Armagh 1-7
Monaghan 0-10

Colm Shalvey reports from the Athletic Grounds

ARMAGH REMAIN TOP of the Allianz NFL after they came from five points down in a tense draw at home to 14-man neighbours Monaghan on Saturday night.

Monaghan were full value for their four-point half-time lead, which should have been more but for ten wides, but the sending-off of their top scorer Conor McManus meant they played more than half an hour with 14 men (and ten minutes with 13 after Dessie Ward was sin-binned).

Despite seeing Rian O’Neill crash a penalty off the crossbar, a goal by sub Conor Turbitt lit the fuse on Armagh’s challenge and they looked set for a third straight win when they moved ahead for the first time in the game just past the hour mark. Monaghan regained their composure, however, with a Jack McCarron free entering added time earning them their second draw of the Division One campaign.

The teams managed just a point each in the first 12 minutes, with an early opener by Conor McManus being cancelled out by the in-form Rian O’Neill, who would have to limp off just before the half-hour mark, only to return ten minutes into the second half.

Monaghan were creating the better chances and they eventually moved ahead with points by Ryan McAnespie and Mícheál Bannigan, although a second free by O’Neill kept Armagh in touch.

Another burst of scores by Jack McCarron, Killian Lavelle and Shane Carey increased Monaghan’s lead and although Jason Duffy ended 17 scoreless minutes for Armagh, a quick brace by McManus moved the visitors five clear. A fisted point by O’Neill’s replacement in the Armagh attack, Conor Turbitt, made it 0-8 to 0-4 at half-time.

Both sides missed goal chances in the opening minutes of the second half, with Stefan Campbell and Bannigan unable to find the net and the latter being quickly followed by McManus being sent off. Despite seeing Rian O’Neill crash a penalty off the bar, Armagh got right back into it when Turbitt fired home the only goal moments later. Fellow subs Campbell and Oisín O’Neill were also on target for the hosts, before a fine score by Tiernan Kelly edged them ahead.

McCarron ended a lengthy scoring drought for Monaghan, who held onto possession for a sustained spell during added time as the sides had to settle for as point apiece.

Scorers for Armagh: Conor Turbitt 1-1; Rian O’Neill 0-2f; Jason Duffy 0-1; Oisín O’Neill 0-1; Oisín O’Neill 0-1; Tiernan Kelly 0-1.

Scorers for Monaghan: Conor McManus 0-4 (2f); Jack McCarron 0-2f; Killian Lavelle 0-1; Ryan McAnespie 0-1; Shane Carey 0-1; Mícheál Bannigan 0-1.

Armagh

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1 Blain Hughes (Carrickcruppen)

4. Aaron McKay (Dromintee), 3 Aidan Forker (Maghery), 2 Paddy Burns (Forkhill)

5 Connaire Mackin (Shane O’Neills), 6 Niall Rowland (Culloville), 7 Jarly Óg Burns (Silverbridge)

8 Ciarán Mackin (Shane O’Neills), 9 Stephen Sheridan (Forkhill)

10 Jemar Hall (Forkhill), 11 Rory Grugan (Ballymacnab), 12 Tiernan Kelly (Clann Éireann)

15 Aidan Nugent (Joint-Capt., Cullyhanna), 14 Rian O’Neill (Joint-Capt., Crossmaglen), 13 Jason Duffy (Cullyhanna).

Subs: 21 Conor Turbitt for O’Neill (inj., 27); 20 Oisín O’Neill (Crossmaglen) for Sheridan, 22 Stefan Campbell for Rowland (both H-T); 14 Rian O’Neill (Crossmaglen) for Duffy (45); 19 Mark Shields (Whitecross) for Hall (56); 23 Niall Grimley (Madden) for Connaire Mackin (64).

Monaghan

1 Rory Beggan (Scotstown)

3 Conor Boyle (Clontibret), 2 Kieran Duffy (Latton), 4 Ryan Wylie (Capt., Ballybay);

7 Killian Lavelle (Clontibret), 6 Dessie Ward (Ballybay), 10 Ryan McAnespie (Emyvale);

8 Darren Hughes (Scotstown), 9 Niall Kearns (Seán McDermotts);

12 Shane Carey (Scotstown), 11 Mícheál Bannigan (Aughnamullen), 13 Andrew Woods (Inniskeen)

26 Conor McManus (Clontibret), 14 Jack McCarron (Currin), 15 Gary Mohan (Truagh).

Subs: 17 Kieran Hughes (Scotstown) for Kearns (inj., 17); 5 Karl O’Connell (Tyholland) for McAnespie (inj., 49); 25 Colin Walshe (Doohamlet) for Woods (54); 19 Aaron Mulligan (Latton) for Mohan (61).

Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry).

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Dublin 2-15
Cork 2-3

Aisling Clery reports from Croke Park

HANNAH TYRRELL SCORED 1-9 as holders Dublin marked their return to Croke Park with a comprehensive victory over Cork in the Lidl National Football League Division 1B.

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Mick Bohan’s side were in control throughout and second half goals from Libby Coppinger and Áine O’Sullivan were not enough to reel them back after Cork trailed by 1-9 to 0-2 at half-time.

The first half was dominated by Dublin but it was Cork who were first to strike when Orla Finn converted a second minute free. Dublin hit 1-6 without reply after that, Tyrrell levelled the game from a free before Niamh Hetherton added a point from play to give them the lead for the first time in the sixth minute, they never looked back.

Dublin’s first goal arrived moments later when Kate Sullivan offloaded to Nicole Owens and the St Sylvester’s star rifled to the net. A further point from Owens and three successful frees from Tyrrell sent Dublin into a 1-6 to 0-1 lead at the first water break.

Finn scored her second point on the resumption, Cork’s first score in 17 minutes, before Dublin regained the ascendency with Tyrrell converting two frees. They could have been further ahead but Martina O’Brien turned Owens’ shot round the post before Sullivan scored to give Dublin a ten-point advantage at half-time.

Tyrrell pushed Dublin into a 1-11 to 0-2 lead with two points at the start of the second half and Sullivan scored her second but then Cork were handed a lifeline. Substitute Aisling Kelleher sent the ball in to the box, Abby Shiels scrambled to save it and Libby Coppinger finished the rebound to the net.

Nevertheless, Dublin responded with Tyrrell and Orlagh Nolan on target to push them 1-14 to 1-2 ahead by the final water break.

Katie Quirke scored after some patient build up before Cork’s second goal, when O’Sullivan slipped the ball past Shiels to reduce the gap to eight points, but Dublin weren’t finished yet.

Siobhán Killeen was fouled in the box, and Tyrrell scored the penalty to bring her tally to 1-9 and earn Dublin’s second win in 2022 with reigning TG4 All-Ireland champions Meath next up.

Scorers for Dublin: H Tyrrell 1-9 (8f), N Owens 1-1, K Sullivan 0-2, N Hetherton 0-1, O Nolan 0-1, S Killeen 0-1.

Scorers for Cork: L Coppinger 1-0, Á O’Sullivan 1-0, O Finn 0-2 (1f), K Quirke 0-1.

Dublin: A Shiels; J Tobin, L Caffrey, H Leahy; A Kane, M Byrne, O Nolan; J Dunne, K McDaid; C O’Connor, N Hetherton, K Sullivan; J Egan, H Tyrrell, N Owens.

Subs: N Collins for Caffrey (30), S Killeen for Egan (30), R Hartnett for McDaid (38), S Fagan for Nolan (46), L Davey for Hetherton (46), S Woods for Owens (46), E Gribben for Kane (54), S Wylde for O’Connor (54), R Brennan for Leahy (54), O Whyte for Tyrrell (59)

Cork: M O’Brien; M Ambrose, R Phelan, M Cahalane; L O’Mahony, M Duggan, E O’Shea; A Hutchings, S Kelly; E Cleary, L Coppinger, D Kiely; S O’Leary, K Quirke, O Finn.

Subs: D Kinry for Ambrose (30), A O’Mahony for Kiely (30), R Leahy for O’Leary (30), A Kelleher for Duggan (37), E Scally for Coppinger (42), Á O’Sullivan for Finn (46), E Kiely for Cleary (46), C Collins for O’Shea (56)

Referee: Kevin Phelan (Laois).

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TIPPERARY HAVE ABSOLUTELY flown from the traps at the beginning of the Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League and last year’s Division 1 semi-finalists brought their tally to 7-37 from two games with 4-21 to 1-5 defeat of Offaly at the Shamrock GAA grounds in Mucklagh.

That means Bill Mullaney’s charges have only conceded 1-8 in the 130-plus minutes or so of action and if they will know that there are tougher challenges to come than an understrength Down and Offaly, both without a substantial Portaferry and St Rynagh’s cohort, they are short a number of elite players themselves in Karen Kennedy, Orla O’Dwyer and Caoimhe Bourke.

They are clearly building real competition for places however, as they look to challenge for silverware in 2022 after a sustained period of progress in the last five years.

To put their dominance in perspective, they only scored six points in the second half, with Offaly adding three, and though the hosts certainly contributed the more even second half, there was a clear drop in intensity from women in blue and gold.

Up to then, they had been unstoppable, Róisín Howard so influential and Caoimhe Maher an industrious presence around the middle. That enabled the attack to make hay, with Caoimhe McCarthy and Clare Hogan among those to impress.

The duo had a goal each and Clodagh McIntyre rattled the onion sack too as Tipperary took on the role of enforcers inside the opening 13 minutes. Orla Gorman did breach the visitors’ defence before the break and Offaly did show plenty of character in the second half that gives them something to work with but Tipperary look like a team that mean business.

Also in Group 1, All-Ireland champions Galway got their campaign under way with a 1-15 to 0-6 defeat of a Dublin side that showed plenty before giving way at Round Towers GAA in Clondalkin.

Cathal Murray was without his sizeable Sarsfields contingent but he has used the league to allow newcomers establish themselves in the side over the past few years and sprinkled some less experienced operators with a slew of All-Stars for the trip to the capital.

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Dublin were in touching distance, however, trailing by just 1-9 to 0-5 until Jody Couch was given her marching orders for a second yellow card offence, nine minutes into the second half. They fought valiantly for most of the rest of the affair but it was no surprise that they would begin to tire as a result, and O’Reilly hit the game’s last four points to make it look slightly more comfortable than it might have been.

Aoife Donohue scored Galway’s goal.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

It was 1-7 to 0-4 at half-time, the teams having split the opening six points before Aoife Donohue’s 16th minute goal. Carrie Dolan, O’Reilly, Rebecca Hennelly and Catherine Finnerty raised white flags, while Aisling O’Neill, Aisling Maher and Sinéád Lohan were on the mark for the Adrian O’Sullivan’s crew.

O’Neill had replied to points from Finnerty and Áine Keane when Couch was sent off and it was always an uphill battle from there for the doughty Dubs.

In Division 2, a late goal from Róisín McCormick gave Antrim their second set of points in Group 3 by virtue of a 1-12 to 1-8 defeat of Galway in Portglenone.

Méadhbh Laverty, Siobhán McKillop and Caoimhe Wright were not even on the Saffrons panel last year, but the trio contributed seven points to a successful outing on this occasion.

Galway scored a goal through Tara Rutledge and Katie Gilchrist added a point in the couple of minutes before the short whistle to claw the visitors back into the game, trailing by just 1-7 to 0-3 and they hit the front after the restart.

Áine Magill and McCormick edged Antrim ahead once more however with Gilchrist pointing a free in reply to leave the game finely balanced over the last five minutes, until McCormick’s goal killed it off.

Meanwhile Derry, without the Slaughtneil or Eoghan Rua players involved in All-Ireland club games, fell to a second defeat, this time a double-scores loss to Wexford at Owenbeg. Wexford, who play in the senior championship, were ahead by 0-10 to 0-5 at the break and went on to record a 2-20 to 1-10 victory.

In the same group, Cork had a 4-16 to 2-6 over Kildare at Hawkfield and that means that Derry need to beat Kildare this coming weekend to avoid a relegation dogfight at the end of next month.

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AN UNSTOPPABLE GOAL from a penalty by Róisín Egan, early in the final quarter was the differential as St Rynagh’s confirmed their marginal superiority over Gailltír with a 2-11 to 1-11 victory in the AIB All-Ireland intermediate club camogie semi-final at Éire Óg Nenagh.

The sides have enjoyed a wonderful rivalry in recent years, with Gailltír beating Rynagh’s in an All-Ireland final before the Offaly women exacted revenge in the 2020 decider played in December and repeated the trick to book their spot in this year’s decider.

The penalty was awarded after a foul on Siobhán Flannery by Hannah Flynn, just a minute after Flannery had rifled a first-time shot of the sod inches wide when a goal seemed certain.

This time, her contribution did lead to a green flag, though Egan’s shot had to be inch-perfect and a bullet with that, as it hit the top corner to Ciara Jackman’s right, the ‘keeper almost getting her hurley to it.

Egan was monumental throughout, along with Kate Kenny and Flannery, and Kenny followed up quickly with a stupendous score, her fifth point. Within minutes of being level, Gailltír would go five down.

Gailltir’s Leah Sheridan in action against St Ryanagh’s Sinead Hanamy.

Source: Ken Sutton/INPHO

The gap went to five but they got it back to two, Molly Comerford and Annie Fitzgerald splitting the posts. Flannery landed a monstrous point with the last puck from a free and it was the Faithful women that progressed.

Gailltír started ideally with a sixth minute goal from the exciting Alannah O’Sullivan, who was alert to pounce when St Rynagh’s goalie Ellen Gilligan, a hero of the All-Ireland final, was caught advancing too far under Kate Lynch’s delivery and could only bat it up into the air. O’Sullivan was in like a flash to bat the sliotar to the net.

Crucially, St Rynagh’s responded in kind inside 60 seconds, when Linda Sullivan dispossessed Jackman as the netminder attempted to gather the sliotar following a brilliant run by Emma Corcoran, and was able to finish to an empty net.

It was nip and tuck from there until the penalty, as Kenny and Aoife Fitzgerald exchanged points, while Laoise Forrest stood out for Gailltír with three points from play. But once Egan billowed the net, the Offaly girls were clear and that was the margin in the end. The champions must now wait to see who will stand in the way of promotion to the senior ranks at All-Ireland level, as Portaferry (Down) and Salthill-Knocknacarra cross swords in Abbotstown today/tomorrow (Sunday).

St Ryanagh’s manager Molly Dunne celebrates with Helen Dolan and her daughter Liadán Dolan.

Source: Ken Sutton/INPHO

An early goal by joint captain Emma McAliskey propelled Derrylaughan Kevin Barrys to the AIB All-Ireland junior B decider, as a result of a hard-fought 1-5 to 0-6 triumph over Oran. The Red Hand representatives held the whip hand for the majority of proceedings as a result of that strike but they had to withstand a gutsy comeback from their Roscommon opposition.

Claire Curley and Caitriona Regan chipped away at the deficit before Orla Connolly brought the sides level from a 45 but Derrylaughan’s response was impressive as Elisha Gervin split the posts twice late on to book the final berth.

They will play Knockananna in the decider, after the Wicklow champs proved far too strong for Manchester outfit Fullen Gaels, prevailing by 2-15 to 1-2 in Abbotstown. Knockananna fell just short in last season’s decider played the week before Christmas, when another Tyrone team, Naomh Treasa edged them out and their motivation was very much in evidence as they eased clear.

The senior semi-final between old rivals Sarsfields (Galway) and Slaughtneill (Derry) was one of a number of games that fell foul of the havoc played by the weather on pitches but it is now scheduled to take place in Gorey tomorrow at 2pm.

Reigning champions Oulart the Ballagh (Wexford) and Scariff Ogonolloe (Clare) go head-to-head in the other last-four battle in Clonmel at 1.30pm.

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Dublin manager Dessie Farrell.

Source: Evan Treacy/INPHO

DUBLIN BOSS DESSIE Farrell has made one change to his starting 15 for tonight’s Division 1 National Football League clash with Mayo at Croke Park [throw-in 7.30pm, live on RTÉ 2].

Ryan Basquel starts at full-forward ahead of Cameron McCormack, as the Dubs look to bounce back from their defeat to Kerry in Killarney two weeks ago.

They’re bidding for their first win of the league after an opening day loss to Armagh in HQ, as they renew rivalries with their old foes. This comes as a repeat of last year’s dramatic All-Ireland semi-final, in which Mayo came out on top.

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Here is the Dublin Senior Football team for this evening's meeting with Mayo at Croke Park 👕

More here ➡️ https://t.co/C1OnYl3U4M#UpTheDubs pic.twitter.com/Q71YWaqZtz

— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) February 19, 2022

Green and Red boss James Horan named his team earlier in the week, with Oisin Mullin back in the starting side after turning down a move to the AFL. There are several other changes throughout, with a strong bench named.

No Dublin substitutes have been listed.

The game forms part of a double-header, with Dublin facing Cork beforehand in the second round of the Lidl Ladies National Football League [throw-in 5.15pm, live on TG4].

All four starting teams are below.

Dublin (v Mayo)

1. Evan Comerford (Ballymun Kickhams)

2. Lee Gannon (Whitehall Colmcille), 3. David Byrne (Naomh Olaf), 4. Darragh Conlon (Ballymun Kickhams)

5. Séan Bugler (St Oliver Plunkett’s ER), 6. John Small (Ballymun Kickhams), 7. Seán McMahon (Raheny)

8. Brian Fenton (Raheny), 9. Tom Lahiff (St Jude’s)

10. Niall Scully (Templeogue Synge Street), 11. Ciaran Kilkenny (Castleknock), 12. Brian Howard (Raheny)

13. Lorcan O’Dell (Templeogue Synge Street), 14. Ryan Basquel (Ballyboden St Enda’s), 15. Dean Rock (Ballymun Kickhams) 

Mayo (v Dublin)

1. Rob Hennelly (Breaffy)

2. Lee Keegan (Westport), 3. Rory Brickenden (Westport), 4. Michael Plunkett (Ballintubber)

5. Oisin Mullin (Kilmaine), 6. Stephen Coen (Hollymount-Carramore – captain), 7. Donnacha McHugh (Castlebar Mitchels)

8. Matthew Ruane (Breaffy), 9. Jordan Flynn (Crossmolina)

10. Bryan Walsh (Ballintubber), 11. Diarmuid O’Connor (Ballintubber), 12. Jack Carney (Kilmeena)

13. Paul Towey (Charlestown), 14. Ryan O’Donoghue (Belmullet), 15. Aiden Orme (Knockmore)

Dublin (v Cork): A Shiels; J Tobin, L Caffrey, H Leahy; A Kane, M Byrne (capt.), O Nolan; J Dunne, K McDaid; C O’Connor, N Hetherton, K Sullivan; J Egan, H Tyrrell, N Owens

Cork (v Dublin): M O’Brien; M Ambrose, R Phelan, M Cahalane; L O’Mahony, M Duggan (capt.), E O’Shea; A Hutchings, S Kelly; E Cleary, L Coppinger, D Kiely; S O’Leary, K Quirke, O Finn.

FOR THE VAST majority of the last decade, Mayo played second fiddle in their rivalry with Dublin. 

This evening’s trip to Croke Park presents a rare opportunity for James Horan’s team to kick Dublin while they’re down. In the process they can build on last August’s All-Ireland semi-final win and strike another important psychological blow, perhaps confirming they now hold the upper hand in the war between these counties.

We became used to Dublin hitting the ground running in the league during the Jim Gavin era, but this time it’s the Westerners who’ve started the campaign unbeaten. It’s only the fourth time since 2007 they haven’t lost at least one of their opening two league games. The last three times it happened, they went on to make the final. 

The Dubs have lost three straight, and a fourth successive defeat would increase the pressure on Dessie Farrell, while leaving them mired in a battle for survival in the top flight.

It won’t be lost on Horan that Mayo haven’t beaten Dublin in the league since 2012, when he was starting his second season of his first stint in charge. They repeated the trick later that summer, surviving a late fightback to dethrone the champions in the last four of the All-Ireland series.

Naturally, both sides have undergone considerable transformations since then.

Dublin have three survivors from that team: Mick Fitzsimons, James McCarthy and Ciaran Kilkenny. Mayo retain their manager plus Lee Keegan, Aidan O’Shea, Kevin McLoughlin, Jason Doherty and Cillian O’Connor.

Expect to see a much-improved Dublin performance this evening. They’ll have been frustrated with the poor start to the year, coupled with all the discussion around their apparent demise. 

Dean Rock pointed out this week that, taking out their second-quarter fade-outs, Dublin hadn’t actually performed as badly as the narrative would suggest. He added that he was hopeful Farrell would have a full hand available to him this weekend. 

It’s a stretch to expect Dublin to return to a full compliment, but even the return of Eoin Murchan, Cormac Costello, James McCarthy and Con O’Callaghan would add energy, pace and firepower. 

Mayo won’t have the explosive Tommy Conroy for the rest of the season and Cillian O’Connor is still making his way back to full fitness. So they won’t have the firepower to hurt Dublin’s full-back line like Rian O’Neill and the Clifford brothers did.

The Connacht champions do have Ryan O’Donoghue continuing the form that saw him pick up his first All-Star last winter. Jason Doherty would have benefited hugely from the bye-week after two tough games on his return from a back-to-back cruciate injuries. 

And Oisin Mullin returns to the team, making his first start since turning down a professional contract with the AFL’s Geelong. 

Horan named a youthful starting team, particularly in attack where Jack Carney, Paul Towey and Aiden Orme all feature.  

If Mayo lose tonight, Horan will take criticism for his failure to put out a more experienced side with the intention of taking Dublin’s scalp when they’re vulnerable.

Over the last decade, Dublin never let Mayo gain confidence by losing to them in league games, even if they took place on a rainy Saturday night in Castlebar, months removed from the business end of the championship.

Dublin always saw the value in keeping your rivals down. They strived never to allow their rivals get a taste for winning competitive games.

Even during February meetings between 2018 and 2020, when Dublin were not long back from team holidays, they knew there were certain league games they couldn’t lose.

Brian Cody had a similar mantra during the Kilkenny glory days.

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“Playing Tipperary always brought more pressure but we loved playing them,” wrote Jackie Tyrrell in his autobiography. “We loved beating them even more. We couldn’t beat them enough.”

Dublin did likewise to Mayo over the years, until they didn’t. Last August, the Sky Blues were six points ahead at half-time but by the end of extra-time it was Mayo who were celebrating.

They ended the longest unbeaten run in the All-Ireland SFC, and took some of the aura of invincibility away from Farrell’s team. To do it twice in-a-row would be another milestone for this Mayo team. 

Don’t forget, after the 2012 All-Ireland semi-final, it took Mayo another nine years before they again experienced the feeling of beating Dublin. 

As Tyrrell said about on Tipperary, “If they beat us once, they’d act as if they had been thrashing us for a decade.” 

Mayo have beaten Dublin once. Now the challenge is to do it again. 

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