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BreakingNews.ie
5 hours ago
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Sunday sport: Meath to take on Donegal in second SFC semi-final
GAA Meath and Ulster champions Donegal will fight it out for a place in the All-Ireland Senior Football final this afternoon. Jim McGuinness' Donegal haven't been to the decider in 11 years, while the Royals are aiming to get to the final for the first time since 2001. Advertisement Both teams are unchanged from their wins in the quarter-finals, with Donegal boosted by the return of defender Caolan McGonagle to their bench. Meath boss Robbie Brennan has made one positional change for the game, with Matthew Costello moving to full-forward and Keith Curtis to the half-forward line. Kerry await the winners in the All-Ireland final, and there's a 4pm throw-in time at Croke Park. There are also a pair of semi-finals in the All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies Football Championship. Advertisement Monaghan and Laois meet at Pearse Park, and Carrick-on-Shannon is the venue for the clash of Tyrone and Leinster champions Westmeath. Both last-four ties get underway at 2pm. Tennis Carlos Alcaraz could become just the fifth man in history to be crowned Wimbledon champion three years running this afternoon. He's taking on world number one Jannik Sinner on Centre Court - a month after beating him 3-2 in a French Open epic to win the title at Roland Garros. Advertisement Sinner is hoping to win his first title at Wimbledon, having won all his previous Grand Slams on hard courts. Golf Rory McIlroy is in pole position to win golf's Scottish Open, sharing the lead going into the final round. The world number two will resume on 11-under par for the tournament, along with American Chris Gotterup, at the Renaissance Club. US Senior Open champion Padraig Harrington is one-over-par into the final day, as he fine-tunes his preparations for The Open. Leona Maguire is nine-under-par after 11 holes of her final round at the Evian Championship in France - and three shots off the lead. Soccer Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca says he has "maximum respect" for Paris Saint-Germain - but his team is ready to beat them to become world champions. The sides meet in the Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey tonight.
Irish Times
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Kerry boss Jack O'Connor delights in being back in a seventh All-Ireland final
What a difference a fortnight makes. Kerry manager Jack O'Connor is no less happy to have beaten Tyrone in Saturday's All-Ireland semi-final than he was when champions Armagh were tumbled two weeks ago: 'Delighted,' he specifies. But he is a more upbeat, less recriminatory Jack than when taking issue with his team's treatment at the hands of Kerry pundits after the quarter-final, contentedly contemplating his seventh All-Ireland final – even though the season is now truncated. 'In the old days, it was three or four weeks to an All-Ireland final, but it'll be a great two weeks, you know, there's always a great buzz around the county so really looking forward to it now.' There may not have been the sturm und drang of the 15 minutes when Armagh were consigned to their championship exit by an unanswered 14-point barrage, but once again Kerry dominated and ran off a series of scores that effectively took the match away from Tyrone. READ MORE Once Darragh Canavan had cut the margin to a point in the 42nd minute, 0-13 to 1-11, the Ulster team didn't score again for 22 minutes by which stage they were eight points worse off on the scoreboard and embarking on the last few minutes of their 2025 season. It had started quite well for them and they led for most of the first quarter and were right in it until half-time. But Kerry had turned the tables with a 29th-minute goal by David Clifford , who would end the day with 1-9, and they were never headed again. A Kerry fan celebrates a score at Croke Park. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho O'Connor thought that the wind might have played a role in subduing Tyrone in that third quarter but he also pinpointed a much better performance from his team around the middle where the early imperium of Conn Kilpatrick was broken and Kerry's Joe O'Connor was named TV man-of-the-match for a dynamic display getting on ball and moving forward. 'What a game Joe had, you know, a powerful game and he's getting better ... all the time. 'We got to grips around the middle of the field – that was the big thing. No better man than this man here on a lot of breaks [he was sitting beside his captain Gavin White, who had played a big role in turning things around] and that was the thing that was killing us early on. 'I think there was a bit of a disconnect between Shane's kick-out and fellas getting to the pitch at the break, so we spoke about that at half-time and I think that was a big factor in the second half.' He acknowledged that the win could have been more emphatic, given the number of goal opportunities his team created. But a combination of poor finishing, inspired goalkeeping by Niall Morgan, and some desperate defensive interventions kept the score in check. 'I know, I know, two or three at the back post that looked like tap-ins: it's disappointing ... but at least we created the chances. Today we were creating goal chances. A dejected Kieran McGeary after Tyrone's defeat to Kerry at Croke Park. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho 'The last day we were creating two-point chances, but I think it's a sign of the team that they recognised what was in front of them and there was a bit more space inside this time. And they got the ball in and created those chances, but yeah, look, sure of course we could have had an easier afternoon if we converted a couple more.' White was asked about the challenge of playing in such hot weather – with on-field temperatures in the high 20s. 'Certainly, they were difficult conditions to play in so I suppose we were looking to try and keep the ball as much as we could, but everyone on our team was obviously trying to run the ball as best as they could. It was fairly warm out there at pitch level.' Malachy O'Rourke, as a former member of the FRC , whose rules modifications have played such a role in making the football championship the best in years, was able to accept ruefully that the additional space accorded to full forwards had been additionally challenging. But he had no excuses, demurring when asked to comment on his team's meagre free count in the first half. In general, he acknowledged that things hadn't worked as planned. 'Yeah, it was disappointing the way it got away from us. I suppose at half-time we felt we were right in the game. First half we played a lot of good football. We did well on both kick-outs. I suppose the downside of that was we gave away a wee bit of possession cheaply through our own efforts, unforced, and then Kerry put us under pressure at times. 'And then we were caught a wee bit at the back then, we left ourselves a wee bit bare at the back. And obviously David Clifford, we didn't give Paudie [Hampsey] enough cover at times, and David Clifford in particular was very prominent there.'
Irish Examiner
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Jack O'Connor pleased with 'rounded' performance but missed chances 'disappointing'
Where the third-quarter filleting of Armagh was 'freakish', Jack O'Connor described this latest Ulster conquest as 'more rounded'. And while a more rounded performance it was, when you scratch away at the surface and move beyond the eight goal chances not taken and eight first-half scoring chances from play not taken, it was again their third quarter lift that proved decisive. After Darragh Cavanan's 42nd minute point pulled Tyrone within one, Kerry went for nine-in-a-row in a 20-minute slow-kill to push their lead into double digits and secure an eighth All-Ireland final appearance on Jack's watch in the process. Tyrone, forgotten about during this third quarter, went scoreless for 22 minutes. 'We got to grips around the middle, that was the big thing,' said Jack. 'No better man than this man here beside me [Gavin White], he won a lot of breaks. That was the thing that was killing us early on. There was a bit of a disconnect between Shane Ryan's kickouts and fellas getting to the pitch of the breaks. We spoke about that at half-time and that was a big factor in the second half.' Jack's not wrong there regarding first-half restarts. Kerry lost five of their opening six. They'd lose two more before the half was out. Tyrone, by contrast, won six of their opening eight. Those stats were flipped on their head in the second period. 'This was a more rounded performance because I thought that third-quarter spell against Armagh was a bit freakish, it was like they just couldn't get their kickout away and we kept the ball up that end of the field. 'I think this was a more rounded performance because Tyrone are very big around the middle of the field, Kennedy and Kilpatrick are big men, they have a lot of targets, and Morgan has a serious weapon of a kickout. 'The two boys, Mark O'Shea and Seán O'Brien, plugged away great for most of the game, and then Joe O'Connor finished up midfield. And what a game Joe had. Powerful game, he is getting better all the time.' Joe, indeed, was back to his Munster semi-final best. The one black mark in the copybook was the third-quarter goal opening he blazed over. One of eight goal chances not converted. 'I know, I know,' replied Jack when this wastefulness was raised. 'Two or three at the back post that looked like tap-ins, it's disappointing because we prided ourselves throughout the league on scoring goals. 'At least we created the chances. Today we were creating goal chances, the last day we were creating two-point chances. I think it's a sign of the team that they recognised what's in front of them, and there was a bit more space inside this time, and they put the ball in and created those chances. 'Sure, look, of course we'd have had an easier afternoon if we'd converted a few of them.' A satisfactory afternoon, nonetheless. The Armagh display no longer sits in isolation. Albeit late in the day, Kerry are finally putting together a body of impressive evidence in this championship. 'There was a lot of noise about our game against Armagh, which meant Tyrone were coming in under the radar. That showed early on. In the first 15 minutes, Tyrone were the better team. They settled quicker and had us in a lot of bother on breaking ball around the middle. As soon as we got to terms with that, I thought the game changed and David's goal settled us. 'This is a mature team. Most of the boys are of a good age. They are in their mid-to-late 20s. Mature lads, and I think that was a mature performance. We slowed it down when we had to and sped it up when we had to. We kicked the ball through the lines well today. Found David in one-on-one situations, and that is always good for us.' Paul Geaney (shoulder), for the second game in succession, was an unused sub. Diarmuid O'Connor (shoulder), for the second game in succession, didn't tog. Tom O'Sullivan (calf) also sat this one out. The bottom injury line from Jack was not to rule out any of the three for involvement in a fortnight. 'Paul, in an emergency, could have been put in today. We just would want to make sure he didn't have a reoccurrence of the injury. He'll certainly be available to play in the final. 'Tom is giving himself a big chance of being available. Whether that transpires or not I couldn't tell you. And Diarmuid is tipping away and hoping to get into the fray. He's done bits and pieces since the Cavan game. So, I wouldn't rule any of the three of them out now.' Staying with the next fortnight, it is among Jack's favourite times of the year, if not his favourite. 'There is nothing like the two-week... it used to be three or four weeks to an All-Ireland final in the old days, but it'll be a great two weeks. There is always a great buzz around the county. Really looking forward to it now.'
Irish Times
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
David Clifford's 1-9 sees Kerry into All-Ireland final with room to spare over Tyrone
All-Ireland SFC semi-final: Kerry 1-20 Tyrone 0-17 On the hottest day of the year, Kerry got the job done long before the final whistle to qualify for a third All-Ireland SFC final in four years. Tyrone were reduced to booming in long, hopeful balls during the closing stages after Kerry made a decisive move in the third quarter of this semi-final to drain all hope from the Ulster side's challenge. Kerry celebrated briefly at the final whistle but many of the players were off down the tunnel before Joe O'Connor had even finished his man-of-the-match interview along the Hogan Stand sideline. The Tyrone players lingered on the pitch until they were accompanied only by some of the panel's young children and a crafty flock of ravenous seagulls who descended upon the stadium to feed on whatever parcels of food had been left behind from the departed 62,434 spectators. READ MORE For most of the afternoon the Tyrone forwards had been forced to live off scraps, while at the other end of the field David Clifford was in gluttonous form, finishing the game with 1-9 and ensuring Pádraig Hampsey will spend a few nights seeing the back of his Kerry jersey in his nightmares. [ Kerry 1-20 Tyrone 0-17 - As it happened Opens in new window ] Kerry led 1-9 to 0-9 at half-time, having played with the breeze in that opening period, but they won the match in a commanding second-half display. Darragh Canavan kept Tyrone in the contest with four points – including one two-pointer – during the opening 10 minutes after the restart. However, from the 43rd to the 63rd minute Kerry outscored Tyrone 0-8 to no score to lead 1-20 to 0-13. Tyrone kicked five successive wides in a six-minute period during that spell, too, and with each miscued effort the energy visibly drained from Tyrone's challenge. Four of their starting six forwards had been taken off by the end. Even coming down the home straight, Kerry's energy and desire were impressive – Brian Ó Beaglaoich put his body on the line to make a superb last-ditch diving block on a Niall Devlin shot. A Tyrone goal wouldn't have made any difference to the outcome, but Ó Beaglaoich's willingness to make that block offered an insight to Kerry's mindset. And though the final 10 minutes played out more like the end of a one-sided league game than a closely contested All-Ireland semi-final, Tyrone had actually laid the foundations for a possible upset in a decent first-half showing. Jason Foley of Kerry attempts to block an effort from Tyrone's Eoin McElholm during the semi-final at Croke Park. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho There were significant changes made to both teams before throw-in, with Paudie Clifford and Mark O'Shea starting for Kerry while Micheál Burns and Conor Geaney dropped to the bench. Eoin McElholm and Ben McDonnell came in from the start for Tyrone with Rory Brennan and Peter Harte making way. The announcement of McElholm's inclusion – his first senior championship start – generated a huge chorus of cheers from the Tyrone fans inside the stadium. Dylan Casey immediately picked up McElholm while Paul Murphy marshalled Canavan and Jason Foley marked Darren McCurry. At the other end of the field Hampsey was given the onerous task of tagging David Clifford, Cormac Quinn picked up Dylan Geaney while Devlin marked Paudie Clifford. Such was the heat in Croke Park that several players carried ice packs as they walked the pitch for the pre-game parade, Mattie Donnelly dabbing the back of his neck as the band marched down by the Cusack Stand. But Tyrone started like a group of players with ice in their veins – McElholm taking to the moment like a seasoned veteran as he danced inside the Kerry defence to feed Ciarán Daly for his side's opening point in the fourth minute. That made it 0-1 apiece after O'Shea had popped over an early point following a foul on David Clifford. Even in those opening stages, Clifford looked dangerous. But Tyrone were the better team in the opening quarter of an hour and a nice left-footed point by McElholm put them 0-5 to 0-2 ahead. They had also created two goal chances, the second of those saw Shane Ryan save well from Darren McCurry, though the shot was hit at a nice height for the Kerry goalkeeper. Tyrone also turned over Kerry's first four kick-outs. But the Munster champions simply refused to get flustered. O'Connor was doing brilliantly driving forward from the middle of the field and as the game progressed the clearer it became that Hampsey was struggling to get a handle on David Clifford. Not that it was all the Tyrone defender's fault, he was left exposed too often. But before Clifford netted his 29th-minute goal, it's fair to say many in Croke Park felt such a score had been coming. Kerry's Joe O'Connor celebrates scoring a point. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho Mike Breen was allowed saunter up the field unchecked and gave a lovely weighted handpass inside to Clifford. The Fossa man still had a bit of work to do but used his trademark bounce deftly to buy some extra space and evade Niall Morgan before placing the ball to the back of the net. Morgan made some fine stops during the game but Clifford's genius with the hop was fitting of the occasion. Tyrone probably weren't too disheartened to only go in three down at the break because they had the wind to come in the second half. Canavan reduced the gap to two inside the opening minute and when he added a two-pointer soon after it appeared a gripping climax might be in the offing. Kerry had other ideas though. It was too warm for such drama so instead they shifted through the gears and got back safely down the road with little fuss. Tyrone's attack started to malfunction, too, during that second half. McElholm, Daly and Seánie O'Donnell had been lively and productive in the first half but their influence on the game waned and all three were eventually hauled ashore. Kerry had repelled Tyrone's early onslaught. Tyrone couldn't do likewise when the Kerry one followed. The Kingdom now await the winners of Sunday's semi-final between Donegal and Meath. It'll be a green and gold decider, either way. The writing of Kerry epitaphs seems a lifetime ago now. KERRY: Shane Ryan; Paul Murphy, Jason Foley, Dylan Casey; Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Mike Breen, Gavin White; Joe O'Connor (0-0-2), Mark O'Shea; Seán O'Brien, Seán O'Shea (0-0-3, 2f), Graham O'Sullivan (0-0-1); David Clifford (1-1-7, 0-4f), Paudie Clifford (0-0-2), Dylan Geaney (0-0-1). Subs: Killian Spillane (0-0-2) for Geaney (48 mins); Evan Looney for Casey (58); Tadhg Morley for Breen, Micheál Burns for O'Brien (both 62); Tony Brosnan for P Clifford (65). TYRONE: Niall Morgan; Cormac Quinn, Pádraig Hampsey, Niall Devlin; Ben McDonnell, Peter Teague, Kieran McGeary (0-0-1); Brian Kennedy, Conn Kilpatrick; Seánie O'Donnell (0-0-2), Mattie Donnelly (0-0-2), Ciarán Daly (0-0-2); Eoin McElholm (0-0-1), Darren McCurry, Darragh Canavan (0-1-5, 0-2f). Subs: Michael McKernan for McDonnell, Mark Bradley for McCurry (both 48 mins); Peter Harte for Daly (52); Ruairí Canavan (0-1-0) for McElholm (56); Michael O'Neill for O'Donnell (67). Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan).
BBC News
a day ago
- Politics
- BBC News
DUP leader calls for unionist parties to co-operate
The leader of the Democratic Unionist Party called for more political co-operation among unionist parties in his address following the Belfast Twelfth of July parade."When unionism splits, unionism loses," said Gavin Robinson, who was the main speaker at the Belfast cited the loss of the Lagan Valley Westminster seat to Alliance in the 2024 general election as an example and called for talks between unionists on more political views were echoed by the Orange Order's deputy grand master Harold Henning, who called for "closer collaboration between the leadership" of unionist parties to "maximise unionist representation at all levels of government". Thousands of people took part in Orange Order parades across Northern Ireland on annual marches commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne in event is also a celebration of Protestant traditions and Ulster-Scots heritage. Robinson said the Twelfth was about "faith and freedom", but told the assembled crowd some people dismissed the event and "would rather we keep our heads down"."It crosses class, it bridges geography and it cuts across party political lines," he was also critical of the Labour government and the Windsor Framework, calling the Northern Ireland Protocol "a once in a generation act of self-harm to the union".He said unionists had received "broken promises" from the Labour government, adding that it was not prioritising Northern framework is Northern Ireland's post-Brexit deal which covers trade and human at the Twelfth event in Maghera, County Londonderry, Mr Henning said he wanted to send a message of collaboration to unionist politicians."Cooperation between our political representatives must be encouraged - more than that, it should be demanded and country should always come before party or individual self-interest," he said. Robinson's party colleague, Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Emma Little -Pengelly said people wanted to see a "united front" within the Orange Order and political unionism."Within every hall, within every lodge, there are people from all different shades of unionism, all different types of political views within the unionist family, and yet they walk together, they are friends, they are brethren, regardless of those particular shades of unionism," she said."That's a big message for political unionism."
