Latest news with #PwCPlayeroftheMonth
Irish Daily Mirror
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Waterford star gives verdict on introducing 'three-up' rule to ladies game
Waterford's Emma Murray says she would welcome the introduction of the 'three up' rule to ladies football. The concept, which means that teams must keep three outfield players in one half of the field at all times, has been credited with revolutionising the men's game this year, along with a number of other rule changes introduced by the Jim Gavin-led Football Review Committee. But none of those apply to ladies football, where teams can still get 15 players behind the ball, leading to stalemate scenarios. 'We see the positive impact that it's had in the men's game,' said Murray of the 'three-up' rule. 'It's after making it very exciting and got rid of that defensive style that we've seen over the last few years so yeah, if it was brought into ladies it would be positive as well and stop team getting everyone back behind the ball and makes for more exciting and attacking football.' She added: 'When you're playing it you mightn't even realise that you might be going over and across the pitch trying to break down a defence for four or five minutes but if it makes the game more exciting for spectators and that, a three-up like the men's game would surely be a positive introduction.' Murray picked up the PwC Player of the Month award for June as Waterford reached the All-Ireland quarter-finals, where they lost to Galway last weekend. She feels there needs to be more consistency and scope around how the physical stakes are policed. 'A big one over the last few seasons has been the contact,' she explained. 'You'd often see that charging rule, we're all well aware of it, is still a little bit of a grey area, what's allowed and what's not allowed. 'One day out it might be a free for you, the next day it might be a free to the other player so the physicality one is probably one that needs to be looked at. 'People are in the gym and all that, they're athletic people. Are they able to let it be a bit more physical?'
Irish Daily Mirror
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Dublin star gives take on All-Ireland final after semi-final humbling from Cork
Dublin's Conor Burke says that Tipperary will 'fancy their chances' in the All-Ireland final against rampant Cork. Burke and Co were on the receiving end of Cork's awesome power in last Saturday's semi-final as Pat Ryan's side ran in seven goals in a comprehensive 20-point win to reach successive deciders for the first time since 2006. Tipp are back in the final for the first time in six years after edging Kilkenny out in the second semi-final on Sunday, but despite the significant strides they've made this year, will go into the game on July 21 as outsiders. Cork have been installed as 4/11 favourites but Burke stopped short of saying that it's theirs to lose. 'I wouldn't necessarily say that,' he said. 'I think Cork will wear the favourites tag by virtue of their performances this year. They're obviously Munster and League champions and had a huge performance in the semi. 'But Tipp will also fancy their chances there. They've been training the whole year for this day. They'll go into it with great confidence as well and look to take them down. 'It's a once-off game and an All-Ireland final so I wouldn't be writing anyone off. But yeah, Cork will wear the favourites tag.' Burke was named PwC Player of the Month for June, largely on the back of his man of the match performance in Dublin's shock quarter-final win over Limerick, though much of the shine from that win has faded given the nature of the Cork loss. The St Vincent's man acknowledged that it was 'definitely a step-up' on what they had been exposed to prior to that but, with it being Dublin's first semi-final in 11 years, he stressed how they can't afford such a lengthy gap before reaching the back of the season again. 'I think what's important is that we're at those big stages more regularly and more consistently and that we're playing in the business end against the best teams year in, year out and bringing a level of performance that gives us that fighting chance to go and beat them. 'I think last year we were in the Leinster final and another poor showing, I would say, same as Saturday just gone. 'I think Cork have gone through a lot of heartbreak over the last couple of years and they've obviously regrouped and taken their learnings from those big days so I think for us it's a case of putting ourselves in that position as often as we can and then taking your learnings as they come and then you're hopefully pushing on from there.'
