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Irish Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Ryan McHugh: 'With Jim McGuinness involved, you are guaranteed to be competing'
Ryan McHugh stood in the tunnel underneath the Hogan Stand and prayed his time in purgatory was about to end. It is 11 years since it began, 12 days shy of when it might be over. Now, like then, Kerry are blocking his path through Gaelic football's pearly gates. Way back in 2014, he was a 20-year-old in his second inter-county season, convinced he was about to become the fourth member of the McHugh dynasty to grab an All-Ireland. Read more: Five big questions on Kerry's David Clifford ahead of All-Ireland final after Tyrone exhibition Read more: David Clifford 'the greatest to have come out of Kerry' says Tomás O'Sé Not so. Kerry got lucky, Donegal got silver medals and McHugh got to sit at the breakfast table with his brother Mark, who had won it in 2012, and his father, Martin - a winner alongside Ryan's Uncle James in 1992. McHugh said: 'It was a very difficult experience for me in 2014. There is no point lying. I have actually never watched the game back. 'I was 20-years of age at that time and at that time in my life, I assumed I was going to be in semi-finals and in finals every year. But it took us until last year to even get back to an All-Ireland semi-final. "Now that we have made it back to the final, we want to make the most of it because it could be another 11 years before we get back here again. 'The All-Ireland final is a big regret of mine but in terms of my career, but otherwise, I have had a great career and this could be the cherry on top of it all. "But it is going to be massive. We are going to have to put in our best performance of the year as Kerry delivered unbelievable performances against Armagh and Tyrone and in David Clifford they have a phenomenal footballer, one of the best the sport has ever seen. We hope to come out on the right side.' They have every chance of doing so because they too have a generational forward of their own in Michael Murphy, whose comeback from retirement has coincided with Donegal's resurgence as one of the game's superpowers. Overlooking it all is Jim McGuinness, the only Donegalman to appear in all four of his county's All-Ireland finals, three as manager, one as a non-playing substitute in 1992. McHugh says: 'What does Jim have? It is hard to put it into words. The way I like to answer this question is he brings it (energy and drive) every single night. 'I have been fortunate enough to be involved with him in an All-Ireland final. Yet he is on it from the first night we meet in December through to the final session of the season. 'And I know that sounds easy but it is actually an extremely difficult thing to do as you never know whether a person has problems off the pitch, a family issue, for example. 'But every single night, Jim is there, demanding the most of us, demanding we put in the best effort we can. 'It is not easy to get that. He is a phenomenal leader. He puts serious belief into you that you are on the top of your game. He gets the training done; gets fitness into the legs. There is no guarantee in life you are going to win. But when Jim is involved there is a good guarantee you are going to be competing.' If the return of one legend was fortunate, the bonus decision of Murphy to come out of retirement smacked of careful planning. McHugh said: 'Michael is similar to Jim. They have such great leadership qualities; the two of them bounce off each other so well. 'To be fair to Jim, he came in 2011 and made Michael captain even though he was just 21-years-old. If you think of that now, it is like Donegal making someone like Finnbarr Roarty captain. 'The trust he has in him is huge. He is a phenomenal person, Michael. And he is a phenomenal footballer, too. Everyone sees that. 'It has helped all the younger boys just watching him. Finnbarr Roarty would have been six, seven, eight when Donegal were in the finals in 2012 and 2014. Michael was his hero, his role model. I know myself that Karl Lacey was my hero. I just worshipped him. I followed him. And I was the exact same with Michael.' McHugh added: 'In elite sports you look for one percents, two percents and Michael definitely adds that. Nobody knows what would have happened if Michael had been there last year but as a team and as a squad, we are delighted to have him back.' Irrespective of whether an All-Ireland medal arrives into the McHugh house, the arrival of his first child, Senan, just three weeks ago, has already made 2025 a year to remember. Little Senan was at Croke Park with mum Bridget on Sunday for Donegal's emphatic 20-point win over Meath, just as Mark was there in 1992 when dad, Martin, lifted the trophy. McHugh junior says: 'I have grown up in a great GAA family. The GAA is our life. I remember going to matches with dad as a kid when he was working with BBC and RTE and meeting heroes, the Kieran McGeeneys of this world, Peter Canavan. 'We just love GAA; love playing it but we are supporters first and foremost and any opportunity we get, we just love to watch matches. 'So with regard to two weeks' time, thankfully life has given me another All-Ireland. I didn't play well in 2014 but we have an opportunity to put that right and hopefully we will take that.'
RTÉ News
19 hours ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
How two point supersharpshooters have transformed Gaelic football
Analysis: Kerry and Donegal have demonstrated exceptional shooting efficiency this year, particularly when it comes to vital two-point scores The introduction of the two-point arc has transformed Gaelic football. Teams can now quickly open or close gaps on the scoreboard with these long-range efforts, altering game momentum in moments. Although riskier, the double reward makes them a vital scoring weapon during periods of dominance. Ahead of the All-Ireland semi-finals this weekend involving Kerry, Tyrone, Meath and Donegal, quarter-final performances revealed contrasting approaches to this new rule. Using a statistical model based on over 4,000 inter-county shots, we can measure how effectively elite teams convert scoring opportunities, including two-point attempts. From RTÉ GAA Podcast, Tomás Ó Sé and Ciarán Whelan join Jacqui Hurley to preview the All-Ireland SFC semi-finals and Tailteann Cup final. The model predicts shot success by factoring in team level, shot location, whether it's a free or from open play, defensive pressure, and wind conditions. This produces an Expected Points (xP) value showing the average points each shot should yield, reflecting its difficulty. For example, a two-point free by a top team from 40m has an 80% success rate, so 10 such shots would on average yield 8 scores for 16 points, giving an xP value of 1.6 points. If a team scored 9 of 10 such frees, their efficiency would be 18 points compared to the expected 16, yielding an efficiency of 1.1, or 10% above average. Similarly, a two-point shot from play at 40m under low pressure from opponents has an xP of 0.98, dropping to 0.66 under high pressure. Speculative open-play attempts from 50m under high pressure yield xP of just 0.39. Elite teams build attacks to create shots with an xP of at least 0.4. Of the 267 shots taken in the quarter-finals, only 10 had an xP below 0.4, with just three of these scored. Donegal's ruthless efficiency Donegal beat Monaghan with a perfect two-point record, scoring all three attempts. Each was taken from open play within 45m, with a total xP of 2.4 points. The six-point return gave them an exceptional efficiency of 2.5 which is 150% above the average value of 1, and the highest of all semi-finalists. While the number of two-point shots created was low, Donegal will certainly aim to create more such opportunities, as their efficiency proves they will punish any defence that allows them these long-range efforts. Tyrone' high volume and solid returns Tyrone attempted the most two-point shots, scoring five of nine against Dublin with an impressive six different players shooting. Their shots shown below had a total xP of 6.8. Notably, Niall Morgan's successful dead-ball attempt from 56m had an xP of just 0.4, illustrating his long-range mastery. The ten-point haul gave the team an efficiency of 1.5, giving them a shooting efficiency roughly 50% above the average for two-point attempts. In contrast, Dublin missed both their low-difficulty two-point attempts, giving an efficiency of 0 and highlighting their failure to exploit the new scoring rules. Meath are all about the goals Meath missed both their two-point attempts against Galway but compensated with goals to win. They created five goal-scoring opportunities, the most of any of the semi-finalists, resulting in two goals and a point at an impressive efficiency of 1.3, based on a total xP of 5.5. To challenge Donegal in the semi-final, they will look to both continue their accuracy in front of goal and also to create and convert more long-range opportunities. Kerry's two-pointers from the big two Jack O'Connor's side overcame Armagh with impressive shooting, particularly from distance. Kerry attempted eight two-point shots (xP=5.9), scoring five for an efficiency of 1.7, second only to Donegal. Sean O'Shea landed all three of his attempts at an outstanding efficiency of 2.6 – two and a half times the inter-county average. From RTÉ Sport, highlights of Kerry's quarter-final win over Armagh David Clifford scored two from three. Importantly, he was forced further out and placed under much higher defensive pressure, resulting in his three two-point shots having a lower combined xP of 1.8, compared to Sean's three shots with an xP of 2.3 points. Unsurprisingly, Clifford still delivered an excellent efficiency of 2.3. Opponents must reduce Kerry's two-point chances and increase defensive pressure on Kerry's two key long-range shooters to curtail their threat. Scoring bursts determine games All four quarter-finals involved decisive scoring bursts. The clearest was Kerry's second-half blitz against Armagh, where they scored 14 points from 13 shots, including two of three two-point efforts, between the 6th and 20th minutes. All shots in this period had an xP of 0.5 or higher, indicating high-quality build up play, combined with a ruthless efficiency of 1.8. Armagh failed to respond, missing both their shots in this period. Ruthless efficiency was the theme of Kerry's play throughout the entire quarter-final. Examining all shots in the game, Kerry's total xP was 22.5, but they scored 32 points, giving them an outstanding efficiency of 1.4. Armagh actually did very well in general play with a total xP of 23.0, marginally higher than Kerry, but their average efficiency of just over 1 effectively cost them the game. Donegal's match showed a similar pattern. Shane O'Donnell's score ten minutes into the second half sparked a 15-point streak including a goal and a two-point score from 15 shots with an xP of 10.9, yielding an excellent efficiency of 1.4. While they finished with an excellent two-pointer from David Garland, Monaghan scored just one of their 11 shots during Donegal's purple patch. This was despite these having a total xP of 7.75, meaning average shooting would have kept them in contention. Overall, Monaghan had a total xP of 22.4 compared to Donegal's 19.8, underlining how efficiency rather than chance creation proved decisive. So who is going to win? While favourites to progress to the final, Kerry and Donegal have relied less on overall dominance of play in the creation of shooting opportunities, and more on excellent shooting efficiency, particularly for two-point attempts. This weekend will reveal whether they can maintain this exceptional shooting standard in their drive for All-Ireland glory, or if Tyrone and Meath can put the shackles on them and upset the odds.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Inside Jim McGuinness' life beyond GAA with wife & children including soccer stints in USA & China
JIM McGUINNESS has once again got Donegal winning matches to the point that they've qualified for another All-Ireland final. They Advertisement 4 He initially managed his county from 2011-2014 4 With them winning only the second All-Ireland title in the county's history in 2012 4 He and wife Yvonne have six children 4 With son Jimmy and daughter Toni Marie after they defeated Mayo in the 2012 showpiece Here, SunSport delves into his life beyond Gaelic football: WIFE AND KIDS He's been in a relationship with fellow Donegal native Yvonne since meeting all the way back in 2002. The setting for their first encounter was the Jim once recalled to Advertisement Read More On GAA "And her mother was going 'And what about Jim McGuinness?' And what about Jim McGuinness?' Yvonne was sick of it, replying 'Will you just shut your mouth about Jim McGuinness! Why are you talking about him? I've never even met him!'" "Anyway, we're in the players' lounge in Croke Park after losing to Dublin in the All-Ireland quarter-final and this woman - her mother - calls me over. "And (Yvonne) turned around, and I turned around, and that was it. So I owe her mother a lot too." Her brother Advertisement Most read in GAA Football Jim and Yvonne have six children, three boys and three girls with two of the girls being twins. SOCCER COACHING CAREER At the peak of his powers in Gaelic football, McGuinness was tempted away to pursue a coaching career in soccer when Joanne Cantwell cracks Katie Taylor joke as RTE panel argue over David Clifford not getting Player of the Match award He was initially brought onboard at Parkhead as a performance consultant in 2012 before being installed as one of the Scottish giants' youth coaches. The 52-year-old was clearly well thought of as he rose up the rankings to ultimately become assistant manager of their Under-20s. Advertisement His soccer path surprisingly diverted to China in 2017 when he took on the assistant manager role Due to the culture shock of living in Asia though, his family never fully settled there and His next move was almost as much of a left-field choice, however, as he He only lasted six months there though before Advertisement DAY JOB His day job isn't entirely clear as he isn't on LinkedIn. But he dabbles in professional speaking arrangements as he can be booked via In addition to his exploits in Gaelic Games and soccer, his profile also emphasizes that
Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Cork boss Pat Ryan on his biggest bugbear ahead of All-Ireland final
Cork boss Pat Ryan has described as 'absolutely crazy' how managers cannot get messages to players to players during games. Since 2021 the maor foirne, or runner, is not allowed in Gaelic games after it was felt that too many management teams had overstepped the mark with their use of the role but several managers have called for its return and Ryan feels that it should be facilitated to some degree going forward. Ryan was speaking in the context of Cork's recent All-Ireland semi-final win over Dublin a a sold out Croke Park when he was unable to communicate with his players during the game. 'It's impossible,' he said. 'To be honest it's the biggest bugbear I have. You're putting in the best time you can, you want to make changes, you want to make things, and you just can't. I was shouting at Mark Coleman from 10 yards away from me. 'It was only a simple thing just to push up on a puckout and he just couldn't hear me. 'It's crazy that I think we're the only sport that you don't do it in. Maybe it was too far before, the cult of the maor foirne running onto the field all over the place and that side of it, but I think there should be a situation where you have something in place, some sort of mechanism where you can give instructions maybe two or three times a half, maybe in a game where you have a runner or something like that. 'I don't know, there's better fellas outside there than me come up with those ideas, but it's absolutely crazy that coaches can't adjust on that situation on that day. I'd say we're definitely the only sport that that have it, so I think it's amazing.'
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Maurice Brosnan: McCole's masterclass sets up a heavyweight showdown with Clifford
At the final whistle, Brendan McCole let it all go. There was no longer a need for his unwavering focus. Arms up, head to the sky, rejoice right in front of the Hogan Stand. They are through. His reward is the ultimate test. Jordan Morris came into this semi-final with 2-12 to his name. The Meath forward scorched Croke Park in the quarter-final with 1-6 against Galway from 11 shots. On Sunday, he fired at the posts five times for one point. That raging fire met a cold unforgiving tide. The tide won out. From the moment they lined out for the throw-in, Donegal having opted to play against the wind into the Hill, McCole made his way out of his full-back refuge and over to the foreign wing. This new era of Gaelic football has made it almost impossible for defenders to thrive. Almost. The Ulster champions have a set structure that sees defenders switch and pass over freely. McCole exists outside of that. He is consistently given the task of tackling the opposition's biggest threat. He is consistently delivering. Morris joined the hitlist along with Sam Mulroy, Ryan O'Donoghue, Conor Turbitt and Darragh Canavan. In this championship, McCole has bested every one of them. 'The first thing to say about Brendan is that he has climbed the ladder,' said Jim McGuinness afterwards as he reflected on a 20-point mauling. They kept what was an immense attacking unit to 13 scores from 31 shots. 'For any young defender out there, he has climbed the ladder. I remember when he made his debut he got a very rough introduction to intercounty football.' The boy who was born in New York and didn't play Gaelic football until he was nine years old and back in St Naul's endured a testing debut campaign in 2019. The same ground. The same opposition. McCole lasted 14 minutes in the Division 2 league final against Meath before Neil McGee replaced him. He is now the spit of the current Donegal selector. As McGuinness hails his proficiency, captain Patrick McBrearty sits by his side, nodding knowingly. The sort of gesture that comes with steady reminders during internal games. 'To answer your question, he is very conscientious,' said McGuinness. 'He works very hard at his game. He wants to know as much as he can about opposition forwards. He trains really well. He is focused in his own training and he wants to defend. That is the bottom line. 'He wants to defend. He wants to really, really defend. Jordan Morris is a brilliant player and a brilliant talent. A player that can do serious damage and play off the cuff, they are the hardest players to mark. No doubt. I thought he did a brilliant, brilliant job today.' It was evident with Meath's first sustained attack. Michael Murphy kicked a boomer for Donegal's first point, Donal Keogan won a short kickout. The Ulster champions were set by time the ball was carried into their half, Morris got his first touch outside the 45. McCole stayed eyeballing him, even as attackers gained possession right behind his back. Morris' next touch was way out at the halfway line. Left foot solo, right foot, goose step and rapid break onto the left, McCole matching him stride for stride. The ball was recycled back out, Eoghan Freyne tried to pick a pass inside and it bounced harmlessly over the endline. Sharp cuts and side steps are effective because they leave defenders legless. They twist and compromise, ultimately turning their back. For any attacker with pace, that is an invitation. McCole does not do that. Midway through the first half he sized up his marker and showed him down the right. Morris has only scored once on that side in the championship. As the number 13 jinked back onto his left to attempt a two, McCole drop-stepped, never losing sight of his target and maintaining pressure throughout. The shot was forced and dropped at the near post. Pressure is the most defining component in the cauldron that is Gaelic football. Fundamental skills look simple until that game-changing squeeze is applied. It makes a hurried handpass miss and a Mathew Costello goal chance slips away. A short kick to Bryan Menton drops too short with the resulting collision ultimately forcing his withdrawal. In the decider, Donegal will be the first team ever to play 11 championship games. 720 competitive minutes. McCole has played in 713 of them. But he hasn't faced a weapon like the one he will face in two weeks' time. David Clifford is an animal of epic proportions. THE FINAL TEST: Kerry's David Clifford celebrates scoring the first goal against Tyrone. Pic: Ryan Byrne/Inpho The Kerry star has hit over 50 shots in this championship. McCole hasn't attempted one. Unstoppable force meets immovable object. The introduction of the two-pointer has brought a new equation and scoring system into the sport. Now, players can complete a special kind of hat-trick. A one, a two, a three. Outside of Kerry, three players have done this since the Sam Maguire series began with the group stages. Saturday was the third time Clifford has done it, having hit similar hat-tricks against Cork and Cavan. Croke Park has proved to be a fitting stage for his repertoire to unfold. That sweeping stride, speed of execution and force of strike will test the nerve of most defenders. Not this one. Two sides of a heavyweight bout that will relish the clash. The satisfaction that will come from this victory for either of them will be immeasurable. Donegal and McCole have come through a gruelling route. Should they triumph, Kerry and Clifford will have overcome the neighbours twice, Armagh, Tyrone, Donegal and a stint on McCole island. What a decider we have in store. Two awesome teams, a rejuvenated game and one glorious matchup. The Ali and Frazier of our times.
