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The Irish Sun
13 hours ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Slovenia boss reveals ‘really nice relationship' with GAA star ahead of Nations League rematch vs Ireland
WHEN Sasa Kolman's Slovenia thumped Ireland 4-0 in the Nations League, he had one congratulatory message that stood out. In advance of the game, the manager attributed his self-belief to an encounter with Jim McGuinness at Advertisement 3 Four months ago his side defeated the Girls in Green 4-0 in Koper 3 Irish players were second to every ball on the night 3 Jim McGuinness has already led Donegal to victory in this year's Ulster Championship The Donegal boss was And Kolman revealed: 'We were talking on WhatsApp. He saw a headline from when I spoke to him at Celtic in 2013, that I thought I was going to 'conquer the world'. 'He said, 'Sasa, you took it literally!' I said, 'Well, you told me so!' 'It's a really nice relationship. No contact since Koper — he's in his business, I'm in mine. Advertisement Read More On Irish Football "It's been pretty hectic with four international games in four months. Maybe I'll hear from him tomorrow.' The friendship has made a GAA fan of Kolman. He said: 'I just follow Donegal. Because of Jim. I didn't watch against Cavan because we were on the way here, but I've been reading about it. They smashed them. 'I was pretty sad when he decided to go back, I really thought he has a big future in football. Maybe he still has.' Advertisement Most read in Football Exclusive Exclusive Kolman also complimented the facilities at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. He said: 'It's a fantastic stadium. Even when we were driving here, everybody was looking outside the window. The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will see the World's best players decide which club is the greatest "We would just wish that we would have facilities like that one day in Slovenia.' As for their rematch, Kolman knows Ireland will provide a different challenge this time. Advertisement He said: 'That game in Koper changed Ireland more than they changed us. "They took something out of it. They look very good, very compact. 'But to finish six from six, that would make a huge statement in Slovenia.'
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Cavan v Donegal live score updates from All-Ireland Football Championship clash
After recording a shock win over Mayo, Cavan bid to deliver another surprise in the All-Ireland series when they take on Donegal at Breffni Park. Raymond Galligan's side were defeated by Tyrone in their Ulster Championship quarter-final and were handed a difficult draw when pitched into Group One with the Red Hands, Ulster champions Donegal and defeated Connacht finalists Mayo. However, they have given themselves a good chance of progressing to the knockout stages and they welcomed back star attacker Paddy Lynch against Mayo in Castlebar. Donegal played four games to win Ulster and are facing their sixth all-Ulster Championship clash of 2025 today. Last weekend's loss to Tyrone in Ballybofey was their first defeat in League or Championship under Jim McGuinness at MacCumhaill Park. The back-to-back Ulster champions will be keen to return to winning ways this afternoon. They also suffered a loss to Cork in the group stages last season and still managed to top the group and Tyrone's loss to Mayo last night means a win for Donegal would leave every team with one win and one loss going into round three. You can follow all the action live below. All-Ireland SFC Round Two, Group One: Tyrone 1-13 Mayo 2-17 Mayo have blown Group One wide open following a stunning seven-point defeat of Tyrone at O'Neills Healy Park. Goals in each half from Darren McHale and Ryan O'Donoghue from the penalty spot helped an embattled Mayo side claim a full-merited win. The fortunes of both teams could hardly have been for contrasting coming into the game with Mayo losing to Cavan in round one before Kevin McStay was forced to step aside for health reasons with Stephen Rochford coming in as interim boss. Tyrone's first half performance was reminiscent of their League showing in MacHale Park when they suffered a 0-12 to 0-10 defeat in an forgettable and drab affair. Just seven days previous, they'd handed Jim McGuinness his first loss in Ballybofey as they defeated Ulster champions Donegal. Yet, the Red Hands never matched the pitch of that game. They posted a meagre four points in the first half as Mayo dominated the midfield battle in the absence of the influential Brian Kennedy. Malachy O'Rourke might have been happy enough with a five-point deficit at the break, but an error from Niall Morgan afforded Mayo a goal after several missed chances earlier in the half. A speculative effort from Bob Tuohy was caught in the wind and Morgan failed to collect possession leaving Darren McHale to fire into the net to put Mayo 1-9 to 0-4 ahead. O'Donoghue almost plundered a goal on the restart as he was denied by the post and Tyrone's third quarter gave the home support something to cheer about. Mattie Donnelly curled over a good score before Darragh Canavan was given the space to jink in behind the Mayo defence and fire a cracking goal past Colm Reape. The introduction of Errigal Ciaran duo Peter Harte and Ruairi Canavan increased Tyrone's attacking intent further. Darren McCurry and a two-point free from Niall Morgan had one point between the teams, but Tyrone couldn't get back on level terms. Mayo replied in style with back-to-back scores from Jack Carney and the impressive Paddy Durcan, who finished with three points from play. Moments after Conn Kilpatrick was blown for over-carrying in a promising position, Mayo put the result beyond doubt with a penalty. Aidan O'Shea put substitute Davitt Neary through on goal and he went to ground under the weight of challenges from Liam Gray and Cormac Quinn. O'Donoghue gave Morgan no chance from the penalty, although the Tyrone goalkeeper converted a second two-pointer minutes later. However, that score fell either side of points from O'Donoghue and the inspirational O'Shea and Jack Coyne's point after the hooter gave Mayo a seven-point win in Omagh. The beaten Connacht finalists face Donegal at a neutral venue in round three with the Red Hands set to face Cavan for the second time in the Championship. Should Donegal get the better of the Breffnimen this afternoon, all four teams would have two points going into round three. Things could get very interesting in Group One. TYRONE: N Morgan 0-4 (2tpf), C Quinn, P Teague, N Devlin; M McKernan 0-1, R Brennan, K McGeary 0-1; B McDonnell 0-1, C Kilpatrick; S O'Donnell, M Donnelly 0-1, C Daly; D McCurry 0-2 (0-1f), M Bradley, D Canavan 1-3 (0-2fs). Subs: L Gray for Brennan (HT), S O'Hare for O'Donnell (HT), P Harte for Bradley (47), R Canavan for Daly (47), A Donaghy for McDonnell (61). MAYO: C Reape 0-1 (0-1 45); J Coyne 0-1, S Moraghan, R Brickenden 0-2, S Coen, D McBrien, E Hession; P Durcan 0-3, M Ruane; J Carney 0-1, D McHale 1-0, B Tuohy; A O'Shea 0-1, C Dawson 0-2, R O'Donoghue 1-6 (1-0 pen, 0-5fs). Subs: J Flynn for Tuohy (45), D Neary for McHale (45), F Kelly for Dawson (55), F Boland for Ruane (67), S Callinan for Durcan (69). REFEREE: D Coldrick (Meath).
Belfast Telegraph
4 days ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Antrim fans can be secret weapon in Tailteann Cup quest: Dermot McAleese
The Saffrons had shown promise that they might have made an impact in the competition before now but since its inception three years ago the trophy has gone to Westmeath, Meath and Down. Little wonder, then, that Antrim's hunger for silverware has intensified of late given that they have flattered to deceive. Right now, though, McAleese believes that it is time for the Saffrons to rise to the occasion against a London side that is equally keen to create a good impression. While a number of sides are still blooding comparatively new faces in their line-ups, Antrim can lean on a battery of seasoned campaigners with McAleese himself, Patrick McBride, Marc Jordan, Dominic McEnhill, Ruairi McCann, Eunan Walsh, Ryan Murray and Michael Byrne among players who are more than capable of giving a lead. McAleese was disappointed to see his side lose to Armagh in the Ulster Championship but believes they can rise to the challenge this time out. 'I think if we get a good swell of support we can make progress,' maintains McAleese. London, like their hosts, will hope to create an impact and are likely to look to Stephen Dornan, Tighe Barry, Cahir Healy, Daniel Clarke and Aidan McLaughlin in this connection. Fermanagh, too, will be in search of a boost when they face Wexford in the Tailteann Cup at Croke Park (1.45pm) prior to the Dublin v Armagh All-Ireland Group 4 shoot-out. Erne County boss Kieran Donnelly is hopeful that his side can transform some of their recent League form to the Tailteann Cup. Indeed, Fermanagh have shown a sharp appetite for action lately and Fionan O'Brien, Garvan Jones, Ultan Kelm, Declan McCusker and Conor Love can boost the team's chances of victory.
BreakingNews.ie
5 days ago
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Shauna Lynch confident Cavan can build on successful start to the season
Cavan captain Shauna Lynch is confident her county can build on their success in the league and the Ulster championship ahead of the All-Ireland. After a difficult couple of seasons, which saw Cavan relegated to Intermediate in 2023, and then to Division Three, the county already has two pieces of silverware under its belt. Advertisement After winning Division Three, Cavan defeated Down in the Intermediate Ulster final to go into this weekend's group three clash with Monaghan with further momentum. Ahead of the All-Ireland, Lynch is confident Cavan can keep this up, but knows how challenging the championship will be. "You are looking at all three groups where you can't pick a winner out of, which is unbelievable. "I think it is pushing teams on at training. From a national level, everyone is saying how competitive it is and how great it is for ladies football. Advertisement "Getting back to senior would be absolutely massive for Cavan. When we sat down at the start of the year, that was a goal in the future, and we have had an unbelievable start to the year, which has put us on the right track to getting Cavan back to where we think they should be." While the likes of Kerry and Armagh are out of Cavan's reach at the moment, Lynch is hoping her county will use them as inspiration for building on league victories. The Cavan captain is also keen to remind people of how strongly the county competed with the top sides of the country in the past, and is using it as motivation for the rest of the season. "Back when I first started playing with Cavan, we would have played the likes of Armagh, and we would have beaten them. "You look at how far they have come on, and it is unbelievable. You would hope it will inspire us to get back up to that level."
Irish Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Eoin McElholm's jawdropping scoring stats as Tyrone end Louth All-Ireland dream
With three All-Ireland under-20 football titles in four years the Tyrone conveyor belt is rolling at a serious pace again - and the others better watch out. More Sam Maguires seem certain to follow. The last time Tyrone had a run of underage success like this - 1997-2001 - landing two All-Ireland under-21 titles and two minor All-Irelands - we all know what happened. Stephen O'Neill happened. Sean Cavanagh happened. Conor Gormley happened. Philip Jordan happened. Kevin Hughes happened. Enda McGinley happened. Owen Mulligan happened. And we could go on Their talismanic leader from those sides, the late Cormac McAnallen, who passed away in 2004, captained Tyrone to win that 2000 All-Ireland under-21 title, just over 25 years ago. It's hard to believe the Tyrone captain passed away a quarter of a century ago, but his spirit was alive and well in Armagh City this evening. In Eoin McElholm Tyrone have an absolute gem. The Loughmacrory club man added another 2-4 from play in an All-Ireland Final to go with 0-7 from play in last year's under-20 final victory over Kerry and 2-5 in Omagh CBS' 2023 Hogan Cup Final win over Summerhill (Sligo). That's 4-16 from play in three All-Ireland finals, averaging out at just over nine points per final. Let that sink in. Talk about star quality and doing it on the big day. Tyrone fans will be praying they AFL snipers, who have already been in touch, don't come to pick off their prime assassin. McElholm had a Robin to his Batman at the Athletic Grounds this evening as Tyrone ran out 5-16 to 0-17 victors, or maybe McElholm was the Robin to Noah Grimes Batman. Grimes hit an unbelievable 2-6 from play as the dynamic duo shot 4-10 from play between them. Louth struggled to get a hand on the quicksilver pair to even foul them. And what an achievement for former Tyrone All-Ireland finalist and Ulster Championship winning player, Paul Devlin, to surpass Mickey Harte and Danny Ball's two All-Ireland under-21 triumphs and do it three times. Devlin said afterwards: 'The last three finals we've turned up in the final.' That was exactly it. Tyrone looked entirely at home with the occasion where Louth looked jittery, and it wasn't that they played poorly. Their midfield pair James Maguire and Sean Callaghan dominated the skys and scored some sublime points, but it was what happened on the ground that counted most. As soon as Tyrone got any measure of parity on the kickouts they made hay to run out 14 points victors. They were utterly ruthless. When Louth snatched at goal chances, Darragh Dorian blazing one gilt edge opportunity off the crossbar and Tyrone skipper Joey Clarke taking another off the line, Tyrone went straight up the other end and scored points. Those two incidents, both early in the second half, amounted to an eight point swing. Had Louth hit the net with both of them they would have been 2-13 to 2-9 ahead after 41 minutes. There can be no arguing with the winners though, and you'd fancy Tyrone would have mustered a response, so composed and well drilled were they, but that would have tested them. McElholm twice steadied himself, showing that rare poise that marks a player out, and rolled low to the corner of the net for goals. Grimes' finishes for his two goals were also coolness personified. Tyrone are doing some line in slippery as an eel inside forward man. For McElholm and Grimes see Darragh and Ruairi Canavan, or Darren McCurry. The small inside man is certainly back again with the three-up rule. And Tyrone made hay here with some outstanding defending and lightning quick breaks off turnovers that created acres of space for McElholm and Grimes to do their thing. The amount of Tyrone players who could use both hands and both feet to jink and weave in tight areas was notable too, as was their pace and athleticism. McElholm is a star in the making and plenty of others will follow the likes of 2022 All-Ireland winning under-20 captain Niall Devlin, Seanie O'Donnell and Ciaran Daly into the senior starting line-up soon enough. Devlin, Daly, O'Connell, and last year's All-Ireland under-20 winner Cormac Devlin, all started in last weekend's All-Ireland round robin victory over Donegal at Ballybofey. Louth weren't without their chances, with goalie Tiernan Markey having a couple of two point frees in the first half that tailed left and wide and those goal efforts. But Tyrone were operating on a different level and one that should have the others worried going forward.
