Latest news with #ShaneMcGrath
Irish Examiner
27-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Dramatic opening weekend in Clare SHC as Feakle and Wolfe Tones share the spoils
A timely reminder of just how wide open the race for this Clare Senior Hurling Championship fittingly surfaced inZimmer Biomet Páirc Chiosóg on Saturday evening when the reigning senior and intermediate champions shared the opening spoils. With the sides deadlocked eight times over the hour, Feakle, off the back of bridging a 36 year gap, looked to have snatched a successful first defence of their senior crown when the talismanic Shane McGrath arrowed over his twelfth point in the 62nd minute. However, a defiant Wolfe Tones, bolstered by Darragh Lohan's early second half penalty, simply refused to yield and in a similar grandstand finish to their intermediate final win last October, Jack Cunningham popped up with a dramatic last gap leveller at 0-19 to 1-16. It was much more straight-forward in the other Group three tie in Clarecastle on Friday evening when 2022 finalists Éire Óg produced a superb start to the second half to brush aside a disappointing Newmarket-on-Fergus by 2-24 to 1-18. Guided by the unerring Danny Russell's nine point half tally, the Ennis side defied the conditions to edge 0-11 to 0-09 in front by the break. The tie altered irrevocably on the restart though as Darren O'Brien and Marco Cleary fired goals within the first five minutes, an eight point cushion that was only extended by the final whistle despite a late Mikey McInerney goal in riposte. At the same time in Ennis, 2023 champions Clonlara showed their teeth with a gritty minimum 1-19 to 1-18 derby victory over Sixmilebridge in Group 1. Michael Collins' 20th minute goal had helped Clon to a 1-10 to 0-09 interval lead, only for Brian Corry to do likewise by the two-thirds mark and ensure a blow-for-blow finale that saw the neighbours locked together six times before Cathal O'Connell converted a last gasp 60 metre free. At the same venue the following evening, 2023 finalists Crusheen joined Clonlara at the summit of Group 1 after unearthing a rousing finish to hold off neighbours St. Joseph's Doora/Barefield by 0-23 to 1-15. Having carved out a 0-13 to 0-08 half-time cushion, Michael Browne's side were left shellshocked by a remarkable Parish backlash as a Padraic O'Donovan goal saw them outscore Crusheen by 1-6 to 0-1 to power three clear by the 40th minute. However, Crusheen's experience eventually told as they scored seven unanswered points to flip the script and relievedly endure. There was an even more dramatic derby turnaround in Sixmilebridge on Saturday afternoon as Kilmaley produced a twelve point second half turnaround to pip 2022 winners Ballyea with an injury-time Mikey O'Malley free at 2-20 to 3-16 in Group 4. Nothing but a handsome opening success seemed on the cards for Ballyea after a Tony Kelly masterclass saw the fun-forward score 2-3 and tee up Mossy Gavin for a third goal to power 3-9 to 0-7 in front by the break. However, there would be a complete sea-change on the resumption as Kilmaley, buoyed by an early Tommy Barry goal, found their feet, with the dismissal of Jack Browne and a second goal through Conor Cleary completing the comeback before finishing the job through their captain O'Malley. It was Cratloe's young guns that shaded the other tie in the 'Group of Death' as Daire Neville (3) and Cathal Lohan combined for four of the last five points to finally see off Scariff by 1-24 to 1-21 in Broadford. A superb end-to-end contest saw the sides tied a whopping 13 times entering the final ten minutes including the swapping of goals for Lohan and All-Star Mark Rodgers but without key protagonists Cathal McInerney and Podge Collins, Cratloe admirably prevailed. It had to take a late goal from substitute Darragh McNamara to rescue victory from the jaws of defeat against a plucky Broadford by 1-18 to 2-12 in their Group 2 opener in Shannon. First quarter goals for Oisin Kavanagh and Diamruid Moloney had given Broadford a major platform and while the sides were level by the midway mark at 2-06 to 0-12, a Niall O'Farrell led second half surge ensured that Paddy Meehan's side still carried a two point edge entering the final moments. However, Peter Duggan's persistence and that McNamara goal altered the narrative irrevocably which would be in total contrast to the other Group 2 tie in Gurteen in the last action on Saturday as 2021 finalists Inagh-Kilnamona had twelve different scorers including nine from captain Aidan McCarthy on their way to a handsome 0-31 to 0-18 triumph over neighbours Corofin.
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."
RTÉ News
21-07-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
RTÉ GAA Podcast: Tipperary the kings of Ireland, Cork stunned as day doesn't go to plan
Shane McGrath joins Jacqui Hurley and Rory O'Neill to look back on a surprise All-Ireland title for Tipperary. Where did Tipp get things right and what do Cork - players and management - get wrong. A third different winner in as many years, is the hurling championship becoming truly open or is there still an elite cohort? Listen to the RTÉ GAA Podcast on the RTÉ Radio Player, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch the All-Ireland Camogie Championship semi-finals, Galway v Tipperary and Cork v Waterford, on Saturday from 2.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on and the RTÉ News app. Listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1 Watch the All-Ireland Football Championship final, Donegal v Kerry, on Sunday from 2.15pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on and the RTÉ News app. Listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Sunday Game from 9.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
RTÉ News
07-07-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
RTÉ GAA Podcast: Tipperary and Cork set up all-Munster All-Ireland final
Shane McGrath joins Jacqui Hurley and Rory O'Neill to look back on All-Ireland hurling semi-finals weekend. Tipperary's resurrection is almost complete as the team comes from last in Munster in 2024, to the All-Ireland final later this month. Cork are their opponents in the final after putting in a slick performance to dismantle Dublin on Saturday. Watch the Tailteann Cup final, Limerick v Kildare, on Saturday from 2.15pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on and the RTÉ News app. Listen to commentary on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1 Watch the All-Ireland Football Championship semi-finals with RTÉ Sport. Kerry v Tyrone on Saturday from 4.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player and Meath v Donegal on Sunday from 3.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow live blogs on and the RTÉ News app. Listen to commentaries on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Sunday Game at 10.15pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
RTÉ News
09-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
RTÉ GAA Podcast: Cork halt Limerick again as Kilkenny plough on
Shane McGrath and Barry Kelly join Jacqui Hurley and Rory O'Neill to reflect on Cork bringing Limerick's run in Munster to an end. The sides might meet again but there's much to reflect on from Saturday's game, including how the game was refereed and whether penalties are the answer. The Leinster final didn't live up to the hype but Kilkenny won't mind, while Kildare's run to Joe McDonagh Cup glory might be the story of the year. Follow a live blog on the All-Ireland Football Championship on Saturday on and the RTÉ News app. Listen to updates on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Saturday Game at 9.30pm. Watch an All-Ireland Football Championship double-header, Monaghan v Down and Donegal v Mayo, on Sunday from 1.30pm. Follow a live blog on and the RTÉ News app. Listen to updates on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Sunday Game at 9.30pm.
