Latest news with #SeánBugler
Irish Times
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Live All-Ireland football championship draw: Updates as 16 counties go into the hat for group stage
-8 minutes ago Good morning and welcome to our live blog of today's GAA Sam Maguire and Tailteann Cup draws. It's Gordon Manning here with you for what will be a significant day in the race for the 2025 All-Ireland senior football championship. And it's certainly championship weather out there. Wow, what day!. But if you've managed to skive off work for a bit and are out enjoying the sunshine, be sure to heed the advice of that great philosopher Baz Luhrmann and don't forget the sunscreen. The draw will start at 1.30 and we'll keep you bang up to date with how it plays out. We'll have some pre-draw reading too, so go buy a 99 and start dreaming of Croke Park in July. Here comes the summer……. A quick reminder of the seedings for both competitions: SAM MAGUIRE First/second seeds : Kerry/Clare; Galway/Mayo; Armagh/Donegal; Louth/Meath. Third seeds: Dublin, Monaghan, Roscommon, Tyrone. Fourth seeds: Cavan, Cork, Derry, Down. TAILTEANN CUP First seeds: Fermanagh, Kildare, Offaly, Westmeath. Second seeds: Laois, Limerick, Sligo, Wexford Third seeds: Antrim, Carlow, Leitrim, Wicklow. Fourth seeds: Longford, London, Tipperary, Waterford. Key Reads Five things we learned from the GAA weekend: New lease of life for football, Cork's problem and the calendar isn't working Malachy Clerkin: After 5,418 days Dublin have finally lost in Leinster and Jim Gavin's new rules made it possible Darragh Ó Sé: Dublin aren't dead in the water - a return to Croke Park will make them a huge threat All-Ireland football draws: All you need to know 2 minutes ago Despite their shock defeat to Meath last Sunday, Dublin forward Seán Bugler reckons Dessie Farrell's side can bounce back and be in the mix for All-Ireland glory. 'Our goal of winning the Sam Maguire hasn't changed.' [ Seán Bugler says Dublin's eyes firmly fixed on becoming All-Ireland champions Opens in new window ]
Extra.ie
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Extra.ie
Don't write off Dublin, the talent is there to win Sam, insists Bugler
Seán Bugler certainly hasn't lost a wry sense of humour. After spending some time perched on a fifth-floor balcony – the view across Dublin city centre made for the perfect photographic backdrop – he clambers in through a narrow opening to where some chairs are gathered around for an interview. When it's said to him tongue-in-cheek – 'don't pick up an injury now' – he responds with a laugh: 'I'm already injured.' It was the reason he wasn't on the field at Portlaoise for the result that sent shockwaves around the country: Meath ending Dublin's 14-year reign as Leinster football champions with a drama-packed victory at O'Moore Park. Seán Bugler at the Staycity Aparthotels launch for Dublin GAA. Pic: INPHO/James Crombie It was Bugler's misfortune that, in the form of his life this season — he won four Man of the Match awards during Dublin's seven-match league campaign — he was sat in the stand with the squad's walking wounded as Meath clinched a final place against Louth. 'Really, really disappointing,' he admits. 'Just didn't perform on the day. Just basic errors. Fundamentals, just didn't execute them. Look, no matter who you're playing, if you're not going to execute the basic skills for a full 70 minutes, you're going to be chasing your tail. 'Full credit to Meath, they deserved to win on the day. They came up with a game plan. They stuck with it. They executed it. They fully deserved their win on the day. Ronan Ryan celebrates Meath's victory over Dublin. Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne 'Look, it is what it is. You have to take it. I suppose the positive thing for us is we're still in the championship. Our goal of winning the Sam Maguire hasn't changed. As Dublin missed chances and fluffed their lines, it was hard not to think that a player who has brought his game to another level this year as a potent strike forward could have been the difference. Just don't suggest to Bugler that Dublin aren't still All-Ireland contenders. Seán Bugler at the Staycity Aparthotels launch for Dublin GAA. Pic: INPHO/James Crombie Today, the draw for the All-Ireland group stages will be made and, as third seeds, Dessie Farrell's side will have it all to do. 'Losing any game, you might question your confidence, but I see the talent, everyone sees the talent within the group. Yes, we haven't performed to our best, but, look, the draw is going to be made. You could get a tough group, but we'll cherish it,' he says. 'If you want to win the All-Ireland, which we do, you're going to have to knock the big teams off their horse as well. That third seeding is significant in that it means being drawn away first to a provincial winner which could mean one of the All-Ireland favourites such as Galway, Kerry, Armagh or Donegal. 'Look, it's not ideal but we'll be looking forward to it. We'll be ready. We'll really prime ourselves, whoever we get, and we'll really put ourselves in a decent position to put our best foot forward on the day. You want to play the big teams. You want to really test yourself against the big teams as well. So that's what we look forward to. Midfield action featuring Conor Duke and Adam O'Neill of Meath and Dublin players Ciaran Kilkenny and John Small. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile 'Our goal hasn't changed. We still want to win the All-Ireland.' As for the four Man of the Match awards, he said the onus was on him to step up after the glut of high-profile retirements. Having been used as a kind of counter-attacking wing-back, a more natural role of wing-forward really suits a two-footed shooter. 'We have obviously lost a lot of players, a lot of experienced players and with that a lot of talent. I always knew I had the potential and the talent to perform like that, it was just about showing it. 'And this year I really went after it in the off-season and really wanted to get better and show what I'm made of.' Meath manager Robbie Brennan, celebrates winning a late free, with coach Shane Supple and logistics manager Karl Manning. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile So what exactly clicked? 'Confidence, just backed myself. Obviously, the new rules played a big factor as well in terms of just more space for forwards. All the forwards want to see is green grass to take the man on and that's what you have with the new rules.' Teams have to leave three forwards up so can't park the bus and Bugler has put on an exhibition at different times in taking the ball on the burst and finding pockets of space to clip scores. On the panel since 2019, he's 27 now and hitting his prime. Off the field, he's facing a new challenge, having just finished as a secondary school teacher at North Brunswick Street. Looking to go into sales, talking to a few companies at the minute but for now, a bit of extra time for the summer suits him just fine. Write him – and Dublin – off at your peril.
RTÉ News
30-04-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Seán Bugler: Dublin will relish knocking 'big teams off their horse' in All-Ireland series
A new championship terrain for the Dublin footballers. No Leinster medals will be won this year. Thoughts are now well and truly focused on the All-Ireland series, which they probably were on to some degree before last Sunday's Leinster semi-final defeat at the hands of Meath. The Dubs can have no qualms. They trailed by 12 at the break, a deficit which proved insurmountable away from the familiar surrounding on Jones' Road Watching on from the stands was Dublin attacker Seán Bugler. An ankle injury meant he had to sit out at Laois Hire O'Moore Park, this after again impressing for his county at various stages during the league. With Eoin Murchan, Cian Murphy, Sean McMahon and Luke Breathnach also injured, it was no surprise afterwards that Dubs boss Dessie Farrell said: " We need to develop that little bit of depth in the squad for a day like this". Bugler, however, is confident as to where he stands on the injury front, telling a Dublin GAA media event with sponsors Staycity Aparthotels: "I'll be back on the pitch in the next few days. I just picked up a niggle there last week. Sunday probably came a bit too early for me. I was disappointed to miss out on the game. but there are a few weeks now to get myself right." As to what played out against old foes Meath, the St Oliver Plunketts/Eoghan Ruadh clubman was not making any excuses. "Really, really disappointing and we just didn't perform on the day," was his summation. "Just basic errors. Fundamentals, just didn't execute them. Look, no matter who you're playing, if you're not going to execute the basic skills for a full 70 minutes, you're going to be chasing your tail. "Full credit to Meath, they deserved to win on the day. They came up with a game-plan. They stuck with it. They executed it. They full deserved their win on the day. "Look, it is what it is. You have to take it. I suppose the positive thing for us is we're still in the championship. Our goal of winning the Sam Maguire hasn't changed. "We'll delve into the performance on Sunday and take the learnings from it. Yeah, move on." No doubt, Bugler and co are assessing why they were off it for much of that clash with Meath. It's not the first time this year the Dubs have found themselves in a trough, not the landscape they are used to operating from. It's a simple fix, says Bugler, but more difficult to attain game-on game. "Consistency is obviously something we're trying to go after," the 27-year-old remarked. "It doesn't help when you have so many injuries within the group. Not an excuse. We're just trying to chase the consistency for a full 70 minutes. We know we're coming into the business end of the season now, so we can't afford to go through phases of up and down in terms of performance." In this new footballing world, spearheaded by the Dublin management Messiah Jim Gavin, the execution of two-pointers can quickly turn a game on its head. Bugler contrasted how well the Dubs did in that regard when comparing one performance in the league against Kerry to that which ended their provincial stranglehold. "I suppose we were in a similar position in Tralee at the start of the year down in Kerry, 11 down at half-time. We came back and clinched it at the end. I think the difference between that game and this game is just the basic errors, the fundamentals just let us down. The two-pointers that we shot, probably forced, didn't execute them. While down in Tralee, they were going over the bar. And so the All-Ireland series now beckons for a side so used to going in as a top seed. But for Bugler, while the loss against their neighbours was a jolt, he's confident they can still put it up to "big teams" they'll undoubtedly will have to face if Sam Maguire is again to reside in the capital. "Losing any game, you might question your confidence, but I see the talent, everyone sees the talent within the group. "Yes, we haven't performed to our best. You could get a tough group, but look, we'll cherish it. "If you want to win the All-Ireland, which we do, you're going to have to knock the big teams off their horse as well. So we'll look forward to it and really go after it. "We'll really prime ourselves, whoever we get, and we'll really put ourselves in a decent position to put our best foot forward on the day. So, yeah, look, as I said, you want to play the big teams. You want to really test yourself against the big teams as well. So that's what we look forward to."
Irish Times
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Seán Bugler says Dublin's eyes firmly fixed on becoming All-Ireland champions
Seán Bugler insists Dublin 's ambition to be crowned All-Ireland champions remains unchanged despite relinquishing their 14-year grip on the Delaney Cup last Sunday. Dublin's Leinster semi-final defeat to Meath in Portlaoise sent shock waves throughout the province and beyond, raising doubts about their Sam Maguire credentials. However, Bugler believes there is enough quality in the Dublin dressingroom to pick up the pieces from that loss and mount a challenge for Gaelic football's ultimate prize. 'Losing any game you might question your confidence, but I see the talent and everyone sees the talent within the group,' he says. 'Yes, we haven't performed to our best, but the draw is going to be made on Wednesday – you could get a tough group, but we'll cherish it. If you want to win the All-Ireland, which we do, you're going to have to knock the big teams off their horse as well. So we'll look forward to it, and we'll really go after it. READ MORE 'Full credit to Meath [last weekend], they deserved to win on the day. They came up with a game plan, they stuck with it, they executed it. They fully deserved their win. I suppose the positive thing for us is we're still in the championship. Our goal of winning the Sam Maguire hasn't changed.' Bugler's absence because of injury was a major blow for Dublin. The flying half-forward was their best player in the National League – picking up four man of the match awards – but missed Sunday's Portlaoise contest because of an ankle injury. 'I just picked up a niggle there last week, Sunday probably came a bit too early for me. I was disappointed to miss out on the game. I'll hopefully be back on the pitch in the next few days.' Bugler travelled to O'Moore Park with some of his fellow injured team-mates and found it difficult to sit in the stand watching as the Dubs lost their first game in the province since 2010. 'You want to be out there, I was obviously disappointed to miss out on the game, and then you kind of see how the first half pans out. You always feel that you can make a difference out there but the game came too early for me. Seán Bugler at a media event for Dublin sponsors Staycity Aparthotels. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho 'It was really disappointing, we just didn't perform on the day, basic errors. The fundamentals, we just didn't execute them. Look, no matter who you're playing, if you're not going to execute the basic skills for a full 70 minutes, you're going to be chasing your tail. 'Consistency is obviously something we're trying to go after. We know we're coming to the business end of the season now, so we can't afford to go through phases of up and down in terms of performance. We really need to go and play well for a full 70 minutes.' Much has been made of the impact the venue had on the outcome of last Sunday's match. It was the first time Dublin and Meath had played a championship match outside of Croke Park since 1980. Dublin will be on the road again in their first round-robin game of the All-Ireland series when they must travel to the home of a provincial winner. 'I know from within the group we love to travel down the country, we love hopping on the bus, it's great seeing the Dublin support because they always come out and back us,' says Bugler. 'The atmosphere there on Sunday, you could have the same atmosphere in Croke Park and it [would have felt] dead. For us I know we probably haven't been as good on the road [this season] but we really do enjoy it and the atmosphere really makes the occasion. We've had some really good days on the road as well, it's not all doom and gloom this year.' The 27-year-old, who has been on the panel since 2019, has emerged as one of the new leaders within the Dublin dressingroom. And given the number of high-profile retirements in recent months, on-field generals are something Dessie Farrell needs to unearth if Dublin are to bounce back in the All-Ireland series. 'The likes of Brian Fenton, James McCarthy, Paul Mannion, Jack McCaffrey, Fitzy [Michael Fitzsimons], their experience is through the roof, not alone their talent,' says Bugler. 'And to take them out of a group, the onus is on people to step up. I suppose the players we have there, the likes of Paddy Small, Brian Howard, Eoin Murchan, our age group, it's over to us now to really step up and lead by example, on and off the field.' *Staycity Aparthotels is proud sponsor of Dublin GAA across all four codes.
