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RTÉ News
21-07-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Shane McGrath: Tipperary must savour the moment
Thoughts of going back-to-back must be parked by Tipperary in order to truly appreciate All-Ireland success, says former player Shane McGrath. The Premier County overturned a six-point interval deficit to run out comprehensive 15-point winners over a shell-shocked Cork at Croke Park on Sunday for a second Liam MacCarty in in half a dozen years. The Rebels All-Ireland drought, which stretches back to 2005, continues for at least another year. McGrath was on radio duties for RTÉ at Croke Park to witness a memorable day for his county, and says he is reminded of 2010 with the current fortunes of the Premier County. Fifteen years ago he was part of Laim Sheedy's side that ended Kilkenny's drive-for-five, with a destruction of Galway in the U-21 decider a week later in Thurles adding to the feel-good factor in the county. While McGrath feels the similarity between then and now is obvious, he argues that the huge expectation back in 2010 is at odds with the current hopes, with Liam Cahill's senior crop coming from the pack to seal an unlikely All-Ireland title. "We just have to enjoy this for now in Tipp," he told the RTÉ GAA podcast. "In 2010 I remember we won and a week later we won the Under-21 All-Ireland. This year we have won the Under-20 and senior, but there isn't the same talk that we were going to take over. "Clare were All-Ireland champions last year and couldn't get out of Munster. Things don't always go your way. You might pick up injuries, you might not get the chance to get back there next year. "The players need to enjoy it in the right way."
Irish Independent
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Meet the Tipperary – and Cork – fans still revelling in All-Ireland glory in Cashel
Meet the Tipperary – and Cork – fans still revelling in All-Ireland glory in Cashel A staunch Cork supporter who lives behind enemy lines in deepest Tipperary has said the Premier County deserved to win in the second half, but Cork will be back next year, better and stronger. Cathal Kelleher lives on the Main Street of Cashel, and goes to every Cork match he can, hanging out the red and white rebel flag – the 'blood and bandages' with pride, surrounded by his Tipperary neighbours' blue and gold, with whom he enjoys the banter. Cork didn't play well at all, said the retired banker. 'They had no energy or momentum in the second half.
Irish Daily Mirror
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Tipperary manager Liam Cahill kidnapped by team during live BBC interview
Tipperary boss Liam Cahill was kidnapped by his team during a live BBC interview as they hoisted him in the air in celebration. Cahill's three-year project with Tipperary came to its crescendo on Sunday afternoon when his side held Cork to just two points in the second half of the All-Ireland final. The win means Liam MacCarthy is heading back to the Premier County for the first time since 2019, with Cahill being the popular leader of the group. While conducting a BBC interview after the final, Cahill was taken away unexpectedly by his grateful panel and thrown up in the air. Cahill hit all the right notes with his side in the build-up to this one, with players speaking glowingly of their leader. Cahill also discussed the message the late Dillon Quirke's father sent to the team ahead of the final. 'Dillon is with us every day. When we started out on this journey in 2023, we were all hit with the devastating tragedy of what happened to him. 'I was 50 yards from it, the day it happened in Semple Stadium, and I'll never forget it. And it had a huge effect on our dressing-room. 'It was a really difficult year, 2023 - and 2024 - around everybody trying to cope with it in their own way. Like today, I got a text from Dan, his Dad, coming up the road to wish me luck. And I just said that Dillon will be on all our shoulders today, regardless of what happens in the result. 'And, you know, he should be with us today. But the legacy he's leaving and the work that he's doing to save lives across Ireland at the moment through his name and the foundation is just incredible. 'And today I never flinched at any stage on the line. Once he was across my chest, I knew that we would be battling right to the end. And I'm just so proud to have had an input into his life for the short number of years he was with us.'
RTÉ News
20-07-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Tipperary ratings: Darragh McCarthy and John McGrath supreme on dream day
Tipperary are All-Ireland senior hurling champions for the first time since 2019 after a stunning win against Cork. Here's how we rated the Premier County players. TIPPERARY Rhys Shelly - 8 To think this was Tipperary's second-choice goalkeeper at the start of the Championship. Mixed up his puck-outs nicely and got 22 of his 29 away. Couldn't have done much about the Cork goal and enjoyed a thunderous second-half performance, scoring a point from play and saving a penalty. Steady under a series of dangerous high balls too. Robert Doyle - 7.5 Enjoyed the freedom of Croke Park for one score late in the first half. His principal task was to pick up Alan Connolly and he held the goal-poacher supreme to just a point from play. Excellent overall in just his eighth Championship game. 7.5 Eoghan Connolly - 7.5 Wore number three but started on the wing and picked up Diarmuid Healy, who had a strong first-half. Offered plenty going forward, scoring his 14th point of the campaign, taking a shot that went just wide and feeding John McGrath for Tipp's third goal. Michael Breen - 8 Exceptional in the second half as Tipp turned the screw. When he won a 47th-minute free and punched the air, it summed up both his and the team's attitude. Held Patrick Horgan to a point from play and picked up his third All-Ireland winner's medal at the end of a season in which he started every game. Craig Morgan - 6 Had his hands full on Shane Barrett, Cork's best performer overall. Barrett streaked past Morgan for a 10th minute point, an early indicator of what was to come. Ended up as Tipp's sweeper for a spell in the second-half, replacing Bryan O'Mara there. Eventually replaced with 15 minutes to go. Ronan Maher - 8 Got the job of marking Brian Hayes, the pre-match Hurler of the Year favourite. The Tipp captain fouled Hayes for a free that was converted and a late penalty that wasn't. Hayes scored just a point from play overall and faded out of the game as Maher helped power Tipp on to a famous win. Bryan O'Mara - 7.5 Handed the task of sweeping between the two defensive lines for Tipperary. The number seven helped lock down a mean defence and just got there moments too late to stop Shane Barrett getting his shot away for the Cork goal. Came off with an apparent injury. Willie Connors - 8 Wore number eight but dropped to wing-back to accommodate Bryan O'Mara operating as a sweeper. Picked up Declan Dalton who was the first Cork player substituted. Shot a silly wide late in the first half when Tipp were taking on water but was brilliant in the second-half. Conor Stakelum - 7.5 Played his part in a landmark with a trojan performance in the middle. Chased down Tim O'Mahony, pinched a point and got through plenty of work before being replaced late on. Jake Morris - 7.5 Won a free in the 43rd minute, which was converted, and begged the crowd to raise the decibel levels even further. A player who loves the big occasion and helped himself to two points. Only came on as a sub in the 2019 final win but was a key performer this time, despite three first-half wides. Andrew Ormond - 8 Struck back-to-back points at the start of the second-half which got Tipperary going and indicated their appetite for destruction. Drew a foul off Mark Coleman which led to a point and stepped up impressively on the big occasion. Sam O'Farrell - 7 On just his eighth Championship appearance, the Nenagh man oozed quality, like his sumptuous pass over the top for Eoghan Connolly's goal chance. Nominally Tipp's number 12 but lined out at midfield next to Conor Stakelum. Set up Jake Morris for the opening point and two more in the third quarter as Tipp got on top. Darragh McCarthy - 9 What a performance from the Toomevara phenom. 1-13 on All-Ireland final day speaks for itself but it was the nerveless display that really stood out. He was jeered for his elaborate, and perhaps laboured, free-taking routine but wasn't rattled and only drilled a single wide all day. Nailed the penalty superbly when it would have been easy to take the point. John McGrath - 9 Picked a fine time to score his 21st and 22nd Championship goals. Aside from the 2-02 he stuck away, McGrath also won the penalty that Darragh McCarthy converted, hauled to the ground by Eoin Downey who was sent off on a second yellow card. The second half, when he scored 2-01, was probably his greatest 35 minutes in a Tipp shirt. Jason Forde - 7 Had Sean O'Donoghue for company in a head-to-head that lasted the duration. Wasn't on the frees despite a strong semi-final display against Kilkenny but still escaped his man for two points. Drew an important free off O'Donoghue that led to a first-half point too. Substitutes Seamus Kennedy - 6.5 The first man in, for Bryan O'Mara. Spread it around well when he gained possession. Alan Tynan - 7 Brought even more power and purpose to the Tipp attack when introduced. Noel McGrath - 7 What a day for the veteran attacker who picked up his fourth All-Ireland medal. Scored the last point and held his arms aloft in celebration. Possibly his last act for Tipp. Darragh Stakelum - no rating Got the last five minutes. Registered a wide. Oisin O'Donoghue - no rating Not on long enough to grab a fourth goal of the Championship.
The Sun
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Sharlene Mawdsley shares tender moment with Tipperary GAA boyfriend Michael Breen after emotional All-Ireland final win
TIPPERARY'S victory in the All-Ireland final was sealed with a kiss in a tender moment between Sharlene Mawdsley and boyfriend Michael Breen. Breen and his Premier County teammates won Liam McCarthy for the first time since 2019 with a dramatic comeback win over Cork on Sunday. 2 The players and staff were cheered on by their friends and family in the stands at Croke Park. That included Sharlene Mawdsley, who is in a relationship with corner-back Michael Breen. After the game, Sportsfile captured the moment Breen brought the iconic trophy over to his girlfriend, who gave him a kiss on the cheek in celebration. The all-star couple have been an Instagram official couple since Mawdsley shared a pic of themselves at Semple Stadium in May. But they have known each other for a whole lot longer judging by a precious throwback pic she posted on Breen's birthday. The 26-year-old shared a photo collage of the couple, including a throwback photo. The pic is an eye-catching one, as it showed the 2024 Olympian with brown hair, with the Newport AC export best known as a blonde. Conveniently, the Ballina man's birthday also fell on Sharlene's grandmother's 90th birthday which yielded a similarly emotional post. The photograph which signalled that they had gone Instagram official was on the Semple Stadium pitch following Tipp's win over Waterford. But that wasn't the first time she'd been in attendance to cheer on Liam Cahill's side this year. Watch RTE pundits' contrasting reaction to full-time whistle of Tipperary's epic win over Kilkenny In the wake of the sprinter's relationship update, her previous matchday experience makes even more sense even leaving aside that she is a Tipperary native herself. She spent her Easter Sunday at Semple Stadium in Thurles roaring them on during a thrilling draw with Limerick. So it's no wonder why a few more in the know people who commented on her post felt a relationship announcement was overdue. Stephanie wrote: "Awwwww Shar about time (love heart emoji)." Meanwhile fellow Olympian Cathal Doyle added: "Loving the hard launch Sharlene." Elsewhere, Mike hailed: "Two of Tipp's finest athletes. Magic." And lastly, Una Healy of The Saturdays fame posted a love heart emoji of her own. Since going official, Mawdsley and Breen have been regularly documenting their romance on Instagram. He previously quipped he was on "coaching duty" while looking on as she did laps on what looks to be the same track. The Premier hurler has also been a regular visitor at her University of Limerick training base. And when she was heading to Slovenia for the European Athletics Team Championships for her first competitive race since the death of her dad, Breen was on hand to be her taximan. Mawdsley returned the favour by getting a front row seat as Breen and Tipperary qualified for the All-Ireland hurling final with a semi-final win over Kilkenny. After the semi-final victory, the corner-back posted a photo on Instagram of them all smiles. Breen captioned it: "First time in Croke Park is it?" To which the sprinter replied: "And not my last!"
