
Who is commentating for RTE on today's All-Ireland football final?
Kerry come into this game as slight favourites, however, Donegal are just marginal underdogs in a game that is well and truly too close to call.
The game will be subject to massive media coverage and is being broadcast simultaneously on both RTE and the BBC.
Darragh Maloney and Eamonn Fitzmaurice will be the men behind the mic in the gantry for RTE this afternoon, with Damian Lawlor providing pitchside analysis throughout the day.
Longtime RTE presenter Maloney has emerged as the voice of gaelic football on the National broadcaster, with Marty Morrissey his counterpart in the hurling.
And in Fitzmaurice, RTE have a man well positioned to give his thoughts on the game, with Fitzmaurice forming a part of the Football Rules Committee (FRC) which has shaped the game this season.
He was also manager when Kerry and Donegal last met in an All-Ireland final, when the Kingdom won back in 2014.
Writing in the Irish Examiner ahead of the game, Fitzmaurice said: "From a Kerry perspective they will have to get a lot right, the norm to win a final. Everyone will have to play well, they will need to tie down the Michaels (Murphy and Langan) and the O'Donnells (Shane and Conor) and they will need to get an impact from the bench, including springing a marker for Patrick McBrearty when he is introduced.
"To win, the Munster champions will also have to excel in attacking against Donegal's zone, defending their runners and breaking even on Shaun Patton's kickouts.
"Donegal's greatest strength so far can be their biggest weakness - in my opinion. Their zonal defensive setup has worked so far, getting them to an All-Ireland final and winning Ulster.
"I have long felt it won't win Sam, and I am about to get my answer, one way or the other."
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


RTÉ News
25 minutes ago
- RTÉ News
Ireland's EuroHockey semi-final hopes ended despite Germany draw
Germany 0-0 Ireland Ireland put in a strong performance against Germany in their final pool outing, but the 0-0 draw against the hosts wasn't enough to secure a EuroHockey Championships semi-final spot. Having lost to the Netherlands and France already in Pool A, only a victory by two clear goals was going to suffice in Monchengladbach, and despite dominating the game, couldn't find the ruthless streak to punish their opponents on the scoreboard, It means Ireland will instead play Scotland and England to close out their campaign. Ireland pressed right from the off, but a single German breakaway was enough to see them win two penalty corners in quick succession, both of which Ireland defended. After a period of German pressure Ireland were efficient in attack, Mikayla Power receiving the ball on the right flank and winning a penalty corner. Hannah McLoughlin was the option for a straight strike which was well saved and cleared. Ireland mounted another attack soon after, with Emily Kealy driving into the circle and winning a penalty stroke. McLoughlin stepped up to take the set piece, only to see her effort saved by Julia Sonntag. Ireland's intensity continued into the second quarter, causing real problems for the German defence through more intense pressing. Several turnovers gave Ireland opportunities to run at their opposition's backline, but strong defence kept them at bay. The sides went into the half-time break on level terms. Ireland picked up where they left off in the second half, McAuley driving well down the left and drawing a foul that saw the hosts reduced to 10 players following a green card. Two late green cards for Ireland's Roisin Upton and Niamh Carey meant Ireland had to see out the remaining minutes down two players, defending resolutely to stay on level terms at the end of the third quarter. Germany created the first chance of the final quarter, winning a penalty corner inside the first two minutes which they put wide of the left post. Ireland responded well, again squeezing the German defence in the press. With eight minutes remaining, Power did superbly to control an aerial from McLoughlin and test substitute goalkeeper Nathalie Kubalski. Ireland withdrew goalkeeper Lizzie Murphy in a last-ditch effort to get a win with five minutes remaining. A penalty corner with a minute to remain gave Ireland a last chance to get a much-deserved win, testing Kubalski twice in the German net but they couldn't find the breakthrough. "We went toe-to-toe with Germany in front of a home crowd," head coach Gareth Grundie said afterwards. "We certainly had our opportunities; I think if one had gone in in the first quarter it certainly would have put them under pressure. "I think the damage was probably already done on Monday against France. If we had come out of that game with a result, then Germany needing to win tonight would have given us a real opportunity." Ireland will face Scotland on Friday (11.30am) and England on Sunday (11.30am) in crossover matches to determine their final ranking.


Irish Examiner
25 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Ireland miss out on EuroHockey semi-final following gruelling stalemate with Germany
An elusive semi-final berth for Irish women's hockey went begging last night — and so did a first goal at these EuroHockey Championships — as Germany knocked Gareth Grundie's side out of medal contention with a gruelling 0-0 draw. Needing to win by two goals to set up a last four clash for the first time with Belgium, Ireland missed a first-half penalty stroke and failed to make inroads from a 20th penalty corner taken at these Championships. Yet they dominated passages of play on a tense night for the host nation, as they put in their best all-round performance to stifle the world No.6 side. 'We knew it was a tall order coming in and on another day we could have got the 2-0 over them,' said Sarah Hawkshaw, Ireland's captain. 'We have to look at our penalty corner as we need to be converting more. That could have changed the tournament for us. As a nation we need to be producing performances where we are matching opposition sides throughout the entire game, not just through corners.' Hawkshaw had insisted pre-match that her team needed to keep Germany out of the Irish circle and they did that with some aplomb throughout, yet the hosts had two early penalty corner sighters. Their first found the net but was ruled out for height while the second saw Lizzie Murphy go down early to smother out danger. With six minutes left of the first quarter, Emily Kealy was then illegally tackled as she lined up her shot after a swift break into the German circle. One could sense the nerves as Hannah McLoughlin — with Roisin Upton off the pitch — stepped up and her shot was easily saved courtesy of Julia Sonntag's left glove. Kathryn Mullan weaves her way through two German players. Picture: Frank Uijlenbroek/Inpho Still, Ireland played with tempo, rhythm and created a flurry of meaningful attacks during a bright first-half. The telling touch was missing, however, with a first circle entry in the third quarter seeing Katie Mullan misdirect her shot wide. As the third quarter drew to a close, Ireland went down to nine players after two green cards in quick succession, but Ireland managed to defend stoutly with the German overload. A match of few clear cut chances saw Germany come close to breaking the deadlock in the final quarter when a corner sweep to the far post went inches wide. With 10 minutes remaining, Murphy remained in Ireland's goal when offering an extra outfield threat and causing nerves for the hosts was needed most. A fourth penalty corner routine of the night was then easily dealt with by Germany's post runners. Murphy was eventually hauled off with under five minutes left. At the other end, Ireland's 20th corner of the tournament was then cleared at the second attempt as the hooter sounded on the Green Army's fruitless campaign. 'We had better connections through the lines and manipulated their shape against a German side which pride themselves on structure,' said Hawkshaw. 'It shows that we can compete. It's a long year of hockey and now we are in the Pro League we will come up against them a few more times. 'There's never been a Europeans I have played in where the decider has happened after your second game of the pool. That's the beauty of this tournament and it shows how close the European standard is.' Ireland will now aim to finish fifth for a third time in the last four editions. This time, however, there is no jeopardy of relegation from Europe's top flight. The 2027 Championships in London will be reformatted with more teams, meaning no demotions at the current tournament.


Irish Independent
26 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Speculation mounts that Ger Brennan's Dublin backroom team to include former team-mates Dean Rock and Denis Bastick
While there was no official confirmation of the impending appointments, Dublin insiders indicated that both were in contention along with DCU professor Niall Moyna who was involved with Brennan in Louth. Previously, Moyna worked under Pat Gilroy for Dublin's All-Ireland triumph in 2011 with Brennan playing centre back on the team.