See pictures as Wicklow and St Pats take to the field in Jim Connors' memory
Whenever someone is taken before their time, the mark they leave is all the bigger. Nine years on from Jim Connors' untimely passing following a battle with Motor Neurone Disease, his many friends, family, and colleagues still gather in big numbers to remember him. Some will even line out in the St Pats and Wicklow colours he represented so proudly.
The inter-county hurler – whose CV included two Christy Ring Cup finals and an intermediate county title, among other honours – died in 2016 after battling one of the cruellest illnesses of all. In 2024, a memorial match bearing his name took place for the first time at St Patricks' grounds to raise funds for the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association, and it returned for its second run on Saturday.
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RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
London end title drought over devastated Derry in Christy Ring Cup final
David Devine gave his best display yet in a London jersey, shooting a terrific 1-12, as the Exiles held firm to claim the Christy Ring Cup title. A strong final-quarter performance that included six points in a row at one stage, ultimately won it for London who have claimed a first title since 2012. Their reward is a place in next season's Joe McDonagh Cup competition. That will be a significant jump in standards, though Devine has shown that it's possible to move seamlessly from one grade of hurling to another. The Westmeath man was a Warwickshire player just last year, but moved to London for 2025 and was the difference in this final. In all, London scored eight of the game's last 12 points as they turned the screw late on - and Devine scored five of those. The Kilburn Gaels clubman also scored London's goal midway through the first half, while Enda Egan and Dylan Dawson contributed seven points between them in the breakthrough win. But it's agony again for Derry who have slipped to their third final defeat in a row and their fourth in five seasons. They got it back to a one-point game late on, and appeared to have momentum on their side at that stage, but 72nd and 74th-minute points from Devine secured the win for London. Derry topped the Ring Cup group previously, and significantly, beat London by 2-19 to 1-18 when they met in the round robin. London previously slipped up in the Division 3 National League final against Mayo, who played earlier today in the lower tier Rackard Cup final. Derry supporters travelled to Croke Park optimistic about finally ending their streak of Ring Cup final defeats. But they never managed to get ahead of a slick and fully focused London side that led for the majority of the contest. London signalled their appetite for destruction with four of the game's first five points. Devine struck two of those from frees and then popped up at the back post to volley to the net following Sean Glynn's run through the centre and lay-off. Slaughtneil's Cormac O'Doherty was Derry's main scorer, hitting nine points overall. London led by 1-15 to 1-12 at half-time though a resurgent Derry wiped out the deficit after the restart, drawing level at 1-19 apiece in the 52nd minute, when Cushendall clubman Christy McNaughton hit his third point of the day. That's when things got really interesting because London reeled off six points in a row in response, seizing control of the game and then wincing as Derry picked off four points themselves. Eamon Conway had a strong second half for Derry, and clipped over their last score in the 71st minute, leaving a point in it at that stage. London weren't to be denied, and pulled clear for the three-point win with those two stoppage-time Devine scores. Derry were awarded a free in at the death, but O'Doherty's rasping shot was blocked on the line for a 65 that also failed to yield the goal they needed to force extra-time. London: Mark Kilgannon; Niall Fitzgerald, Conor Byrne, Stephen Whelan; Tom Millerick (0-01), Enda Egan (0-04, 3f, 1 65), Padraig Muldoon; Adam Cunney, Paul Kennedy (0-01); Jack Morrissey (0-01), Sean Glynn (0-02), Dylan Dawson (0-03); Conor McCormack (0-01), Conor O'Carroll (0-02), David Devine (1-12, 9f). Subs: Niall Geoghegan for Fitzgerald (35+2), Rory Lodge for Kennedy (44), Owen Sheil for McCormack (55), Tom Hanifin for Cunney (69), Donnacha Leahy for Dawson (72). Derry: Sean Kelly; Sean Cassidy, Mark Craig, Patrick Turner; Ruairi O Mianain (0-02), Richie Mullan (0-02), James Friel; Meehaul McGrath, Eamon Conway (0-04); Thomas Brady (1-01), John Mullan, Cormac O'Doherty (0-09, 8f); Cahal Murray (0-01), Christy McNaughton (0-03), Shea Cassidy (0-01). Subs: Paddy Kelly for Friel & Ryan McGill (0-01) for Brady (56), Gerald Bradley for McGrath (61), Callum O'Kane for Mullan (68).
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
David Devine provides the goods as Anthony Nash-coached London claim Christy Ring honours
Christy Ring Cup final: London 1-27 Derry 1-24 London won their first Christy Ring Cup title since 2012 with victory over Derry at Croke Park on Saturday evening. It was Derry's sixth final defeat in as many appearances and a third in succession for Johnny McGarvey's side. David Devine scored 1-12 for the Anthony Nash-coached winners, who had to repel a late Cormac O'Doherty free with Derry's last chance. When the 65 dropped short, referee Dunne sounded the final whistle to London's relief. London were the sharper team early on and led 0-4 to 0-1 with David Devine unerring from frees. Thomas Brady, Richie Mullan and Cormac O'Doherty were on target for a Derry team chasing the game. Cathal Murray levelled matters at 0-5 all after 10 before London found the net for the 26th time this season. Seán Glynn made the run through the centre before the ball was worked to Devine to score at the far post. Derry's response was instant with a smashing Brady goal in the next attack after a pass from John Mullan. London selector Anthony Nash. Pic: Stephen Marken/Sportsfile O'Doherty kept Derry on touch and the side were level twice more before Devine and Dyland Dawson pushed London toward a 1-15 to 1-12 interval lead. London held the aces for much of the second half but three Eamon Conway points helped Derry back into the game with Cormac O'Doherty putting them ahead in the 52nd minute. London pushed on again with scores from Egan and Dawson to lead 1-25 to 1-20 with five minutes to play. Richie Mullan, Ryan McGill and Ruairí Ó Mianáin replied with points for Derry, but the Ulster side were never able to get level. Devine added two London frees before O'Doherty's late, late free was stopped with Derry's last throw of the dice. Scorers for Derry: C O'Doherty 0-9 (8f), E Conway 0-4, T Brady 1-1, C McNaughton 0-3, R Mullan, R Ó Mianáin 0-2 each, C Murray 0-1, Shéa Cassidy 0-1 and R McGill 0-1 each. Scorers for London: D Devine 1-12 (9f), E Egan 0-4 (3f), D Dawson 0-3, C O'Carroll, S Glynn 0-2 each, T Millerick, P Kennedy, J Morrissey and C McCormack 0-1 each. Derry: S Kelly; Sean Cassidy, M Craig, P Turner; R Ó Mianáin, R Mullan, J Friel; M McGrath, E Conway; T Brady, J Mullan, C O'Doherty; C Murray, C McNaughton, Shea Cassidy. Subs: D Foley for Shéa Cassidy (48), P Kelly for Friel (56), R McGill for Brady (56), G Bradley for McGrath (61), C O'Kane for R Mullan (67). London: M Kilgannon; N Fitzgerald, C Byrne, S Whelan; T Millerick, E Egan, P Muldoon; A Cunney, P Kennedy; J Morrisey, S Glynn, D Dawson; C McCormack, C O'Carroll, D Devine. Subs: N Geoghegan for Fitzgerald (35+2), R Judge for Kennedy (44), O Sheil for McCormack (56), T Hanifin for Cunney (69), D Leahy for Dawson (73). Referee: P Dunne (Laois).
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
London bridge 13-year gap to lift Christy Ring Cup after dramatic final joust with Derry
London claimed their first Christy Ring Cup success in 13 years as they overcame Derry by three points at Croke Park on Saturday afternoon.
