Updated at 18.30

INTER-COUNTY STAR RICHIE Hogan was in inspired form as his Danesfort side condemned Fenians to relegation from the Kilkenny SHC today.

Fenians, for whom JJ Delaney started centre-back, were on the back foot after just nine minutes when James Mulally found the net for Danesfort.

Click Here:

But Fenians rallied well and edged themselves back in front through a Conor Tobin goal from a penalty on 25 minutes.

The two sides couldn’t be separated last Sunday, as they played out a 0-14 to 0-14 draw, but it was the prolific scoring of Hogan, from play and placed balls, which eventually proved the difference in Palmerstown.

Hogan accounted for 13 points (eight frees), and Mulally, a late addition to the starting team, 1-2 of Danesfort’s total as they clinched a 1-18 to 1-12 victory.

Meanwhile, Westport have secured promotion to Mayo’s senior grade after Lee Keegan’s side won the intermediate championship this evening.

Westport finished up 0-10 to 0-4 victors at MacHale Park in the curtain-raiser to tonight’s senior final between Castlebar Mitchels and Knockmore.

The excellent Fionn McDonagh kicked five points (three frees) for Westport, who led by 0-5 to 0-2 at half-time and they matched that score again in the second period to ensure it was Brian McDermott who was presented with the James Sweeney trophy.

Elsewhere today, Oran ended Four Roads’ hopes of winning a ninth successive Roscommon SHC title with a 2-15 to 1-12 win after extra time, in their final replay.

After playing out a 0-17 to 3-8 draw two weeks ago, the sides couldn’t be separated once again in 60 minutes of hurling — today’s game finishing 0-11 apiece after the hour.

But it was Oran who really ignited in extra-time, scoring 2-4 to Four Roads’ 1-1 to claim a memorable victory.

In ladies football, Monaghan’s Donaghmoyne retained their Ulster title with a 2-12 to 1-6 victory against Tyrone’s St Macartan’s in Galbally.

The reigning All-Ireland champions were in control throughout with Catriona McConnell and Niamh Callan getting their goals, one in each half.

More to follow…

The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!

​Cuala 1-15
Kilmacud Crokes 0-15

Paul Keane reports from Parnell Park 

A STORMING FINAL few minutes from Cuala ensured that they claimed back-to-back Dublin SHC titles for the first time though only after flirting with disaster at Parnell Park.

Mattie Kenny’s men roared into a 1-7 to 0-1 lead early on and looked to have victory sewn up even at that stage but remarkably found themselves two down after 54 minutes.

Crokes, the 2012 and 2014 champions, dominated the second half in what proved to be the ultimate game of two halves and should have held on for the win.

But having scored just one point, and that from a free, in the opening 24 minutes of the second half, Cuala somehow found their range late on to outscore Crokes by 0-6 to 0-1.

It sealed a slightly flattering three-point win for the Dalkey men who will play Borris-Kilcotton of Laois in the AIB Leinster club championship next Sunday.

But it was tough on Crokes who showed real character to reel off eight points in a row in the third quarter of the game having hit the interval trailing by 1-8 to 0-4.

Ollie Baker’s side got the worst possible start when they fell 1-5 to 0-0 down and they didn’t score until the 24th minute.

Colm Cronin, who finished with 1-3 for Cuala, hit an early goal and Crokes looked rattled with Oisin O’Rorke wasting two great chances for frees.

O’Rorke recovered though and finished with a 10-point tally that including some fine scores from play during that storming second half.

Substitute Dillon Mulligan also weighed in with three points for the Glenalbyn side who led 0-14 to 1-9 with six minutes remaining.

Cuala looked flat out of ideas but somehow rose to the challenge and finished superbly with points from Nicky Kenny, Cronin, Sean Treacy and Mark Schutte to win a memorable game.

Scorers for Cuala: Colm Cronin 1-3, David Treacy 0-5 (0-4f), Nicky Kenny 0-3, Mark Schutte 0-2, Sean Moran, Sean Treacy 0-1.

Scorers for Kimacud Crokes: Oisin O’Rorke 0-10 (0-5f, 0-2 65), Dillon Mulligan 0-3, Caolan Conway, Fergal Whitely 0-1.

Cuala celebrate their Dublin SHC victory in the dressing rooms.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Cuala

1. Sean Brennan

2. Oisin Gough
3. Cian O’Callaghan
4. Simon Timlin

5. Jake Malone
6. Paul Schutte
7. John Sheanon

8. Sean Moran
9. Darragh O’Connell

10. Cian Waldron
11. Colm Cronin
12. David Treacy

15. Sean Treacy
13. Nicky Kenny
14. Mark Schutte

Subs:
24. Con O’Callaghan for Waldron (43)

Kilmacud Crokes

1. Matt Collins

2. Niall Corcoran
3. Ronan Walsh
4. Jamie Clinton

5. Bill O’Carroll
6. Jack Doughan
8. Cian MacGabhann

21. Robert O’Loughlin
9. Naomhan O Riordain

15. Ryan O’Dwyer
14. Oisin O’Rorke
26. Caolan Conway

12. Fergal Whitely
10. Ross O’Carroll
11. Sean McGrath

Subs:
Dillon Mulligan for O’Loughlin 30

Referee: Sean Stack (Parnells)

The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!

Click Here:

ON 31 OCTOBER last year, Cuala’s long wait was over.

Click Here:

After endring 21 years without a Dublin SHC title, the Dalkey side are now just one game away from defending their crown for the first time in their history.

But reaching today’s final [throw-in at 15:00], where they will face Kilmacud Crokes, has been far from straightforward for the reigning champions.

Not that inter-county star David Treacy expected anything different.

“When you are the champions, others raise their game against you. It can be extremely difficult at times,” Treacy says. “But it is something you have to cope with and we are still grinding out the wins.”

The Dublin forward believes a winning mentality has developed within the southside club’s setup, a never-say-die spirit that has seen then come out victors in the last two closely-fought rounds.

“I think the extra-time win over Ballyboden in the quarter-finals helped the team mature and we still managed to get a result to reach the final against a physical Lucan Sarsfields team.

“The semi-final against Lucan was a slow burner; the backs won us the match in the end. It was a tough day in tough conditions, and it was just as much about conceding fewer points than scoring more than the opposition,” the 26-year-old continues.

“We were happy to get the result, it’s better to win ugly than lose playing well.”

Treacy was speaking at an AIB launch event where anyone who switches or purchases a new AIB Home Insurance policy can nominate a GAA club of their choice to receive a €50 cash reward.

Source: SPORTSFILE

Treacy is thriving with the added responsibility that comes with playing for his club, and almost single-handedly dragged his team into today’s final, contributing nine of his side’s 13 points in the semi-final, eight of which came from frees.

“I think everybody wants to be the guy your teammates turn to when the side is in need. With the club there is probably a bigger onus to be a leader.

“I’ve worked on the dead balls more this year; just to reduce that margin of error. It slowly becomes robotic and second nature the more you practice.”

Today, Cuala face a stern test against a Crokes side that lifted the trophy in 2012 and again two years later, with the Stillorgan-based club having no such problems in their semi-final, comprehensively defeating O’Toole’s by a twelve-point margin.

“They are a highly experienced team, we’re under no illusions,” Treacy warns.

“We train in the same places, we have the same schools friends, so that will add an extra edge, but it’s a challenge to look forward to.

“Some of our senior members would have played in the 2012 final when they beat us by seven points. But there’ll be no fear; we’ll use it to our advantage.”

Despite Saturday representing his third county final, Treacy still treasures every chance to win more silverware, with that rivalry between the opposing players adding a bit more spice to the occasion.

“It’s rare you’d get a full stadium for a club match, but it’s different for a final, it should be close to full and there’ll be a huge buzz.

“To play for Dublin is fantastic, but this is different.  The county team in many ways represents an accumulation of all your hard work through the years.

“But I’ve been playing for Cuala for 20 years, my brother [Sean] is in the team and my father was part of the winning team in 1994, so there’s tradition there.”

Whether the winning tradition continues into this afternoon however, remains to be seen.

The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!

Click:F80033-8

Clare hurling great Ger Loughnane

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

CLARE HURLING LEGEND Ger Loughnane, Kerry football great Pat Spillane, Dublin’s All-Ireland winning midfielder Brian Fenton and Waterford hurling manager Derek McGrath were all honoured for their GAA exploits last night.

The quartet were recognised at the annual awards ceremony by the Gaelic Writers’ Association in Dublin.

Loughnane and Spillane are the latest additions to the GWA Hall of Fame while Fenton was selected as the 2016 Football Personality of the Year with McGrath winning the hurling accolade.

Loughnane was part of a Clare team that won two National Hurling League medals in 1977 and 1978 while his brilliant displays for the Banner were recognised with two All-Star awards.

As a manager he enjoyed incredible success in leading his native Clare to two All-Ireland titles in 1995 and 1997 along with three Munster senior titles. The Feakle man also managed Galway.

Spillane was one of the stars of a great Kerry team with his collection of nine All-Stars a record for a Gaelic footballer. He also claimed eight All-Ireland senior medals and 12 Munster titles.

Fenton enjoyed an outstanding season at midfield for the All-Ireland champions Dublin as he helped them retain the Sam Maguire. He was also central to their National League and Leinster senior triumphs.

McGrath’s Waterford team contested the finals of the National hurling league and Munster championship while also playing out two thrilling games with Kilkenny at the All-Ireland semi-final stage.

REIGNING ALL-IRELAND champions Milford were stunned by Inniscarra in the Cork senior camogie final at Cork IT on Friday evening.

Going for their fifth county title in a row, a Milford team that featured established stars and Cork camogie legends including Anna Geary and Ashling Thompson were ultimately beaten by a score of 4-10 to 2-13.

A goalmouth scramble after eight minutes saw the ball find the back of the net to give the underdogs a 1-2 to 0-2 lead.

Milford hit back moments later, however, when a Maria Watson hand pass levelled the scores at 1-2 apiece.

Shortly thereafter, Joanne Casey’s goal from a free re-established Inniscarra’s three-point advantage.

Casey then scored her second goal of the game with another powerful strike after 20 minutes, but five points from Emer Watson and two by Maria Watson saw Milford take the lead.

The ubiquitous Casey continued to prove influential though, and three successive points from frees saw her team take a one-point lead (3-5 to 1-10) into the break.

Another Casey free and a Niamh McCarthy point saw their side continue with the momentum they had picked up towards the end of the first half.

However, just when it looked as if Inniscarra had their hands on the cup, a Thompson goal from distance and a Christine O’Connor point brought the scores level once more.

But Inniscarra were not to be denied, and it was player-of-the-match Casey who made the difference again, as her three successive frees were ultimately enough to see her side over the line, bringing the star player’s individual tally to 2-7 in the process.

It was rare heartbreak for Milford ultimately, while Inniscara now travel to face Inagh-Kilnamona of Clare in Munster Senior Club Championship semi-final on Monday at 2.30pm.

The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!

Click Here:

Glasgow Warriors fans Liam Johnstone aged 8 and Cameron McGarey aged 8 ahead of the side’s match with Benetton Treviso.

Source: Craig Watson/INPHO

Home

• The IRFU performance director David Nucifora insists Ireland are simply playing by the three-year residency rule.
• Rory McIlroy has climbed into contention at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai.
• Isa Nacewa is the only back to retain his place as Leinster prepare for Connacht, while Pat Lam’s team welcome back Tiernan O’Halloran.

Away

• Liverpool are closing in on a deal for teenage wonderkid Emeka Obi.
• Munster cult hero ‘Dutchy’ Holland is pushing the Hurricanes to new heights.
• Dwayne Wade began his Bulls career in style at his Chicago homecoming last night.

The Best Thing We Shared

Source: FootyLive100/YouTube

A struggling Swedish team celebrated a rare win with their only travelling supporter.

On The Record

We would consider everything if we thought that it was workable and achievable to be able to do that. There’s a fair few different models that we can look at and see if that would suit Irish rugby.”

The IRFU say they are open to private investment in provinces.

Where we were today

Sean Farrell was in attendance for today’s Leinster press conference with head coach Leo Cullen and Cian Healy.

The Fixture List

• Seamus Power is among the stars competing in the PGA Tour, while Rory McIlroy’s bid for glory in Shanghai continues. 
• Leinster v Connacht is the big game in the Pro12 on Saturday.
• There’s a full round of Premier League games this weekend, including Crystal Palace v Liverpool.
• It’s a big weekend in GAA, including Crokes v Cuala in the Dublin SHC.
• The Mexican Grand Prix will take place this weekend.
• The Dublin City Marathon is on this Sunday.
• It’s another busy weekend in American sport, with the Cubs v Indians and the NFL in full swing.

Showbiz, Baby!

Source: Official Dublin GAA/YouTube

Diarmuid Connolly produced a point-scoring masterclass to fire Vincent’s into the Dublin SFC final.

The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!

Click Here:

AFTER 21 BARREN years Cuala finally got to rejoice last winter after they made a Dublin senior hurling breakthrough.

They bounced on from that county title to reach the Leinster equivalent where they lost out to Wexford’s Oulart-the-Ballagh.

But after all that painstaking progress, the south Dublin club then almost lost the man who had guided them to that point, Galway native Mattie Kenny.

A coach on the Galway side that contested the 2012 All-Ireland final, the Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry native was in contention for the top job with the Tribesmen last winter.

Ultimately Micheal Donoghue was installed out west, Kenny stayed on with Cuala and they’re back in another Dublin senior hurling final tomorrow.

“There was talk and rumor that he was going to get the Galway job,” admits Cuala and Dublin forward Mark Schutte.

Cuala’s Mark Schutte

Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

“From our point of view, we’re delighted he didn’t get it. We’re delighted that he came back.

Click Here:

“Mattie is a very motivated guy. And for him to come back, that breaths out onto the players.

“His motivation for the game, his drive. That kind of feeds on to the players and we’re working off that as well.

“Thank God I’m not in that part of the business but in talking to the chairman of the hurling board in Cuala, it is tough to find managers and get top quality coaches.

“Thank God we’ve got Mattie and look at Crokes, they have Ollie Baker. They don’t come around too easy. We’re lucky to have them at the minute.

“When you have these coaches, you want to do as best as you can while you can. That is another thing because you never know what’s around the corner.”

Cuala boss Mattie Kenny

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

Winning a Dublin final at last was a release for Cuala. There is a tinge of regret at not adding a Leinster title but an acceptance that a more seasoned team overcame them.

“There was always doubts there until you actually win one,” admits Schutte.

“To win the first one was always the monkey on our back. It was completely new to all of us.

“None of us had been involved in a Leinster club championship before. I’d say we were just beaten by a better Oulart team, no doubt about it.

Dejected Cuala players after their Leinster final loss to Oulart

Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

“We’re just looking ahead to this weekend and concentrating on winning a back to back Dublin senior championship, it’d be a huge achievement for us.”

And they’re after getting one high-profile 2016 winner back in their ranks in recent weeks.

In the wake of Dublin’s All-Ireland football success, Con O’Callaghan picked up a hurley again and came on as a substitute in their semi-final win over Cuala.

“In fairness Con had a great year with the Dublin footballers,” says Schutte.

“He’s still playing with the club hurlers and footballers. It shows what the club means to him.

“The Thursday after the All-Ireland final he was back training, back pucking around.

Cuala hurler Con O’Callaghan during their semi-final against Lucan Sarsfields

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

“Con probably last year had the choice to play hurling or football. He chose football and won himself an All-Ireland medal so you can’t argue with that.

“To be honest, I was surprised at how sharp his touch was because he hadn’t picked up a hurl in the last nine months. But he’s come back, he’s done well in training and he’s a great asset to have really.”

Con O’Callaghan lifts the Sam Maguire after Dublin’s title win

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!

Click:Buddhist-inspired jewelry for inner peace

DIARMUID CONNOLLY WAS in outstanding form to ensure St Vincent’s booked their place in the Dublin SFC final for the fourth consecutive year.

Although the game was not broadcast live, highlights have now emerged from an enthralling encounter as Vincent’s edged past Ballymun Kickhams by a single point.

Albert Martin secured the decisive point to separate the northside rivals, but it was the sublime finishing from Connolly that stole the show, with four exceptional scores.

You can watch extended highlights from Wednesday’s riveting encounter here and the best moments from Castleknock’s historic victory over St Judes from last night here.

The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!

Click Here:

Davy’s back in Wexford and Tipp are on top.

THREE TIMES IN six weeks earlier this summer, Derek McGrath and Davy Fitzgerald faced off on the sideline in Thurles.

The results helped shape their campaigns with the league success proving the high-water mark of Clare’s season under Fitzgerald, while the Munster semi-final triumph helped McGrath’s Waterford rebound and travel on a championship journey deep into August.

They got well-acquainted and even Davy’s departure from Clare has not pushed him out of the inter-county limelight for too long.

16 days after his Clare exit, Davy’s arrival in Wexford was confirmed. ‘It’s a match made in heaven’, is McGrath’s opinion.

Waterford hurling boss Derek McGrath

Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

“I’m glad Davy is back involved because I think he absolutely loves hurling, he’s obsessed with it.

“I actually was watching something on Monday night there, just watching back a bit of analysis of Wexford Cork, when Cork beat Wexford well last year in the championship down in Wexford Park.

“On the Sunday Game that night, Donal Óg was there and Donal Óg pointed to how well structured the Wexford team was under Liam Dunne and they were beginning to do the right things.

“For me I think it’s a match made in heaven. It’s a perfect match, Davy and Wexford.

“Wexford, I think have a lot of good players. In terms of a management and in terms of a pressure free zone, I think it’s an ideal scenario for Davy in that you’re in (Division) 1B and there’s not the same stigmatised approach in terms of relegation and promotion that there is in (Division) 1A from your respective supporters.

“I think the Wexford people will welcome Davy down to continue the excellent work that I thought Liam Dunne has done already.”

Liam Dunne and Derek McGrath after this year’s All-Ireland quarter-final

Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO

If Fitzgerald’s installation in the south-east is the most eye-catching appointment in the close season, the front-runners at the outset for 2017 will be the current champions Tipperary.

McGrath feels that the playing resources at their disposal indicate the current strength of Tipperary hurling.

“Not to be hypocritical, I expected Kilkenny to win (the final) because I just expected they’d find a way to win.

“(It was) not based on absolute logic, it was more a gut feeling. I just thought they’d find a way to win.

“Looking back on it, you’d have to say now Tipperary were so primed for the final with their attacking threat. The sextet up front in terms of what they can do, their inter-changing and the space they created on the day.

“These fellas are solid, they’ve always been solid fellas. The advantage that Tipperary have I suppose is Tipperary’s minors won the All-Ireland impressively, if that was a situation in Waterford we would probably fast forward those guys straight away.

The Tipperary minor players celebrate at the end of their All-Ireland minor final win

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

“Tipperary for me are at the stage where those fellas can serve an apprenticeship similar to Kilkenny where over the years, you don’t have to rush them in.

“A few years ago we took a decision that was the best policy going forward to get guys in.

“So I think Tipperary are in a really strong position. Even ourselves we were playing Thurles in the Harty last week with De La Salle and Thurles wiped us. There’s lots and lots of hurlers in Tipperary.”

Closer to home, McGrath was able to celebrate an underage success as well. The core of the Waterford U21 team that blitzed Galway to achieve All-Ireland glory are part of the senior squad.

“We were delighted as a management ourselves, 12 of them were involved with us over the last few years. It’s great that there was something tangible in terms of a cup at the end of the year.

Waterford players celebrate their All-Ireland U21 final victory

Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO

“With encouragement comes a kind of a forewarning though. If you met a guy on the street, ‘he’d say you’d have a job picking that team next year with the U21′s’, whereas the reality is the U21′s are in with us already.

“The major core of that U21 team have been exposed to senior level. Put TJ Ryan’s situation (in Limerick) last year, promoting guys from U21, some of them had actually never played senior.

“Our lads have already played at senior level, so it’s a different dynamic, albeit there’s one or two you’d hope to pick from going into the future.”

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

Derek McGrath has been named as the Gaelic Writers Association 2016 Hurling Personality of the Year. The GWA awards ceremony takes place in Dublin’s Jackson Court Hotel tonight.

The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!

Click Here:

The Galway team before their clash with Clare in July

Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

GALWAY HURLING MANAGER Micheal Donoghue is turning to youth in a bid to end the county’s All-Ireland famine with five long-serving players not included in a 40-man squad for winter training.

Former captains David Collins, Fergal Moore and Andy Smith, along with other experienced performers such as Cyril Donnellan and Iarla Tannian, have not been included in the squad which has commenced conditioning training.