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The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Rian O'Neill hailed as ‘big player for big moments' as All-Ireland winner insists Armagh ‘lesser team without him'
STEVIE McDONNELL believes Rían O'Neill's comeback adds huge value to Armagh's All-Ireland defence. The hitman starred as the Orchard won Sam Maguire last summer — but was absent from Kieran McGeeney's squad when the 2025 campaign began. 2 Rian O'Neill is back in the fold with Armagh Credit: Ray McManus/Sportsfile 2 Steven McDonnell called it a huge boost for Armagh Credit: Ray McManus/Sportsfile O'Neill returned to inter-county training in February before But the Crossmaglen man And McDonnell says the end of his exile is a huge boost for Armagh in their bid to stay on top ahead of today's He told SunSport: 'Rían is a fantastic player for Armagh. Read More on GAA 'You only have to look at his performances last year in the key moments.' O'Neill shone when the Orchard edged Kerry after extra-time in last year's All-Ireland semi-final, scoring three points. He also grabbed a crucial point in the 1-11 to 0-13 showpiece triumph over Galway at GAA HQ. But McDonnell said: 'He probably wasn't consistently at the level where he can be last year but he stepped up in the key moments of the key games. Most read in GAA Football 'What I mean by that is in the semi-final, he caught the ball under the crossbar, drove out of the defence, gave the ball to Conor Turbitt and kicked a massive score against Kerry when we badly needed the point. 'His point in the final was massive. Tipperary GAA star 'had to do live apology on RTE' the day after cursing during All-Ireland interview - 'Big players perform in big moments and that's what Rían did last year. 'Having him back adds strength and value to Armagh's cause. 'When you think about it, a lot of people wondered if Armagh would be in the mix without Rian O'Neill. 'But they're a lesser team without him and having him back now is a huge bonus.'
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Armagh are coming to boil and will fancy chances vs Dublin – Con O'Callaghan is an incalculable loss for Dessie Farrell
A CHAMPIONSHIP clash with Dublin at Croke Park could hardly be described as low-hanging fruit. But I get the sense nonetheless that the Orchard is beginning to bloom. 3 Armagh face Dublin in the All-Ireland SFC Credit: Ray McManus/Sportsfile 3 Graham Geraghty backed the reigning champions to beat the Dubs Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile 3 Con O'Callaghan will miss the game through injury Credit: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile And with Even though the severity of his injury will probably be kept under wraps, it is no surprise to see Con's name absent from the It did not look good for him as he went off against Such is the way of these things, he may still end up playing a part. Read More on GAA If not, it will be an incalculable loss for Dublin. Prior to picking up the injury, his performance against Galway was yet another demonstration of his importance to Dessie Farrell's team. So much goes through him, whether he is operating in the half-forward line or closer to goal. As evidenced by Farrell's decision to hand him the captaincy, Con's leadership is also vital at a time when the Dubs are striving to show that there is life after the likes of Brian Fenton and James McCarthy. Returning to Croker for a game of this magnitude is exactly where Dublin want to be. Yet the same goes for Armagh, who are coming to the boil nicely. Most read in GAA Football The trajectory of their form is promising, there's a good buzz about them and crucially their ranks have been bolstered by the return of Rian O'Neill. The momentum is building for Kieran McGeeney's men. Tipperary GAA star 'had to do live apology on RTE' the day after cursing during All-Ireland interview - They showed few signs of an Ulster final hangover while racking up a big lead against Derry , whose late surge only served to put some respectability on the scoreline. Armagh will not have it all their own way against Dublin by any stretch of the imagination. What the Dubs did to Galway was extremely impressive. They are a team who are sure to be high on confidence. However, if Con is gone, Dublin will find it very difficult to dig out a victory. One man does not make a team, yet his influence is just so critical that the Dubs are nowhere near as formidable without him. This has the makings of being as good a game as we will see all year. And while there will not be much between the teams, Armagh look likely to have the edge. There was a time not too long ago when Dublin were in such good nick that they could afford to be missing a few key players. But no team could ship so many blows on the personnel front and not be detrimentally affected. The team that has been named to start against Armagh shows just six survivors from the 2023 All-Ireland final win over Kerry — Stephen Cluxton, Davy Byrne, Brian Howard, Ciarán Kilkenny , Cormac Costello and Colm Basquel. You cannot expect to stay at the top of the pile while being robbed of so much quality in such a short period of time. Now, they are not far away from it and will not be easily beaten by anyone. But are Dublin one of the top three All-Ireland contenders as things stand? Not for me. PANEL SHOW A strong panel is needed to go all the way nowadays and Armagh can certainly boast that now. Their captain is also injured as Aidan Forker looks set to remain sidelined as well. But their options on the bench still include Stefan Campbell, Joe McElroy and Connaire Mackin, who all contributed enormously to their All-Ireland win. Also held in reserve again is Jemar Hall, who generally sees very little action but would probably be a regular starter for most other top teams. Iron sharpens iron when you have that level of competition within a set-up. And when guys are working that hard in training just to get a jersey , it is manifested on match-day when a manager can call upon subs who are just as good as the lads they are replacing. At the moment, there are not many counties with the depth and quality to match what is at McGeeney's disposal. With players coming off the bench often proving to be the match-winners nowadays, Armagh are in a very good place. All 16 teams are in action this weekend in the All-Ireland SFC, so there will be plenty to monitor and much to learn about those with aspirations of being in Galway's trip to Celtic Park is not a do-or-die fixture for either Pádraic Joyce's side or Derry but, still, the stakes are extremely high for two teams aiming to recover from losses. Indeed, having been a kick of a ball away from winning the All-Ireland last year, going into a rematch with Armagh in two weeks' time without a point on the board would be a disastrous scenario for Galway. They should have enough to see off a Derry team whose frailties have been exposed by the new rules. But the visitors must proceed with caution now that the air is getting thinner. Finally, the good times should continue for The future looks rosy for the Red Hands. And the present could be quite promising too if they can build on the performance they brought to Ballybofey while uncovering some chinks in the home side's armour. There is very little to separate Tyrone, Donegal and Armagh. On a given day, they are all capable of beating one another. When this Championship comes to the crunch, Ulster's finest should have a major say. Getting out of Omagh with anything to show for their efforts will be a huge ask of Mayo, particularly given the potential impact of Kevin McStay having to step back. I wish him well and hope he makes a full recovery, which is far more important than anything that happens on the pitch in Healy Park.
Irish Examiner
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Tipperary v Waterford, live minute-by-minute updates
1.41pm Derek McGrath is in the house. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile 1.39pm Some recommended pre-game reading: Eoghan Cormican has an in-depth conversation with former Waterford hurler Brian Greene who was diagnosed with Stage 3 lung cancer in 2022. 1.36pm One change to the starting 15 for Tipperary; Darragh McCarthy comes in for Noel McGrath. 1.34pm: The RTÉ panel are in good spirits with first blood going to Joanne Cantwell who describes Donal Óg Cusack and Anthony Daly as the men from Del Monte. Listen to Dalo's Hurling Show here. 1.30pm Hydration? Check. Glutes activated? Check. Energy gels on hand? Check. Whatever about the players, we're ready for a huge afternoon of championship hurling action. First up, we'll go puck by puck for Waterford's trip to Tipp from 2pm. Kilkenny and Dublin throw in at 3pm in Leinster before it's an Alien v Predator-level blockbuster as Limerick and Cork renew their rivalry at 4pm. Pass the Factor 50.
The Irish Sun
04-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Dublin's reign of terror in Leinster SFC is finally over – but Meath will need to find another gear in final vs Louth
LAST weekend's Royal flush in Portlaoise showed that the days of Dublin holding all the aces in Leinster are finally over. After a 14-year reign of terror, the Dubs have come back to the pack. Advertisement 2 Meath manager Robbie Brennan after the Leinster GAA Football Senior Championship semi-final win over Dublin Credit: Ray McManus/Sportsfile 2 Graham Geraghty of the 1999 All-Ireland winning Meath football jubilee team before the All-Ireland Final between Armagh and Galway Credit: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile The prospect of winning a provincial title suddenly seems attainable for several counties. And that could revitalise the Leinster Championship just a year after it was labelled 'a shambles' by Colm O'Rourke after Meath suffered another hammering at the hands of their old rivals. But the Royals' wait for a Championship triumph over the Sky Blues Even with such a commanding lead at half-time, the Meath supporters in my vicinity were somewhat hesitant to even dare to dream. Advertisement Read More on GAA With Dublin set to be backed by the wind in the second half, the hope was that 12 points would be enough. It was only when I was out on the pitch afterwards that I got a proper appreciation of the strength of the breeze that was there. Nobody thought we would find ourselves that far ahead anyway, particularly when you consider how the Offaly game went. Ultimately Meath fared better against the wind than Dublin did, so they were able to keep the scoreboard ticking over by just enough. Advertisement Most read in GAA Football As the second half progressed, it became increasingly clear as they grew in confidence that this team was capable of hanging on. There can be no taking away from the magnitude of the victory and what it could lead to. Tipperary GAA legend reveals surprising difference between 'pressure' of playing for club vs county But my sense is that Meath may need to find another gear for the Leinster final. Overall it was a positive performance from Robbie Brennan's side, yet plenty of mistakes were made too. Advertisement And in the context of where they once were, Dublin are obviously a team in decline. BOUNCING BACK It has been said over the last week that the Dubs would have mounted a better comeback if the game had been in Croke Park. That is obviously hypothetical and I am not inclined to agree, simply because their display was just so poor. While they may no longer be living up to the standards they set while racking up All-Ireland titles over the last decade and a half, this is still a good Dublin team. When their injuries clear up, it will be interesting to see how Dessie Farrell's side navigate a difficult group in the All-Ireland SFC series. Advertisement But let it not be forgotten that the opposition were also dealing with injuries as Jack Flynn and Jordan Morris are important players for Meath too. The first Leinster final meeting of Meath and Louth since that controversial decider in 2010 — when Meath should have been beaten — promises to be something special. It is a game to be discussed in greater detail next weekend. What I will say now is that the significance of beating Dublin will be diluted if Meath do not become Leinster champions. Advertisement The players are well aware of that too. I congratulated Donal Keogan on the pitch after the game last Sunday and he said to me, 'The job is not done yet, Graham'. GOIN GAL THE WAY For today, Castlebar will be the centre of attention as Galway aim to win their fourth consecutive Connacht SFC crown. But after squandering it last year, this is a Advertisement While Galway's overall arsenal is formidable, losing weapons as powerful as Shane Walsh and Damien Comer would hurt any team's chances. The fear factor alone is considerably lessened by their absences. Walsh might not be in a game at all for 40 minutes but he has the talent to win it on his own with just a couple of moments of magic. Despite all of his injury problems, Comer issued a reminder of what he can do with a man-of-the-match display as he tormented Mayo in last year's final. Advertisement The bizarre decision to hold the draw for the All-Ireland group stages earlier this week has thrust both Galway and Mayo into something of a Catch-22 situation. The consolation prize for the runners-up will be a more favourable set of opponents in the Sam Maguire series, as the winners will have to face Dublin, Derry and the beaten team in the Ulster final between Donegal and Armagh. You would like to think that this has not presented any dilemma to either camp as the value of a provincial title should not be cheapened by the possibility of an easier route thereafter. My expectation is that both teams will go all out to put a marker down and land a blow to a rival by winning the game and getting the confidence boost that silverware invariably brings. Advertisement PROBLEM TEAM As for Clare's latest attempt to cause a shock in a Munster final, I certainly feel Peter Keane's men have the ability to pose problems for Kerry. The Banner will obviously be heartened by how close Cork ran the Kingdom. And However, when you can replace Clifford with a player of Seán O'Shea's ability, it outlines the size of the mountain that the visitors will have to climb in Killarney. Clare were within seven points at the final whistle in last year's decider in Ennis. Advertisement I will be extremely surprised if Kerry's margin of victory is narrower than that this afternoon.
The Irish Sun
01-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘People are surprised by that' – GAA legend debunks myth around iconic fashion look that got county FINED three times
TREVOR GILES revealed Meath very nearly had a Leinster SFC game CALLED OFF in response to how he wore their jersey. However, the All-Ireland winner insisted that, contrary to popular belief, he only donned the unconventional strip three times. Advertisement 2 Trevor Giles wore a sleeveless jersey three times in his Meath career Credit: Ray McManus/Sportsfile 2 The two-time All-Ireland winner revealed the story behind the controversial shirt Credit: Ray McManus/Sportsfile The Royals last won the All-Ireland title in 1999 when they beat Three-time All-Star Trevor Giles drew attention by wearing the Meath jersey with the sleeves cut off. The two-time Sam Maguire winner revealed the back story behind the odd fashion choice on The three-time Leinster champion said: "I went to Advertisement Read More on GAA "I bought a few Aussie Rules jerseys and when I came back I was wearing them at training. "Ollie Murphy did said, 'jeez, wouldn't it be great to wear sleeveless jerseys tomorrow against "It was the Leinster final in 1999. I went home and cut the couple of sleeves off and said, 'this looks pretty cool'. "It was very unlike me because I normally would like to keep the head down and not stand out. Advertisement Most read in GAA Football "We beat Dublin that day and I wore it the next day for the [All-Ireland] semi-final against Armagh and I wore it against Cork in the final. "I wore it three times in my career and somebody was surprised - they thought I wore it for years." Tipperary GAA legend reveals surprising difference between 'pressure' of playing for club vs county While it has been a quirky chapter in Meath history , the county was on the receiving end of fall-out from Giles added: "The county board got fined for the first time, the fine got doubled the second time, it got doubled the third time. Advertisement "It got to the stage before the first round of the championship in 2000 that we got a letter from the CCC to say if every player is not dressed uniformly, the game will not start. "That was the end of it. "We all turned out the same the following year against Offaly in the first round of the championship." The Skryne clubman admitted that then-Meath manager Sean Boylan tried to stop him from wearing the shirt in the wake of the fines. Advertisement And while he followed his boss' orders initially, he revealed that he defied those orders when the big day came. Giles explained: "By the time we got to the All-Ireland final, the fine was going to be something like €1,000 and the county board chairman was in his ear and saying I can't keep paying these fines. "He did ask me not to wear it for the All-Ireland final in 1999 and I told him, 'no problem, Sean, I won't wear it.' "I slipped it on as we were going out the tunnel and I defied him which I wasn't very proud of. Advertisement "He wouldn't have been overly happy with me. "The fact that we won the game, all was forgiven, but it could have been interesting had we lost."
