Latest news with #EoghanFrayne
Irish Examiner
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Skipper Frayne sure Portlaoise played its part in famous Meath victory
It's an unnatural thing to turn down the chance to score and sure enough Eoghan Frayne, Meath's cub captain, didn't. Last Sunday week, he sent over a close-range free to seal Dublin's first championship defeat in 15 years. With the hooter having sounded, the more sensible thing to do was kick the ball wide thus triggering the full-time whistle, and confirm a famous victory for The Royals. On a blustery afternoon in Portlaoise, had the ball struck the post and come back into play and Dublin won or forced extra-time, he mightn't have forgiven himself. Louth's Craig Lennon escaped such a possibility in the other Leinster semi-final in Tullamore earlier that afternoon when he punted the ball beyond his end-line thinking that he had concluded the game only for Kildare to be awarded a 45. But 22-year-old Frayne, who was fully aware of the repercussions, backed himself to convert his sixth free and bring his personal tally to 11 points. 'If you start thinking don't hit the post, you're going to hit the post then,' he recalls. 'So, I just had to pick a spot behind the goal and aim for it.' The score prompted scenes not experienced by Meath supporters since their side put five goals past Stephen Cluxton in 2010. Eoghan Frayne of Meath kicks a free during the Leinster SFC semi-final match between Dublin and Meath. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile 'It was a bit surreal, to be honest,' smiles Frayne. 'Before the game we had belief that we could win and then when it actually happens it's probably a different feeling. It's pure joy, it was unreal. Probably celebrated a bit too much at the end. It's hard to put into words. 'I'm only in the panel there three years but for the likes of Donal Keogan, Cillian [O'Sullivan] and Mento [Bryan Menton] and a few older lads, they've been getting hammered nearly every year. I haven't felt that but I'd say that's tough going. I was more happy for them than for me.' There is no question in Frayne's mind that the fixture's Laois Hire O'Moore Park venue, which marked Dublin's first Leinster semi-final outside Jones's Road in 30 years, made a positive difference for Meath. 'If that game was in Croke Park, Dublin probably would have come back. Or maybe we wouldn't have got a biggest lead because there might not have been as strong as the wind. I definitely think that played into our hands a bit. 'Cluxton would be real familiar with Croke Park. He'd have his sweet spots of where he can get the ball off. I think he probably wasn't as familiar with Portlaoise. I think that probably helped as well. There was a swirly wind kicking in as well.' For Meath to now be within 70 minutes of a Delaney Cup is unusual given the developments of the last couple of months, where they missed out on promotion to Division 2, then lost their coaches Martin Corey and Joe McMahon. 'It could have went either way,' Frayne admits of the pair's sudden departure. 'It could have been detrimental. Luckily, it went the other way. We all knuckled down a bit and said, 'Look lads, there's no point dwelling on this'. 'At the end of the day, it's us that's going to get the slack or the praise. We just had to move on from it and get back to the things you can control and back training. To be fair to all the lads, they didn't dwell on it too long and just got on with things. 'Shane [Supple] and Conor [Gillespie] would take most of the coaching now. Two really good fellas as well. We had full faith in them. There was obviously talk of would someone else come in or not. We had full confidence in the lads that they were able to do the job to the rest of the group.' Frayne was 21 when Robbie Brennan approached him to be captain. Even he was surprised by the invitation. 'To come so soon was a bit of a shock. I didn't have to think about it. I said 'yes' straight away. It's a great honour for my family and the club as well. It is what you dream of. Especially now, we're in such a fortunate position to be in a Leinster final against Louth.'
Irish Times
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Eoghan Frayne and Meath out to right some wrongs against Louth in Leinster final
Eoghan Frayne believes Meath will need their best performance of the season if they are to break Louth 's recent stranglehold on the rivalry. Louth have beaten Meath in three of the last four meetings, including the last two fixtures – in the 2024 championship and this year's National League. Frayne hopes to be the first Meath man since 2010 to captain the Royals to Delaney Cup glory in Sunday's Leinster final, while sculptors would be chiselling a statue of Sam Mulroy if he can lead the Wee County to a first Leinster SFC title since 1957. Meath enter the game with the wind in their sails after beating Dublin, but Frayne believes Louth will provide a much sterner challenge in Croke Park this Sunday. READ MORE 'They obviously had our number the last two times,' said Frayne. 'Louth have some serious footballers and it's going to take an even better performance than we gave against Dublin to beat them. I don't think they have any weaknesses. 'They're strong all around the field and they have obviously lads like Sam and a few others that will take minding. 'They've had our number and they've just been up for it, they've deserved to win the last two times. We can't have any complaints about the last two times they've beaten us. Hopefully now we can right the wrongs of the last two times.' It was nine times and counting for Meath trying to right the wrongs against Dublin before they ended that winless streak just over a week ago. And though that result came as a shock to many, those inside the Meath dressingroom were hopeful of upsetting the odds. 'Before the game we had belief that we could win,' added Frayne. 'Then when it actually happens it's probably a different feeling. It's pure joy, it was unreal, probably celebrated a bit too much at the end. Louth's Conor Brannigan and Donal Keogan of Meath during the counties' clash in March. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho 'It's hard to put into words, I'm only in the panel there three years but for the likes of Donal Keogan, Cillian O'Sullivan, Bryan Menton and a few older lads, they've been getting hammered nearly every year. 'I haven't felt that but I'd say that's tough going so I was more happy for them than for me.' It has been a rollercoaster few weeks for Meath. Their year appeared to be unravelling before the start of the championship when coaches Joe McMahon and Martin Corey quit. And Frayne admits the season was at a crossroads after that jolt. 'It could have went either way, it could have been detrimental,' he said. 'Luckily it went the other way, we all knuckled down a bit and said, 'look, there's no point dwelling on this, at the end of the day it's us that's going to get the slack or the praise'. 'We just had to move on from it and get back to the things you can control and back training.' At 22, Frayne is one of the youngest senior intercounty captains in the country. 'I was a bit shocked when Robbie [Brennan] said it, maybe I had aspirations of being captain down the line so to come so soon was a bit of a shock,' stated the forward. 'But I didn't have to think about it, I said yes straight away. It's a great honour, a great honour for my family and the club as well. It's what you dream of, especially now we're in such a fortunate position to be in a Leinster final.' At Croke Park on Sunday, it could get even better.
The Irish Sun
07-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Eoghan Frayne warns Meath ‘have to be even better' in Leinster SFC final vs Louth following ‘surreal' win over Dublin
EOGHAN FRAYNE knows that Meath's dream Leinster SFC semi-final win over Dublin could turn into a nightmare against Louth. The 2 Meath captain Eoghan Frayne at Oldbridge House, Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre in Drogheda, Meath during a media event for the 2025 Leinster GAA Senior Football Championship Final Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile 2 Eoghan Frayne of Meath celebrates after the Leinster GAA Football Senior Championship semi-final win over Dublin Credit: Ray McManus/Sportsfile It was the Dubs' first provincial loss since the last-four defeat to Meath in 2010, when Frayne was just SEVEN years old. Now aged 22, he starred with 0-11 in the shock of the year that blew the Leinster SFC open. But after controversially losing the 2010 decider to the Royals, Louth will be gunning for revenge in Sunday's Croke Park showpiece, which is set to draw more than 50,000 fans. Frayne said: 'Hopefully kids around Meath see us beating Dublin and say, 'I want to play for Meath some day'. 'They start to dream then, it gives you hope. Read More on GAA 'That's definitely important for the next generation of Meath players. It was a bit surreal. 'Before the game we had belief that we could win and when it actually happens it's probably a different feeling. 'It's pure joy, it was unreal — probably celebrated a bit too much at the end. 'It's hard to put into words. I'm only in the panel three years but for a few older lads, they've been getting hammered nearly every year. Most read in GAA Football 'I haven't felt that but I'd say that's tough going. I was more happy for them than for me.' The Wee County ended a 49-year wait to beat Meath in Championship football in last year's All-Ireland series and sent them packing again to survive in Division 2 of the NFL in March. 'It's a failure on the camogie association' - RTE GAA pundits don't sit on fence over 'no-brainer' skorts saga And Frayne knows Ger Brennan's men can spoil the party as they chase a first Leinster SFC title since 1957. The Summerhill man said: 'Louth have some serious footballers and it's going to take an even better performance than we gave against Dublin to beat them. 'They obviously had our number the last two times in Inniskeen and I don't think they have a weakness all over the field. 'They're strong all around and they have obviously a few key lads, like Sam Mulroy and a few others that will take minding. 'They've had our number and they have just been up for it. 'They've deserved to win the last two times. 'We can't have any complaints about the last two times they have beaten us. 'Hopefully now we can right the wrongs of the last two times.'
Irish Daily Mirror
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Eoghan Frayne: Louth 'had our number,' as Meath out to 'right wrongs' in final
Eoghan Frayne says Louth have "had our number" - and it's up to the Royals to "right the wrongs" in the most significant 'Battle of the Boyne' since the infamous 2010 Leinster decider. Frayne was speaking ahead of Sunday's Leinster Senior Football Championship Final meeting at Croke Park, the biggest of three massive encounters over the last 12 months. It started with last May's All-Ireland round robin tie at Inniskeen - Louth's new home - where the Wee County hit Meath for three goals, with All Star wing back in waiting, Craig Lennon, firing two of them. That victory was Louth's first over Meath in Championship football since 1975. A few weeks ago the sides met in the final round of their Division 2 campaign, with Louth having to win to avoid relegation and Meath chasing a victory that could have meant promotion to Division 1. Louth, despite being without 10 of the side that started their final championship game last year - the All-Ireland quarter-final defeat by Donegal - emerged in a thriller at Inniskeen. Since then Ger Brennan's side have faced must win games against Laois and Kildare, where defeat would have spelled Tailteann Cup football this summer. For Meath, already in the All-Ireland, the stakes haven't been quite as high but coming from 10 points behind to beat Offaly and turning over Dublin were both massive results. This Sunday is even bigger, as a decade and a half later these fierce rivals go head to head in a rematch of the infamous 2010 provincial decider where Joe Sheridan's last ditch goal denied the Wee County a first Leinster title since 1957. That wait is now in its 68th year and the wounds of 2010 remain raw for Louth fans. Meath captain Frayne was only seven at the time. He was at the game, but 'can't remember a thing about it.'. The Summerhill man is more concerned with not wasting any training sessions since the Dublin win as Meath look to turn the tables back on their neighbours and fierce rivals. "They (Louth) obviously had our number the last two times in Inniskeen,' says Frayne (22). "Louth have some serious footballers and it's going to take an even better performance than we gave against Dublin to beat them. 'I don't think they have a weakness all over the field. They're strong all around and they have obviously a few key lads like Sam (Mulroy) and a few others that will take minding. 'They've had our number and they've just been up for it. They've deserved to win the last two times. 'We can't have any complaints. Hopefully now we can right the wrongs of the last two times." Croke Park will be very different to Inniskeen, the Monaghan venue Louth have made their home while they wait for a new stadium in Dundalk, which recently got the go-ahead. 'It's a small ground but they pack it out and it probably gives them that one-percenter maybe and it gives them a bit of momentum,' continued Frayne. 'The last two times playing there, the atmosphere has been mad. The roar for Louth in big moments was definitely there. It definitely helped them and maybe played into our psyche a bit." It's not that long ago that Meath were perceived to be in crisis, having missed out on promotion after the Louth defeat and parting ways with two of their coaches six days later - Martin Corey and Joe McMahon. The regroup, with Conor Gillespie and Shane Supple taking on additional training responsibilities, has been impressive. 'It could have went either way,' said Frayne. 'It could have been detrimental. Luckily it went the other way. We all knuckled down a bit and said, 'Look lads, there's no point dwelling on this.' 'At the end of the day, it's us that's going to get the slack or the praise. We just had to move on from it, get back to the things you can control and back training. To be fair to all the lads, they didn't dwell on it too long and just got on with things. 'Shane and Conor would take most of the coaching now. Two really good fellas. We had full faith in them. 'There was obviously talk of would someone else come in or not. We had full confidence in the lads that they were able to do the job.' Frayne is a fine two point kicker, and although the last Louth game didn't go his way, he was bang in form against Dublin, hitting 11 points in total (including two, two-pointers) with four coming from play. 'I think it (Dublin) was our best performance of the year so far,' he says. "Everyone was up for it. It probably fed into the build-up for us. The fact it was in Portlaoise probably gave us something to go after. I think that definitely helped us. 'If that game was in Croke Park, Dublin probably would have come back. Or maybe we wouldn't have got as big a lead because there might not have been as strong a wind. 'I think definitely that played into our hands a bit. They would be so familiar with it (Croke Park). They play there so much. I think that would definitely help them. 'Cluxton would be real familiar with Croke Park. He'd have his sweet spots of where he can get the ball off. I think he probably wasn't as familiar with Portlaoise. 'I think that probably helped. There was a whirly wind kicking in. It was tough.' To keep up to date with all the latest GAA news, sign-up to our GAA newsletter here.
The Irish Sun
28-04-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘What a day to be a Meath man' – Overjoyed Gordon Elliott beams in pics with GAA stars after famous win over Dublin
GORDON ELLIOTT joined in the celebrations following Meath's momentous win over Dublin. The 3 Gordon Elliott joined in the celebrations after Meath's win over Dublin Credit: PA:Press Association 3 Gordon Elliott and Eoghan Frayne Credit: Twitter/gelliott_racing 3 Gordon Elliott and Ronan Ryan Credit: Twitter/gelliott_racing It was Dublin's first provincial defeat since 2010 - with Meath being on the receiving end of a result nine times since then. It made the celebrations on the pitch in Portlaoise that bit sweeter, with Irish race horse trainer Gordon Elliott joining in the fun. The Meath man beamed in photographs alongside a number of the day's heroes, including captain Eoghan Frayne and Ronan Ryan. Elliott said: "What a day to be a Meath man! Read More on GAA "Well done to the whole team #UpTheRoyals" Sunday's contest sets up a provincial final between Louth and Meath - a repeat of the 2010 final which was the last to not feature the Dubs. And speaking on The Sunday Game, former Tyrone star Enda McGinley claimed it was a He said: "Dublin will be disappointed with the result tonight but everybody else in Ireland will be delighted. Most read in GAA Football "That's even as a Tyrone man saying I'm delighted for Meath. Meath were fantastic." Speaking after the game, Dublin manager Dessie Farrell pointed to his squad's depleted status. Oisin McConville urges GAA to ditch big rule change mid-season after controversial ending to Championship clash Eoin Murchan, Lee Gannon, Cian Murphy, Luke Breathnach and Seán MacMahon were all unavailable. While Paul Mannion, James McCarthy, Jack McCaffrey, Michael Fitzsimons and Brian Fenton are gone for good having retired. There have been cracks in their armour, with Wicklow providing unexpectedly stiff competition in their Leinster quarter-final in Aughrim. And McGinley warned that the Dublin team of 2025 is not the same side that dominated the province for over a decade. He said: "Dublin were not the team they were. "They obviously lost some key, key men over the winter as well. Their performances have been hit and miss, crucially. "They have been hit in Croke Park this year and a real miss outside of Croke Park and I think that fed into Meath believing in themselves today. "We have been so used to teams giving Dublin a good fight, maybe being in a winning position, and Dublin grinding them down and seeing it out with an air of inevitability. "That game felt like that in the last ten minutes but up in the room where we were watching it, we were saying this isn't the normal Dublin team and sure enough Meath got the critical scores at the end."
