Tipperary manager Liam Cahill has ‘no complaints at all' with red card during epic Croke Park battle with Kilkenny
The contrasting fortunes of two young Tipperary men shaped this dramatic All-Ireland hurling semi-final in Croke Park.
Darragh McCarthy and Oisín O'Donoghue, All-Ireland U-20 winners together just last month, have big futures in blue and gold ahead of them but here they felt the both ends of the emotional spectrum as the Premier men made it back to a first All-Ireland final in six years where they will play Cork, a novel first final between them too.
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Irish Times
25 minutes ago
- Irish Times
Kilkenny must evolve to keep pace with competitors if they're to end Liam MacCarthy drought
It will be a long winter of introspection for Kilkenny hurling, mulling over the county's longest wait. Kilkenny are now officially going through their most protracted Liam MacCarthy Cup drought since they first won an All-Ireland senior hurling title in 1904. They had decade-long gaps without major silverware between 1922-32 and 1947-57, but Sunday's defeat to Tipperary ensures Kilkenny's current barren period will continue until at least 2026. They were last crowned All-Ireland champions in 2015. In the 10 years before that the Cats owned hurling, winning eight All-Ireland titles between 2006 and 2015. A shot of Brian Cody briefly flashed up on the screen during Sunday's semi-final. Cody, the most successful manager in the history of the game, stepped down as Kilkenny boss three years ago. READ MORE Several of his former players were dotted around Croke Park on Sunday – Henry Shefflin was in the press box on duty for RTÉ, Aidan 'Taggy' Fogarty was working for KCLR, David Herity was on the sideline as part of Liam Cahill's management team. Derek Lyng, who had been one of Cody's most trusted lieutenants both as a player and later as a selector, was also on the sideline, trying to manage the Cats to a second All-Ireland final appearance on his watch. At one stage that looked on the cards, until Tipp decided otherwise. When Tipperary were reduced to 14 men and Kilkenny flicked over a couple of points to lead by two with seven minutes remaining, you would have forgiven the PA spin-master if they decided to prepare The Rose of Mooncoin for an airing. Kilkenny, you see, don't lose from there. Or didn't used to. But they do now. Some of Kilkenny's defending on Sunday was careless, bordering on sloppy. They conceded 3-11 in the first half, all from play, and coughed up possession needlessly at times, including a turnover which led to Oisín O'Donoghue's goal. Oisín O'Donoghue scores Tipperary's fourth goal. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho How O'Donoghue was able to get his shot away from within a tangle of Kilkenny defenders is a mystery. Lyng had tried to plug the defensive holes by moving Paddy Deegan into the full-back line during the first half, and at the interval he hauled ashore Shane Murphy to introduce David Blanchfield. But Blanchfield would be one of just three subs used by Kilkenny. The other two – Stephen Donnelly (66 minutes) and Killian Doyle (70) were brought on in the closing stages. With everything on the line, it suggests Lyng didn't quite trust the depth of his squad much beyond those already on the field. Still, for Kilkenny to only manage four points from the moment of Darragh McCarthy's sending off until the final whistle is a stat that will haunt the Cats over the winter. There is no dressing it up – this was a bad defeat for Kilkenny. While there's a sense that Tipperary are coming, nobody seems quite sure where Kilkenny are going. That might sound odd given Kilkenny are six in-a-row Leinster champions. They also won the provincial title at minor and under-20 level this year. So they're still very much the princes of Leinster, but beyond that these are lean times for a county celebrated until recently as the kings of hurling. Their last All-Ireland senior triumph was in 2015. Their last All-Ireland minor triumph was in 2014. Their last All-Ireland under-20/21 triumph was in 2022, before that it was 2008. Of the 18 players who featured in the under-20 decider against Limerick three years ago, none started for the seniors against Tipperary on Sunday. Just one (Doyle) came off the bench. As of now, they haven't kicked on. In this year's final Kilkenny's under-20s were beaten 3-19 to 1-16 by Tipperary at Nowlan Park and the manner of that loss generated plenty of criticism around the county. There does not appear to be a conveyor belt of talent about to whizz off the production line in Kilkenny to bolster the senior team. Kilkenny's TJ Reid with his daughter Harper after Sunday's game. Photograph: Tom O'Hanlon/Inpho So, what happens when they lose the leadership and brilliance of players like TJ Reid and Eoin Murphy? Cork, bolstered by three All-Ireland under-20/21 titles over the last five years, have been threatening a senior breakthrough for several seasons. The Rebels might well realise that ambition in a fortnight. Chances are they'll be around for a while. Limerick have way too much talent to disappear, while Tipp now seem to have rediscovered their mojo. In Leinster, there are promising signs of progress emerging in Dublin and Offaly, and Kilkenny's status as best in the province is likely to be properly stress-tested over the coming seasons. The recriminations for Sunday's championship exit will continue for many weeks in Kilkenny, albeit among most hurling folk in the county there is a belief Lyng has done a decent job with the squad at his disposal. Of Kilkenny's 2015 Liam MacCarthy winning team, Reid and Murphy are the only survivors who played in the All-Ireland final against Galway a decade ago. Richie Reid was an unused sub goalkeeper. It seems probable now that in the near future a Kilkenny team will take to the field without a single remaining All-Ireland senior hurling winner.
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Dublin boss Niall Ó Ceallacháin hails Cork hammering as ‘the best hurling performance this year'
AFTER Cork sunk his side's hopes of All-Ireland SHC glory, Dublin boss Niall Ó Ceallacháin admitted the red wave will be hard to break. The Rebels remain odds-on favourites to land the Liam MacCarthy Cup on Sunday week after their 2 Ó Ceallacháin's side reached the All-Ireland semi-final for the first time since 2013 2 The Dubs fell victim to a rampant Cork as they lost 7-26 to 2-21 Alan Connolly claimed man-of-the-match honours after hitting a hat-trick in Saturday's semi-final. Brian Hayes and Tim O'Mahony found the net twice. During his first season in the hotseat, Ó Ceallacháin was one step away from steering Dublin to a first All-Ireland final appearance since 1961. But a rampant Cork outfit had other ideas. The Sky Blues chief said: 'They're going to take some beating. That's as good a team performance from a sharpness perspective that I've seen in a long, long time. 'We couldn't live with their goals. We couldn't live with their pace and power inside. Did Alan Connolly get three? And that's not on the lad that was marking him. Read more on GAA 'They were breaking the line and they had the composure and presence of mind in tight scenarios to be really aware of who was outside and just pop the ball outside. They did that extremely well. They were quality goals.' Returning from a four-week lay-off since their It was the first time since 2006 that the Leesiders backed up a provincial title triumph by advancing to an All-Ireland SHC decider. Pat Ryan's side will now look to go one better than in 2024, when an extra-time final defeat to Clare saw them fail to end Cork's longest-ever wait for hurling's biggest prize. Most read in GAA Hurling Ó Ceallacháin added: 'I don't want to do Cork a disservice by over-hyping them. Every game is different. 'But what I will say is that was by far the best hurling performance over 75 minutes that I've seen this year by a long way.' RTE pundits weigh in on scoreboard controversy that marred Tipperary's dramatic win over Kilkenny Dublin secured their place in the knockout stages of the Championship with wins over Offaly, Wexford and Antrim. Defeats to Kilkenny and Galway then cost them a place in a second straight Leinster final. But after easing past Kildare in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter- finals, the Dubs defied the dismissal of captain Chris Crummey to record Ó Ceallacháin said: 'Is there a difference of 20 points between us and the top team in Ireland? I don't think there is. 'But the reality as we leave here is that's kind of what we're looking at. Is there more in us? There absolutely is. And that experience for a few lads will probably serve them well. 'But we were never in this for a two-year thing or a three-year thing or a five-year thing. We're just very disappointed.' It has been a hectic year for Ó Ceallacháin, who was still juggling club and county commitments when he guided Na Fianna to All-Ireland success back in January at the expense of Cork side Sarsfields. Asked about his aspirations for 2026, he said: 'No idea. Listen, we need a bit of time now. 'We were planning on being back here in a fortnight's time. I don't know what the future holds.'
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Jacob Stockdale ruled out of Ireland's game against Portugal
Jacob Stockdale has been ruled out of Ireland's match against Portugal in Lisbon next Saturday and will return home to Belfast after suffering a shoulder injury in Ireland's 34-5 victory over Georgia in Tbilisi. The Ulster winger successfully contested a high ball but landed awkwardly and suffered damage to an AC shoulder joint. He will see a specialist to ascertain whether surgery is required. The 29-year-old had been an impressive figure in attack for Ireland up until his injury, one that represents a continuation of misfortune in a green shirt as this is the third Test in a row in which he's suffered a bang, the previous one a hamstring injury against Fiji last November. Stockdale was replaced by Calvin Nash in the win over Georgia with the Munster man playing an important role in Ireland's fourth try. Ireland's interim head coach Paul O'Connell's wing resources include Nash, Tommy O'Brien , who chipped in with two tries on his debut last weekend, and the uncapped Shayne Bolton. Jimmy O'Brien played fullback against Georgia and Jamie Osborne in the centre, both of whom could also play wing, as could the uncapped Hugh Gavin, who did so for the Irish 20s, although centre is his preferred position. READ MORE It would be a significant surprise if the 25-year-old Bolton doesn't win a first cap, as the South African-born Connacht player is someone that the Irish management is keen to give a run to. He was a try scorer for Ireland against England in an A international in February and might have made his senior debut before now but for injury. The Ulster and former Irish under-20s tighthead Scott Wilson, who was a late call-up and travelled with the squad to Georgia, is not required for the Portugal game and has returned home to Belfast. Cian O'Sullivan is available for selection after missing the win over Georgia through illness. There are no further injuries and the team to play Portugal in Lisbon on Saturday night (7.0pm, Irish time) will be announced on Thursday morning.
