logo
Larkin hails Louth side's resilence to claim record fourth All-Ireland Junior title

Larkin hails Louth side's resilence to claim record fourth All-Ireland Junior title

Irish Examiner15 hours ago
TG4 All-Ireland Ladies JFC final: Louth 0-13 Antrim 1-8
Louth manager Kevin Larkin said hailed his charges as they recovered from a poor start to bounce back from losing last year's decider to Fermanagh by capturing the TG4 All-Ireland junior football championship title at Croke Park for a record fourth time.
'What a group to work with. All of Ireland has seen it there. Penalty, four points down and the girls just kept going, kept going and we went in a point up. There was 20 seconds on the clock before the break and we didn't stop. We didn't try and slow it down. We could have slowed it down and gone in with a draw. It wasn't good for us, but again, the players called that on the pitch themselves. They're just a brilliant group.
'I've been saying it to the girls, their mental strength and their resilience is their biggest weapon. They're just fantastic and even the control on the ball. Eimear Murray put in a tackle there. I thought Lara Dahunsi was through and I was like 'ah, no' and Eimear gets a hand in. Rachel Beirth did not give your one an inch.
'It's all over the pitch. I know obviously the forwards will probably get the headlines, but everywhere over the pitch we were just fantastic,' said Larkin.
Antrim, also bidding to become the first county to win the TG4 All-Ireland junior title four times, didn't build on their superb start and joint manager Chris Scullion lamented not taking chances in the second half.
'There was a couple of opportunities presented to ourselves in the second half. It just didn't fall our way today. It seemed to be mistake after mistake sometimes and we were constantly trying to regroup the girls to go again, go again. It maybe took a toll on them, but I'm not taking anything away from Louth. Louth were brilliant today. They set up defensively, kept their same structure and they were able to break out and it caused us problems. They were able to work the ball around and get their scores. Fair play to them.
'Whenever they attacked, we tried to block them out the same way they were doing to us. It's just unfortunate we just couldn't get the final ball, the final pass to ourselves to break through. Maybe get our chance. It did present itself right there at the end, but we were trying to get that instruction onto the field five, 10 minutes earlier to press up and push up on their kick-outs. To try and get the turnovers because we were still chasing the game. It's just unfortunate it just didn't go our way,' said Scullion.
It was the Ulster side who initially hit the ground running with team skipper Bronagh Devlin superbly drilling a third-minute penalty into the roof of the Louth net after Theresa Mellon was adjudged to have been fouled inside the square off a Maria O'Neill free that dropped short.
Mellon followed up the goal with a fine point for the Saffrons and even though Louth eventually opened their account through Aoife Russell, Omolara Dahunsi reinforced Antrim's early authority by splitting the posts at the opposite end.
Dahunsi also found the range in response to back-to-back points from Louth corner-forwards Russell and Ceire Nolan, but in the temporary absence of Bronagh Devlin for a yellow card offence, the Wee County cut their deficit to the bare minimum with impressive contributions from Flood and Shannen McLaughlin.
Although Antrim sharpshooter O'Neill was on target not long after Devlin's return, unanswered points by captain Aine Breen and the ever-dependable Flood (two) ensured Louth brought a 0-8 to 1-4 cushion into the interval.
Antrim were still very much in the reckoning, however, and the team jointly-managed by Scullion and Michael Devlin were back on level terms with a second point from O'Neill three minutes into the second period but centre-forward Eimear Byrne was on hand to restore Louth's slender lead on 38 minutes.
An outstanding score from the increasingly-influential Kate Flood left Louth two points to the good moving into the final-quarter and they were a step closer to another junior crown when Breen and substitute Mia Duffy added points in the 47th and 49th minutes respectively.
Lucy White subsequently increased Louth's cushion and even though a late surge from Antrim produced three points on the bounce by Ana Mulholland, Mellon and O'Neill (a goal-bound effort that was deflected over the bar), the Wee County ultimately prevailed in the end.
Scorers for Louth: K Flood 0-4, A Breen, A Russell 0-2 each, S McLaughlin, L White, E Byrne, C Nolan, M Duffy 0-1 each.
Scorers for Antrim: M O'Neill 0-3 (1f), B Devlin 1-0 (pen), T Mellon, O Dahunsi 0-2 each, A Mulholland 0-1.
LOUTH: R Lambe Fagan; R Beirth, E Hand, E Murray; H Lambe Sally, S McLaughlin, L Byrne; A Breen, A Halligan; L White, E Byrne, S Matthews; A Russell, K Flood, C Nolan.
Subs: M Duffy for Matthews (42), L Collins for Russell (56), G McCrave for Lambe Sally, Z Sweeney for White (both 59).
ANTRIM: A Devlin; N McIntosh, M Blaney, M Mulholland; S O'Neill, C Brown, C McKenna; A Mulholland, A Tubridy; T Mellon, M O'Neill, Aoife Kelly; B Devlin, O Dahunsi, L Agnew.
Subs: A Turley for Tubridy, A Monaghan for Kelly (both 39), B Nic Cathail for Agnew (47), N Jones for B Devlin, Aine Kelly for McKenna (both 56).
Referee: Kevin Corcoran (Mayo).
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

John Cleary expected to remain in charge of Cork senior footballers for 2026
John Cleary expected to remain in charge of Cork senior footballers for 2026

Irish Examiner

timean hour ago

  • Irish Examiner

John Cleary expected to remain in charge of Cork senior footballers for 2026

John Cleary is expected to remain in charge of the Cork senior footballers for a fourth full season in 2026. The Cork County Board meet on Tuesday night where further light could be shed on the Castlehaven man's future in the position. There has been suggestions that there may be changes in Cleary's management team but there are strong indications he will be at the helm having initially taken over from Keith Ricken on a temporary basis in 2022. Cleary's management team for the past three seasons has comprised coach Kevin Walsh, selectors Micheál Ó Croinín, James Loughrey and Barry Corkery and performance coach Rob Heffernan. For the second year in a row, Cork bowed out in at the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final stages when they lost to Dublin. They defeated Roscommon to make the knock-out stages having beaten Donegal in the 2024 group phase before exiting the championship at the hands of Louth. Speaking to the Irish Examiner last month, Cork chairman Pat Horgan said they hoped to confirm their senior management team this week. 'We hope to be in a position by August 5, at our next county board meeting, to have sorted the senior football. We will be speaking to John and hopefully we will have that sorted by then.' Cork will avoid a third consecutive Munster semi-final meeting against Kerry in 2026 following the provincial council's decision on Thursday to seed their top two league finishers in 2024 in separate semi-finals. Horgan has placed a strong emphasis on Cork returning to Division 1. This year, they were one win short of making the top two in Division 2. They had four home games and could have the same again in 2026 as it is the start of a new two-year cycle. Like Cleary, Pat Ryan's initial three-year term as senior hurling manager has concluded but there are hopes he too will agree to remain at the helm. Despite a successive All-Ireland final defeat, Cork claimed this year's Division 1 and Munster honours. Meanwhile, Davy Fitzgerald is set to remain on for a second season in charge of Antrim. The Saffrons retained their Division 1B status in 2025 but were relegated from the Leinster championship and will contest the Joe McDonagh Cup. It is also anticipated in Galway that Pádraic Joyce will stay in charge for a seventh season. The two-time All-Ireland SFC winner's recent three-year stint concluded with the All-Ireland quarter-final loss to Meath.

Limerick's Colin Ryan regains All-Ireland Poc Fada title
Limerick's Colin Ryan regains All-Ireland Poc Fada title

Irish Examiner

time2 hours ago

  • Irish Examiner

Limerick's Colin Ryan regains All-Ireland Poc Fada title

Limerick's Colin Ryan hailed a sweet win after regaining the M. Donnelly All-Ireland Poc Fada title after three seasons of near misses. The 2021 winner braved high winds - which rendered almost half of the traditional 5km course unplayable - to make off with the silverware having finished second in each of the last three seasons. Two of the four sections on the Annaverna Mountain course were bypassed as a result of gale force gusting winds. But 2018 All-Ireland SHC medallist Ryan, who also lined out in the 2017 All-Ireland U-21 final win with Limerick, held his nerve for a sweet win. He shoved Offaly star Cillian Kiely into second place, defeating the 2018 and 2019 winner by just 13 metres overall. Colin Ryan of Limerick with his son Fionn. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile Kerry man and Kilkenny hurler Fionan Mackessy, chasing a three-in-a-row of titles after his 2023 and 2024 wins, could only finish third in County Louth. Ryan's win was all the more impressive as he played at centre-back for his club Pallasgreen in the Limerick IHC on Sunday afternoon. Asked where the win ranks in his career achievements, Ryan said it's close to the top. "It's right up there for me," he said. "You're on your own, compared to playing with the club or in a team. So it's that bit tougher mentally. You're striking by yourself and there's no-one to help you with that strike, or to dig you out of a hole. "So I put this win right up there in my career. The 2021 win was special but I'd say this was even more special having come second the last three years. "To get over the line was great because you'd wonder at times would it happen again." It was Ryan's first win with his young son, Fionn. His partner, Grace, along with family members and friends, were on hand for support. Ryan completed the course in 25 pucks, the same as Kiely and Mackessy. But the 60 metres he added on from the ball going beyond the first turning point, and the finish line, won it for him. Powerhouse Kiely could only add on 47 metres and Kerry native Mackessy 35 metres. Ryan's last puck helpfully hit a rock after crossing the finish line and bounced on several metres, a stroke of good fortune. "Every bit counts when it comes down to metres," said Ryan. "I knew coming up for my last shot, we'd heard that Cillian was going well so we knew that if we hit a good one, we could win it. Thankfully I hit a rock! It took a nice little bounce and, look, it's a game of inches. It was great to get that bit of luck." Cillian Kiely of Offaly competing in the Senior Hurling competition during the M. Donnelly GAA Poc Fada All-Ireland Finals at Annaverna Mountain in the Cooley Peninsula, Ravensdale, Louth. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile Tipperary great and 2025 All-Ireland U-20 winning manager Brendan Cummins came up short in his bid for a record 10th title, finishing seventh. But there was a huge ovation for Cork's Molly Lynch who completed a five-in-a-row of senior camogie wins. The goalkeeper required just 27 pucks, four ahead of the next competitor, to complete what was a full camogie course. Former champion Killian Phelan of Kilkenny won the Paul Ward Cup, awarded for the longest single puck on the day. Westmeath's Conor Raleigh won the U-16 boys title, narrowly edging out Galway's Oran Stratford while Offaly's Siofra Ginty was the outstanding U-16 camogie participant, taking the title with two pucks to spare.

Dublin homecoming put on ice as change sees celebrations moved to Tuesday
Dublin homecoming put on ice as change sees celebrations moved to Tuesday

Irish Daily Mirror

time2 hours ago

  • Irish Daily Mirror

Dublin homecoming put on ice as change sees celebrations moved to Tuesday

Dublin City Council have announced that the Dublin Ladies' All-Ireland homecoming has been moved from Monday to Tuesday due to windy weather. "Due to Monday's strong winds the homecoming has been moved to the Tuesday rather than the day after the final which would be traditionally done," reads a statement from the DCC. "Dublin City Council have organised the homecoming for 6pm on Tuesday in Smithfield Square." Dublin won their seventh All-Ireland ladies title in front of a crowd of more than 48,000 people at Croke Park on Sunday, beating their old rivals Meath and avenging the infamous 2021 defeat that saw the Dubs' drive for five stopped in dramatic fashion. There was to be no repeat of that at Croke Park this time however, as the girls in blue ran riot and cruised a comfortable win. Dublin's win was poignant for a number of reasons, mainly as it represented the final day in the careers of some of the counties best ever footballers. Hannah Tyrrell was already queen of The Hill long before Sunday's final, but signed off on a fabulous career with a five-point haul to end a sporting career that saw her win two All-Irelands, an FAI Cup and a Six Nations title. Turning 35 next week, Tyrrell told Marty Morrissey after the game, "How lucky am I? I've been lucky enough to be from Dublin, to get to play for Dublin, finish my career at Croke Park, and go out on a high. I'm privileged. "I'm privileged to be from this wonderful county and represent all these people. I'm looking forward to what's ahead." Also exiting the stage is Nicole Owens, who bounced back from ACL injuries to win five All-Irelands for the Dubs. "The big thing for me today was to try and come in and enjoy it as much as possible," she told RTE. "And I did. I enjoyed the parade, I enjoyed everything around it."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store