Armagh retain Ulster Ladies SFC title with convincing victory against Donegal
Armagh retained their TG4 Ulster SFC crown with a comprehensive win over Donegal in Clones.
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Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
Louth have already secured a glorious feat in 2025, now they're out to avoid unwanted piece of history
Eight games across four groups this weekend and no such thing as a dead rubber. The conclusion to the All-Ireland senior football championship round-robin series also has two teams facing the prospect of leaving an unwanted mark on football history. Leinster champions Louth and Connacht champions Galway are both playing for their survival. If one or both fail to progress, they would be the only provincial champions not to do so in the three years of the format. That very format may be consigned to the dustbin of history after this year, but neither Louth nor Galway had ever envisaged leaving behind such a legacy. Louth at least know exactly what is required for them to progress from Group 3 when they play Clare on Sunday (O'Moore Park, 2pm). Both teams lost to Monaghan and Down, but Louth's superior scoring difference means a draw would still see them through to the preliminary quarter-finals. READ MORE Galway's fate in Group 4 is partly out of their hands when they play Armagh on Saturday evening (Breffni Park, 6.30pm). Even if the Tribesmen win, they'll need Dublin to lose to Derry. Louth can point to the excuse of the hangover that accompanied the end of their provincial title famine . They were out against Monaghan in the first round of the All-Ireland series 13 days after winning their first Leinster football title in 68 years. [ All-Ireland group stage permutations Opens in new window ] When it came to playing Monaghan, Louth were clearly a little off the pace. They were always chasing the game and never got their noses in front. In the end, they were soundly beaten by six points. Ger Brennan didn't deny that lingering hangover afterwards. The Louth manager rated his team's performance against Monaghan at four out of ten, adding 'that is maybe down to the effects of winning the Leinster final and also to Monaghan, too'. Whether they win or lose at the weekend, they're always going to be legends — Ger Brennan A week later against Down, Louth were 10 points down early in the second half, before Sam Mulroy inspired what might have been a spectacular comeback. Mulroy finished with a dozen points, including four two-pointers. Tommy Durnin looked to be lining up a last-gasp equaliser just after the hooter when Adam Crimmins made a brilliant block for Down. Now it's win, draw or bust in Portlaoise. Clare are coming in off heavy defeats against Kerry in the Munster final and Down in the first round. However, they surprised many with their spirited performance against Monaghan when they led at half-time, 0-14 to 0-7. The Banner men eventually surrendered to Monaghan's wind-aided second-half display, losing 1-25 to 1-16. Tommy Durnin of Louth came close to rescuing a draw against Down. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho 'Looking at their performance against Down, they would have been disappointed with how they started,' said Louth manager Brennan, who spoke to local media earlier this week. 'Particularly in their own patch, they seemed to perform a lot better the last day against Monaghan, albeit Monaghan pulled away in the second half. 'And they will certainly fancy themselves against Louth this weekend. Three seasons ago, they beat a Louth team in the early rounds of Division 3, although Louth mobilised quite well and finished on eight points and won promotion themselves. So, they're an excellent team . . . but I suppose we're trying to think of our own group and trying to look at a bigger picture.' With Mulroy still shooting the lights out, Louth should have enough firepower to get past Clare on Sunday, or certainly draw. For Brennan, however, it won't define their 2025 season, which will go down in history. 'What this group of players have done for Louth GAA has been phenomenal,' says Brennan. 'Whether we win or lose at the weekend, that will never change. 'The joy and the happiness that they've brought to people's lives; that ending of a 68-year famine . . . these fellas, whether they win or lose at the weekend, they're always going to be legends. For me, there's no pressure on them. 'For me, they're just a wonderful group of lads and they should have no fear of the outcome at the weekend. [They can] go out and have fun and express themselves because they have brought so much pride and given so much joy to the people of Louth.'
Irish Times
5 hours ago
- Irish Times
All-Ireland Series permutations: All to play for as group stage comes to close
The final round of the All-Ireland SFC group stages means one thing: it's permutations time. Eight games are on this weekend's agenda, with places in the All-Ireland quarter-finals and preliminary quarter-finals up for grabs. Just to refresh our collective memory, there are four groups of four teams. The group winner from each group will go straight to the quarter-finals (to be played the weekend of June 28th/29th) while the second and third-placed teams in each group will go to the preliminary quarter-finals (to be played the weekend of June 21st/22nd). For those preliminary quarter-finals, second-placed teams will face a third-place team from a different group, with the former having home advantage. READ MORE Here's how things stand in each group, and how the championship may look after this weekend's action. All — GAA League Tables (@GAALeagueTables) Group 1 This group will test the patience of even the most avid permutationists. All four teams – Donegal, Mayo, Tyrone and Cavan – have two points to their credit having each won one and lost one of their group fixtures. The counties currently sit in that order based on points difference. Tyrone face Cavan on Sunday at the same time as Donegal meet Mayo. The winner in either or both games will be safe, the losers not so much. If there's only one loser (ie the other game ends in a draw) then that losing county says goodbye. In a case where neither game ends in a draw, the two winners will be level on four points and who takes the quarter-final place would be determined by their head-to-head result. In that same scenario, the two losers would be level on two points, and who takes third place (thereby qualifying for the preliminary quarter-finals) would also go down to the two counties' head-to-head result. If there's one draw in the two games, the two drawn counties go to the preliminary quarter-finals, and from the other game the winner goes to the quarter-finals and the loser falls on their sword. If there are two draws (have mercy on us), it all comes down to points difference. Group 2 Kerry and Meath are both sure of a place in at least the preliminary quarter-finals, but that coveted direct route to the last eight is on offer for the victor of their meeting at O'Connor Park on Saturday. If the game ends in a draw, Kerry top the group. Roscommon have the upper hand against Cork as a win or a draw for the Rossies in Portlaoise would be enough to get them through to the next round. A win for the Rebels would see them leapfrog their opponents, sneaking through to the preliminary quarter-finals as the third-placed team. Group 3 A pair safe and a pair in danger. Down and Monaghan are both sitting pretty on four points, while it's duck eggs for Louth and Clare. Those also happen to be the pairings for this weekend's games. A win for either Down or Monaghan would put them top of the group and through to the quarter-finals, loser heads to the preliminary quarter-finals. If their game at the Athletic Grounds ends in a draw, it'll come down to points difference, which would go Down's way as they lead Monaghan by three points. Meanwhile in Portlaoise, a loss for either Clare or Louth would bring the curtain down on their season, and should there be a draw, Louth's favourable points difference (-7 to Clare's -26) would send them through. Group 4 The 'Group of Death' hasn't proved all that deadly for All-Ireland champions Armagh. With two wins from two, Kieran McGeeney's men have ensured their title defence will live to see the knockout stages, and they've bypassed the preliminary quarter-finals for good measure. Armagh's four points has them two ahead of Dublin, and three ahead of both Saturday opponents Galway, and Derry. A win or a draw in Breffni Park would see the reigning champs top the group on six points. Although a loss would put them at risk of being caught on points by Dublin (should Dessie Farrell's side beat Derry), their head-to-head result (Armagh beat Dublin in round two) means the Orchard County would come out on top. The other three counties, meanwhile, are in a battle for survival. A win for Dublin against Derry would see them safely through to the preliminary quarter-finals, as would a draw, but a loss would leave them at the mercy of the Galway result. Should Dublin lose and Galway win, the Dubs are out and the Tribesmen progress. If both of this weekend's fixtures end in draws then Dublin would take second behind Armagh and Galway would pip Derry with their healthier points difference as the side drew when they met in round two. Weekend fix t ures: Saturday Group 2 (both 4.15pm): Roscommon v Cork, O'Moore Park (GAA+); Kerry v Meath, O'Connor Park. Group 4 (both 6.30pm): Armagh v Galway, Breffni Park (GAA+); Dublin v Derry, Páirc Esler. Sunday Group 3 (both 2pm): Monaghan v Down, Athletic Grounds (RTÉ 2); Louth v Clare, O'Moore Park. Group 1 (both 4pm): Tyrone v Cavan, Brewster Park; Donegal v Mayo, Dr Hyde Park (RTÉ 2).
Irish Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Champions Tyrone lead way on Dalata Hotel Group U20 Team of the Year
Tyrone have six players on the Dalata Hotel Group Under-20 Team of the Year following their All-Ireland triumph. The Red Hands continued their domination of the grade in recent seasons by taking their third title in four years, beating Louth convincingly in last month's All-Ireland final having held off a fierce challenge from Donegal to retain their Ulster crown. Eoin McElholm was named as the Footballer of the Year and is selected at centre-forward on the team, where he is joined by teammates Conan McGarvey, Joey Clarke, Caolán Donnelly, Callum Daly and Ruairí McCullagh. Despite the 14-point margin in the final, their first ever at this level, Louth were competitive for most of that game on the back of bridging a 44-year gap to their last provincial title and four of their players are selected, with the dominant pairing of Seán Callaghan and James Maguire chosen at midfield. The team is completed by two Donegal players, two from Connacht champions Mayo and another from Munster champions Kerry. Dalata Hotel Group GAA U20 Football Team of the Year: Conan McGarvey (Tyrone); Pádraic Tinnelly (Louth), Joey Clarke (Tyrone), Caolán Donnelly (Tyrone); Tadhg McDonnell (Louth), Callum Daly (Tyrone), Hugh O'Loughlin (Mayo); Seán Callaghan (Louth), James Maguire (Louth); Kevin Muldoon (Donegal), Eoin McElholm (Tyrone), Seanán Carr (Donegal); Ruairí McCullagh (Tyrone), Tomás Kennedy (Kerry), Darragh Beirne (Mayo).
