Latest news with #HellforLeather
The Irish Sun
14 hours ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Chrissy McKaigue insists Derry can still reach the top despite overblown criticism
CHRISSY McKAIGUE knows great expectations have changed the Derry narrative but insists they can still win the big one. 2 Chrissy McKaigue knows expectations have changed with Derry but insists they can still win Sam under Paddy Tally 2 Derry face Dublin in a crucial Championship clash this weekend But their Championship hopes unravelled last year as Donegal stunned them in They survived to dismiss McKaigue also called it quits as Paddy Tally took the reins for this year — but they are yet to win a game under him. A READ MORE ON GAA McKaigue remembers playing Division 4 football in 2019 but their revival raised the bar. He said: 'Expectation is a wonderful thing and it's often created by a world outside the bubble itself. 'There has been a narrative created that Derry's senior footballers had the worst season ever last year. "I can accurately remember many poorer years for Derry in the Championship but last year was sort of built up into this catastrophe of a year. Most read in GAA Football 'It was more so we didn't meet expectations. I'm not saying that everyone follows that narrative, but I felt Mickey Harte last year got a lot of scrutiny that was a wee bit over the top at times.' Still, the 2022 All-Star believes Tally can take them all the way for the first time since 1993. GAA fans 'loved seeing and hearing' the late Micheal O Muircheartaigh as he features in RTE documentary Hell for Leather He added: 'I still feel that Derry are a contender for Sam Maguire. 'Maybe not this year in the same capacity as last year but do I feel this Derry squad will have the potential to be a contender for Sam Maguire in the next number of years. 'Derry have a fair bit of talent and probably a nice enough age profile in that squad too that would suggest that they're still going to be knocking there or thereabouts the next number of years. 'I feel that the underage in Derry is really strong and you'll probably be yet to see a couple of the players that I'd be really excited about. 'From a Derry perspective, that's really pleasing because for a long number of years as we know, we weren't anywhere near that level.' l CHRISSY McKAIGUE was speaking at the 2025 Electric Ireland GAA All- Ireland Minor Championship launch Pictured is former Electric Ireland Minor Championship star Chrissy McKaigue of Derry at the 2025 Electric Ireland GAA All-Ireland Minor Championship Launch. This summer, Electric Ireland will use their social channels to spotlight players from across the Championships, in their 'Parent Point of View' series highlighting the major impact that playing Minor can have on players and their families #ThisIsMajor.
The Irish Sun
14 hours ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
UK Government's Casement Park boost hailed as ‘milestone' by GAA
THE DECISION of the UK Government to contribute €59million to the redevelopment of Casement Park has been described as 'a milestone' by the GAA. Amid a row over funding, uncertainty surrounded the future of the west Belfast venue since it lost its 2 Pacemaker Press 04-09-2024: Casement Park principal Gaelic games stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press. 2 GAA President Jarlath Burns welcomed the decision by the UK government - but more funds are still needed But the latest commitment from Westminster is a considerable boost as €140m has already been pledged by the GAA, the Stormont Executive and the Irish Government. 'We thank the Secretary of State, Hilary Benn, the Chancellor of The Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, and the UK Government for their positive and generous contribution to ensure our provincial stadium at Casement Park is finally realised. 'From taking office, the Secretary of State was clear that Casement Park needs to be delivered. read more on gaa 'He recognised the GAA's commitment and goodwill in sharing venues for the benefit of everyone in our society. 'His support and that of the UK Government now represents a critical opportunity to finish this NI Executive flagship project, delivering the last remaining stadium of the 14-year Regional Stadia Programme and helping to leave a lasting legacy for all of society.' But with the Casement Park project set to cost approximately €305m, a shortfall of over €100m must still be met. Burns added: 'We know, however, that this is not the final piece of the jigsaw. Most read in GAA Football 'There is much more work to do.' GAA fans 'loved seeing and hearing' the late Micheal O Muircheartaigh as he features in RTE documentary Hell for Leather
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Kildare and Laois being forced to play six days after Joe McDonagh Cup final is farcical and unfair
SAY what you want about the Joe McDonagh finalists entering the All-Ireland series — but playing six days later is a farce. Kildare Brian Dowling's men will relish tackling Dublin this Saturday in Newbridge. But surely they merit an extra week to have themselves primed for such a unique occasion against their neighbours. And it's even worse for Tommy Fitzgerald's Laois. Not only do they have to Read More On GAA That game could be an absolute trouncing which is no good to either side. Fitzgerald has But it's just another farcical element of a daft calendar that puts everyone under pressure. RTE DOC DELIGHTS The first episode of RTÉ's Gaelic football documentary Hell for Leather Most read in GAA Hurling We all have a habit of running the big ball down when hurling gets the love. But the first show of a five-part series which aired on Monday was magic. GAA fans 'loved seeing and hearing' the late Micheal O Muircheartaigh as he features in RTE documentary Hell for Leather Brian Fenton wells up when he speaks about what football means to him. And the clips of him arriving at his old school in Raheny with Sam Maguire stirs up all sorts of memories. From on-field battles to civil war off it, football's tapestry always evolves. Heroes past and present explain what the game is to them. 1 Kildare beat Laois at Croke Park by a scoreline of 2-26 to 1-19 And the programme is pinned with poignancy when late greats Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, Seán Murphy, Mick O'Dwyer, Jimmy Gray and John O'Mahony appear on screen. It's stripped back to its humble, raw beginnings by historian Paul Rouse. Pigs' bladders were used as footballs and there were battles across fields long before Croke Park became what it is today. And the only rule was there were no rules until Michael Cusack and Maurice Davin formed the GAA in Thurles back in 1884. They vowed it would spread like a prairie fire. Little did they know how much it would.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Pat Ryan's emotional reaction to Cork beating Limerick reminded us how sport can provide solace amid tragedy
WE WERE all stopped in our tracks when the cameras cut to an emotional Pat Ryan at the end of Saturday's Munster SHC final at the Gaelic Grounds. Having been sent back to Cork Advertisement 3 Pat Ryan and his son Cian after Cork's momentous victory on Saturday 3 Pat's brother Ray, right, passed away in February 3 He was understandably overcome immediately after the penalty shoot-out Credit: RTE They weren't given a prayer ahead of their return to the Limerick lions' den. After 90 minutes of madness, where the teams were level no fewer than 17 times, The debate will rage about Sport can provide comfort in grief but can also add to the heartache. Why the Cork manager was so visibly upset did not need to be stated. Advertisement Read More On GAA Robert Downey paid tribute to the man who steered them home in the darkest of times for the Cork manager's family. The Rebels captain said: 'I don't think he realises how much we love him. But on days like these, I'm going to tell him. Pat, we love you to bits.' Ryan The former Cork and Sarsfields hurler would have revelled in Saturday's joyous scenes. It's hard to fathom what the Ryan family have been through but hurling undoubtedly gave them hope. Advertisement Most read in GAA Hurling Five days after the passing of Ray, Ryan was on the line when the Rebels beat Kilkenny in Division 1A of the NHL. Duty called. Before throw-in, the entire panel and backroom team lined up across the 45 for a minute's tribute to Ray. GAA fans 'loved seeing and hearing' the late Micheal O Muircheartaigh as he features in RTE documentary Hell for Leather Pat was in among them, wearing a black armband. Maybe behind Advertisement How he has navigated that in his time of despair is a measure of the man. His players would dearly love to land Liam MacCarthy for him. He is not the first and won't be the last GAA man to keep the fire burning with a broken heart. HARTE EXAMPLE The morning after Tyrone lost the 2018 All-Ireland SFC final to Dublin, the Red Hand faithful wanted answers. Had they been too defensive against the Sky Blues? Why did they let Jim Gavin's men get the better of their blanket defence and blow them away at Croke Park? Advertisement Mickey Harte sat down with the media and braced himself for those questions. One of his answers provided a stark reminder of how small sport is in the greater scheme of things. Harte's daughter Michaela was murdered while on honeymoon in Mauritius in January 2011. No one has been convicted over her death. That morning, Harte said: 'There's many worse things you can wake up to on a Monday morning. Advertisement "Think about that, that people have to wake up to those things, things that are more permanent — loss or hurt. 'I'll think about their hurt and loss as football people and fanatics. I appreciate that and empathise with it, but I'd ask them to think about how people wake up to something that can never be the same again. "There's never another chance to get back to where you'd have liked to be. 'And then they'll begin to understand that while it may be life and death in words, in real terms it's not. There are things that are more important than that. Advertisement 'I would've probably been more heartbroken about this if life had been different in our case. 'But the fact that I know something that's much, much worse and never could be compared to this, then I feel hurt about this, but it's not like the real hurt of loss.' BLAME GAME We all do it. We blame managers, players and whoever else when things go wrong on big days. But we never truly know what people are going through. Advertisement Later this summer, Liam MacCarthy and Sam Maguire will be paraded through towns and villages in two lucky counties. But away from the schools and the town squares, the trophies will be taken to final resting places too. Loved ones are remembered and missed in victory and in defeat. Hopefully Saturday night gave Pat Ryan and his family something to smile about. Advertisement
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Cian Lynch reveals he had no idea penalties were coming before Munster final heartbreak against Cork
LIMERICK skipper Cian Lynch only learned that the Munster SHC final would be settled on penalties when the teams were still deadlocked after extra-time. Twelve months after they became the first team ever to win six Mick Mackey Cups on the spin, the Treaty's part in the making of 2 Cian Lynch reveals he had no idea the Munster SHC final was heading to penalties 2 Limerick captain Lynch and Limerick were gutted after the defeat to Cork on Saturday Their provincial title was relinquished on Saturday following a defeat to Lynch said: 'It's something we're not used to. On the winning side of it, you're delighted with it. It's great credit to Cork. "They got the victory in penalties and the game could have gone either way. "Look, it's something to obviously review. Penalties… like, hurling is so instinctive. It's an art form, it's an expression. READ MORE ON GAA "Why do people play it? It's because it's a 15-man game. It's a chance to have a man on the shoulder to support. "But when it comes to penalties, other than the five guys and the goalie, I suppose you're helpless standing on the sideline watching. It's tough for guys, but it is what it is." Cork ran out 3-2 winners in the shootout at the TUS Gaelic Grounds. But Lynch expected more extra-time to be played after Darragh Fitzgibbon landed a '65 to bring Cork back to level terms with what turned out to be the last puck of open play. Most read in GAA Hurling He said: "I suppose in my own head initially, you think there's going to be an extra five minutes each half because that's the way it was before, wasn't it? "But I suppose when it's said it's penalties, you just accept that and that's obviously the way it is." GAA fans 'loved seeing and hearing' the late Micheal O Muircheartaigh as he features in RTE documentary Hell for Leather Lynch admits that even at the end of extra-time, he would have preferred to settle the final via a replay in Cork instead. The two-time Hurler of the Year, who made way for Diarmaid Byrnes just before the shootout, insisted: "Of course you would. You love playing the sport. "There are pros and cons to either. I suppose it's not for me to make a point or make a comment on what's the right thing to do, but you'd love to have another crack at it. "Any team would. But for us, it's just about accepting that that's in the past now." Lynch explained that he 'wouldn't be someone that's known to stand over a free or a penalty' when quizzed about his own absence from Limerick's quintet of penalty takers. Although the teams could not be separated following more than 90 minutes of hurling, he also rejected the suggestion that it was ultimately a game Speaking as Limerick's representative at the All-Ireland SHC launch at Offaly's Faithful Fields, Lynch said: "It's still a defeat. Obviously you look at the time played and so on. "Neither team won and it went to penalties and that's just the way it was. 'You obviously are disappointed. You see an opposition collecting a trophy and celebrating with their fans and stuff. "That's tough to take. You just have to dust yourself off, regroup, process that feeling and try to drive on again." While they could now be on course for an Lynch added: "That's something that's way beyond our thought process. I think next Saturday week is our main focus." Meanwhile, despite being part of the St Thomas' side who defeated Ballygunner in a shootout in an All-Ireland Club SHC semi-final, Fintan Burke is not an advocate for determining a winner via penalties. The Galway defender, who had his attempt saved by Stephen O'Keeffe in the December 2023 clash, said: "Obviously delighted we won, but at the same time I'd be of the opinion of a replay. That's just personal. "I don't think penalties are a fair reflection of where a team is at – as in, you could have five great penalty takers and maybe the other team only has three. "It's not really reflecting on hurling throughout the team."
