 All-Ireland club final win.

Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

“WE WERE SLAGGING him actually that he was only back with the club a couple of months and was writing stories about how the club players were being treated!

“Jesus, if he’d been there for the last 13 years, that club players association would have been set up a lot sooner!”

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Andy Moloney is laughing at his recollection of reading Henry Shefflin’s views on the plight of club players this summer.

Moloney and Shefflin go back to college days in Waterford IT, a firm friendship struck up with hurling as the bond between them.

Now ex-Tipperary and Waterford player Moloney is part of the Ballyhale management team, ex-Kilkenny player Shefflin one of the players he is in charge of.

The most celebrated hurler in the game called time on his inter-county life in March 2015. Eight days earlier he had scaled the peak of club hurling as Ballyhale flattened Kilmallock in Croke Park.

Since then Shefflin has been able to fully devote himself to improving of the fortunes of the Shamrocks. They fell short at the semi-final hurdle in Kilkenny last year, today they are back in the showpiece on Noreside.

Moloney has witnessed first-hand how Shefflin continues to orchestrate and influence, this year from the centre of the pitch as a midfielder.

“Henry’s a huge asset at club level, he’s very good for the young fellas.

“He doesn’t let them away with anything. He’s very focused on what he wants.

“That’s been his hallmark. He knows what he wants, he trains to get it and he expects everyone to be on the same page.”

Moloney is the managerial sidekick to Colm Bonnar, a Tipperary duo who are just as well-versed in Waterford club hurling.

They fetched up for the first time in Ballyhale in January 2014 and have marvelled at how this village in south Kilkenny continues to churn out players and teams that achieve All-Ireland greatness.

• All-Ireland Club – 6 (1981, 1984, 1990, 2007, 2010, 2015)
• Leinster Club – 8 (1978, 1980, 1983, 1989, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2014)
• Kilkenny SHC – 15 (1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1989, 1991, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2014)

“You walk in and it’s just a simple set up, dressing-rooms and two playing fields. And that’s it.

“When the evenings are dark, we go to Piltown or Carriganore for training. We just get on with it.

“They keep everything simple and I think that’s the big thing with Kilkenny in general.

“When people talk about the All-Black’s in rugby, they say they do the simple things right 99% of time.

“With Kilkenny in general, it’s the same and that’s why they’ve been as successful as they have.”

Ballyhale attack the club scene in a relentless fashion. A long, exhausting campaign eventually took its toll in 2015. After their St Patrick’s Day win, they were back in Kilkenny championship action less than a month later.

By last autumn, they were running on empty and their challenge buckled under the strain.

2016 dawned and they fashioned a new challenge. It wasn’t straightforward, Moloney and Bonnar watched the All-Ireland winning side they constructed get picked apart.

Alan Cuddihy moved to Dubai. Conor Walsh has been out injured for the guts of 18 months now. Cha Fitzpatrick retired.

And then on that epic August night in Thurles, as Kilkenny and Waterford traded blows, they watched Michael Fennelly get struck down.

Michael Fennelly suffered his injury against Waterford in Semple Stadium

Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO

“Michael is a huge player for us, whether he’s playing at midfield or centre-back, he’s a huge player,” admits Moloney.

“When we saw him going out, we thought ‘here we go’. But you know what, it’s amazing when you lose a player of that calibre, the other players seize the opportunity to step up.”

That’s been assisted by the stream of young players flowing into the Ballyhale senior squad. Last weekend their minor side lifted the county crown in the A grade in Kilkenny.

“It adds a bit of impetus to the whole setup,” outlines Moloney.

“But because of the U17 rule, only two of them are eligible to play, Dylan Aylward and Darren Mullen. The rest of them aren’t eligible to play.

“But we carry them with us to make numbers in training and also it’s a good experience for them as well to be in the same dressing-room as Colin (Fennelly) and Henry and TJ and these lads.”

Today’s Nowlan Park opponents are not unfamiliar. With Brian Hogan and Martin Comerford previously, and Mark Bergin and Mark Kelly currently, they are plenty Kilkenny senior hurlers that Ballyhale players have rubbed shoulders with.

When Ballyhale made a breakthrough in 2006 to land their first Kilkenny title in 15 years, O’Loughlin Gaels were the force they defeated.

Last year the city side knocked Ballyhale out in a Kilkenny semi-final. They had no qualms about that result yet the Shamrocks rich tradition means the current players strive for more silverware today.

“Their fathers would have been on that team in the 80’s, they like to emulate them and maybe get one over if they could.

“At the same time, there’s a great respect there for the younger players to the older ones. No one gets ahead of themselves. They keep their feet on the ground.”

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Kilkenny SHC final: Ballyhale Shamrocks v O’Loughlin Gaels, 3.15pm

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Castlebar Mitchels 3-13
Knockmore 0-10

CASTLEBAR MITCHELS HAMMERED home their dominance of the club scene in Mayo with a powerhouse display against Knockmore — running out 3-13 to 0-10 winners.

When the game was there to be won early in the second half, they put the foot down and crushed their opponents resistance thanks to a man-of-the-match display from Paddy Durcan, who will be an injury doubt for their Connacht championship opener next weekend after he had to leave the field with 15 minutes to go through injury.

Durcan’s 1-1 inside the opening seven minutes of the second half proved decisive on front of 5,375 paying spectators.

The wing-back, who had fine tussle with Mayo team-mate Kevin McLoughlin while he was on the field, hammered the ball home from close range after a flying break from an interception in the middle of the park to put his side seven points clear.

There was just two between the sides at the break, but early points from Neil Douglas and Durcan after the restart set up the county town side for victory in the first floodlit final in Mayo.

Appearing in their first county final for seven years, the north Mayo men were the rank outsiders going into the game, but following their upset win over Breaffy in the semi-final they couldn’t be discounted.

However, they didn’t score in the second half until halfway throgh it and by that stage they trailed 1-10 to 0-4. Of the six points they kicked in the second half, five of them came from frees — four of those from Peter Naughton and all when the game was effectively done as a contest.

Mitchels kept going through the gears and goals from Neil Douglas, who had another fine showing kicking 1-6, and the other from Barry Moran hammered home their advantage as they claimed their 30th Mayo senior football title and third in four years.

Knockmore’s Darren McHale reacts after hitting the woodwork.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

The first half was played at a break-neck pace, with both sides opting to work the ball from the back through the hands to make their way downfield. Castlebar Mitchels went in leading by two at the break after a strong second third saw them pull back an early Knockmore two-point lead.

The game kicked into life two minutes in, when Knockmore sweeper Sean Rutldge broke from deep and swung over a point from the left hand side. The north Mayo men pushed two points clear six minutes in when Peter Naughaton landed a beauty with the outside of his right boot under pressure 35 metres out on the MacHale Road side of the ground.

Castlebar got running on the scoreboard when Paddy Durcan kicked the first of two points he landed from range in the opening half ten minutes in. Knockmore stretched their lead back out to two points through a Colm Reape point.

That was followed by two poor wides from Barry Moran and Cian Costello for the defending champions, before Neil Douglas kicked his first of the evening from a close range free.

Durcan levelled it up with another long range effort 12 minutes from the end of the half.

Mitchels then hit a little purple patch kicking three in a row, with Douglas tapping over another free Aidan Walsh hit an effort that Aidan Kilcoyne misjudged the flight of and it bounced over the bar, then Douglas tapped over one from a tight angle from play.

Kevin McLoughlin drove over his sides fourth point just before the break to send Mitchels in leading 0-6 to 0-4 at the short whistle.

Scorers for Castlebar Mitchels: Neil Douglas (1-6, 4f), Paddy Durcan (1-3), Barry Moran (1-0) Aidan Walsh (0-2), David Stenson (0-2, 1f),

Scorers for Knockmore: Peter Naughton (0-5, 4f), Keith Rutledge (0-2, 1f), Colm Reape (0-1), Kevin McLoughlin (0-1), Sean Rutledge (0-1)

Castlebar Mitchels

1. Rory Byrne

2. Shane Irwin
3. Ger McDonagh
4. Donie Newcombe

5. Ray O’Malley
6. Eoghan O’Reilly
7. Paddy Durcan

8. Aidan Walsh
9. Barry Moran

10. Fergal Durkan
11. Cian Costello
12. James Durcan

13. Niall Lydon
14. Neil Douglas
15. Shane Hopkins

Subs: 18. David Stenson for James Durcan (43), 17. Ronan Burke for Paddy Durcan (46), 19. Danny Kirby for Niall Lydon (50), 23. Jake Gannon for Cian Costello (53), 20. Callum Kyne for Neil Douglas (53), 24. Johnny Maughan for Donie Newcombe (54).

Knockmore

1. Aidan Kilcoyne

2. Marcus Park
3. Shane McHale
4. Diarmuid Walsh

5. Justin Rice
6. Andrew Keane
7. Nathan Hardy

8. Thomas Clarke
9. Kevin McLoughlin

10. Darren McHale
11. Colm Reape
12. Keith Rutledge

13. Sean Rutledge
14. Kieran Langan
15. Peter Naughton

Subs: 18. Brian Gibbons for Thomas Clarke (37), 21. Francie O’Neill for Darren McHale (49), 17. John Brogan for Marcus Park (55), 24. Alan Loftus for Colm Reape (56), 19. Ciaran Canning for Diarmuid Walsh (57).

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Updated at 18.30

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INTER-COUNTY STAR RICHIE Hogan was in inspired form as his Danesfort side condemned Fenians to relegation from the Kilkenny SHC today.

Fenians, for whom JJ Delaney started centre-back, were on the back foot after just nine minutes when James Mulally found the net for Danesfort.

But Fenians rallied well and edged themselves back in front through a Conor Tobin goal from a penalty on 25 minutes.

The two sides couldn’t be separated last Sunday, as they played out a 0-14 to 0-14 draw, but it was the prolific scoring of Hogan, from play and placed balls, which eventually proved the difference in Palmerstown.

Hogan accounted for 13 points (eight frees), and Mulally, a late addition to the starting team, 1-2 of Danesfort’s total as they clinched a 1-18 to 1-12 victory.

Meanwhile, Westport have secured promotion to Mayo’s senior grade after Lee Keegan’s side won the intermediate championship this evening.

Westport finished up 0-10 to 0-4 victors at MacHale Park in the curtain-raiser to tonight’s senior final between Castlebar Mitchels and Knockmore.

The excellent Fionn McDonagh kicked five points (three frees) for Westport, who led by 0-5 to 0-2 at half-time and they matched that score again in the second period to ensure it was Brian McDermott who was presented with the James Sweeney trophy.

Elsewhere today, Oran ended Four Roads’ hopes of winning a ninth successive Roscommon SHC title with a 2-15 to 1-12 win after extra time, in their final replay.

After playing out a 0-17 to 3-8 draw two weeks ago, the sides couldn’t be separated once again in 60 minutes of hurling — today’s game finishing 0-11 apiece after the hour.

But it was Oran who really ignited in extra-time, scoring 2-4 to Four Roads’ 1-1 to claim a memorable victory.

In ladies football, Monaghan’s Donaghmoyne retained their Ulster title with a 2-12 to 1-6 victory against Tyrone’s St Macartan’s in Galbally.

The reigning All-Ireland champions were in control throughout with Catriona McConnell and Niamh Callan getting their goals, one in each half.

More to follow…

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​Cuala 1-15
Kilmacud Crokes 0-15

Paul Keane reports from Parnell Park 

A STORMING FINAL few minutes from Cuala ensured that they claimed back-to-back Dublin SHC titles for the first time though only after flirting with disaster at Parnell Park.

Mattie Kenny’s men roared into a 1-7 to 0-1 lead early on and looked to have victory sewn up even at that stage but remarkably found themselves two down after 54 minutes.

Crokes, the 2012 and 2014 champions, dominated the second half in what proved to be the ultimate game of two halves and should have held on for the win.

But having scored just one point, and that from a free, in the opening 24 minutes of the second half, Cuala somehow found their range late on to outscore Crokes by 0-6 to 0-1.

It sealed a slightly flattering three-point win for the Dalkey men who will play Borris-Kilcotton of Laois in the AIB Leinster club championship next Sunday.

But it was tough on Crokes who showed real character to reel off eight points in a row in the third quarter of the game having hit the interval trailing by 1-8 to 0-4.

Ollie Baker’s side got the worst possible start when they fell 1-5 to 0-0 down and they didn’t score until the 24th minute.

Colm Cronin, who finished with 1-3 for Cuala, hit an early goal and Crokes looked rattled with Oisin O’Rorke wasting two great chances for frees.

O’Rorke recovered though and finished with a 10-point tally that including some fine scores from play during that storming second half.

Substitute Dillon Mulligan also weighed in with three points for the Glenalbyn side who led 0-14 to 1-9 with six minutes remaining.

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Cuala looked flat out of ideas but somehow rose to the challenge and finished superbly with points from Nicky Kenny, Cronin, Sean Treacy and Mark Schutte to win a memorable game.

Scorers for Cuala: Colm Cronin 1-3, David Treacy 0-5 (0-4f), Nicky Kenny 0-3, Mark Schutte 0-2, Sean Moran, Sean Treacy 0-1.

Scorers for Kimacud Crokes: Oisin O’Rorke 0-10 (0-5f, 0-2 65), Dillon Mulligan 0-3, Caolan Conway, Fergal Whitely 0-1.

Cuala celebrate their Dublin SHC victory in the dressing rooms.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Cuala

1. Sean Brennan

2. Oisin Gough
3. Cian O’Callaghan
4. Simon Timlin

5. Jake Malone
6. Paul Schutte
7. John Sheanon

8. Sean Moran
9. Darragh O’Connell

10. Cian Waldron
11. Colm Cronin
12. David Treacy

15. Sean Treacy
13. Nicky Kenny
14. Mark Schutte

Subs:
24. Con O’Callaghan for Waldron (43)

Kilmacud Crokes

1. Matt Collins

2. Niall Corcoran
3. Ronan Walsh
4. Jamie Clinton

5. Bill O’Carroll
6. Jack Doughan
8. Cian MacGabhann

21. Robert O’Loughlin
9. Naomhan O Riordain

15. Ryan O’Dwyer
14. Oisin O’Rorke
26. Caolan Conway

12. Fergal Whitely
10. Ross O’Carroll
11. Sean McGrath

Subs:
Dillon Mulligan for O’Loughlin 30

Referee: Sean Stack (Parnells)

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