Lesson's learned by ‘lucky' Meath after Leinster final defeat helped to see off Galway
GAA All-Ireland SFC Quarter-final
Dare we say it but maybe Meath learned more from losing a Leinster final than they would if they had won it.
Manager Robbie Brennan in his post-match interview referenced that disappointing defeat to Louth as he attempted to explain the upswing in fortunes that has culminated in the county qualifying for the semi-finals of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship for the first time since 2009.
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Irish Daily Mirror
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- Irish Daily Mirror
Caffrey column: Brennan frontrunner for Dubs job, but is it an attractive post?
A SATURDAY evening after an All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Tyrone and a Na Fianna man quits as Dublin not so much that I've seen his movie before, but that I was in it. I didn't hang around after Tyrone beat us in 2008. I informed my management team and county secretary John Costello straight after the game that I was gone and before gathering the players in the dressing room and telling them.I then went to fulfil my media obligations and quickly made it known, before the question was even asked. I didn't want a post mortem to drag on for two or three days before stepping previous year, Costello had called to say that he would be proposing me for another two years for me as Dublin manager, having already served three. But he couldn't get it through. They wanted to see out the 2008 season first and then review the that stage, we had been to two semi-finals and I felt that if we didn't at least get back to that stage and show signs of progression, it wasn't going to be good enough. So this was no spur of the moment call once we were beaten that day. Having not got the fifth year, the writing was on the wall. If you lose by a last minute point, there can be some solace but when you're comfortably beaten, it makes it fairly clearcut and I'd imagine there was a bit of that for Dessie Farrell last Saturday you, that's where the similarities with his predicament and mine end. His CV towers well above mine and he stands in a very elite group that have won All-Irelands at all grades as a manager. He is third only to Jim Gavin and Kevin Heffernan in terms of Dublin's most successful managers.I was surprised that he stayed on for 2025. I felt he'd go after they lost to Galway last year. He had five years done and retirements were inevitable. Stephen Cluxton staying on was an unexpected bonus but the departures of James McCarthy, Mick Fitzsimons, Paul Mannion and Jack McCaffrey were Fenton was the one that came out of left field and perhaps if Dessie knew of it earlier he may have stepped away himself. But we don't know what the discussions were behind the scenes - maybe he was asked to stay an extra year to start the would be typical of Dessie to put his shoulder to the wheel in that respect. It's well known what he's brought to Dublin but his contribution in Na Fianna is immense. He was constantly trying to drive things on and going beyond the call of duty, even when he was in with a disappointing manner for him to depart, but very few get to go on their own what happens next? Ger Brennan is the early favourite but often these things can take a very unpredictable Tommy Lyons stood down in 2004, Brian Mullins seemed a shoo in. He was unbackable, but the talks fell down and suddenly I was approached and given 24 hours to try and come up with a management team before I was swiftly ratified. You can be sure that Dublin are plotting already but, it has to be said, the job isn't terribly attractive just now. Underage results have been worrying in recent years and the conveyor belt of talent that was there for Gavin and Farrell has slowed fact, in the next few years, I don't think we're even going to be at the top table in Leinster. A lot of players have been introduced but it remains to be seen if they're going to be able to piece it together to challenge for major was a particularly bad weekend as, having not only lost to Tyrone, Kerry are rejuvenated after a spellbinding half of football against Armagh when it appeared that Jack O'Connor might have been running out of Meath push on again by beating Galway. Louth are already on top in Leinster while Offaly and Kildare's stock is rising too. It could suddenly become a very watchable province in the coming is the most obvious candidate to step into the job given what he's done with Louth and I'd imagine the lure of managing his own county would be strong for him. I'd be amazed if he doesn't get a call, at the very Darcy was strongly linked and believed to be the players' choice after Gavin quit but it didn't happen and he's with Leinster rugby now. He may not have any interest at this stage given the departure of so many of the players that he so worked closely I said, sometimes appointment processes can take a dramatic turn and while a Gavin return is a pipe dream for me, I wouldn't rule out Pat Gilroy pretty thin after that. There are others who would be credible as part of a management team but maybe don't have enough heft to take on the job assured, however, that there will be no clandestine talks like those alleged to have taken place between John Bailey and Mick O'Dwyer all those years ago. Whoever it is, Dublin will shop local.
RTÉ News
an hour ago
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Éamonn Fitzmaurice surprised by Jack O'Connor outburst
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Irish Daily Mirror
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- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish father's pride with son set to make Wimbledon debut
An Irishman has spoken of his pride as his son prepares to make his debut at Wimbledon. The 2025 iteration of the famous grass-court Grand-Slam kicked off on Monday, and while all eyes will be on the likes of Coco Gauff and Carlos Alcaraz over the next fortnight, for Irish fans, Tuesday could well belong to James Fernandez-McCabe. Fernandez-McCabe, a 21-year-old who represents Australia, will make his Wimbledon debut tomorrow when he takes on World number 58 Fabian Marozsan of Hungary. Ranked 123 places lower, James will have his work cut out for him as he looks to progress to the second-round at the All-England club. Speaking on RTE Radio's Oliver Callan show, Fernandez-McCabe admitted that the whole experience was a bit 'overwhelming', but that the thought of stepping out onto the famous courts gave him 'goosebumps.' James' father, Patrick, is originally from Walkinstown in Dublin. He moved to Australia in 1997 when he was just a year older than James is now, where he married Irene - James' mother. Taking up the sport as a youngster, James' father didn't have the money for top of the range, professional tennis lessons, so YouTube became the starlet's main instructor. James also excelled at other sports but went all in on tennis and is now preparing for the biggest match of his life. "That is my childhood. Maybe it wasn't normal at the time," he said. "It builds character and without it I wouldn't be where I am now. So I'm just grateful. I'm lucky." Speaking about James' early days in the sport, Patrick said "I got carried away early days. I was probably a bit hard on him ... but you do what you have to do."
