Latest news with #ShaneRyan
Irish Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Kerry welcomed home by a sea of green and gold as Jack O'Connor backed for President
Rathmore Railway Station in Kerry was not the final destination for the newly-crowned All-Ireland champions on Monday. However, in keeping with tradition, the Kerry footballers stopped off there. Fog horns blasted and roars of approval sounded as it was announced that the team's train was pulling into the station. The first two people on the platformwere local heroes – Kerry goalkeeper Shane Ryan and wing back Paul Murphy. Deafening cheers rang out and a sea of green and gold flags were raised as the team and management – wearing biscuit-coloured polo shirts – lined out for the crowd. READ MORE 'We are tired and a bit shook after the night but you have lifted our spirits,' manager Jack O'Connor told the crowd of several hundred who assembled from east Kerry and Sliabh Luachra. Kerry fans welcome the team home to Tralee. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho A Kerry fan dressed in the county colours for the team's homecoming. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho Paul Geaney, Paudie Clifford, Joe O'Connor, Dylan Casey and Shane Ryan with the Sam Maguire Cup at the team's homecoming. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho The Rathmore contribution to Kerry football 'goes back a long way', O'Connor said. He recalledpast victories with Declan O'Keeffe on the team of 2000, as well as Tom O'Sullivan and Aidan O'Mahony in the great Kerry team of the 2000s. 'This club has made a massive contribution to Kerry football and long may it continue,' he said. Goalkeeper Ryan said both he and Murphy were indebted to everyone who had supported them in Rathmore. It brought great joy to see all the young people and plenty of goalkeeper jerseys, he said, referring to the children in attendance. Murphy recalled how, as a young boy, hewelcomed O'Sullivan and O'Mahony home 19 years ago. He then spoke of his belief that some of the children present for the team of 2025 would star for Kerry in the future. Football expertise is nurtured young in Kerry, as Patrick McDonnell from Rathmore shows. He may only be seven and in first class, but his football knowledge is already very impressive. Not only can he name the entire Kerry team by name, he correctly predicted Gavin White as man of the match. Patrick was also able to name all the Donegal players from Sunday's final. . Rathmore's claim to fame is about more than producing great footballers. Last Saturday night, the club's bingo machine correctly predicted the 10-point winning margin for the Kingdom. There was a busy trade in '25 KY Sam' number plates. At €5 each , the county board-produced plates were for a good cause. The funds are going towards the Kerry team holiday, as was announced by MC and chair of Rathmore GAA, Kieran O'Keeffe. He thanked Irish Rail for continuing with the customary Rathmore stop on the victors' way through Kerry. The team received a massive cheer as the train pulled away following the 20-minute stop-off. The rain started on the way to Tralee but it didn't dampen anyone's spirits. Young Kerry fans out in force for the team's return home. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho Kerry fans celebrate as the team returns to Tralee. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho Led by a garda car, the Kerry players – now soaked to the skin – was paraded on an open-top bus through Tralee, as per tradition. Thousands of people came out to welcome them. Supporters gathered along Castle Street and packed out Denny Street all the way to the Ashe Memorial Hall. There, the players were introduced one by one to huge cheers. Waiting in Tralee to welcome home Sam Maguire was Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley. Mayor of Tralee, Terry O'Brien, was also in attendance to celebrate the newly-crowned champions. 'Jack is going for President of Ireland – and we'd be in safe hands,' said O'Brien of the Kerry manager. His remark was greeted with warm approval from the crowd. A special roar of welcome was reserved for local Austin Stacks hero Joe O'Connor. Meanwhile, in Killarney, home of the Clifford brothers, David and Paudie, and team captain Gavin White, one of the town's big car parks was cordoned off. The team made their way by open-top bus from Fitzgerald Stadium to the Glebe where huge crowds gathered.
RTÉ News
a day ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Kerry prepares to welcome home All-Ireland winners
The All-Ireland-winning Kerry team and management will make their way home this afternoon by train. Tens of thousands of people are expected at the homecoming celebrations in Tralee and Killarney. Their first stop will be in Rathmore, home of goalkeeper Shane Ryan and corner-back Paul Murphy. There will be a 20-minute stop in Rathmore before the train travels directly to Casement Station in Tralee. The team and management will be paraded through the town in an open-top bus to an outdoor reception at the Ashe Memorial Hall in Denny Street at 6.30pm. The team and management will then travel to Killarney, arriving at Fitzgerald Stadium at around 8.30pm. An open-top bus will take them on a parade through the town to a reception in the Glebe car park.
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Kerry player ratings: The Clifford brothers star as Kingdom lift Sam Maguire
1. Shane Ryan (Rathmore) Had some wobbles in the second half, unlucky to slip before his long-range free effort, but kept enough variety and accuracy in his kickouts to ensure Kerry won enough of the midfield battle. Rating: 7 2. Paul Murphy (Rathmore) Proved himself Kerry's Mr Dependable once again, helping to restrict Oisin Gallen to just two points. Not far off his man-of-the-match display against Donegal in 2014, ferocious in his tackling as always, excellent reading of play. Rating: 8 3. Jason Foley (Ballydonoghue) Stood up admirably against Michael Murphy, ensuring zero goal threat throughout. Brought his usual pace and energy to the position, never losing sight of his task at hand, fighting hard for every ball. Rating: 8 Donegal's Michael Murphy tackled by Jason Foley of Kerry. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho 4. Dylan Casey (Austin Stacks) Completed the full-back line of resistance with his ceaseless commitment, even if Conor O'Donnell caused him trouble at times. Displayed great energy and courage throughout, utterly committed to every ball. Rating: 7 READ MORE 5. Brian Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht) Once again brought his unlimited reserves of football ability, attacking with sheer intent with every chance he got. Sent one shot wide, but that just reflected his attacking mood. Helped keep the Donegal half backs quiet. Rating: 8 6. Mike Breen (Beaufort) Went about his business with all his trademark focus and sharpness, central to Kerry's running game, in both attack and retreat. Ran himself into the ground too, gave it his absolute all. Rating: 8 7. Gavin White (Dr Crokes) Played his captain's role to the glorious limit, leading from the start and playing wonderful football throughout. Finished with three points from play, a performance almost entirely without fault. Rating: 9 Donegal's Finnbarr Roarty and Gavin White of Kerry. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho 8. Seán O'Brien (Beaufort) Capped off his remarkable season in style, scoring two first half points in his first All-Ireland final debut, Battled hard for every kick out, superb particularly under the high ball. Rating: 7 9. Mark O'Shea (Dr Crokes) Brought all his club form to the county table when needed, once Diarmuid O'Connor was injured, and stuck to his job with now trademark coolness and courage, in his senior debut season. Rating: 8 10. Joe O'Connor (Austin Stacks) Rose to the challenge here with all his style and substance, repeatedly orchestrating and inspiring the Kerry attacks, and showing brilliant skill in possession. His blazing goal at the death, majestically finished, was utterly deserved. Rating: 9 Kerry's Joe O'Connor celebrates scoring a goal. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho 11. Seán O'Shea (Kenmare Shamrocks) Kerry needed another big game from him and he didn't disappoint, twice scoring two-point frees when Kerry needed them, his role in setting up scores equally critical. Donegal couldn't contain him. Rating: 8 12. Graham O'Sullivan (Dromid Pearses) A big influence around the middle third throughout, tracking back when needed, but also playing a central role going forward. Tactically outplayed the Donegal half backs too, cool and committed. Rating: 7 13. David Clifford (Fossa) Wow. Under all the pressure any All-Ireland final could bring, Clifford calmly did what he does best, his three two-pointers in the first half spreading confidence throughout the team. Finished with 0-9, adding to his 8-53 already scored in this championship. Rating: 9 Kerry's David Clifford. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho 14. Paudie Clifford (Fossa) Saved the best game of his season until last, running ceaselessly, scoring three points from play, winning frees when Kerry needed them. Plenty of sibling intuition with David too, a joy to watch. Rating: 9 15. Dylan Geaney (Dingle) Took on the game with aggression from the start, finishing with three points from play, always dangerous when running at goal, even if a little off target with one of his first efforts. Rating: 8 Substitutes: None of them were required to make anything like a match-turning impact, but Diarmuid O'Connor helped bring some added energy to midfield, Evan Looney also getting on some ball in his debut season. Tadhg Morley had the honour of setting up the icing on the cake, Joe O'Connor's late goal. Rating: 7 Management An eighth All-Ireland final for Jack O'Connor, this time flanked by Aodán Mac Gearailt, James Costello, Cian O'Neill, O'Connor steps away after one of his finest, his fifth win. After an emotionally draining season, the team were in absolute peak condition, dominant winners over a highly rated Donegal team. Rating: 9
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
House on fire for Kerry goalkeeper Shane Ryan as titanic battle with Donegal beckons
The nation will be gripped by a "titanic battle" in Sunday's All-Ireland Football Championship final, but Shane Ryan is not about to complain about the problems coming his way. In previous times a clash of the counties could be seen as a war of attrition with Kerry sacrificing some of their ideals to try to break down a defensive Donegal outfit. The new rules in the sport makes any repeat scenario unlikely, which Ryan acknowledges is good for the viewing audience, even if it makes his own 70 minutes much more difficult. Finals by their nature can be cagey, so there is something of unknown in Sunday's showpiece. It may produce fireworks or take time to warm up. All he can reference so far is how he has found championship matches so far this year? "It's kind of like your house on fire," he told RTÉ GAA analyst Tomás Ó Sé in an interview as part of Sunday's live television coverage. "[Your job is to] put out fires everywhere. Then it's 'right, we're attacking now'. "It's hard to sometimes actually read the flow of the game. "At times the game can just turn into madness, you have to toughen in those times. "It's definitely made it tougher because you know there were times last year and the last couple of years where teams dropped off. So you might get 30% of your kickouts uncontested and you kick it to the corner-back and away we go. "There's less controlled plays than there was in previous years, so therefore you actually don't have a chance to get your breath, even as a defensive unit." With the Kingdom usually cruising their way through the Munster Championship, Ryan is rarely tested until the latter stages of the Championship. That has not been the case this campaign with a tricky test in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh passed with the concession of 1-25. The Rathmore man has yet to concede two goals in a match with his proficiencies when facing a forward in a duel a major asset to Jack O'Connor's side. His impressive performances have been honed over the years in the knowledge he would be needed at times, likely in the latter stages of the season. The goalkeeper admitted he is still more active over the course of the year now, thanks to the FRC implementations. So has training moved to more attention on saving rather than kicking? "[Shot stopping] is definitely something we're focusing on. But would I say it's something we're focusing more than other years? No. "I suppose I'm probably getting more opportunities this year to kind of show off my shot-stopping. "It's 11 v 11, there's more one-on-one battles. Teams are getting opened up and the nature of the game this year is that it's just absolutely chaotic at times. You know there will be a man bearing down on top of you. "From a goalkeeper perspective it's a bit annoying that you're relinquishing control, but if I put my GAA hat on from a supporter's perspective, the entertainment value has gone through the roof because of it. As I said already the games are just, they're chaotic by nature now, but it's proven to give entertainment." The round-robin defeat to Meath was an eye-opener for Kerry. Many had expected them to cruise through their group and the loss in Tullamore led to something of a reflection. Ryan denies it led to totally changed their approach. "I thought we played a lot of good football leading up to Meath, even in the league as well, and we've played a lot of good football since. "There was definitely areas in the Meath game we were very disappointed with. I think it was more a case of trying to get back to basics a small bit. We are a united group and there's a lot of us on the road now for seven or eight years. "We've had a good few tests down through the years, plenty of success, plenty of disappointments, and all that stuff comes together, and it gels you together as a team. You don't want to let the man beside you down and that's something that we're going to try to harness again this weekend." After progressing against Cavan and Tyrone, one more Ulster county stands in the way of a 39th All-Ireland. The Tir Conaill men are looking to repeat Jim McGuinness's memorable success of 2012 and the Kerry goalkeeper feels it's going to be the hardest challenge of all. "Certainly. I think Donegal have so many threats from all over the field, and they're obviously hugely usually athletic. They were probably one of the favourites from the outset of the league this year. "We played them below in Killarney and they obviously beat us in our own backyard there in the first game. "We are just trying to back ourselves while knowing that Donegal have a lot of threats and you were just trying to get the balance there between playing your game and stopping them playing their game. "I think it's going to make for a titanic battle, and it's something that I'm looking forward to and the whole country is looking forward to as well."
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ryan: U.S. making Ryder Cup 'as messy as possible'
Golf Digest's Shane Ryan reacts to a Ryder Cup rules addendum with Keegan Bradley implications and critiques the way the U.S. Ryder Cup Team has complicated the roster situation ever since choosing Bradley as captain.
