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RTÉ News
5 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Wicklow account for the Desie to top Taliteann group
Wicklow claimed top spot in Group 2 of the Tailteann Cup following a shaky victory over Waterford at Chadwick's Wexford Park. Nine points down at one stage in the first half, the Garden County rallied back to ease out comfortable winners. Joe Prendergast opened the scoring, cutting inside and popping over in the first minute. Mark Jackson then extended Wicklow's lead. Jason Curry retaliated from a free for Waterford's first score seven minutes in. Mark Kenny continued Wicklow's fast start as he worked the ball around the 'D' to Prendergast, who found a sweet point off his left. With the breeze at his back, Waterford keeper Aaron Beresford was comfortably finding the far 65 with his kick-outs, which proved costly for Wicklow. For the remainder of the half, the speed at which the Déise could transition cost Oisín McConville's men. Jason Curry split the posts again to begin the trend of Ciaran Walsh winning frees inside. Waterford were at this point on top of their own kickout, but Wicklow's as well, and they managed a two-pointer from James Walsh from the next play. Cathal Baker danced inside the Waterford cover and tapped over a point, but from here it was one-way traffic. Jason Curry again profited from a free won by Ciaran Walsh. The double act contributed another Curry free minutes later. Conor Murray then scored an audacious two-pointer on the run before Waterford's Stephen Curry nearly scored a three-pointer, only for Malachy Stone to stop his goal-bound strike, which may have put the game out of Wicklow's reach. Curry pointed the resulting '45, Stephen Curry then added to Waterford's lead from the resulting Kickout. Mark Jackson then hit back with a two-point free after a barnstorming Healy run. Jason Curry cancelled this out in the next play as he kicked three two-pointers in a row. Podge O'Toole stopped the rot off his left with a point before half time to put nine between them. A big finish needed, Kenny found a point and Eoin Darcy a massive goal as he beat Beresford from 13 metres out to leave five in it at the break. To restart the scoring, Darragh Fee and Kenny landed points. Jason Curry continued his exhibition and landed two frees to cancel this out, but a breakaway Prendergast point kept up the Wicklow start. Mark Kenny then, on the loop, added another, Tom Moran got in behind the back of the Waterford defence for his first, and Eoin Darcy turned over his shoulder to score again. Jackson then landed a two-pointer to put Wicklow in front. Up the other end, Jason Curry levelled proceedings, but from here Wicklow were dominant. Dean Healy converted a super two-pointer. Oisin McGraynor then did really well with a high ball inside and went around Tommy Martin, only to see his shot saved. The rebound came to Prendergast, who tapped home for a vital goal. Eoin Darcy then fisted a point and McGraynor added a free from the resulting kickout. Dean Healy, who was growing into the game with every second, added another two-pointer, while McGraynor bettered him with an audacious orange flag raiser. The same man converted from a much simpler free moments later. Waterford, now struggling for possession, found a settler in Donie Fitzgerlad and a further Curry free, but struggled from here. Wicklow now easing home added a point from Kenny, two McGraynor frees and a well-worked Dean Healy goal. Conor Fee polished off a shaky performance as Wicklow left Wexford atop of their section. Wicklow: Mark Jackson (0-05, 1f, 2 tpf); Tom Moran (0-01), Matt Nolan, Malachy Stone; Joe Prendergast (1-03), Patrick O'Keane, Darragh Fee (0-01); Dean Healy (1-04, 2 tp), Padraig O'Toole (0-01); Christopher O'Brien, Eoin Darcy (1-02), Cathal Baker (0-01); Oisin McGraynor (0-06, 3f, 1 tp), Craig Maguire, Mark Kenny (0-04). Subs: Jack Kirwan for C O'Brien (58), Andy Maher for Joe Prendergast (62), Conor Fee for Mark Kenny (70), Ryan Harrison for Eoin Darcy (72), Liam O'Neill for Cathal Baker (74). Furlong; Michael O'Brien, Conor Murray (0-02, 1 tp), Jason Curry (0-15, 8f, 1, 45, 3 tpf, ); Stephen Curry (0-1), Ciaran Walsh, James Walsh (0-2, 1 tp). Subs: Alan Dunwoody for Michael O'Brien (53), Caolan Mac Cathmhaoil for Adam Crawford (56), Ciaran Looney for James Wash (68), Loughlan Walsh for Tholom Guiry (68), Darragh Jacob for Donie Fitzgerald (68).
Irish Independent
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
The players assessed as Wicklow take crucial win over Laois
Wicklow's hopes of making it to the Tailteann Cup knockout stages have been given an almost-decisive boost with a win against second-seeded Laois. Most of the players, to the shock of nobody, made a decent impression for the Garden County on Saturday evening.
RTÉ News
10-05-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
Fatherhood and perspective fuelling evergreen Dean Healy
As one of the more experienced players in the Wicklow set-up, that longevity has brought greater perspective for Dean Healy. The 33-year-old starred in the Garden County's gutsy Leinster defeat to Dublin last month, with manager Oisin McConville hailing him a "special" player. In superb form, the St Patrick's clubman is playing with a freedom that comes from a balanced lifestyle. He enjoys football, but he knows it's place in the greater scheme of things. A father to Fídh (4) and Aifric (15 months), personal events have shaped his perspective. Eighteen months ago his partner Jennifer was given the news she had Hodgkin lymphoma. Six months of chemotherapy followed while pregnant with Aifric, navigating chopping waters with a young family to raise. "It just makes you view life differently and as I said it just makes me appreciate her and my family a lot more," he told RTÉ Sport. "We were extremely fortunate in terms of her diagnosis. I remember spending every second Thursday up in St Vincent's and I can't speak highly enough of the staff. "When you're sitting there among people, is a Wicklow loss really that important? Jennifer was pregnant at the time with Aifric throughout the course of the treatment so we had that to focus more on that than actually the treatment itself." It was June 2023 when Healy decided that perhaps it was time to step away from the inter-county bubble. A surprise seven-point win over Limerick was secured in what was effectively a Tailteann Cup dead rubber. Healy posted three points from play, but the decision was made earlier in the week. Jennifer hadn't yet been diagnosed, but he had a sense that the time was right. A dozen years after making his debut under Mick O'Dwyer, he shook hands with the players after the game and felt that was that. It was time for a change. "I did honestly believe that I was done. I was driving home the Thursday night before the game and I remember ringing her as I generally would from training. "I was consigned to stepping away and she was like just wait till you get home. When I arrived home, she was pregnant and there was an immense joy. As it transpired she was actually due in Vincent's the next day to get the lump that she had in her neck biopsied. So all of a sudden we had this immense joy and then the next morning she was up in Vincent's. We knew when you're getting called in for something. There would be good news over the phone." It was then they were hit like a ton of bricks with the diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma and the real possibility of termination of the pregnancy. "People think you're strong for breaking tackles in Gaelic football. The situation Jennifer found herself in, having a little girl to look after and still pregnant you think you love someone and then you see how strong a person can be and it just goes to show... I'm in awe of her every day." Naturally football faded into the background. The weekly visits for chemo started, but the worst fears were allayed when Aifric arrived safely into the world. Jennifer is now a year post-treatment and will return to St Vincent's every six months for the next five years. In February of last year he returned to the Wicklow fold in some style, scoring 1-02 in a player of the match performance as the Garden County defeated Westmeath in the Leinster preliminary round. His importance to Wicklow is as strong as ever, but Healy's outlook is different. "When I'm not training, my full focus is on my family. All this comes back into that free pass that I'm talking about. "I don't really feel a lot of pressure in terms of matches or anything like that just simply because I know what I've given is what I have given and I don't think I can give too much more. But I'll see what I can squeeze out of it." Wicklow's "failure" to reach a Division 4 final – they finished a point behind second-placed Limerick – was easily contextualised by Healy. Had they progressed to Croke Park, he would have missed Fídh's first ballet show in Bray. "Wicklow football is massive for me and everything that goes with it," he says, "but at the end of the day, do I want to be remembered for being a father or do I want to be remembered for being a footballer? "That's where you have to look at things. I remember sitting in Bray and looking at the ballet performance and she's only four years of age. I feel like I'm ready for that part of life. "It's very hard to describe when you're not a parent, but the pride that you get looking at your own children do simple things in terms of their development." Football remains a passion and an escape. He's doesn't want people getting carried away with the nine-point defeat to Dublin. People outside the camp may have been surprised with the gritty display, but the poor conversion rate that day has been discussed within the group. The energy, however, needs to be replicated when they travel to take on a buoyant Offaly later today. "I think it's important for Wicklow football that that energy is maintained especially coming into this Tailteann Cup. Offaly are coming in off the back of quite a successful league campaign, they've got a massive lift off Mickey Harte going in as joint-manager and were probably unfortunate not to beat Meath." Whatever way the season turns out for Wicklow, Healy won't spend too long fretting over it. Jennifer, Fídh and Aifric will be there however long the journey lasts. As for the praise coming his way since returning to action, that too will wash over. "In the last few years personal performances mean very little to me. I get a little bit more exposure simply because I have been around that a little bit longer and it's easier for people to grab on to the fact that I am a little bit older. "Whatever is going on in your life, it's (football) just a different avenue in order to actually express different feelings." Watch the Ulster Football Championship final, Armagh v Donegal, on Saturday from 5pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on and the RTÉ News app and listen to Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1 Watch The Saturday Game from 9.40pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on all matches on and the RTÉ News app. Listen to updates from around the country on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
