GAA championship: Meath v Cork – Follow all today's action as it happens
Live |
Welcome to Independent.ie's GAA championship live blog with Gaelic football's All-Ireland qualifiers the main focus of today's action.
Meanwhile in hurling, there's some Lory Meagher and Joe McDonagh Cup action down for decision.
Follow all the action here.
2 minutes ago
A bit of pre-match watching for you all – Will Slattery and Conor McKeon discuss this weekend's action across hurling and football in the latest Championship preview:
Watch: GAA preview – Ulster football rivalries back in the spotlight as Cork and Waterford face win-or-bust Munster hurling clash
The much-maligned round-robin series got a shot in the arm last weekend with Dublin's victory over Galway and Cavan derailing Mayo.
www.independent.ie
15 minutes ago
At the start of the week, Kerry legend Pat Spillane went about ranking the remaining counties going in search of Sam Maguire glory in 2025:
Pat Spillane: My GAA pecking order before the serious business begins
The 2025 senior football championship is the competition that keeps on giving.
www.independent.ie
29 minutes ago
The Indo Sport Podcast is well worth a listen this week as Tomas O'Se makes his debut while reviewing Dublin's win in Salthill, Kerry's prospects, Mayo expectations and the ferocity brought by Ulster teams:
Indo Sport podcast: Tomás Ó'Sé | Dublin strike back, the Shane Walsh conundrum, Kerry's stock, Mayo malaise
Serial All-Ireland winner Tomás Ó'Sé makes his Indo Sport podcast debut as he reviews Dublin's statement win in Salthill, and where the result leaves beaten All-Ireland finalists Galway.
www.independent.ie
32 minutes ago
Good afternoon and welcome to another Independent.ie live blog covering all the action from the Gaelic Football and Hurling Championships. My name is Ultán Corcoran, and I will be keeping you up to speed with events around the country.
We have a jam-packed Saturday with no less than 10 games taking place across the country with action from Round 1 of the All-Ireland football series and Joe McDonagh Cup hurling as well as Lory Meagher Cup and Camogie Championship action.
In terms of televised coverage, Louth vs Monaghan is our first port of call with throw-in at 4.45pm. This is followed by an all-Ulster clash between Donegal and Tyrone in Ballybofey at 7pm. It's worth mentioning both games can be viewed live with an active GAA+ subscription.
Live Blog Software
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
37 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
'Ireland teams were always been built big on set-pieces' - Smallbone lauds Hallgrímsson's emphasis
Will Smallbone won't be apologising if Ireland's bid to regain former glories relies on set-pieces. They came within eight minutes of scalping the 19th best team in the world until substitute rescued a 1-1 draw for Senegal in Friday's friendly. Ireland's goal came from a recycled corner finished by Kasey McAteer on the first start of his five games. Smallbone isn't a newcomer but hasn't been around since starting both games in Heimir Hallgrímsson's opening games at the helm. They were a pair of 2-0 defeats to England and Greece, whereas they've now gone on a run of three wins and this draw. One more friendly awaits in Luxembourg before the World Cup qualification group with Portugal, Hungary and Armenia consumes the calendar between September and November. 'I think the manager wants to create a winning habit and you see the way he talks about getting to the World Cup, it's obviously the aim for everyone,' said Southampton midfielder Smallbone. 'Winning is the only way we can get there. 'So it is about coming out on top in the games we maybe would have lost in the past by a goal; switching it the other way to win by a goal and put an emphasis on set-pieces. We've to ensure we're a threat whenever we get one.' Smallbone admits the regime differs to the one he made his breakthrough in under Stephen Kenny. He said: 'It's been different. Stephen brought a lot of the lads through from 21s and Heimir has a different sort of tactic if you like. 'I think if you look at Irish teams in the past, they've always been built very big on set-pieces and making the Aviva a really tough place to come to so I think that's what we've got to get back to. 'I was only in Heimir's first camp so that was very new for everyone so I missed the next three camps so to then come back in it was very similar messages but it all seems very clear and concise. 'That makes it easier as a player when you know exactly what the manager wants from you and you just have to go out and do your best to deliver it.' The 25-year-old is certain Ireland are on track to mount a competitive bid to reach next year's World Cup. 'The lads have done really well over the last few camps, it's good to see us winning games,' he noted. 'Performances have been really nice and maybe in the past we've got good performances but we need to make sure we're winning to get to these tournaments. 'A draw is disappointing but a top nation in Senegal so I think it is a step in the right direction. 'It's been tough for me. I've been out for a while and missed a lot of camps. It was frustrating looking on and watching so it's good to get a good chunk of minutes. 'I want to do everything I can to be involved in the squad in September and do my best to play as much as I can.'
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Smallbone gives 'step in right direction' verdict as Ireland draw with Senegal
Will Smallbone insists Ireland's draw with Senegal was another step in the right direction under Heimir Hallgrimsson. The Boys in Green let a Kasey McAteer lead slip with the concession of an equaliser eight minutes from time at Aviva Stadium. But Ireland remain unbeaten this year, going into Tuesday's season-ending friendly in Luxembourg and the all-important World Cup campaign in September. Smallbone was making his return to the squad after a luckless time with injury, and this was only his second camp under Hallgrimsson. But the Southampton man played well in a deeper-lying midfield role and feels there were more positives than negatives on the night. Smallbone said: 'It's another step in the right direction I think against a strong team that has been unbeaten for such a long time. 'It's a different challenge for us playing against Senegal but an enjoyable one. I think we can come away from it with lots of positives but a few things we need to improve on. 'It's all about building momentum for us and going into September in the best form. Performances are nice but ultimately winning is what is going to get us to the World Cup. 'It's frustrating to concede the way we did in the end but I think all in all, it was a positive performance against a top nation.' Smallbone had a chance to put Ireland further ahead but his shot from inside the penalty area was saved. But he was just happy to be back in a green shirt and said: 'The manager wants to create a winning habi. You see the way he talks about getting to the World Cup. It's obviously the aim for everyone. Winning is the only way we can get there. So it's about coming out on top in games.' Smallbone, quizzed on the differences between Hallgrimsson and his predecessor Stephen Kenny, said: 'It's been different. Obviously Stephen brought a lot of the lads through from 21s and Heimir has a different sort of tactic if you like. 'If you look at Irish teams in the past, they've always been built very big on set-pieces and making the Aviva a really tough place to come to. I think that's what we've to get back to.'
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Eamon Dunphy column: We now have a team good enough to qualify for World Cup
This was a superb performance from Ireland - better than anything I have seen for a very long time. Passionate, energetic, potent, it was a display that redeemed the Ireland coach, Heimir Hallgrimsson, a man I have not been shy to criticise. When he came into the job a year ago, he talked about making Ireland hard to beat. Here was evidence of an idea being transferred from a coach's head onto the pitch. Because let's give praise where it is due: Ireland were hard to play against last night. They were easy on the eye, too, and easy to like, producing a display that reminded you of everything we like to pride ourselves on as a football nation. All our good points were based on what we did in midfield. We pressed. We hustled. We harried. To steal a line from Jack Chalrton's era, we put 'em under pressure. And we did it with two men, Will Smallbone and Jason Knight, who delivered outstanding displays. All this was needed because for the last little while it has become clear that we have an outstanding goalkeeper in Caoimhin Kelleher, several top class defenders, and three outstanding forwards. But another uncomfortable truth was that we struggled in midfield. Not last night because a change in personnel resulted in a change in attitude and a change in performance. Smallbone and Knight were brilliant, energetic and consistent. Out wide, Kasey McAteer got a good goal, and his work rate was high. Further forward Jack Taylor's workrate was also high and while I maintain that it would have been better for Hallgrimsson to start with three strikers, Ferguson/Parrott/Idah, you respect it when a coach cuts his cloth to suit. In this instance, he used a Taylor to do so. Fair enough. What I did really liked about the strategy last night was the fact Ireland were able to replace quality with quality. Imagine having the luxury of having someone like Ferguson on your bench, ready to pounce when the opposition tire. Other subs, like Jake O'Brien and Liam Scales, are good options. Troy Parrott was on the bench, too, indicative of a growing strength in depth. All these small factors can add up to make a really big difference and the reality is that if VAR was on duty last night then the Senegalese goal would have been disallowed as Kelleher's eyeline was impeded by the presence of an opposing forward who had drifted offside. So, let's put this result into context. Senegal are ranked No19 in the world and have been unbeaten for 21 games. Ireland, of course, are ranked 60th and have endured a decade of either bad luck or bad play. Accordingly, confidence has decreased, expectations lowered. But that is beginning to change. We have a team that is young and is getting better. And we have every reason to hope. Fast forward to the World Cup. Look at the draw: Portugal, Hungary, Armenia. I'm not shaking with fear at the idea of facing any of those sides. Yes, Hungary have pedigree. They used to be a good team. But that was in 1954. So, let's get real. It isn't Ferenc Puskas Ireland will be facing. It is a team who lost 2-1 at home to Sweden last night. Plus look at our recent results against them, a 2-1 win at home, a scoreless draw away. Add in the fact we have improved since those games and have improved since our last two competitive games against Portugal when we lost 2-1 away and drew 0-0 at home. Then there is Armenia. Let's get real, it's Armenia not Argentina. So there is reason to believe and that faith stems from the gradual progress this team has made and most of all from the growth of our two midfielders, Smallbone and Knight, who know how to press, how to win the ball, how to deny the other team space. They are the things you have to do to stand a chance in international football. Smallbone was brilliant - my man of the match. Once you are hard to play against, once you have a team that is working hard, and once you add that to the quality that Ferguson, Idah, Brady, provide, then you are in business. If we go with that attitude, Hungary won't be in with a prayer. So it is not unrealistic to say a World Cup play off is now attainable - if not more. Because let's get one thing straight: if we play against Hungary like we played tonight those teams won't match us. We are on our way. Trust us, a place in the World Cup is ours to grab.
