Latest news with #MicheálDonoghue
Irish Times
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Leinster SHC final: Unflappable Kilkenny can contain the Galway bounce-back
Leinster GAA SHC final Kilkenny v Galway, Croke Park, Sunday 4pm Are Galway becoming a bit like the three-card trick merchants? Every year is the one that's going to be different. Honest. It has been some resurrection for Micheál Donoghue's team to proceed from the vacuous display in Nowlan Park seven weeks ago to being quietly reinstated as contenders for this weekend. Kilkenny in Leinster finals have been a constant source of grief for the westerners since they moved into the province. One win in eight is the running total, allowing that in 2018 the first match was a draw and they eventually won after a replay. Nearly all of those were comprehensive defeats or spectacular self-infliction, like 2020 and 2023. There is, however, some logic to the Galway revisions. They caned a Dublin team that Kilkenny had laboured to put away and even if the Dubs were unfathomably poor two weeks ago, their opponents' vigilant pressing and tactical nous were influential in forcing that. READ MORE Goals are again an issue, in that of the six teams in the Leinster round robin, only Antrim managed fewer green flags than Galway but no side has hit more points. Of course, when Donoghue guided the county to the 2017 All-Ireland, they notably scored no goals in four of their five championship matches. This, predictably, isn't a concern for their opponents, who with 15 have top-scored in championship goals to date. The team hasn't been tweaked much, let alone overhauled, but Derek Lyng continues to get the most out of them. Injuries have stalked selections and Eoin Cody is missing again with hamstring trouble but TJ Reid perseveres and has bagged 4-22 in the last three matches, 3-2 from play. There was the now traditional reverse against Wexford on the last day but that was a dead rubber from Kilkenny's perspective. For that match, Lyng ran an experiment of Adrian Mullen at centre back. It may have been whimsy but presumably there was some level of curiosity as to how the unusual placing of an All Star front eight player would fare and how sustainable the attack might be in his absence. The challenge for Galway is how dependable their opponents are. Kilkenny are on a six-in-a-row in Leinster despite having hardly impacted on the All-Ireland championship during that time. They will turn up and play to a guaranteed level. [ Galway's Cathal Mannion only too aware of Kilkenny's extra-time threat Opens in new window ] They will be more attentive in marking Galway's players and not leaving the gaps that Dublin did nor yielding the same stream of turnovers. David Burke had an excellent match in Parnell Park and his distribution will be a key factor for them. Donoghue has a good record in Leinster finals, having won two titles in three years during his first tenure. They will press hard and in the repurposed Conor Whelan and the prolific Cathal Mannion they have All Star quality forwards in form. Kilkenny's consistency and application, however, look more persuasive. Verdict : Kilkenny Kilkenny : E. Murphy; M Butler, H Lawlor, T Walsh; M Carey, R Reid, P Deegan; C Kenny, J Molloy; J Donnelly, A Mullen, B Ryan; S Donnelly, TJ Reid, M Keoghan. Subs : A Tallis, P Moylan, D Blanchfield, S Murphy, K Doyle, Z Bay Hammond, F Mackessy, H Shine, L Hogan, L Connellan, M Murphy. Galway : E Murphy; P Mannion, Daithí Burke, F Burke; C Fahy, G Lee, TJ Brennan; S Linnane, David Burke; J Fleming, C Mannion, T Monaghan; C Whelan, B Concannon, K Cooney. Subs : D Walsh, D Morrissey, J Grealish, J Ryan, D Loftus, R Glennon, C Cooney, T Killeen, A Burns, C Molloy, J Flynn.
The Irish Sun
29-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Micheal Donoghue blasts ‘mental' GAA calendar as Galway prepare for Leinster final war against Kilkenny
GALWAY boss Michéal Donoghue has joined the chorus calling for a longer inter-county season. Clare, Waterford, Antrim, Offaly and Wexford all waved the 2 Galway manager Micheál Donoghue reckons the GAA inter-county season needs to be longer 2 The Gawlay boss and his team face Kilkenny in the Leinster SHC final Whoever loses will face another three weeks on the spin in the All-Ireland preliminary round and quarter-finals. The Clarinbridge man knows something had to give in terms of a split season, but feels the inter-county schedule needs more breathing space in league and championship. He said: 'I would be in full agreement. I think the three weeks on the spin is really, really hard. I think there should definitely be another break in between. 'In my view, I think the league needs to be restructured. I think, as an example, we had half our league games played in 14 days this year as well, which was absolutely mental. READ MORE ON GAA 'So, I think the structure of that maybe should be looked at because I think if you look at it down the last few years, teams are just trying to navigate themselves through it and maybe just keep their status. 'I think this time of the year when teams start getting knocked out, particularly in Munster, there's always a shout to say 'why are they gone' and 'why are they still in it' and whatever. 'That's the way it's been orchestrated and that's the way it has been, so you've just got to soak it up. "I think we talk about player welfare, and I think sometimes the powers that be forget the boys are still amateur. Most read in GAA Hurling 'You've still got to get up and go to work and do the day job and if you have kids or whatever. Then you've always got recovery, so it's a massive toll. 'As I said, I think in the current structure maybe an extra week or two weeks just to space it out for those elements really.' 'Like something out of the French Revolution' - RTE GAA pundit Donal Og Cusack slams Dublin star's reckless swipe
Irish Times
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Galway ride the wind to make history and reach Leinster final
Leinster SHC: Dublin 3-15 Galway 0-29 Galway made their history at a packed Parnell Park on Sunday with a very first championship win away against Dublin . The match itself was a more prosaic affair and the home team at no stage looked likely to maintain their pristine record in the fixture. Former Dublin manager Micheál Donoghue returned to the capital with Galway and comfortably achieved the victory. They dominated the puck-outs and their forwards were sharper and more accurate. Even the five-point margin was illusory, as a more reflective scoreline was undermined by the concession of a couple of injury-time goals. Dublin had the advantage of a strong wind in the first half but failed to harness it after a particularly poor start when their accuracy was askew. Trying to harness the elements, they attempted several long-range scores but ended up with eight wides and a couple dropped short. READ MORE Similarly, the tactic of going long into the forwards foundered on Galway's disinclination to break formation and none of the intended recipients, primarily John Hetherton, were able to take clean possession. Galway went unfussily about their business. Their own accuracy wasn't perfect but in-form Cathal Mannion was flawless from frees and influential in play and Brian Concannon was also a constant threat. By the 17th minute they led 0-6 to 0-1. Dublin found a response. Rian McBride scored a goal after a good run by Seán Currie. Points followed – Dublin even briefly led – and by half-time, the teams were level, 0-10 to 1-7. More troubling for Dublin was that nobody would have said at the start that parity would be a good half-time outcome, having played with the breeze. They might have also had a man advantage but referee Colm Lyons took a lenient view of Daithi Burke's 26th-minute clattering of Conor Burke. Dublin's Conor McHugh in action against Galway's Brian Concannon. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho As the cliche has it, the wind won't score the points for you and Galway still had to make it count, which they duly did. Their shooting was excellent, converting three-quarters of their chances, the precision dropping only towards the end when the contest was well won. Conor Whelan came strongly into the match in his new half-forward role, Concannon's torment of the Dublin backs continued and Tom Monaghan chipped in from centrefield. The late scores were just a gloss. In the 69th minute, Currie drove a free into the net and minutes later, Conal Ó Riain was on hand to scramble in a third. The result was in no way threatened and Galway progress to play Kilkenny in the Leinster final, an outcome that they would have happily grasped after losing the same fixture so dismally in April. 'The wind was a massive factor,' said Donoghue afterwards. 'We had to lock it down as much as we could. I thought that probably gave us the platform to go in the game. We were happy enough with where we were at half-time, probably not too happy with the way we conceded the goal. 'Then obviously with the strength of the wind, we could push up on their puck-outs, force them to go long and I thought in the first 15 minutes we obviously dominated and that was reflected on the scoreboard but I think equally you can see the experience and for the last couple of minutes (in the second half), Dublin showed the quality and took their goals really well but we'd be really disappointed with the way we conceded those goals.' Galway manager Micheál Donoghue and Dublin manager Niall Ó Ceallacháin shake hands after the game. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho 'It just illustrates the work we still have to do with the lads and the inexperience that's still there. Look, for us, it's been a really good trajectory over the last couple of weeks and we're just glad we're going into a Leinster final. It will give less experienced fellas the chance to be involved in a Leinster final and that can only be good for them as they move forward as players.' Ó Ceallacháin was disappointed with probably the worst performance of the campaign. 'I think we had a lot of joy from a certain way of playing over the last few weeks and that has been off second ball, off primary ball, to the forward line. That didn't happen in that first half. Their half back line sat a lot of the time and often they had an extra body to that break. When it was there, it seemed that they came out every time. 'At the same time, it didn't look like we had lads in pockets either that were free all the time. We need to look back at that and look why. As we stand here, I'm not 100 per cent sure why.' He was unsure whether leading forward Dónal Burke would be available for the preliminary quarter-final against either of the Joe McDonagh Cup finalists, Kildare or Laois. DUBLIN: S Brennan; P Smyth, C McHugh, J Bellew; C Donohoe (0-1), C Crummey (0-1), P Doyle (0-1); C Burke, B Hayes (0-1); R McBride (1-1), C O'Sullivan (0-3), D Power; S Currie (1-6, 1-4f), J Hetherton, A Jamieson-Murphy (0-1). Subs: R Hayes for Murphy (46 mins), C Currie for Power (51), D Lucey for Bellew (55), F Whitely for Burke (58), C Ó Riain (1-0) for Doyle (68, temp) and for B Hayes (70). GALWAY: D Fahy; P Mannion, F Burke, Daithi Burke; C Fahy (0-2), G Lee, TJ Brennan (0-1); David Burke (0-3), S Linnane (0-1); J Fleming, T Monaghan (0-4), C Whelan (0-3); B Concannon (0-5), C Mannion (0-8f), A Burns (0-1). Subs: C Cooney (0-1) for Fleming (22-25 mins, temp), J Grealish for Daithi Burke (48), Cooney for Burns, T Killeen for Fleming (both 60). Referee: C Lyons (Cork).
Irish Times
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
GAA live updates: Dublin play Galway before Cork play Waterford
28 minutes ago Leinster SHC: Wexford v Kilkenny, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 2pm Dublin v Galway, Parnell Park, 2pm Offaly v Antrim, Glenisk O'Connor Park, 2pm READ MORE Munster SHC: Limerick v Clare, TUS Gaelic Grounds Limerick, 4pm Cork v Waterford, Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 4pm 14 minutes ago Good afternoon and welcome to today's live blog with hurling taking centre stage. The last round of games in both the Leinster and Munster Championships will produce the team advancing to the knockout stages of the All-Ireland while also finalising the provincial final pairings. The action starts at 2pm in Leinster, followed by the last round of games in Munster at 4pm. It's Gordon Manning here and I'll be keeping you up to speed throughout the day with all the news from around the country and updates from our reporters on the ground at matches. 9 minutes ago There was plenty of football action yesterday too but we are going to build up to today's hurling fixtures. It's showery here in Dublin right now so could be greasy at Parnell Park when Dublin host Galway at the sold-out Donnycarney venue. 7 minutes ago Ahead of the Dublin v Galway clash, we spoke to former Dubs goalkeeper Alan Nolan on the rivalry between the sides and some of the dramatic last-day encounters of recent years - with current Galway manager Micheál Donoghue experiencing it from both dressing-rooms. [ Micheál Donoghue leads Galway back to Dublin for make-or-break duel Opens in new window ] 2 minutes ago Joe Canning takes a look at what might unfold in the hours ahead: 'Surprise results have been a feature of the Leinster championship in recent years, but that hasn't been the case this season. In this game, there is no outcome that would surprise me.' [ Joe Canning: Cork appear to be playing a long game, but such a strategy is not without risk Opens in new window ]
Irish Daily Mirror
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Offaly v Antrim, Dublin v Galway and Wexford v Kilkenny live updates
The final round of group matches in the Leinster Hurling Championship takes place this afternoon with three 2pm throw-ins. Galway and Dublin are already through to the All-Ireland stages, but the winner of today's match in Parnell Park will have the prize of a Leinster final with Kilkenny. Last year, Galway were knocked out of the championship at this stage by Dublin, who were then managed by current Galway boss Micheál Donoghue. It has been a disappointing season for Wexford, whose two defeats mean they have nothing to play for this weekend as they face a Kilkenny side already through to the Leinster final. Many eyes will be on Tullamore, though, where winless pair Offaly and Antrim clash, knowing that the loser will drop down to the Joe McDonagh Cup. All three matches are scheduled for 2pm throw-ins, and we will be keeping tabs on all the action. The big story this afternoon will be the fate of Offaly and Antrim as they try to avoid relegation. Many Antrim fans were hoping that the appointment of Davy Fitzgerald would raise the standards within the county, but they endured a testing Championship campaign, with all four of their defeats being by ten points or more. In contrast, Offaly have come out on the wrong side of close contests with the likes of Dublin and Wexford. Their young side seems to be progressing, and they will be keen to preserve their status in the top tier. Offaly: Mark Troy; Ben Conneely, Ciaran Burke, James Mahon; Ross Ravenhill, Donal Shirley, Jason Sampson; Cathal King, Colin Spain; Killian Sampson, Daniel Bourke, Oisin Kelly; Dan Ravenhill, Charlie Mitchell, Brian Duignan. Subs: Liam Hoare, Sam Bourke, Eoghan Cahill, Brecon Kavanagh, Jack Clancy, Eoin Burke, Padraig Cantwell, David King, DJ McLoughlin, Ben Miller, David Nally. Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Stephen Rooney, Paddy Burke, Niall O'Connor; Conall Bohill, Joe Maskey, Conor Boyd; Gerard Walsh, Eoghan Campbell; Ryan McCambridge, Nigel Elliott, Scott Walsh; Joseph McLaughlin, Eoin O'Neill, Cormac McKeown. Subs: Ruairi McCormick, Eoin McFerran, Ryan McGarry, Rory McCloskey, Sean McKay, Paul Boyle, James McNaughton, Aodhan McGarry, Keelan Molloy, Fred McCurry, Jack McCloskey.
