Latest news with #Ballybofey
Irish Times
3 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Mayo prove they've still got it in win over subdued Tyrone
All-Ireland SFC: Tyrone 1-13 Mayo 2-17 Mayo gonna Mayo. The vibes were terrible, the manager was laid up, the noise off the pitch was turned up to 11. And so of course they came to Omagh and beat Tyrone up a stick. What else did you expect? They showed a side of themselves here that most of us, in our innocence, presumed was gone for the year. They were full of running and purpose, tackling like dervishes, emptying themselves in every position. Paddy Durcan made his first championship start in 14 months and went back down the road with three points and the Man of the Match award. Davitt Neary came off the bench to leave scorch marks in the grass. Aidan O'Shea was the fulcrum for everything. For Tyrone, this was largely a non-performance. Other than 20 minutes of resistance after half-time, they looked like a team that had left their gallop behind them in Ballybofey last week. They played against a strong breeze in the first half but that didn't look like reason enough for their troubles. It was more of a demeanour problem – too passive, too meh, too inclined to wait for the half-time turnaround. READ MORE By contrast, Mayo were snappier in the tackle and more forceful in their attempts to break up the field. The visitors didn't always look fluid in attack but this was the sort of night where sweat was worth more than swagger. Tyrone's Ciaran Daly and Mayo's Paddy Durcan. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho They carried the ball with purpose and even tried a few kick passes into the full-forward line, in a notable departure from what they've been doing all year. They won breaking ball and frequently burst through the first line of Tyrone's defence, butchering two goal chances before finally cashing in on the stroke of half-time. That goal from Darren McHale was a lotto win. Mayo had the ball with two minutes to go until the hooter and played it around among themselves – another sign of Tyrone's curious lack of bite. When, in the end, Bob Tuohy tried to kick a point to end the half, it dropped well short and Niall Morgan came to claim. Maybe the sun got in his eyes but even so, it was quite a howler from the Tyrone stopper – McHale will never score a handier one. It left them eight points up at the break, 1-9 to 0-4. Even though the goal was jammier than a lock-in at a Chivers factory, it gave Mayo a cushion they probably just about deserved. They had been braver and more cohesive than the home side and got their reward in spurts. Rory Brickenden scored the first two points of his championship career, Conal Dawson curled a beauty in on the wind. Everybody threw into the kitty. All of it was needed to. Mayo had plenty of the ball at the start of the second half but couldn't convert it to scores. They left 1-4 behind them in the first seven minutes, with Ryan O'Donoghue hitting the post after a deflection off Conn Kilpatrick. When O'Donoghue missed a kickable free on 43 minutes, it looked a crucial error. Mayo's Ryan O'Donoghue scores a penalty. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho All the more so when Darragh Canavan had the ball in the net a minute later. Durcan made his only mistake of the night, backing off the Tyrone magician and basically inviting him to have a go if he thought he was good enough. He did and he was. That made it 1-9 to 1-6, with all but three points of Mayo's half-time advantage wiped out. They sucked it up and went again. O'Donoghue pointed a free, Drucan notched another from play. Even when Niall Morgan landed his second two-point free of the night to bring the gap back to one, Mayo didn't quail. Durcan and O'Donoghue went again and by now Neary was off the bench and causing wreck. When he was fouled by Liam Gray for a penalty seven minutes from time, O'Donoghue stepped up and did the needful. So after everything, Mayo went back down the road with their best championship win since beating Galway in 2023. You couldn't be up to them. TYRONE: N Morgan (0-2-0, 2tpf); C Quinn, P Teague, N Devlin; M McKernan (0-0-1), R Brennan, K McGeary (0-0-1); B McDonnell (0-0-2), C Kilpatrick; S O'Donnell, M Donnelly, C Daly; D McCurry (0-0-2, 1f), M Bradley, D Canavan (1-0-3, 2f). Subs: S O'Hare for Brennan, L Gray for O'Donnell (both ht); P Harte for Bradley, R Canavan for Daly (both 47 mins); A Donaghy for McDonnell (62). MAYO: C Reape (0-0-1, 1 '45); J Coyne (0-0-1), S Morahan, R Brickenden (0-0-2); S Coen, D McBrien, E Hession; P Durcan (0-0-3), M Ruane; C Dawson (0-0-2), D McHale (1-0-0), B Tuohy; J Carney (0-0-1), A O'Shea (0-0-1), R O'Donoghue (1-0-6, 1-0 pen, 5f). Subs: D Neary for McHale, J Flynn for Tuohy (both 52 mins); F Kelly for Dawson (55); F Boland for Ruane (64); S Callinan for Durcan (68). Referee: D Coldrick (Meath).
Irish Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Tyrone footballers draw high praise all round
If you've even a drop of Tyrone blood running through your veins, and if Gaelic football is your passion, then there's some decidedly pleasant reading for you in the sports pages today. First, Paul Keane reports on the county securing back-to-back under-20 All Ireland titles by beating Louth at the Athletic Grounds last night. It was an evening that 'red-hot forward duo Noah Grimes and Eoin McElholm will not forget any time soon,' the pair scoring 4-10 between them. Second, Ciarán Murphy salutes Tyrone's performance against Donegal in Ballybofey last weekend, in particular their brilliance in those breathless closing minutes when we saw 'some of the new ways the rule enhancements have brought the game forward'. Laois goalkeeper Killian Roche, who'll be in action against Offaly on Saturday in the final round of Tailteann Cup group games, is happy enough with most of the new rules , conceding that the 'game needed changing'. But 'taking away the back-pass from the keeper is one thing, still insisting on the kickout going long is another layer'. In rugby, John O'Sullivan has word on Tadhg Beirne and Aoife Dalton winning the Players' Players of the Year awards , Beirne, of course, unable to accept his in the flesh – he has URC business to attend to in South Africa. Johnny Watterson talks to Beirne's Munster comrade Calvin Nash ahead of their quarter-final match against the Sharks on Saturday. READ MORE And John hears from James Lowe in the build-up to Leinster's URC quarter-final against Scarlets, Lowe determined that the departing Cian Healy and Ross Byrne – Healy in to retirement, Byrne off to Gloucester – leave with another medal around their necks. In football, the latest stage of Robbie Keane's managerial career saw him lead Ferencváros to their seventh consecutive Hungarian league title last weekend. For once, they actually had some competition, in the form of prime minister Viktor Orban's club, Puskas Akademia, recipients of 'state funding on a staggering scale'. Tom Mortimer details the wild and wacky landscape of Hungarian football. As Dave Hannigan tells us, Jim Irsay's life was a bit on the wild and wacky side too , the Indianapolis Colts owner, who died last week at the age of 65, 'adored by fans, players, and coaches alike'. He leaves behind 'an eclectic collection of artefacts', including Muhammad Ali's Rumble in the Jungle championship belt and the guitar Kurt Cobain wielded in the Smells like Teen Spirit video. How much did he love his collection? He once turned down an offer of $1 billion for it. TV Watch: Shane Lowry is the sole Irish player in the field at the Memorial, which gets under way today at Muirfield Village (Sky Sports Golf, 4.30pm), while Leona Maguire flies the flag at the US Open, the second Major of the year on the LPGA Tour (Sky Sports Mix, 5pm). Philip Reid previews both tournaments .
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Donegal 'not at it' as Tyrone hand McGuinness first Ballybofey loss
Donegal selector Neil McGee admitted the Ulster champions "weren't at it from the start" as they fell to a 2-17 to 0-20 defeat by Tyrone in Saturday's All-Ireland round-robin opener in Ballybofey. In a game that ebbed and flowed, Donegal led with seven minutes remaining, but Tyrone rallied late, hitting the last five scores - including Peter Harte's two-pointer - to hand Jim McGuinness a first defeat at Ballybofey in league or championship football. Seanie O'Donnell scored both of Tyrone's goals while Darren McCurry chipped in with seven points. "We took the ball into contact too many times, turned the ball over too many times, we weren't at it from the start and Tyrone probably deserved it," McGee told GAA+. "It's a long season. You're going to the well every week and trying to get up there every day, we just didn't get to the pitch of it today and Tyrone were at it. "At 66 minutes, we were two points up, we had possession and give it away, Tyrone went up and I don't think we touched the ball again after that. "We had the game in our hands, give it away and they got three points. Slim margins but we only have ourselves to blame." In contrast, Tyrone boss Malachy O'Rourke hailed the character his side showed after losing experienced duo Brian Kennedy and Padraig Hampsey to injury. "We got a good start but at half-time we lost two leaders (Brian Kennedy and Padraig Hampsey) and it could have been a night where we said, 'we've put in a good show but it wasn't going to be our night'," O'Rourke, the only manager to have beaten McGuinness in the Ulster Championship, told GAA+. "The way Donegal came back and we always knew they would as they are a quality team. They went ahead and again, we could have folded up our tents, but the composure the boys showed and willingness to fight for each other, get back ahead and hold it was really pleasing. "It only gets us two points, but it's a good start to the group and we just have to settle down and look towards next week." Next week in Group One, Tyrone host Mayo in a rerun of the 2021 All-Ireland final while Donegal will attempt to bounce back away to Cavan.
BBC News
25-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Donegal 'not at it' as Tyrone hand McGuinness first Ballybofey loss
Donegal selector Neil McGee admitted the Ulster champions "weren't at it from the start" as they fell to a 2-17 to 0-20 defeat by Tyrone in Saturday's All-Ireland round-robin opener in Ballybofey. In a game that ebbed and flowed, Donegal led with seven minutes remaining, but Tyrone rallied late, hitting the last five scores - including Peter Harte's two-pointer - to hand Jim McGuinness a first defeat at Ballybofey in league or championship football. Seanie O'Donnell scored both of Tyrone's goals while Darren McCurry chipped in with seven points."We took the ball into contact too many times, turned the ball over too many times, we weren't at it from the start and Tyrone probably deserved it," McGee told GAA+. "It's a long season. You're going to the well every week and trying to get up there every day, we just didn't get to the pitch of it today and Tyrone were at it. "At 66 minutes, we were two points up, we had possession and give it away, Tyrone went up and I don't think we touched the ball again after that."We had the game in our hands, give it away and they got three points. Slim margins but we only have ourselves to blame."In contrast, Tyrone boss Malachy O'Rourke hailed the character his side showed after losing experienced duo Brian Kennedy and Padraig Hampsey to injury. "We got a good start but at half-time we lost two leaders (Brian Kennedy and Padraig Hampsey) and it could have been a night where we said, 'we've put in a good show but it wasn't going to be our night'," O'Rourke, the only manager to have beaten McGuinness in the Ulster Championship, told GAA+."The way Donegal came back and we always knew they would as they are a quality team. They went ahead and again, we could have folded up our tents, but the composure the boys showed and willingness to fight for each other, get back ahead and hold it was really pleasing."It only gets us two points, but it's a good start to the group and we just have to settle down and look towards next week."Next week in Group One, Tyrone host Mayo in a rerun of the 2021 All-Ireland final while Donegal will attempt to bounce back away to Cavan.
Irish Times
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Tyrone burst Donegal's bubble as Seanie O'Donnell storms Ballybofey
All-Ireland SFC Round One: Donegal 0-20 Tyrone 2-17 Tyrone stormed Seán MacCumhaill Park to end Jim McGuinness's proud record at the venue. Ulster champions Donegal were toppled by their Ulster rivals in their opening All-Ireland group game in drenching, windy Ballybofey. Seanie O'Donnell netted two goals in the first half to send Tyrone on their way, but a game of inches came down to a tense final when ultimately Tyrone had the greater composure. The pendulum looked to have swung towards Donegal when Michael Murphy and Michael Langan – who contributed 15 points between them – kicked quick-fire two-pointers in the 52nd minute. READ MORE That had Donegal in front, 0-20 to 2-12, but they wouldn't trouble the scoreboard thereafter, while Tyrone added five points, including a brilliant two-point effort from sub Peter Harte. As the evening took shape, the black clouds moved in from Barnesmore Gap with the 16,120 taking up their respective perches. Half an hour before throw-in, the rain lashed down on Ballybofey. It felt something of a fitting stage for these old foes. The rain cleared a little, but winter was firmly back in the air after a prolonged absence in recent weeks. Donegal's Shane O'Donnell with Tyrone's Rory Brennan. Photograph: John McVitty/Inpho Tyrone threw an early cat among the pigeons when O'Donnell pounced for a goal in the eighth minute. Caolan McGonagle couldn't hold possession when he got under a dropping ball from Michael McKernan. The well-placed O'Donnell made no mistake in fisting home. Ten minutes later, he was at it again. Conn Kilpatrick's surging run created the chance and O'Donnell hammered it to the River End net. At the other end in the opening minutes, Tyrone goalkeeper Niall Morgan turned over the crossbar from a powerful Langan drive. It took a Ciaran Thompson block to thwart the advances of Kilpatrick who was in search of a third Red Hands goal. Murphy nailed a pair of monstrous two-point frees to bring Donegal level by the 30th minute. The Glenswilly man belied the conditions with one effort off the ground from 50m out. Tyrone might have wobbled, but Darren McCurry landed a two-pointer of his own before Kieran McGeary got in on the act, helping Malachy O'Rourke's team to a 2-7 to 0-11 lead at the break. Tyrone had a month to stew on a last-gasp defeat to Armagh in the Ulster SFC semi-final. Then, Rory Grugan popped over a match winner just after the hooter had sounded. The Red Hands welcomed two-time All Star Mattie Donnelly back into the fold for the short trip to Ballybofey – a venue that has been quite the graveyard for visiting sides in the last 15 years. In McGuinness's two spells as manager, Donegal had never lost by the Finn in the league or championship – until now. Tyrone's Mattie Donnelly attempts to block a kick from Donegal's Michael Langan. Photograph: John McVitty/Inpho Donegal had just two weeks to shake off a bruising and breathless Ulster final win over Armagh, the extra-time win clearly coming with something of a price. Goalkeeper Shaun Patton was unable to start due to an ankle injury picked up in the final, with Gavin Mulreany deputising here. While Eoghan Ban Gallagher made his return for a first championship appearance of the year, Peadar Mogan and captain Patrick McBrearty were both absent from the Donegal XV. At the outset of the second half, Thompson arrowed over for Donegal, but four wides in swift succession looked fatal for the home side. That notion heightened when Tyrone scored four-in-row, three of them from McCurry, but Murphy and Langan each posted two-pointers within a minute of each other. Down the stretch, in a game that may well have been defined by its wides – Donegal had 11 and Tyrone eight – Harte found the magic potion, knocking over his vital two-pointer. DONEGAL: G Mulreany; F Roarty, B McCole, E Gallagher; R McHugh (0-0-1), C McGonagle, C Moore; H McFadden, M Langan (0-0-7); D Ó Baoill, C Thompson (0-0-2, 1f), S O'Donnell; C O'Donnell, M Murphy (0-3-2, 3 tpf, 1f, 1 '45), O Gallen. Subs: O McFadden-Ferry for McGonagle (31 mins), E McHugh for Ó Baoill (h-t), P McBrearty (0-0-2) for McFadden (42), P Mogan for O'Donnell (50), O Doherty for Gallagher (60). TYRONE: N Morgan; C Quinn (0-0-1), P Hampsey, N Devlin; M McKernan (0-0-1), R Brennan, K McGeary (0-0-1); B Kennedy, C Kilpatrick; S O'Donnell (2-0-0), M Donnelly, C Daly (0-0-1); D McCurry (0-1-5, 1tpf, 2f), M Bradley (0-0-1), D Canavan (0-0-2, 2f). Subs: B McDonnell (0-0-1) for Kennedy (h-t), P Harte (0-1-0) for Donnelly (53 mins), E McElholm for Bradley (55), F Burns for Brennan (57). Referee: M McNally (Monaghan).
