Impressive run to Ladies All-Ireland final no surprise to Meath manager Shane McCormack
Meath boss Shane McCormack is a former Lilywhites keeper from the Allenwood club and came up against his native county in the group stages of the All-Ireland series, a game which Meath won as they clinched a home tie in the quarter-finals.
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Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Field Of Gold to miss Juddmonte International Stakes assignment at York
Field Of Gold will bypass York's Juddmonte International Stakes as he continues his recovery from the setback sustained when suffering a shock defeat at Goodwood last week. John and Thady Gosden's Irish 2,000 Guineas and Royal Ascot hero was discovered to be lame after tasting defeat for just the second time this season in the Sussex Stakes and although there are encouraging signs in his recuperation, a step up to 10 furlongs on the Knavesmire has been ruled out by his team. The son of Kingman will undergo X-rays on Wednesday which will give a clearer indication of the prognosis, with Juddmonte's European racing manager Barry Mahon saying: 'The horse is doing well and was back sound, which is good. 'He's got a little bit of swelling in his fetlock but John and Thady are much happier with him so the plan is to do the X-ray on Wednesday. They've just pushed it back a day, as the longer you can leave it, the clearer the picture is. READ MORE 'That will give us some more insight and if the X-ray is clear, we can hopefully start back into some light exercise towards the end of the week or early next week. 'York though is definitely not going to happen at this stage.' Having dazzled when claiming Classic honours in Ireland and scorching to St James's Palace Stakes victory at the Royal meeting, there has been plenty of conversation over whether Field Of Gold will try to repeat those heroics up in trip or continue to be the standout performer of the year at eight furlongs. The Juddmonte star holds entries in both the Prix du Moulin (Longchamp, September 7th) and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Ascot, October 18th) at a mile later in the campaign, while he could yet test the waters up in distance in Leopardstown's Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes on September 13th. However, the colt's name was notably missing from the entries for the Qipco Champion Stakes over further on the same afternoon as his engagement in the QEII, with race planning currently taking a back seat until one of the season's top performers returns to full fitness. Mahon added: 'It was the plan pre-Goodwood to stick at a mile for the time being and obviously there has been no chat about potential races since Goodwood. We're just going to have to let the dust settle and let him get back into exercise and then when he is fit make a plan from there. 'You are getting into that time of year when there is not an abundance of opportunities and there is the Moulin, QEII or you go up to a mile and a quarter for the races at that distance. 'So I wouldn't say there is a huge amount of options, but we'll just wait and see and let the horse tell us.' While the Gosdens might not have Field Of Gold in the Juddmonte International, they still have a very strong contender in Ombudsman. 'He won the Prince of Wales's first time in a Group One and showed he's up to that level. The Eclipse, again he ran a very good race, beaten by a top-class three-year-old [Aidan O'Brien's Delacroix] coming through,' said Thady Gosden. 'He's come out of that race well, had a little freshen up and [is] heading to the Juddmonte International hopefully. 'He's such a genuine horse, has got the speed required and hopefully can run a good one there. 'It's a career-defining race for a lot of horses. If you win the Juddmonte International it certainly means a lot, [with the] depth of the field and the quality to it. And then, of course, York's a very fair track; so often the best horse wins and it's something that everyone aspires to.'
Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
Former Roscommon footballer Don Connellan dies aged 51
Roscommon GAA has paid tribute to former player Don Connellan, who has died at the age of 51. Connellan represented Roscommon at minor, under-21 and senior level. He was a key member of the Connacht SFC winning side in 2001, coming off the bench to feature in the 2-10 to 1-12 provincial final win over Mayo at Dr Hyde Park. He also won three county titles with his home club of Kilmore (1998, 1999, 2001) before moving to Galway , where he managed Moycullen to senior success in 2020 and 2022. 'An overwhelming sense of sorrow and sadness has fallen upon our county and on my own club Kilmore, since the news of Don's passing on Monday,' said Roscommon chairman Brian Carroll. READ MORE 'There are no words that can truly capture what Don meant to Kilmore GAA Club. Don loved Kilmore, and Kilmore loved Don. He was a mighty footballer – a joy to watch on the pitch – and his leadership and class were evident throughout his many years playing for Kilmore. 'Don also showed his immense talent, ability & leadership while representing Roscommon at all levels, making 73 appearances for the Roscommon senior team and scoring 3-38. He also had the honour of representing Roscommon on the Connacht Railway Cup team. 'Off the pitch, Don was equally exceptional – a top-class gentleman and a true friend to so many. I had the pleasure of visiting Don at his home in Moycullen last Wednesday, just days before his sudden passing. Looking back, I feel incredibly fortunate to have had that time with him. It's a memory I will always hold close. 'On behalf of Roscommon GAA, I extend my deepest sympathy to Don's wife, Linda; his sons, Eoin and Conor; his mother, Nellie; his brothers, Adrian and David; the extended Clancy and Connellan families; and all of Don's many friends. 'No words can truly console you at this terrible time. Don's absence will be felt deeply in the hearts of all who were lucky enough to have known him.'
Irish Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Retiring Roscommon star makes big call on next managerial appointment
Retiring Roscommon footballer Donie Smith insists that the county's next manager should be a local man. Kildare native Davy Burke vacated the role following Roscommon's failure to emerge from their All-Ireland series group this summer, and Smith reckons that the county board should shop closer to home for his successor. The Boyle man was handed his Championship debut for Roscommon back in 2012 by Des Newton, who was the only fellow county man who held the job solely during Smith's inter-county career, which ended last week as he confirmed his retirement. Among those who may be under consideration within the county this time is Smith's elder brother Cian, who took charge of the Roscommon under-20s this year and has previously managed Boyle, along with Roscommon Gaels manager Mark Dowd, who has enjoyed success with Strokestown along with Ballaghadereen in Mayo. Noel Dunning's name has been mentioned too. He managed the Roscommon under-20s to the Connacht title last year and he wouldn't be a novice to senior inter-county management having had a lengthy spell in charge of London during a spell living in the English capital, while he was part of the Roscommon senior managerial set up in 2022. However, while he is attached to the St Aidan's club these days, Dunning is a Westmeath native, originally hailing from the other side of the Shannon in Athlone. Speaking to the Roscommon Herald, Smith said: 'With the new manager, the right man has to come in. In my personal opinion, it should be a Roscommon man managing the team. 'If you look at all the top teams in the country, they all have people from that county. I don't understand why a Roscommon man can't take the job. I think it is really important. I don't see why it shouldn't be an internal man. All the top teams have internal fellas because they trust them. 'I think it is time we trust fellas from Roscommon, who live in Roscommon and are mad about Roscommon. I think we have plenty of good fellas about the place and I think it is time we went internal and put everything behind him.' The trend of Roscommon appointing outsiders is well established since Gay Sheerin stepped aside 25 years ago with John Tobin (Galway), Tommy Carr (Dublin), Val Daly (Galway) and John Maughan (Mayo) all having stints in the job in the 2000s. Former Roscommon players Paul Earley and Michael Ryan had caretaker stints in 2008 after Maughan stepped down mid-season. Former county captain O'Donnell then took on the job for three years and was followed by Newton, who only lasted the 2012 season before being succeeded by Kerry's John Evans. O'Donnell returned alongside Kevin McStay in a joint capacity for the 2015 campaign before McStay took sole charge the following year. McStay and his successor, Anthony Cunningham, are both long-time residents of the county but from Mayo and Galway respectively, while Burke came on board after Cunningham.
