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Irish Independent
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
GAA: All this evening's action as it happened
LIVE | It's been another bumper day of GAA action with the All-Ireland SFC series and Tailteann Cup continuing in football and the Christy Ring, Lory Meagher and Nickey Rackard Cups reaching their conclusion at Croke Park. Here's how the action unfolded. All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Cork 0-20 Kerry 1-28 (Full-time) Down 0-25 Louth 0-24 (Full-time) Roscommon 2-15 Meath 0-21 (Full-time) Tyrone 1-13 Mayo 2-17 (Full-time) Tailteann Cup Westmeath 0-18 Limerick 0-19 (Full-time) Offaly 3-16 Laois 3-18 (Full-time) Wicklow 3-29 Waterford 0-21 (Full-time) Christy Ring Cup final Derry 1-24 London 1-27 (Full-time) Lory Meagher Cup final Cavan 2-17 New York 4-17 (Full-time) Nickey Rackard Cup final Mayo 1-21 Roscommon 3-16 (Full-time) All-Ireland U-20 Hurling Championship final Kilkenny 1-16 Tipperary 3-19 (Full-time) All-Ireland Minor Football Championship Tier 3 final Wicklow 1-08 Longford 2-13 (Full-time) All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship Derry 0-5 Galway 4-25 (Full-time) Kilkenny 0-10 Waterford 0-17 (Full-time) Limerick 1-10 Wexford 0-10 (Full-time) Tipperary 1-9 Cork 3-21 (Full-time) 2 minutes ago "It came from a bedrock of hard work, it probably wasn't there two weeks ago." "We knew we had to get back to brass tacks today, it was work rate, working hard for each other, the simple facets of the game that don't take much talent." "With Kevin having to step back, it was difficult for the group. He needs to look after himself and get himself right. Health is most important for anybody. We've been a united group all year." Man of the Match Paddy Durcan speaking to GAA+ at the full-time whistle. 7 minutes ago All-Ireland Senior Football Championship FULL TIME - Tyrone 1-13 Mayo 2-17 It's fitting that Jack Coyne points for Mayo with the last action of the game. A worthy victory for the Westerners, who were value for a win at the end of a couple of weeks where everything was thrown at them. They bounce back from defeat to Cavan to lead Group 1 now. Cavan face Donegal at Kingspan Breffni Park tomorrow. 12 minutes ago All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 67' - Tyrone 1-11 Mayo 2-15 "Vigour, verve, purpose, belief," is how GAA+ commentator David McIntyre is describing Mayo's display in Omagh and it is hard to disagree. Ryan O'Donoghue points again and Mayo lead by eight, as they did at half-time. Tyrone can't keep up. 13 minutes ago All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 62' - Tyrone 1-10 Mayo 2-14 GOAL! - Breaffy's Davitt Neary is taken down by Liam Gray, having run onto Aidan O'Shea's pass. It's a clear penalty and Ryan O'Donoghue brings his tally for the day to 1-6. A seventh championship goal for the 25-year-old and surely, that is that. 16 minutes ago All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Tyrone 1-10 Mayo 1-14 62' - Tyrone came out of the traps impressively after half-time but their threat has waned significantly. Mayo have found some drive once again and look fairly comfortable. 21 minutes ago All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Tyrone 1-10 Mayo 1-14 57' - Tyrone substitute Shea O'Hare has had a tough few minutes. Some lax play allows Carney in to point and then he is yellow carded and Ryan O'Donoghue's routine free raises the white flag. Then Jack Carney kicks Mayo's eighth wide of the game via a free from hands. 25 minutes ago All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 56 ' - Tyrone 1-10 Mayo 1-13 Mayo respond to Niall Morgan's free for two-points with well-taken scores from Jack Carney and Paddy Durcan. Those can be categorised as settlers for the Westerners. Still a one score game though. 32 minutes ago There's plenty of GAA reading on for you today and over the weekend. Read our Christy Ring Cup final report below. London bridge 13-year gap to lift Christy Ring Cup after dramatic final joust with Derry London claimed their first Christy Ring Cup success in 13 years as they overcame Derry by three points at Croke Park on Saturday afternoon. 34 minutes ago All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 45' - Tyrone 1-07 Mayo 1-10 GOAL! - Where would Tyrone be without Darragh Canavan? The full-forward takes full advantage of hesittant Sligo defending to drive towards goal and lash in. A clipped point was there for him, but he has dragged the Red Hand back into this. Ryan O'Donoghue, for Mayo, and Darren McCurry, have since swapped points. 37 minutes ago It's not often two managers in the heat of the battle's immediate end find themselves in agreement with eachother. John Cleary and Jack O'Connor, however, were united in their dismay at referee Derek O'Mahony's decision making at Páirc Uí Chaoimh tonight. Their frustration stemmed from the official's decisions to bring the ball forward into two-point territory. Read more below. Kerry and Cork managers united against 'ridiculous' 50m advantage rule for impeding mark Cork boss John Cleary and Kerry boss Jack O'Connor found themselves in furious agreement with each other after their sides clashed in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday evening. 40 minutes ago Down condemned Louth to a second straight All-Ireland series defeat this evening. Their storming finish was something to behold but even it, inspired by Sam Mulroy and Tommy Durnin, wasn't enough. David Mohan reports from a dramatic evening Newry. Down give Louth another All-Ireland SFC wake-up call with dramatic win in Newry As Tommy Durnin looked certain to kick the equaliser for Louth after the hooter had sounded, Adam Crummins came flying in to make a match-winning block and ensure Down grabbed a second win in Group 3 in what turned into a stirring game at a packed Páirc Esler on Saturday. 43 minutes ago All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Tyrone 0-6 Mayo 1-9 40' - Darragh Canavan points first in the second half and then Matty Donnelly splits the posts as Tyrone now trail by six. But they were living dangerously when Ryan O'Donoghue smacked a shot against the post after more good setup play by Aidan O'Shea. 47 minutes ago Back underway in Omagh. This is the seventh championship meeting between Mayo and Tyrone, their most recent encounter being the 2021 All-Ireland final. Mayo have won four times (1989, 2004, 2013 and 2016). This, however, is the first time they teams have played each other in a championship outside of Croke Park. 57 minutes ago If you're not near a TV, here's that goal from Darren McHale that has put Mayo in command against Tyrone. Not one Niall Morgan will want to dwell on - or see ever again. GAA+ on Twitter / X 🚨🚨GOAL!! Mayo finish the half strong with this goal from Darren McHale!💪Football clips brought to you by @AIB_GAA #TheToughest GAA+ (@GAAPlusOfficial) May 31, 2025 58 minutes ago Paul Brennan was at Páirc Uí Chaoimh this evening to watch on-song David Clifford help Kerry to victory over their neighbours and fierce rivals. Two comprehensive wins from two outings in Group 2 for Jack O'Connor's side. 'They came, they competed, they – momentarily – rattled Kerry, and then, as inevitable as death and taxes, Cork wilted and fell away to an 11-point defeat.' Read the full match report below. David Clifford leads Kerry chorus in 11-point All-Ireland series win over Cork They came, they competed, they – momentarily – rattled Kerry, and then, as inevitable as death and taxes, Cork wilted and fell away to an 11-point defeat that leaves them in a dog-fight in a fortnight to keep their championship alive when they play Roscommon. Today 02:49 PM Tailteann Cup The 6pm games in the Tailteann Cup have drawn to a conclusion. Wicklow were comprehensive winners against the Déise but there was high drama in Newbridge. A 40th minute Mark Barry penalty turned seemingly certain defeat into an improbable win for Laois. In an entertaining clash that swung this way and that, there was never more than three points between the sides from 30 minutes onwards. Offaly 3-16 Laois 3-18 Wicklow 3-29 Waterford 0-21 Today 02:45 PM All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Roscommon 2-15 Meath 0-21 (Full-time) Elsewhere in the SFC, Billy Hogan's penalty save from Enda Smith was a big moment in the game at King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park with both teams having to settle for a draw at the end of a tight tussle from start to finish. The point is the Rossies first in Group 2. Today 02:42 PM All-Ireland Senior Football Championship) HALF-TIME - Tyrone 0-4 Mayo 1-9 35' - Disaster for Niall Morgan. The experienced goalkeeper drops a seemingly harmless Bob Tuohy high ball and it falls kindly for Darren McHale to fire into the net from a tight angle. It's an absolute gift for a Mayo side who didn't need any help in that first half. They lead by eight points. Today 02:37 PM All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Tyrone 0-4 Mayo 0-9 32' - Superb play from Darragh Canavan to draw the free from Jack Coyne and he has a tap over for Tyrone's fourth point of the evening. Another score before the hooter would be satisfactory for Tyrone given how this opening 35 minutes has gone. Today 02:35 PM All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 31' - Tyrone 0-3 Mayo 0-9 Momentum well and truly behind Mayo now. They have tacked on three scores in a few minutes, including a 45 from goalkeeper Colm Reape and one from play from Conal Dawson.
Irish Independent
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
GAA: Follow all this evening's football action as it happens
LIVE | It's been another bumper day of GAA action with the All-Ireland SFC series and Tailteann Cup continuing in football and the Christy Ring, Lory Meagher and Nickey Rackard Cups reaching their conclusion at Croke Park. We'll keep you up to date on this evening games in our GAA blog below. All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Cork 0-20 Kerry 1-28 (Full-time) Down 0-25 Louth 0-24 (Full-time) Roscommon 2-15 Meath 0-21 Tyrone 0-2 Mayo 0-6 Tailteann Cup Westmeath 0-18 Limerick 0-19 (Full-time) Offaly 3-15 Laois 2-17 Wicklow 2-28 Waterford 0-21 Christy Ring Cup final Derry 1-24 London 1-27 (Full-time) Lory Meagher Cup final Cavan 2-17 New York 4-17 (Full-time) Nickey Rackard Cup final Mayo 1-21 Roscommon 3-16 (Full-time) All-Ireland U-20 Hurling Championship final Kilkenny 1-16 Tipperary 3-19 (Full-time) All-Ireland Minor Football Championship Tier 3 final Wicklow 1-08 Longford 2-13 (Full-time) All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship Derry 0-5 Galway 4-25 (Full-time) Kilkenny 0-10 Waterford 0-17 (Full-time) Limerick 1-10 Wexford 0-10 (Full-time) Tipperary 1-09 Cork 3-21 (Full-time) one minute ago All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Tyrone 0-2 Mayo 0-6 24' - Big goal chance for Ryan O'Donoghue who is played through by Aidan O'Shea but his shot on goal is blocked brilliantly by the retreating Seanie O'Donnell. Low scoring stuff so far, with Mayo, whilst in front, mainly culpable for wastage in front of the posts. 5 minutes ago All-Ireland Senior Football Championship FULL TIME - Down 0-25 Louth 0-24 From 11 points adrift, Louth end up on the losing end of a single point defeat to Down in Newry. Two defeats in two now for the Leinster champions. Ultimately, they left themselves with too much to do. First half performances need to improve, surely. Down follow up their big win over Clare with a win of a different kind. Patrick Havern and Danny Magill produced 0-6 each. 14 minutes ago All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Down 0-24 Louth 0-22 68' - Four of Louth's last five scores have been two-pointers - all from the boots of important players Sam Mulroy (twice), Craig Lennon and Tommy Durnin. Louth have not been this close to Down since the opening minutes. An extraordinary comeback. 18 minutes ago All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Down 0-23 Louth 0-15 With 12 points between them, Sam Mulroy and Ryan Burns are leading the Louth charge but Down have a comfortable enough lead with around 10 minutes to play. Donal McKenny has had a goal-bound effort come off the upright in the last few minutes too. A point by Shay Miller has Down up by a surely unassailable eight. 21 minutes ago All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 46' - Roscommon 2-9 Meath 0-18 Roscommon trail Meath by just three points but they have passed up a major opportunity to draw level as Enda Smith's penalty is saved by Billy Hogan. 23 minutes ago All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 6' Tyrone 0-1 Mayo 0-1 It's taken over five minutes but we have scores on the board in Omagh. Michael McKernan bursts though the lines and fires over before Rory Brickenden scores a first Championship point for Mayo. 27 minutes ago This is how Malachy O'Rourke is lining out his Tyrone team tonight. Only three days ago, the Red Hand enjoyed a stunning All-Ireland victory at Under 20 level. Eoin McElholm scored 2-4 on Wednesday night and is in reserve here. Incidentally, David Coldrick of Meath is the referee. 32 minutes ago There are four changes to the Mayo XV previously advertised as they face Tyrone at O'Neills Healy Park in Omagh tonight. The teams are on the field and throw-in is just moments away. Mayo GAA on Twitter / X Changes to the Mayo senior football team. Mayo GAA (@MayoGAA) May 31, 2025 37 minutes ago All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Down 0-17 Louth 0-10 Sam Mulroy - who else? - has cut Down's lead from 10 points to seven in no time at all. Can Louth get back into the game in Newry? 38 minutes ago In the Tailteann Cup this evening, Offaly hold a narrow lead over Laois and Waterford are beating Wicklow. Both of those games are at half-time. Earlier in the day, Limerick booked their place in the quarter-finals. Read the match report below. Limerick advance to Tailteann Cup quarter-finals with first-ever win over Westmeath Limerick senior footballers recorded their first-ever competitive win against Westmeath in Portlaoise, thereby advancing directly to the quarter-finals of the Tailteann Cup. 40 minutes ago Look away if you're of a Cork persuasion - but this is worth looking at again. A brilliant double save from Shane Ryan and then a fantastic block from Brian Ó Beaglaoich keeps Mark Cronin at bay three times. Had that been scored, Cork might have sensed a comeback was on the cards in front of a home crowd. GAA+ on Twitter / X BIG MOMENT! 😮👀Cork miss a penalty and Kerry keep them out!Football clips brought to you by @AIB_GAA #TheToughest GAA+ (@GAAPlusOfficial) May 31, 2025 43 minutes ago A big moment for the Big Apple. New York captain Johnny Glynn, left, and James Breen lift the Lory Meagher Cup at Croke Park earlier this afternoon. 48 minutes ago Big news line coming out this evening. Davy Fitzgerald has been handed an eight-week suspension after his comments aimed at match official Johnny Murphy earlier this month. Read the full story below. Davy Fitzgerald banned for eight weeks for post-match comments after Antrim's loss to Galway Antrim manager Davy Fitzgerald has been suspended for eight weeks by the GAA for 'misconduct considered to have discredited the Association'. 51 minutes ago Christy Ring Cup final FULL TIME - Derry 1-24 London 1-27 Cahal Murray went for goal from a 20 metre free deep into injury time, but he couldn't find the net. From the subsequent 65, Derry sent goalkeeper Sean Kelly forward and he had an effort blocked down. High drama with Derry chasing only a goal to force extra-time but they couldn't fin it. It would be unkind to begrudge London the victory after that performance. 13 hours after their last victory in this competition, they've repeated the trick. Cormac O'Doherty hit nine points, eight from frees, with his consistency and accuracy from the boot proving crucial in the end. 59 minutes ago Christy Ring Cup final 70' Derry 1-24 London 1-25 Almost over at Croker and Derry trail by one. Unanswered scores by Ryan McGill, Richie Mullen, Ruairi O'Mianain and Eamonn Conway have given them a glimmer of hope. Today 01:28 PM All-Ireland Senior Football Championship FULL TIME - Cork 0-20 Kerry 1-28 David Clifford has just been named the GAA+ Man of the Match, with 1-8 to his name. In the last few minutes, Tony Brosnan and Tom O'Sullivan have added two-pointers - bringing the team's tally to six in the match. The hooter is followed soon by the whistle and Cork's championship woes go on. Kerry beat their great rivals again. Today 01:25 PM All-Ireland Senior Football Championship HALF TIME - Down 0-16 Louth 0-7 Derry have racked up a very sizeable 16 points in the first half against Louth - including two two-point scores. Louth have been a second half team for the most part this year but Ger Brennan will need a orchestrate a major turnaround to get back into contention at Pairc Esler. Ryan Burns' point on the whistle keeping them in it, just. Today 01:21 PM Christy Ring Cup final 60' Derry 1-20 London 1-23 London continue to lead Derry in the Christy Ring Cup final but it remains a one-score game. Too close to call at this stage. Derry have lost this game four times in the last decade and they need to find something soon to end that dire record. 2012 champions London are 10 minutes from another success. Today 01:19 PM All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 64' - Cork 0-18 Kerry 1-23 Such drama! Mark Cronin fails to beat Shane Ryan with a penalty as the goalkeeper dives to his left to help it onto the post. Then he saves again from Cronin and a third effort from the full-forward is blocked. Amazing. Cork fail to reduce the arrears as the clock ticks down. And Kerry - still - having conceded a goal in this year's Championship. Live Blog Software
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
GAA: Follow all the football and hurling action from around the country as it happens
LIVE | There's another bumper day of GAA action in store as the SFC and Tailteann Cup continue in football and the Christy Ring, Lory Meagher and Nickey Rackard Cups reach their conclusion at Croke Park. We'll keep you up to date across all codes in our GAA blog below. All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Cork v Kerry, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 4.45 – GAA+ Down v Louth, Páirc Esler, 5.30 Roscommon v Meath, King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park, 6.0 Tyrone v Mayo, O'Neills Healy Park, 7.0 – GAA+ Tailteann Cup Westmeath 0-8 Limerick 0-11 Offaly v Laois, Cedral St Conleth's, 6.0 Wicklow v Waterford, Chadwicks Wexford Park Christy Ring Cup final Derry v London, Croke Park, 5.0 – Spórt TG4 YouTube Lory Meagher Cup final Cavan 0-1 New York 0-1 Nickey Rackard Cup final Mayo 1-21 Roscommon 3-16 (FULL TIME) All-Ireland U-20 Hurling Championship final Kilkenny 0-0 Tipperary 0-0 All-Ireland Minor Football Championship Tier 3 final Wicklow 1-08 Longford 2-13 (FULL TIME) All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship Derry v Galway, Owenbeg, 2.0 Kilkenny v Waterford, UPMC Nowlan Park, 4.0 Limerick v Wexford, Mick Neville Park, 4.0 Tipperary v Cork, The Ragg, 4.0 5 minutes ago The teams and officials are on the field at Croke Park for the Lory Meagher Cup final. Neither Cavan or New York have tasted success in the competition, with the Breifne County beaten by Fermanagh in the 2021 final. 12 minutes ago With all 16 teams in All-Ireland SFC action across this weekend, eight-time winner Philly McMahon has been musing whether Gaelic Football is entering a new era - one of the elusive and jinky forward. That, he says, can be the key to success. 15 minutes ago Mayo face Tyrone in Omagh at 7pm this evening. On Frank Roche reflects on two weeks which has brought a shock defeat, Kevin McStay stepping back, officers confronting financial allegations and 'toxic' emails. 19 minutes ago Roscommon's third goal at Croke Park, score by Robbie Fallon, which ultimately proved the difference in the end for his team. Fallon hit 1-2 in total, as did Sean Canning and Brendan Mulry in the full forward line. The GAA on Twitter / X Robbie Fallon with a 3⃣rd goal for @RoscommonGAA against @MayoGAA in the Nicky Rackard Cup Final 🏆 #MAYVROS The GAA (@officialgaa) May 31, 2025 External contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties. 23 minutes ago Tailteann Cup 39' Westmeath 0-8 Limerick 0-10 It's half time at O'Moore Park in Portlaoise and after a tight 35 minutes-plus, Limerick have emerged with a two point advantage. James Naughton has accounted for five of those scores, four from play. 27 minutes ago Joint captains Conor Mulry and Conor Cosgrove lift the Nickey Rackard at Croker for Roscommon, to a fair roar from a modest crowd. 30 minutes ago To 2007 and 2015, add 2025 to the Roscommon Roll of Honour. Only four time winners Donegal have claimed the Nickey Rackard on more occasions than the Rossies now. 32 minutes ago Nickey Rackard Cup final Mayo 1-21 (24) Roscommon 3-16 (25) (70) FULL TIME! - Four unanswered scores late in the day from Ben McGahon, Eoin Kiernan and Brenan Mulry quell the Mayo surge and Roscommon claim the Nickey Rackard Cup. 39 minutes ago Nickey Rackard Cup final Mayo 1-21 Roscommon 3-12 (67) A point from play Eoin Delaney, either side of a few wides for Mayo, gives his team more breathing space. They might have come to rue some wasteful scoring attempts in the last ten minutes but a Sean Kenny score leaves Roscommon needing a goal. 46 minutes ago Nickey Rackard Cup final Mayo 1-19 Roscommon 3-12 (60) GOAL! - Big few minutes in the game as Eoin Delaney nets to bring Mayo within a point of Roscommon. Shane Boland immediately follows up with a score to level and then Liam Lavin does the same. Mayo have turned it around. 52 minutes ago Nickey Rackard Cup final Mayo 0-16 3-12 Roscommon (53) GOAL! - Robbie Fallon nets for the Rossies after being picked out with a centre. Three different goalscorers for Roscommon, who now lead by five. 55 minutes ago Nickey Rackard Cup final Mayo 0-16 2-12 Roscommon (52) The Nickey Rackard Cup final is 50 minutes in and Roscommon lead Mayo by a two points, 2-12 to 0-16, at GAA HQ. Roscommon had led by three at the internal but Mayo are staying in it. Today 09:01 AM Hello and welcome to live blog coverage of Saturday's Gaelic Games action. Barry Landy here and I'll be keeping you up-to-date throughout the afternoon and evening right here. There are 16 matches taking place across the country, including four clashes in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship group series, as well as matches in the Tailteann Cup and three finals from Croke Park and more besides. The meeting of Munster's big guns Cork and Kerry at Páirc Uí Chaoimh is the first game of the day available to GAA+ subscribers and Tyrone v Mayo follows later with a 7pm throw-in. The Christy Ring, Lory Meagher and Nickey Rackard cup finals from Croke Park are all available to watch on the Spórt TG4 YouTube channel.
Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Watch live stream of Cavan v New York in the Lory Meagher Cup final
The Lory Meagher final taces place in Croke Park this weekend as Cavan take on debutants New York. The game throws in at 3pm and there is a place in the Nicky Rackard Cup for the winner. The match is being shown live by TG4 via YouTube and you can watch it live on the video at the top of this article. New York have reached the final in their first ever season in an All-Ireland Senior hurling competition, beating Monaghan by 1-29 to 2-13. Cavan are hoping to put their loss to Leitrim last time out behind them to win the cup. The Exiles previously won the 2024 Connacht Hurling League before being allowed to play in the Lory Meagher Cup after GAA Congress approved the motion. If they win the cup, no team will be relegated from the Nicky Rackard and the current format for Lory Meagher would apply in the Nicky Rackard Cup.
The 42
3 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
Not everyone in a New York state of mind as hurlers head for final in Croke Park
THE CHANCES ARE, it won't even be close. That's not to disrespect the work that has gone into Cavan hurling and the seasons that Ollie Bellew has given to them. But New York are, as Owen Mulligan once described then-teammate Darren McCurry after he made his senior debut for Tyrone – 'Different McCurry.' A New York win, in a national final, in Croke Park, could be seen as a fairytale for New York. But for those that are facing them and the Monaghan hurling community that faced them last weekend, the wind blows straight through them. The whole thing has turned them cold. While New York had a right to enter a competition to play in the All-Ireland hurling championships, the complaints centre around the feeling that they were always far too strong for the Lory Meagher Cup. This was illustrated by the gulf in class between themselves and Monaghan in the semi-final last weekend in Mullingar, when the Exiles won 1-29 to 2-13. Even before the game, Monaghan manager Arthur Hughes was scathing. 'It's an absolute joke in my opinion,' he said. 'You don't know what you're coming up against, what level they're at, and it's completely unfair to just fly a team into the semi-finals. If you're going to participate in a competition, you should be there from the start.' This weekend's opposition, Cavan, feel the same way. Their manager Ollie Bellew has been working hard with the Breffni hurlers for a number of years now and can hardly contain himself, telling Northern Sound radio station, 'It's disgusting how the GAA have handled the situation.' 'If there's any integrity within the organisation, it'll be investigated and they'll look how to deal with things like that better going forward'. 'You know, it was a vote-getting thing' added Bellew. 'You know, promoting hurling in developing counties is always a token gesture.' He continued, 'But it was all compounded by the very fact that, New York are staying in Mullingar! Monaghan had deserved to be in a Lory Meagher final, and all of a sudden, they have to go to a Lory Meagher semi-final in a neutral venue, and that neutral venue was Mullingar'. 'So, like, that compounded everything for me'. While the vote at GAA Congress in February was 76.8% in favour of New York's inclusion, the fixture had already been published on the New York GAA website beforehand. Kevin Moloney is a former Monaghan minor manager, now managing his own club, Castleblayney in Monaghan. He contacted The 42 to air his views. Advertisement Kevin Moloney. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO 'They were pitted against the likes of Johnny Glynn, lovely hurler and all that, he could have scored two more goals if he had have wanted. He tapped them over the bar. It became a farce in the end, they were just taking points. They were a bit half embarrassed by the end of it,' said Moloney. 'But who asked for them to get into it? Who asked for them to get into it at that level? 'Why were people from strong hurling counties asking for that when they hadn't asked the opinion of those from weaker counties?' Moloney warned that the precedent set at Congress could result in more GAA units wanting to take part in lower-level championships. 'The Middle East could bring a team and we have seen in the sevens that they have very strong teams. If they come in, they would win the Lory Meagher or the Nickey Rackard next year,' he reasoned. 'If they were really serious about it, why not bring the two teams, Cavan and Monaghan from this year, over to New York and play a game over there. Whoever wins that semi-final plays New York in the final. Would that not do more to promote hurling in those counties that it would anything else? 'Most of those fellas played with counties such as Cork and Galway, some from Westmeath. Great hurlers. They don't deserve to be in with Monaghan. 'There's platitudes towards it. Would they not be better to pay a good coach 50,000 a year to come up and spearhead hurling in Cavan and Monaghan?' So the question is, just how good are New York? As previously detailed on this site, they have 14 hurling clubs in total, far surpassing any county team they could have faced in the Lory Meagher. Maybe more than half the counties of Ireland, come to think of it. The Hollywood name is obviously the Galway All-Ireland winner Johnny Glynn who has now become possibly the only man to represent New York in both codes in the modern age. Johnny Glynn playing football for New York. Sharon Redican / INPHO Sharon Redican / INPHO / INPHO Then at wing-back, you have Seán O'Leary-Hayes. He was the Cork minor captain in 2017 for the All-Ireland final and made his championship debut for Cork seniors in 2020. He's won a Cork senior championship medal for Midleton. Chances are, he's not going to be all that troubled about who he is marking this Saturday. This is a man who in the past has been handed the responsibility of sticking tight to Aaron Gillane in Croke Park. Seán O'Leary-Hayes. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO Darragh Moran was a panellist on the All-Ireland winning Cork U20 team of 2020 and Dara Walsh of Eire Óg, Ennis, won a Fitzgibbon Cup with UCC in 2019. A brief look through the home clubs of the players throws up very recognisable names such as Kinvara, Clooney-Quin, Gort, Kiladangan, Portroe, Doon and Athenry. So yeah. They have more pedigree than Crufts. By parachuting in this team at the semi-final stage, it feels for many as just another blatant example of disrespect. At the start of 2024 there was a furore around the prospect of five counties; Leitrim, Fermanagh, Cavan, Longford and Louth losing out on playing national league hurling as proposed by the Central Competitions Control Committee. Ultimately, the pushback against the move was so fierce, with hurling voices from the established counties lending their support, that the GAA did not proceed with such plans. The establishment of the Hurling Development Committee and the appointment of former Tipperary hurler and Laois manager Willie Maher as national head of hurling – a role that was left vacant for years after former Kilkenny coach Martin Fogarty's contract ran out – shows that there is a genuine appetite to improve participation levels and standards of hurling within the association. However, certain realities need to be faced. The Ulster Council of the GAA are currently recruiting a regional hurling development officer, with a salary advertised at £27,400 – £30,700. Given the scope of the role and the planning required to truly have an effect in such a role, the salary is way out of kilter with the calibre of personnel that is required. This is the kind of dough that is a handy stop-gap while you get ready to go for a year's backpacking, not that gets a mortgage on the go. For a time, Moloney himself was on the county board as a hurling development officer, but left after a time, feeling that the role wasn't much more than a box-ticking exercise. In the meantime, he is frustrated by GAA officials and the inclusion of New York in the Lory Meagher. 'Croke Park have been very silent on it. Nobody has said it was a farce. Last Saturday in Mullingar was wrong and Michael Duignan needs asked what did last Saturday do to hurling in Monaghan?' he asked, referencing the former Offaly hurler and county board chairman who spoke in favour of New York entering at the GAA Congress in Donegal. 'I spoke to four Monaghan players on the panel after the game and they were very downbeat. It shouldn't have been allowed to happen. 'But nobody speaks up for them. That's the bottom line.' If New York do win the Lory Meagher Cup, then no team will be relegated from the Nickey Rackard Cup this year. Fermanagh will remain at that level and it will increase next year from being a six-team competition to one of seven teams. But should New York not win the Lory Meagher in 2026, then they will have to play a relegation play-off against the team that finished bottom after the group stages. 'For example, that is Fermanagh this year. And they have to wait around for three weeks to play a match? How would you keep a panel around for that?' asks Moloney. 'There's a lot of joined-up thinking missing here. But nobody could explain to me what good that exercise did for hurling last Saturday. 'I have no problem with New York playing. No problem at all, as long as they are at the right level. And anyone that knows anything about hurling would have known what level these hurlers are at. 'They are not at Lory Meagher level. They should have been put in at Christy Ring level and they would have swam, and not sank.' Sure. There would be many that feels even pointing out all that stuff is mean-spirited and begrudging. But there you have it. Welcome to the real world. **** Check out the latest episode of The42′s GAA Weekly podcast here
