Latest news with #AllIrelandSeniorChampionship
Irish Times
10-08-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
All-Ireland camogie final: Cork's three-in-a-row dream unlikely to be stopped
Camogie All-Ireland Senior Championship final: Cork v Galway, Croke Park, 5.15pm – Live on RTÉ In the history of the game camogie has gone through long spells when the strongest teams took a grip and didn't let go. Dublin ruled the 1950s and 1960s, Kilkenny dominated much of the 1970s and 1980s, Tipperary had a glorious run around the turn of the century while Cork's record 30 titles have been harvested at regular intervals. They were never far away. In a remarkable sequence, though, either Cork or Galway have contested every All-Ireland final since 2001: 25 and counting. In that time, Cork's strike rate is an impressive 11 wins from 18 final appearances while Galway's is just three from nine, but since Kilkenny fell off the pace in the last couple of years, Cork and Galway have been the two best teams in the championship by a considerable distance. This season, there was no doubt who would be in the final. Naturally, they have history. Before the 2023 All-Ireland semi-final, Cork had lost seven games in a row to Galway, in league and championship, but since then the pendulum has swung. READ MORE The only games that Cork have lost to Galway in the last two years have been in the league: the final group game of the 2024 competition, in what was effectively a semi-final, and in the final round of this year's league, when Cork had already qualified for the final and fielded a weakened team. Otherwise, Cork have had Galway's measure. They beat them by 12 points in the group stages of last year's championship and by 11 points in this year's league final. Galway's Emma Helebert. Photograph: James Lawlor/Inpho The significant game that bucked the trend, though, was last year's All-Ireland final, a titanic match that was only decided by three late points and Cork's superior options off the bench. There is no suggestion, though, that Cork have dropped off in any way since last summer. In the run to the 2024 final their average winning margin was 19 points; this year it's 20. Ger Manley, the Cork manager, reckons that they have greater depth this year, and in that vein, Clodagh Finn has been one of the breakthrough players of the season. An impact sub in last year's final, Finn was outstanding for UCC in the Ashbourne Cup at the beginning of the year and had scored 4-7 for Cork in the championship before injury ruled her out of the semi-final. Emma Helebert and Shauna Healy, two vastly experienced players, have returned to the Galway set-up this year, but Áine Keane's season has been wiped out by an ACL and Niamh Kilkenny's retirement represents a massive loss of big game know-how and class. Galway's Niamh Mallon and Laura Hayes of Cork. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho Carrie Dolan and Niamh Mallon have been terrific, but they have accounted for more than half of Galway's scores and there is a greater breadth to Cork's attack. Saoirse McCarthy has been superb in the half-forward line and Amy O'Connor is a constant goal threat. Cork are going for three-in-a-row but they have been thwarted seven times in this position since they last pulled it off in the early 1970s. That sequence will end here. Verdict: Cork Also on Sunday All-Ireland Intermediate Championship final: Kerry v Offaly, Croke Park, 3pm – Live on RTÉ All-Ireland Premier Junior Championship final: Armagh v Laois, Croke Park, 1pm – Live on RTÉ
ITV News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
DUP minister Gordon Lyons to attend his first GAA match
The Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has confirmed his attendance at a GAA match The DUP MLA will attend the Derry game against Armagh in the All Ireland Senior Championship at the weekend. The minister, whose portfolio includes sport, has faced criticism for not attending a senior football fixture, however he did previously attend a GAA games festival for young people in Antrim. He was invited last year to attend the All Ireland final but he was not able to go, blaming diary commitments. Earlier this year, he pledged to attend a GAA match in 2025. During a visit to Washington DC in March, Mr Lyons said: 'I would like to make the point that I have been to GAA clubs, have been to GAA events, have met with the GAA.' The move comes as a key funding decision on the redevelopment of the former GAA ground Casement Park in west Belfast is expected. While the Assembly, the GAA and the Irish Government have all pledged money towards the project, the UK Government is expected to announce next month what funding it will provide after a Treasury spending review. In previous years, former first minister Arlene Foster was also among the DUP ministers to attend a game. Speaking before the match in 2018, Baroness Foster said she realised some may be "uncomfortable" with her attendance, but that her party wanted to take steps towards a "shared society". Peter Robinson was the first senior DUP politician to attend a GAA match in 2012.
