Latest news with #LeinsterSFC
Irish Daily Mirror
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Louth captain Sam Mulroy has last laugh after being mocked over bold claim
Sam Mulroy stole the show in the Leinster football championship final on Sunday last, winning the Man of the Match award with a crucial 1-7 tally in the showpiece at Croke Park. His performance in last Sunday's Leinster SFC final led his Louth side to Delaney Cup glory against Meath for the first time since 1957, and while he is clearly one of the best forwards in the country at present, the contrast in view of his ability was stark in March 2022, when he took to The GAA Social podcast from the BBC. He said 'All I ever wanted to be was the best in Louth or the best in Ireland', as he lay at the top of the scoring charts throughout the 2022 league. 'I went home and wrote that on my whiteboard in my room and it was 'I am the best forward in Louth'. "It's there ever since. It hasn't moved. Every day when I wake up it's there and I have a look at it and even now when I wake up and people say, 'You're the best forward in Louth' or 'You're top scorer in Ireland', I know that and I know I am and I've know that the last five years, whether I was or I wasn't.' He took some pelters for his assuredness in the days following the podcast, however time has come to bear fruit for the 27-year-old, with his leadership in Croker driving his team to glory on a cracking afternoon in Drumcondra. While he did miss some efforts some efforts early in the second half, he led by example and proved he can walk the walk on Sunday, with his deep 2-pointer late in the match putting the Wee County back in front in the dying embers of the clash. Undoubtedly there was delight in Louth when his kick sailed over to help exorcise the demons of the 2010 final against the Royal County which ended in heartbreak. His Louth side face Clare, Down and Monaghan in Group 3 of the All-Ireland round robin, where they will need to remain vigilant to secure passage to the knockout stages. He also went on to say on The GAA Social that 'I believed five years ago I was the best forward in Louth, I know now I am.' Is it a stretch to say he could be the best forward in the province on form going into the All-Ireland series?
Irish Examiner
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Louth 'don't have to listen and talk about' 2010 controversy any more, says McDonnell
Louth veteran Andy McDonnell says there's no 'redemption' for 2010, just a strong sense of satisfaction after finally winning a Leinster SFC medal. McDonnell was the only player, from Louth or Meath, that featured in Sunday's Leinster final having also played in the 2010 decider between the counties. Louth claimed a narrow Croke Park win last weekend to secure their first provincial title since 1957. For some, the breakthrough win drew a line under the 2010 debacle when a late, illegal, Joe Sheridan goal was allowed to stand, sealing a narrow win for the Royal County. "It's just nice to be a Leinster medallist and to park everything that happened a few years ago," said McDonnell, now 34. "That's basically it, we don't have to listen and talk about that any more. It's now, 'Louth are Leinster champions 2025'." The ultra experienced Newtown Blues midfielder said he rarely spoke about the 2010 final and revealed that he carried some of the blame for the agonising loss. His part in the play that led to Sheridan's goal has been largely overlooked with the Meath forward pouncing on a loose ball and diving over the goal line after colleague Seamus Kenny's shot had been blocked by Paddy Keenan. The ball briefly popped up in the air after Kenny's block and both McDonnell and Louth defender Dessie Finnegan collided with each other trying to claim it, allowing Sheridan to intervene. "I was involved, maybe the cause of it," shrugged McDonnell. "Obviously Dessie went up to catch the ball and I kind of (accidentally) flicked it out of his hands. That's how the goal came about. It's nice now 15 years on to say, 'I actually have a medal', to put that to bed. I don't talk about it. There's people saying, 'redemption' and all of this and that but I'm like, 'No, I just go out and play the game and leave it at that'." McDonnell's story and comeback in 2025 is all the more remarkable because he called it quits as a Louth player six years ago, after the 2019 Championship. He was troubled by knee problems and lasted just a single game in 2021 when he tried to make a return under Mickey Harte. "A few physios and doctors would have said to me that it's time to pack it up, three or four years ago," said McDonnell. "But I went to a physio, he's actually a Meath man, Liam Hogan from Curraha. He's involved with Williams Formula One now, as their Performance Coach. "He got me back. He said, 'No, I'll fix you in a couple of months'. It was a lot of rehab, a lot of dark days too in the gym on your own. But he got me back."
The Irish Sun
12-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Dean Rock hails Ger Brennan for bringing Louth ‘back to the pinnacle' as he credits former team-mate for his ‘sacrifice'
DUBLIN legend Dean Rock has paid tribute to Louth boss Ger Brennan after he guided the Wee County to a long-awaited Leinster SFC breakthrough. Speaking on 2 Dublin icon Dean Rock hailed his former team-mmate for his success with Louth Credit: rte sport 2 Louth manager Ger Brennan celebrates after the Leinster GAA Football Senior Championship final match against Meath The comes after they finally got over the line once again in a Leinster SFC final after their win over It was the their And Dublin icon Rock says that his former Sky Blue team-mate has impressed since taking over following Mickey Harte's surprise departure two years ago. Louth defeated Dublin in the Leinster semi before yesterday's triumph over Meath at GAA HQ. read more on gaa Speaking He said: "I can only imagine the time, sacrifice and energy he's put into Louth football over the last two years. "From the outside looking in, when he took over the job - replacing Mickey Harte. It was one that people wondered how much further Louth could go. "To be fair to him, he's improved this Louth team hugely. They've gone from being the second best team in Leinster to being the best team in Leinster. "He deserves a huge amount of credit [but] he'd be quite humble in trying to pass on the credit to the players and the support team around him. "But he himself deserves a huge amount of credit for bringing Louth back to the pinnacle." Gardai investigating as GAA fans engage in brawl in shop For Rock - who picked up eight All-Ireland medals alongside his 12 Leinster titles with Dublin - Louth's breakthrough doesn't look like a one-off. The Ballymun Kickhams' ace pointed towards Louth's success at underage level. He added: "They're developing a really strong culture in Louth and that's been reflected in the success of the U17, U20 - and now the senior team."
Irish Times
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Dublin and Armagh retain provincial bragging rights
A strong finish at Croke Park powered Dublin to their 12th consecutive Leinster SFC title, beating rivals Meath 2-13 to 1-12. Finding themselves four points behind, Dublin rallied to pick off eight points to no reply in the final quarter to keep hold of the title. Vikki Wall, Emma Duggan, Marion Farrelly and Ciara Smyth were on target for Meath, shooting the Royals into an early five-point lead, but Hannah Tyrrell led the Dubs' fightback, finding the net in the 21st minute. Eilish O'Dowd kept the good times coming with a second goal before Niamh Donlon ultimately shot Dublin ahead for the break, 2-3 to 0-8. READ MORE Meath again made the better start on the resumption, Niamh Gallogly raising a green flag while Wall and Duggan kept sending points over to reestablish their lead, 1-12 to 2-5. But as she has done so many times before, Tyrrell got to work for Dublin, knocking three points off that deficit before Carla Rowe provided the equaliser. Back on the front foot, Dublin pushed on to the finish, running out four-point winners to keep hold of the title for another year. In the Ulster final, three goals proved decisive in Clones in Armagh's 3-9 to 0-7 triumph over Donegal. In a reversal of the men's result, the Orchard county retained their provincial crown as Aoife McCoy found the net twice. Her first goal game on six minutes, Eve Lavery and Caroline O'Hanlon combining to put McCoy in on goal. The second green flag wasn't long coming either, rattling the net once again in the 13th minute to give her county a seven-point lead. As Armagh's lead grew, so too did Donegal's errors as much-needed scores failed to find their way between the posts. The counties traded early points after half-time, Cait Gillespie and Katie Dowds tacking on scores for Donegal, but a third Armagh goal, this time from the boot of Niamh Coleman 15 minutes from the final whistle was a brutal blow, stretching her side's lead to 10 points. Points from Rhiana McColgan and Eva Gallagher for Donegal were met by similar efforts from Lavery, Kelly Mallon, Maeve Lennon and Caoimhe McNally for Armagh to seal the win and the Ulster crown. In Munster, Waterford took a thumping win over Cork, 3-12 to 1-9, to claim a spot in the provincial decider, while Kerry and Tipperary played out a draw in Tralee, where things finished 1-6 apiece. And two weeks ahead of their meeting in the Connacht final, Galway and Mayo faced off in Tuam, the Tribeswomen coming out on top on this occasion, 2-13 to 0-9. Weekend results: Leinster SFC final – Dublin 2-13 Meath 1-12 Ulster SFC final – Armagh 3-9 Donegal 0-7 Munster SFC – Waterford 3-12 Cork 1-9 Munster SFC – Kerry 1-6 Tipperary 1-6 Connacht SFC semi-final – Galway 2-13 Mayo 0-9
Irish Independent
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Louth bridge 68-year gap to win Leinster title – and gain a measure of revenge over Meath
Leinster SFC: Louth 3-14 Meath 1-18 Louth's time has come. The Wee County have brought a 68-year wait since their last Leinster senior football championship to an end with an assured second-half performance against Meath Croke Park. The glorious sound of the hooter to bring the 2025 Leinster football final to a conclusion and prompt Conor Grimes to drive the ball into the Cusack Stand was the trigger for a huge outpouring of emotion as Louth finally got to climb the steps of the Hogan Stand and claim the Delaney Cup.
