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Armagh secure fifth Division One win with Kildare victory

Armagh secure fifth Division One win with Kildare victory

BBC News02-03-2025

Reigning Division One champions Armagh remain on course to reach another league final after a 2-15 to 1-7 victory against Kildare.The Orchard County racked up a fifth successive league win thanks to goals in either half from Niamh Henderson and Emily Druse.They led 1-6 to 0-2 at the break after a dominant first half display as Henderson rifled home after being played through by Aoife McCoy.Druse gave them a 13-point advantage at one stage in the second half when she scored their second goal before Leah McGovern slotted home what proved to be a late consolation for Kildare.Also in Division One, Tyrone were thrashed 6-15 to 0-6 by an impressive Waterford side at Aghyaran.Waterford controlled the game from start to finish and were well on their way to the win by half-time as they held a commanding 3-8 to 0-2 lead.Lauren McGregor scored a hat-trick and they also had goals from Chloe Fennell, Katie Murray and Kellyann Hogan in their dominant win.The Red Hands, despite having three points on the board, now find themselves in a relegation battle with fellow strugglers Mayo.In Division Two, Donegal were beaten 2-16 to 0-6 by Galway whilst Monaghan claimed a 4-11 to 1-9 win against Clare.In Division Three, Cavan overcame Offaly 3-12 to 0-4 whilst Down played out a draw with Wexford.In Division Four, Antrim and Fermanagh booked their places in the semi-finals as the Saffrons continued their winning streak.They eased past Wicklow 7-6 to 1-7 whilst Fermanagh picked up a 2-10 to 0-6 victory against Sligo.Derry got a much-needed win as they beat Kilkenny 5-15 to 0-4.

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All-Ireland SFC: Who needs what in final group games?
All-Ireland SFC: Who needs what in final group games?

BBC News

time6 hours ago

  • BBC News

All-Ireland SFC: Who needs what in final group games?

Right, here we go then: for the last time - at least for the foreseeable future - the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship has arrived at the all-important final round of group next year, the competition will have another new guise, with the round-robin phase scrapped in favour of a new format. More on that here. But this weekend, four teams will have their dreams of lifting the Sam Maguire Cup shattered for another year at least as 16 is whittled down to put, there are eight matches this weekend: four on Saturday and four on Sunday. As it stands, holders Armagh are the only team guaranteed a spot in the All-Ireland quarter-finals. As for the rest, a wide assortment of possibilities await. Let's get into it. A quick reminder: the team that finishes first in their group moves straight through to the quarter-finals. Second and third earns teams a preliminary quarter-final spot (those finishing second will have home advantage), while fourth is knocked out of the championship. Group One Tyrone v Cavan, Brewster Park, Sunday, 16:00 BSTDonegal v Mayo, Dr Hyde Park, Sunday, 16:00 BSTPermutations everywhere you look here. After two games, Donegal, Mayo, Tyrone and Cavan all sit on two points heading into the final round-robin weekend, the first time this has happened since this format was introduced. Ulster champions Donegal comfortably hold the most superior scoring difference (+16), thanks to their 19-point victory over Cavan in round two. However, the first tie-breaker is head-to-head, and given that Tyrone beat Donegal in the first round, the Red Hands will top the group if they beat Cavan and Donegal overcome Mayo, a sequence which would eliminate the Connacht county. Tyrone will also finish top if they win and Donegal and Mayo play out a draw, which would knock Cavan out. Courtesy of their win over Tyrone last time out, Mayo will top the group if they beat Donegal and Tyrone defeat Cavan. This would eliminate Cavan. Donegal will top the group if they beat Mayo and Cavan get the better of Tyrone, thus sending the Red Hands out. Jim McGuinness' Donegal will also secure first place if they win and the Tyrone-Cavan game ends in a draw, eliminating Mayo. Both games ending in a draw is a highly unlikely occurrence, but if that does happen, Donegal will top the group on scoring difference while Cavan will finish will finish top if they beat Donegal and Tyrone beat Cavan. They will also finish top with victory over Donegal and a draw in the Tyrone-Cavan game. Cavan can still finish top despite entering the weekend bottom. To do that, they will need to beat Tyrone and hope that Mayo see off Donegal, which would eliminate Donegal. If Cavan win and Donegal-Mayo ends in a draw, Cavan will finish at the summit and Tyrone will head for the exit door. Jeopardy. That's what everyone wants and this group is full of it. It could go right down to the final kick. Group Two Kerry v Meath, Tullamore, Saturday, 16:15 BSTRoscommon v Cork, Portlaoise, Saturday, 16:15 BSTMercifully, this group's web won't take quite as long to untangle. Kerry enter the weekend top after wins over Roscommon and Cork. Having already accrued four points, a win or draw against Meath will guarantee top spot for the Kingdom and a spot in the quarter-finals. If Kerry and Roscommon win, Kerry will finish top and Cork will be eliminated. If Kerry and Cork win, Roscommon will be are the only other team that can finish top, but they will obviously need to beat Kerry for that to happen. The best Cork can do is finish third, but they'll need to beat Roscommon. If it ends in a draw, the Rossies will secure third. Group Three Monaghan v Down, Athletic Grounds, Sunday, 14:00 BSTLouth v Clare, Portlaoise, Sunday, 14:00 BSTIn stark contrast to Group One, this group's package of permutations is much slimmer. 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After earning a crucial point in last-gasp fashion in their thriller against Derry a fortnight ago, the Tribesmen can still finish second and earn a home preliminary quarter-final. To do that, they must beat Armagh and hope Derry beat Dublin in Newry. In that scenario, scoring difference would decide second place (Galway are on -1, with Derry on -4). Dublin will finish second with victory or a draw over Derry, regardless of what happens in the Galway-Armagh game. If Dublin-Derry ends in a draw and Galway win, Derry will be eliminated. If Dublin-Derry ends in a draw and Armagh win, Galway will exit the championship, meaning Derry will move into the next stage without having won a game. Dublin will also finish second if they win and Galway-Armagh ends in a draw, eliminating Derry. Derry are guaranteed survival with a win as they will edge out Dublin on the head-to-head rule. If Derry and Galway both win, second place will be decided by scoring difference with Dublin knocked out. If Derry and Armagh win, Derry will finish second and Galway will be will also finish second if they beat Dublin and Galway-Armagh ends in a that's that. Come Sunday evening, the road ahead will show nothing but straight knockout for the final 12 teams. Before that, expect endless twists and turns as we bid farewell to the All-Ireland group stage. Knockout schedule The preliminary quarter-finals will be played on the weekend of 21/22 quarter-finals will be played on 28/29 semi-finals will be staged on 12/13 July with the final at Croke Park on 27 July.

All-Ireland finals could move to August in 2027
All-Ireland finals could move to August in 2027

BBC News

time2 days ago

  • BBC News

All-Ireland finals could move to August in 2027

GAA president Jarlath Burns says the All-Ireland Senior Football and Hurling finals could be pushed back to August from 2027. While the two showpieces games were traditionally played in September, they have been staged in July since 2022 as part of the split-season model. Earlier this year, Burns said the finals would not be moved to August in 2026, but a proposal to tweak the calendars could now be considered at Special Congress in at the launch of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship on Tuesday, Burns said: "Croke Park operates with regard to its priorities and how it does its business a year in advance. So, already, because we hadn't made a decision on that, August 2026 is taken up. That puts August 2027 into the mix."I'm around the country all the time, in clubs and counties every single day of the week, and the thing that I get most debate on are the timings of the All-Ireland finals. "And there is a school of thought that is saying that first and third weeks in August, leaving everything as it is, okay, first and third weeks in August."Burns, whose term as president ends in February 2027, also said he favours provincial finals being decided by replays. Cork beat Limerick on penalties in last weekend's Munster Hurling decider while Burns' native Armagh lost Ulster Football final shootouts in 2023 and 2024."I suppose that brings that into focus as well," added Burns."There are people who are very favourable towards the preliminary quarter-finals, but we will always be led by what the counties want. We decided that we would hold that particular one back."You don't have to talk to me above anybody else about replays and provincial finals. We've (Armagh) lost three now, two quarter-finals, on penalties. I would be very much in favour of replays where at all possible."

Armagh on lookout for new hurling manager as Karl McKeegan steps down from role
Armagh on lookout for new hurling manager as Karl McKeegan steps down from role

Belfast Telegraph

time2 days ago

  • Belfast Telegraph

Armagh on lookout for new hurling manager as Karl McKeegan steps down from role

Under the former Christy Ring winner, the Orchard county reached the Division Three Final in the National League in his first season in charge but they were unable to reach that height again. Following a disappointing 2024, this year Armagh failed to reach the Nicky Rackard Cup Final after failing to exit their group, leading to McKeegan's resignation. According to the Irish Times, Middletown's Na Fianna manager Kevin 'Kizzy' Hughes is the favourite to take over from the Cushendall man after leading his side to nine senior club championship titles in the last decade, with the club going for seven-in-a-row this year. Former Keady Lamh Dhearg manager Declan Napier is also believed to be interested and would bring considerable experience to the role having worked as a club coach in Armagh and Down, as well as managing the Down senior camogie team.

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