GAA football and hurling

[moh]

Cork v Down All-Ireland Football Final 2010 (Sunday 3:30pm Croke Park)

Ambrose Rogers(Down) and Graham Canty(Cork) are the biggest doubts to start the final in what has been a fascinating season on the GAA All-Ireland hurling and football final circuit and there’s one more big day to come when Cork and Down clash in the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Final in Croke Park on Sunday (3.30).
It will be a first ever All-Ireland final meeting between Cork and Down – indeed they have only met once before in the championship back in 1994 when Down won a semi-final by five points.
Cork are seeking their 7th All-Ireland senior title – and their first since 1990 –while Down are seeking their 6th and their first since 1994. Down have the distinction of having won all five finals they reached in 1960-61-68-91-94.
Cork have appeared in four finals since winning their last one in 1990 but lost in 1993-99-2007-2009.

Paths to the final
Cork
Cork 0-15 Kerry 0-15 (Munster semi-final)
Kerry 1-15 Cork 1-14 (After extra-time) Replay
Cork 1-19 Cavan 0-4 (Qualifier – Round 2)
Cork 0-12 Wexford 0-5 (Qualifier – Round 3)
Cork 0-16 Limerick 1-11 (Qualifier – Round 4) After extra-time
Cork 1-16 Roscommon 0-10 (All-Ireland quarter-final)
Cork 1-15 Dublin 1-14 (All-Ireland semi-final)
Played 7, Won 5, Drew 1, Lost 1.
Average For: 1-14; Average Against: 0-12
Cork Scorers
Daniel Goulding……………..1-34 (0-24 frees, 0-2 ‘45s’)
Donncha O’Connor…………1-16 (0-9 frees, 0-1 penalty)
Paddy Kelly…………………….0-12 (0-6 frees)
Ciaran Sheehan………………..0-9
Pearse O’Neill………………….2-3
Colm O’Neill…………………..0-8 (0-1 free)
Paul Kerrigan…………………..0-6
Paudie Kissane…………………0-3
Aidan Walsh……………………0-3
Derek Kavanagh……………..0-3
Graham Canty…………………0-2
Alan O’Connor………………..0-2
Fintan Goold………………….0-2
Michael Shields………………0-1
Noel O’Leary………………….0-1
John Hayes……………………0-1 (free)
John Miskella…………………0-1

Down
Down 1-15 Donegal 2-10 (Ulster quarter-final) After extra-time
Tyrone 0-14 Down 0-10 (Ulster semi-final)
Down 1-14 Longford 1-11 (Qualifier Round 2)
Down 1-12 Offaly 1-10 (Qualifier Round 3)
Down 3-20 Sligo 0-10 (Qualifier Round 4)
Down 1-16 Kerry 1-10 (All-Ireland quarter-final)
Down 1-16 Kildare 1-14 (All-Ireland semi-final)
Played 7, Won 6, Lost 1.
Average For: 1-16; Average Against: 1-11
Scorers
Martin Clarke……..1-27 (1-0 penalty, 0-14 frees, 0-4 ‘45’)
Mark Poland……….1-18 (0-13 frees)
Benny Coulter…….2-11
Daniel Hughes…….0-14
Ronan Murtagh……1-7
John Clarke…………1-5
Ambrose Rodgers….1-5 (0-1 ‘45’)
Paul McComiskey..0-5 (0-1 free)
Aidan Carr………….1-0
Peter Fitzpatrick…..0-3
Kevin McKernan….0-3
Conor Maginn………0-2
Conor Garvey………0-1
Dan Gordon…………0-1
Declan Rooney……..0-1

Cork in All-Ireland Finals
2009: Kerry 0-16 Cork 1-9
2007: Kerry 3-13 Cork 1-9
1999: Meath 1-11 Cork 1-8
1993: Derry 1-14 Cork 2-8
1990: Cork 0-11 Meath 0-9
1989: Cork 0-17 Mayo 1-11
1988: Meath 0-13 Cork 0-12 (Replay)
1988: Meath 0-12 Cork 1-9 (Draw)
1987: Meath 1-14 Cork 0-11
1973: Cork 3-17 Galway 2-13
1967: Meath 1-9 Cork 0-9
1957: Louth 1-9 Cork 1-7
1956: Galway 2-13 Cork 3-7
1945: Cork 2-7 Cavan 0-7
1911: Cork 6-6 Antrim 1-2
1907: Dublin 0-6 Cork 0-2
1906: Dublin 0-5 Cork 0-4
1899: Dublin 1-10 Cork 0-6
1897: Dublin 2-6 Cork 0-2
1894: Dublin 0-5 Cork 1-2 (Match unfinished)
1894: Dublin 0-6 Cork 1-1 (Draw) Goal equalled five points
1893: Wexford 1-1 Cork 0-1
1891: Dublin 2-1 Cork 1-9 (Goal outweighed any number of points)
1890: Cork 2-4 Wexford 0-1
Played 24; Won 6, Drew 2, Lost 15, Unfinished 1.

Down in All-Ireland Finals
1960: Down 2-10 Kerry 0-8
1961: Down 3-6 Offaly 2-8
1968: Down 2-12 Kerry 1-13
1991: Down 1-16 Meath 1-14
1994: Down 1-12 Dublin 0-13
Played 5, Won 5.

Previous Championship Meeting
Cork and Down have only met on one occasion in championship history. That was in 1994 when Down won by 1-13 to 0-11 prior to beating Dublin in the final.
The semi-final teams were:
Down: Neil Collins; Michael Magill, Brian Burns, Paul Higgins; Eamon Burns,
Barry Breen, DJ Kane; Gregory McCartan, Conor Deegan; Ross Carr, Greg
Blaney, James McCartan; Mickey Linden, Aidan Farrell, Gary Mason.

Cork: John Kerins; Mark Farr, Mark O’Connor, Niall Cahalane; Brian Corcoran,
Stephen O’Brien, Tony Davis; Shea Fahy, Danny Culloty; Stephen Calnan,
Larry Tompkins, Don Davis; Colin Corkery, Joe Kavanagh, Paul McGrath.

 

[noelyf]

RTÉ's legendary Gaelic Games commentator, Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh, has announced that he is retiring.



He will provide commentary on his last All-Ireland Final on Sunday when Cork face Down in the football final at Croke Park.
Speaking on Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio 1, Micheál said he decided to bow out while he was still feeling the enjoyment of commentary.

'I decided maybe the time to go is when you're still enjoying it. I've been at it a long time; it's been most enjoyable and a privilege to be in that position.'
'There's only a while in everything. Sin mar a tá an scéal.'
He added: 'I have always regarded my long association with RTÉ, broadcasting Gaelic Games, as a massive privilege; it brought the national broadcaster and the GAA together from the time that 2RN went on the air in 1926.
'It enabled me to meet and get to know generations of great sportsmen and women and many of those associated with them. It was an honour for me to be at the source of this wonderful entertainment, to be part of a continuous and successful venture.
'Tá mé thar a bheith buíoch as an deis baint a bheith agam leis an bhfeachtas.'
Micheál will be in the commentary box for the International Rules Series between Ireland and Australia in October.
He received widespread tributes last month on the occasion of his 80th birthday, with a special tribute programme broadcast on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.
Micheál was born in Dún Síon just outside Dingle, Co Kerry, in 1930.
His first assignment for RTÉ was to provide an all-Irish commentary on the 1949 Railway Cup Final on St Patrick's Day; he continued teaching up until the 1980s when he became a full-time broadcaster with RTÉ.
While he has been broadcasting commentaries in English on RTÉ Radio since 1956, Micheál also covered All-Ireland Minor Semi-Finals and Finals in both hurling and football in the Irish language on RTÉ Television, for over 25 years from the inception of television coverage in 1962.
When the legendary Mícheál O'Hehir retired from broadcasting in the mid-1980s, Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh took over as RTÉ Radio 1's premier radio commentator

Some of Micheal O Muircheartaigh's most famous quotes:

- "Pat Fox has it on his hurl and is motoring well now...but here comes Joe Rabbitte hot on his tail...I've seen it all now, a Rabbitte chasing a Fox around Croke Park!"


- "Pat Fox out to the 40 and grabs the sliothar, I bought a dog from his father last week. Fox turns and sprints for goal. The dog ran a great race last Tuesday in Limerick. Fox to the 21, fires a shot, it goes to the left and wide...and the dog lost as well."


- "Sean Og O hAilpin....his father's from Fermanagh, his mother's from Fiji... neither a hurling stronghold."


- "Colin Corkery on the 45 lets go with the right boot. It's over the bar. This man shouldn't be playing football. He's made an almost Lazarus-like recovery from a heart condition. Lazarus was a great man but he couldn't kick points like Colin Corkery."


- "1-5 to 0-8. Well, from Lapland to the Antarctic, that's level scores in any man's language."


- "Teddy McCarthy to John McCarthy, no relation. John McCarthy to Teddy McCarthy, still no relation."


- "I saw a few Sligo people at Mass in Gardiner Street this morning and the omens seem to be good for them, the priest was wearing the same colours as the Sligo jersey! Forty yards out on the Hogan Stand side of the field, Ciaran Whelan goes on a rampage... it's a goal! So much for religion."


- "Anthony Lynch, the Cork corner back, will be the last person to let you down -- his people are undertakers."


- "Dublin have scored two points, one from the hand and one from the land."



- "Setanta O hAilpin....the original Setanta from the old Gaelic stories was 10 foot tall, had 10 fingers on each hand and 10 toes on each foot but even he couldn't be playing better hurling than his namesake today."



- "I see John O'Donnell dispensing water on the sideline. Tipperary, sponsored by a water company. Cork Sponsored by a tae company. I wonder will they meet later for afternoon tae."

 

[hill16]

All-Ireland SFC final: Rebels squeeze past Down

Cork 0-16 Down 0-15

Daniel Goulding struck nine points as Cork beat Down by 0-16 to 0-15 in an epic contest at Croke Park.

Between them, Goulding and Donnacha O'Connor contributed all but one of the Rebel County's scores as Conor Counihan's men utilised their squad to good effect to finish strongest.

James McCartan will be wondering how this one slipped away as Down looked like the better team for long periods but they had no answer to the twin threat of Cork's two most dangerous attackers.



The losers bossed the first half, while Cork failed to score from play in the opening half-hour. However, a late rally from the Rebels brought them within touching distance at the turnaround, somehow trailing by just three points, 0-5 to 0-8.

As expected, there was a late change to the Cork starting XV, with John Miskella drafted in at centre half back in place of Graham Canty. With Ambrose Rogers of course also unable to start for Down, this meant that both sides went into the 2010 All-Ireland final without their respective captains.

The sky cleared and the rain stopped just before throw-in; an enrapptured capacity crowd of 81,604 roared as the two teams - both in their away strips (yellow for Down and white for Cork) - engaged in the pre-match parade around Europe's finest stadium.

With a light breeze behind them, Cork played into the Hill 16 side in the first half and midfielder Alan O'Connor hit a disappointing wide after only ten seconds. O'Connor atoned with an excellent catch in the engine room and the Rebels came straight back into attack, only for Brendan McVeigh to make a magnificent save to deny Ciaran Sheehan a goal.

From the rebound, Sheehan flicked the ball goalwards but, with McVeigh beaten, Dan McCartan was on the goal-line to make a vital intervention. The Leesiders were awarded a free from their next attack and Goulding opened the scoring from in front of the posts. Down replied with a Benny Coulter wide.

In the fifth minute, Danny Hughes got Down's opening score from close to the 45 straight in front of the posts, an excellent point with Marty Clarke prominent. At the other end, Sheehan was unfortunate as the damp sod took the ball away from him as he attempted to hop it. Bearing down on goal, perhaps the Cork No.10 should have stuck to foot solos…

Paul McComiskey and Coulter added to Down's wides tally before the former put the Ulster county ahead on nine minutes, benefiting from a John Clarke knockdown. But Hughes registered a fourth Down wide when he should have scored; Paul Kerrigan was even further off target at the other end of the pitch.

Kevin Kernan's foul on Paul Kerrigan culminated in another pointed Goulding free from the deck in the 13th minute: 0-2 each. In the 14th minute, Marty Clarke drilled the ball between the posts from a free that had been moved closer to goal by the Meath official.

When his older brother John Clarke came out the field and gathered possession before thumping between the posts again, Down led by 0-4 to 0-2. And there were three points between the sides when Marty Clarke knocked over his second point from another routine placed ball.

The Mourne County's great start continued when McComiskey got on the end of a fantastic move to pop between the posts in the 18th minute: 0-6 to 0-2. Down's defence was dealing competently with everything Cork could throw at them and Pearse O'Neill sent a shot wide under pressure as the four-point gap remained.

The southerners were all over the place and Miskella had a terrible wide before Hughes - who was in acres of space as he surveyed his options - fisted his second point in the 27th minute: 0-7 to 0-2. Alan Quirke beat Coulter to a dropping ball to concede a 45, which the younger Clarke brother surprisingly dragged wide.

Donnacha O'Connor struck a free over the bar from distance in the 31st minute and Goulding finally knocked over the Rebels' first score from play mere seconds later. Cork had done precious little in the opening half hour but found themselves only three points adrift after 32 minutes, 0-7 to 0-4.

Coulter fielded majestically in front of the Cork goal, drawing a free which Marty Clarke stroked between the posts to make it double scores. In the last minute of first-half normal time, Donnacha O'Connor delivered a magnificent point from play to once more reduce the arrears to three.

McVeigh made a good save from Paul Kerrigan, who shot from an acute angle after skinning Rafferty, and Dan Gordon collected Goulding's poorly-struck effort to preserve his side's three-point cushion at the break.

Conor Counihan introduced Nicholas Murphy at midfield for the second half and this game was still very much there for the taking. The Rebel County had scored twice from play in the opening 35 minutes and could consider themselves fortunate to be still in touch. The destination of Sam Maguire would go down to the second 35 minutes…

Murphy made an immediate impression as he winded Peter Fitzpatrick with a late tackle and Down were unlucky when McComiskey's left-footed shot came back off an upright, with the Clarke brothers again instrumental.

In the 39th minute, McComiskey collected a beautiful pass from Hughes and sent a raking shot through the uprights off his right foot. An economical score from the northern raiders. But McVeigh's foul on Sheehan presented Goulding with a simple pointed free and Cork were back within three points five minutes after the restart.

Six minutes into the second half, Cork captain Canty entered the fray for his 49th senior championship match. Cork were then wrongly awarded a free in front of the posts when Paul Kerrigan slipped and Goulding had no problems closing the gap to two: 0-7 to 0-9 after 43 minutes.

Despite bookings for Fitzpatrick and Dan Gordon - neither of whom seemed to do much wrong - Down kept their cool and Mark Poland kicked an exquisite point in the tenth minute of the second half. Brilliant defending from Michael Shields led to a third Donnacha O'Connor point. Two in it again, twelve minutes into the second half…

Cork had sparked to life and Goulding's fifth point had them back within a point on 47 minutes. Only two Rebel players had scored, but they didn't mind a bit as they match hung delicately in the balance.

In the 51st minute, 19-year-old Sheehan - the youngest player on the pitch - clipped over a lovely point to level the scores at 0-10 each. The momentum was all with the Leesiders now but a superb McKernan point restored Down's lead after good play from Marty Clarke and Poland.

When Gordon fouled O'Connor, the Cork full forward had no difficulty in tying up the scores from the resultant free. Fifteen minutes from the end, Kerrigan ran at the heart of the Down defence and booted a lovely point off his left foot to put the Rebel County in front.

Substitute Colm O'Neill struck a post but Goulding found the range from a 45 to send the reinvigorated Rebels two points ahead. The tide had turned completely in the Rebels' favour and they led by three points - 0-14 to 0-11 - after Goulding popped over his second 45 in as many minutes, the No.13's eighth point of the game.

Fitzpatrick knocked over a great Down point on 63 minutes after some tremendous play from Coulter, who shipped a couple of hefty tackles. O'Connor arced over a sensational Cork point four minutes from the end and Down replied instantly with one from substitute Ronan Murtagh.

Goulding was having a dream day and his third converted 45 extended the Rebels' lead again before Coulter got under Marty Clarke's delivery to drill a 14th Down point with a minute left.

Hughes fisted his third point from a Marty Clarke sideline ball in the first of two added minutes and the atmosphere was electric as this epic match reached its climax. Cork held on to win their first All-Ireland in 20 years and Canty collected the most coveted cup in the land.

Cork, All-Ireland SFC final: Alan Quirke; Eoghan Cadogan, Michael Shields, Ray Carey; Noel O'Leary, John Miskella, Paudie Kissane; Alan O'Connor, Aidan Walsh; Ciaran Sheehan (0-1), Pearse O'Neill, Pa Kelly, Daniel Goulding (0-9), Donnacha O'Connor (0-6), Paul Kerrigan (0-1). Subs: Nicholas Murphy, Graham Canty, Colm O'Neill, Derek Kavanagh, Fintan Goold.

Down, All-Ireland SFC final: Brendan McVeigh; Dan McCartan, Dan Gordon, Damien Rafferty; Declan Rooney, Kevin McKernan (0-1), Conor Garvey; Peter Fitzpatrick (0-1), Kalum King; Daniel Hughes (0-3), Mark Poland (0-1), Benny Coulter (0-1); Paul McComiskey (0-3), John Clarke (0-1), Martin Clarke (0-3). Subs: Conor Maginn, Ronan Murtagh (0-1), Benny McArdle, Aidan Brannigan, Conor Laverty.

 

[hill16]

Come On The Jackies

All-Ireland Ladies SFC final

Croke Park plays host to the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies' Football finals with Dublin and Tryrone set to do battle in the senior decider.

TG4 Senior Championship - All Ireland Final

Tyrone v Dublin, Croke Park, 4.00pm

Tyrone's progress to this year's All Ireland Final has been, for many people, the story of this year's TG4 Senior Championship. They have played eight games through Ulster and the back door and on the way have dethroned reigning champions Cork.

This progress has not been achieved by closing down the hatches either as Tyrone play a lovely brand of attacking football. In truth they possess the most lethal forward line and Dublin's chances will hinge on whether or not the likes of Begley, Connolly and Donnelly can be stopped. For Dublin, their progress has been steady, rather than spectacular but every time a question has been asked they have come up trumps.

A one point defeat last year to Cork will surely be on their minds, but they can't take their eyes off the threat posed by Tyrone who are playing the better football of the two sides.

But Dublin have been here before and that extra experience should stand to them. A tentative nod towards Gerry McGill and his charges to bring a first ever title back to the capital. 👍

TYRONE: S Lynch, E Teague, M Kelly, S McLaughlin(c), M Donnelly, N Woods, L Donnelly, S Donnelly, S Quinn, C Donnelly, G Begley, A O'Kane, C McGahan, S Connolly, J Donnelly

DUBLIN: C O'Connor, R Ruddy, A Cluxton, M Kavanagh, S McGrath, S Furlong, G Fay, D Masterson (c), N McEvoy , M Nevin, A McGuinness, L Peat, L Davey, S Aherne, E Kelly

 

[noelyf]

Best Of Luck To The Girls On Sunday 👍

 

[anto1969]

Goodluck to the jackies on sunday, hope yee do it this year Girls ;)

 

[wheelo]

come on the dubs, one senior title this year pleeeeeese

 

[hill16]

Dublin 3-16 Tyrone 0-09

Dublin Ladies have been confirmed as All Ireland Champions, proving much too strong for Tyrone. :dub::dub:

 

[anto1969]

Well done Girls, Takes the ladies to do it LOL

 

[hill16]

Ireland 40 (1-8-10) - 47 (0-14-5) Australia

Ireland's Leighton Glynn and Dustin Fletcher of Australia battle for possession at the Gaelic Grounds



Australia take a seven points lead into the second Test following their International Rules victory over Ireland in Limerick.

Australian captain Adam Goodes led by example, top-scoring with four overs, and the Irish needed a spirited late comeback and a superb Bernard Brogan goal to salvage something from a lacklustre performance.

Anthony Tohill's men trailed by 18 points with seven minutes to play, but staged a rousing finish to set up an intriguing decider at Croke Park next weekend.

It was an encounter devoid of the physicality which has marked previous meetings of the nations, and while the Australians have often been remembered for their violent approach to the hybrid game, this time they impressed the big crowd at the Gaelic Grounds with their football skills.

Australia took some time to settle, but once they got their momentum going, their movement was quite dazzling.

They quickly got to grips with handling and kicking the round ball, and overs from
Adam Goodes, James Frawley and Daniel Cross wiped out the early advantage the Irish had gained through Bernard Brogan, Kevin Reilly and Sean Cavanagh.

A flowing move set up what looked like a certain goal for Todd Banfield, but he blazed over the bar to put Anthony Tohill's side under increasing pressure.

But they finished the opening quarter impressively, with skipper Steven McDonnell hitting four points, including a superb over from wide on the left, to narrow the gap to three, Australia ahead by 12 points to nine at the break.

Ireland looked much smarter in the early stages of the second quarter, but could mange just one three-pointer from Daniel Goulding, while Martin Clarke, Tadhg
Kennelly and Sean Cavanagh should have done better with scoring opportunities.

And they were denied by the handling of veteran goalkeeper Dustin Fletcher, who displayed confidence in coming off his line to claim high balls.

With Jarrad McVeigh showing exceptional energy and workrate, the Australians got back on top and a superb mark and over from inspirational skipper Goodes got them going again.

Eddie Betts and Banfield also steered over three-pointers and at the halfway stage the tourists led by 21-16.

They continued to press and, but for some excellent defending from Graham Canty and Kevin Reilly would have stretched the advantage.

The third quarter was 10 minutes old before Matthew Boyd, with his side's first behind, extended Australia's lead.

The movement of the Irish forwards was lacking in ideas and positivity, but former Kerry stars Kennelly and Tommy Walsh ignited an old Kingdom spark to combine for a superb three-pointer from the latter.

But once again, the Aussies stamped their authority on the contest, and pushed Ireland deep into their own half with well-placed passes and confident marks.

Leighton Montagna hammered over a couple of superb long-range overs, and Eddie Betts also grabbed a three-pointer for a 13-point cushion.

Just before the end of the penultimate spell, Leighton Glynn garnered three points from a much-needed mark and going into the final 20 minute segment Ireland trailed by 32-22.

Goodes continued to inspire and clipped the crossbar with a fisted effort as his side moved into a commanding 47-29 lead.

But Ireland finally found their fighting spirit in the final seven minutes and Brogan raced through the middle to rocket home a wonderful goal; the only six-pointer of the game.

Ireland scored the game's last 11 points and gave themselves plenty to play for in next Saturday's second Test at Croke Park.

Ireland: S Cluxton (0-0-1, o-p), C McKeever, F Hanley, B Donaghy, S McDermott, G Canty, K Reilly (0-0-1), C Begley, T Kennelly (0-0-1), L Glynn (0-1-0), S McDonnell (0-2-2), S Cavanagh (0-1-4), B Brogan (1-1-0), T Walsh (0-1-1), M Clarke (0-0-1).

Interchange: D Goulding (0-1-0), J Kavanagh, P Keenan, K McKernan (0-1-0), B Murphy, M Murphy, E Bolton.

Australia: D Fletcher, P Duffield, J Frawley (0-1-0), K Simpson (0-0-1), B Gibbs (0-1-0), G Ibbotson, T Goldsack, M Boyd (0-0-1), D Swan, L Picken, A Goodes (0-4-0), J McVeigh, E Betts (0-2-0), J Riewoldt, B Green.

Interchange: D Cross (0-2-0), L Montagna (0-2-0), S Gilbert, K Jack, T Banfield (0-2-0), P Dangerfield.

Referees: D Coldrick (Ireland), B Rosebury (Australia).

 

[hill16]

Ireland 52-55 Australia (92-102 on agg)

Ireland came up short in Croke Park as Australia claimed another success in the series


Ireland's heroic effort fell short at Croke Park, where they lost the 2010 International Rules series to Australia.

Anthony Tohill's side trailed by 17 points at one stage, and appeared to be on their way to a heavy defeat in front of a crowd of 61,842, but they staged a storming final quarter display and went four points ahead at one stage.

However, a disciplined Australia stood firm, refused to panic, and closed out the game confidently for a three-point win on the night and a series aggregate margin of 10.

Ireland's bright start saw them go four points clear, with Bernard Brogan landing an over.

But the Australians, clearly having worked heavily on their handling of the round ball in midweek, pressed strongly, and had three-pointers from Brad Green, Leigh Montagna, Adam Goodes and Dane Swan.

Ireland struggled to get any momentum going, but did narrow the gap with an over from skipper Steven McDonnell as they trailed by 16-9 at the end of the opening quarter.

Australia, who won an abundance of possession around the middle of the field through Liam Picken and Leigh Montagna, stretched their lead through Dane Swan and Jarrad McVeigh.

The introduction of Benny Coulter, who missed the first Test through injury, helped Ireland gain a cutting edge up front, and they almost got in for a three-pointer, when the Down man's precision pass sent Daniel Goulding in, but goalkeeper Dustin Fletcher raced off his line to cut out the danger superbly.

Coulter and Kevin McKernan fired over three-pointers to keep the home nation in the hunt, but by the halfway stage Australia had extended their lead to 11 points and were 18 clear in the series.

Ireland made a bright start to the second half, with scores from Aussie Rules exports Tadhg Kennelly and Colm Begley, but Australia responded with three-pointer from Todd Banfield (2) and Eddie Betts to go 17 points clear.

Fresh hope swept through the stands at Croke Park when Kildare's James Kavanagh slid home a 50th minute goal.

Coulter banged in another over, but still the momentum lay very much with the tourists, who led 48-38 going into the final quarter.

And with Colm Begley of Laois, later voted Ireland's player of the series, driving his colleagues on Ireland performed with passion and pride in the final quarter.

They hit 12 points without reply, including two wonderful marks and three-pointers from Michael Murphy, to go 52-48 ahead.

But Australia finished the game in the most professional way possible, with Swan and Green sealing the series with late overs.

Ireland: S Cluxton, C McKeever, F Hanley, B Donaghy, K McKernan (0-1-2), G Canty, K Reilly, T Walsh (0-0-3), C Begley (0-1-1), L Glynn, S McDonnell (0-1-2), T Kennelly (0-1-0), M Clarke, S Cavanagh (0-1-2), B Brogan (0-1-2).

Interchange: D Goulding, P Keenan, S McDermott, B Murphy (0-1-1), M Murphy (0-2-0), M Shields, J Kavanagh (1-0-0), B Coulter (0-2-0).

Australia: D Fletcher, J Frawley, J Goldsack, G Ibbitson, P Duffield, L Picken, B Gibbs, D Cross, D Swan (0-3-1), T Varcoe, B Green (0-3-4), P Dangerfield (0-0-1), L Montagna (0-1-1), A Goodes (0-2-1), T Banfield (0-2-2).

Interchange: J McVeigh, M Boyd, K Simpson, J Riewoldt, S Gilbert, K Jack (0-1-2), E Betts (0-1-1), D Wojcinski.

Referees: P McEnaney (Ireland), B Rosebury (Australia). :(

 

[noelyf]

Death of Mickey Harte's daughter

Updated: 17:21, Monday, 10 January 2011


http://addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250




Michaela Harte, the daughter of Tyrone football manager Mickey Harte, has died.

Michaela Harte - With her father Mickey and brother Matthew after Tyrone's All-Ireland success in 2003




The death has taken place of Michaela Harte, the daughter of Tyrone football manager Mickey Harte, while on honeymoon in Mauritius.


She was married to John McAreavey, a member of Down football panel, at St Malachy's Church, Ballymacilroy, Co Tyrone, on 30 December 2010.


Michaela Harte was a former Rose of Tralee contestant, and was by her father's side during many of Tyrone's All-Ireland campaigns.


Her husband is a nephew of Dr John McAreavey, the Bishop of Dromore, who officiated at the couple's wedding ceremony a fortnight ago.


Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam

 

[anto1969]

Just heard this on the news Noel, very very sad, may she RIP :(

 

[allybird58]

As Anto said Noely was shocked at hearing The sad news about Michaela harte.May she rest in peace

 

[hill16]

very sad news may she R.I.P

 

[hill16]

Waterford 3-16 Dublin 2-19

Former Clare team-mates Davy Fitzgerald and Anthony Daly watched their sides play out an exciting draw at Walsh Park this afternoon.

Daly's Dubs had an early goal from Declan O'Dwyer. But goals from Waterford's Richie Foley and Seamus Prendergast cut the gap to 1-14 to 2-07 by half-time.

A second goal from Foley (2-10) was cancelled out by a David O'Callaghan effort and although Waterford edged ahead in injury-time, Liam Rushe and Conal Keaney (0-10) ensured a share of the spoils for Dublin.

Former dual star Keaney has committed to the capital hurlers this season and was on target twice in the opening minutes as the visitors shot ahead.

By the 13-minute mark, Dublin were 1-06 to 0-04 ahead. Keaney, Rushe, who returned at full-forward, and league debutant Conor McCormack registering points and O'Dwyer accounted for the goal.

Rushe showed his ball-winning ability in the opening quarter and he provided the assist for O'Dwyer's powerful finish to the net.

Foley (0-02), Shane Casey and Paraic Mahony claimed Waterford's opening four points. The hosts were without the injured Eoin Kelly, veteran defender Tony Browne, who recently resumed training, and the De La Salle-tied John Mullane.

Despite the concession of Foley's 27th-minute goal, Dublin continued to impose themselves on the game. Their attack clicked into gear again as Peadar Carton, David O'Callaghan, Keaney and Peter Kelly floated over scores.

At 1-14 to 1-06 adrift, Waterford landed a crucial blow before the break. Full-forward Seamus Prendergast managed to get away from his marker Tomas Brady to send a rasping shot to the net. Foley tagged on another point to leave four between the sides.

Waterford took over in the early part of the second half, with the Dubs enduring a 23-minute scoreless spell at the other end. Fitzgerald's men took a 3-13 to 1-14 lead after a Foley penalty and points from Mahony, captain Stephen Molumphy and Foley again.

O'Callaghan answered back with a goal after McCormack's well-placed delivery left goalkeeper Adrian Power exposed. Into the final quarter, the game was on a knife edge.

The Deise hit the front twice in injury-time. First through Nagle and then Foley put over a tremendous 85-metre free.

But a draw was a fair result in the end, and Keaney took his tally into double figures with the levelling point, following a good run and pass from skipper Stephen Hiney.

Scorers

Waterford: R Foley 2-10 (1-00 pen, 0-07f), S Prendergast 1-01, P Mahony 0-02, J Nagle, S Molumphy, S Casey 0-01 each

Dublin: C Keaney 0-10 (0-08f), D O'Callaghan 1-03, D O'Dwyer 1-01, L Rushe 0-02, C McCormack, P Kelly, P Carton 0-01 each

WATERFORD: A Power; D Fives, J Maher, N Connors; S Fives, M Walsh, J Nagle; S O'Sullivan, P Mahony; S Molumphy, R Foley, P Mahony; S Casey, S Prendergast, T Ryan.

Subs used: W Hutchinson for Maher (half-time), E Murphy for Ryan (59 mins), K McGrath for Casey (65).

DUBLIN: G Maguire; S Hiney, T Brady, S Lambert; N Corcoran, P Kelly, S Durkin; J McCaffrey, S Ryan; C Keaney, D O'Dwyer, C McCormack; D O'Callaghan, L Rushe, P Carton.

Subs used: P Ryan for S Ryan (50 mins), L Ryan for O'Dwyer (65).

Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork)

 

[hill16]

Dublin 3-13 Cork 0-16

Three-goal Dublin struck a convincing blow to Cork and maintained their unbeaten start to Allianz NFL Division 1 with a 3-13 to 0-16 win at Croke Park.

Mossy Quinn, Kevin McManamon and Barry Cahill all found the net as the Dubs got their Spring Series of matches off to a winning start in both codes.

Cork were 2-05 to 0-08 behind at half-time with Stephen Cluxton producing a fine save to deny Pearse O'Neill.

Cluxton kept a clean sheet and the industrious Bernard Brogan pulled the strings up front as Pat Gilroy's men gained their first second win of the league campaign.

Despite a bright start from Dublin, during which Quinn pointed in the second minute, it was Cork who raced into an early lead under the floodlights.

Four wides in the opening 10 minutes for the Dubs contrasted starkly with the clinical finishing of Cork, with Paddy Kelly (3 minutes), Aidan Walsh (7) and Donncha O'Connor (9) finding their range.

After Bernard Brogan pointed for Dublin, Cork showed the class which led them to a National League and All-Ireland double last year.

Connor linked with Colm O'Neill who found Pearse O'Neill on his shoulder and the big wing forward split the posts.

When Cork played quick ball into their forwards, Dublin found it hard to deal with them and as a result Gilroy's men began to drop back to suffocate Cork's effective attack.

Denis Bastick and O'Connor (free) traded points before the Cork rearguard was ripped apart.

In the space of three minutes, Dublin blitzed Cork with two quality goals.

Two Cork defenders were unable to gather a Dublin sideline ball in the 19th minute, leaving Bernard Brogan to flick it on to Quinn who blasted beyond Paddy O'Shea in the Cork goal.

For the second, Declan Lally broke from his half-back position and found McManamon who lost Paul Kissane in playing a neat one-two with Bernard Brogan before rifling past O'Shea to give Dublin a 2-04 to 0-05 lead.

Cork were rocked by the concession of those goals, but Denis O'Sullivan and Daniel Goulding (free) closed the gap to 2-05 to 0-08 by the end of the half.

Cork kickstarted their fightback with four second-half points inside the opening ten minutes.

O'Connor sent a free over towards Kelly who stepped inside Bastick to land the first point.

Dublin's Lally replied with two fine scores of his own, leaving the game finely balanced at 2-07 to 0-12.

But a huge part of this Dublin performance was that they were able to pull out the scores when the needed to and with 49 minutes played it was Cahill's moment to stretch the Dubs' lead.

When Eoghan O'Gara found himself surrounded by five Cork players on the left side, he kicked along the ground to Bernard Brogan who found Cahill free in space and he was able to finish past O'Shea. The goal killed off Cork's challenge.

Goulding and Michael Fitzsimons were yellow carded but tempers were never in danger of bubbling over with Dublin in command.

Bernard Brogan then shot three frees and followed it with a sweetly-struck point from play as Dublin went into cruise control over the next six minutes.

Cork were scoreless for 15 minutes before points from Kelly, Goulding (0-02) and Pearse O'Neill gave some respectability to the score.

James McCarthy and Bryan Cullen pointed in the last ten minutes as Dublin sprang Alan Brogan from the bench. The elder Brogan almost made an immediate impact but a last-gasp block prevented him from adding to Dublin's goal tally.

Gilroy will be pleased with his side's performance, but will not have long to dwell on this performance with Kerry next to face Dublin at Croke Park.

Scorers
Dublin: B Brogan 0-06 (0-04f), M Quinn 1-01, K McManamon, B Cahill 1-00 each, D Lally 0-02, D Bastick, D Connolly, J McCarthy, B Cullen 0-01 each
Cork: D Goulding 0-05 (0-01f, 0-01 '45'), P Kelly, P O'Neill 0-03 each, D O'Connor 0-02 (0-01f), A Walsh (0-01f), F Goold, D O'Sullivan 0-01 each

Dublin: Stephen Cluxton; Michael Fitzsimons, Seán Murray, Alan Hubbard; Paul Casey, James McCarthy, Declan Lally; Barry Cahill, Denis Bastick; Paul Flynn, Kevin McManamon, Diarmuid Connolly; Tomás Quinn, Eoghan O'Gara, Bernard Brogan.

Subs used: Dara Nelson for Lally (43 mins), Bryan Cullen for Connolly (45), Alan Brogan for O'Gara (53), Paddy Andrews for Quinn (61), Colm Murphy for Flynn (65).

Cork: Paddy O'Shea; Ray Carey, Jamie O'Sullivan, Michael Shields; Denis O'Sullivan, Paudie Kissane, Conor O'Driscoll; Alan O'Connor, Aidan Walsh; Pearse O'Neill, Paddy Kelly, Fintan Goold; Daniel Goulding, Colm O'Neill, Donncha O'Connor.

Subs used: Nicholas Murphy for A O'Connor (44 mins), Ciaran Sheehan for Goold (53), Eoin Cotter for J O'Sullivan (63 mins).

Referee: David Coldrick (Meath)

Great old night in croker and Jedward were the icing on the cake lol

 

[noelyf]

Well done the Dublin hurlers and footballers 👍

lol

 

[wheelo]

Great results, great display by cluxton, lets hope this is a sign for the championship 👍

 

[hill16]

Dublin 2-10 Down 0-13 NFL

Dublin joy - Ger Brennan gets tight on Down's Mark Poland as Pat Gilroy's side progressed to the league final

Dublin 2-10 Down 0-13 . Dublin reach the Allianz Football league final after a dour defensive game against a resilient Down team. Dublin’s defensive system paid dividends and they continue to score goals at crucial moments.Pat Gilroy said afterwards, “This group has immense character….that was the most satisfying performance because it was a very difficult game .”


Dublin 1-17 Kilkenny 3-11 NHL

Poor shooting cost Dublin in difficult conditions at Croke Park

Paul Ryan slotted an injury-time point to keep alive Dublin's chances of reaching the Division 1 final.

The Dubs should have been further ahead by half-time at Croke Park. Ryan's 33rd-minute goal was quickly followed by an Eddie Brennan effort as Kilkenny closed the gap to 1-12 to 2-07.

When Matthew Ruth pounced for his second goal, the Cats' lead stood at 3-11 to 1-14. But the Dubs rallied and three successive scores from free-taker Ryan produced a draw.