Leinster pales in comparison to spectacular Munster decider
Some weekend, that. Top billing? You'd be torn between Carlos and Cork, the former, Señor Alcaraz, for
his astounding comeback against Jannik Sinner
in the French Open final, the latter, the hurley-wielding Rebels, for their part in a Munster final that won't soon be forgotten.
'Everything about it was staggering,' writes Denis Walsh of the game at the Gaelic Grounds. '
The suffocating intensity, the twists, the spectacular scores
and the crazy misses.' It was, says Seán Moran in his match report,
'a smouldering, frantic affair'
, one that was decided by the first ever shoot-out in a provincial final.
As Ian O Riordan puts it in his
round-up of the weekend's hurling
, nothing Kilkenny and Galway could produce on Sunday was ever going to outdo what was served up the day before. Nicky English agrees. The Leinster decider was, he writes,
'a pale imitation of the Munster final'
, but while Kilkenny prevailed, he's not convinced they are contenders this year.
They did, though, survive a late Galway rally to win
their sixth successive Leinster title
, Ian in Croke Park to witness their triumph. Paul Keane heard from
Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng
after, and Paul was on hand too earlier in the day to see
Kildare produce a breathless second-half display
against Laois in the Joe McDonagh Cup.
READ MORE
There wasn't too much drama in the Tailteann Cup, the form guide holding as
Sligo, Wexford, Offaly and Westmeath all progressed
, but there was plenty of it on the opening weekend of the women's football All-Ireland championship, Dublin and Meath both needing last second equalisers against Waterford and Armagh, respectively. Kerry opened the defence of their crown with a win over Mayo in Tralee, while last year's runners-up Galway saw off Tipperary in Tuam.
Denis, meanwhile, previews
RTÉ's five-part series on the history and nature of Gaelic football
, the first episode of Hell for Leather airing tonight. Its timing, he says, 'couldn't have been more opportune because this has been the most spectacular football season in living memory' – thanks in no small part to the new rules.
In rugby, after enduring three straight URC semi-final defeats, Leinster finally broke the code,
comfortably beating Glasgow on Saturday
to set up a meeting with the Pretoria Bulls at Croke Park in next Saturday's final. Gerry Thornley reports on the game and hears from
Leo Cullen
and
Jack Conan
, while Johnny Watterson analyses
a performance that was far superior to Leinster's last outing
.
And in racing, Brian O'Connor looks back at
Lambourn's Epsom Derby success
, one that gave Aidan O'Brien a record-extending 11th win in the classic. Lambourn is now odds-on to become the 20th horse to complete the Epsom-Curragh Derby double at the end of this month.
TV Watch
: There are highlights from the GAA and rugby weekends on TG4 and RTÉ 2, respectively, at 8pm, while the pick of the night's football action is Wales' World Cup qualifier away to Belgium (Virgin Media Three, 7.45pm). And at 9.35pm, there's the first episode of Hell for Leather, a history of Gaelic football, on RTÉ One.
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The 42
2 hours ago
- The 42
Ireland round out the season with dreary draw away to Luxembourg
Luxembourg 0 Republic of Ireland 0 THIS BORE, END-OF-SEASON draw was just about the most passive mutual offering from Ireland and Luxembourg since they designed their respective tax regimes. Acknowledging that June friendlies are hardly havens for confidence or rich feeling, Ireland were desperately poor in the first-half, with their passing ragged and their energy levels low. They were much better after half-time, though, and were unfortunate not to grab a late winner when substitute Jack Taylor smashed a shot off the underside of the crossbar. They ultimately had to settle for a goalless draw, one which extends their unbeaten run to four games and does not seriously check their momentum going into September's World Cup qualifying campaign. Ireland, though, will have to play much better than this if they are to take enough points from the opening games against Hungary and Armenia to maintain an active interest in qualifying through to the final games in November. Heimir Hallgrimsson decided to reward the oft-travelling, rarely-seen Max O'Leary with a first Irish start, giving Caoimhín Kelleher a break. Jake O'Brien replaced Matt Doherty at right-back with Killian Phillips making his full senior debut in midfield, with Ryan Manning benched. Evan Ferguson – whose sharpness in training had impressed his manager – earned a start having come close to doing so on Friday, while Troy Parrott returned to lead the line. Ireland's shape was that to which we have become accustomed: a 4-4-2 without the ball that morphed into a fancier, 3-4-2-1 with the ball. Phillips dropped into deep midfield alongside Jason Knight with Will Smallbone freed up to play further forward. Among Ireland's first-half problems: their evolving formation got stuck in its larval, two-banks-of-four phase, such was Luxembourg's dominance of the ball. O'Leary was sharp to dive to his left to push Danel Sinani's long-range shot around the post, a move whose genesis was a clumsy lay-off by Ferguson to Phillips. Advertisement Hallgrimsson, growing increasingly frustrated, swapped Phillips and Smallbone's positions. That move was tantamount to tinkering around a crash site. Ireland's passing was awful, with players remonstrating with one another as moves continually broke down. An ugly problem from Ireland's last few years also reared its head, with Knight, Phillips and Smallbone looking rushed and uncomfortable when they were pressed in midfield by their opposite number. Troy Parrott contributed Ireland's best moment from open play shortly before half-time, when he controlled the ball and spun away from his aggressive marker, Eldin Džogović, who responded by kicking him in the calf. It was a rare moment of conviction from any Irish player. Smallbone floated the resultant free-kick to Dara O'Shea at the back post, whose square header was met by Nathan Collins, who stooped and headed the ball against the post. Ireland mercifully improved after half-time. Kasey McAteer hinted at the severity of the half-time message by quickly closing down and opponent to rob possession and then pull a left-footed shot wide of the far post. McAteer should have remained so single-minded a few minutes later, but rather than go for goal himself, he instead directed a free header from Ryan Manning's terrific deep cross back across goal for Parrott, who handled the ball amid a miscued effort to try and force the ball over the line. Jack Taylor and Festy Ebosele were sprung from the bench within 10 minutes of the restart and both combined for another chance, only for Taylor to pull a shot wide having been smartly picked out by Ebosele on the edge of the box. Ireland finally managed an effort on target shortly after, as Parrott ran in behind to collect McAteer's pass before lifting the ball delightfully over the onrushing goalkeeper. Parrott, alas, was too eager in making his run and had strayed offside. McAteer, now shifted to an inside-left role as opposed to standing out on the right wing, grew far more influential, but was also guilty of over-enthusiasm in taking an over-the-shoulder volley too early having been picked out by a ball over the top. His shot was tame and easy for Luxembourg's teenage goalkeeper. But alas as many of the Irish players improved around him, Evan Ferguson visibly waned; his lack of match minutes across the season becoming painfully evident. He was caught too often on his heels, most gallingly when Dara O'Shea played a risky pass through midfield that was intended for Ferguson, but intercepted by the much more alert Tomas Moreira, whom Ferguson pursued and then fouled. He was booked, and eventually withdrawn for Adam Idah with 15 minutes remaining. Taylor came agonisingly close to winning the game as the clock ticked out. First Parrott wriggled brilliantly along the endline to pull the ball back for Idah, whose heavy touch ended with the ball running out to Taylor on the edge of the box, who smashed a shot off the underside of the crossbar John Patrick came off the bench for a late senior debut, and showed some very neat touches, most obviously on the edge of his own box after Matt Doherty recovered brilliantly to snuff out a late Luxembourg counter. The Spanish-born midfielder will be among a handful of people on earth to remember this game. While Ireland will have to be vastly improved in September, the context of this game is enough to avoid ringing any alarm bells. Already without the bulk of their Championship contingent, the squad were carrying an accumulated fatigue that will not exist in three months' time. This season, after all, has been long and, er, taxing. Luxembourg: Tiago Pereira; Eldin Džogović, Laurent Jans (Michael Pinto, 62′), Seid Korac, Dirk Carlson; Leandro Barreiro, Tomas Moreira, Danel Sinani; Florian Bohnert (Vincent Thill, 62′) , Gerson Rodrigues (Eric Veiga, 82′), Aiman Dardari (Alessio Curci, 76′) Republic of Ireland: Max O'Leary; Jake O'Brien, Nathan Collins (captain), Dara O'Shea, Robbie Brady (Ryan Manning, 20′); Kasey McAteer (Matt Doherty, 75′), Jason Knight (John Patrick,90′), Will Smallbone (Jack Taylor, 55′), Killian Phillips (Festy Ebosele, 55′); Evan Ferguson (Adam Idah, 75′), Troy Parrott Referee: Stefan Ebner (Austria)
Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
Cian Lynch: ‘Hurling is so instinctive, it's an art form, it's an expression'
Cian Lynch still carries the scars of battle, stitches across his left eye and several grazes down his legs. But compared to the hurt of losing Saturday's epic Munster final to Cork , those scuffs don't cut quite as deep. The manner of the defeat, after a penalty shoot-out, is something that has animated many hurling fans over the last five days. Lynch was not even aware there would be a penalty shoot-out until after extra-time and while he praises Cork for getting over the line, the Limerick captain would prefer to see provincial finals decided by a replay. READ MORE 'I suppose it's not for me to make a point or make a comment on what's the right thing to do but you'd love to have another crack at it. Any team would,' says Lynch. 'But for us, it's just about accepting that that's in the past now. We unfortunately didn't win and Cork did. 'It's great credit to Cork. They got the victory in penalties. The game could have gone either way. 'Look, it's something to obviously review. Hurling is so instinctive, it's an art form, it's an expression. Why do people play it? It's because it's a 15-man game, it's a chance to have a man on the shoulder to support. 'But when it comes to penalties, other than the five guys and the goalie, I suppose you're helpless standing on the sideline watching. It's tough for guys, but it is what it is.' Limerick's Cian Lynch dejected after the game. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho Lynch did not take a penalty last Saturday night at the Gaelic Grounds but had nothing but respect for those who were prepared to stand over a sliotar in those pressure-cooker moments. 'If you were asked to take one, I'm sure 100 per cent you'd do anything you can to help the team but I wouldn't be someone that's known to stand over a free or a penalty, to be honest with you,' he says. 'But the five guys, obviously our guys, the same as Cork obviously and Nickie [Quaid], to step up, that takes some courage. 'After playing 70 to 90 minutes of hurling, to have it based on standing over a penalty, that is tough. That is some responsibility, but great credit to the guys, great credit to Nickie and so on. Just the way it is.' Galway defender Fintan Burke watched Saturday night's drama unfold and is also of the belief that a replay would be a fairer way to produce a winner. 'If you win great and if you lose it's the worst thing in the world,' says Burke. 'I'd be of the opinion of a replay. That's just personal, I don't think penalties are a fair reflection on where a team is at, as in you could have five great penalty takers and maybe the other team only has three, and it's not really reflecting on hurling throughout the team. So personally I'd be going for a replay, but that's just again personal preference. 'People just think you're standing up hitting a shot, but you've to put so much energy in and it's probably a lot more mentally you're exhausted and you have to walk the 60 yards then on your own and there's a lot going through your mind.'
Irish Examiner
3 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Three bright sparks from a frustrating Irish night in Luxembourg
Heimir Hallgrimsson shuffled his pack for the season-ending friendly, giving three less frequent campaigners a chance to impress from the start. This is how they fared. Max O'Leary Bristol City goalkeeper, 28, has spent six years hovering around the squad, waiting patiently for his first appearance, and he did himself no harm whatsoever here with a clean sheet - albeit against goal-shy opponents. It took almost half an hour for O'Leary to be called into meaningful action and his diving stop to turn Danel Sinani's shot around his left-hand post was a solid one. A selection of other straightforward stops came in the second half as Ireland incrementally improved from a limp opening 45. Usurping Caoimhin Kelleher for the games that matter in the autumn is quite unlikely and neither Gavin Bazunu nor Mark Travers should be forgotten about but it is both a blessing and a curse that a squad so lacking in depth elsewhere has four good players to choose from between the posts. Read More Much changed Ireland slump to dour draw with Luxembourg Killian Phillips It would be unfair to say Ireland's improvement and increase in control after he was substituted ten minutes into the second half was solely down to the full debutant St Mirren midfielder. But if fans have griped about a lack of midfield control for several years now, then Phillips is unlikely to prove the long-term answer. Jack Taylor, who was sprung on in a double change at the same time Phillips was removed, offered far more. That is not to say Phillips played badly. With his socks rolled down low in the style of a maverick, his handful of moments on the ball were quite safe. The issue was he simply did not get on it enough during a match begging for someone to offer something different. There was one nice bit of skill to purchase some space in the centre circle about 25 minutes in but it is hard to envisage a scenario where he is chosen ahead of more familiar names in September. Kasey McAteer The right winger followed up his goal in Friday's maiden start against Senegal with a quiet opening half last night but he showed more promise soon after the break when moving inside. His one clear sight of goal, in the 48th minute, was scuffed wide but when he was in possession Ireland looked marginally more likely to produce a bit of creativity. Unafraid to get stuck in, he reacted angrily to a naughty tackle by Sinani, who was booked, and McAteer was not short of defensive work either - with energetic tracking back halting Aiman Dardari from storming into the box with a counterattack that flirted with being dangerous. Replaced by Matt Doherty with 15 minutes remaining, if he can continue doing well for Leicester upon their return to the Championship in August expect him to feature in some guise for the qualifiers - most probably as an impact sub.
