Latest news with #Armagh
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Automotive
- Irish Independent
The family adding colour to Croker on All-Ireland day: how a US trip inspired a hurley-maker to switch to flags
For generations, the Daly family were renowned makers of hurleys in the west Limerick village of Pallaskenry. But at a hurling game in Thurles over 25 years ago, Mr Daly got an idea that was to take him in a new direction. 'As I watched the play, it dawned on me that there were 30 hurleys being used, but among the thousands in the crowd there were only a sparse few homemade flags,' said Mr Daly (75). 'I had been to New York a short time previously on a holiday, and I saw team flags for basketball and American football everywhere. 'I saw them in pubs, restaurants, on the front of buildings and I was very impressed by displays located in the forecourts of car sales rooms. After getting home from that game in Thurles, I put my plan into operation and decided it would be flags rather than hurleys from then on.' Within weeks, Mr Daly had recruited a few local women in Pallaskenry and bought a supply of different colour material from a fabric shop in Limerick. 'The women brought in their sewing machines and started making the flags. We started with local clubs and as demand grew, we made flags in the Limerick county colours. It proved there was a big demand for well-made flags, and we moved into every county in Ireland,' he said. He began to expand the variety of flags to such an extent that his home-based operation could not cope. 'We then looked abroad for a supplier and imported from China,' he said. 'The fact that we are backed by the association is critically important' One of the most popular products has been car flags, hence the naming of his company Team Car Flag Ireland Ltd. Delivery vans drive the length and breadth of the country every year as the hurling and football championships pick up momentum. 'Last year was mad altogether with Armagh in the final. We had to send extra van loads to the North such was the demand.' The company has sold about 20,000 flags this year. They retail from between €6 and €16, and the popular car flags sell for €8.50. 'The association [GAA] gets a part of the money we take in. We get big orders from Irish pubs all over the world every year. The fact that our products carry the GAA logo and we are backed by the association is critically important. People want the real thing.' While most hurleys are now made from bamboo, he recalled the lengths his late father, Patrick would go to when making hurleys. 'He would look around for a good ash tree and we would all dig up the area around the root,' he said. 'When the root was loosened we would pull it out. You could get anything up to 20 hurleys from a good root and tree. We still make a few hurleys, but the clash of the ash is almost a thing of the past given the material used now.'
Irish Examiner
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Kerry injury boost as Diarmuid O'Connor takes part in full training session
Diarmuid O'Connor participated in the full Kerry training session on Saturday afternoon, increasing hopes that the midfielder will make his return from injury in next weekend's All-Ireland SFC final against Donegal. Inside forward Paul Geaney (shoulder) also took full part in Saturday's session, with Tom O'Sullivan (calf) still not fully back, manager Jack O'Connor confirmed at the county's All-Ireland final media event. After a powerful start to the spring, midfielder O'Connor has endured an injury-plagued campaign since first hurting his shoulder during the Round 6 League win at home to Armagh in mid-March. His latest setback was at the beginning of the preliminary quarter-final win over Cavan four weeks ago, where he lasted just three minutes before having to withdraw. He has not featured since. Geaney was listed on the matchday panel for both the All-Ireland quarter-final and semi-final victories but was not used on either occasion, while defender O'Sullivan limped out of the quarter-final win over Armagh when picking up a first-half calf injury. 'Paul and Diarmuid trained fully today, and there are a couple more sessions to go, so that's promising,' Jack said on Saturday afternoon. 'Most fellas are back doing some training in some shape or form, which is good. Tom O'Sullivan isn't back fully yet, he's doing bits and pieces, so we'd hope he'd train next week. Outside of that we are not too bad. 'The season is so intense it is just very tricky deal with injuries because you don't really have that much time to get the injury right and then sometimes you are kinda half afraid to throw them into the maelstrom of a game without having done some intense training, so it can be tricky yeah with the tightness of the season.'
Belfast Telegraph
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Meet the top referee taking charge of his first All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final
Cawley has come to the fore this year having officiated at a number of important matches but on Sunday week will see him face his biggest test to date. A member of the progressive Sarsfields club in Kildare, Cawley has earned a reputation as a diligent, capable whistler who allows play to flow but is quick to intercede when rough play ensues. He took charge of the All-Ireland 2024 Senior Club Championship Final and has handled a raft of inter-county Allianz League and Championship fixtures since then. Next Sunday's All-Ireland decider will be his 30th Championship game and will see him get another feather in his cap. This year's provincial and All-Ireland Championships saw the busy Cawley take charge of several games involving Ulster teams. These included the meeting of Derry and Donegal, the Ulster Final featuring Armagh against Donegal and the Louth v Monaghan, Dublin v Derry, and the All-Ireland Quarter–Final between Kerry and Armagh. In the Allianz League, he refereed matches between Kerry and Donegal, Galway and Tyrone, as well as Down and Westmeath. His umpires on Sunday next will be Dave Coady and Lee Moore (both from Ballykelly), Eoghan Fitzpatrick (Nurney) and Johnny Farrell (Rathangan). His line umpires on the day will be Monaghan's Martin McNally and Meath's David Coldrick. Cawley's appointment for the All-Ireland Football Final is another significant boost for refereeing in the country as a whole particularly as the whistlers have been strongly in the spotlight because of their administration of the new rules which have transformed Gaelic football as we know it to a certain extent.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘I walk away full of pride' – Kieran Donaghy sends emotional message to Armagh GAA fans after confirming exit
KIERAN DONAGHY has described his involvement in Armagh's All-Ireland SFC success as 'a privilege' after calling time on his role in the Orchard's backroom team. Five years of making the trek from Kerry have come to an end for Donaghy, who has Advertisement 2 Kieran Donaghy has left Armagh Credit: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile 2 He bid an emotional farewell to Armagh fans Credit: Dáire Brennan/Sportsfile The Austin Stacks man, nicknamed Star, joined Kieran McGeeney's set-up as selector and forwards coach ahead of the 2021 season. And he played a part in Armagh's crowning as All-Ireland champions for just the second time in their history last summer. A four-time All-Ireland winner as a player, Donaghy said: 'I walk away full of pride, memories and deep gratitude. 'Thank you to Kieran McGeeney, who took a chance on a rookie coach. You said one year, it became five. Only you could pull that off. You said I could help and that you would help me in return. You were a man of your word every step of the way. Advertisement Read More on GAA 'To the backroom team, thank you for pushing me, teaching me and raising the bar. I learned so much just being around ye. 'To the players, what a group. Tough, resilient and relentless. Watching you chase your dream and finally reach the top in 2024 was a privilege. Especially to the older lads, you never stopped believing and you earned every bit of it.' McGeeney is expected to remain the longest-serving manager in inter-county football by guiding Armagh for a 12th season. As for Donaghy, his services are sure to be in demand elsewhere. Advertisement Most read in GAA Football Armagh GAA said: 'As Kieran Donaghy steps away from his role with the Armagh senior football team, we want to express our deepest gratitude for the incredible impact he has made over the past five years. 'His belief in this group never wavered and his presence helped shape the identity, resilience and ambition of our team. 'Easiest interview I've ever had' jokes RTE GAA host after pundits go back and forth before Meath vs Donegal 'His energy on the training field, in the dressing room and on game days was inspiring. 'Being part of the team that delivered our second All-Ireland title is a legacy that will live long in our hearts and his influence will be felt for many years to come. Advertisement 'On behalf of the players, management and backroom team, county board and fans — thank you, Kieran, for everything.'
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Kieran Donaghy leaves Armagh role and closes book on successful chapter
Kieran Donaghy's decision to step down after five years as coach with the Armagh footballers closes the book on an interesting chapter in the football relations between Kerry and Ulster. As a player he had been a central figure in that particular rivalry, his goal against – ironically – Armagh in 2006 marking his growing influence at full forward, having been converted from centrefield, in a season capped by All-Ireland success and on a personal level the Footballer of the Year award. Defeat of the then perennial All-Ireland contenders, who had beaten them in the 2002 final, was a significant milestone for the county after further demoralising setbacks at the hands of Tyrone in 2003 and '05. Donaghy's time with Armagh coincided with the county's incremental rise from a reputation for under-achieving to the ultimate achievement last year. Again, there were allegiance issues. Armagh's key victory was the extra-time defeat of his own county in the semi-final. READ MORE Kerry's own coaching staff that day featured former Tyrone trainer and Down manager Paddy Tally, who later left to take up the reins with Derry in a short-lived appointment that ended last week. In June, though the boot was on the other foot, as 15 minutes of Kerry radiance dethroned the champions, ultimately leading to Donaghy's decision to draw a line under the 500-mile commute from Tralee. He leaves with his own county in the All-Ireland final next week, facing Donegal – who as a player, he helped to defeat in a goal-scoring performance in the 2014 final. Kieran Donaghy and Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney worked together for five years, having only initially planned for one. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho Speculation is that Kerry manager Jack O'Connor will not seek another term when his current arrangement expires this year, leaving Donaghy with the prospect of some involvement in the next management. After Armagh had won last year's semi-final, their manager Kieran McGeeney was asked about his forwards coach's conflict of loyalties. 'There's no doubt Kieran Donaghy will go back to Kerry in his day and he'll do a fantastic job there whenever he is asked. Hopefully he has learned a bit. We have definitely learned a lot from him. It was tough in one way but he's a competitor. That's what makes him so great. It's in that Kerry blood.' In a statement on Wednesday, Donaghy announced his departure. 'Five incredible years with Armagh GAA have come to an end, and I walk away full of pride, memories, and deep gratitude. Thank you to Kieran McGeeney, who took a chance on a rookie coach. You said one year, it became five, only you could pull that off. 'You said I could help and that you would help me in return. You were a man of your word every step of the way. To the backroom team, thank you for pushing me, teaching me, and raising the bar. I learned so much just being around ye. 'To the players, what a group. Tough, resilient, and relentless. Watching you chase your dream and finally reach the top in '24 was a privilege. Especially to the older lads, you never stopped believing and you earned every bit of it. 'Thanks to the Armagh County Board for all their support. Kieran Donaghy of Kerry celebrates a goal against Armagh in the 2006 All-Ireland quarter-final. Photograph: Andrew Paton/Inpho 'A huge thanks to the Fegan family and all in Basil Sheils. Mark, Bernice, and all the crew, thanks for giving us a home away from home. The farmhouse will always be a special place to the Donaghys. 'To Hilary, thank you for standing by me through it all as always. Your support made it all possible. Lola Rose, Indie, Ruby May, you were part of every step and loved every journey made to Armagh. 'To my Mom, thank you for always stepping in and holding the fort when needed. And to the people of Armagh, thanks for the warmth, the welcome, and the unwavering support. 'As my Nan always said: 'No ifs. No buts. Only total faith.' Paying tribute to the departing Donaghy, Armagh GAA said in a statement: 'His belief in this group never wavered, and his presence helped shape the identity, resilience and ambition of our team. His energy on the training field, in the dressing room, and on game days was inspiring. 'Being part of the team that delivered our second All-Ireland title is a legacy that will live long in our hearts, and his influence will be felt for many years to come. 'On behalf of the players, management and backroom team, county board and fans – thank you, Kieran, for everything. From your Armagh Family.'
