Kerry schoolboys denied seventh place in Kennedy Cup as Galway snatch late winner
Kerry's Kennedy Cup campaign ended in heartbreak after a dramatic stoppage-time goal saw them fall 1-0 to Galway in the 7th/8th place play-off. It was a cruel finish to what had been a spirited and impressive week from the Kerry squad, who showed determination, flair, and teamwork throughout the tournament to earn a well-deserved eighth place overall.
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Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Favourites Cork set for rematch with in-form Clare in All-Ireland minor semi-final
The Cork minor hurlers will come out of cold storage on Sunday to meet a Clare side catching fire. Fergal McCormack's troops earned a month of preparation time for this All-Ireland semi-final by dint of their Munster triumph against Waterford. In that time, Clare have skated through the backdoor with victories over Dublin and Galway. They arrive quietly confident for their fourth consecutive semi-final appearance. The Rebels remain favourites for the rematch at FBD Semple Stadium (1pm throw-in), yet much has changed since their 3-24 to 3-17 round-robin success. Callum Coffey bagged a hat-trick that day, only to suffer an injury during the provincial final. Clare centre-back Dara Kennedy was absent in Tulla and may well take on the task of tagging Cormac Deane. Back then, converted goalkeeper Leon Talty was making his second-ever appearance between the sticks. He has been gaining experience all the while and saved a penalty against Galway. Ger O'Connell has revamped his full-back and half-forward lines since then, while Mark Rodgers and Liam Murphy have been building form and fitness. The Banner endured a mixed Munster campaign, but Rodgers has hit double digits on his last four outings. Murphy, meanwhile, has found the net in back-to-back games to bring his total to 10 goals across the past two seasons. Their defence held the Tribesmen to a single point in the closing 29 minutes of their quarter-final. Cork will be harder to stop, though, as they hunt a first Irish Press Cup since 2021. Wing-backs Michael Brosnan and Colm Garde have been outstanding on either side of captain Bobby Carroll. Midfielder Tom A Walsh put in a man-of-the-match display in the Munster final. He will face off against Clare captain Graham Ball. With Coffey sidelined, Sam Ring has raised green flags in successive games. Deane has chipped in with 1-18, while Craig O'Sullivan's 0-47 tally includes 21 points from play. The other semi-final also promises a high-quality affair on Saturday evening at Chadwicks Wexford Park (7.35pm throw-in). Kilkenny call on eight returning starters from last year's All-Ireland final defeat to Tipperary. All six of their forwards featured on that occasion. They have carried that sharp attacking edge into this campaign, belting four goals past Dublin and Galway to secure the Leinster title. Jake Mullen has accumulated 4-35. Cian Byrne has netted four times in two knockout games. Ollie O'Donovan stitched five goals last year and continues to threaten further out the field, picking off 2-15 from centre-forward. Captain Larry Phelan and Oisín Henderson anchor a defence which held Galway to 1-8 in a washout Leinster final. Croke Cup winner with Thurles CBS Darragh Hickey joins that full-back line in place of David McGee. That's Niall Bergin's sole change, while Waterford boss James O'Connor names a new midfield pairing in Éanna McHugh and Gearóid O'Shea. O'Connor has identified the Déise's scoring spread for improvement. Cormac Spain's remarkable 6-58 haul accounts for 60% of their total scores. Jack Power's aerial ability can trouble the Cats, while captain James Comerford will hope to maintain his streak of key saves. They recovered from Munster final disappointment to defeat Limerick by four points. Still, the former Ballyhale boss reckons his side have been playing at just 70% of their capability.
RTÉ News
2 hours ago
- RTÉ News
'Struggling' Galway need to find a spark in order to overcome Armagh
Former Mayo captain Keith Higgins feels neighbours Galway need to find their "spark" if they are to defeat Armagh and keep their championship hopes alive. Speaking on RTÉ's The Championship, Higgins cited the returning Damien Comer as being the potential level-raiser hiding in plain sight. "From a Galway point of view, maybe he [Damien Comer] has a couple more weeks training done since coming on against Derry," said Higgins. The Annaghdown clubman was an impact sub in the draw with Derry a fortnight ago, scoring one point from a mark. Now as Pádraic Joyce's men look to keep their season alive, Higgins believes Comer could be the saving grace. "He might be a bit sharper, and you might get a bit more impact off him, but Galway just need to find some bit of a spark. "If Galway could get some type of a result here, it could kickstart their season again", claimed the Mayo man. Galway venture up to Kingspan Breffni Park to renew an old rivalry with a familiar foe. The Tribesmen were narrowly pipped by Armagh in last year's All Ireland Final, following a drawn group stage tie. A year prior went the same way in the group stage, while back in 2022, Matthew Tierney was the hero as Galway edged McGeeney's men on penalties in an epic encounter. For Higgins, its finely poised to be another rip-roaring contest. "This is the one that sticks out. "There's been so much talk in the last couple of years in terms of the system and format and the lack of jeopardy, but we're looking at jeopardy here now for Galway. It's a huge game for them", Higgins told RTÉ. "Looking back on the last couple of games, the second half of that Connacht final when Mayo pushed up on them, Dublin came to Salthill and pushed up on them and Derry really went at them up in Celtic Park a couple of weeks ago. "I don't think Armagh will play that type of a game, they will be more inclined to sit back into their defensive shape, so it could suit Galway a small bit more", Higgins added. "It will be a big test but it's great to see the jeopardy finally kicking in." Galway enter the game knowing a win would keep them in the hunt for at least another week, whereas Armagh are guaranteed top spot and qualification for the All-Ireland quarter-finals courtesy of wins over Derry and Dublin. However, if their four previous meetings in the last four years are anything to go by, Galway will need to be at their very best for 70 minutes in order to overcome the Orchard County. Follow a live blog on the All-Ireland Football Championship on Saturday on and the RTÉ News app. Listen to updates on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Saturday Game at 9.30pm. Watch an All-Ireland Football Championship double-header, Monaghan v Down and Donegal v Mayo, on Sunday from 1.30pm. Follow a live blog on and the RTÉ News app. Listen to updates on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Sunday Game at 9.30pm.
Irish Examiner
3 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Rafferty happy to knuckle down in Armagh's bid to go back-to-back
In the reviews of Armagh and Clare's All-Ireland successes last year, the time they took off following provincial final defeats was hailed as revitalising. Armagh had a couple of days socialising together after losing a second successive final on penalties, after which they dreamed it all up again and went on a six-game unbeaten run including five victories. After another dramatic loss to Donegal last month, it would have been assumed they did the same again but Ethan Rafferty reveals the management opted against it. 'We didn't as much as we were pushing to get two days. Look, we all made an agreement that we would buckle down because what's on the horizon is probably bigger than it was last year so we knew we had a lot of work to do. 'We're getting used to it after three years,' he added of their Ulster final woes. 'It is tough, there's no point in saying it's not but the good thing about our group is we rallied the next day, met up, set out our stall and looked for things to work on.' Attempting to become the third Ulster team to win back-to-back All-Irelands after Down in 1960 and '61 and Cavan in 1947 and '48 is obviously the carrot for Armagh. As the first team to qualify for the quarter-finals, they have worn their crown comfortably but Rafferty says they have taken a fresh approach to this season. 'We were obviously delighted that we won the championship last year. We're 2024 All-Ireland champions but we're playing the 2025 championship, so it's in the rearview mirror. We have to look forward and that's just been our thing this year, trying to see where we can improve and get better. You will get bumps on the road obviously like the Ulster final but we'll take this challenge against Galway and go headfirst into it.' Rafferty speaks of the bond in the group, whose age profile would be higher than most other inter-county outfits. 'There's a crew of us around the 30 mark and then you've a couple of the young boys too. We do interconnect a lot, do a lot of things outside of training and stuff together. We do have a good bunch.' The fact Armagh have nothing tangible to fight for against Galway in Cavan tomorrow is the type of psychological test they will embrace, says the goalkeeper. 'I know it is comfortable for us in that sense but it's a good challenge for us in our mindset knowing that the game doesn't matter for us. We still have to try and get two points. That's the challenge for us.' It may have been a chance to give Blaine Hughes game-time but Rafferty has been named to start against Galway. If he does, he will be looking to improve his scoring tally of eight points for the championship, which include a couple of two-pointers. 'I just wish I could get up more in the game. The middle (halfway) line is a bit of an enemy for me at the minute.'
