Nadine Doherty: Dublin's strength in depth can make the difference
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Irish Examiner
23 minutes 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.
Irish Daily Mirror
23 minutes 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."
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Dublin's lucky charm on what motivated her to come back and win All-Ireland
Dublin's lucky charm Eilish O'Dowd admits she felt like she was 'missing out' after parking her inter-county in 2024. The former Leitrim player, a long-time Dublin resident, was called up by her adopted county ahead of the 2023 season after impressing for Na Fianna at club level and slotted in at midfield as they went all way, beating Kerry in the All-Ireland final for their first Brendan Martin Cup success since their four-in-a-row run from 2017-20. But, like so many in the ladies game, her head was turned by the AFLW last year and she signed for the GWA Giants, with whom she made a notable impression, which included kicking the fastest goal in the competition's history some 15 seconds into her debut against the Western Bulldogs. Back home, Dublin relinquished their All-Ireland title at the quarter-final stage in O'Dowd's absence, suffering a surprise defeat to Galway at Parnell Park and with long-serving manager Mick Bohan stepping down in the aftermath, it seemed like the end of an era. However, with O'Dowd back on board after her Australian stint and Paul Casey and Derek Murray providing a seamless transition as they took over from Bohan in a joint capacity, Dublin are back on top after making light work of Meath, who sensationally halted their five-in-a-row bid in 2021, in Sunday's All-Ireland final. It means that, in terms of All-Ireland success, O'Dowd has a 100% record in her Dublin career with both of her two seasons having ended with the ultimate glory. 'It's great, fantastic, I can't complain!' she said. 'God, it's just so special to be back here. 'I think when I stepped away last year to go over to Australia and focus just on AFL, there definitely was a big part of me that felt like I was missing out, and even just watching the girls last year going in the group stages and even the League, you always feel like… you're just missing out, and you want to be a part of it all the time. 'It's very hard when you're over in Australia, the time difference and everything. That definitely gave me the motivation to want to come back and do it all again, because when you get the taste for that glory, you just want that success again. So, yeah, delighted to be able to get a second one. Two out of two!' The Dublin team maintained the tradition of taking the cup to the children's hospital in Crumlin this morning, while there will be a victory celebration staged in Smithfield Square tomorrow at 6pm.
