All-Ireland intermediate club hurling semi-final results

• Kilmoyley (Kerry) 2-15 Banagher (Derry) 1-12

• Naas (Kildare) 0-18 Tooreen (Mayo) 0-13

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THERE WILL BE a novel All-Ireland hurling final meeting involving the Kerry and Kildare club champions after today’s semi-final successes for Kilmoyley and Naas.

The two clubs, competing at the All-Ireland semi-final stage for the first time this afternoon after their respective historic Munster and Leinster triumphs, will meet in the intermediate final at Croke Park on the weekend of 5-6 February.

It will mark the first time that a club from Kerry and Kildare have contested an All-Ireland hurling final.

They'll see us coming to the @ConnachtGAA Centre if Excellence on Sunday pic.twitter.com/LyxqbYJqyx

— Kilmoyley HC (@KilmoyleyHC) January 21, 2022

Congratulations to our senior hurlers on reaching the All Ireland Intermediate Hurling Final with a very hard fought victory over @TooreenHurlers@NaasBall pic.twitter.com/2hp1JhDYRF

— Naas Hurling (@SHNaas15) January 23, 2022

Two goals from Maurice O’Connor inspired Kilmoyley to victory over Ulster champions, Banagher from Derry, to victory by 2-15 to 1-12 at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence in Bekan. Daniel Collins (0-9) and Jordan Brick (0-4) were also in exceptional point-socring form for the winners.

Kilmoyley suffered an early setback when Collins saw his penalty effort saved but they recovered to lead 1-2 to 0-3 at the water break and 1-5 to 0-6 by half-time, O’Connor raising his first green flag. 

But the Derry champions enjoyed a brilliant start to the second half with a Stefan McCloskey goal helping them lead 1-8 to 1-5 as they played against the wind. Then Collins stepped up for Kilmoyley with four points in a row to restore their advantage by the second water break. They pushed on in the final quarter with Brick excelling and O’Connor netting for the second time, although the ending to the game was marred for Kilmoyley by a red card for forward Adrian Royle.

Jack Sheridan was in superb form for Naas as he fired 0-9 in their success by 0-18 to 0-13 against Mayo’s Tooreen in Duggan Park in Ballinasloe.

Tooreen, competing in their third All-Ireland semi-final, made a bright start as they went ahead 0-5 to 0-3 by the 20th minute, but Naas fought back to go front 0-9 to 0-7 at half-time. Tooreen cut the gap to a single point twice in the third quarter, but Naas hit five points without reply to move ahead 0-16 to 0-10 entering the last ten minutes.

They were able to protect their winning position from there, Sheridan pointing the way and Brian Byrne scoring 0-3 overall. Shane Boland (0-6) and Cathal Freeman (0-2) were top scorers for Tooreen.

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All-Ireland junior club hurling semi-final results

• Ballygiblin (Cork) 4-20 Fullen Gaels (Lancashire) 0-12

• Mooncoin (Kilkenny) 2-26 Salthill-Knocknacarra (Galway) 0-11

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THERE WILL BE a Cork and Kilkenny clash in this year’s All-Ireland junior club hurling final after Ballygiblin and Mooncoin won their respective semi-final clashes today.

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It will be the seventh time the champions from the two counties have met in the All-Ireland decider at this grade.

We march on! pic.twitter.com/IGS2iYRuN3

— Ballygiblin GAA (@Ballygiblingaa) January 23, 2022

AIB All-Ireland Jnr Hurling Semi-Final #theToughest #honDCoin @kilkennyclg @skgaa
Full Time
Mooncoin: 2-26(32)
Salthill-Knocknacarra (Gal): 0-11(11) well done lads !! Brilliant performance!!! ✊✊🥳🎉. All Ireland here we come!!!!!

— Mooncoin GAA (@MooncoinGAA) January 23, 2022

Ballygiblin ran out 4-20 to 0-12 victors over Fullen Gaels in O’Moore Park in Portlaoise, comfortably in control of the semi-final all through. The winner started without Darragh Flynn, a Cork All-Ireland U20 winner last year, due to injury, but did have Mark Keane, who recently brought his AFL career with Collingwood to an end, starting for them again at centre-back.

A goal by Colin English, Tipperary’s 2018 All-Ireland U21 winning captain, helped them go ahead 1-12 to 0-1 at half-time, and they were 1-17 to 0-4 clear by the second water break. Three late goals from English, Sean O’Sullivan and Adam Donegan rounded off success for the team coached by Ronan Dwane as they finished victors by 20 points.

Mooncoin also impressed in their success by 2-26 to 0-11 over Galway’s Salthill-Knocknacarra at LIT Gaelic Grounds. A Kevin Crowley goal helped the Kilkenny champions go ahead 1-15 to 0-6 at half-time, before an early second-half goal by John Fitzgerald helped put Mooncoin in an unassailable position.

They will be hoping to make amends for their last All-Ireland final appearance when they suffered a narrow defeat to Cork’s Mayfield by a point in the 2017 final.

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THE GALWAY SENIOR ladies football team remain without an official manager, just a few days out from opening their Division 1 National League campaign.

Although still out of the loop due to her club commitments with recent All-Ireland champions Kilkerrin-Clonberne, star Tribe defender Nicola Ward told The42 that the situation is “very disappointing”.

Gerry Fahy stepped down from the role two weeks ago after just one season in charge.

A Galway LGFA statement, released through Galway Bay FM, revealed that Fahy “cited questions that were raised that he and his management team were unfortunately unable to resolve and in the interest of Galway ladies football, the management team stepped aside.”

The process of appointing a new management team began thereafter, though no update was available when The42 last contacted Galway county board.

• ‘It really is a strange one’ – Galway still on hunt for new manager two weeks out from league

It’s understood that the squad continue to train as normal ahead of their 2022 Lidl Ladies National Football League opener against Donegal in Ballybofey on Saturday [throw-in 7.30pm, live on TG4], with some of the previous management team remaining in situ.

Ward confirmed as much at yesterday’s league launch in Newbridge.

“I suppose we weren’t there when everything happened,” she said. “We had been onto Gerry before club and during it, and he was very good to us to give us the time to focus on the club. We completely isolated ourselves to the club.

“It was obviously very disappointing to hear about the news. But Maghnus Breathnach and Fionna Wynne and David Mannion are all still there, there’s no new manager as such but they’re the ones that are taking training and trying to manage it as best as they can.

“Obviously it’s extremely disappointing when the league is starting this weekend, but that’s the situation for now. I think the county board are trying to source a new manager if they can.”

That there is such uncertainty and question marks over the set-up just a few days out from a return to competitive action is likely the main area of concern, regardless of the circumstances around Fahy’s departure.

Nicola Ward (right) and Emer Gallagher at yesterday’s Lidl Ladies National Football Leagues launch.

Source: Brendan Moran/SPORTSFILE

“It is disappointing. Myself and the Kilkerrin-Clonberne girls don’t really know [the ins and outs] either because [we’re out of the loop]. We’re taking a few weeks off and once we get back in, we’ll be fully committed to the cause.

“As I said, it is disappointing but they have to kind of move on and get ready for the matches because they are coming thick and fast. Hopefully come championship, there might be a better structure in place.”

While Ward and her clubmates, which include sister Louise and Olivia and Siobhán Divilly, take time to reset, the 2019 All-Star has not been in regular contact with her inter-county colleagues.

As a result, she’s unsure how they’re feeling ahead of the Donegal clash.

“I’ve only been talking to a few of them wishing us luck and congratulating us,” she explains. “I want to isolate myself from Galway for the minute, just to take that time out, completely relax from it, recharge and go again.

“I suppose they just have to go out and play the game when it comes to it.”

That, they will, with an exciting 2022 ahead and motivation aplenty in all quarters after Meath’s historic All-Ireland win and denial of Dublin’s perfect five-in-a-row.

“A lot of teams aren’t far off,” Ward concludes. “You can’t but take massive inspiration from Meath and what they did for ladies football.

“I think a lot of teams will be fairly close this year, and we’ll see that in the next few weeks through the league in who’s going to show their best side. I’m looking forward to watching the games for the first few weeks.”

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THE LAST TIME an All-Ireland club football title was on offer, Kieran Fitzgerald was immersed in the heat of the action.

That was back in January 2020, his last act as a Corofin player was a winning one, he signed off on a joyous note as the north Galway club football dynasty completed three-in-a-row.

It was their fourth national crown in six seasons but Fitzgerald had experienced the flipside when county and provincial titles could not translate into the greatest club prize of all.

In that 2020 decider they prevailed after extra-time in a gruelling battle with Kilcoo.
The Down club have returned to that final stage next Saturday, when they pit themselves against Kilmacud Crokes, and aim to complete a mission they have been on.

Since 2009, Kilcoo have won ten county titles and Ulster silverware has finally arrived in 2019 and 2021.

They just need an All-Ireland to complete the set and Fitzgerald can relate to the scenario where the pursuit of that trophy consumes a club.

“We were in that position down through the years where we were winning county championships and winning Connacht which was great but eventually you want to get to the next step and Kilcoo are at that now. They have won in Down, two in a row in Ulster and they nearly got there two years ago against us. I have no doubt that they are consumed by the pursuit of that All-Ireland championship.

“They play like guys who are thinking like that and from my experience from playing against them, they were like men possessed to get over that line. I can totally appreciate where they are coming from and in many respects for a rural club like that – like we were in Corofin – to get over that line you nearly have to be 24/7 thinking about it.”

Kilcoo’s style of football is well-defined and while Corofin faced an array of contenders in their various seasons playing on the Galway, Connacht and All-Ireland stages, Fitzgerald rates that 2020 battle as ‘one of the toughest games of club football’ he encountered.

“I’m really interested in it. There are loads of different ways of winning and that was what worked for us. What works for Kilcoo is a different form of football, that’s what they believe in, and best of luck to them. They nearly won it two years ago against us and we really struggled with that.

“They’re tough opposition, they made it so difficult for us, they were one of the toughest, most aggressive teams I’ve ever played against, and I mean that as a compliment.

“They made us earn that and it was one of the toughest games of club football I’ve ever played in. They nearly did it and I fancy them this weekend.

“Tackling, work rate, their organisation, their discipline in the defensive structure, the turnovers, the way they tackled, they led you up alleys, there’s a method to their defence, they encourage you to go up avenues then they turn you over and break.

Kilcoo manager Mickey Moran.

Source: Ken Sutton/INPHO

“They have very talented forwards and when they break they break well, wing-backs like the Branagans break at speed, Johnson up front. Mickey Moran has them well tuned and it’s going to be a very interesting final.

“They are going to have a massive test against Kilmacud Crokes, even though they are minus Paul Mannion. They are a fine outfit as well so it will be an intriguing contest, it will be low-scoring possibly and tight but I do fancy Kilcoo.”

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Fitzgerald brought a decorated playing career to a close after that 2020 club final, moving into a role as part of the Corofin management team for the past two seasons, something which aided his transition.

“I had my decision made to retire coming up to the Kilcoo All-Ireland final which seems so long ago now. Then obviously Covid hit and there was no football at all, so everybody wasn’t playing, so it wasn’t only me. It was great to play for years under Kevin O’Brien but probably didn’t have a full realisation of the extent of the work those guys were doing behind the scenes to keep the Corofin machine going.

“It was an eye opener for me to cross to the other side and see how that worked and obviously I was happy to play a small part in it.”

The theme of change in Corofin’s fortunes has been created by new county champions in Galway for the past two seasons in Moycullen and Mountbellew-Moylough.

Going into 2022 they will have a new manager at the helm in Kevin Johnson after Kevin O’Brien brought his hugely successful spell to a close late last year.

Kieran Fitzgerald celebrating the 2019 All-Ireland final win with Kevin O’Brien and Ciaran McGrath.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

After three All-Ireland club title wins as a boss, Fitzgerald feels O’Brien has the capability to move into inter-county management in the future if he desires.

“I don’t know what his ambitions are but he is very well capable of it. He is a hugely organised guy, very considerate and a great planner. He is so structured and organised, a great man manager.

“He has all the attributes to be an inter-county manager if that is the route he wants to go down but I am not sure exactly what his ambitions are. He is a super manager, he knows how players tick and I would not be surprised if he did go down that route.”

• Kieran Fitzgerald’s Laochra Gael episode airs on TG4 this week on Thursday night at 9.30pm

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UL 2-22
MTU Cork 1-19

John Keogh reports from Limerick

UL ARE INTO the semi-finals of the Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup following a six-point victory against MTU Cork at Maguires Fields tonight.

The six-time champions scored early goals through Mikey Kiely and Mark Rodgers and never looked back.

Kilkenny’s Niall Brennan chipped in with 0-5 from play in the six point victory for Brian Ryan’s fancied UL side.

MTU responded with 0-9 from Liam O’Shea and 1-1 from substitute Declan Hanlon but it wasn’t enough to catch UL late on.

The score was at one point each when Kiely pounced for the first goal on four minutes and Rodgers fired the second soon after to leave the score at 2-4 to 0-3.

The sharpshooting of O’Shea kept MTU Cork in touch but he was equally matched by his opposite number Gearoid O’Connor from UL. The Moyne-Templetuohy man finished the half with six points to help his side to a 2-12 to 0-9 advantage at the break.

O’Shea opened the second half scoring with a free to give MTU Cork a lift but Brennan slotted two sumptuous points in a row to dampen spirits for the visitors.

The Lisgoold clubman got another effort from play but a long-range Killian Sampson score and another from Brennan gave UL their 2-16 to 0-12 advantage on 40 minutes.

UL took the foot off the gas in the final 20 minutes, knowing their last four spot was all but secured and MTU Cork took advantage.

Tomas Howard, Alan Walsh and Paddy Creedon fired over efforts from play, while O’Shea also kept the scoreboard ticking over.

Declan Hanlon’s late intervention gave some hope but long range scores from Ross Hayes and Conor Flaherty secured UL’s comfortable win.

Scorers for UL: Gearoid O’Connor 0-8 (0-4f), Niall Brennan 0-5, Mikey Kiely 1-2, Mark Rodgers 1-1, Billy Power, Ciaran Connolly, Rory Hayes, Brian O’Grady, Killian Sampson and Conor O’Flaherty 0-1 each.

Scorers for MTU Cork: Liam O’Shea 0-9 (0-6f), Declan Hanlon 1-1, Tomas Howard 0-3, Alan Walsh 0-2, Brendan Twomey, Barry Kehoe, Andrew O’Connell and Paddy Creedon 0-1 each

UL

Eoin Davis (St Catherine’s, Cork)

Daniel Treacy (Scariff, Clare), TJ Brennan (Clarinbridge, Galway), Mike Gough (Smith O’Briens, Clare)

Killian Sampson (Shinrone, Offaly), Bryan O’Mara (Holycross-Ballycahill, Tipperary), Cian Galvin (Clarecastle, Clare)

Brian O’Sullivan (Kanturk, Cork), Ciaran Connolly (Loughmore Castleiney, Tipperary)

Niall Brennan (Lisdowney, Kilkenny), Gearoid O’Connor (Moyne Templetuohy, Tipperary), Brian O’Grady (Kilteely-Dromkeen, Limerick)

Billy Power (Clonea, Waterford), Mark Rodgers (Scariff, Clare), Mikey Kiely (Abbeyside-Ballinacourty, Waterford).

Subs

Conor Flaherty (Carnmore-Claregalway, Galway) for Galvin (h-t),

Rory Duff (Mungret St Pauls, Limerick) for O’Sullivan (h-t),

Ciaran Comerford (The Harps, Laois) for Connolly (45),

Rory Hayes (Crusheen, Clare) for Sampson (49),

Conor O’Grady (Hospital-Herbertstown, Limerick) for Brennan (56, inj).

MTU Cork

Ger Collins (Ballinhassig, Cork);

Billy Murphy (Carrick Swans, Tipperary), William Hurley (Valley Rovers, Cork), Liam Ryan (Inniscarra, Cork)

Stephen Keoghan (Graigue-Ballycallan, Kilkenny), Patrick O’Flynn (Bride Rovers, Cork), Jake Cranny (St Lazerians, Laois);

Brendan Twomey (Carrigtwohill, Cork), Sam Quirke (Midleton, Cork)

Tomas Howard (Dromtarriffe, Cork), Liam O’Shea (Lisgoold, Cork), Alan Walsh (Kanturk, Cork)

Barry Kehoe (Kilsheelan-Kilcash, Tipperary), Paddy Creedon (Thurles Sarsfields, Tipperary), James Mulcahy (Carrigtwohill, Cork)

Subs

Andrew O’Connell (Douglas, Cork) for Mulcahy (29)

Eoghan Collins (Newcestown, Cork) for Cranny (37)

Declan Hanlon (Blarney, Cork) for Kehoe (50)

Conor O’Leary (Ballincollig, Cork) for Twomey (51)

Cathal Hickey (Lisgoold) for O’Flynn (53)

Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway)

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IT Carlow 1-17
UCC 0-14

DJ CAREY SAW his IT Carlow team clam a fully-merited quarter-final success on home soil tonight in the Fitzgibbon Cup, knocking UCC out of the competition in the process.

Cian Kenny in action against Ger Millerick and Daire O’Leary.

Source: Evan Treacy/INPHO

UCC, who won the last two runnings of this competition, trailed for long stages of the game and were always struggling once Rory Higgins fired in a first-half goal for the winners.

Despite losing Marty Kavanagh to injury in the opening period and with Eoin Cody unavailable due to the All-Ireland club commitments with Ballyhale Shamrocks, IT Carlow triumphed with Carlow’s Chris Nolan, Wexford’s Seamus Casey and Kilkenny’s Cian Kenny all impressing.

The winners were ahead 1-11 to 0-8 at the break, both sides having players dismissed either side of the interval with UCC’s Padraig Power and IT Carlow’s Jerry Kelly both sent to the line.

UCC’s Shane Barrett with IT Carlow’s Seamus Casey.

Tipperary’s Mark Kehoe hit three first-half points for UCC and Cork’s Shane Barrett was on target from frees but they never threatened enough against an excellent IT Carlow rearguard.

IT Carlow manager DJ Carey.

Source: Evan Treacy/INPHO

IT Carlow have never won the Fitzgibbon Cup, losing finals in 2017 and 2020, but they are now only one step away from returning to the final stage.

Higgins goal in the 17th minute propelled them ahead 1-6 to 0-3 and while UCC cut the gap to four points on two occasions, the margin was six in favour of IT Carlow at half-time.

As weather conditions deteriorated during the second half, UCC tried to chip away at the IT Carlow deficit but within five points was as close. Seamus Casey’s pointed ’65 rounded off IT Carlow’s win and they nearly hit the net again in the closing stages, only for UCC goalkeeper Ian Butler to pull off an impressive double save.

Scorers for IT Carlow: Seamus Casey (0-7, 4f, 1 ’65); Rory Higgins (1-1); Chris Nolan (0-3); Thomas Keyes, Niall Brassil, Cian Kenny, Eoin Gaughan, Cathal Dunbar, Marty Kavanagh (0-1 ’65) (0-1 each).

Scorers for UCC: Mark Kehoe, Shane Barrett (0-4f) (0-4 each); Conor Boylan, Daire Connery (0-2f) (0-2 each); Rob Downey, Will Henn (0-1f) (0-1 each).

IT Carlow

Adam Howlin (Shelmaliers, Wexford)

Fergal Hayes (Kiladangan, Tipperary), Podge Delaney (The Harps, Laois), Aidan Redmond (Rathnure, Wexford)

Jason Cleere (Bennettsbridge, Kilkenny), Jerry Kelly (Borris-Ileigh, Tipperary), Niall Brassil (James Stephens, Kilkenny)

Cathal Dunbar (Naomh Eanna, Wexford), Cian Kenny (James Stephens, Kilkenny)

Eoin Gaughan (Camross, Laois), Marty Kavanagh (St Mullins, Carlow), Seamus Casey (Oylegate-Glenbrien, Wexford)

Rory Higgins (Rathnure, Wexford), Chris Nolan (Mount Leinster Rangers, Carlow), Thomas Keyes (Camross, Laois)

Subs

Brandon McGinley (Rathdowney-Errill, Laois) for Kavanagh (inj) (11)

Shane Reck (Oylegate-Glenbrien, Wexford) for McGinley (37)

UCC

Ian Butler (Kildorrery, Cork)

Cormac O’Brien (Newtownshandrum, Cork), Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons, Cork), Jerome Boylan (Na Piarsaigh, Limerick), 

Rob Downey (Glen Rovers, Cork), Iarlaith Daly (Lismore, Waterford), Daire O’Leary (Watergrasshill, Cork)

Ger Millerick (Fr O’Neills, Cork), Ronan Connolly (Adare, Limerick)

Conor Boylan (Na Piarsaigh, Limerick), Conor Cahalane (St Finbarr’s, Cork), Shane Barrett (Blarney, Cork)

Conor Bowe (Moyne-Templetuohy, Tipperary), Mark Kehoe (Kilsheelan-Kilcash, Tipperary), Padraig Power (Blarney, Cork),

Subs

Daire Connery (Na Piarsaigh, Cork) for O’Brien (half-time)

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Jack O’Connor (Sarsfields, Cork) for Bowe (half-time)

Will Henn (Na Piarsaigh, Limerick) for Barrett (51)

Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford)

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REIGNING CHAMPIONS MIDLETON and St Finbarr’s discovered their opponents for 2022 after the draws were made tonight for this year’s groups in the senior hurling and football championships.

Midleton will meet Douglas, Kanturk and Newtownshandurm in hurling, while St Finbarr’s will take on Éire Óg, Carbery Rangers and Carrigaline in football.

The standout group in football is Group C which sees 2021 finalists Clonakilty, 2020 champions Nemo Rangers, 2020 finalists Castlehaven and Newcestown all in opposition.

In hurling Glen Rovers, the beaten finalists from the last three years, are in Group B, while 2020 champions Blackrock are in Group C.

Cork Premier Senior Draws 2022

Football

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• Group A – St Finbarr’s, Éire Óg, Carbery Rangers, Carrigaline.

• Group B – Douglas, Valley Rovers, Mallow, Ballincollig.

• Group C – Clonakilty, Castlehaven, Nemo Rangers, Newcestown.

Hurling

• Group A – Midleton, Douglas, Kanturk, Newtownshandrum.

• Group B – Glen Rovers, Erins Own, Na Piarsaigh, Bishopstown.

• Group C – Sarsfields, Blackrock, St Finbarr’s, Charleville.

The draws for the Senior A championships were made in both codes as well:

Football

• Group A – Ilen Rovers, Clyda Rovers, Newmarket, O’Donovan Rossa.

• Group B – Béal Ath An Ghaorthaidh, Dohenys, Bandon, Kiskeam.

• Group C – St Michael’s, Knocknagree, Bishopstown, Fermoy.

Hurling

• Group A – Newcestown, Mallow, Cloyne, Fermoy.

• Group B – Fr O’Neill’s, Blarney, Killeagh, Courcey Rovers.

• Group C – Carrigtwohill, Bride Rovers, Ballyhea, Ballymartle.

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MEATH ALL-IRELAND WINNING goalkeeper Monica McGuirk is “very much in favour of” the Gaelic Players’ Association [GPA] motion calling for integration between the GAA, LGFA and Camogie Association.

The GPA announced today that it had submitted a motion for consideration at GAA Congress on 26 February “urging the GAA to take proactive, meaningful and swift action to expediate integration with the LGFA and the Camogie Association”.

“It is inter-county players’ firmly held belief that for equality to be achieved within the Gaelic games family, integration of the three National Governing Bodies (NGBs) must be made a priority,” a statement continued.

“This can then in turn can have a major positive impact on wider Irish society. In recent research amongst our membership, 97% of all inter-county players backed integration between the three NGBs.”

The news broke when McGuirk and other ladies football stars were at the launch of the 2022 Lidl National Leagues in Newbridge.

“It’s not something that I personally think about too much but I do know the knock-on effect it has for all the players and clubs, the Gaelic and the hurling and camogie and everything,” the 2019 and 2021 All-Star told The42.

“I would be very much in favour of it. I do hope it goes in the right direction and does see through to be able to be one unit, which would be great. It will be interesting to see how it goes now and the end of the month.

“It would be great to see it all as just one. You see the publicity the women’s [game] is getting now. At the moment, the women’s [team] is kind of outshining the men in Meath football. That’s not through fault of anybody’s. I do think we have different levels in terms of the men and women; the Cork ladies dominated for how many years compared to the men, Dublin have been on par with each other in terms of where they’ve got.

“I do think it’s a step in the right direction and hopefully it keeps going that way.”

A monumental vote to merge the Women’s Gaelic Players Association [WGPA] and its male equivalent in the GPA was held in December 2020, with many players hailing it as such.

“I think it’s a huge step forward for us. I can only see positives coming from it,” Cork star Doireann O’Sullivan said at the time, believing the merger into a single 4,000-member representative for inter-county players may pave the way for amalgamation at a higher level.

McGuirk would certainly be in support of all coming under the one umbrella with joined-up thinking in place.

GPA motion calls for integration between the GAA, LGFA and Camogie Association.#Equalityhttps://t.co/X8FB6xntZb

— GPA (@gaelicplayers) February 8, 2022

Speaking about the motion earlier today GPA CEO and former Mayo footballer, Tom Parsons noted:

“The spirit of this motion is about action for gender equality in sport and bringing the Gaelic family together. It is about showing women and girls, whether they are involved in Gaelic games or not, that the biggest sporting and cultural organisation in Ireland values you every bit as much as it does your brothers, partners, nephews and husbands.

“We appreciate and respect the three NGBs have been on a journey towards closer links and closer co-operation.  What players are asking for now is that the GAA expediate this process, in a spirit of consultation with the LGFA and Camogie Association. I believe this change will have the power to unite us and ignite Gaelic games.

“The outcome players want to see is a road map that sets out clear actions and timelines that leads to one national organisation overseeing our games. Players believe in today’s world we must deliver equal opportunity, recognition and investment regardless of gender and that this motion supports the GAA mantra ‘Where we all belong’.”

“In recent times we have seen the overwhelming decision by players to merge the WGPA and GPA and since that decision the government has backed equality with the announcement of equal investment and recognition for players,” the GPA’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager and Tyrone All-Ireland winner Gemma Begley added.

“Changes like this have made a huge difference for female players, but ultimately players believe equality cannot be truly achieved under separate governing bodies.

“Now players are asking the leadership of our Gaelic games to hear our voice and take immediate action to make equality a key priority for the association.”

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A DECADE OF #SeriousSupport.

An incredible journey since the infamous Ladyball ad.

The Ladies Gaelic Football Association [LGFA] and Lidl Ireland today announced a four-year contract extension, bringing the successful partnership through to the conclusion of the 2025 season.

Lidl, the LGFA’s official retail partner since 2016, have pledged to invest an additional €5 million, bringing the total investment to €10 million across 10 years of sponsorship.

Today’s news came after the Association confirmed details of a comprehensive live-streaming platform yesterday, with over 100 live games that are not being shown live on TG4 available to watch through a subscription service.

A season ticket that covers all games in 2022 is €50, with a weekend pass €10 and a single game available for €5. There is also the option to buy single games after they have concluded for €3 each.  

These are two massive steps in two days for ladies football, with the game growing exponentially in recent years, on and off the field.

“It’s still growing,” Galway star Nicola Ward tells The42. “Each year you come back, Lidl are coming up with something new.

“Even if the games aren’t on TG4, you can watch the stream online. For video analysis and that for other teams, you can look back on everything. The double-headers; both Leinster finals being in Croke Park is massive. There’s just massive improvements each year and I suppose it will only continue to grow as well.”

Cáit Lynch of Kerry echoes the Kilkerrin-Clonberne All-Ireland winner’s words.

“It’s such an exciting time to be involved in ladies football at the moment,” the 2012 All-Star and recent returnee to the inter-county scene nods. “For so many decades really, we’ve been struggling and fighting for small wins.

A decade of #SeriousSupport as @lidl_ireland pledges commitment of €10 million investment in Ladies Football in 10 years of sponsorship

Lidl & LGFA announce 4-year partnership extension until 2025https://t.co/1ShMR2vLUs@ConnachtLGFA @LeinsterLGFA @MunsterLGFA @UlsterLadies

— Ladies Football (@LadiesFootball) February 8, 2022

“I know there’s still a load that we can do in the future, but it’s a really exciting time that we have the backing of Lidl.

“It’s great, there’s so much media coverage at the moment, even over Covid when games were being streamed… I think that was quite beneficial, it increased accessibility to games that people mightn’t have actually gone to. People now have it in their homes. It’s brilliant.”

As well as the investment of another €5 million, Lidl have committed to focusing on further progress in the areas of attendance and participation.

They say they will help fill Croke Park to full capacity at the TG4 All-Ireland finals by 2025 – the record attendance is 56,114 from 2019 – while plans are in place to increase participation and break the trend of drop-out rates among girls by investing in their already-profitable programmes.

“It’s safe to say it’s changed Ladies Gaelic football as a whole, even just the promotion,” Dublin ace Carla Rowe says of the Lidl partnership.

“I know there’s debate around the filling Croke Park, but the live-streaming and the posters and all that you are seeing are huge for young girls coming up through the sport, having role models.

“The support has been massive and it’s great to hear that they’re signing on for another four years. In total, you’re looking at 10 years’ support — and a lot of money and resources.”

Source: LadiesFootballTV/YouTube

Rowe, Ward and Lynch were all speaking at today’s league launch, with throw-in pencilled in for this weekend.

Meath All-Ireland champion Monica McGuirk and injured Tipperary and Donegal stars Aishling Moloney and Emer Gallagher were also in attendance, with some of the players heavily involved as Lidl ambassadors across several programmes.

Gallagher is one of such.

“We were just talking about it earlier on within the girls: even from Covid, how things have improved so much in terms of how visible the sport is and how visible the players are,” she beamed.

“Especially for young girls, they need to be able to see their role models and to see what they could be in the future. That really wasn’t possible four years ago, because it wasn’t really being broadcast anywhere. You couldn’t see a ladies game online, you would have to physically go to the game and that wasn’t always an option for a lot of young people.

“I honestly think the development that we’ve seen in the sport has been down to how much it’s been pushed, broadcast and publicised. You can tune into Facebook and watch any of the matches this year because they’re all being live-streamed. That’s night and day to where we were five years ago, not to mention 15 years ago.

“If things keep going the way that they’re going, who knows where our sport is going to reach?”

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IRELAND’S ELSA DESMOND says she “couldn’t be happier” after a brilliant display in the Women’s Singles Luge at the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing. 

Desmond finished her maiden Olympic Games with another clean run, completing her third run with a time of 1:02.254, which was her second fastest on the track.

Added to run one and two, Desmond finished her event in 33rd position with an overall time of 3:03.07.719.

The top twenty athletes from run three moved to the final round, meaning that Desmond’s third run was her final one. The Women’s Singles was won by Germany’s Natalie Geisenberger.

The 24-year-old Desmond, who is first Ireland’s first competitor at a Games in the luge, was relieved to end her competition with such a strong score.

“This is the second fastest time that I ever got here,” she said after her event, “there was definite issues between curve two and three. I’ve only ever got it right twice prior to this. It’s a section I haven’t got my head around and you get that sometimes.

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“But unlike yesterday’s second run I recovered it much quicker, and I managed to relax into the sled I didn’t manage to do in the second run yesterday.

“I had a couple of taps with my feet down, but it was nothing major. It was consistent with training but a little bit quicker. I’ll take it, I finished three runs, I couldn’t be happier.”

“I’ve dreamed of this as long as I can remember and I’m here and I did it and I didn’t do anything ridiculous and end up on my face. Why would I not be absolutely ecstatic? I know my parents are at home watching and wish they were here and will be so so proud. I can’t wait to talk to them, I know my mum will be in tears.”

Team Ireland will have two athletes in action tomorrow, with Tess Arbez competing in the Slalom, while Seamus O’Connor is set to become a three-time Olympian, competing in the Snowboard Halfpipe qualifying rounds.

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