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BBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Kerry dash Donegal's dream in All-Ireland final
Kerry won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship for the 39th time with a 1-26 to 0-19 victory over Donegal in Sunday's final at Croke Park, crushing the Ulster champions' dream of a first title since Kingdom lay the foundations for their latest Sam Maguire success with a powerful first-half display in which they scored four two-pointers to lead 0-17 to 0-10 at the break. The Munster kingpins stretched their lead to nine early in the second half before Donegal clawed their way back to reduce the gap to four with 15 minutes Kerry finished strongly to deny the sell-out 82,300 crowd a nail-biting finale, with Joe O'Connor's late goal capping a deserved win for Jack O'Connor's team. Kerry can celebrate a first title since 2022, but it is another devastating All-Ireland final loss for Jim McGuinness, whose Donegal side lost the 2014 final to the same team in the last match of his first spell in 2012 winner McGuinness is denied a second All-Ireland title as Donegal manager, it is O'Connor's fifth triumph across three spells at the Kingdom helm. More to follow.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'McGuinness one step from crowning remarkable comeback'
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final - Donegal v Kerry Date: Sunday, 27 July Venue: Croke Park, Dublin Throw-in: 15:30 BST Coverage: Watch on BBC iPlayer, BBC Two NI, BBC Sport website & app; live text updates, report, reaction & highlights on BBC Sport website & app In sport, going back often leads to regret and dented legacies. This is what Jim McGuinness wrestled with when Patrick McBrearty showed up at his door two years ago. McBrearty had just been through a deflating first year as Donegal captain. Starting out with Paddy Carr as manager, Donegal beat Kerry in their Division One opener but stumbled from there. After Carr resigned just 149 days into his tenure, Donegal were relegated. Aidan O'Rourke, who had been part of Carr's backroom team, took over as interim boss but the struggles continued with defeat by Down in Ulster. Donegal emerged from their All-Ireland group, but after an eight-point preliminary quarter-final loss at home to Tyrone, the consensus was that the county was at a low ebb. McBrearty had seen enough and knew where he wanted to turn, to the man who gave him his Donegal debut aged just 17. McGuinness, of course, loomed large over Donegal football for nearly a decade. The Glenties man led Donegal to All-Ireland glory in 2012, stepped away in 2014, and remained absent from inter-county management. Superstar Clifford was marked for stardom from young age Captain McBrearty dreams of lifting Sam for Donegal All you need to know about the All-Ireland SFC final In his time away, he worked as a pundit for Sky Sports. He wrote a book. He gave soccer coaching a go. Eventually, he was coaxed back into inter-county coaching. After a Covid-era training session with the Galway footballers in 2020, McGuinness did some work with Conor Laverty's Down side in 2023. He was also linked with a Donegal return as part of Rory Kavanagh's ticket before the job went to Carr. But this was different. McBrearty, a part of McGuinness' Sam Maguire-winning team, arrived at the coach's house in Creeslough a day after the Tyrone defeat and pleaded for him to spearhead the team's revival. It was a big decision for McGuinness: answer his county's call or keep his distance. It took some time. Nearly two months later, in mid-August, his return was confirmed by the Donegal county board. When asked about his decision to come back, he said his chat with McBrearty "did pull at the heartstrings". "There was a desire to change things and climb the ladder again and make things different. That emotional part was important," he reflected. The aforementioned ladder had many rungs. Before a ball was kicked under McGuinness, he admitted his Donegal squad was at "ground zero". It was hard to disagree. When he returned, it was Donegal's neighbours Derry being talked about as serious All-Ireland contenders. The Oak Leafers were back-to-back Ulster champions and had just installed Mickey Harte as boss. The gulf between the two teams seemed considerable. Harte's surprise move to Derry added further spice to the Ulster landscape and when Donegal were drawn against the holders in last year's Ulster Championship quarter-finals, it gave McGuinness' side an intrigue-packed first championship outing to work towards. By the time the game arrived, Derry and Donegal had Division One and Two titles tucked away, but events in Celtic Park that evening marked McGuinness' side as an emerging championship force. They scored four goals to beat Derry and outlasted Tyrone in extra-time before denying Armagh in a pulsating Ulster final, winning 6-5 on penalties after 90 minutes failed to separate the sides. It had only been a few months, but McGuinness' Donegal were unbeaten in league and championship and already being talked about as All-Ireland contenders, which made their semi-final loss to Galway all the more difficult to stomach. Reflecting on the two-point loss, McGuinness admitted his team's "batteries ran down a wee bit". For a team who looked remarkably fit all year, Donegal's fading efforts against Galway were difficult to understand. For McGuinness, though, there was a sense of clarity. To get back to an All-Ireland final, Donegal required added firepower. Against Galway, Donegal's six starting forwards scored just eight points between them. For McGuinness, there was a missing piece. Enter Michael Murphy. The All-Ireland winning captain under McGuinness in 2012, Murphy retired from inter-county football after the 2022 season and had been working as a BBC pundit before McGuinness called. Like with McGuinness' return, Murphy's second coming did not guarantee success, but the 35-year-old worked hard to whip himself into shape and has flourished under the new rules. Used intelligently by McGuinness - taken off early in wins over Down, Louth and Meath - Murphy has scored 0-44 in 10 championship appearances this season, significantly easing the burden on 2024 top scorer Oisin Gallen and allowing the management team to use McBrearty as an impact player in recent weeks. Behind Murphy, the Donegal machine has operated beautifully. At the opposite end of the field, Shaun Patton has been brilliant in goal and Finnbarr Roarty has excelled at corner-back. Ryan McHugh has run himself into the ground from wing-back while Michael Langan has been a metronomic presence in midfield. For McGuinness, the parallels to his first spell in charge are striking. When he was first appointed in 2010, the team was at a low ebb after a comprehensive All-Ireland qualifier defeat by Armagh. In the first seasons of both spells, he led Donegal to Ulster titles but fell in All-Ireland semi-finals. In 2012, another Ulster crown was followed by the Sam Maguire. Victory over Kerry - whose 2014 All-Ireland final win proved the last act of McGuinness' first tenure - on Sunday would repeat his second-season heroics and further elevate his status in his home county, However, overcoming the Kingdom and in-form superstar David Clifford will require one of his most robust tactical plans. Like McGuinness, Kerry boss Jack O'Connor has found success after going back. He has won four All-Ireland titles in three spells and, like his opposite number, has breathed new life into a group stung by a heartbreaking semi-final loss (to Armagh) last year. O'Connor is living proof that managerial sequels can live up to the original. Given where Donegal sat in 2023, victory on Sunday will vindicate McGuinness' decision to come back and complete one of the sport's most remarkable managerial comebacks.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'McGuinness one step from crowning remarkable comeback'
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final - Donegal v KerryDate: Sunday, 27 July Venue: Croke Park, Dublin Throw-in: 15:30 BSTCoverage: Watch on BBC iPlayer, BBC Two NI, BBC Sport website & app; live text updates, report, reaction & highlights on BBC Sport website & app In sport, going back often leads to regret and dented legacies. This is what Jim McGuinness wrestled with when Patrick McBrearty showed up at his door two years ago. McBrearty had just been through a deflating first year as Donegal captain. Starting out with Paddy Carr as manager, Donegal beat Kerry in their Division One opener but stumbled from Carr resigned just 149 days into his tenure, Donegal were relegated. Aidan O'Rourke, who had been part of Carr's backroom team, took over as interim boss but the struggles continued with defeat by Down in emerged from their All-Ireland group, but after an eight-point preliminary quarter-final loss at home to Tyrone, the consensus was that the county was at a low ebb. McBrearty had seen enough and knew where he wanted to turn, to the man who gave him his Donegal debut aged just of course, loomed large over Donegal football for nearly a Glenties man led Donegal to All-Ireland glory in 2012, stepped away in 2014, and remained absent from inter-county management. In his time away, he worked as a pundit for Sky Sports. He wrote a book. He gave soccer coaching a go. Eventually, he was coaxed back into inter-county coaching. After a Covid-era training session with the Galway footballers in 2020, McGuinness did some work with Conor Laverty's Down side in was also linked with a Donegal return as part of Rory Kavanagh's ticket before the job went to Carr. But this was different. McBrearty, a part of McGuinness' Sam Maguire-winning team, arrived at the coach's house in Creeslough a day after the Tyrone defeat and pleaded for him to spearhead the team's was a big decision for McGuinness: answer his county's call or keep his took some time. Nearly two months later, in mid-August, his return was confirmed by the Donegal county asked about his decision to come back, he said his chat with McBrearty "did pull at the heartstrings". "There was a desire to change things and climb the ladder again and make things different. That emotional part was important," he reflected. The aforementioned ladder had many rungs. Before a ball was kicked under McGuinness, he admitted his Donegal squad was at "ground zero". It was hard to disagree. When he returned, it was Donegal's neighbours Derry being talked about as serious All-Ireland contenders. The Oak Leafers were back-to-back Ulster champions and had just installed Mickey Harte as boss. The gulf between the two teams seemed considerable. Harte's surprise move to Derry added further spice to the Ulster landscape and when Donegal were drawn against the holders in last year's Ulster Championship quarter-finals, it gave McGuinness' side an intrigue-packed first championship outing to work the time the game arrived, Derry and Donegal had Division One and Two titles tucked away, but events in Celtic Park that evening marked McGuinness' side as an emerging championship force. They scored four goals to beat Derry and outlasted Tyrone in extra-time before denying Armagh in a pulsating Ulster final, winning 6-5 on penalties after 90 minutes failed to separate the had only been a few months, but McGuinness' Donegal were unbeaten in league and championship and already being talked about as All-Ireland contenders, which made their semi-final loss to Galway all the more difficult to stomach. Reflecting on the two-point loss, McGuinness admitted his team's "batteries ran down a wee bit". For a team who looked remarkably fit all year, Donegal's fading efforts against Galway were difficult to understand. For McGuinness, though, there was a sense of clarity. To get back to an All-Ireland final, Donegal required added firepower. Against Galway, Donegal's six starting forwards scored just eight points between them. For McGuinness, there was a missing Michael All-Ireland winning captain under McGuinness in 2012, Murphy retired from inter-county football after the 2022 season and had been working as a BBC pundit before McGuinness with McGuinness' return, Murphy's second coming did not guarantee success, but the 35-year-old worked hard to whip himself into shape and has flourished under the new rules. Used intelligently by McGuinness - taken off early in wins over Down, Louth and Meath - Murphy has scored 0-44 in 10 championship appearances this season, significantly easing the burden on 2024 top scorer Oisin Gallen and allowing the management team to use McBrearty as an impact player in recent Murphy, the Donegal machine has operated beautifully. At the opposite end of the field, Shaun Patton has been brilliant in goal and Finnbarr Roarty has excelled at corner-back. Ryan McHugh has run himself into the ground from wing-back while Michael Langan has been a metronomic presence in midfield. For McGuinness, the parallels to his first spell in charge are striking. When he was first appointed in 2010, the team was at a low ebb after a comprehensive All-Ireland qualifier defeat by the first seasons of both spells, he led Donegal to Ulster titles but fell in All-Ireland semi-finals. In 2012, another Ulster crown was followed by the Sam Maguire. Victory over Kerry - whose 2014 All-Ireland final win proved the last act of McGuinness' first tenure - on Sunday would repeat his second-season heroics and further elevate his status in his home county, However, overcoming the Kingdom and in-form superstar David Clifford will require one of his most robust tactical McGuinness, Kerry boss Jack O'Connor has found success after going back. He has won four All-Ireland titles in three spells and, like his opposite number, has breathed new life into a group stung by a heartbreaking semi-final loss (to Armagh) last year.O'Connor is living proof that managerial sequels can live up to the original. Given where Donegal sat in 2023, victory on Sunday will vindicate McGuinness' decision to come back and complete one of the sport's most remarkable managerial comebacks.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
All-Ireland Final: Fans confident 'Big Jim' can do it again for Donegal
Donegal fans say excitement has reached fever pitch in the county as they predict a win over Kerry in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final on McDermott and her family have attended every Donegal match this year but still haven't been able to get tickets for the weekend."That's the big issue at the moment. I think a lot of people are in the same boat," she told BBC News NI."Seven of us, including our children, have gone to every single match, and as of yet, we've no tickets. That's taken away from the excitement a bit because, obviously, there'll be a lot of disappointed people who can't get to the match." Several hundred fans gathered at St Aengus Primary School in Bridgend, just across the border from Londonderry, to erect a huge poster in support of Donegal star Oisín Gallen, who teaches at the Gallagher, the chairman of Burt GAA Club as well as the school, said everyone is very proud of him."We want to wish him the best for the final," he been a huge turnout to offer massive support to Oisín and the team."They've done Donegal proud."Donegal take on Kerry in the final at 15:30 local time on Sunday, hoping to claim their third All-Ireland fans waving flags, banners, and posters in Bridgend were very confident of a Donegal said: "I think they are gonna win, and hopefully we get tickets."Her friend Grace agreed."I think they've played really well, and I think they are going to win the All-Ireland final," she young fan, also called Grace, said "there may be some ups and downs" on Sunday, but she was confident her county would come out on top. In Strabane, County Tyrone, at the O'Neill's factory, Donal Kelly and his son Junior and daughter Lilly, from Pettigo in County Donegal, had dropped in to buy jerseys in time for the confidently predicted a Donegal win."I think they'll win too," her brother added."They are brilliant, and they are hammering every team."In Glenties, where the family of team manager Jim McGuinness have a café, his mother Maureen reflected on the success of the squad so far this has been to all the matches and enjoys the live atmosphere—especially at Croke said her son, who has lifted the Sam Maguire with Donegal both as a player and a manager, had always shown great passion for the sport."I always knew he had a great drive in him to do better," she added that he would be keeping his head down and "telling her nothing" ahead of the Croke Park showpiece. In the county's largest town Letterkenny, music students at the Community Inclusion Hub made a special video called "Big Jim's Gonna Do It Again!"The centre works with adults aged 18 to 65 with intellectual Fionn Robinson said everyone was delighted with how the video had turned out."The tune is so catchy and has a real feel-good energy to it, and the video is fun as well," he said."It's magic, really, and its been lovely to see some of the service users, local clubs, as well as family and friends, sharing the video and showing their appreciation."We're all hoping Jim and the boys will hear the song and it'll inspire them to bring Sam home to the hills."The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final is live on BBC Two NI, the BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website from 15:00.
Hans India
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Hans India
RR Emerge Inter-Dist Football Champions
Hyderabad: Rangareddy district boys team won the under-15 inter-district Football Championship by defeating Nizamabad in the final, held at Rajaram stadium in Nizamabad on Tuesday. The two teams scored three goals each. The result was decided by penalty shootout. Rangareddy defeated Nizamabad by 4-2 goals. Nizamabad Commissioner of Police Sai Chaitanya was the chief guest at the concluding ceremony. He presented the medals and the trophy to the winners and the runner-ups. Aziz Nomaan Pasha, the caption of Rangareddy boys team led the team to the victory. All team members exhibited excellent skills and talent and emerged victorious. Team manager Shiva and coach Sai thrilled over the victory. Four teams qualified for the semi finals. They were Rangareddy, Mahaboob Nagar, Wanaparthy and Nizamabad. Rangareddy and Nizamabad played the final in which Rangareddy team stood victorious.
