Latest news with #KILKENNY
The Irish Sun
27-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Kilkenny camogie star reveals contact from ‘famous people, influencers and podcasters' following infamous skorts protest
KILKENNY captain Katie Power says the intensity of the skorts versus shorts debate 'overwhelmed' her. But the three-time All-Ireland winner was delighted about the outcome as players were ultimately granted the choice to wear either. Advertisement 2 Katie Power at the launch the 2025 Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Camogie Championships in Croke Park Credit: INPHO/Tom Maher 2 Chairperson of the Leinster camogie association Martin Quilty presents the cup to Kilkenny captain Katie Power after the Leinster Senior Camogie final Credit: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile Kilkenny wore shorts last weekend when they started their Glen Dimplex All-Ireland campaign with a big win over Derry. Power was at the centre of the She posed with Dublin captain Ashling Maher before throw-in wearing shorts, instead of skorts, along with their regular kit. They had to change back into skorts to play the game but it forced a national debate that ended with a Advertisement Read More on Camogie Speaking at the launch of the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland camogie championship, Power said: 'I won't tell you a lie — I found those weeks tough going. I was overwhelmed with everything that came with it and it was something that maybe I wasn't expecting. 'I 100 per cent didn't expect what happened to happen. We were just making the protest, to voice our opinions. 'I definitely wasn't aware of what was going to come and the two weeks after that were tough, mentally, as in very draining.' Power said her phone was 'blowing up' with people contacting her to either express support or chat about the issue. Advertisement Most read in Sport The four-time All-Star forward, 33, explained: 'It was real famous people, famous influencers, podcasters. I was trying to work and they'd be looking to talk to you and I just didn't have the time for that. But fair play, as in it was people taking a genuine interest. 'It was something I didn't see coming at all and it was great because it did give it a huge exposure and I suppose that's probably what gave it that extra push to bring the Special Congress forward and to get it passed.' GAA legend TJ Reid's wife Niamh and daughter wear shorts in support of camogie stars Camogie Association president Brian Molloy acknowledged it had been a 'challenging couple of weeks' for players. He wants the focus on camogie to translate into larger crowds — and revealed his ambition to pack out Croke Park for the August 10 All-Ireland finals. Advertisement Molloy said: 'I want all those people to keep their attention on camogie over the next number of weeks and months so that on August 10, we can fill the whole of Croke Park. We've never done it before.'
Irish Examiner
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Reid ravenous on return as he fires 2-9 to ease Cats past outclassed Offaly
Leinster SHC: KILKENNY 4-25 OFFALY 2-16 The return of TJ Reid to championship action was a bigger story than anything that happened on the field at UPMC Nowlan Park this evening, and the seven-time All-Star didn't miss a beat as he fired in 2-9, 2-2 from play, in a facile win for the Cats. As a contest, there was little to report. Offaly travelled to Kilkenny with the heads down after three hammer blows crushed the rising sense of optimism surrounding the hurling scene in the county. A no-show in front of 10,000 supporters against Galway was followed up by a seven-goal filleting from Laois in the minor championship and the demise of their highly-rated but injury-ravaged U-20s against Dublin last Monday, and the Faithful needed everything to go right early on to give them some cause for hope here. Instead Brian Duignan and Daniel Bourke were off the mark with good early chances and while those two forwards – along with Charlie Mitchell and Oisín Kelly – were not to be faulted in what was a 'one point per man' defeat, the game was over before they got going. Stephen Donnelly set up Martin Keoghan for a goal in the fourth minute, TJ Reid whipped in a second after 12 minutes to push the lead out to nine points, and unlike the fare in Ennis where there was always likely to be a fightback from the All-Ireland champions, that was never on the cards here. Even allowing for a tricky breeze that was aiding Kilkenny, they were too dominant in too many sectors of the pitch to be reeled in. Billy Ryan picked off some excellent scores from the right wing, while they lorded matters at half-back, with Offaly struggling to compete up front due to their use of a sweeper. Daniel Bourke and Charlie Mitchell were among the leading lights for the Faithful County, notching some good points and an Oisín Kelly score from close range cut the lead to seven points on the half hour mark. Perhaps that only served to rouse Kilkenny, as they kicked on again with six points before half-time, including three from John Donnelly at centre forward. A slow start to the second half saw the Stripey Men continue to enjoy the lion's share of possession but they shot the first couple out of seven second half wides in a scoreless five minutes. Adrian Mullen put any lingering doubt about the result to bed when he powered through a tackle to add the third goal after 41 minutes, and while Oisín Kelly replied in kind for Offaly immediately, that was to be their only score in the third quarter. Kilkenny's profligacy, plus the general lack of intensity that might be expected in a game where the result was never in doubt, was a key factor in the lead not extending much further, though there were a couple of impressive scores at both ends in the final quarter. TJ Reid whipped in Kilkenny's fourth goal and Fionán Mackessy also caught the eye with a superb point in his short spell on the field. At the other end Shirley hoisted one over from distance and Kelly's second goal was the highlight of the game, as he exploded past the Kilkenny cover and blasted a shot inside Eoin Murphy. For both these counties however, more important tests lie in store. Scorers for Kilkenny: TJ Reid 2-9 (0-7f), B Ryan 0-4, J Donnelly 0-4, M Keoghan 1-0, S Donnelly 0-3, A Mullen 1-0, C Kenny 0-3 (0-2f), H Shine 0-1, F Mackessy 0-1. Scorers for Offaly: B Duignan 0-8f, O Kelly 2-1, C Mitchell 0-3, D Bourke 0-2, D Shirley 0-2. KILKENNY: E Murphy; M Butler, H Lawlor, T Walsh; D Blanchfield, M Carey, P Deegan; C Kenny, J Molloy; B Ryan, J Donnelly, H Shine; S Donnelly, TJ Reid, M Keoghan. SUBS: A Mullen for Shine (33), K Doyle for Blanchfield (49), L Hogan for S Donnelly (51), B Drennan for Reid (59), F Mackessy for Keoghan (61). OFFALY: M Troy; B Conneely, C Burke, J Mahon; J Sampson, D Shirley, R Ravenhill; C King, C Spain; K Sampson, D Bourke, O Kelly; D Ravenhill, B Duignan, C Mitchell. SUBS: E Burke for D Ravenhill (44), D Nally for R Ravenhill (48), S Bourke for J Sampson (48), P Cantwell for Conneely (58), B Kavanagh for Mahon (62). Referee: Colm McDonald (Antrim).
The Irish Sun
25-04-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Kilkenny camogie legend Grace Walsh rules out retirement u-turn as she backs current Cats as All-Ireland contenders
KILKENNY legend Grace Walsh insists that her withdrawal from the inter-county camogie scene is more than just a Cat nap. A senior debutante in 2011, Walsh is not part of the Kilkenny panel for 2025. And according to the three-time All-Ireland winner, there is no turning back. Advertisement 2 Grace Walsh of Kilkenny passes under pressure from Aishling O'Neill of Dublin during the Glen Dimplex Senior All-Ireland Championship quarter-final Credit: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile 2 Former Kilkenny Minor Camogie Player Grace Walsh Ahead Of The 2025 Electric Ireland Camogie All-Ireland Minor Championship Finals Credit: INPHO/Dan Sheridan She explained: 'There's definitely a line firmly drawn under it. I just felt like it was kind of my time to go. I didn't really plan on making any announcements or anything like that. 'I had just kind of told the players after our last game against Dublin and that was kind of the way I wanted to finish it. 'But no, it's definitely finished for me now.' Walsh considered stepping away after undergoing foot surgery in December 2023. Advertisement Read More on Camogie But she returned for one more campaign, making her last appearance in black and amber at Croke Park last July as the Cats suffered an All-Ireland quarter-final loss to Dublin. The 31-year-old said: 'I just kind of felt like my time was up and I really wanted to be able to finish when I still had something left in the tank so I could give back to my club. 'I feel like I owe a lot to Tullaroan for all the years that they've just supported me through my career with Kilkenny.' A nurse based in Dublin, Walsh's decorated career yielded three All-Stars. She was also a nominee for the 2020 Player of the Year award. Advertisement Most read in GAA Hurling Comment She continued: 'I'm very content with my decision. 'I've watched a couple of the girls' games and I've enjoyed just being an extra supporter on the sideline, to be honest. Oisin McConville urges GAA to ditch big rule change mid-season after controversial ending to Championship clash 'It just felt like my body was very tired after all the years and driving up and down from Dublin. 'I suppose we play the game because we absolutely love it and I just felt like that kind of spark was getting a little bit less than what it always was. Advertisement 'I just felt like I didn't want to stay going and be one of those players that they're like, 'Would she ever retire? Would she ever step away?' 'So I just kind of wanted to step away while I was still on the starting team and kind of go out on my own terms, I suppose.' Since Walsh shone at full-back in the 2022 All-Ireland final win over Cork, Kilkenny have gradually slipped down the pecking order. However, she is convinced that Tommy Shefflin's side can still be O'Duffy Cup contenders. Walsh said: 'Those girls are not there just to compete and to get to a quarter-final or a semi-final. Advertisement 'They're there because they believe they're good enough to get to an All-Ireland final and to get over the line. 'As somebody from Kilkenny, that's how I feel about them as well. 'There's a lot of new young girls in there, new blood, and I think Tommy Shefflin and his management crew, they're so passionate about the game, and I think that's a really important thing to have. 'I think they'll do pretty well and they could go all the way hopefully.' Advertisement l GRACE WALSH was speaking ahead of this weekend's Electric Ireland Camogie All-Ireland Minor Championship finals. Electric Ireland are spotlighting players and their parents in recognition of the major impact that playing minor can have on young people's future successes on and off the field. Follow the campaign on social media @ElectricIreland and via the hashtag #ThisIsMajor.
