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Irish Examiner
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Different ball game but road bowling a family affair for Armagh netminder Ethan Rafferty
Ethan Rafferty achieved a unique addition to his All-Ireland football medal won last year when claiming the All-Ireland senior road bowling crown over the weekend. The latter success, though, is no way unique to his family. Sunday's win merely lifts him onto the bottom step of a family ladder steeped in road bowling silverware. After victory on the west Cork roads around Castletownkenneigh, there's little doubt that road bowling must carry a significant degree of importance to him if he is making the time to operate to such a high level in tandem with his existence within the consuming inter-county sphere. 'It's real family-oriented for myself,' he says, before dropping in the mightily impressive stat that his win keeps the senior men's title in the family for a fourth successive year. 'My grandfather, Aidan Toal, was big into it and that filtered down. His son, Michael Toal, has ten All-Ireland titles, and then there's all the cousins and we would've played together growing up. 'I won it this year, my younger brother Colm won the Senior All-Ireland last year, and then the two years before that was a first cousin of ours, Thomas Mackle, so it's obviously close to your heart because it's your family. My auntie Dervla [Toal], she's a reigning All-Ireland Ladies champion too, so I would be rightfully down the pecking order with regards to All-Irelands in the family. THROUGH THE MILLING CROWDS: Armagh's Ethan Rafferty - better known as the county's No 1 - contesting (and winning) the All-Ireland Senior Road Bowling Championships at Castletownkenneigh in Co Cork. This decisive moment, brilliantly captured by Greta Cormican, is his throw from 'The Black Gate' to 'Fehilly's Lane' and was critical in ensuring Rafferty went out to Forshin's Cross in one more. That and his following throw made it virtually impossible for final opponent Arthur McDonagh to mount a successful comeback. Pic: Greta Cormican 'All my uncles, aunties, mum and dad, and all came down to the score on Sunday, it means a lot, so you try and find time for it the best you can, you get out for 10 or 15 minutes practice, and that's how you keep tipping at it.' The journey down from Armagh was made on Saturday with only one stop, that to take in Tyrone and the Orchard County's quarter-final conquerors Kerry. The two-mile course was walked that evening to have its curvature sampled and studied, Ethan and his dad enjoying the road to themselves in sharp contrast to the throngs that packed the following day. 'It was a civil enough score Sunday, but the crowds can be heated because you'd have fellas there wagering a lot on it, so they're obviously looking to get the win. 'With the large crowd, it can be hard to navigate the road and ask them to get out of the way, but before each shot they are good, if you want to look up the left-hand side of the road, they'll clear that side. 'I have an uncle, a cousin, and a friend in my camp so to speak, so I would leave it up to them, they can read the road a bit better than I would. You're sort of going off what they are telling you.' Two weeks after Kerry dismantled his kickout and dethroned Armagh in the process, Sunday was a timely triumph. 'With the football going on, I wasn't sure if I was going to get playing the bullets at all this year. Obviously the season ended prematurely for us, and so this was something I could put my head into and focus on after the football. 'I didn't expect to be competing for the senior All-Ireland title this year, after only winning the intermediate last year, but I gave it my best and thankfully it worked out.'
Irish Independent
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Shane Enright: Kerry training will focus mainly on Donegal's running game
The only question now ahead of the All-Ireland final is: Can Jack O'Connor devise a masterplan to counteract Donegal's style of play? Kerry may not have quite reached the same heights last Saturday as their second half display against Armagh in the quarter-final, but they didn't have to. Against Tyrone in the All-Ireland semi-final, Kerry ran out comfortable winners in the end. In all honesty, a six-point defeat flatters Tyrone somewhat.
Irish Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Kerry and Donegal show underdogs that only the ruthless survive
Underdogs have to take all of their chances, whether it's shots at the posts, half-chances at goal or minding possession in tight areas. Neither Meath nor Tyrone were able to do these things and thus Donegal and Kerry were treated to armchair semi-final victories. On Sunday, Meath started the game with two-pointers in the opening 12 minutes from Eoghan Frayne and Ruairi Kinsella, but that was as good as it got for the Royals, as their preferred shooting method subsequently malfunctioned. After a great turnover inside their own 45, Jordan Morris carried the ball from deep, a momentary reprieve from his marker, Brendan McCole. The Meath forward tried to play a defence splitting pass into Matthew Costello, but his tormentor Brendan McCole intercepted the ball just ahead of the onrushing Matthew Costello. Robbie Brennan spoke after the Galway win about Jordan Morris and his creativity, saying that he doesn't want to restrict players who have a little bit of magic. Brennan has given them the freedom to concede what he terms 'creative turnovers'. This was one of them and it was acceptable at that stage of the game with just six minutes on the clock. READ MORE Robbie Brennan has encouraged Meath to play freely, and here Morris gambles to try and create a goal chance, leading to a "creative turnover" In the next phase, Donegal continued to attack as they usually do, but were turned over as they approached the Meath arc. Meath attacked with pace, but the two-point effort from Conor Duke went wide, under severe pressure from Oisín Gallen, who had worked hard to get back to cover. An underdog needs to take those chances. The game would have been very different at this point if the scoreboard read 1-5 to 0-2 in favour of the Royals, rather than just the one-point advantage. As a cagey opening quarter played out, Donegal were only up 0-6 to 0-5, with Meath scoring 2/4 of their two-point efforts. However, for the remainder of the half, they missed four two-point efforts to go into half time with a conversion rate of 2/8 (25%) on two-point shots and 4/8 (50%) inside the arc. Meath two-point attempts (1-4): Meath's conversion rate in the first half for two-pointer was 25 per cent, as they often took the wrong option. In the 18th minute, Jordan Morris had yet to register a score and, under pressure from McCole again, he dropped a two-point attempt tamely wide. As the television cameras panned to Robbie Brennan and Shane Supple on the sideline, there was frustration evident in their body language, their willingness to embrace 'creative turnovers' maybe not as high at this moment. They would not have been happy, as Meath were very much in the game, with success on the Donegal kickout, some great defensive turnovers from Sean Rafferty and strong ball carrying from Ciaran Caulfield, but they needed to convert their chances. Donegal definitely afforded them chances. Meath two-point attempts (5-8): Meath's four consecutive two-point misses badly hurt their chances of staying in the game. Jordan Morris finally got his sole contribution to the scoreboard in the 32nd minute as his delightful dummy onto his left gave him momentary breathing space to bring the Meath tally to 0-8. However, Donegal finished the half off with two points as they continually put Billy Hogan's kickout under pressure. Ruairi Kinsella missed a rushed two-point effort as the buzzer sounded, when calm was needed to work the right shot. At half-time Donegal led 0-13 to 0-8 and the game was close to over. The removal of Michael Murphy in the 44th minute signified that Donegal has started preparation for their final joust with Kerry. A day earlier in Croke Park, the underdog struggled again but in a different way. Tyrone dominated the Kerry kickout in the first half as they won seven out of 10 of Shane Ryan's restarts, giving them a huge platform. However they were not able to punish accordingly, as Kerry came with a teak tough defensive structure and a real edge, where they had no interest in conceding soft frees or affording goal chances. Battle lines were firmly drawn as within 30 seconds Kerry executed the perfect choke tackle on Darragh Canavan and turned over Tyrone. Kerry controlled the tempo of the game in the next phase, before David Clifford won a free in front of the posts which Sean O'Shea converted. Kerry executed a perfect choke tackle on Darragh Canavan inside a minute, setting the tone The one scoreable free that Tyrone conceded in the first half was a foul with a purpose, as Joe O'Connor's quickly snuffed out a rare Tyrone jaunt toward Shane Ryan's goal. Joe O'Connor made the smart choice to give Tyrone a handy free, rather than a rare chance at goal O'Connor was involved again in the 9th minute as Kerry forced a turnover after a long spell of controlled Tyrone possession. O'Connor showed his confrontational side by winning a turnover under the Hogan stand as he hassled Brian Kennedy vigorously. O'Connor once again forcing a turnover, this time popping the ball out of Brian Kennedy In the 24th minute, Tyrone won a miscued Shane Ryan kickout but weren't able to punish with Eoin McElholm's attempt tailing wide as Kerry scrambled back. The defining turnover of the half came in the 28th minute as Mattie Donnelly wound up to shoot at the posts, but a diving block from two Kerry defenders sent the Kingdom on the attack for David Clifford's goal at the far end of the field. This block on Mattie Donnelly was rewarded, as Kerry scored their goal from it at the opposite end Clifford demonstrated the perfect back door cut, followed by a dummy bounce to beat Niall Morgan and stick it in the net. David Clifford's genius on and off the ball on show, executing the backdoor cut, rounding Niall Morgan and finishing Tyrone led after the first quarter by 0-6 to 0-4, but by half-time the scoreline was 1-9 to 0-9. Tyrone lacked some of the edge you'd associate with their tempestuous clashes with Kerry over the last 20 years, where they dictated terms. After dominating possession for much of the half, the score at the break left the Ulster underdogs with too much to do. While the scoreline on Saturday wasn't quite the massacre that Donegal delivered on Sunday, this game was just as comfortable for Kerry. After their initial second half scoring burst, Tyrone were dictated to by the Kingdom, setting up an All-Ireland final full of intrigue.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Niall Morgan's hilariously blunt reply when asked what went wrong in Tyrone's semi-final loss to Kerry
TYRONE goalkeeper Niall Morgan reflected on the All-Ireland semi-final loss to Kerry. The Red Hands fell victim to a Advertisement 2 The former Dungannon Swifts shot stopper has also helped coach Tyrone's minor team 2 David Clifford scored the only goal of the game The two-time All-Star had a sensational individual performance but it wasn't enough to overcome Jack O'Connor's side. When speaking to He said: "We went into the game obviously with a plan, and we had looked back on the previous games and stuff "I think I seen Jack O'Connor say that Kerry are held to a different standards than other teams and he's probably right. Advertisement Read more on GAA "They know they have to peak for the right time of the year and they continually do it and every year they are still beat down if they don't win every game at a canter. "They are an excellent team and sometimes you just have to tip your hat to the opposition and I suppose be honest that you were beaten by the better team on the day." When asked 'What went wrong?' for Tyrone on the day, Morgan bluntly replied: " The Tyrone keeper made some outrageous saves to deny the Kingdom goals but the Edendork St Malachy's man couldn't keep Clifford from hitting the back of the net. Advertisement Most read in GAA Football The Fossa forward scored 1-9 to help bring Kerry into an All-Ireland final once again after their one year absence. The 2021 All-Ireland winner continued to praise Clifford saying: "I think it was thrown at him early in his career that in bigger games he didn't perform as well. 'Easiest interview I've ever had' jokes RTE GAA host after pundits go back and forth before Meath vs Donegal "But I think there has to be a stark reminder of how young he actually is as well. "He's not an old man. He's just sensational. He's six foot four, he's fast, he's mobile, he's good in the air and he can shoot off both feet. Advertisement "You know Kerry, their just a really good team, you have to just admit that. "In Tyrone we all say Peter Canavan is the best we've ever seen, I've obviously never got to play against Peter so in terms of players that I played against David is definitely top of the list."
Sunday World
2 days ago
- General
- Sunday World
Family raising money to return belongings of Irishman who drowned in Canada
Stuart Doonan (30) got into difficulty in water near his accommodation in Montreal. More than €4,000 has been raised to help the grieving family of a Tyrone man who died in Canada last month cover the costs of bringing his belongings home. The GoFundMe page was set up after Stuart Doonan, from Drumquin, drowned on June 10. The 30-year-old got into difficulty in water near his accommodation in Montreal and will be laid to rest today. A service of thanksgiving for Stuart's life will be held in Drumquin Presbyterian Church at 2pm followed by committal in the adjoining graveyard. Stuart Doonan. (Image: Armstrong Funeral Directors) News in 90 Seconds - Monday July 14th His devastated sister Stacey remembered her brother as 'the heart and soul of the family' on the online fundraising page which has received over €4,300 in donations. 'We are grateful for all the invaluable help and support we are receiving in getting Stuart home from the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, we now face the challenge of bringing his belongings home,' she said. 'We have to navigate the process of getting his personal belongings home as he lived in Montreal for four years. 'We would appreciate any support in doing this.' The family has raised around 95% of the original target amount and has promised that any money left over will be donated to the charity that helps families repatriate the remains of loved ones who died abroad. 'Excess funds will be going to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust (Newry) who have and continue to be a great support to the family,' Stacey said. The trust was set up by the parents of Newry man Kevin Bell, who died in New York in 2013, and has assisted over 1,700 families. The charity covers many of the practicalities involved in repatriation, from liaising with funeral directors overseas to ensuring all necessary documentation is in place, easing some of the burden on loved ones during an already traumatic time. Tributes poured in online from those who knew Stuart both at home and in Canada. Friends remembered him as a warm, kind, and generous young man who loved life and made a lasting impression on everyone who encountered him. Leeds-based music promoter Bad Owl Presents paid an emotional tribute to the one-time regular at their events before 'he recently moved away to follow his dream of living and working in Canada'. 'He brought an excitement and passion to our shows, was a huge advocate of the scene and always had a daft story to regale to us in between bands,' they posted online. 'He will be very much missed and our thoughts go out to his friends and his family.' A death notice described Stuart as a 'dearly beloved son of David and Carol' and 'a devoted brother of Clara (John), Stacey (Will) and the late baby Andrew'. 'A much-loved grandson of Robert and the late Florence and the late Tommy and Jennifer. A dear nephew and cousin,' it added. The fundraising campaign remains open as relatives and friends prepare to pay their respects to Stuart. 'We are devastated about the circumstances surrounding his passing,' Stacey said. 'Stuart was full of life and full of love, the heart and soul of our family and he will be sorely missed by us all. 'Stuart loved his life in Montreal and saw a future there.' See
