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Irish Times
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Five things we learned from the GAA weekend: Connor Gleeson's fingertip touch shows up a glitch in the new rules
A two-pointer becomes a one-pointer The real problem is the rule, not the consequences. One of the main talking points arising from Sunday's Connacht final was Connor Gleeson's fingertip touch on Ryan O'Donoghue's kick from outside the 45-metre line. Firstly, Gleeson deserves huge credit for his awareness in the midst of what was a frenetic game – and during a period when Galway were taking on water – for realising he could limit the damage by getting a touch on the ball. By doing so a Mayo two-pointer became a one-pointer. Magic! In the aftermath of the game much of the analysis around that incident centred on whether the ball was actually over the crossbar by the time Gleeson got his hand to it. READ MORE But all of that misses the key point ... so to speak. The main issue here is that O'Donoghue's effort highlighted a glitch in the system, a fly in the ointment, a needless splodge of small print in the rule. If a player has the talent to kick a ball over the bar from outside the 45-metre line, surely the merit of that skill should not be sliced in half because a goalkeeper got a fingertip on the ball as it dropped over the crossbar. Several members of the Football Review Committee have said their remit is to make the game more exciting, more entertaining – rewarding a player for touching a ball that has been kicked from over 45 metres away doesn't seem commensurate. Just amend the rule. If a player kicks a ball over the crossbar from outside the arc then it's worth two points – irrespective of whether an opposition player gets a touch on it. After all, if a player drills a ball from the 20-metre line and the goalkeeper touches it on its way to the back of the net it doesn't diminish the worth of the goal. – Gordon Manning There is life in Limerick's old guard yet Limerick's Cian Lynch and Dan Morrissey with Michael Kiely of Waterford. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho One of the subplots of the season has been Limerick's gradual but deliberate separation from the team that won their breakthrough All-Ireland in 2018. It was clear after last summer that there needed to be an element of renewal and it was apparent during the league that the material existed for such a plan. In the opening round against Tipperary, Limerick fielded only eight starters from the 2018 All-Ireland final, the fewest number for any championship match since that All-Ireland. On Saturday against Waterford that number climbed to 10, with Darragh O'Donovan also coming off the bench. But others are struggling to get a look in. Seamus Flanagan wasn't on the panel for the Tipperary match and didn't come on against Waterford, even though Limerick used five subs; Declan Hannon hasn't been on the panel for either match; Dan Morrissey and Séan Finn started against Waterford, but were unused subs against Tipp. 'I think there'll be a lot of lads that are very disappointed, didn't make the team, didn't make the panel today, that are really going to be pushing hard the next two weeks. So I'm looking forward to seeing that,' said Kiely after the Tipp match. But it is not a revolution either. Of the young players who have made an impression over the last 12 months only Shane O'Brien and Adam English would appear to be nailed-on starters. Colin Coughlan was given his first start against Tipp, but he is basically the first sub for the half-back line and Fergal O'Connor is the first or second sub for the full-back line, depending on circumstances. In attack, Aidan O'Connor and Donnacha Ó Dálaigh are still regarded as impact players, in that order. On Saturday, the old guard ran the show. The blending process will continue. – Denis Walsh Mayo need more from their biggest names Mayo's Aidan O'Shea reacts to a missed chance. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho That Mayo don't have the star power they used to is obvious to everyone. Their problem against Galway though was more that they didn't get enough out of the best they have on offer. They were able to start three players yesterday who have won All Stars in the past – Aidan O'Shea, Ryan O'Donoghue and Mattie Ruane. Each had their own version of an ill-starred afternoon. To be fair, Ruane had one of his better outings but still, there seemed very little rhyme or reason in the fact that he was the one taking the last-gasp attempt to send the game to extra-time. Every team knows that these incredibly tight games are going to need a late two-pointer but Mayo basically played pass-the-parcel until Ruane found himself free on the right with a very difficult kick. It all seemed so ad hoc. That can't have been the plan, surely. O'Donoghue finished the game with 0-9, 0-3 of it from play. He scored as much from play against Johnny McGrath yesterday as he had in five previous encounters combined. That said, he and the Mayo management appear to have been spooked by McGrath's record, leading O'Donoghue to play much farther from goal than usual. The Galway defender got up the pitch to win the first-half penalty. Would he have done so had O'Donoghue been playing as an inside forward? As for O'Shea, it was another day to forget on the biggest stage. Though took his usual amount of punishment and laid on plenty of scoring chances for the players around him, he was either dispossessed or done for overcarrying several times in the first half when Mayo couldn't afford turnovers. He drew a blank on the scoreboard again – that's 14 of his last 15 games against Galway in league and championship where he has failed to score. Mayo did plenty right yesterday. But they need more from their biggest names. – Malachy Clerkin Banquo's ghost still able to receive a handpass There are more handpasses in this year's championship. Photograph: John McVitty/Inpho Would it be an exaggeration to describe the Football Review Committee enhancements as having led to a feast of football? Possibly but the consensus is that matches have been easier to watch and more exciting with the two-pointer in particular proving a formidable weapon for teams looking to get back into matches. One problem, which is proving intractable is the hardy perennial of the handpass. FRC chair Jim Gavin's instincts on this have always been to question the role of the handpass – as Dublin manager, he was critical of the GAA decision to drop an experimental restriction on it, scheduled to be trialled in the 2019 league. For many people, the handpass is at the heart of all that has been wrong with football but it has proved most resilient down the years, as successive reviews of the game have deemed addressing the matter to be akin to interfering with football's DNA. The FRC looked carefully at doing something but concluded two things: having initially considered the matter, they felt that restrictions on handpassing might have an unintended consequence for the attacking team close to the opponent's goal. There was also feedback from intercounty referees, who felt a limitation of consecutive passes would be problematic from implementation perspective. Overall, these issues were sufficient to warn the committee that to proceed with restrictions might be divisive – something the FRC wanted to avoid for fear unpopular recommendations could become speed bumps for other proposals. This was also seen in the case of the four-point goal. During the league, the amendment of 3v3 to 4v3 was intended to address the overload that led to a team with an attacking goalkeeper having an outfield 12v11 advantage – a remedy that was hoped would also reduce lateral handpassing. On Friday, the latest progress report on the changes was released and in general was quite happy with the recommendations. The handpass to kickpass ratio however has continued to rise inexorably. Eugene McGee, chair of the 2012 FRC, warned that the handpass issue would have to be monitored. 'It is not a core part of the game,' he said at the launch of the report in December 2012. 'That is why we are leaving it as it is but we are also putting in a strong recommendation that this be monitored on an annual basis. It can be clinically monitored. If that ratio were to go back to three or four or five to one then definitely the GAA would have to move.' Last year's championship had a handpass to kick-pass ratio of 3.4:1. This year's regulation league matches saw that rise to 4.0:1. So far in the 2025 championship, according to Friday's report, it's running at 4.2. Unlike Banquo's ghost, however, the handpass isn't simply a figment of a guilty conscience. Not only has it not gone away – it's continuing to grow. – Seán Moran Kerry's eyes fully focused on an All-Ireland final Kerry manager Jack O'Connor celebrates after the game with Dylan Casey. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho Somewhere deep in the DNA of every Kerry footballer there is a physical and spiritual inkling towards the fourth Sunday in September. Those who have any predisposition towards playing in an All-Ireland final were simply born that way. Now that the GAA's split season has messed up that trait, it has required a rewiring of sorts, one which directs that same physical and spiritual inkling towards high July. When Jack O'Connor won his first Munster football title as Kerry football manager in 2004 – in his first season in charge – the Munster football final wasn't decided until July 18th. That was a week later than originally scheduled, Kerry requiring a replay before getting past Limerick at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney. Kerry also beat Mayo in the All-Ireland final that same year, played on September 26th. Now that O'Connor's seventh Munster football title with Kerry is won and over with by the May bank holiday weekend, his thoughts shift to the All-Ireland series, and the target of another All-Ireland title on July 27th. It is still relatively early days, but so far O'Connor's plan towards peaking at that point in the season appears to be working out just fine. In 2022, O'Connor's first season in his third coming as Kerry manager, they peaked perfectly, beating Dublin in the semi-final, then Galway in the final; they arguably peaked too soon in 2023, appearing tired in that year's final loss to Dublin; then last year, they didn't seem to peak at all, caught by Armagh in their semi-final when another final seemed to be beckoning. Kerry go into their All-Ireland series group with Roscommon, Cork and whichever team lose next Sunday's Leinster final. The first thing O'Connor noted after Sunday's win over Clare was his goal of topping that group. 'It's very important,' he said, 'because it's very difficult to play the three weekends in a row at this level because of the intensity of the games and the length of them. They're even longer now with the way the hooter is. We'll be endeavouring to go the direct route for sure.' More importantly for O'Connor, he has several first-choice players to come back, Paudie Clifford missing Sunday's game through suspension, and Diarmuid O'Connor set to return from injury. 'We'd like to think we have a strong panel this year and the lads that missed out today will be chomping at the bit,' O'Connor added. When asked if he had any fear players might get a bit complacent at this point, given the ease with which they got past Clare, O'Connor referenced the late Bobby Knight, the famed college basketball coach with Indiana University. 'I'll tell you now the best way to keep fellas feet on the ground, there were four or five fellas who missed out today, and they'll all be training next week. Bobby Knight said long ago, if a fella thinks his arse is going to be on the seat, that will focus his mind pretty quick.' For now at least, Kerry's minds appear perfectly focused on high July. – Ian O'Riordan
Irish Times
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Limerick's outlook brightens as Cian Lynch hits top form in win over Waterford
As a preliminary thought to Saturday's match in Walsh Park, Limerick and Waterford has over the years been a one-way street. Even when Waterford were at their best in the Covid years, getting to an All-Ireland final and semi-final, Limerick's cushion against them was essentially a standard 11 points. Back then Waterford had greater resources with Calum Lyons and a fully match-fit Austin Gleeson available but I still believed Waterford had a chance on the basis that they had looked quite lively against Clare, albeit it was only six days previously. The variable was Limerick, who had looked fairly well off it against Tipperary, even quite leggy, so I was really interested to see where they were at the weekend. They certainly needed to improve from the Thurles performance, and the question was whether they'd be able to do that. An underwhelming league could be partly explained by injuries and other absences but this was more like their best team. Seán Finn and Dan Morrissey were back in the full-back line and Barry Nash was moved to wing back. Will O'Donoghue returned to the middle of the field and Cian Lynch to centre forward with Kyle Hayes at centre back. READ MORE It was their more recognisable foundation or formation. [ Limerick dismiss Waterford challenge with usual calm authority Opens in new window ] To start at the end, a 0-28 points to 0-22 victory didn't really tell the whole story. On the balance of play Limerick would have been full value for a bigger win, heading in the direction of their standard 11 points. Against Tipperary they were unsure and dropping the ball a lot and even Lynch's touch wasn't as assured as normal. By Saturday night, it was actually as good as ever from the word go. His dictation of the game was a return to best form, back in the days before the serious hamstring injury. Limerick's Aidan O'Connor, Barry Nash and Adam English tackle Waterford's Shane Bennett. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho He was running the show from an early stage and picked a few wonderful passes, one in particular in the first half when he struck the ball back over his shoulder to a completely unmarked Tom Morrissey for a wonderful assist. John Kiely and co will be very happy with the improvement they got from nearly all the key men. There's also more to come from O'Donoghue and Gearóid Hegarty, who still managed to score the point of the evening by tapping a hunted, turnover ball up into his hand and whipping the Limerick support into a frenzy by driving it over the bar. But between Lynch, Tom and Dan Morrissey – he really is indispensable at full back – Aaron Gillane, Hayes, much improved at centre back, Nash and Cathal O'Neill, who got some game time, it was a significant step up for Limerick. [ Waterford's Stephen Bennett embodies spirit of never-say-die golden generation Opens in new window ] There was also the added bonus of great displays from younger players, such as Shane O'Brien − who top-scored from play at full forward and was desperately unlucky not to get a goal in the first half when hitting the post − and Adam English. Waterford fought hard. They were disadvantaged by the six-day turnaround and never looked to have the same energy they showed against Clare but they resisted strongly to cut the margin to two a couple of times before Limerick simply pulled away again. Limerick's Gearóid Hegarty scored the point of the evening at Walsh Park. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho Mark Fitzgerald and Tadhg de Búrca were very good again in the half backs and Stephen Bennett once more carried the scoring burden, but such is the pressure on him – particularly with Dessie Hutchinson not enjoying his best form – that a couple of inaccuracies before half-time were costly. Waterford's style suits Limerick at the best of times. The teams that are troubling Limerick are the ones going man-to-man, whereas Waterford are withdrawing. Limerick are able to outnumber the Waterford inside forwards and then work the ball out from the back. When their touch is on like it was on Saturday, you know they're going to run it out through you, no problem. That's what happened. Waterford aren't to be dismissed, as the picture in Munster seems to change every week, but it's looking like the match against Tipperary will be vital, as it's hard to see them getting anything in Cork. It was Limerick's best performance of the year and their players will take a lot from it because even if they weren't yet under pressure to find form, they were certainly under observation. They also got the likes of Cathal O'Neill and Darragh O'Donovan back on the pitch. After a stuttering year so far, they are right back on track.
RTÉ News
02-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Waterford v Limerick in the Munster Hurling Championship: All you need to know
SATURDAY 3 MAY Munster SHC round 3 Waterford v Limerick, Walsh Park Waterford, 6pm ONLINE Live blog on RTÉ Sport and RTÉ News app WATCH Live on GAA+ (subscription required). Highlights on The Sunday Game from 9.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. RADIO Live commentary and updates on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport and RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta's Spórt an tSathairn. WEATHER Cloudier conditions with perhaps a few spots of light rain will move southwards through the afternoon with sunny spells following from the north later. Highest temperatures of 15 to 17 degrees with moderate northerly winds. For more go to The GAA must have been big fans of the 2023 Oscars. How else to explain a schedule that goes from Everything All At Once to All Quiet On The Western Front? After two weeks of non-stop action, there are just three senior men's games this weekend and one in hurling: Limerick's trip to Walsh Park tomorrow. The Treaty were not the dominant side we have been used to seeing in recent years in their opening-round draw with Tipperary at Semple Stadium and might have been happy enough to get out with a draw. A two-week break will have helped get some players back up to speed after injury and John Kiely has made two changes to the full-back line after conceding two goals against Tipp; Dan Morrissey, who had hamstring issues during the league, comes in at full-back with Mike Casey switching to left-corner back and four-time All-Star Sean Finn is in the right corner. Barry Murphy is left out of the squad and Colin Coughlan drops to the bench as Barry Nash is pushed forward to wing-back alongside Kyle Hayes, who moves to centre-back from centre-forward, allowing Will O'Donoghue to take his more customary midfield spot. Peter Casey is also not among the 26, despite having come on as a sub in Thurles but goalkeeper Nickie Quaid appears to have come through his return just over four months after undergoing cruciate ligament surgery unscathed. By contrast, it's a very quick turnaround for the Déise after their surprise win over All-Ireland champions Clare last Sunday. Waterford are still looking for a first qualification from the Munster round-robin - they progressed when it reverted to the old format in 2020-21 - and a first championship win over Limerick in 14 years would be a huge step towards that. Only once (2019) in the five previous editions of the group stage has a team with four points failed to advance. Peter Queally makes just one switch to the XV that gave him a 100% record in inter-county management, 20-year-old Patrick Fitzgerald replacing Kieran Bennett after coming off the bench to score two points against the Banner. Jamie Barron (0-04 against Clare) moves back into midfield with Fitzgerald at corner-forward. That means former hurler-of-the-year Austin Gleeson is again amongst the subs having come on in the closing stages last weekend. But other key men like Stephen Bennett (2-08, 4fs last week), Tadhg de Burca and Conor Prunty all seem fully fit while defender Mark Fitzgerald continues to impress. Waterford are big underdogs again this weekend, understandable given their opponents and relative lack of recovery time, but have the benefit of home advantage once more. "I think it is a great opportunity for Waterford," Offaly great Michael Duignan told the RTÉ GAA Podcast, while also calling for some league games to be played before Christmas to ease calendar congestion. "Another factor in the six days is that the game last Sunday by Munster hurling standards wasn't the most intense of games. Clare very flat. "I think they have very little to lose in this game. Last week there was pressure on them because of their poor record and where they've been. "But they knew themselves and we talked about it last week, (there's) a sense that they really have bought into Peter Queally. "It's a real Waterford thing. Sometimes an outside manager can work really well and I think it was the time for them to close shop and they've done that and getting two home games in a row, just the way the draw went, I think is very significant as well. "So they have a great chance but I am expecting a much better performance from Limerick as well." Waterford: Billy Nolan; Ian Kenny, Conor Prunty, Iarlaith Daly; Mark Fitzgerald, Tadhg de Burca, Paddy Leavey; Darragh Lyons, Jamie Barron; Jack Prendergast, Stephen Bennett, Patrick Curran; Kevin Mahony, Dessie Hutchinson, Patrick Fitzgerald. Subs: Shaun O'Brien, Gavin Fives, Kieran Bennett, Tom Barron, Shane Bennett, Michael Kiely, Austin Gleeson, Sean Walsh, Conor Sheahan, Carthach Daly, Padraig Fitzgerald. Limerick: Nickie Quaid; Sean Finn, Dan Morrissey, Mike Casey; Diarmaid Byrnes, Kyle Hayes, Barry Nash; Adam English, William O'Donoghue; Gearóid Hegarty, Cian Lynch, Tom Morrissey; Aaron Gillane, Shane O'Brien, David Reidy. Subs: Shane Dowling, Colin Coughlan, Seamus Flanagan, Ethan Hurley, Aidan O'Connor, Fergal O'Connor, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, Darragh O'Donovan, Paddy O'Donovan, Cathal O'Neill, Eddie Stokes
Irish Examiner
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Seán Finn and Dan Morrissey start in Limerick full back line against Waterford
Limerick have brought four-time All Star winning pair Seán Finn and Dan Morrissey into their full-back line for Saturday's Munster SHC Round 3 clash with Waterford in Walsh Park. Barry Murphy, who is not in the matchday squad, and Colin Coughlan go out for Finn and Morrissey who did not feature in the draw with Tipperary in Thurles last month. Barry Nash is named at wing-back and Mike Casey moves to corner-back while Kyle Hayes is again given the No. 6 jersey although he played at centre-forward against Tipperary and William O'Donoghue filled the centre-back role. As well as Murphy, Peter Casey is not in the 26-strong panel heading to Waterford city. Tom Morrissey, who was a late addition to the team for Cathal O'Neill, is announced to start with O'Neill named among the substitutes. LIMERICK (SHC v Waterford): N. Quaid, S. Finn, D. Morrissey, M. Casey; D. Byrnes, K. Hayes, B. Nash; A. English, W. O'Donoghue, G. Hegarty, C. Lynch (c), T. Morrissey; A. Gillane, S. O'Brien, D. Reidy. Subs: S. Dowling, C. Coughlan, S. Flanagan, E. Hurley, A. O'Connor, F. O'Connor, D. Ó Dalaigh, D. O'Donovan, P. O'Donovan, C. O'Neill, E. Stokes.
