‘Some year – I'm just thrilled to be back stuck in the middle of it' – Tipp hero John McGrath after fighting his way back
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
8 minutes ago
- RTÉ News
Eamon McGee: Jimmy McGuinness is winning matches by making Donegal players believe
Donegal's most recent All-Ireland SFC final appearance is not on repeat in the McGee household. In fact, Eamon McGee, a champion with his brother, and now selector, Neil in 2012, admits the defeat two years later to Kerry evokes powerful pangs of regret. "I still haven't watched that game in total now," he tells RTÉ Sport ahead of the county's rematch in the 2025 decider this Sunday. "I've tried to make an attempt at it a few Christmases. You know, we're sitting doing nothing, throw it on YouTube, but it's just still too sore." It's not just the result - an early goal from Paul Geaney, who could be involved this weekend, helped Kerry hang on to win 2-09 to 0-12 - but also what he sees as "weaknesses" in preparation. "It's still too sore in terms of the way we just didn't turn up," said McGee. "And lots of regrets about the way we maybe went at it for the few weeks in the build-up. "One thing that really stood out was, we were nearly cheering for Kerry to beat Mayo in that brilliant semi-final, because we felt Kerry would be easier opposition. And I think that's where the weakness crept in. "Mayo were in a better place than 2012. They were just very unlucky. But when you think back, to say that about Kerry, who when they get to Croke Park… it was just extremely naive and it was silly thinking by those of us who took part. It shouldn't have bothered us who was playing. "I remember saying to one of the lads 'We're gonna win this final', and that shouldn't have come into our thinking at all until the analysis side of it. "There's a fine line. I've seen it from myself, and from other players, that line with confidence and arrogance, and I think maybe talking about opposition like Kerry in that manner, we had crossed over to arrogance. "But at the same time, you learn these things and I think [Jim] McGuinness, Neil, Colm [McFadden, selector], Michael [Murphy], Paddy [McBrearty], Ryan McHugh, will learn that. It's a different season now too, it's just coming straight out at you. But if they see any weakness at all, they're going to just jump on top of it because it's jeopardising their All-Ireland medal." McGuinness stepped down as manager two weeks after that final defeat to Kerry. His former assistant Rory Gallagher then led the team to successive Ulster finals but All-Ireland quarter-final exits. His successor Declan Bonner regained the Anglo-Celt Cup in 2018-19 but didn't get out of the Super 8s groups, or the province in the straight knock-out years of 2020-21. Donegal did get back to the Ulster final in 2022, losing after extra-time to Derry, but were knocked out by Armagh in the qualifiers. Paddy Carr took over for 2023 and stepped down after five months with relegation from Division 1 of the Allianz Football League looming. Making it as far as the preliminary quarter-finals under interim boss Aidan O'Rourke was subsequently seen as an achievement. Then, the return of the messiah. Back-to-back Ulsters. All-Ireland semi-final last year and final now. One of Donegal's first champions as a player in 1992, McGuinness has been involved in all four of the county's appearances on the big day, something that slightly concerns McGee. "We can't keep going back, putting out the Jim McGuinness bat signal every time we through a lull," he observed. "Why does it take McGuinness to come back and to get involved with the Donegal group, to get them to believe, to put the structures in place that support an elite environment and to put all these things in place, on the field, off the field, S&C? Why does it take Jim McGuinness to do that?" Perhaps the likes of McGee, his brother or McFadden, another member of the class of 2012, will find the answer in time. But what does he think is the secret to Jimmy winning so many matches? "It's numerous things. It's not just about his tactics. I'm delighted now that he has shut up a few of the boys down the country that would have said he was primarily a negative coach, and that he got lucky with a good group. "He had a good group in 2012, surely. But he's a revolutionary and a visionary and he has done the exact same thing now the second time round, with different players. "It's just that single-mindedness but if I was to pick one thing out of the many things that he brings, I think it's the belief, that he gets you to believe. "We had a wile inferiority complex in Donegal and I still believe parts of it do. Sometimes I see it creep in but I try my best not to to view us or myself in that manner, that we're as good as anybody else." Speaking to RTÉ Sport ahead of the final, the Donegal captain, McGee's former teammate Paddy McBrearty, admitted that finding a way to "curb the influence" of David Clifford would be crucial to his side's chances of victory. McGee thinks that Tyrone's approach in the semi-final proved one marker is not enough to restrict the Fossa sharpshooter, who scored 1-05 from play, but he suggests Armagh's quarter-final game plan of doubling up while standing off the other Kerry forwards is not the only alternative. "I thought Paudie Hampsey was hung out to dry," McGee said. "He is a good lad and he's been a top defender for a long, long time in Tyrone and, Ulster. He just couldn't do anything and I think when Clifford's in that frame of mind and in that form, I don't think he can be stopped in a 1 v 1. "Malachy [O'Rourke, Tyrone manager] in fairness came out afterwards and said that he made the wrong call. He went after the suppliers and tried to keep an eye on Clifford at the same time. And I don't think you can do that. "[Brendan] McCole will be tasked with Clifford. But McCole is going to need some kind of support or some kind of plan from that zonal defence of Donegal. It will be really interesting to see what way McGuinness goes at it now because he loves the zone and he has stuck to it. They're brilliant at smelling the threat and shutting it down. "I think you've got to double up. You've got to bring a savage defensive game, which McCole has shown, he has snuffed out numerous threats throughout the last three, four years. But you've also got to have someone there just to give yourself the best percentage chance, should he slip. "Within that zonal press, it's about keeping an eye on Clifford, but also recognising that you don't give O'Shea free shots. "Armagh doubled up, but their zonal press… You know Seanie O'Shea has it in his locker [to score two-pointers]. Letting him have a free shot at it is naive in the extreme. They [the Donegal defence] will not go to the three of them but should Paudie [Clifford] be picked up, Donegal will know that Seanie O'Shea, this is on his radar. Get out quick." Watch the All-Ireland Football Championship final, Donegal v Kerry, on Sunday from 2.15pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on and the RTÉ News app. Listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Sunday Game from 9.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
Irish Examiner
8 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Tomás Collins and Kilmurry eager to earn their right at Intermediate A grade
Kilmurry have built solid foundations over the last number of years. However, the latest step on their journey to where they are - the Cork Intermediate A ranks - was a heartbreaking one. Having won the Premier Junior county against neighbours Canovee, on they went to secure Munster honours - at the third time of asking after defeats to the David and Paudie Clifford-led Fossa and Listowel Emmets in 2022 and '23 - against another Kerry outfit, Firies. Then, in early 2025, came the heartbreak. The high of winning that Munster would turn to despair as they would agonisingly miss out on an All-Ireland JFC final berth after being pipped by Naomh Pádraig of Donegal on penalties at the last-four stage. Looking back on the year as a whole, centre-back Tomás Collins recalls the fondest of days for the Parish. He couldn't be prouder of their county and provincial success. "Canovee are our next-door neighbours. I've played hurling and soccer with those lads; we're well familiar with each other. It meant everything to the parish," the 25-year-old said, before going back over the emotions of that Munster final success in Mick Neville Park. "It was an incredible feeling. We just gave it our all; we put our heads down over the winter and really focused on winning the Munster." Tomás Collins in action for Kilmurry in the Munster quarter final. Pic: Larry Cummins Collins, who was previously on the books at League of Ireland side Cork City, immediately pivots to the All-Ireland hurt felt a few weeks later. The penalty heartbreak in Parnell Park. "It was a terrible feeling." But things have moved on for Collins and Kilmurry. What awaits a camp ready to build on the foundations previously laid is an Intermediate A campaign. A fruitful Division 5 league campaign garnered silverware earlier this month as Galway native Ruadhán Ó Curraoin hit 1-11 to lead his side to a commanding win over Gabriel Rangers. Now with championship on the horizon, it's a camp - now under the stewardship of Brian Harte following the departure of Cormac Linehan - that knows they have to earn their right to succeed at this elevated grade. First up in a tough group that also contains Ilen Rovers and Boherbue (2024 finalists) is a meeting with St Vincent's in Ballyanley this Saturday evening. "The main objective is to get out of the group and build from there," Collins said. "It's a higher grade than last year, teams are going to be tougher to beat and we'll have to earn our right to play this grade. "Hopefully, we beat St Vincent's in the first game at the weekend and then we can build from there. The league has gone well; every training session has been different. It's new to us, and they are really working well behind the scenes. "We just want to take it game-by-game, we have to earn our right to be here, we're new to this grade. We have to play each game and just build from there."
The Irish Sun
8 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Sharlene Mawdsley ‘swapping streets of Thurles for the track' as she shares first training pic since All-Ireland race
SHARLENE MAWDSLEY joked she was "swapping the streets of Thurles for the track" as she shared her first training pic since Tipperary won the All-Ireland title. A video emerged on social media on Tuesday 3 Sharlene Mawdsley celebrating after Tipperary won the All-Ireland SHC Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile 3 She went viral with an apparent road race with a former Tipp hurler 3 She made light of the race on Instagram Despite him being given a sizeable head start, The 26-year-old appeared to make light of the clip on her Instagram Story on Wednesday. She shared a photo from the Templemore Athletics Track with the caption: "Swapping the streets of Thurles for the track today" alongside three laughing faces. The Newport AC export basked in the celebrations after Tipperary Read More on Sharlene Mawdsley Her boyfriend, Michael Breen, impressed at corner-back on the day as Liam Cahill's men came from six-points down to rout the Rebels in the second-half at Croke Park. After the game, Breen brought his newly won trophy to his better half, who And on Instagram, the Irish Olympian paid an Alongside photos of the happy couple after the game, she wrote: "Proud of you every day, but that little bit prouder today" Most read in GAA Hurling The power couple went on to get glammed up for the The sense of pride, such as that shown by Mawdsley, was also one of the main points of emphasis Sharlene Mawdsley takes part in hilarious road race as part of Tipperary's All-Ireland celebration Speaking post-match to "I want to take the opportunity as well, if you don't mind, to big shout out to my mam and dad at home. "My mother probably has the rosary beads swallowed at this stage and my father probably has the cows milked three times with nervousness. "Just so thrilled for everybody. Supporters, the whole shebang. "As I said leading into the All-Ireland: players win matches and managers lose them. "The reality of it is that everybody from county board, people in the supporters club and the various teams behind the set up that support us, that allow us to create a high performance environment, have just been superb. "The honesty of that group of players. I never doubted them. "I know we were all a bit sensitive after last year with what happened and some of the criticism was probably deserved at times. "But I knew the quality of these men and, once we got in among them and supported them better and got them back believing again, we would have a great opportunity of lifting the spirits of the Tipperary people. "They came here in their thousands today. I am just so happy." If that interview went off without a hitch, the same could not quite be said While reflecting with Thomas Niblock, the presenter host gestured him towards his Tipp players who were passing by in the background. When Cahill raised his arm in celebration, the players let out a massive roar before swarming their beloved boss and carrying him away with them.
