THE DUST MAY have settled, but the memories of that special day will last a lifetime.

In late January, Kilkerrin-Clonberne of Galway were crowned All-Ireland senior club  champions for the very first time, ending Mourneabbey’s bid for three-in-a-row as they lifted the Dolores Tyrrell Memorial Cup.

“It was definitely the best win I have ever had in ladies football,” as Nicola Ward beamed at the 2022 Lidl Ladies National League launch last week.

“Playing with the girls that I’ve been playing with since I’ve been U10, it was such a nice community, family feel to it. And the celebrations afterwards were just overwhelming.

“Even this week, the girls have been going around with the cup to the school, the creches and the church – even at mass, they were in both parishes with the cup. The celebrations will be still ongoing for another while. But finally nice to win something big at senior level.”

The nature of the victory must have made it all the more pleasing. The long-time Galway and Connacht champions avenged the heartache of defeat to the same opponents in 2019, and did so with a simply stunning performance.

Kilkerrin-Clonberne finished 1-11 to 1-7 winners in Birr, holding the Cork heavyweights to just one point from play — scored by Ciara O’Sullivan in the 51st minute.

Last time out, in their first decider appearance, a single point was the difference after Laura Fitzgerald broke their hearts with less than 20 seconds remaining.

Kilkerrin-Clonberne celebrate after their win.

Source: Lorraine O’Sullivan/INPHO

“We’d all been talking about 2019 in the lead-up to the match,” 2019 All-Star Ward explains. “I was saying, ‘We’re all two years older, we’re two years stronger’. Even Eva Noone, our corner forward in 2019 was only 16 playing, and those two years stood to her.

“To think that she’s still only 18, and just got that bit cuter. I know when you do lose matches it is awful to use them but you definitely do learn from them and you do get that experience from them.

“As much as 2019 hurt, we definitely used it to our advantage in the final. It was just so great to get over the line and even sweeter that we got a bit of revenge on Mourneabbey from 2019.”

The sweetest part of all? Surely the fact that it was a family affair. Nicola’s twin sister, Louise, was captain, with their father, Willie, the manager.

The heartwarming scenes captured afterwards said it all.

“It was unreal. Dad and Michael Divilly, Siobhan, Olivia and Niamh’s Dad, they managed us in 2013 when we won our first senior county title with the club.

“Obviously we’ve been nearly trying for a decade to get to the All-Ireland and for them to come back — I know the roles are reversed this year, Michael was the manager back in 2012 — was just unreal, and it was just so fitting that they were involved. Our brother, Adrian, was involved in the management as well. Mum was the only one sweating at home by herself, but had a big part to play!

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Seaimpíní na hÉireann!! @KClgfa @LadiesFootball |#currentaccount |#LGFAClub pic.twitter.com/UXmeVdg6kH

— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) January 29, 2022

“Obviously Dad is a bit older than most managers and maybe at the start of the year, people mightn’t have wanted him or thought other people might have been better for the job but I suppose myself and Louise seen literally how much effort and time he put into it.

“It was the talk in our house every single day. We’re just so delighted that he did it basically for us and got us over the line.”

Another who played a big role in the success, and the rise of Kilkerrin-Clonberne through the years, was Galway All-Ireland winning captain Annette Clarke.

Wearing the number 25 jersey, the long-serving star came off the bench in the closing minutes; her experience and know-how undoubtedly steadying the ship as the club edged closer and closer to the Holy Grail.

“Oh, stop,” Ward smiles. “She is a legend around Kilkerrin-Clonberne, she is just unbelievable. She’s a massive inspiration to us.

“We’ve looked up to her since we were young. We were in Croke Park when she captained Galway to the All-Ireland in 2004. And to think that she’s still a playing, what, nearly 20 years later is unreal.

“She gave birth to two beautiful babies in September and was back training with us then at the end of October. She’ll kill me for saying her age, but she’s 40 years old and she just…

A special moment for Annette Clarke, one of our longest serving players, as she finally got her hands on the Dolores Tyrrell Memorial Cup this afternoon.

This sweet victory comes nearly 18 years after Annette captained Galway to the All-Ireland Ladies SFC title back in 2004. pic.twitter.com/SNJhfiHARr

— KilkerrinClonbernelgfa (@KClgfa) January 30, 2022

“She won a free, I think towards the end as well. Look, she has massive experience. Even when she came back in October, herself and another girl, Lisa Gannon, who had a baby, we were like, ‘Okay, we have everyone now.’ Everyone who could be with us was with us, and I think that was the most special thing about it. No one missed out.”

Clarke was involved with the Galway management team last year, but appears to be absent for 2021 in the wake of Gerry Fahy’s recent departure.

The Tribe remain without an official manager, with Ward and her clubmates watching from afar as they take a much-needed break from the inter-county scene through the early stages of the league.

She insists, however, that they’ll be “fully committed to the cause” after a few weeks off.

Working as a nurse in Crumlin Children’s Hospital, that’s Ward’s main focus at the minute as she continues to split her life between east and west.

“Still up and down – the car has some amount of mileage on it,” she laughs. “Between club and county now, it was a busy year but even after winning the club, it’s so worth it.

“Sometimes you ask yourself: ‘Why do you do this to yourself?’ But when you get a win like that, it’s so worth it.”

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THE FOUR TYRONE players sent-off in their recent football league game against Armagh, have had their bans upheld.

Four Tyrone players were shown a red card against Armagh.

Source: Philip Magowan/INPHO

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The Gaelic Life is this morning reporting that the quartet of Peter Harte, Michael McKernan, Padraig Hampsey and Kieran McGeary had their bans upheld after a hearing took place in Croke Park last night.

Bad news for Tyrone fans re. the Athletics Ground brawl – all four red cards were upheld at a hearing at Croke Park last night so Padraig Hampsey, Peter Harte, Kieran McGeary and Michael McKernan will miss this Sunday’s league clash against Kildare

— Niall Gartland (@Niall_Gartland) February 15, 2022

They are now set to miss next Sunday’s tie at home to Kildare in Omagh as Tyrone go in search of their first victory in this year’s league.

The All-Ireland winners saw the players sent-off, along with Armagh’s Gregory McCabe, by referee David Gough towards the end of the recent tie after a melee had occurred.

The players were sent to the line for contributing to a melee. They do now have the option of going to the Central Appeals Committee (CAC) in an attempt to have the suspension overturned.

Speaking yesterday at a separate press event before the hearing took place, Hampsey expressed surprise at the division of the red cards.

“Well I suppose if you look at it that way, you could be right but I suppose we just probably feel that it’s a hard one to take where Tyrone ended up getting four red cards and Armagh ended up getting one. So we probably feel a bit done that way, but it is what it is and David has seen what he seen and his linesmen and umpires have seen what they seen, so we’ll know more tonight and as I said we just want to voice our opinion.”

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CONOR LAVERTY WAS one of the last men to emerge from Kilcoo’s dressing room on Saturday night.

Kilcoo’s Conor Laverty celebrates at the end of the game.

Source: Ken Sutton/INPHO

He walked out with his gearbag in one hand and a glint in his eye. Almost 20 years after he made his senior debut for the club as a 17-year-old, he stood here as joint-captain of the All-Ireland champions. 

Two years earlier, Laverty was consoled by his children on the Croke Park sod after Corofin outlasted them in extra-time.

On Monday night, he tweeted a picture where two of his sons were in bed with the Andy Merrigan Cup safely tucked in between them.

The Andy Merrigan cup was in safe hands last night. I hope their dreams come true someday. They owe us a few days out in Croker. #apicturesaysa1000words #💙💙🏁 pic.twitter.com/exP8oEEcUb

— Conor Laverty (@ConorLav14) February 13, 2022

Laverty has played a central role in the Kilcoo story. That goes back to his goaled penalty in the 2003 Division 1 league final, a win that many in the club reference as the day they believed they could win the Down championship.

He’s the only player still involved from that team and is the club’s most decorated player with 10 county medals, two Ulsters and now an All-Ireland crown.

He was Down captain when he retired from inter-county action aged 31 in 2016, keen to give some of his best years to the club.

He was heavily involved in Kilcoo’s underage structures, managing future team-mates like Shealin Johnston, Anthony Morgan and Sean Og McCusker at the U16 grade in 2017.

He was part of a Kilcoo delegation that sought out Mickey Moran to become their manager. When things were going wrong in the first-half on Saturday, he led the line and was their only player to score. 

And he’s been operating without a cartilage in his knee since Moran took charge.

There was plenty to discuss with the man who insisted he wouldn’t lift the cup until his manager joined him on the steps of the Hogan Stand.

*************************

What were the emotions like at the final whistle?

“Just madness. That’s Kilcoo, just madness is us well summed up. It’s hard to even take in but it’s something you’ve dreamed of all your life. You’ve reached the pinnacle, there’s no next step.”

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Conleith Gilligan said you’ve been playing with no cartilage in your knee since they took charge, is this the end for you? 

“Only for there’s good men that have been looking after me, they’re keeping me right and on the field. I’ll just really enjoy tonight. I don’t know what the future holds.

“It was always the dream, to get to here. To be able to stand in Croke Park with Aidan (Branagan) and lift the Andy Merrigan Cup, it’s amazing.”

How important was Mickey Moran’s speech at half-time?

“The things that Mickey said in there definitely hit home and got the reaction he needed. He’s just a special man and has a special way with words. Whenever he went into that detail, we knew we had let ourselves down in the first-half and we needed a kick, we needed a reaction.  

“Today it was just meant to be. There’s no way we were being beaten in two All-Ireland club finals in extra-time. How would you live with that?”

Kilcoo’s Conor Laverty with his sons after the 2020 final defeat to Corofin.

Source: Bryan Keane/INPHO

Talk us through the end of the game. To win it like that was special. 

“Something was written in the stars. All year, it’s just felt right. Even for Mickey, someone was up there looking down, saying ‘this is the right moment for this man to reach the Holy Grail’.

“For him to say he was manager of an All-Ireland winning team after being in five finals, four defeats, for his legacy. It would always have been said he was a great manager and the players that played for him would always speak so highly of him, but it would have been said that he didn’t manage a team to an All-Ireland.

“We spoke about that as players recently. Over the past few weeks, we spoke about when that man pulls out at the top of the lane for the last time – and hopefully that’s not for a while yet – that he’s going out that lane as an All-Ireland winning manager.”

You were part of a delegation of players who met Mickey about taking over in late 2018. What do you remember about that meeting? 

“He came to Kilcoo. I think it was to test what the journey was like too, that’s maybe what his thinking was on that. Three or four players met with him and then some of the committee members met after that.

“It was the most fascinating meeting I was involved in in my life. He never took his eyes off you whenever he spoke. He spoke in great detail, asked really good questions. 

“Leaving, I shook his hand and said ‘I’ll see you in a couple of weeks’ and he sorta laughed. That night, me and Aidan actually put on our runners and went to the forest park and run ourselves ‘til we couldn’t run any more.

“We said going home in the van that this man’s gonna get us to the ultimate prize. We knew leaving that night that he was the man for us, that he was gonna win us this. There was no doubt in my mind of that.”

It’s unusual to see players so attached to an outside manager.

“There is a special bond, but all the teams he’s managed, a lot of players would say they had that bond with him. This was just a missing part of the jigsaw. It fitted both – it fitted this club and our team because we were chasing that dream, we were chasing to try and be the best team in Ireland, and probably he was chasing it too.

“My time was running out, some of the older lads’ time was running out and so was his. But you could see it in his eyes. The first night he spoke to us, he had us eating out of the palm of his hand. Some of the places we’ve went in training, dark, dark places, tough, tough sessions, and there was never a word.

“You go in there and 1-40, even the lads who don’t get minutes, they love Mickey. He’s just a special man. When anyone has issues or stuff going on in their personal life, he’s so good to you. He’ll just walk past and put his arm around you and say a wee word.

“I know myself, one of my wee boys wasn’t well before Christmas and you’re up to high doe, you didn’t wanna miss training. He was like ‘cub, go and be with your family, your family needs you’.

“He’s just a great man at putting your mind at ease and leaving you that there’s no stress with him. He’s always looking out for the player, he’s always got the player’s best interests at heart, and that’s a very special thing to have.” 

Kilcoo manager Mickey Moran before the Ulster quarter-final.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

Did you always have it in your head to get him up to lift the cup?

“I promised him I was sending him up them steps. I was not leaving there until he came up them steps. That was it. We would have give up our All-Ireland medal, every medal we had, to make sure Mickey Moran had managed a team to an All-Ireland.

“He’s just a wonderful man. Some of the things he’s done in Gaelic football, some of the lives he’s touched, some of the careers he’s been involved in, he’s a very special man. It’s a very fitting tribute that he got up them steps.

“For me, if someone said ‘you won an All-Ireland title’, I’d think ‘Mickey Moran managed a club to an All-Ireland title’. That’s where I am in my thinking. It’s him first. For us as players, we were more happy for him today than ourselves.

“And he’ll be the complete opposite, he wouldn’t want to come up them steps, he’s not into that. But there was no way he wasn’t coming up. That’s why we never lifted it until he came up.”

You’re going down the coaching line yourself, what’s the single biggest thing you learned from him?

“If my players were able to think of me the exact same way that players think of Mickey Moran, you’d be doing something right. Yes it’s about winning and things like that, but it’s much deeper than that with him.

“He’s the kind of manager players just adore, and whenever you love your manager, you’ll go to places you never would have gone before. It’s how simple he keeps things. It’s not blood and thunder all the time, probably not until half-time today.

“People would say is he a manager, is he a coach, but he’s just everything rolled into one. He’s a special man.”

What does it mean for you to win the All-Ireland at this stage of your career?

“Time was running out, like. I knew that myself. To have my wee boys running on the field after it and the smiles on their faces… It’s the box done. You can lie in bed tonight and know that all the suffering, all the heartbreak, you can just lie and smile tonight.

“You can go tomorrow and just be satisfied. Because we never were, never in our whole life. Even after Down championships, you had Ulster and then you got beat. I’m playing 20 years and at the end of every year, there’s heartbreak.

“There’s no heartbreak tomorrow. There’s only a smile tomorrow morning because there’s no next day out. We’ve done it. We’ve reached the Holy Grail.”

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FOR THE SECOND successive week, Michael Fennelly had to pick his Offaly team up off the floor after they suffered a heavy defeat to All-Ireland contenders.

Offaly’s ambitions are a far cry away from challenging for the Liam MacCarthy – they won’t even be competing in the top tier come the championship. The Faithful are newly promoted to the Joe McDonagh, having lifted the third tier Christy Ring title last season.

They also won promotion from Division 2A in 2021, which guaranteed them a spot in the 12-team Division 1 that is split between two groups.

Offaly drew the short straw when they were drawn in 1B, with Laois and Antrim placed in 1A.

Even a round-robin game to look forward to against either of those counties would give Offaly a genuine opportunity to pick up some points.

Instead, they’ll be doing well to finish within 10 points of any team.

They lost to Galway and Cork by a combined 36 points. They still have Clare, Wexford and Limerick to play. With the championship throwing-in mid-April, most teams are seeking to hit form far earlier that previous years.

“It’s a very steep learning curve,” remarked Fennelly.

“For the team that’s progressing and has been promoted, it does very little to be honest.

“You’re in survival mode and you’re shipping big defeats and I feel for the boys, I don’t think it’s overly fair on them but that’s the system and the structure that’s there and we can’t do anything about it.

“For me it’s two to three steps from where we’re at being honest about it. You’re not going from Division 2A to another group, you’re gone two or three divisions above it. They’re just at a higher level than us at the moment.

“At the end of the day we are gearing towards the Joe McDonagh in the summer, that’s going to be massively competitive. But the speed of our play needs to increase and that doesn’t happen overnight.”

It’s hard to see things improving for them much over the coming weeks.

Antrim are competing well, having ran both Kilkenny and Dublin close over the past two weekends. They finished on five points in last year’s league, after beating Clare and Laois, and drawing with Wexford.

Darren Gleeson admitted his frustration after the game at their failure to pick up any points, but at least the Saffrons have shown they belong at this level. They’re a county on the rise, with emerging young talent have given several strong performances against more established counties.

For Offaly, that’s where they want to get to. But it’s no quick fix.

“I think they are enjoying competing against these great players who we saw on TV, are winning Munster titles and Leinster titles and going on to challenge in semi-finals and finals,” said Fennelly. “But you couldn’t be doing this every day. It can be deflating.”

Waterford recorded their biggest ever league win over Cheddar Plunkett’s Laois on Sunday. For a team dumped Dublin out of the championship in 2019, Laois have regressed significantly.

Waterford scored seven goals and left another handful behind them, while also firing over a remarkable 31 points. In years gone by, Liam Cahill might have sent out a second string outfit, but the Deise need to get their key men up and running as the Munster campaign looms.

There will be few opportunities to bed in players and fine-tune their style before their championship opener against Tipperary.

So Laois were beaten out the gate by 33 points. Like Fennelly, Plunkett must continue to fight the good fight in the weeks ahead knowing full well that further beatings are coming down the line.

Laois lost their five Division 1B games by a combined 54 points before surviving in the top flight by dint of their relegation play-off win against Westmeath. 

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It’s hardly any wonder players opt out of playing for weaker counties when there’s the potential to be subjected to this on a weekly basis.

No hurler wants to go out on a cold February afternoon and get walloped by one of the big guns.

However, those who do commit to a county set-up and strive to play at the top level, knowing heavy losses may come their way, should be commended.

“I feel for the boys because they’re being thrown into the deep end realistically,” added Fennelly.

“And I do look back to Westmeath last year and I can’t get away from that. Their scorelines were 7-27, 5-34, 4-47, huge defeats and probably scoring similar to ourselves.”

It’s a difficult predicament the midland counties find themselves in. One one hand, the weaker sides should be given opportunities to test themselves against the top teams in the league.

But these one-sided games do little for confidence levels or to convince players it’s worthwhile putting in so much time to play inter-county hurling.

It has been argued that there are too many teams in Division 1, yet reducing the number of sides is effectively pulling the ladder up behind the big boys. It would do little to improve hurling in Offaly and Laois.

In fairness to the O’Moore County, they gave Tipperary their fill of it and only went down by four points in round 1. Plunkett may well write off Sunday as a poor performance. He has no other choice. 

If Fennelly does go on to manage his native Kilkenny in the future, he may reflect on days like Sunday as the making of him as a manager. It will take all his man-management and motivational skills to rally his troops for three more games before they start playing teams at their own level.  

The Ballyhale man took solace in the fact Westmeath conceded 20-136 after taking five heavy defeats in 2021, yet rebounded to win the McDonagh Cup.

“I do look back to Westmeath last year and I can’t get away from that. Their scorelines were 7-27, 5-34, 4-47, huge defeats and probably scoring similar to ourselves.

“They won the Joe Mc last year after shipping those heavy defeats in the league. The structure was different last year, it was only two games and you’re in the final, now you’ve five games and it’s going to be more competitive than ever I feel.

“That’s going to be massively challenging for the boys and we need to get a lot of lads back from injuries and getting healthy. But our heads are in a good place, genuinely we are and even though these are hard days, that’s the way it is.

“That’s the structure that’s there, but we need know what we need to do. That lads are learning without a doubt, but that speed doesn’t happen overnight, it takes time and it’ll come eventually.”

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GALWAY CAMOGIE CAPTAIN Sarah Dervan, and Cork Ladies star Erika O’Shea have expressed their support for a motion going before GAA Congress regarding a merger of the GAA, LGFA and the Camogie Association.  

The motion has been submitted by the GPA, and requests that the GAA “prioritise integration with the LGFA and Camogie Association in order to jointly ensure equal investment, recognition and opportunity for all genders to play all sports in the Gaelic Games family.”

Both Dervan and O’Shea hope that the motion is approved at Congress on 26 February, and that all players belong to the one GAA unit going forward.

Dervan captained Galway to their second senior All-Ireland camogie title in three years last September after a tense battle with Cork. But despite their success, Cathal Murray’s side are still hampered by inequalities.

“Unfortunately, we are in the middle of it,” the Mullagh defender begins. “Tonight we’re training on astroturf because we can’t get any pitch facilities with lights. So it is a real struggle for us. We’ve trained on astro an awful lot this year so far and we’re thankful of getting it, but it’s not ideal.

“We’re playing Dublin on Saturday so it’s not ideal preparation for the first round of the league.

“You are curtailed a lot with what you can do on astroturf. You can do a bit of ball work, the speed work. You wouldn’t really do much of your fitness on that because if you’re a bit of an older one like myself, it does take it’s toll on you but unfortunately it is the way it is. Hopefully this merger will happen sooner rather than later and all parties will be under the one umbrella.

“It’ll be massive for the Ladies Football and Camogie Association to be interlinked with the GAA. It’ll be a huge positive.”

Dervan adds with frustration that accessibility is an ongoing issue for the Galway camogie team, and that they are forced to rely on the kindness of clubs to avail of their training facilities. 

Cork’s O’Shea echoes similar sentiments regarding the basic requirements for training. Her county has been a dominant force in Ladies Football in recent times, capturing 11 All-Ireland titles between 2005 and 2016. But even with that collection of silverware, Cork teams have still struggled with getting basic provisions in place for their players. 

“I feel like the lads don’t have that problem,” says O’Shea.

Cork’s Erik

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

“I remember when we’re training at minor and we actually won the All-Ireland that year, we couldn’t find a pitch, we were training on the side of a pitch. We were running up and down the side of a pitch. Those kind of things are disheartening. A merger would make such a big difference. It would be good for women in sport and keep a lot of girls involved.

“All my team-mates want to see the merger happening. It would change everything for girls in sport The WGPA and the GAA joined and that has made a big difference.”

If a total merger does get voted in at Congress, Dervan hopes that the new association will be designed to ensure that all four codes are treated equally, and that the female sports are not overlooked once the integration is complete.

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“Absolutely, everything needs to be equal. The senior teams for the Galway hurlers, camogie, men’s footballers and women’s would be all equal and we’d all get a fair share of facilities, funding, everything.

“It’s the only way forward and all it can do is bring positives, especially for young girls starting out playing camogie, that they don’t have this divide. That we’re all one umbrella, one family and it shouldn’t matter, you have the same opportunities as everyone else.”

Sarah Dervan and Erika O’Shea were speaking at the brand launch of “In the Zone” by East Coast Bakehouse, which has been endorsed as “The Official Protein Cookies & Biscuits of the GAA/GPA” as The Players Choice.

– Originally published at 5:52pm

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MAGGIE FARRELLY WILL become the first female referee to take charge of a men’s national league match this weekend. 

The Cavan native has been named to officiate in Sunday’s Division 4 football fixture between Leitrim and London at Carrick-on-Shannon, with throw-in scheduled for 12pm. 

It is not the first time that the experienced Farrell has made GAA history, however.

She was the first woman to referee a senior men’s inter-county match — a McKenna Cup game between Fermanagh and St Mary’s — back in January 2016.

Last November, Farrelly also became the first female referee to take charge of a senior men’s county final, a Cavan senior football championship final replay between Gowna and Ramor United.

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TYRONE’S PÁDRAIG HAMPSEY says his team are “not proud” of the brawl which unfolded in the closing minutes of their league clash with Armagh, but also believes that the incident was blown out of proportion. 

Referee David Gough issued five red cards after the sides engaged in a major scuffle, with four Tyrone players being sent to the line. Hampsey was one of the players who was punished, along with Kieran McGeary, Michael McKernan and Peter Harte.

Armagh’s Greg McCabe was the fifth recipient of a red card as Kieran McGeeney’s side clinched a six-point win.

Hampsey says there is an appeal taking place tonight regarding these suspensions ahead of their next Division 1 outing against Kildare on Sunday.

“There’s an appeal tonight in Croke Park. We’re hoping to find out more tonight on where we stand on that.

“I think the players will have to go down to that one so there’ll be a hearing and I guess…to be honest, I’ve never been involved in one so I’m not too sure what goes on but the players will be down tonight and we’ll see what we’re dealt with.”

Padraig Hampsey.

When asked for his thoughts on the brawl, he replied:

“I suppose it’s a derby game with two Ulster teams, two neighbouring counties so I just feel that things maybe got out of control. It’s one we’re not proud of ourselves as a county and as players but look, I don’t think there was much really in it. For my own self, there wasn’t much in it to be honest.

“But look, it happened and we’re not proud of what happened.”

The All-Ireland champions are still looking for their first win of 2022 National League following that loss to Armagh, and a draw against Monaghan in the opening round of the competition. 

Hampsey is hopeful that Kildare’s visit to Healy Park on Sunday will be an opportunity to get their season off the mark.

“Yeah, Kildare on Sunday at home in Healy Park. It’s been a tough enough start to the league campaign, the draw with Monaghan and the defeat to Armagh. We’ll be looking forward to this weekend and to hopefully getting our first win on the board. 

“I suppose coming off the back of the holiday, I feel we’re maybe a couple of weeks behind other teams but we’re getting up to pace again. I know our first-half performance wasn’t that good but I think our second-half performance was, you know, I thought the lads performed well and we did well enough to get it back to four points but unfortunately we couldn’t get the win.

“No, look, we’re getting up to speed again and as I mentioned before with the week break and then back in now against Kildare on Sunday, hopefully we can get the win.”

Pádraig Hampsey was speaking at the brand launch of “In the Zone” by East Coast Bakehouse, which has been endorsed as “The Official Protein Cookies & Biscuits of the GAA/GPA” as The Players Choice.

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1. Harry Ruddle and Jerome Johnston the All-Ireland heroes

There is only one appropriate place to start when digesting the events at Croke Park on Saturday. Those sensational late goals will be folkloric moments in the history of Ballygunner and Kilcoo, those last-gasp interventions sparking the joy that engulfed both clubs.

Harry Ruddle pounced in the 63rd minute for Ballygunner, a substitute who came on to make the greatest impact possible. Jerome Johnston struck in the 81st minute for Kilcoo, the goal machine who again popped up when his club needed it. Those two were the heroes for their priceless scores in high drama.

But in both cases, the build-up of the goals was striking with the composure on show as Ballygunner (Ian Kenny, Paddy Leavey and Peter Hogan) and Kilcoo (Aaron Branagan and Shealin Johnston) had the creators to prise open the defences.

2. First-time winners rejoice

Those late goals would be a special way to win any All-Ireland final, but even more so when they ensured a major breakthrough in the cases of both clubs. Ballygunner and Kilcoo toasted All-Ireland glory for the first time, Ballygunner the first Waterford side to achieve that feat and Kilcoo only the second Down side after Burren’s triumphs in the ’80s.

They’ve been hard-earned as well. Since 2009 both Ballygunner and Kilcoo have won 10 county and two provincial titles. Ballygunner smashed through the Munster barrier in 2018, Kilcoo did likewise in Ulster in 2019. That’s a lot of harsh lessons learned after they have emerged from their local arenas and they’ve needed to be resilient to keep bouncing back from disappointments.

Ronan Power celebrates Ballygunner’s win.

Kilcoo’s Ceilum Doherty and Ryan Johnston celebrate with the cup.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

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3. Ballygunner’s long-serving stars celebrate

Five Ballygunner players have started throughout their eight-in-a-row sequence of success in Waterford – Stephen O’Keeffe, Barry Coughlan, Philip and Pauric Mahony, and Shane O’Sullivan. O’Keeffe, the two Mahonys and O’Sullivan were involved back in 2009 when they lost a Munster final to Newtownshandrum, indeed O’Sullivan can journey back to 2005 when they were also defeated in a provincial decider by the Cork opponents.

So it’s been an exercise in patience for that Ballygunner crew and sticking with the task they had set themselves. Saturday was a reward after over a decade of service as they realised their All-Ireland ambition.

4. Kilcoo’s extra factor

When the whistle sounded at the close of normal time, it shouldn’t have been surprising to consider that Kilcoo were facing into extra-time. That was the scenario they were presented with in the 2020 All-Ireland club final when they lost out to Corofin, and a position they have frequently encountered and embraced in this campaign.

In the Down quarter-final against Carryduff, in the Ulster semi-final against Watty Grahams Glen and in the All-Ireland semi-final against St Finbarr’s, Kilcoo were pushed to extra-time before prevailing. On Saturday they produced the goods again in that additional period, albeit in a staggering manner when they netted that late goal.

The Andy Merrigan cup was in safe hands last night. I hope their dreams come true someday. They owe us a few days out in Croker. #apicturesaysa1000words #💙💙🏁 pic.twitter.com/exP8oEEcUb

— Conor Laverty (@ConorLav14) February 13, 2022

5. Dessie Hutchinson proves the key asset 

When Ballygunner had previously met Ballyhale, they only mustered 0-13 in the 2019 All-Ireland semi-final. On Saturday that scoring total had been bumped up to 2-17. It’s an impressive improvement, and while their teamplay is more refined and the conditions in Croke Park were more favourable, the critical difference is the presence now of Dessie Hutchinson in their team.

He gives them a brilliant scoring dimension, as Waterford journalist Tomas McCarthy pointed out afterwards, he has now fired 14-90 across 24 championship games in the past three seasons for the club. On Saturday he didn’t let them down and stood tall in rifling in 1-3, setting up a couple of key points and banging home that vital first goal to ignite their charge.

6. Mickey Moran experiences All-Ireland glory

As wonderful a moment as it was for the Kilcoo players, it felt apt to single out their manager on Saturday. For Mickey Moran this was a superb achievement and a testament to the high-standard of his coaching. After a succession of near misses with Mayo (2006), Slaughtneil (2015 & 2017) and Kilcoo (2020), this was at last a day that he was part of a landmark victory.

Conor Laverty recognised that with the brilliant gesture of bringing Moran up the steps of the Hogan Stand to lift the Andy Merrigan Cup. 

Conor Laverty, Mickey Moran and Aidan Branagan lift the cup after the game.

Source: Ken Sutton/INPHO

TIPPERARY BOSS COLM Bonnar resisted the temptation to afford new captain Ronan Maher the chance to start yesterday in their first home game of 2022, but hailed his impact off the bench in their win over Kilkenny.

Tipperary opted to start with an unchanged side from the opening round win over Laois the previous Saturday night.

That meant Maher, who had come on in the 67th minute in the Portlaoise clash, had to be content with a place on the bench when the battle with Kilkenny began.

His hurling qualities were needed earlier yesterday, sprung into action in the 50th minute and the two-time All-Star immediately made his mark with a rousing point from the left wing.

The two-time All-Star was influential as Tipperary eventually claimed a one-point success.

“Ronan obviously was very disappointed he wasn’t starting from the start. Our first home game and him as captain, he would have loved to have lead the team out onto the field but we just felt the likes of Dillon Quirke and Barry Heffernan, they played very well against Laois and it was an opportunity for them to keep their development going.

“When Ronan came on, there was such a roar behind me from the crowd and then his introduction and what a score. It says, ‘Here I am, so don’t forget about me’. That’s what we want, we want players coming on and making a contribution and having that kind of attitude.”

Tipperary players celebrate after the game.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

Bonnar is expecting changes as they rotate their squad for their third league tie in a fortnight, when Dublin will land in Thurles.

“We’re working away. The boys are going really hard at training and the intensity levels are huge and they’re doing the gym sessions. There’s nothing more they can actually give us.

“We’ll have to move it on a bit because that’s the second day we’re after putting out the same team, so we’ll change it up a bit because there’s other players going as well in training. As a management team, we have to make a few hard calls, but the bunch of lads there are tight and becoming more of as team as the games go by.”

New captain Maher and 2019 Hurler of the Year Seamus Callanan have been restricted to substitute appearances in the games so far. The Loughmore-Castleiney crew, who endured such a punishing club campaign with games in both codes to close out 2021, may also return to the fray.

John and Brian McGrath were unused substitutes yesterday, Noel McGrath and John Meagher have not yet been involved.

“Yeah they’re all in training for the last three weeks altogether. There’s big names that are there with huge experience. We’re going to use that but they have been so commendable, driving the young lads on. They know a lot of the young lads would have sat on the line for the number of few years and didn’t play, so they don’t mind contributing to that. We want to see everybody hurling well for Tipp.”

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CORK HEAD INTO their Division 1A meeting with Limerick in fine fettle with two wins from two in the bag. 

Plenty of soul-searching took place on Leeside over the winter after they were dismantled by the Treaty in the All-Ireland final. 

Scoring exhibitions against Clare and Offaly have seen the Rebels put up a combined tally of 6-55. Kieran Kingston has spread the minutes around his squad, with the fight for places up front particularly fascinating. 

Cork chose not to enter a team into the pre-season Munster Hurling Cup, so Kingston is viewing the league as an opportunity to assess his talent.

“You are trying to build a panel,” said Kingston. “These few weeks are very challenging, with Fitzgibbon Cup, we had guys playing last Tuesday and Wednesday.

“We have Ciaran Joyce playing with the Freshers this Tuesday coming, so it is important you have a panel you can call on for these games, in particular during this pre-season. We have a good panel and we are happy with the panel we have.”

Cork have used 26 players inside their opening two games. Kingston made six changes from the first round as Ger Millerick, Rob Downey, Alan Cadogan, Padraig Power, Shane Barrett and Ciaran Joyce dropped out, largely due to injury and college commitments. 

Former AFL man Mark Keane made his league debut and fared well after his switch to wing-forward. He was heavily involved in the opening goal of the game, forcing a turnover and seeing his shot saved before Conor Lehane turned in the rebound, before adding two points in the second period.

His aerial ability, running power and use of the ball makes him a useful option on the half-forward line. He provides Kingston with a different option to the other forwards they possess.

“We gave Mark a couple of days off, but we were training Tuesday and Thursday and Mark was in with us those nights,” remarked his manager.

“So that is a sign of how much he wants to be involved, he took a day or two out, and then was back in the saddle with us on Tuesday night. Because of that and because what we saw in training, we said we’d give him a start and I thought he put in a really good shift.”

Jack O’Connor has been introduced off the bench in successive games as Cork monitor his load given his recent UCC Fitzgibbon commitments. Patrick Horgan made his seasonal debut as a substitute against Offaly as he eases his way into the campaign. 

Conor Cahalane and Robbie O’Flynn worked hard on the flanks before being replaced, while Shane Kingston has started the season in electric form, shooting 2-8 to follow up his nine-point haul last week.

“A couple of lads got knocks today. Conor Cahalane played college hurling during the week, Robbie O’Flynn hasn’t a lot done he’s only back with us the last few weeks.

“In these conditions it was very heavy going out there. 76 minutes of a game plus the warm-up, it’s very heavy on the legs so it’s important to give lads a rest when they have a lot going on and try other guys on the panel.”

Conor Lehane has returned to the panel after his omission in 2021. He was used on the half-forward line against Clare and in the corner versus Offaly, where he showed flashes of brilliance by scoring 1-2, although he didn’t last beyond the 52nd minute in either game. 

Kingston also took a look at a number of recent graduates from underage sides in the form of Daire O’Leary, Tommy O’Connell, Sam Quirke and Colin O’Brien. O’Leary was replaced at the break after losing his battle with Eoghan Cahill, while the other trio were on the field for the final quarter.

“I was happy with every fella that put a shift in today. Fellas that didn’t, will be reviewed during the week and we’ll see how we can improve.

“We’re very much trying to build the character of this group that every time you go play with Cork we expect a shift, we expect a performance and let the result take care of itself.”

Of course, it’s wise not to read too much into a couple of February league wins, but the strength of the panel Cork are putting together cannot be ignored. 

With the Munster SHC opening up against Limerick on 17 April, the Rebels have nine weeks before they need to be at full pelt.

“The league is that little bit more challenging because it’s really your pre-season,” adds Kingston. 

“Historically you’d have your league campaign and then four or five weeks off, you’d have another pre-season before championship, lads would go back to their clubs and play a couple of game and then you’re back in with the county again.

“This time it’s just college, league and then you’re into championship. So this is really your pre-season for championship.”

On the other hand, Offaly must regroup and go again following defeats to Cork and Galway by a combined 36 points.

It was always going to be a major step up for a team who were playing in the hurling championship’s third tier last summer. Shipping two goals inside the opening three minutes put the game out of sight almost as soon as it had started.

It rounded off a tough weekend for Faithful boss Michael Fennelly after watching his club Ballyhale lose the All-Ireland final with a last-second goal on Saturday.

“These teams are at a higher level and if you make a mistake, you’re punished,” he said.

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“It’s very difficult if you are punished within that split second and they get a goal or a point. It’s just very hard on the team in general. Compared to last year, you get away with making some of those mistakes and you’re fine.

“You can’t go from not competing at underage finals to be able to compete against teams that are at Liam MacCarthy level to be honest about it.

“The structures are starting to be put in place, GPOs (games promotion officers) are being put on the ground. 

“So I think there’s a long road for Offaly but you have to start somewhere and these lads are putting in huge shifts. They’re genuine, they’re honest and they’re trying their best to be fair to them.”