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Irish Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
GAA live updates: Tipperary host Waterford in first of two big Munster hurling clashes
27 minutes ago Sunday's GAA Championship fixtures Munster SHC Round 4 Tipperary v Waterford, FBD Semple Stadium Thurles, 2pm Limerick v Cork, TUS Gaelic Grounds Limerick, 4pm Leinster SHC Round 4 Kilkenny v Dublin, UPMC Nowlan Park 3pm All-Ireland SFC Round 1 Clare v Down, Cusack Park, 2pm Mayo v Cavan, MacHale Park, 2.30pm Tailteann Cup Round 2 Leitrim v Sligo, Carrick-on-Shannon, 1.30pm London v Westmeath, Ruislip, 2pm Carlow v Wexford, Netwatch Cullen Park, 2.30pm Longford v Fermanagh, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 3pm Joe McDonagh Cup Round 4: Laois v Kildare, O'Moore Park, 3pm 0 minutes ago Tipp have arrived. Listen to that Tipp Tipp Tipp!! Huge Tipp Support — Tipperary GAA (@TipperaryGAA) 4 minutes ago Ahead of the 2.0pm throw-in in Thurles, Malachy Clerkin has a live update on the team news. Gorgeous day in Thurles for what is pretty much a knock-out game between Tipperary and Waterford. Darragh McCarthy has been brought in to replace Noel McGrath in the starting team for Tipp. Waterford play as named. Tipperary: Rhys Shelly; Robert Doyle, Eoghan Connolly, Michael Breen; Sam O'Farrell, Ronan Maher, Bryan O'Mara; Willie Connors, Craig Morgan; Conor Stakelum, Andrew Ormond, Jake Morris; Darragh McCarthy, John McGrath, Jason Forde. Waterford: Billy Nolan; Ian Kenny, Conor Prunty, Iarlaith Daly; Mark Fitzgerald, Tadhg De Búrca, Gavin Fives; Paddy Leavey, Darragh Lyons; Stephen Bennett, Kevin Mhony, Jamie Barron; Jack Prendergast, Mikey Kiely, Dessie Hutchinson. 6 minutes ago In case you missed it, Dublin got their All-Ireland football challenge back on track with a narrow win over Galway in Salthill yesterday evening, winning their opening round of the All-Ireland series. Gordon Manning was there, and called it 'one of those picture postcard Saturday afternoons in sun-baked Salthill for Dublin'. He added: 'The stamped dispatches mailed back to the capital went something like this – lovely day out west, we had ice cream on the prom and later that evening watched Tom Lahiff put the cherry on top, talk of our demise has been greatly exaggerated. We'll be home soon, see you at Croke Park.' Read his full report here – 17 minutes ago 🚨TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT🚨 🗓️Sunday 18th May @ 2PM 🏟️FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles 🥎Waterford v Tipperary 🎟️ Best of luck to the team and management. — Waterford GAA (@WaterfordGAA) 20 minutes ago Sean Moran's two hurling previews deftly set the scene for what's in store in Thurles and Limerick. Tipperary v Waterford, FBD Semple Stadium Thurles, 2.0– Having done a decent job on refitting Tipperary, Liam Cahill knows the importance of getting out of the province to continue the development work and is at the same time mindful of this fixture's pitfalls. Even with their blank record in the round-robin, Waterford are unbeaten by Tipp since the format resumed in 2022. The home side did well, however, to bounce back from the Páirc Uí Chaoimh calamity and beat Clare in Ennis. They are getting good, productive form from the forwards and if the defence can lose focus, it brings high energy and will need to if Waterford get a run on them. On balance, though. Verdict: Tipperary Limerick v Cork, TUS Gaelic Grounds Limerick, 4.0 – This fixture has created plenty of fireworks since the round robin began, most vividly last year in two matches that Cork nicked despite Limerick having every opportunity themselves. Even in the league, Limerick chose this fixture to put in a performance and led by four going down the stretch but again, Cork caught them for a draw. The home side will hope to bring further incremental improvement to their packed-to-capacity venue and put pressure on the visitors' fault-lines: a mysterious disinclination to sustain 70-minute displays and a slight recurrence of the disciplinary issues that dogged their early championship last year. 26 minutes ago Good afternoon, and welcome to The Irish Times live GAA blog for what is another massive Sunday in the Munster hurling championship, with plenty of football action too. In the penultimate round of the Munster hurling championship, Tipperary take on Waterford, at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles at 2pm, followed by the headline clash between Limerick and Cork at TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick at 4pm. Two critical games which could ultimately influence the progression of all four teams. In Leinster, there is also a fourth round meeting between Kilkenny and Dublin at UPMC Nowlan Park (3pm). In football, Clare face Down (Cusack Park, 2pm) and Mayo host Cavan (MacHale Park, 2.30pm) in the first round of the All-Ireland series, and there are also four games in the second round of the Tailteann Cup; Leitrim v Sligo, Carrick-on-Shannon, 1.30pm; London v Westmeath, Ruislip, 2pm; Carlow v Wexford, Netwatch Cullen Park, 2.30pm; Longford v Fermanagh, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 3pm
RTÉ News
16-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Hurling Nation: A hunger for success in weekend feast
We know that the GAA's approach to the game is féasta inniu agus gorta amárach and this weekend is an all you can eat special. We've five big provincial games and for dessert a nice Joe McDonagh Cup tie. Leinster might not be epic but it has decent storylines. Antrim travel to Salthill. Davy's team were beaten at home by Dublin last weekend, we think that was their final chance of an ambush under the Black Mountain, Galway to win. Later, Wexford welcome Offaly to the sunny south-east. Sadly, Offaly's summer so far has been full of clouds with disappointing exits for the minor and Under-20 teams. Barring a miracle in Wexford Park, Offaly's year comes down to next weekend against Antrim. On Sunday the Leinster segment of the menu is completed when Dublin travel to Kilkenny. We thought that the change of manager in Dublin might mean that they would tread water this year but they look like they know what they're doing and better still, they're doing it with pace. Kilkenny will be the stiffest test yet. Dublin gave Kilkenny a fair rattle in the corresponding game last year before collapsing in the Leinster final; they look better this year but might have to endure another narrow defeat this weekend. And to Munster. Go back to the beginning, the Munster championship was to be three works in progress battling it out behind two All-Ireland champions. Clare were still wearing the crown, Limerick were still feeling undressed without it. Clare and Cork played pass the parcel with hype, Tipperary and Waterford were hoping for the break that might break open third place. A few episodes down the line and all talk of hype is gone - and so are Clare almost. Often in Munster Limerick have been the storyline, injuries, suspensions, would they be caught this time? And always they freed themselves. This year there has been the wonder cure of the greatest goalkeeper of his generation and the smooth blending in of some proper young talents. The old faces don't look so old. They play Cork on Sunday. Cork beat them twice last year. What are either team's chances of beating each other twice or more this year? Limerick are at home, we'll go with Limerick to win the battle on Sunday but the 2025 war will be far from over between these two. Tipp and Waterford scrap out the other game at Semple Stadium. A win for any of these two cements third place. This is going to be a rollercoaster game. Waterford have impressed but there's a bit of a buzz around Tipperary hurling at the moment. Darragh McCarthy is back, they're on their own grass and we expect Tipp to win.
Irish Times
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Tipperary top of Munster U-20 hurling roll of honour with victory over Clare
Munster U20 Hurling Championship final Tipperary 3-19 Clare 1-20 A controversial black-card penalty proved the turning point as Tipperary jumped clear at the top of the Munster U-20 hurling roll of honour. The Premier's 23rd title was secured with a Darragh McCarthy penalty after Clare wing-back Jamie Moylan was sinbinned, soon followed by Cathal English's clinching goal. In total Tipperary outscored Clare by 2-3 to 0-1 with an extra man in front of 6,476 fans at the Gaelic Grounds. READ MORE McCarthy landed 1-8 from placed balls. But fellow senior Oisín O'Donoghue was a deserved man of the match. He notched 1-3 and was fouled for five close-range frees. Tipperary captain Sam O'Farrell was withdrawn from the starting team after his exertions against the Clare seniors. When Fred Hegarty's penalty pushed their opponents a goal ahead in the 43rd minute, the Nenagh star was immediately introduced. He lifted the trophy alongside Paddy McCormack as Brendan Cummins' side advance to a second consecutive All-Ireland final. They will face either Dublin or Kilkenny. Clare made the first big move with four points in a row, all contributed by their half-forward line. Hegarty landed one each from a free and play. He would finish with 1-12 to his name. Tipperary responded with a 1-6 charge in the next eight minutes. McCarthy converted two frees, but Clare fell asleep for his third. The Toomevara talent tapped it sideways to the unmarked O'Donoghue, who fired low to the net. An English brace made it 1-8 to 0-6. Tipperary should have netted back-to-back goal chances. McCormack smacked the crossbar, O'Donoghue's rebound was scooped over the empty net, and then McCormack kicked wide of the target. Clare outscored them from there to the break to narrow the gap to one, 1-11 to 0-13. Hegarty carried that momentum into the second half with the opening three points, including two superb scores from play. Then Harry Doherty drew a penalty after his initial shot was blocked. Hegarty buried it to the bottom corner. Clare led by four, 1-18 to 1-14, but the game turned on Ciarán O'Regan's next penalty call. He black-carded Moylan for his flick on Conor Martin, and McCarthy fired to the top corner. Tipperary hammered home their advantage after an O'Donoghue sideline led to a goalmouth scramble, with English sidefooting the sliotar across the line. Clare got back within a score entering stoppage time, but two McCarthy frees secured the silverware. TIPPERARY: E Horgan; C O'Reilly, P O'Dwyer, A O'Halloran; A Ryan, J Ryan, D Ryan; J Egan (0-1) , A Daly; C English (1-2), C Martin (0-2), D Costigan; D McCarthy (1-8, 1-0 penalty, 0-8 frees) , P McCormack (0-2), O'Donoghue (1-3). Subs : S O'Farrell for D Ryan (43), J Ormond (0-1) for Costigan (48), C Fitzpatrick for Daly (53), M Cawley for Martin (60). CLARE: M Sheedy; J Cahill, F Ó Bhroin, E Gunning; J Moylan, J Hegarty, E McMahon; D Costelloe (0-1), R Kilroy (0-1); J Organ (0-2), J O'Neill (0-2), F Hegarty (1-12, 1-0 penalty, 0-9 frees); S Boyce (0-1) , D Stritch, M Collins (0-1) . Subs : H Doherty for Boyce (40), R Loftus for Organ (49), L Crotty for Collins (52), T Lohan for Kilroy (60). Referee: C O'Regan (Cork)
Irish Times
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Hope springs eternal for manager Liam Cahill as Tipperary show signs of being a summer team
Saturday's win in Ennis was only Tipperary's third in the province since winning the 2019 All-Ireland. During that time, the county has played 18 matches in the Munster championship, winning three, drawing four and losing 11. This is the sixth round-robin provincial championship. To date Tipp have qualified only twice. For manager Liam Cahill, the 4-18 to 2-21 victory over All-Ireland champions Clare marked a turning point after a difficult opening couple of weeks in the campaign. An encouraging draw against Limerick gave way to the trauma in Cork where they lost their exciting young forward Darragh McCarthy to a red card in the first minute and were beaten by 15 points – by far the worst defeat in this year's Munster championship. READ MORE When Tipp beat Kilkenny in March, Cahill acknowledged the perception he would be battling. 'People say Tipperary under Liam Cahill will win matches in the spring, but can they do it in the summer? We have to prepare in the spring to make sure that we give ourselves a fighting chance in the summer.' [ Nicky English: Subduing the champions is a big step forward for Tipperary Opens in new window ] [ Tipperary ride out the storm to leave Clare on the precipice Opens in new window ] Even when he led the county out of Munster two years ago, it was an anti-climax, as the final-day loss to Waterford stopped them reaching a first provincial final since 2019. The same opponents are next on the list. After two frustrating years, he has started to introduce younger players into the team and panel. That process looked stalled when Cork beat them easily in April's league final. Afterwards, he sounded a bit out of ideas given how comprehensively they had been defeated. But two good performances out of three has raised the prospects of progressing again to the All-Ireland series. Michael Breen of Tipperary celebrates after Saturday's Munster SHC victory against Clare at Cusack Park, Ennis. Photograph: Natasha Barton/Inpho Asked about the emotional release of winning on Saturday, the manager opened up on the pressures of rebuilding and the satisfaction of getting a good result. There's still a lot of work to be done from a management point of view and a navigation point of view — Liam Cahill 'Absolutely. It's been difficult enough, to be honest, to navigate over the last 2½ years. There's been little bits of progression, the introduction of new players, but it takes time and it's still very early for a lot of these guys. 'We had a nice mix of youth and experience. It's still very much a case of this squad and our flagship team in Tipp finding its way. There's still a lot of work to be done from a management point of view and a navigation point of view to try and get to the real levels that are required to compete at the very top over a period of time. We're going in the right direction. 'I'm really proud of the way all players in Tipperary put their shoulder to the wheel, kept their nerve, continued to make good decisions on the ball and grind out a really important result for us to keep the championship hopes alive. 'The challenge now is to recover well and pick ourselves back up for a really formidable Waterford side that are full of energy coming to Thurles next Sunday, so the tasks just get bigger and bigger.'
Irish Times
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Nicky English: Subduing the champions is a big step forward for Tipperary
Ennis put on another fantastic Munster duel in the sun on Saturday evening but for me this was the most consequential match of the championship to date. Clare are now hanging by a thread but could anyone categorically rule out the combination of results they need to stay alive? Is it impossible that Cork could win in the Gaelic Grounds next weekend and, if that happens, have Clare no chance of going to Limerick and doing the same thing? You could say it's unlikely but would you put your house on it? For Tipperary this was a crucial step. They hadn't won a match in Munster since the corresponding game in Ennis more than two years ago. Liam Cahill has been trying to rebuild a team with greater resilience, which they showed against Limerick and, I'd argue, even against Cork, as when reduced to 14 for the whole contest they didn't fold. It was impossible to win that but they fought hard, which spoke highly of the team's unity. They're up for battle, have good spirit and are very fit. To go to Ennis to play the All-Ireland champions and to survive a huge reversal of momentum and be able to drag it out of the fire – without their player of the league, Darragh McCarthy – was a very creditable performance. READ MORE They were so menacing in the first half, allowing that Clare were missing half their All-Ireland defence by the 20th minute when Conor Leen, who had clearly been gambling on an injury, had to go off. There could have been more goals but Eibhear Quilligan pulled off a couple of good saves. Michael Breen of Tipperary keeps possession despite pressure from Clare's Mark Rodgers. Photograph: Natasha Barton/Inpho At the end, Tipperary responded really well to Clare pulling level, with John McGrath scoring followed by frees from Jason Forde and Eoghan Connolly, from an outstanding long-distance effort, and finished by Seán Kenneally's robust point from play. That's the sort of victory from adversity – having a lead and losing it – that makes a team. If they can finish the job and get out of Munster, maybe even make Croke Park for an All-Ireland semi-final, this will have been an excellent season. The blend between young and established was obvious at the weekend. We saw the energy of young hurlers − such as the very promising Andrew Ormond, who showed exemplary work-rate and scored two goals − and the experience of others such as Forde and Jake Morris. But pride of place went to McGrath, who came up with 2-3. One of those points was actually a chance that could have given him a hat-trick but, although the opportunity was easier than the two he converted into goals, this effort flew over for a point. [ 'Attacking is his sense': John McGrath's return is well timed for Tipperary Opens in new window ] When people wonder where he's been for the past couple of years, it should be remembered that an Achilles tendon is a huge injury to recover from and if you look at his club form with Loughmore, it's been really good, and now he has carried that on to the intercounty stage. Even against Cork, his persistence was exemplary and he got on a lot of ball. Last week I really felt that this would be the sort of match that would suit McGrath. John McGrath of Tipperary competes in the air with Clare's Rory Hayes on Saturday. Photograph: Natasha Barton/Inpho He scored two goals and could have had a third. Then, after a strong Clare start to the second half, he dug out a great score to get Tipp on the scoreboard. Even before half-time when Mark Rodgers got the goal, it was McGrath who won the next free and steadied the ship. Clare equalised in the 63rd minute. Within 60 seconds McGrath had put pressure on Daithí Lohan, dispossessed him and restored the lead, which they never lost. So, he was absolutely vital in all of those big moments, both building the lead in the first half and then stopping the bleeding after half-time. Tipperary also had the edge in around the half-back line and midfield where Sam O'Farrell continues to develop and impress. They managed to hold that area. Tony Kelly, after his recent illness, looked to be lacking in energy in the first half but, after half-time, he found his batteries and was prominent in the comeback. Ryan Taylor had posed that running threat all along and was able consistently to cause trouble. That's the approach that hurts Tipperary, so when Kelly hit form and Shane O'Donnell came back off the bench, Tipp were under the greatest pressure they experienced in the whole match. Bryan O'Mara of Tipperary is tackled by David Reidy of Clare. Photograph: Natasha Barton/Inpho But there were simply too many mistakes. Taylor put in an immense shift, driving hard at Tipp all day but he was guilty of a careless pass to Peter Duggan, which butchered a goal chance. In fairness to Clare, they've been dogged by injuries this season to really important leadership figures such as John Conlon, David McInerney, O'Donnell, Kelly and Rodgers. It's been a very demanding two or three years. They haven't always started the championship well, which meant severe pressure to rescue campaigns and they always found a way, no matter how far down the well they had to go. Year after year, fighting it out with Limerick and going deep into the All-Ireland, frequently winning very close matches, has to have taken a toll. They never roll over or make it easy for teams, always competing, including challenges such as having to beat Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Brian Lohan used those experiences to make them the team that eventually won the All-Ireland. Nobody can take that from them.
