Monaghan 'proud' of Ireland's second-half showing
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Kingspan boss Gene Murtagh greases wheels for bike maker
T he Kingspan boss Gene Murtagh and his family have ridden in behind the champion cyclist Aidan Duff's specialist bike company FiftyOne Bikes. Duff, a former international rider, set up the Dublin-based manufacturer to produce bespoke high-performance, carbon-fibre road bikes and gravel bikes. He'd realised that the real top end of the market was fairly 'samey' and decided to provide highly customised bikes for customers, including the former UFC fighter Conor McGregor and Nicolas Roche, the former Tour de France and Dancing with the Stars competitor, using composite materials. FiftyOne Bikes caters for the more expensive part of the market with gravel and road bikes costing about €5,000 each and customised, hand-built versions even more. I'm told that the fitness-minded Murtagh, who heads up the €13 billion-valued building materials and insulation group, invested along with his wife and family through their Innotrio vehicle. Supplying the construction market, Murtagh should know all about cycles.
BreakingNews.ie
43 minutes ago
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Cork's Meabh Cahalane not focused on three-in-a-row talk ahead of All-Ireland final
Meabh Cahalane says Cork are not focused on talk of a historic third All-Ireland in a row ahead of Sunday's final against Galway. After league and Munster wins, Cork will go into Sunday's final as favourites, in a repeat of the 2024 decider. Advertisement A Cork side that has achieved so much success in the last three seasons, should they win on Sunday, Cork would become the first team since Wexford between 2010 and 2012 to win three straight All-Ireland titles. Despite the potential to make history, Cahalane says all focus is on winning the game. "We are just looking at it as another All-Ireland final. There is no point talking about three-in-a-row unless you actually go and do it. "It is a huge opportunity for us, but we just need to make sure we put in a performance good enough to win this year's All-Ireland that will lead to three-in-a-row. Advertisement "If there is any group to do so, it is this group. They are a hugely talented bunch. We have strength and depth in the squad. "Some of the girls in the panel, it is their first day out in Croke Park, it is their first time in an All-Ireland final, so we are just treating this like any All-Ireland final in the past." With serial winners all over the pitch for Cork, there is plenty of experience for the Rebels to fall back on for the final. However, Cahalane has praised the role younger players have played in the squad, and says winning the Division 1A title back in April was important for the team. Advertisement "Winning is a habit, and we set out at the start of the year that we wanted to go after the league. We took it game by game, and we had a good win over Galway in Thurles in April. "For some of the girls in our squad who haven't had as much game time in the last couple of years. Players like Sorcha McCarton and Clodagh Finn have really stepped up this year. "They are huge players in our team now. There is girls who came on the last day, Orlaith Mullins, Cliona Healy, and Meabh Murphy, and they all played their part." With two teams full of talent beyond the starting 15, and little to sperate the sides in last year's final in Croke Park, the Cork defender can see the bench having a big impact. Advertisement "We have a motto in our squad go as hard as you can for as long as you can. "We have finishers to come in then and finish the job. That is all we have to do, do our job and we know we have these people to come in off the bench and help us to get over the line. "Orlaith Mullins got in great positions the last day and managed to get off 1-2, as she had been doing in training. "We will be looking to the girls again to come in and bring the same energy off the bench, and we will have to do our job as long for as long as we can before the come on and make that impact."
BreakingNews.ie
an hour ago
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Galway's Áine Keane: 'Anything can happen' in All-Ireland final
Twelve months on from losing the All-Ireland camogie final to Cork, Galway will once again face the Rebel county for the ultimate prize. One player who will not feature on the pitch on Sunday is Áine Keane due to injury. Advertisement The Galway defender suffered an ACL injury back in May and still faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Despite not being able to play a part on Sunday, Keane is positive ahead of this weekend. "There is a good buzz around camp. Anytime you are in an All-Ireland final, there is going to be a good buzz. "Everyone is in good form and good mood, so we are just looking forward to Sunday. Advertisement "It was always important for us to get back here. It is so hard when you get to a final and lose it, and rebuild to get back. That shows the character of our group; the girls are committed, and we want to put Galway in the best place possible. "It has been a challenge to get back here; it is never an easy path to get to." After All-Ireland final defeats in men's and ladies' football, as well as the camogie final, morale was not high come the end of the summer. 12 months on, and it is the camogie team who have responded the best, as Keane insists the Tribeswomen took the season on a game-by-game basis. Advertisement "When we came back at the beginning of pre-season, it was just about having those conversations. "You get to the league, you compete well, and if you can, go as far as you can go. "That led to us getting to the league final this year. It didn't go as we wanted, but we got there. It was a good platform for us to build off. "Coming into the championship, the main aim is to get a clean sweep in the group stages and put yourself directly into the semi-final. Advertisement "It was just about taking it game by game and trying to put your best foot forward at all times." In the past two seasons, it has been Cork who have dominated in Camogie, with Galway giving them one of their toughest tests in the final last season, losing out by a goal. Two sides who know each other well, and have always delivered quality games, Keane is unsure if previous clashes will matter when the final begins on Sunday evening. "On any given day, anything can happen. Any player can have the game of her life, and All-Ireland finals are no different. Advertisement "We know Cork well, but Cork knows us just as well. It is always such a battle between the two of us. It is always a great spectacle, and having played each other over the years, we know each other pretty well. "I do think Cork are favourites, but Cork have earned that right to be favourites. They have had an incredible championship; they have earned that right to be where they are, and to be the pinnacle team of the championship so far. "We are looking forward to that challenge of trying to get to their level. For us, first and foremost, put in a great performance that can hopefully match theirs. "If we can do that, we stand a great chance."
