Kerry boss Jack O'Connor delights in being back in a seventh All-Ireland final
Kerry
manager
Jack O'Connor
is no less happy to have beaten
Tyrone
in Saturday's All-Ireland semi-final than he was when champions
Armagh
were tumbled two weeks ago: 'Delighted,' he specifies.
But he is a more upbeat, less recriminatory Jack than when taking issue with his team's treatment at the hands of Kerry pundits after the quarter-final, contentedly contemplating his seventh All-Ireland final – even though the season is now truncated.
'In the old days, it was three or four weeks to an All-Ireland final, but it'll be a great two weeks, you know, there's always a great buzz around the county so really looking forward to it now.'
There may not have been the sturm und drang of the 15 minutes when Armagh were consigned to their championship exit by an unanswered 14-point barrage, but once again Kerry dominated and ran off a series of scores that effectively took the match away from Tyrone.
READ MORE
Once Darragh Canavan had cut the margin to a point in the 42nd minute, 0-13 to 1-11, the Ulster team didn't score again for 22 minutes by which stage they were eight points worse off on the scoreboard and embarking on the last few minutes of their 2025 season.
It had started quite well for them and they led for most of the first quarter and were right in it until half-time. But Kerry had turned the tables with a 29th-minute goal by
David Clifford
, who would end the day with 1-9, and they were never headed again.
A Kerry fan celebrates a score at Croke Park. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho
O'Connor thought that the wind might have played a role in subduing Tyrone in that third quarter but he also pinpointed a much better performance from his team around the middle where the early imperium of Conn Kilpatrick was broken and Kerry's Joe O'Connor was named TV man-of-the-match for a dynamic display getting on ball and moving forward.
'What a game Joe had, you know, a powerful game and he's getting better ... all the time.
'We got to grips around the middle of the field – that was the big thing. No better man than this man here on a lot of breaks [he was sitting beside his captain Gavin White, who had played a big role in turning things around] and that was the thing that was killing us early on.
'I think there was a bit of a disconnect between Shane's kick-out and fellas getting to the pitch at the break, so we spoke about that at half-time and I think that was a big factor in the second half.'
He acknowledged that the win could have been more emphatic, given the number of goal opportunities his team created. But a combination of poor finishing, inspired goalkeeping by Niall Morgan, and some desperate defensive interventions kept the score in check.
'I know, I know, two or three at the back post that looked like tap-ins: it's disappointing ... but at least we created the chances. Today we were creating goal chances.
A dejected Kieran McGeary after Tyrone's defeat to Kerry at Croke Park. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho
'The last day we were creating two-point chances, but I think it's a sign of the team that they recognised what was in front of them and there was a bit more space inside this time. And they got the ball in and created those chances, but yeah, look, sure of course we could have had an easier afternoon if we converted a couple more.'
White was asked about the challenge of playing in such hot weather – with on-field temperatures in the high 20s.
'Certainly, they were difficult conditions to play in so I suppose we were looking to try and keep the ball as much as we could, but everyone on our team was obviously trying to run the ball as best as they could. It was fairly warm out there at pitch level.'
Malachy O'Rourke, as a former member of the
FRC
, whose rules modifications have played such a role in making the football championship the best in years, was able to accept ruefully that the additional space accorded to full forwards had been additionally challenging. But he had no excuses, demurring when asked to comment on his team's meagre free count in the first half.
In general, he acknowledged that things hadn't worked as planned.
'Yeah, it was disappointing the way it got away from us. I suppose at half-time we felt we were right in the game. First half we played a lot of good football. We did well on both kick-outs. I suppose the downside of that was we gave away a wee bit of possession cheaply through our own efforts, unforced, and then Kerry put us under pressure at times.
'And then we were caught a wee bit at the back then, we left ourselves a wee bit bare at the back. And obviously David Clifford, we didn't give Paudie [Hampsey] enough cover at times, and David Clifford in particular was very prominent there.'
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The 42
an hour ago
- The 42
28 years after the Cork and Tipperary managers faced off in dramatic Munster final
BEFORE THEY WERE operators on the sideline, they were influencers on the pitch. Rewind back 28 years when Pat Ryan and Liam Cahill were in opposition on hurling final day. A Munster U21 title was up for grabs on that July evening in 1997, the current Cork senior manager wearing number nine at midfield, while the current Tipperary senior manager wore number 10 in attack. When invited to expand on the Cork-Tipperary rivalry last week, Ryan used that game as an immediate reference point. His present senior selectors Wayne Sherlock, at corner-back, and Brendan Coleman, pressed in off the bench, were both in the Cork ranks then. Cahill had his coaching sidekick Michael Bevans for company in the Tipperary forward line. Tipperary selector Michael Bevans and manager Liam Cahill. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO There'll be plenty familiarity on the sideline in Croke Park next Sunday. 'Pat Ryan was always heading that way into management I would think,' recalls Bertie Óg Murphy, the boss of the Cork U21 class of 1997. 'Wayne Sherlock and Brendan Coleman are great guys too. Funny enough, if you look at the Cork team that won the All-Ireland (senior) in '99, most of the team were from that U21 era, 1996-98, but Cork also won an U21 in 1993 in Munster and five of the team that played in '99 were on that team and also on that team was Donal O'Mahony who is another selector now.' The game was defined by the last act. A classic injury-time scenario – Tipperary protecting a precarious two point advantage on their home patch in Thurles, Cork conjuring up a feat of escapalogy when Timmy McCarthy cut through the defence to find the net. 'We had it won and there is no excuse really for the manner in which we lost it,' reflected Tipperary boss Michael Doyle after the game. 'Timmy McCarthy should never have been allowed through the heart of our defence. He should have been taken down much further out the field. Call it a professional foul, or what you like but the Cork centre forward should not have been allowed to see daylight.' Timmy McCarthy (file photo). Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO 'He did the same then to Sars in the county final for Imokilly,' recalls Murphy of McCarthy's match-winning strike. 'I was involved with Sars and Pat Ryan was playing with Sars, but there was five or six of the top lads playing with Imokilly. It was Timmy that got the goal again. He was with me in one game and against in another.' Advertisement Cahill and Bevans had done their best to construct a winning position for Tipperary. Cahill entered the game with a fearsome reputation, he had announced his arrival the previous season on the senior stage by bagging an All-Star award. He clipped over four points for Tipperary and Bevans notched two, yet a Cork backline populated by the names of Browne, O'Sullivan, Sherlock, and Ó hAilpin packed a strong punch. Cork were ahead 0-7 to 0-5 at the break but Tipperary wiped that advantage out early in the second half. The lead could have been greater, Donal Óg Cusack diverting a blasted shot from Cahill over the crossbar and another out for a '65 from substitute Johnny Enright. 'Liam was obviously a player that we'd marked to watch,' says Murphy. Bertie Óg Murphy (file photo). INPHO INPHO 'In 1996, Seán Óg Ó hAilpín was full-back and we lost the semi-final to Galway. It was frustrating now, I think we overtrained to be honest with you. 'In '97, we were able to put him back in his best position wing-back because we decided to play Diarmuid O'Sullivan as a full-back even though he was playing out the field with his club. So that worked out very well. 'The biggest problem that I had training those teams was that they were all – totally different to now – they were all playing with so many teams at the time. Timmy McCarthy was playing with nine or ten teams, Diarmuid O'Sullivan the same, hurling and football. 'Nowadays if you're playing U20 with Cork, you're playing nothing else for those few months. What we learned from '96 against Galway was that we needed to keep them fresh. They'd be giving out to me because half the time I would stop them training instead of going training.' They dispersed after that as underage teams do, their careers scattering away in various directions. A couple months on, Paul Shelly as a starter and Cahill as a sub, were competing on the pitch in the 1997 senior showpiece for Tipperary against Clare. In 2001, Tipperary made amends with Thomas Costello, Paul Ormonde, Eamonn Corcoran, Mark O'Leary, John Carroll, Eugene O'Neill all starting in the successful decider against Galway, survivors from the panel that lost the U21 game four years before. For Cork the senior breakthrough of 1999 involved Donal Óg Cusack, Diarmuid O'Sullivan, John Browne, Wayne Sherlock, Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, Mickey O'Connell and Timmy McCarthy on the starting side, with Pat Ryan one of those on the bench. The job spec of the underage boss was never about claiming silverware in the eyes of Murphy. 'It wasn't so much winning the All-Irelands, it was producing players to play senior with Cork. 'That was my attitude always, the wins were kind of a bonus, they were fantastic, but a serious amount of players came through with that to play senior and win senior All-Ireland medals. That's what it's all about. That's your job done in my opinion.' Seeing his clubmate in charge of Cork on Sunday infuses him with pride, assisted by former players that passed through his watch. 'Always with Sars, Pat was the leader in the dressing-room. Even though we lost that '97 county final, even looking back you can see on YouTube that he was outstanding, the best player on the pitch. Cork defender Wayne Sherlock. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO 'I always said Wayne was probably the best player I ever dealt with, both in his position and his attitude. 'Brendan Coleman was a great bit of stuff, honest as the day is long. The two of them, they're doing a great job now helping Pat.' The nature of that defeat stung Tipperary, a last game in underage ranks for many ending in shattering fashion as they were caught on the line. Tipperary Manager Michael Doyle (file photo). INPHO INPHO 'We should have stopped him but failed and we are now paying the costliest price of all,' remarked Doyle after the game. 'But that is what sport is all about and we have got to take our beating hard and all as it is.' Now with playing careers parked and management duties consuming their focus, Cahill and Ryan will renew acquaintances again in a final on Sunday. Bigger stage, bigger stakes. ***** Munster U21 hurling final – 30 July, 1997 Cork 1-11 Tipperary 0-13 Scorers for Cork: Timmy McCarthy 1-2, Mickey O'Connell 0-6 (0-6f), Darren Ronan 0-1, Austin Walsh 0-1, Pat Ryan 0-1. Scorers for Tipperary: Eugene O'Neill 0-6 (0-3f), Liam Cahill 0-4, Michael Bevans 0-2, Ger Flanagan 0-1 (0-1f). Cork 1. Donal Óg Cusack (Cloyne) 2. John Browne (Blackrock), 3. Diarmuid O'Sullivan (Cloyne), 4. Wayne Sherlock (Blackrock) 5. Derek Barrett (Cobh), 6. Dan Murphy (Ballincollig), 7. Seán Óg Ó hAilpín (Na Piarsaigh) Related Reads Conor Lehane: 'It's about being a grown up, you've got to take it on the chin and just drive on' Who are the leading contenders to be 2025 Hurler of the Year? 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Michael Kennedy (Clonoulty-Rossmore) Subs Johnny Enright (Thurles Sarsfields) for Bevans Referee: Pat O'Connor (Limerick) *****
Irish Times
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‘Be single-minded': Cork hurling heroes of 1966 on what it takes to end an All-Ireland drought
A Tipperary man popularised the use of 'famine' to describe a dearth of success in hurling. Captain Richard Stakelum uttered the term in his acceptance speech after Tipperary beat Cork in the 1987 Munster SHC final replay, bridging a 16-year gap in the process. Cork people still present in the stadium could hardly have taught their own county would face into such a famine. At that stage, Cork led the All-Ireland roll of honour with 26 titles, three ahead of Kilkenny and four ahead of Tipperary. The idea that the Rebels would experience a 16-year barren stretch was unfathomable to most on Leeside. The Rebels have remained consistent in Munster, but they have endured a long wait for an All-Ireland that stretches back to 2005. From the 1890s up to that point in 1987, Cork had won at least one All-Ireland every decade. With the peerless Christy Ring to the fore, they won five titles in the 1940s followed by three in the 1950s. The dry period between Cork's All-Ireland wins in 1903 to 1919 stands out as a particular disappointment. However, that was ancient history by 1987. For Cork fans born in the 1920s, the halcyon days of the 1940s and the first half of the 1950s surely looked like they would never end. Until they did. READ MORE 'Those were the days,' as Mary Hopkin sang over a decade later. Cork's failure to reach All-Ireland finals for a decade following the 1956 loss to Wexford meant fans were desperate for success when a young team finally made it back to Croke Park in 1966. That 1966 team offers the closest example in living memory of what the current Cork team are facing into this Sunday when they take on the Premier County in the All-Ireland final. The current crop of Rebel hurlers will be seeking to prove that famines – even 20-year famines, in their case – do eventually end. But unlike this year's team, who go into Sunday's final as most people's favourites, the Cork team that entered Croke Park for the 1966 decider were rank outsiders and featured several under-21 players. Among them were the three McCarthys, who were all unrelated. Gerald and Charlie hurled with St Finbarr's, while Justin hurled with Passage. This week, all three looked back on a day that earned them and their teammates a particular place in Cork hurling lore. (From left) Gerald McCarthy, Justin McCarthy and Charlie McCarthy, stars of Cork's 1966 All-Ireland hurling triumph, met up this week. Coming up against a seasoned Kilkenny outfit who had beaten Waterford just three years earlier to win the All-Ireland, that young Cork side ran out 3-09 to 1-10 winners. Colm Sheehan from Éire Óg netted two goals and John O'Halloran from Blackrock bagged a third . The three McCarthys also played their part. Justin, who was 21, lined out at midfield, contributing two-second half points. Gerald, also 21, captained the team from left half-forward and Charlie (20) lined out at right corner-forward. Each chipped in with a point. Justin recalls that while Cork had gone over a decade without an All-Ireland, it was no great burden to the team. 'I think we were conscious that it had been 12 years," he said. 'We had all grown up seeing Cork winning in 1952, '53 and '54, and of course the loss to Wexford in '56. I suppose that gave us all an urgency to want to play for Cork and a lot of lads on the panel had experienced the lean years. [ Three Munster finals that created the mythos of Tipperary v Cork Opens in new window ] 'We knew it was important to Cork, but a lot of us were very young. There was a blend of youth with Gerald and Charlie and Seanie Barry and myself, and there were older fellows on the team like Peter Doolan and Paddy Fitzgerald and Tom O'Donoghue and Denis Murphy. 'None of us had ever played in an All-Ireland final before, but we were quite confident – we had beaten Clare after a replay and then Limerick and Waterford in the Munster championship, and we were well geared up and we were quite confident going in that we could beat them. Gerald McCarthy says youth helped him deal with the pressure ahead of the 1966 All-Ireland hurling final between Cork and Kilkenny 'Gerald and myself were rooming together and I remember that morning, as we were going to Mass, he said to me, 'we have a good chance'. I said, 'we have, and we'll have that cup in this room this evening'. We had no fear.' Similarly, Gerald McCarthy acknowledged that they were all conscious of Cork's 12-year barren run. He said: 'There's always an expectation in Cork – the fans nearly demand success. But in fairness, it wasn't being overdone by people. We didn't have fellows coming up to us on the street and saying 'it's 12 years' or that sort of thing. We were a young team and people recognised that. [ Cork crowds, Tipp trips, Munster mastery: Seven-step guide to the 2025 hurling championship Opens in new window ] 'Okay, there was a bit of pressure, but I think when you are young, you can deal with it better. We had played Kilkenny in the league semi-final in Croke Park earlier that year, but we didn't have a semi-final after winning Munster, so it was our first championship match in Croke Park. 'So, we didn't have any real experience of Croke Park, certainly not a crowd that size. We were a good mix of young and experience, but I think the younger players just took it on. When you are young, you don't take in the whole impact of it and can deal with it better than an old stager. 'I remember as we were going in from Lucan to Croke Park on the bus, The Beatles had a hit with Yellow Submarine and somebody started singing 'We All Live in a Red Submarine'. It just clicked and everyone fell in with it and it just broke the tension, so we handled that well.' Charlie MacCarthy says it helped Cork that Kilkenny were such favourites to win. 'We went into the game without any one really giving us a chance,' he said. 'It's a bit like Sunday with Tipp, nobody is giving them a chance. I was only a young fellow, just turned 20 and the attitude was, 'we have nothing to lose, we'll go up there and give it our best shot'. Charlie McCarthy is tipping Cork to get the better of Tipperary in Sunday's All-Ireland SHC final. 'And in fairness, everybody got stuck in and stuck in early. We really didn't give Kilkenny a chance to settle down – our backs were very good, very tight and we got our goals at the right time and it settled us. We kept plugging away and things turned out right for us in the end.' Gerald acknowledges that Cork are going into Sunday's game as favourites but says players can react in different ways to being favourites and the pressure it may bring. 'The pressure can affect your head, but everyone is different and you have to learn to deal with it somehow.' Charlie thinks it will be a tight game, but feels that Cork might shade it, especially as they are driven by the pain of losing last year's All-Ireland final to Clare. 'I think it will be close enough,' he said. 'The Tipp lads are after improving since the League final and the round-robin game and they battled back well against Kilkenny in the semi-final, so it will be close. But I have a slight fancy for Cork and think they will shade it.' As for Justin, his advice to the current wearers of the jersey is forget about history and simply go out and hurl. He agrees that the desire to make amends for last year's narrow loss to Clare could help drive them on 'Yes, they have a chance now to redeem themselves for last year. That's a good motivation but forget about 20 years – you can think about that afterwards when you win. It's all on the day and you just have to be single-minded and go out with the belief you are good enough to win it.'
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Armagh pay heartfelt tribute to departing coach Kieran Donaghy
Armagh GAA has paid tribute to departing Orchard county coach Kieran Donaghy for helping to 'shape the identity, resilience and ambition' of the team that claimed All-Ireland SFC glory last year.
