Latest news with #ConorMcManus
BBC News
23-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
All you need to know for the All-Ireland SFC final
The All-Ireland SFC final is almost upon us and it is a battle of the green and gold with Kerry taking on Donegal at Croke Park on Kingdom have won Sam Maguire 38 times, the last of which came in 2022, and they will be hoping to avenge their 2023 final defeat against Dublin by lifting the trophy on return to the All-Ireland final 11 years on from their 2014 defeat against the Kingdom in the decider. The Ulster champions will hope to banish that heartbreak by winning the competition for the first time since the big day beckons, BBC Sport brings you the comprehensive guide to all you need to know ahead of the showpiece occasion of the inter-county football season. How to follow on the BBC The All-Ireland final will be shown live on BBC Two NI, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport of the match will commence at 15:00 BST, with Sarah Mulkerrins presenting and throw-in set for 15: stellar panel will feature three-time All-Star Conor McManus, 2002 All-Ireland winner Oisin McConville and Philly McMahon, an eight-time All-Ireland winner with Sidebottom will have Donegal legend Brendan Devenney and Tyrone three-time All-Ireland winner Owen Mulligan for company at pitchside with Thomas Niblock will provide commentary alongside the legendary Mickey Harte, who lifted Sam three times as Tyrone BBC Sport website will provide live text commentary, in-play clips, a match report, highlights and reaction. Who is the referee? Kildare native Brendan Cawley will referee an All-Ireland SFC final for the first time on also refereed Donegal's Ulster Championship win against Armagh earlier this year. Is a replay possible? the match finishes in a draw at full-time, 20 minutes of extra time will be played, consisting of two halves each 10 minutes in duration.A replay will take place on 9 August if the two sides cannot be separated after extra time. Roads to the final It has not all been plain sailing for Kerry and Donegal in the All-Ireland series, but both seem to have hit form at the right time ahead of the the round robin stage, Kerry enjoyed wins against Roscommon and Cork but suffered a shock 11-point loss against a result, they had to go through a preliminary quarter-final, but the Kingdom recovered to beat Cavan 3-20 to 1-17 with the imperious David Clifford netting a then produced a superb second-half display to beat reigning champions Armagh 0-32 to 1-21 in the last by five at the break, Kerry devoured Armagh's kick-outs and blasted over 14 unanswered points in a devastating 13-minute spell to canter towards the O'Connor's side enjoyed a comfortable 1-20 to 0-17 semi-final win against Tyrone, with David Clifford again delivering a stellar registered 1-9 as Kerry, as they did against Armagh, dominated the third quarter, hitting nine points without reply to seal a place in the final. Ulster champions Donegal began their campaign with a surprise 2-17 to 0-20 defeat against Tyrone in Tir Chonaill men led with eight to play, but Tyrone responded to end Jim McGuinness' perfect record as Donegal manager at MacCumhaill bounced back to beat Cavan and Mayo to reach the preliminary quarter-finals where they breezed past Louth 2-22 to 0-12 to progress to the resolve was tested in the last eight by fellow Ulster side Monaghan, as they were forced to overturn a seven-point half-time deficit to reach the side, who had looked laboured in the first-half after a six-day turnaround from the Louth win, recovered in the second period to out-scoring Monaghan by 1-15 to 0-5 with a goal from Michael Langan in the 44th minute the major turning point that put the Ulster in a run of nine games in 12 weeks and three games on the spin, Donegal had a much needed two weeks of rest before their last four tie against surprise package were ruthless in their 3-26 to 0-15 victory over the Royals, showing a greater clinical edge as Oisin Gallen, Ciaran Moore and Conor O'Donnell scored second-half goals which put the result beyond final will be Donegal's 11th championship game this year, the most any side has played in a single season. Recent meetings The encounters between these two sides through the years have always been fiercely contested and tight to most recent meeting came in the Allianz Football League earlier this year, with Donegal claiming their first win on Kerry soil in 37 was a tight game with Donegal triumphing 0-23 to 1-18 at the Fitzgerald Stadium in played out an enthralling 1-20 to 1-20 draw in the old Super 8s format of the All-Irelands in 2019, with the sides level on 14 occasions throughout the aforementioned, these two sides met in the 2014 All-Ireland final, which Kerry narrowly won 2-9 to from Paul Geaney and Kieran Donaghy helped Kerry to lead by three in the closing stages, but Donegal were close to forcing a replay as Colm McFadden hit the post in injury-time as the Kingdom held had beaten Kerry at the quarter-final stage on their way to winning the Sam Maguire in hit 1-6 as they managed to hold off a late Kerry comeback to win 1-12 to 1-10 in Dublin and eventually go on to claim Sam, beating Mayo in the decider.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Conor McManus: Overcoming injury and hopes for the new season
Heading into Brentford B's pre-season training camp in Wales, defender Conor McManus says he is ready for a 'tough one'. For McManus, it's been a slow journey back to full fitness across the summer and early part of pre-season as he returns from a quad injury. 'I'm getting there slowly but surely, still kind of getting back into match fitness and trying to get the 11-v-11 exposure back into the legs. I feel really good, really fit and really strong,' he explained. 'We have a great group this year and a lot of good characters. It's been really good getting back in and involved. This year, like last year, I think we have a special group that can go far. 'It [Wales] will probably be a tough one, lots of double sessions, but the facilities are excellent there, so hopefully I can use that week to build up and get the body ready for Cheltenham and then go from there. 'Personally, I'm taking it a day at a time, building up and making sure my body's feeling right going into every day.' 'Personally, I'm taking it a day at a time, building up and making sure my body's feeling right going into every day' McManus' 2024/25 season was interrupted by two separate quad injuries. It ultimately meant he missed out on the Premier League Cup final and Professional Development League national final, however the defender played a pivotal role in both competitions. 'I think high highs and low lows kind of summarises it a bit," he reflected. "Obviously, we had an unbelievable year and I think all the lads and myself should be so proud of all the work we put in. 'On a personal note, it was probably not the best with injuries and I was kind of unlucky in that sense where I had a really good pre-season, I felt I was coming into the season very sharp and then I got injured. 'I felt a bit deflated after that. I did the whole rehab and came back firing again and then I felt I had a really good three, four months where we were playing some really good football. 'For the injury to happen again was a bit of a mood killer, but it is what it is. Hopefully, touch wood, this is the end of it. Going into this season, I'm just really excited to kick on, try and stay fit and healthy, and help the boys as much as I can.' Speaking on his rehabilitation, McManus said he continued to drive forward positively with the goal of coming back better than ever. 'Like everything, I think it's a bit of an up and down thing, trying to stay positive, trying to work as hard as I can because at the end of the day my end goal is to be out on the pitch as soon as I can be,' he said. 'I'm surrounded by unbelievable staff and they did their all to get me back out on the pitch and get me stronger and get me fitter. 'In my head, I have a goal to come back better than ever and I think that's more than achievable.' This time last season, McManus was plying his trade with the first team, training consistently and featuring in a pre-season clash against Benfica while on tour with the Bees in Portugal. He said he is confident of getting back to that level, however is aware of what he needs to do at B team level in order to get there. 'I have full confidence in myself that no matter what happens, I'm going to work my hardest to get to the position that I was, if not an even better position,' explained McManus. 'I know how much I've come on as a player ever since I've moved to Brentford so I think I'm kind of riding off that confidence. Half of it is just mindset. 'That is of course the goal for every B-team player to get in and around the first team, but I think that comes with you doing your job for the B team first. 'If you neglect that and your only goal is to just go up with the first team, it's not going to work out. In my head, it's small steps towards a bigger goal.'
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Roarty 'playing like a seasoned veteran'
Roarty has impressed in his first year in the Donegal senior panel [Getty Images] Former Monaghan forward Conor McManus said that 19-year-old Donegal defender Finbarr Roarty is "playing like a seasoned veteran". The teenager is enjoying an impressive first year with Jim McGuinness' senior panel, helping them to the Ulster title and again excelling in their All-Ireland semi-final thrashing of Meath. Advertisement He has firmly established himself as a starter and McManus praised the corner-back's ability to slot in seamlessly since his debut in April. "They tried to get him into the panel last year, but he was too young, and he's come in and is playing like a man who has been there for eight or nine years," McManus told the GAA Social podcast. "He's playing like a seasoned veteran, his physical shape, his energy and ability on the ball, he's excellent. He is a massive addition who has hit the ground running. "That is the strength of Donegal their team and their panel. They had 12 different scorers against Meath and you have so many things to try lock down to stop them." Advertisement Donegal will face Kerry in the All-Ireland final after the Kingdom dispatched Tyrone in Saturday's other semi-final. Armagh All-Ireland winner Oisin McConville believes the Red Hands need to develop squad depth to challenge for honours after suffering a 1-20 to 0-17 last four defeat. "They have to find one or two players but there is a pool of talent there. The profile of the player they're bringing in is important too," McConville said. "They have deadly forwards in Ruairi and Daragh Canavan, Darren McCurry and Eoin McElholm, but if you play the four of those are any of them really cut out for the middle eight? They're very same same and the direct ball is less of an option. "You can't play them all at the same time, so you need to find some more power. You compare Tyrone's team to what Donegal have, they have hard running and legs."
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Roarty 'playing like a seasoned veteran'
Former Monaghan forward Conor McManus said that 19-year-old Donegal defender Finbarr Roarty is "playing like a seasoned veteran".The teenager is enjoying an impressive first year with Jim McGuinness' senior panel, helping them to the Ulster title and again excelling in their All-Ireland semi-final thrashing of has firmly established himself as a starter and McManus praised the corner-back's ability to slot in seamlessly since his debut in April."They tried to get him into the panel last year, but he was too young, and he's come in and is playing like a man who has been there for eight or nine years," McManus told the GAA Social podcast."He's playing like a seasoned veteran, his physical shape, his energy and ability on the ball, he's excellent. He is a massive addition who has hit the ground running. "That is the strength of Donegal their team and their panel. They had 12 different scorers against Meath and you have so many things to try lock down to stop them."Donegal will face Kerry in the All-Ireland final after the Kingdom dispatched Tyrone in Saturday's other All-Ireland winner Oisin McConville believes the Red Hands need to develop squad depth to challenge for honours after suffering a 1-20 to 0-17 last four defeat."They have to find one or two players but there is a pool of talent there. The profile of the player they're bringing in is important too," McConville said. "They have deadly forwards in Ruairi and Daragh Canavan, Darren McCurry and Eoin McElholm, but if you play the four of those are any of them really cut out for the middle eight? They're very same same and the direct ball is less of an option."You can't play them all at the same time, so you need to find some more power. You compare Tyrone's team to what Donegal have, they have hard running and legs."
RTÉ News
28-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
The Saturday Game verdict on Meath v Galway and Armagh v Kerry
Conor McManus and Enda Smith were in agreement on which teams would progress to the All-Ireland SFC semi-finals when they previewed Sunday's action at Croke Park on The Saturday Game. Meath and Galway do battle in the first encounter in Sunday's double-header at headquarters. "It's hard to look past Galway," McManus opined. "They have been under the cosh in quite a few games, have been on the brink of exit. "Nobody has managed to put them out and I think that will make them stronger. "They have been in big games in the latter end of the All-Ireland series in recent years. "They are very hard to beat. The team that beats Galway will have a day's work over them. You would have to fancy Galway." Smith said "Meath have shown great signs of progression throughout the year. If they do lose, it's hard to know whether it will be a positive year for them. They beat Dublin and Kerry but they will look at the Leinster final as the one that got away. "Across the pitch you look at Ruairí Kinsella, James Conlon and Matthew Costello, they have been chipping in with huge scores all year. "They will be a test for Galway but I do see Galway pulling through." Conor McManus and Enda Smith give their verdicts on Meath v Galway and Armagh v Kerry. Follow the action from 1.15pm on Sunday on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player and listen to commentaries on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1. — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 28, 2025 Armagh v Kerry is the main event for most neutrals and the Roscommon player said: "It's hard to know where Kerry are at, even coming up to a quarter-final stage. "They had a comfortable win last weekend against Cavan, but Armagh so far this year have looked every inch All-Ireland champions. "They've worn that badge of honour throughout the year. They've looked strong and they've added more players to the strength in depth that they already had. "Even losing Rian O'Neill at the start of the year, and I know he's come back in, but they have looked really strong and it is hard to look beyond them with Kerry's injuries and the way Armagh are going at the moment." McManus, while wary of the Kingdom's attacking talent, also came down on the side of the Orchard County, saying: "You can't discount a team that have the two Cliffords and Seanie O'Shea; you simply can't. So, yes, they certainly have a chance. "But it's around midfield that you'd imagine they are going to struggle. "Diarmuid O'Connor is a huge loss and just the form that Armagh have been in all year probably edges them ahead of Kerry at the minute. "Stefan Campbell not being available to Armagh is definitely a loss. His impact off the bench is nearly guaranteed at this stage. Every day he comes on, he gives you one or two scores; he's setting up scores. "For them not to have him to call on in the last 20-25 minutes is definitely a loss to Armagh, but still, you'd imagine Armagh will shade this one." Watch two All-Ireland Football Championship quarter-finals, Meath v Galway and Armagh v Kerry, from 1.15pm on Sunday on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on and the RTÉ News app. Listen to commentaries on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Sunday Game at 10.15pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
