DCU 2-12
Ulster University 2-11

DCU SURVIVED IN an exciting finale after a late Darragh Canavan goal to clinch a one-point success over Ulster University in their Sigerson Cup quarter-final tie this evening.

DCU’s Liam Coleman tackles Ulster University’s Darragh Canavan.

Source: Tom Maher/INPHO

DCU, the reigning champions after their success in 2020, prevailed after a brilliant second-half display. They trailed by three points at half-time and by five early in the second half, but inspired by the impact off the bench from Galway’s Robert Finnerty, along with goals by Laois forward Mark Barry and Sligo’s Red Óg Murphy, Paddy Christie’s side secured a last four place.

#SigersonCup Full Time

Watch full time highlights here as DCU narrowly defeat UU .@DCUDocEirGAA 2-12@UlsterUniGAA 2-11#FirstClassRivals #DCUvUU@HigherEdGAA pic.twitter.com/LVR65ITzNx

— Electric Ireland (@ElectricIreland) February 2, 2022

DCU looked comfortable with a four-point advantage with a minute of normal time left but then a mix-up when in possession in defence saw the ball passed straight to Canavan on his own near goal and he side-stepped the goalkeeper before booting to the net.

Ulster University, who brought on Derry’s Conor Glass in the second half to partner Cavan’s Thomas Galligan at midfield, pushed for a levelling score in injury-time. They had two long-range speculative efforts for points that tailed wide and then the full-time whistle was blown during another passage of play.

DCU’s Shea Ryan is challenged by Ulster University’s Thomas Galligan.

Source: Tom Maher/INPHO

The terms of the first half were dictated by Ulster University as they went head 0-6 to 0-3 at the interval. McKernan struck one quality point from distance while Derry’s Niall Loughlin and Down’s Andrew Gilmore showed up well in attack, finishing 1-7 between them.

DCU were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when Shea Ryan was fouled before half-time but a free was instead given which Barry converted. DCU shipped early points to Karl and Michael Gallagher in the second half, before they received a lifeline in the 33rd minute, Matthew Costello and Mark Curran combined to split the defence, the move culminating with Barry scrambling in a goal.

DCU scored four of the game’s next six points, Finnerty shooting three of those, and by the 40th minute they were level at 1-7 to 0-10. Then Ulster University came strong again with Canavan pulling the strings to set up Loughlin for a goal and place him for a mark with a brilliant pass.

Sligo’s Red Óg Murphy in action for DCU.

Source: Tom Maher/INPHO

They were 1-11 to 1-8 clear in the last quarter before DCU took over and shot 1-4 without reply. Meath’s Shane Walsh started to become influential in attack with some impressive points and the key score occurred in the 51st minute when Red Óg Murphy netted from a penalty after being fouled himself.

Canavan’s goal left DCU hanging on to their advantage but they booked their spot in the semi-finals, where they join MTU Kerry and NUI Galway.

Scorers for DCU: Mark Barry 1-2 (0-1f), Robert Finnerty 0-4 (0-3f), Red Óg Murphy 1-0 (1-0 pen), Shane Walsh 0-3 (0-1f), Joseph Hagan, Padraic Hughes, Mark Curran 0-1 each.

Scorers for Ulster University: Niall Loughlin 1-3 (0-1f, 0-1 mark), Andrew Gilmore 0-4, Darragh Canavan 1-0, Liam Nugent, Michael McKernan, Karl Gallagher, Mark Gallagher 0-1 each.

DCU

David O’Hanlon (Na Fianna, Dublin)

Dan Corcoran (Geraldines, Louth), Shea Ryan (Sarsfields, Kildare), Mark Curran (An Clochan Liath)

Luke Towey (St Molaise Gaels, Sligo), Jordan Morrissey (Éire Óg, Mayo), Matthew Costello (Dunshaughlin, Meath)

Liam Coleman (Castletown Liam Mellows, Wexford), Red Óg Murphy (Curry, Sligo)

Padraic Hughes (Kilanerin, Wexford), Shane Walsh (Na Fianna, Dublin), Bill Carroll (Cappincur, Offaly)

Shane Tierney (Daingean, Offaly), Jack Bryant (Shamrocks, Offaly), Mark Barry (O’Dempsey’s, Laois) 

Subs

Shane O’Donnell (St Eunan’s, Donegal) for Carroll (half-time)

Robert Finnerty (Salthill/Knocknacarra, Galway) for Bryant (half-time)

Karl Lynch Bissett (Naomh Mearnóg, Wexford) for Barry (40)

Joseph Hagan (Dromard, Longford) for Tierney (46)

S Byrne (Killybegs, Donegal) for Coleman (56).

Ulster University

Odhran Lynch (Magherafelt)

A Clarke (Omagh, Tyrone), F McElroy (Longstone, Down), M Gallagher (Trillick, Tyrone)

M McKearney (Dungannon, Tyrone), R Boyle (Truagh, Monaghan), M McKernan (Coalisland, Tyrone)

T Galligan (Lacken, Cavan), M McGleenan (Eglish, Tyrone)

K Gallagher (Emyvale, Monaghan), D Canavan (Errigal Ciaran, Tyrone), R Gormley (Strabane, Tyrone)

L Nugent (Rock, Tyrone), N Loughlin (Greenlough, Derry), A Gilmore (St John’s, Down).

Subs

D Mulgrew (Ardboe, Tyrone) for Gormley (h-t)

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C Glass (Glen, Derry) for McGleenan (40)

J Garrity (Trillick, Tyrone) for K Gallagher (46)

S Loughran (Ballyholland, Down) for Canavan (60).

MOURNEABBEY MIDFIELDER MÁIRE O’Callaghan has been named Cork senior ladies football captain for 2022.

26-year-old O’Callaghan takes the reins from goalkeeper Martina O’Brien, who captained the Rebels last season, and also follows in the footsteps of clubmates Doireann and Ciara O’Sullivan who filled the role in recent years.

All-Star defender Melissa Duggan has been named vice-captain.

“Cork county board along with senior manager Shane Ronayne are delighted to announce that Máire O’Callaghan, Mourneabbey, will captain the Cork senior team for 2022,” a statement from the county reads.

“Melissa Duggan, Doheny’s, will be vice captain.

“We wish both Máire, Melissa and the senior panel the very best of luck for the year.”

Both certain to be popular choices amongst the group, O’Callaghan has established herself as a key player for the Rebels over the past few years.

Also deployed as a defender at times, she has played a central part in Mourneabbey’s glittering run to two All-Ireland senior club titles, seven Munster crowns and seven county championships since 2014.

Cork Senior Captain and management announcement 2022! Congratulations and best wishes to Máire, Melissa, Shane and all the management pic.twitter.com/0KaLnPzalj

— Cork LGFA (@CorkLGFA) February 2, 2022

The Clyda outfit fell short in their bid for three national honours in-a-row against Kilkerrin-Clonberne of Galway on Saturday.

Cork LGFA have also confirmed Ronayne’s backroom team, with Denis Enright and Barry Cullinane in as coaches and selectors, and Paul Howard (strength and conditioning coach), Ger Lomard (goalkeeping coach) and Sheila Denney (female liason officer) also among the wider group.

Former Munster rugby player Johnny Holland is on board as nutritionist.

Cork open their Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 campaign with a clash againts Meath on 12 February, in their first competitive meeting since last year’s dramatic All-Ireland semi-final defeat.

The face league holders Dublin in Croke Park the following week.

Erika O’Shea said earlier this week that new boss Ronayne is “focusing on [getting back to] the All-Ireland final,” as they eye a first Brendan Martin Cup lift since 2016.

In other Cork ladies football news, the county is set to have a Senior B football panel for 2022, as reported by local journalist Ger McCarthy:

Interesting development. @CorkLGFA pressing ahead with a Senior B football panel for 2022.

Manager @PeterOLeary15 (@InchRovers)
Coaches/Selectors:
Karyn Graham (@MourneabbeyLFC)
Ken Whelan (@NemoRangersGAA)
Tomas Mac An tSaor
Colin McTaggert (@NemoRangersGAA)#corklgfa #lgfa pic.twitter.com/h5XRSiqRwy

— Ger McCarthy (@germccarthy74) January 31, 2022

Meanwhile in Kerry, Anna Galvin has been named captain once again with Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh the vice-captain.

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Southern Gaels star Galvin first took the captaincy in 2020, and was hailed a “natural leader” by management in an interview with The42 after the selection was made. 

Congratulations to Southern Gaels player Anna Galvin on her appointment as captain of the Kerry Ladies team for the 2022 season. @southerngaelsky
Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh of Corca Dhuibhne will be Vice Captain 💚💛🏐 pic.twitter.com/APlaOPnGdh

— KerryLGFA (@kerryladiesfoot) February 2, 2022

JAKE MORRIS PLAYED four seasons alongside Paudie Maher, but it was a moment two years before his senior call-up that left a lasting impression on the young forward. 

Maher announced his shock retirement from hurling yesterday due to a neck injury, departing with three Celtic Crosses and six All-Stars before the age of 33. 

Reflecting on his fondest memory of Maher, the 22-year-old recalled the classic 2016 All-Ireland semi-final between Tipperary and Galway when he laid out Joe Canning in the first-half.

Both players had to receive treatment for blood injuries, such was the ferocity of the challenge.

“We played the minor All-Ireland (semi-final) in 2016 and were sitting down in the Hogan Stand after,” said Morris. “Padraic Maher nailed Joe Canning a shoulder across the line out in front of us. I’ll never forget the crunch of it, that shoulder that day.

“I was called into the Tipp team in 2018 and I remember thinking to myself as a light 18-year old that I’d better not go near Padraic Maher or he’ll throw me out over line. That was my fond memory of him. That shoulder, which was the turning point that day. There’s numerous memories, he was such a good hurler for Tipperary.

Source: CR’s Video Vaults/YouTube

“If you look back at Paudie Maher he would probably have made any Tipperary team ever. He was such a monster at wing back or anywhere else he lined out. 

“Honest to God, I can’t remember him having a bad day at the office, constant nine out of 10s for Tipperary over the years. He’s set standards for us inside, showing us how to train every night and how to look after your body, how to attack a match on match day in front of 40,000 people.

“Everyone has massive respect for him and we wish him all the best and we’re going to try our best to continue his legacy. I’m sure Ronan (his brother) will do his best anyway. He’s an unbelievable man and what a hurler he was for Tipperary and Thurles Sarsfields.”

Morris described his surprise to wake up to a message from Maher in the team WhatsApp group.

“He put it in this morning,” Morris remarked yesterday. “I woke up to a bit of a shock because I knew Paudie was mad to get back and so it must have been a big setback for him.

“Having to step away from hurling is a big whammy for him. I’m sure he would have liked to play another couple of years. I think everyone can agree he was so comfortable last year playing with Thurles and Tipperary that it was a big shock to the system but that’s life, isn’t it?

“It can be taken away from you in a second so I really do have big sympathy for Padraic this morning. I think that we can be grateful for being healthy enough to go out and play for Tipperary and your club. So it’s definitely an eye-opener.”

Jake Morris played alongside Maher for four years with Tipperary.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

He paid tribute to the work Maher put in on the physical side of his game. 

“We are all very disappointing that Paudie has had to step away but it is important to remember what he has done for Tipperary, and us as players will take a lot from his honesty levels, the way he looks after himself. He was such a good athlete and a warrior for Tipperary.

“What people don’t know about him would be the off-field stuff, the way he looked after himself and kept his body right. He was the best at doing that from what I have seen anyway.

“I remember watching him in 2010 and he was a big hero of mine and he still is. He has given everything to Tipperary and he can hold his head up high.

“The best thing we can do now is carry on his levels of honesty, and the way he treated the Tipperary jersey, and he can be happy with that.”

To lose him so soon after Brendan Maher’s retirement means new Tipperary manager Colm Bonnar is facing a defensive rebuild of sorts.

Morris has urged the young guns in the Premier panel to step up in their absence.

“He showed us the standard and it is up to us now to continue that on for him.

“We have competitive squad inside in Tipp and I think everyone just needs to raise the levels a small bit to fill Paudie’s void from now on because it’s going to be a big void but together if we get up the standard of the way he trains and played, we will be in a good spot.”

Bonnar confirmed players will be handed the opportunity to step into the fray in the Allianz Hurling League, which begins this weekend against Laois. 

“When players step away it is an opportunity and it will be a case that we will be rebuilding with some newer players and they’ll be getting opportunities next Saturday,” he stated.

“It’s a journey for them and it’s not going to start and end with Laois. It’s going to be a journey as a campaign for them.

“If you love hurling you have to live that life and you have to get involved in it and you have take it over for six, seven, eight, nine years, whatever chance you get to play it and use it as best you can.” 

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DUBLIN STAR JENNIFER Dunne says her side are fuelled by “a new drive” this year, after their bid for a perfect five-in-a-row came crashing down in 2021.

Senior newcomers Meath stunned the reigning champions in September’s All-Ireland final, getting their hands on the Brendan Martin Cup for the very first time.

But with Mick Bohan back on board for the 2022 season and no sign of big-name retirements two weeks out from the Lidl Ladies National Football League, Dunne reports that there’s no shortage of hunger in the camp, with continuity key as they look to bounce back.

“There’s a different kind of drive this year,” the midfielder said as Yoplait was  announced as the new sponsor of the LGFA’s Third-Level Championships.

“Obviously, there’s hunger — in the past, we’ve been the ones on top and this year, that’s not the case. There was a lot of shock and upset and everyone had to digest what happened last year but definitely going into this year, there’s a new drive, something new to look forward to and to go after, which is exciting as well.

“Having Mick still around and that core group definitely [helps]. People have been through that and lost together, so hopefully we can drive on.

“For me, obviously, it’s my first loss, so it’s probably a good thing as well. It’s not all always happy and everything like that. Experiencing a loss like that definitely drives you to push on and want to do better. That’s definitely the atmosphere within the group this year.”

21-year-old Dunne had known nothing but winning in the Sky Blue jersey, playing a central role as Bohan’s charges previously won 25 straight championship games since he took over after the 2016 All-Ireland final.

That ’16 decider was the last of their three-in-a-row final defeats to Cork, while they then went on to win four on the bounce.

“I was lucky enough to come into the group when they were winning and I was there for three of the All-Ireland wins,” she says.

“That feeling of loss, some of the older girls that have been around know how to deal with it, but it never gets easier as you’d imagine. It’s never nice and it took a lot of time to even sink in. I didn’t really want to talk about it to anyone to be honest, and it was a tough pill to swallow. But I’ve kind of digested it now, just about.

“It’s mad, it’s a few months later, but even still, it will stick with me forever. I definitely leaned on my team-mates and the girls, they helped. The crew are all still sticking around and we’ll push on this year and hopefully we can go after it again.”

Dunne in action against Meath.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

The Cuala ace hailed Meath’s “incredible run” and admits that Dublin “couldn’t perform on the day,” while noting that the coverage of the Royals’ feat in the aftermath may have made it harder to take.

That said, she believes “everyone has their time to shine” and is relishing a “clean slate”.

Pressed at one point on the Dublin men’s team’s ‘decline,’ Dunne offered diplomatic answers, laughing that “everyone has it out for the Dubs,” while certainly not ruling out another capital double in 2022.

The DCU Primary School Teaching final year student also wouldn’t rule out a move to the Australian Football League Women’s [AFLW] in the future, where two of her team-mates Sinéad Goldrick and Lauren Magee are part of a 14-strong Irish contingent.

“It’s definitely a challenge that I would be interested in,” she said. “At the moment obviously I’m finishing college and I probably will work for a few years, but I don’t think it’s something that I would completely rule out of the picture.

“I’m focusing on college and obviously college football and Dublin for the year, and then we’ll see what happens. But it’s definitely an exciting concept and something that I’d love to maybe challenge myself to do but at the moment it’s definitely not at the top of my priority list.”

The league, in which Dublin are out to defend their Division 1 crown, and championship certainly are, as Dunne forecasts a competitive season ahead.

Dublin and Cork shared every Brendan Martin Cup title since 2005 before Meath’s 2022 upset, and the ever-rising star predicts an “open playing field” with the title “up for grabs”.

Yoplait have been announced as the new sponsors of the LGFA’s Third-Level Championships.

It’s certainly a case of all to play for, with the Leinster championship an exciting prospect for the first time in some years.

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While it has been interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic of late, Dublin had long dominated, and uncertainty even reigned ahead of the 2020 edition as they were the only senior team in the province.

With Meath and 2021 All-Ireland intermediate champions Westmeath back in situ, an historic Croke Park double-header was confirmed for the final last week.

Dunne says it’s exciting, especially given “the fact that there was only ourselves and maybe one other [county] in the past or even one year, I think it was just ourselves. Meath and Westmeath are there as well, it’s going to be really competitive.”

“And obviously for the women’s game and the sport, it’s great that there’s a double-header going ahead in Croke Park for coverage and everything like that,” she added. “So we’ll take it and just look forward to it.

“It’s great for Leinster GAA as well, to kind of have that push and get more teams hopefully coming up from intermediate to compete as well at senior level.”

A NEW ADDITION as a player returns from the AFL, a returning forward after a stellar club season and the usual collection of springtime injury worries.

Kieran Kingston faces into another league campaign as Cork hurling boss on Saturday evening, trying to get his team moving again after the disappointing note on which their 2021 efforts concluded on the All-Ireland final stage.

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Cork start out against Clare in Páirc Uí Chaoimh in their Division 1 opener with five players unlikely to be involved after recent injury travails.

“Jack O’Connor hasn’t trained in a while, Robbie O’Flynn hasn’t trained in a while, just coming back now,” said Kingston.

“Declan Dalton, Niall Cashman, Alan Connolly are long-term injuries, haven’t trained at all with two or three months. Declan got an injury with his club in the start of November, had to have an operation, isn’t back training yet, so obviously there’s a rehab process here, then there’s getting back onto the field with us, then there’s getting up to match practice so it’ll be a challenge to get back during the league.

“Niall is just back doing a little bit with us and Alan is out, dislocated his shoulder and again is rehabbing from that, so we haven’t seen him either. They’re difficult injuries to gauge.”

Cork manager Kieran Kingston.

Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

Mark Keane will not be available on Saturday as he will be in the midst of Croke Park action with his club Ballygiblin chasing All-Irealnd junior glory. After a couple years with Collingwood in Melbourne, mixed with an eye-catching cameo for the Cork footballers in 2020, Keane is an intriguing hurling addition.

“We were aware of him back along and that he was away really,” said Kingston.

“Obviously everybody was aware of him when he came back and scored the goal against Kerry there a couple of years ago. He came to the fore and then obviously came back in the middle of his term over to play with his club and had a good run there, so basically I just approached him, had a chat with him, see what was his thinking. Is it something he was interested in? So we had a number of discussions and he just decided to throw his lot in with us, so we’re delighted to have him.”

The Cork boss has also drafted Conor Lehane back into his panel. He dazzled for Midleton in last year’s Cork senior hurling final, shooting 0-13 as captain, a display taht secured the man-of-the-match award.

“I’ve always operated a very fluid panel and players know that. The panel is never fixed. That’s very important for competition within the group, form, injury, attitude, application, whatever it might be, change of work, change of profile, fellas moving. Conor knew that when he was leaving the panel, that the opportunity would be there for him to rejoin, as any other player would know when we speak to them if they’re no longer part of the squad. He took that opportunity with his club, had a really, really good club season and we’d like to have him back. So let’s see how it goes.

“We’ve had three high-profile retirements with Eoin Cadogan, Bill Cooper and Colm Spillane. A number of the 20s have joined the squad from the last two All-Ireland winning teams.

“It’s a very young squad which is great for now and the future of Cork hurling. It’s challenging in that this particular few weeks with Fitzgibbon Cup and Freshers, I think we’ve approximately 22, 23 players playing games at the moment with their respective colleges.

That puts its own demands on us in terms of managing their load, the number of games they have each week. These few weeks are difficult from that perspective.”

MTU Kerry 4-15
Maynooth University 0-7

Murt Murphy reports from Tralee

INSPIRED BY THEIR captain Tony Brosnan, MTU Kerry Campus reached their first Sigerson Cup semi-final since 1999 when they completed that historic three in a row, after outclassing Maynooth University in this quarter-final clash at the North Campus Pitch on Tuesday afternoon.

The football was fast, controlled and committed with a defensive setup that completely shut out the Maynooth attack. Then with Mark O’Shea lording matters at midfield, the MTU Kerry attack shredded a porous Maynooth defence with Kerry players Dara Moynihan and Jack Savage weaving their magic. The off the ball running of Paul O’Shea and Tomás Ó Sé created the chances that captain Tony Brosnan finished.

The game was as good as over at half time as MTU Kerry despite falling behind to an early Sam McCormack point were dominant in every sector with Greg Horan again excelling in his sweeper role, while Mark Ryan playing his first game was a revelation around the middle.

Dara Moynihan was everywhere and after levelling the contest in the fifth minute, moments later Mark O’Shea set up Jack Savage for a well-taken goal. At the end of the first quarter, Dara Moynihan and Tony Brosnan added points before Brosnan sent in a ball over the top for Tomás Ó Sé to score a goal and MTU Kerry were now racing clear, leading by 2-3 to 0-1.

Dara Moynihan.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

It was all one way traffic as Brosnan and Moynihan added two more points before Shane O’Sullivan converted a Maynooth free for only their second score in 25 minutes with the wind.

By half time MTU Kerry had one foot in the semi-finals with points from Ó Sé and Brosnan as the Kerry side led 2-7 to 0-2.

The second half was just a stroll for MTU Kerry as Tony Brosnan and Jack Savage kicked points for fun with Maynooth being completely outclassed and two Tony Brosnan goals put the icing on the cake for Tralee.

Scorers for MTU Kerry: Tony Brosnan 2-7 (0-3f); Jack Savage 1-4 (0-2f); Tomás Ó Sé 1-1, Dara Moynihan 0-3.

Scorers for Maynooth University: Shane O’Sullivan 0-4 (0-4f); Billy Maher, Sam McCormack, Eoin Conneff (0-1 each).

MTU Kerry

(All Kerry unless stated)

Keith O’Leary (Kilcummin)

Dean Carew (Upperchurch-Drombane, Tipperary), Tomás O’Connor (Ballymacelligott), Michael Potts (Dr Crokes)

Evan Looney (Dr Crokes), Fionan Mackessy (Ardfert), Darragh Lyne (Legion)

Mark O’Shea (Dr Crokes), Mark Ryan (Rathmore)

Greg Horan (Austin Stacks), Jack Savage (Kerins O’Rahilly’s), Dara Moynihan (Spa)

Paul O’Shea (Kilcummin), Tony Brosnan (Dr Crokes), Tomás Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht)

Subs

Ryan O’Grady (Legion) for Ó Sé (47)

Gary Vaughan (Spa) for Mackessy (50)

Eoghan Carroll (Austin Stacks) for O’Connor (52)

Emmett O’Shea (Fossa) for Moynihan (52)

Jake Foster (Portarlington, Laois) for Brosnan (55)

Maynooth University

Cian Burke ( Kildare)

Colm Hartnett ( Kildare), Kieran Doran ( Offaly), Kieran Dwyer ( Kerry)

James Coffey ( Westmeath), Colin Walsh ( Roscommon), Keith Murphy ( Offaly)

Sam McCormack ( Kildare), Darragh Warnock ( Dublin)

Paddy McDermott ( Kildare), Dan Lynam ( Kildare), Diarmuid Egan ( Offaly)

Shane O’Sullivan ( Kildare) Conor Chawke ( Dublin), Jack Darcy ( Offaly)

Subs

Donal Conlan (Geevagh, Sligo) for Coffey (14 mins)

Ciaran Burns (Tullamore, Offaly) for Murphy (24)

Billy Maher (Allenwood, Kildare) for Lynam (38)

Eoghan Mulhall (Kilcock, Kildare) for Conlan (47)

Eoin Conneff (Eadestown) for Chawke (55)

Referee: J Hayes (Limerick).

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THE GALWAY SENIOR ladies football team are without a manager less than two weeks out from the National League.

Last Thursday, news of Gerry Fahy’s departure broke locally.

Galway Bay FM reported that the boss had stepped down with immediate effect, after just one season in charge.

They ran a statement from Galway LGFA, which read: “It is with regret that Galway Ladies Football County Board announce that Gerry Fahy has stepped away from his role as senior inter-county manager with immediate effect.

“Gerry has 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.

“Gerry wishes the players and new management every good fortune for the 2022 season and Galway Board officials will now begin the process of appointing a new management team.

“The Galway County Board also wishes to thank Gerry and his management team for their time, commitment and dedication to Galway Ladies Football and wish him well going forward.”

The42 contacted Galway county board for an update on Tuesday, though there had been no change. It is understood that the new management team will likely be finalised this week, and the squad continues to train as normal.

Experienced coach Fahy, the former Galway U21 manager, took the reins last January, succeeding Tim Rabbitt in the hot-seat. Fahy had been part of Rabbitt’s backroom team in 2020 as Galway reached the All-Ireland semi-final, while they were Division 1 league and championship runners-up in 2019.

Gerry Fahy on the line last summer.

Source: Brendan Moran/SPORTSFILE

In 2021, Galway failed to reach the league semi-final stages, while they bowed out of the All-Ireland race after a four-point quarter-final defeat at the hands of Mayo. 

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Galway have had plenty of talent and potential in their ranks, and big names on show over the past few years like Nicola and Louise Ward, who helped Kilkerrin-Clonberne to historic All-Ireland glory on Saturday, Tracey and Roisin Leonard, Megan Glynn, Olivia Divilly, Mairéad Seoighe, Áine McDonagh, and Ailbhe Davoren.

Galway ladies football legend Annette Clarke served as a selector under Fahy, having captained them to their first, and last, All-Ireland crown in 2004 (Fahy’s brother, PJ, was manager then). A long-serving stalwart for her club Kilkerrin-Clonberne, Clarke came on as a second-half substitute as they dethroned Mourneabbey at the weekend.

Kieran Collins, another successful underage manager for the county, also acted as a selector, with Maghnus Breathnach the goalkeeping coach and Declan Burke the fitness coach.

The timing of the situation is worrying, given the Lidl Ladies National Football Leagues kick off on the weekend of 12/13/14 February, with Galway due to kick off against Donegal under Friday Night Lights in Ballybofey and live on TG4. Mayo and Westmeath also join them in Division 1A.

"You'd imagine people would have sat down & had this conversation a long time ago"

THE THIRD HALF 31/1/22@DazK1978 & @NKindlon on Gerry Fahy's departure at @GalwayLgfa

Plus @KClgfa vs @MourneabbeyLFC

SportsDazhttps://t.co/14NzW0ia0y@LadiesFootball #LGFA #SportsDaz pic.twitter.com/FYFxLYrgZr

— SportsDaz (@SportsDaz) January 31, 2022

Former Monaghan star Niamh Kindlon joined Darren Kelly on SportsDaz’s The Third Half podcast yesterday, with both questioning the timing of Fahy’s departure.

“He’s no stranger to Galway ladies football, and obviously was a selector with Tim Rabbitt the previous two years,” Kindlon noted.

“The transition seemed quite seamless then for Gerry to come in and take the role as manager in 2021, and you’d imagine he’d have be staying on in the job.

“As we said, [it was] a disappointing year in 2021 and obviously losing to Mayo in that quarter-final would have been a big blow to them, but that’s so long ago. Is it issues coming out of it, or is it something new that’s come up? It really is a strange one.

“I know part of his management team would have been Kieran Collins and Annette Clarke and they hadn’t got back involved this year with family reasons and stuff.

“I don’t know who else he had already brought in to replace them, but still, it is an awful shame and it’s a big task for the Galway county board to try and source a new manager.” 

– updated 14.39 Wednesday.

CORK GAA HAVE confirmed their Munster championship games in football and hurling against Clare and Kerry respectively, have been moved from Páirc Uí Chaoimh due to the Ed Sheeran concert taking place at the stadium.

The Munster hurling round-robin game against Clare will take place in Semple Stadium on the weekend of 30 April-1 May. The following weekend’s Munster football semi-final between Cork and Kerry will be held at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday 7 May. 

The moves had been anticipated due to the Ed Sheeran concert on Thursday 28 April.

Cork GAA chiefs this morning confirmed the current schedule of games at Páirc Uí Chaoimh for 2022 with five upcoming league games between football and hurling, starting with this Saturday’s double-header against Clare.

The Cork camogie team will be in action in a game preceding the Cork-Galway game at the venue on Saturday 26 February while further camogie and ladies football fixtures are to be added this summer.

Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

Cork’s statement mentioned ‘the relevant capacity will allow us to meet the demand for tickets from all Cork supporters’ and that ‘the management of both the hurling and football teams have been consulted throughout the process of arranging the fixtures’.

“The comprehensive fixture list for 2022 makes the best and most practical use available of facilities owned by Cork GAA during what will be an extremely busy period for Páirc Uí Chaoimh,” said the Cork board in a statement.

“After the Cork game against Limerick in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship on 17 April, the stadium switches to concert mode to facilitate the series of concerts by Ed Sheeran.

“Páirc Uí Chaoimh has a number of games and events planned throughout this period, as normality returns post-COVID. Cork GAA will be liaising closely with residents and other partners in advance of other matches and concerts which are planned for the stadium.

“For the matches in Thurles and Páirc Uí Rinn outlined above, premium seat holders will be accommodated in both venues and we will have special plans in place for hospitality on both occasions.”

Separately the Munster Council have made some alterations to their senior hurling round-robin fixtures to remove the scenario of teams playing three weeks in a row, with this also having an impact on the Munster football fixtures.

The changes are as follows:

Munster senior hurling

• Clare v Cork – 1 May (was 15 May)

• Limerick v Tipperary – 8 May (was 15 May)

• Waterford v Cork – 15 May (was 8 May)

• Clare v Limerick – 15 May (was 8 May)

Munster senior football

• Tipperary v Waterford – 30 April (was 1 May)

• Clare v Limerick – 30 April (was 1 May)

• Cork v Kerry – 7 May (no change)

• Tipperary/Waterford v Clare/Limerick – 14 May (was 15 May)

– First published 12.07, 1 February

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LONG-SERVING WEXFORD hurler Harry Kehoe has retired from the inter-county game after 13 seasons at senior level.

Kehoe made his debut in 2009 for Wexford in the Leinster senior semi-final loss to Dublin. The highlight of his Wexford career came in 2019 when he won a Leinster senior medal as part of the squad that defeated Kilkenny, coming on as a late substitute in that game.

In 2014 he scored a goal in Wexford’s memorable extra-time qualifier win over Clare in the All-Ireland championship. That same year Kehoe helped Waterford IT win the Fitzgibbon Cup final, scoring 0-3 in that decider, and he was key as his club Cloughbawn won the Wexford intermediate hurling title in 2019.

“After 13 years playing senior hurling for Wexford, the time has come to pass the jersey on,” said Kehoe in a statement released today.

The long-serving Harry Kehoe has announced his retirement from inter-county hurling. All in Wexford GAA thank him for his service over 13 years, and wish him all the best. See https://t.co/wDJ0l0XLi8 pic.twitter.com/tdxntJDBGT

— Wexford GAA (@OfficialWexGAA) February 1, 2022

“It was an honour to wear the purple and gold on so many occasions.

“My childhood dream was to climb the steps of the Hogan Stand and raise a cup, thankfully, that became a reality in 2019, winning a Leinster title. I now look forward to the next chapter of my life and putting all my energy into my club.

“I would like to thank my wife, family, Cloughbawn and Wexford GAA for all their support over the years. Loch Garman Abú.”

Wexford chairman Michéal Martin was among the first to pay tribute to Kehoe.

“Harry produced many great performances in the Purple and Gold throughout his career, and I thank him on behalf of all in Wexford GAA. I also wish him all the best for the future,” he said.

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THE GAA WILL decide on a new model for games development funding at a Central Council meeting at the end of the month, which will see the Dublin’s disproportionate level of funding allocated more evenly across the country. 

Dublin have received over €21m in games development funding since 2007, while in 2021 that figure stood at €745,278. Antrim’s €199,439 put them as the second-highest county for the funding, some way behind Dublin. 

Dublin’s ability to generate significant funds through commercial activities and their recent run of dominance in the All-Ireland SFC led to calls for the funding to be redirected to counties in greater need of financial support.

At yesterday’s launch of the GAA’s annual report, director general Tom Ryan said an increase in overall funding will come into play. 

In addition, Central Council will debate two fresh funding models on the morning of Congress on 26 February, one of which will go up for vote later that day in Ballyhaunis.

The first is the John Connellan-led motion that proposes games development funding is allocated on the basis of membership numbers in each county.

The second is new model devised by a GAA sub-committee where funding will be divided into two portions of 75% for base level funding and 25% for projects.

Of the 75% base level funding, it will be allocated to counties based on three criteria:

• 60% for player numbers
• 25% for the number of clubs
• 15% for participation rates

Without referencing Dublin directly, Ryan said “there will be a diminution of coaching and games funding for at least one county and the overwhelming majority of counties will see a significant increase.

“The idea is we present each to counties and let the debate take its course. We’ll convene in Ballyhaunis on the morning of Congress, for a special Central Council meeting and everyone can have their say.”

GAA games development funding in 2021:

• 1. Dublin – €745,278
• 2. Antrim – €199,439
• 3. Meath – €189,788
• 4. Kildare – €178,480
• 5. Carlow – €159,175
• 6. Wicklow – €121,114
• 7. Wexford – €116,436
• 8. Laois – €95,325
• 9. Kerry – €92,347
• 10. Galway – €83,246

Meanwhile, the GAA are “happy to explore” the use of Croke Park in a proposed bid by the UK and Ireland for Euro 2028. 

On Monday it was announced that the FAI and the football associations of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland were bidding for the Euros instead of the World Cup two years later. 

Croke Park and potentially Casement Park in Belfast could come into consideration if a UK/Irish bid is successful. 

“We spoke to the FAI in the context of a 2030 bid,” said Ryan. “They did ask if we were happy with the idea that Croke Park was included in a feasibility study at the time. We took it to the board and made sure people were happy with that.

“There were meetings and people did visit the ground to have a look and do what they needed to appraise at that stage. That’s really where it is to be honest. That was in the context of 2030 rather than 2028.

“The same principles will apply. There is a process for us to go through in terms of formal permissions  and I don’t want to pre-empt any of that, Central Council will have its say there. We were aware of the ambitions and we certainly flagged from the outside that we’d be happy to explore the initial stages of those ambitions.”

With the Euros taking place during the summer when the inter-county season is underway, using Croke Park for soccer games provides obvious issues.

“We’re getting into speculating about things that might be two or three layers of further speculation afar,” said Ryan.

“I don’t really have a whole lot to add to that other than if the FAI want to take things to the next level with us in terms of talking about what it might look like, we’d be happy to do that.”

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Ryan also stated that the GAA remains committed to the redevelopment of Casement Park. The redevelopment of the Antrim GAA ground has been mired planning objections since its closure in 2013 and remains in a derelict state. 

“The things that are proving to be little obstacles are not things that we can directly control. It’s still mired in a process. We’re doing our best to navigate our way through that process.

“The one thing I can attest to is that our commitment to it is still the same. The shape of the project and the capacity and whatnot has evolved and changed over time.

“It’s a small bit smaller than it was at the outset but it’s still a project that is hugely valuable to the GAA, to the GAA nationally and to the GAA in Belfast so we’re still very committed to it.”

Finally, GAA finance director Ger Mulryan said it could take up to 15 years before the Association recovers from the financial impact of Covid. 

That’s despite the GAA receiving state support of around €50m over the last two years.

It was revealed yesterday that the estimated financial cost of the pandemic to the GAA amounted to over €25m.

“Traditionally our model was to almost redistribute everything we take in back through our organisation so the repair work entails trying to retain a small surplus annually so it could be five, 10, 15 years before we can replenish that €25m,” said Mulryan.

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