Latest news with #All-Ireland
Irish Independent
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Kildare referee Brendan Cawley to take charge of All-Ireland senior football final
It will be the Sarsfields club man's first time taking charge of an All-Ireland senior football final, having made his senior inter-county debut as a referee six years ago. He officiated Kerry's All-Ireland quarter-final victory over Armagh last month as well as the Ulster final between Donegal and Armagh, which Jim McGuinness' side won after extra-time. He was also the man-in-the-middle for their provincial first-round victory over Derry. Monaghan's Martin McNally is his stand-by referee on the day, which will be Cawley's 30th championship game as referee. Kildare GAA lauded Cawley's 'dedication, consistency and composure' in a statement on X saying it was a matter of when rather than if he'd get the top job, having previously taken charge of the All-Ireland club football final in 2024 when Derry's Glen defeated Roscommon's St Brigid's. 'His dedication, consistency, and composure have long marked him out as one of the very best in the game, and it is fitting that he now takes charge of this prestigious fixture,' wrote Kildare GAA. Cawley follows in the footsteps of Sean Hurson who threw the ball-in for last year's decider between Armagh and Galway. He'll be the first Kildare man to referee the final since 2005 when Michael Monaghan took charge of Kerry's victory over Tyrone.
Irish Examiner
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Reward on offer provides necessary motivation, not pressure, for Shels veteran Gannon
An hour up the road hosts an All-Ireland clash between Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry but Windsor Park stages the gateway to European riches for Linfield and Shelbourne. Only at full-time will Shels know if their glut of squandered chances at Tolka Park costs them the guarantee of three more rounds within UEFA's competition structures. Linfield boss David Healy seemed relieved coming away from the first leg hunting a single-goal deficit. The former Northern Ireland striker refused to countenance the phrase chase in the context of being at home for the second half of the Champions League tie. Both sides were probably glad when the draw pitted the respective title holders of the two leagues in the island of Ireland together but the evidence of the first leg posits the Reds as overwhelming favourites. That wasn't reflected on the scoreboard but with a carpet of a pitch for their attackers to gorge on and the 18,500-capacity venue, these days entitled the Clearer Twist National Stadium, expected to be no more than half full, they've reason to be confident. Whoever emerges through the tie – which allows for extra-time and penalties if needed – will be within one game of ensuring participation in the league phase of the Conference League. Neither club has passed that threshold but they each have a player returning from suspension who has. Chris Shields was part of the Dundalk team which made the 2011 Europa League group and his return will bolster the hosts' prospects. He was immersed in conversation at Tolka with his former Lilywhites teammate Seán Gannon. Both veterans were put up for pre-match media duties by their clubs and it's likely Gannon will sample his 58th European game, lurking to within five of Ronan Finn's record for a League of Ireland player. 'The rewards to players for getting through the tie are huge,' noted Gannon, who turned 34 last week. 'That's not pressure for us, only motivation. I've been lucky enough to have played in these games previously and every player wants to be part of the Champions League games. 'We're representing our league so it's a chance to showcase your talent and something to look back on.' Shelbourne's superior conditioning last week from being in-season won't be so decisive as Linfield are another week into their preparations for the traditional campaign kicking off next month. 'To be honest we could have played better,' said Shels boss Joey O'Brien, just three games into his permanent residency having stepped up to succeed his boss, Damien Duff. 'We were wasteful in possession, our touch in the final third wasn't as sharp and clean as what I'd have expected from the players. We've to tidy up on that but this is a completely different game. We were overall happy with the win but it's all to play for.' The prize awaiting them is a second-round tie next week against Azerbaijani champions Qarabağ and a spiking of their minimum €1m in earnings. Elimination of the supreme competition doesn't mean the end of their European adventure, only cascades them into a Conference League clash against the loser of Lithuanians Zalgiris or Hamrun Spartans of Malta. Healy has spoken calmly and confidently approaching the midway juncture of this tie, adamant his team can mark his milestone of 500 games at the helm with its high point. 'I've had the privilege of enjoying success,' he observed. 'We have won the league six times in nine seasons and I am coming up to 10 years here. "A second goal for Shels in the first leg would have made it really difficult but with the performance levels, the attitude, and most importantly speaking to the players after the game, and over the last few days, there is huge belief that we can build on that performance. "It would be brilliant if we did score in the first 10, 15 minutes and the tie is level but we don't need to. The most important thing is we build into the game. "I have no doubt, if and when we do take the lead, then the electricity and energy around this place becomes important as the players will be fuelled by the belief they can win the tie." No Claret Jug at stake but the rewards in this sport are about more than silverware.
Irish Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
'F it anyway' - emotional TJ Reid breaks silence following Kilkenny exit
Kilkenny legend TJ Reid penned an emotional message as he broke his silence following Kilkenny's exit from the All-Ireland Hurling Championship. Reid is one of the game's all-time greats, but as he turns 38 this November, time is ticking on his intercounty career. Kilkenny were narrowly beaten by Tipperary in a thriller in Croke Park a couple of weekends ago, and it remains to be seen if that will be Reid's last act in a Kilkenny jersey. However, his emotional post did not mention retirement. "F it anyway Harper. A week on and it still hurts," he wrong on Instagram. "Grateful for another year wearing the black and amber jersey. Completing 6 Leinster titles in a row is still a wonderful achievement but it would have been brilliant to get back into an All-Ireland Final and to compete in it. Thanks to my best supporters @niamhdebrun and my little daughter Harper, and to all the Kilkenny supporters. "Thanks to a group of special players. We had a great journey this year, sport is about the process and progress and we enjoyed every moment of it. "Up Kilkenny". Reid has a whopping seven intercounty All-Ireland titles to his name as well as six club All-Ireland titles in one of the truly great hurling careers of all time. First joining the Kilkenny panel in 2007, Reid would go on to collect seven All-Star awards during his illustrious career and has won 14 Leinster Hurling titles. Speaking to media earlier this season though, Reid has hinted that he wants to play until he is 40-years-old. He also opened up on how he decides if he'll play the following year or not. 'That decision comes in November. If it was in the immediate aftermath of last year's game (loss to Clare) you might have thought differently about it. 'I needed to take the time. I must say most players will be annoyed and frustrated and 'F this' or whatnot, 'F that. This is a waste of a year again.' 'You have to allow things to settle down and go again. But the main thing is that I suppose you have to have the belief in yourself as well that you can be an impact and I'm still very confident in that department. And look, you have to enjoy the process as well. 'We all know for a long time now that the demands of inter-county players are high and the dedication is high, but I always had that and I enjoy it internally as well.'
RTÉ News
6 hours ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Brendan Cawley appointed referee for Kerry-Donegal football decider
Kildare's Brendan Cawley has been appointed as the referee for the 2025 All-Ireland SFC decider between Kerry and Donegal. It's a first All-Ireland inter-county final for the Sarsfields' clubman, who previously oversaw the 2024 All-Ireland club final between Glen and St Brigid's and the 2023 Division 1 league final between Mayo and Galway. The Kildare official has had several big assignments already in 2025, and was notably the man in the middle for the Ulster final between Armagh and Donegal and the Armagh-Kerry All-Ireland quarter-final over a fortnight ago. In recent years, he has refereed All-Ireland semi-finals in 2022 and 2024, Galway's wins over Derry and Donegal. His line umpires on the day are Monaghan's Martin McNally and the experienced Meath referee David Coldrick, with McNally named as stand-in referee.
The 42
7 hours ago
- Sport
- The 42
Kildare's Brendan Cawley to referee the All-Ireland senior football final
KILDARE'S BRENDAN CAWLEY will referee this year's All-Ireland senior football final between Kerry and Donegal. The clash on 27 July will be the first senior showpiece that Cawley has taken charge of. A members of the Sarsfields club, Calwey was previously the referee for the 2024 All-Ireland senior club final, the 2023 Division 1 league final, and senior semi-finals in 2022 and 2024. Advertisement This season he has been in charge of Donegal against Derry and Donegal against Armagh in the Ulster championship. In the All-Ireland series he refereed Louth against Monaghan, Dublin against Derry, and the quarter-final tie between Kerry and Armagh. His line umpires on the day will be Monaghan's Martin McNally and Meath's David Coldrick. Martin will be the standby referee, and the Sideline Official will be Thomas Murphy from Galway. Also on duty will be Garreth Whelan, from Wicklow, who will be Hawk-Eye Official, along with Seán Laverty, from Antrim, who will be the Time Official. Cawley's umpires on the day will be Dave Coady, Lee Moore (both from Ballykelly), Eoghan Fitzpatrick (Nurney) and Johnny Farrell (Rathangan). *****
