Ballygunner 4-20
Passage 1-12

Tomás McCarthy reports from Walsh Park

BALLYGUNNER LIFTED THE Waterford senior hurling crown for the third year in succession after a comprehensive win over neighbours Passage at a blustery Walsh Park today.

Top scorer Pauric Mahony delivered 1-11 as Denis Walsh’s side routed their opponents in the second half.

Two goals in three first half minutes from Tim O’Sullivan and Billy O’Keeffe flipped the match on its head after Passage made a bright start with the elements.

The Gunners drove on with further green flags through Stephen Power and Mahony to avenge the 2013 final defeat to the same opponents and complete a treble for the third time in their history.

Mahony missed last year’s final through injury but marked his return to the county showpiece with a man of the match display. The 24 year old posted 1-7 in the second period while goalkeeper Stephen O’Keeffe made an incredible stop to keep out Conor Carey’s shot.

Pauric Mahony celebrates Ballygunner’s victory.

Source: Ken Sutton/INPHO

Captain Brian O’Sullivan supplied four points from play assisted by lively inside pair Tim O’Sullivan and Peter Hogan. David O’Sullivan barged forward at every opportunity from midfield.

9/2 underdogs Passage started with the strong breeze, before an attendance of 3,811, and full back Noel Connors opened the scoring from seventy metres.

Eoin Kelly and Barry Coughlan both received yellows for an off the ball incident. Peter Queally’s men raced five points clear after ten minutes as Adam Roche, Owen Connors, Thomas Connors and Jason Roche all split the uprights.

Ballygunner’s Barry Coughlan in action against Passage’s Eoin Kelly

Source: Ken Sutton/INPHO

The reigning champions settled with points by Pauric Mahony (free) and Peter Hogan. Passage dead ball specialist Killian Fitzgerald lashed over from his own 45 before Conor Carey intercepted a short puck out and set up Eoin Kelly (0-7 to 0-2).

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Two quick strikes changed the complexion of this final. Passage failed to clear Brian O’Sullivan’s delivery and Tim O’Sullivan pounced to finish past Eddie Lynch. On 21 minutes, Billy O’Keeffe buried a shot to the far corner following a Hogan solo run.

Passage accumulated five costly wides during the second quarter. A Mahony brace helped the favourites into a three point advantage. Fitzgerald and Owen Connors replied with two late frees to make it 2-5 to 0-10 at halfway.

Eoin Kelly levelled matters for the very first time on the restart. Ballygunner moved four points away through Brian O’Sullivan and Pauric Mahony.

Stephen O’Keeffe produced a spectacular close range save from Conor Carey on 43 minutes. O’Sullivan, Mahony and Hogan eased Walsh’s charges out of sight. Killian Fitzgerald ended a seventeen-minute wait for a Passage score.

The Gunners clinched victory with another rapid double blast. Stephen Power billowed the roof of the net before Hogan supplied Mahony for their fourth green flag. Thomas Connors netted a consolation six minutes from time.

Ballygunner captain Brian O’Sullivan lifts the trophy

Source: Ken Sutton/INPHO

Scorers for Ballygunner: Pauric Mahony 1-11 (0-7f), Stephen Power 1-1, Brian O’Sullivan 0-4, Tim O’Sullivan, Billy O’Keeffe 1-0 each, Peter Hogan 0-3, David O’Sullivan 0-1.

Scorers for Passage: Thomas Connors 1-1, Killian Fitzgerald 0-4 (0-3f), Owen Connors, Eoin Kelly 0-2 (0-1f) each, Adam Roche, Noel Connors, Jason Roche 0-1 each.

Ballygunner

1. Stephen O’Keeffe

2. Eddie Hayden
3. Barry Coughlan
4. Ian Kenny

8. Harley Barnes
6. Philip Mahony
7. Shane Walsh

10. David O’Sullivan
11. Billy O’Keeffe

9. Shane O’Sullivan
12. Pauric Mahony
13. Conor Power

15. Tim O’Sullivan
14. Brian O’Sullivan
19. Peter Hogan

Subs

5. Wayne Hutchinson for Billy O’Keeffe (43)
20. Stephen Power for Barnes (48)
21. Michael Mahony for Conor Power (52)
17. JJ Hutchinson for Tim O’Sullivan (54)
18. Johnny McCarthy for Hogan (55)

Passage

1. Eddie Lynch

2. Darragh Lynch
6. Noel Connors
3. Jason Flood

4. Adam Roche
7. Jason Roche
5. Stephen Mason

8. Pa Walsh
18. Gary Cullinane

10. Owen Connors
13. Conor Carey
9. Sean Hogan

11. Thomas Connors
14. Eoin Kelly
12. Killian Fitzgerald

Subs

28. John Whitty for Cullinane (H-T)
15. Richard Hurley for Carey (54)
19. Callum O’Neill for Mason (60)
21. Paul Donnellan for Adam Roche (60)

Referee: Michael O’Brien (Portlaw)

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Noel McGrath and Alan Campbell will be in opposition in the Tipperary decider.

Source: INPHO

THERE’LL BE NEW Munster senior club football champions this year after Clonmel Commercials were knocked out of the Tipperary senior football championship by Loughmore-Castleiney at the semi-final stage.

A 0-9 to 0-8 victory in the last four clash saw Loughmore-Castleiney advance in Boherlahan to a final where they will face Moyle Rovers, who thumped Kilsheelan-Kilcash by 4-14 to 0-6 in their semi-final in Cahir.

The final will take place next Sunday with Loughmore-Castleiney having claimed titles in 2013 and 2014 while Moyle Rovers lost by a point in last year’s decider to Clonmel Commercials.

In a low scoring contest Loughmore-Castleiney prevailed after being ahead 0-5 to 0-4 at half-time. Michael Quinlivan, who hit 0-5 overall, landed a brace early in the second-half to put Clonmel ahead but Loughmore countered with their defence impressive.

John McGrath was outstanding for Loughmore while Liam McGrath hit 0-5 and Cian Hennessy notched 0-2. The loss of Kevin Harney to a black card was a major setback for a Clonmel team who had lost out to eventual All-Ireland champions Ballyboden St-Enda’s at the All-Ireland semi-final stage last February.

Moyle Rovers were far too strong in the other semi-final tie as they had 20 points to spare over Kilsheelan-Kilcash. Diarmuid Foley, who scored 2-4 overall, struck the net twice in the opening half as Moyle Rovers were ahead 2-8 to 0-3 at the interval.

Liam Boland and Stephen Quirke added second half goals while Thomas Hill and Danny Owens also hit key points for the winners.

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Kilmurry Ibrickane 2-13
Cratloe 0-6

Eoin Brennan reports from Cusack Park, Ennis

KILMURRY-IBRICKANE AFFIRMED their position as the team of the decade in Clare this afternoon after a powerful second half display saw them secure their first senior football crown in four years in Cusack Park, Ennis.

Leading by two at the break in this rematch, the 2011 and ’12 champions outscored Cratloe by 2-7 to 0-2 in a dominant second period, bookended by goals for county seniors Martin McMahon and Keelan Sexton.

Anyone expecting the rematch to be more open would have been disappointed in the opening half at least as the sides went even more defensive. At times, Kilmurry Ibrickane had only two forwards in the opposing half as they kicked high out-ball to target man Peter O’Dwyer, with Keelan Sexton feeding off him for scores.

County senior Sexton would kick two of their first three points to hold a 0-3 to 0-1 advantage by the end of the opening quarter, a margin that they would hold until the break after O’Dwyer, Shane Hickey and goalkeeper Ian McInerney matched points from Martin Oige Murphy, Sean Collins and Cathal McInerney at 0-6 to 0-4.

The game opened up on the restart when Michael Hogan played an inch-perfect pass over the top for Michael O’Dwyer to turn his man only for goalkeeper Pierce DeLoughrey to pull off an excellent point blank block to deny Kilmurry-Ibrickane.

It would be a warning sign that the 2014 champions failed to heed as only six minutes later, centre-back Martin McMahon would solo through to find the net, inspiring an unanswered rally of 1-3 to extend their advantage to eight by the turn of the final quarter.

Cathal McInerney did convert Cratloe’s first point of the second period in the 49th minute. However, it was very much against the grain as led by Sexton and Enda Coughlan, a momentum fuelled Kilmurry Ibrickane would continue to tack on scores culminating in an injury-time penalty for Sexton.

Kilmurry Ibrickane now host Kerry champions Dr. Crokes in Quilty next weekend in the Munster senior club quarter-final.

Scorers for Kilmurry-Ibrickane: Keelan Sexton 1-4 (1-0 pen, 0-1f), Martin McMahon 1-0, Shane Hickey, Ian McInerney (0-2f), Mark McCarthy 0-2 each; Michael Hogan, Peter O’Dwyer, Michael O’Dwyer 0-1 each

Scorers for Cratloe: Cathal McInerney 0-4 (0-3f), Martin Oige Murphy, Sean Collins (0-1f) 0-1 each.

Kilmurry-Ibrickane

1. Ian McInerney

4. Ciaran Morrissey
3. Darren Hickey
2. Mark Killeen

7. Darragh Sexton
6. Martin McMahon
21. Declan Callinan

8. Mark McCarthy
9. Keith King

11. Michael O’Dwyer
5. Shane Hickey
12. Michael Hogan

15. Keelan Sexton
24. Peter O’Dwyer
14. Enda Coughlan

Subs

17. Noel Downes for Callinan (41)
10. Niall Hickey for Downes (48, inj)
22. Evan Talty for Morrissey (56)
20. Thomas O’Connor for McCarthy (58)
23. Johnny Daly for M. O’Dwyer (62)

Cratloe

1. Pierce DeLoughrey (Captain)

2. Sean Chaplin
3. Barry Duggan
7. Liam Markham

5. Martin Oige Murphy
4. Michael Hawes
17. Enda Boyce

8. Conor Ryan
9. John Galvin

18. Shane Gleeson
11. Sean Collins
6. Antoin McFadden

13. Cathal McInerney
10. Podge Collins
15. David Collins

Subs

12. Conor Cooney for McFadden (13, inj)
14. Stevie McHugh for Gleeson (41)

Referee: Pat Cosgrove (Corofin)

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Chrissy McKaigue lifts the cup after Slaughtneil’s victory

Source: Presseye/John McIlwaine/INPHO

SLAUGHTNEIL HAVE BECOME the first Derry club to win the Ulster senior hurling title with today’s 2-14 to 1-13 success over Loughgiel Shamrocks seeing them advance to the All-Ireland club semi-final next February against the Leinster champions.

Slaughtneil claimed aa brilliant win at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh this afternoon and atoned for their 2013 and 2015 final losses at the same stage in Ulster.

Three years ago they lost by five points to Loughgiel Shamrocks in the decider before being defeated after extra-time by Cushendall last year.

But those disappointments were erased with Slaughtneil’s historic victory today.

Their success is all the more impressive considering that they won the Derry senior football title last Sunday, completing three-in-a-row at that level.

After reaching the All-Ireland club football final last year, they face Fermanagh’s Derrygonnelly Harps at the quarter-final stage in Ulster next Sunday.

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Slaughtneil got off to a terrific start with goals from Cormac O’Doherty and Brendan Rogers putting them in front 2-3 to 0-0 after 10 minutes. Loughgiel fought back but by half-time they still trailed by seven points, 2-8 to 0-7.

A Joey Scullion goal for Loughgiel cut the deficit they faced to 2-11 to 1-9 with 14 minutes left. But Slaughtneil closed out the game in style with O’Doherty, who finished with 1-9, and Chrissy McKaigue, who struck 0-3, both to the fore.

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Kevin McLoughlin was central to Knockmore’s victory.

Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

Knockmore 0-12
Breaffy 1-7

Colm Gannon reports from Elvery’s MacHale Park

A MASSIVE DEFENSIVE performance by Knockmore was the backbone to their win over Breaffy in the Mayo senior semi-final in Castlebar today.

The north Mayo men were the better team from pillar to post and were well deserving winners over a fancied Breaffy side.

The second half was a tense tight affair with Peter Naughton’s injury time insurance point the vital score.

With five minutes left in normal time Knockmore led 0-11 to 1-5 thanks to second half scores from Sean Ruttledge, Kieran Lanagan and Kevin McLoughlin. Breaffy’s solitary score at that stage in the half came from a Liam Irwin free.

A point from sub Gareth Dunne cut the gap to just two points, three minutes from the end of normal time and a free from Robbie Hennelly from 50m cut the gap back to just one.

Knockmore were reduced to 14 men just before the end of normal time when Andrew Keane was shown a second yellow.

With Breaffy looking to break from the back for a levelling score, they were turned over by some great hassling by Knockmore and Naughton tapped it over the bar to send them into their first county final since 2009.

Underdogs Knockmore led by 0-8 to 1-4 at half time, with Kevin McLoughlin’s constant running driving them forward at every opportunity. McLoughlin kicked the first score of the day after only 30 seconds with an effort from long range.

By the 18 minute mark the north Mayo men were five to the good leading 0-7 to 0-2, with Keith Ruttledge scoring two points in that run and Kieran Langan and another McLoughlin effort edging them into the lead.

A Liam Irwin point from a free, his second of the day cut the gap back to four and on 22 minutes, Tommy O’Reilly found the back of the net from close range to bring Breaffy back into the game.

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Both sides hit a point each after that before the break with Robbie Hennelly kicking a ’45 and Peter Naughton hitting his third of the half

Scorers for Knockmore: Peter Naughton 0-5 (0-3f), Kieran Langan, Kevin McLoughlin, Keith Ruttledge 0-2 each, Sean Ruttledge 0-1.

Scorers for Breaffy: Liam Irwin 0-3 (0-3f), Tommy O’Reilly 1-0, Robbie Hennelly 0-2 (0-2f), Kevin Curry, Gareth Dunne 0-1 each.

Breaffy

1. Robert Hennelly

2. Michael Hall
3. David Gavin
4. Colm Dravins

5. Gerry Jennings
6. Michael Jennings
7. Dylan Cannon

8. Peter Dravins
11. Aidan O’Shea

10. Rory Martyn
14. Conor O’Shea
12. Robert Fadden

13. Liam Irwin
25. Tommy O’Reilly
15. Kevin Curry

Subs:

27: Seamus O’Shea for Kevin Curry (34)
18. James Minogue for Robert Fadden (50)
20. Gareth Dunne for Conor O’Shea (51)
9. Brian Howley for Peter Dravins (57)

Knockmore

1. Aiden Kilcoyne

2. Marcus Park
3. Shane McHale
17. Diarmuid Walsh

5. Justin Rice
6. Andrew Keane
7. Nathan Hardy

8. Thomas Clarke
9. Kevin McLoughlin

10. Darren McHale
11. Colm Reape
12. Keith Ruttledge

13. Sean Ruttledge
14. Kieran Langan
15. Peter Naughton

Subs

18. Brian Gibbons for Colm Reape (53)
23. James Ruddy for Thomas Clarke (58)

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ON A DAY when the Munster Rugby family came together to pay tribute to their fallen friend, team-mate and leader, there was added poignancy for Niall Ronan as he dedicated a first county football title to Anthony Foley.

Foley and Ronan in action back in 2007.

Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO

The former Munster and Ireland flanker, who was for forced to retire at the age of 31 in 2014, starred for St Colmcille’s on Saturday as they claimed the Meath intermediate football championship.

Ronan would have played alongside and then under Foley during his seven-year stint at Thomond Park, during which he won over 100 appearances for the province.

The 34-year-old learned of Foley’s death shortly after last week’s drawn final at Pairc Tailteann and paid tribute to his former team-mate after lifting the trophy yesterday.

Ronan lined out at full forward for St Colmcille’s in their 1-12 to 1-6 triumph over Dunderry.

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KILLYCLOGHER LIFTED THEIR second Tyrone senior football championship title tonight after seeing off Coalisland in-front of over 7,000 spectators in Omagh.

Tyrone’s Mark Bradley led from the front for his side as they coasted to a 14-point victory in a one-sided replay.

Bradley scored eight points, including six from play, to help Killyclogher to their first county title since 2003.

Meanwhile, The Nire were 0-13 to 0-9 winners in their Waterford SFC quarter-final clash with Rathgormack at Fraher Field.

In the night’s other quarter-final tie, Stradbally edged past Ardmore by two points after a 0-12 to 1-7 victory.

Tyrone SFC final replay

• Killyclogher 0-20 v Coalisland 0-6 , Omagh, 7.30pm

Waterford SFC quarter-finals

• The Nire 0-13 Rathgormack 0-9, Fraher Field, 7pm
• Stradbally 0-12 Ardmore 1-7, Fraher Field, 8.30pm

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CORK DUAL STAR Briege Corkery looks like she could win her third TG4 Player’s Player of the Year award.

The 2015 Player of the Year has been nominated alongside her team mate and 11 time All-Ireland winner Bríd Stack, as well as Dublin full-forward Sinead Ahearne.

Sinead Ahearne takes on Bríd Stack in this year’s All-Ireland Final.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Both Corkery and Stack were pivotal throughout the Rebel’s championship campaign, as they helped Ephie Fitzgerald’s side to their 11th All-Ireland title in 12 years.

In the intermediate grade, Kildare’s All-Ireland heroine and goalkeeper Mary Hulgraine is in line for the honour, alongside her captain Aisling Holton and Clare full-forward Niamh O’Dea.

Antrim’s Claire Timony could win her second Junior Player’s Player of the Year Award but she faces stiff competition in the form of her fellow Saffron Mairéad Cooper and Longford captain Mairéad Reynolds.

The nominees for each category were announced earlier today and the winners will be revealed at the 2016 TG4 All Star Awards on 12 November.

TG4 Senior Player’s Player of the Year Award Nominees

Briege Corkery (Cork)

Bríd Stack (Cork)

Sinéad Aherne (Dublin)

TG4 Intermediate Player’s Player of the Year Award Nominees

Niamh O’Dea (Clare)

Aisling Holton (Kildare)

Mary Hulgraine (Kildare)

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TG4 Junior Player’s Player of the Year Award Nominees

Mairéad Cooper (Antrim)

Claire Timoney (Antrim)

Mairéad Reynolds (Longford)

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GALWAY HEAD INTO 2017 as the reigning Connacht champions, but the enduring memory for the Tribesmen is their quarter-final collapse to Tipperary.

Tipperary stunned Kevin Walsh’s side in the last eight clash at Croke Park, running out nine-point winners to make the semi-finals for the first time since 1935.

Source: Tommy Grealy/INPHO

For Galway, much of their good work earlier on in the championship was undone and the year ended on a sour note.

They defeated Mayo and, after a replay, Roscommon before going down to underdogs Tipp. They haven’t won a game at Croke Park since their All-Ireland final win in 2001.

Centre-back Gary O’Donnell is still trying to put his finger on what went wrong.

“We haven’t had a huge opportunity to look through it,” he said. “But obviously there was huge dissapointment, heads were very much down. Not that we took the game for granted but just the way we performed on the day, I thought we were very flat.

“The first 10 or 15 minutes, things were going to plan and we were comfortable enough. I think we had four points on the board to one, and I just think we found it very difficult to get through the gears.

“Once the intensity of the game went up we needed to push through the gears but there was nothing really there.

He continued: “It’s funny, it was the only game we lost in championship all year and then when it’s over, it’s over and lads go their seperate ways.

“I just think we probably put a lot of effort and time into the Connacht championship and the fact it went to a replay as well. It was probably a huge sense of relief and [we were] just very flat on the day [against Tipp].

“It definitely puts a bit of perspective and motivation and hunger in for next year. So we have it all to prove again.”

Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

Still, perspective is important here. Galway ended Mayo’s reign in Connacht, having spent much of the last decade under the Westerners’ thumb. Kevin Walsh is on-board as boss for another three-year term, with a young squad at his disposal.

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“Even though a few weeks after the Tipperary game it was all dissapointment, on reflection you’d have to take a lot of positives out of the year.

“If you were given a Connacht championship in January you’d obviously have taken it with both hands so, we’re going into 2017 defending the Connacht championship, which is very encouraging.

“A lot of the work and improvements we’ve made over the years has been down to Kevin and the management. The fact he got another three-year term is brilliant for us that he can bring forward and hopefully bring a bit of consistency to our performances as well.”

Galway will play the winners of Sligo and Mayo in the last four of the province. A first Connacht two-in-a-row since 2003 is a realistic ambition, although they’ll likely face a Mayo side determined to restore their dominance.

“We’ve on the other side of it before, where we’ve had a run of games. There’s pros and cons to it. I suppose there will be a big gap between league and championship but it was something similar this year as well.

“It will probably give us a chance to get our house in order after the league depending on how that ends. And we’ll look forward to that game whoever it’s against.”

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AFTER WEEKS OF speculation, Kevin McStay has been ratified as Roscommon manager for the next two years, with an option for a further 12 months.

The former RTÉ pundit was joint-manager of the county last season, but after Fergal O’Donnell resigned from his position, questions were raised about the Mayo man’s future within the county setup.

Previous front runner Nigel Dineen was nominated to take over in the new year, but dropped out of the race due to his concern over the appointment process.

McStay’s backroom team will include existing selector Liam McHale with others to be named in the coming weeks, after David Casey and Stephen Bohan joined O’Donnell in standing down last month.

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Roscommon, who were beaten in this year’s Connacht final by Galway after a replay and then knocked out of the qualifiers by Clare, managed to retained their Division 1 status in the league.

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