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The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Mark Coleman admits Cork's 2018 heartbreak still stings but insists Limerick's dominance was always going to happen
THE 2018 win over Cork has gone down in history as a sliding doors moment for Limerick. But Mark Coleman reckons a 2 Mark Coleman of Cork has reflected on the heartbreaking 2018 defeat to Limerick 2 Cork face John Kiely and Limerick again this weekend in the Munster decider John Kiely's men looked doomed when they fell six points behind in that season's All-Ireland semi-final against their Munster foes. But having rallied to force extra-time, A particularly pivotal play in the last-four thriller against Cork came in stoppage time, when Seven years on, Quaid is one of several Limerick players whose CV boasts five Celtic Crosses and six Munster medals. READ MORE ON GAA Cork wing-back Coleman recalled: 'You look back with regrets on that game — the fact that we were six points up into the 62nd minute — but in terms of what would have happened after, they were always going to go on. 'Maybe we might have delayed them but it's more regrets about that game. 'They were always going to win All-Irelands.' A Munster SHC winner in 2017 and 2018, Coleman has had to wait seven years for a shot at his third provincial medal. Most read in GAA Hurling It will finally come on Saturday evening at the Gaelic Grounds, where Limerick will aim for a repeat of their facile win over Pat Ryan's side in the round-robin phase. Reflecting on the 16-point beating, Coleman said: 'We just met them on a very good day and we were maybe five or ten per cent off it. 'Like something out of the French Revolution' - RTE GAA pundit Donal Og Cusack slams Dublin star's reckless swipe 'But it looks like you might as well be 60 or 70 per cent off if you're five per cent off against them. They'll take you apart.' For a Cork team who entered the campaign as All-Ireland favourites, expectations were lowered by last month's toothless display in Limerick. But stalwart Coleman, 27, admitted: 'It's no harm to have the hype dampened a small bit and just go about our business that bit quieter.'
RTÉ News
12-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Dean Rock: Louth's Leinster victory was no flash in the pan
Dean Rock says he expects Louth to be competitive for the foreseeable future after the county landed their first Leinster title in 68 years. The Wee County built a famous triumph on first-half goals, and finished it by hitting the final three points of the game to see off Meath at Croke Park. It comes off the back of their Under-20s claiming a first title at the grade in 44 years, while the county's minors are also in provincial final action next week against Offaly. For Rock, who added eight Celtic Crosses to his 12 Leinster medals during his inter-county career with Dublin, it's not going to be a flash in the pan for Louth. "They're developing a really strong culture in Louth and that's been reflected in the success of the U17, U20 and now the senior team," Rock said on The Sunday Game. "As the senior team, you try to set the example for the future generations. That's what they've done over the last couple of years, they've reached the Leinster final three years in a row now. "That's helped inspire the U17s and the U20s so it's really positive from a Louth GAA perspective. "It takes a lot of good people to get to that stage. That's what Ger Brennan has referred to in terms of the clubs. They're a football-mad county and they've got incredible facilities up there. "They're reaping the benefits now but I think they're going to be around for a long time - that's where they're at now between the 17s and 20s." "He deserves a huge amount of credit" Dean Rock highlights Ger Brennan's impact in getting Louth over the line in their long-awaited quest to clinch a Leinster SFC title 📺Watch the #SundayGame live - — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 11, 2025 Rock played together with Brennan towards the end of the current Louth manager's career with the Dubs. Both of them were on the field in 2013 when the Sky Blues saw off Mayo in the All-Ireland final. And Rock says that his former Dublin team-mate has impressed in taking over in the Wee County following Mickey Harte's surprise departure two years ago. "I can only imagine the time, sacrifice and energy he's put into Louth football over the last two years. "From the outside looking in, when he took over the job - replacing Mickey Harte - it was one that people wondered how much further Louth could go. "To be fair to him, he's improved this Louth team hugely. They've gone from being the second best team in Leinster to being the best team in Leinster. "He deserves a huge amount of credit [but] he'd be quite humble in trying to pass on the credit to the players and the support team around him, but he himself deserves a huge amount of credit for bringing Louth back to the pinnacle."
RTÉ News
11-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Ger Brennan says Louth triumph compares favourably with anything he's done as a player
Ger Brennan was full of pride for his players after guiding Louth to a first Leinster title since 1957 at Croke Park. And Brennan, who landed two Celtic Crosses in the Sky Blue of Dublin and another couple with his club St Vincent's, said the feeling compared favourably to anything he had experienced in winning All-Irelands as a player. The Wee County timed their run to perfection against the Royals, scoring three points in the final eight minutes to come from one down and win by two. "This is up here with winning an All-Ireland with my club and an All-Ireland with my county as a player. This is just incredible," Brennan told RTÉ Sport afterwards. "Context is key. This is 68 years. It's 68 years for the people of Louth not to have won something and it's just incredible." "Sixty-eight years is a long time. It's a long, long time for the people of Louth." "It's up there with winning an All-Ireland as a player with Dublin" Louth manager Ger Brennan chats to @damien_omeara 📱 Updates - — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 11, 2025 And while the sense of history was weighing heavily on Brennan's shoulders shortly after the game, he made sure to heap praise on his players, who have written themselves into the folklore of the county. "What a bunch of players to be able to find a way just to dig it out," Brennan continued. "Meath had momentum in both halves but our lads they just managed to find a way. They never give up, they never give in and that resolve is just incredible and these lads have it in spades. "I'm just delighted for the clubs, schools, development squad managers, even previous management, all the work that's gone into developing these boys. "To be part of it here today with the management team, the a backroom team, it's a privilege." While the celebrations are likely to last a few days, Brennan knows that there's still a bigger prize on offer later in the summer for Louth. They're in an All-Ireland group with Clare, Monaghan and Down and already, thoughts have turned to tweaks that might be needed to go far in the Sam Maguire race. "We were quite economic with the ball in hand. I wish we could grow in the games a bit quicker as we did in Inniskeen in [NFL] round seven but look, we'll keep working on it. It's something to work on for two weeks' time but we just have to enjoy the celebrations over the next few days." For opposite number Robbie Brennan, there was that sense of a missed opportunity for his players, who had put themselves into an early three-point lead before conceding three first-half goals. They battled back to lead once more inside the last 10 minutes, but Louth offered more from there to land the Delaney Cup. "Hugely disappointing, but at the same time massively proud of the lads and they effort they put in," he told RTÉ Sport afterwards. "They should be really proud of themselves and hopefully the supporters feel that too. "At times we looked comfortable in that first half but the concession of the three goals are always going to leave you chasing and they didn't give us enough time to control the game as much as we'd have liked to. "That's sport, it didn't go our way today unfortunately. [Mathew Costello's goal] was a big one and we were hoping that it would give us that little bit of momentum. "More credit to Louth, they swung it back in their favour again. That's the sign of a really good experienced team, and fair play to them for that." On being asked if it would be hard to regroup his players for an All-Ireland group featuring Kerry, Roscommon and Cork, Brennan added: "I don't think so, they're such a young group. They should be proud of what they've achieved. "A huge 70,000 people in Croke Park coming to watch us play, that's a massive thing. We'll take time to reflect for a day or two but we'll be back up and at it and ready to go for Cork."
RTÉ News
08-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Aaron McKay frustration grows as Armagh aim to end long wait
It's now 285 days since Aaron McKay has played a minute of football for Armagh and his frustration is ever growing. While Saturday's Ulster final against Donegal will come too soon for a player nursing a series of injuries, he is hoping the number doesn't stretch too far beyond the 300 mark with the All-Ireland group stage opener against to-be-determined opposition on the weekend of 24/25 May the key target. A shock omission from last year's All-Star team, the teak-tough full-back was the hero for the Orchard County in last year's All-Ireland final as he palmed home the only goal of the game in the second half – only his second-ever championship score, with his first coming on debut against Down all the way back in 2017. Since then, when not injured, he has been an automatic starter. Manager Kieran McGeeney is likely to be equally as impressed with how he read the last play of the final - when the tension was unbearable - to carry the ball out of danger following Joe McElroy's famous block as much as his green flag 20 minutes earlier. That's his main brief in the team; shutting down opponents and sniffing out trouble, but he can't do that right now - and for the dramatic Ulster semi-final win over Tyrone, it was the Perspex dugout he was sitting behind in the stands that bore the brunt of his irritation. "Slow, too slow," is how McKay described his recovery from cartilage damage in his hip, osteitis pubis issues as well as a contorted finger that has been strapped up ever since the 2022 All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Galway. "The plan was to be back for a championship because I knew the league, I wasn't going to be back for the league even way back in say October, November time. "I knew that because I couldn't even get playing for the club (Dromintee) in August and then I kind of just came to the conclusion that I had to get the operation. So just to be ready for the first group game in the All-Ireland series, anything earlier than that's a bonus." "Later in your career, you just care about winning rather than being selfish and looking to come back and playing kind of half-legged and costing the team more than you're giving," he added. "So I think at this stage I'll be happy as long as we win rather than me being an idiot and trying to play and cost us." Missing the Tyrone game was hard, not being out on the field this Saturday on Ulster final day will be torture. He's not alone. Only six of the starting 15 from last year's Sam Maguire triumph started against the Red Hands, but those who have deputised have not only filled in, but for the likes of Callum O'Neill and Tomás McCormack, have ensured that the heroes of 2024 have a fight on to wrestle back their jersey. It's those new faces who will be tasked with key roles in ending Armagh's 17-year wait for an Ulster title against Donegal this weekend – a unique quirk of the current squad with Celtic Crosses aplenty but no provincial medals in the dressing room. #Geezerout — Aaron McKay (@AMcKay95) July 28, 2024 "It was funny, going to Clones last week, I was getting off the bus and I knew I wasn't playing or anything - I wasn't going to be contributing to the game but I'm shaking," he said of the Ulster semi-final and the team's pursuit of the Anglo Celt. "But on the bus going to the final last July, I was so relaxed and chilled out. I'm like, how am I the polar opposite? I don't know." McKay's been on the field of play for the last two Ulster finals though as penalties denied them against both Derry and Donegal. Having also lost penalty shootouts to Galway and Monaghan in the previous two seasons at the All-Ireland quarter-final stage, that loss to the Tir Chonaill County 12 months ago would have been the death knell for most teams. Not Armagh. They responded by topping their All-Ireland group before knockout wins over Roscommon, Kerry and Galway saw the county lift Sam for just the second time ever. "Probably without the last two Ulster final defeats, I don't think we'd win the All-Ireland in 2024," McKay argued. "When you lose something, you also experience loss and learning from it. And also success sometimes can breed complacency so I think if you achieve maybe an Ulster title last year, you can become a wee bit complacent. "We wouldn't have approached the first group game (against Westmeath) last year (the same)...if we had won Ulster, then it all could have run differently. That's why I say again, if we had a won Ulster, we might not have won the All-Ireland." The wait for an Ulster title is "unfinished business", according to McKay, and while he won't be able to influence things on the pitch at Clones, he's hoping he can still play a major albeit delayed role in what could end up being another special year for the Orchard County.
The Irish Sun
03-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Limerick need to rediscover best form to have a chance at winning Munster and All-Ireland
'THE BULL' can be outstanding in his field — if only Limerick boss John Kiely would play Shane O'Brien to his strengths. The Treaty need to rediscover their form — and fast — to have any hope of maintaining their grip on Munster and reclaiming Liam MacCarthy. Advertisement 2 Babs Keating gave his thoughts on Limerick Credit: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile 2 Kyle Hayes of Limerick in action against Craig Morgan of Tipperary Credit: Seb Daly/Sportsfile Kiely's side simply must beat Waterford tonight. The question is, how much will they improve from last Sunday week against Tipperary in Thurles, because that was an atrocious performance by the provincial champions. So what will they have learned from that display? My only criticism of Limerick in the glory days between 2018 and 2023 was they overdid it on the short-passing — and they're still at it. Advertisement Read More on GAA They have a young, strong, mobile forward in 'The Bull' O'Brien, a man you can play the ball into. He's a fantastic targetman, an option they haven't really had before, and he stepped up last year when given his chance in the Munster final, and scored 0-2 from play on his first Championship start in Thurles against Clare. But Kiely was wrong to drop him for Séamus Flanagan in the All-Ireland semi-final last year — even though Flanagan had scored 3-3 in the Munster round-robin clash with the Rebels — and I'd say the Limerick manager realised that when Cork ended the Drive for Five. O'Brien saved Limerick in many ways in Thurles last month, making the most of what he got, with a return of 1-4 from play. But the half-backs and midfielders kept recycling the ball when it should have just been delivered to him on the edge of the square. Even though they drew with Tipp, none of Limerick's multiple All-Star players came close to what they showed when winning five All-Ireland titles in six years. Advertisement Most read in GAA Hurling Their backs really struggled and Diarmaid Byrnes' performance was as bad as I've seen from the man who has five Celtic Crosses and was named Hurler of the Year — unusually as a defender — only three years ago. Limerick hurling has had great investment from businessman JP McManus, but at the moment there is no return at Under-20 level. RTE GAA pundit Enda McGinley reacts to Dublin vs Meath on The Sunday Game The Under-20s are already out of the Championship — having lost to Cork and Clare, drawn with Waterford and beaten my home county. They have not reached a final since 2022, when they lost 0-19 to 0-18 to Kilkenny, albeit they were denied the services of Cathal O'Neill due to the rules at the time. From that side O'Neill, O'Brien, Aidan O'Connor, Fergal O'Connor, Ethan Hurley, Colin Coughlan, Adam English, Patrick O'Donovan and Donnacha Ó Dálaigh have progressed. Advertisement Their last title — in the old Under-21 grade — was in 2017 and that team has backboned the current senior side, along with the All-Ireland-winning group of 2015. Seán Finn, Kyle Hayes, Tom Morrissey, Barry Nash, Cian Lynch, Peter Casey, Aaron Gillane and Barry Murphy all started the 2017 decider. Byrnes was captain of the 2015 team that also featured Mike Casey, Richie English, Gearóid Hegarty, Darragh O'Donovan and Flanagan. Limerick's senior players have been superb — I'm not denying that — they were exceptional in winning five out of six All-Ireland titles. Advertisement They will rightly go down as one of the all-time great teams. But do they have the replacements coming for when a lot of their household names move on? Many people had English at the top of their lists but he did not show it against Tipp. I know he got 1-3, but even at my age, I'd have scored that goal because he was left on his own to tap to the net. Advertisement And he failed to make an impact in the second half. I would have thought that Aidan O'Connor would have come in ahead of him, based on what I saw in the league. The spotlight is on Hegarty and Tom Morrissey tonight because both of them fell well below their usual high standards in Thurles. WAT A WIN They're up against it this evening, facing a Waterford team buoyed by their Advertisement It wasn't the first time that All-Ireland champions were taught a lesson down there either. The Déise's 1967 Munster Championship win over Cork was a hell of a shock — nobody has got an easy ride since at Walsh Park. Austin Gleeson came off the bench late on, having taken time away last year. But we all know how good the 2016 Hurler and Young Hurler of the Year can be when at the peak of his powers. Advertisement The only aspect of his play I didn't like was at times he tried to do it all himself and lacked a 'team-player' element to his game. He always had the skills and strength and if he can get his fitness back, he will be a huge asset to Peter Queally. I love Waterford hurling and I'm delighted they're being led by the home-grown management team of Queally and Big Dan Shanahan. 'Dan the Man' — the last Waterford man before Aussie to be named Hurler of the Year, in 2007 — still lines out for his beloved Lismore when needed. Advertisement Waterford will be incredibly hard to beat at home but Clare's performance last week was probably the worst we've seen under Brian Lohan. So I don't think Déise supporters should read too much into that win — they came up against an easy touch. The finger is often pointed at the man between the sticks when things go wrong, but Eibhear Quilligan is probably the luckiest keeper in the world to win an All-Ireland. He conceded a terrible goal against Cork in Ennis two weeks ago and struggled with his puckouts for the entire first half against the Rebels. Youngsters Adam Hogan and Mark Rodgers are not stepping up this year. Advertisement David Fitzgerald's performance — conceding frees, charging his opponents, his wides and distribution — was way off the standard we are accustomed to. And Peter Duggan, although he came into the game, was not anywhere near the level he got to in the second half against Cork. It shows how much Lohan relied on Shane O'Donnell and Tony Kelly to win that All-Ireland last July. Tipp go to Ennis next Saturday with both teams needing to win to keep their Championships alive. Advertisement Because if Kiely resolves the issues from the Tipp draw, Limerick will join Cork in the Munster driving seat.
