GRAINNE EGAN ENJOYED quite the weekend on the field for the Offaly camogie and Ladies football sides.

Lining out for the county team on consecutive days, Egan was in sensational scoring form and racked up a tally of 4-13 between the two codes.

The Offaly dual star posted 3-5 during the camogie team’s victory over Dublin on Saturday before adding 1-8 with the Ladies football side in Sunday’s defeat of Carlow. 

Incredible goalscoring weekend for dual star Grainne Egan.. see her 3 goals for @OffalyCamogie yesterday and she added 1-9 today for @OffalyLGFA! @OfficialCamogie @JOEdotie @ballsdotie @RTEsport pic.twitter.com/7S8q9WXHz6

— Jerome Quinn (@JeromeQuinn) May 23, 2021

The Faithful enjoyed a 4-6 to 1-14 win over Dublin in their Division 1 Group 3 camogie meeting in what was former Galway All-Ireland winner Susan Earner’s first game in charge. 

The win sealed Offaly’s place in the knock-out stage of the league, with their upcoming meeting against Kilkenny deciding who tops the group.

The Ladies footballers ran out 3-16 to 1-16 victors against Carlow on the opening round of the Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 4B.

What an outstanding weekend for this lady. Scoring 3-5 for us yesterday and 1-8 for the @OffalyLGFA today. Congratulations Grainne! pic.twitter.com/MEDofUFhQK

— Offaly Camogie (@OffalyCamogie) May 23, 2021

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ONE OF THE greatest rivalries in Irish sport is renewed this evening.

The greatest in ladies football, without a shadow of a doubt, anyway, as arch-rivals Cork and Dublin enter familiar territory; battling it out for silverware on the biggest stage.

Cork captain Martina O’Brien and Dublin’s history-making skipper Sinéad Aherne.

Source: Brendan Moran/SPORTSFILE

Croke Park hosts the Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 final [throw-in 7.30pm, live on TG4], in a move away from its traditional Parnell Park stage. But  untraditional, or unconventional, has been the running theme of the last 15 months.

For the second weekend in-a-row, fans will be present at Gaelic games HQ once again, this double-header — the Division 2 final takes place beforehand — forming the basis of a Government-approved test event for spectators.

It’s a welcome change from last December’s All-Ireland final at the eery, empty venue, when Dublin came out on top of a typically ferocious battle to lift the Brendan Martin cup for the fourth year in-a-row.

It meant that for the 16th consecutive season, one of the two old enemies finished up as All-Ireland champions. 

There’s no question about it, these two great teams have dominated the ladies football landscape over the past decade and-a-half. Well, certainly when it comes to championship matters.

The late Eamonn Ryan’s legendary Rebels lifted the silver 11 times in 12 years between 2005 and 2016, with the Sky Blues winning their first in 2010 to break the chain. Dublin have, of course, since won four-in-a-row, after suffering three decider defeats on the bounce to them.

Their rivalry, and mutual respect, is one like no other in the game, the sides guaranteed to cross swords in the business end of competitions each and every year.

Managers Mick Bohan and Ephie Fitzgerald.

Source: Ken Sutton/INPHO

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While there’s a perception out there that it’s been all Dublin of late, Cork have certainly been the league specialists through the years. 

Ephie Fitzgerald’s side are defending champions, hoping to retain the title they won in 2019 given last year’s league was not completed amidst the pandemic.

They’ve won 12 Division 1 league titles since ’05, and are appearing in the final for the 15th time since ’04. Dublin, on the other hand and to a lot of people’s surprise, are chasing just a second top-flight title, having beaten Mayo in the 2018 decider.

This is just their third final appearance, losing to Cork in the ’14 finale. 

In recent years, Mick Bohan has used the league to blood younger players and unearth new gems on the Dublin fringes. It’s often been said there may be a bit of a hangover from the previous year’s championship success, but the Jackies have certainly found a nice balance this season.

With four wins from four, they’ve used 29 players with some big names like Carla Rowe, Ciara Trant and Nicole Owens yet to take to the field (their bench for tonight is stacked.) Former Irish rugby star Hannah Tyrrell has been the headline find, her return to football a massive boost after Noelle Healy’s retirement and Sinéad Goldrick’s hamstring injury blow, though many others have put their hands up.

Cork, meanwhile, have been more consistent in finding that balance, and have the perfect blend of youth – Erika O’Shea and Sadhbh O’Leary to name just two – and experience, with the evergreen Ciara O’Sullivan leading the charge.

Every time these counties meet, they serve up a classic.

🏆The latest instalment of a gripping rivalry is coming your way tomorrow at @CrokePark, as @CorkLGFA and @dublinladiesg lock horns in the 2021 @lidl_ireland National League Division 1 Final!

🎫Buy your tickets now! 👉https://t.co/SkGHyMuYqF👈#SeriousSupport

📹 @JeromeQuinn pic.twitter.com/itXxn8WTv4

— Ladies Football (@LadiesFootball) June 25, 2021

The most recent fixture was a seven-goal thriller in the group stages at the end of May in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, which Dublin won by a single point. As Cork captain Martina O’Brien said during the week, though, this should be more “measured” with the sides likely to play more safely.

Both fond of playing free-flowing, attacking football, you’d hope that will still be the case on Jones’ Road this evening.

Last December, there was a fierce pace and intensity to the All-Ireland final. Cork came out and put the game to Dublin, leading to a very open – and error-ridden – first half, but the eventual winners’ conditioning, physicality, athleticism and big-match experience shone through in the latter stages as the Leedsiders tired.

Cork often go into their shell and change the way they play when they face Dublin, reverting to a more defensive game.

Though league specialists, you get the sense they are underdogs coming into this one, and they’ll need a more complete performance to get over the line.

A win over Dublin on the biggest stage would certainly come as a huge pre-championship boost for Fitzgerald’s side, though that certainly won’t come easy as the Sky Blues target an improvement of their record in the early-season competition.

Whatever happens, the next chapter in this remarkable rivalry is sure not to disappoint.

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

Division 2 final captains Aislinn Desmond of Kerry, left, and Shauna Ennis of Meath.

Source: Brendan Moran/SPORTSFILE

The Division 2 finale, should also be an enthralling battle between two teams on the rise in Meath and Kerry, with promotion to the top-flight the all-important reward [throw-in 5pm, TG4].

The Royals are reigning All-Ireland intermediate champions after making it third time lucky in the Croke Park decider last December. More silverware and another promotion would be a huge boost and represent another significant step as they prepare for senior championship, having secured promotion from Division 3 in 2019.

Kerry, meanwhile, will be hoping for a return to the top tier after relegation from Division 1 in 2018 and a turbulent time off the field. Under Declan Quill and Darragh Long, they’re motoring nicely, and beat Meath by six points in the group stages.

That means little today, though. Anything could happen, especially with two star-studded forward lines going head-to-head.

The Division 3 and 4 finals take place on Sunday, with neighbours Laois and Kildare doing battle in Baltinglass for the former title [4pm], and the latter on the line as Leitrim and Louth face off in St Tiernach’s Park, Clones [2pm].

Both games are live on the Spórt TG4 YouTube Page.

Updated May 10th 2021, 7:18 PM

SLIGO FOOTBALLER NEIL Ewing has announced his retirement from the senior inter-county game.

The 33-year-old defender started out in 2008 and featured in three Connacht finals. Success eluded him in those clashes against Roscommon in 2010 and twice against Mayo (2012 and 2015).

Ewing outlined how injury had been a reason behind his decision to bow out.

“Dodged injury for a long time but luck couldn’t last forever. At the minute the body is not willing to do what the heads is telling it. It was a childhood dream to pull on the Sligo jersey. An honour to have enjoyed the opportunity to do so.

“From 2008 it has been a privilege beyond words to get to play alongside some who were heroes growing up, some who will be future stars and some whose monumental, unseen, commitment to train/travel/prepare didn’t get them a regular run in the 1-15 jersey.”

Grateful to have had the opportunity to fulfil a childhood dream. Time for the terrace. pic.twitter.com/jbATeJIfzy

— Neil Ewing (@Bob__Ewing) May 10, 2021

The Drumcliffe-Rosses Point club man admitted his regret at not landing that provincial honour.

“Hugely disappointing to not have a Connacht championship medal. Will forever regret a free I gave away in 2010. Did everything I could, in my limited capabilities, to make up for that moment.

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“In the absence of achieving ambitions I have to take solace in the great experiences shared, friends made and support received along the way.”

Confirmation also from @OfficialCorkGAA selector Sean Hayes that @carrigoon @Lockaldhino has called time on his inter-county career.
Best of luck to James who played some outstanding games in the red jersey.
Game v @KildareGAA live on @BigRedBench @C103Cork pic.twitter.com/cWPJMW0WVa

— Finbarr Mc Carthy (@FiFinnymac) May 10, 2021

Elsewhere this evening, it has been confirmed that Cork’s James Loughrey has called time on his inter-county career.

Local radio station 96fm reported the news this evening, days after The Echo first broke the Belfast-born defender’s retirement story.

Having played for Antrim before, Loughrey joined the Rebel set-up at the start of 2013 when he moved to live and work on Leeside.

The 34-year-old established himself as a mainstay in the Cork defence from there — though recently struggled with injury — while playing his club football with Mallow.  

– additional reporting from Emma Duffy.

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Mayo 2-15
Galway  2-14

Stephen Glennon reports at MacHale Park

AN UNANSWERED 1-4 in the closing five minutes saw Mayo claim the bragging rights over neighbours Galway in this pulsating Lidl National League Division 1 derby at MacHale Park.

Mayo’s second goal from a Rachel Kearns 55th minute penalty re-ignited her side’s challenge before Kearns and substitute Deirdre Doherty kicked two frees in the final minute to overturn an earlier six-point deficit and secure a dramatic victory for the home side.

It was Mayo, bolstered by the return of Fiona McHale and the Carnacon contingent to the squad, that made the better start in the contest, with Maria Reilly netting the opening goal on seven minutes. The score gave Mayo a 1-2 to 0-1 lead.

In the opening quarter, Kearns (free), Tamara O’Connor and Sinead Cafferkey were also on the scoresheet while a lethargic Galway kept in touch with points from Claregalway duo Andrea Trill and Megan Glynn.

It was a tentative opening from the visitors, but they began to find their feet in the second quarter and in the next 10 minutes they outscored Mayo five points to two. The experienced Mairéad Seoighe tallied four of those – three from frees – while Nicola Ward scored the other after Charlotte Cooney stole a Mayo kickout.

However, Mayo finished the first half stronger with centre-half forward Shauna Howley kicking their last three points, two from play, and Michael Moyles outfit led 1-8 to 0-7 at the break.

A blistering third quarter, in which Galway struck for 2-4 without reply, saw Gerry Fahy’s charges race into a 2-13 to 1-10 lead by the 46th minute, with Kate Slevin shooting the Tribeswomen’s two goals. The first was a superbly taken penalty on 39 minutes followed by a fisted effort from play seven minutes later.

Also to the fore was Seoighe, captaining the side on the evening. She kicked seven points in all and looked set to guide Galway to an opening day win.

⏱️ FULL TIME

🏆 @lidl_ireland NFL Division 1 A@Mayo_LGFA 2-15@GalwayLgfa 2-14

This was the key moment that triggered Mayo's comeback. No stopping Rachel Kearns🔥@SportTG4 @GAA_BEO @ConnachtLGFA#SeriousSupportpic.twitter.com/CyjJg0327r

— Ladies Football (@LadiesFootball) May 22, 2021

However, Mayo, roused by the introduction of Grace Kelly, rallied in the final 10 minutes and, with Kearns leading the charge, secured new manager Michael Moyles his first victory.

Scorers for Mayo: S Howley 0-6 (2f), R Kearns 1-3 (1-0 penalty, 0-2 frees), M Reilly 1-0, T O’Connor 0-1, M McHale 0-1, S Cafferkey 0-1, F McHale 0-1, G Kelly 0-1, D Doherty 0-1 (1f).

Scorers for Galway: M Seoighe 0-7 (3f), K Slevin 2-1 (1-0 penalty), A Trill 0-3 (1f), M Glynn 0-1, N Ward 0-1, E Noone 0-1.

Mayo: L Brennan; O Conlon, K Sullivan, T O’Connor; E Ronayne, C McManamon, E Brennan; F McHale, M McHale; N Kelly, S Howley S Cafferkey; M Reilly, R Kearns, L Cafferkey.

Subs: C Needham for Reilly (37), D Doherty for M McHale (43), G Kelly for S Cafferkey (44), C Whyte for O’Connor (51), A Lambert for Howley (57).

Galway: D Gower; S Brennan, S Lynch, S Molloy; K Geraghty, N Ward, C Cooney; A Davoren, M Glynn; O Divilly, M Seoighe, L Coen; E Noone, A Trill, K Slevin.

Subs: S. Divilly for Davoren (h-t), J Burke for Molloy (37), A Morrissey for Coen (45), A McDonagh for Noone (46), C Crowe for Burke (57).

Referee – Siobhan Coyle (Donegal).

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LIMERICK HAVE CALLED up four players to their squad for the 2021 season while All-Ireland winning defender Paddy O’Loughlin has dropped out of the setup ‘for personal reasons for a while.’

John Kiely’s team commence their campaign next Saturday in the Gaelic Grounds against Tipperary after a terrific 2020 season that yielded All-Ireland, Munster and league triumphs.

They are currently operating with a 38-player squad, youngsters Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown) and Cathal O’Neill (Crecora-Manister) both joining for the first time. The pair are Leaving Cert students who won Munster minor medals in 2019.

O’Neill is a highly-rated attacker who scored 0-9 in that provincial final win over Clare while Coughlan is a wing-back. They both lined out last December when Limerick lost to Cork in the Munster U20 semi-final.

The Doon pair of Tommy Hayes and Barry Murphy have also been drafted in. They both featured when their club reached last year’s Limerick senior hurling final, losing heavily to champions Na Piarsaigh. 

Barry Murphy (left) in action for Limerick against Cork in 2018.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Murphy was captain of that side and is recalled after previously being involved in the 2018 All-Ireland winning summer. In the opening game in Munster that year, he came off the bench to score a goal against Tipperary.

Kilmallock defender O’Loughlin was part of last year’s victories while the UCC Fitzgibbon Cup winner had started three times in the 2019 championship against Waterford, Clare and Tipperary.

In another loss to the defensive ranks, Tom Condon retired in January after being involved for 12 seasons but Limerick will be able to call upon Richie English and Mike Casey during this season after their recovery from cruciate injuries.

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IT’S 22 MONTHS since Kerry mounted the second-half fightback that took down Tyrone by three points in an All-Ireland semi-final in Croke Park.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

It’s 16 months since Tyrone held off Kerry by a point to win a league encounter in Edendork.

A pair of tight contests. A success for each side. The background as they approached yesterday’s meeting in Killarney.

How then to explain the 16-point hammering that Kerry handed out in the latest clash? How do you account for the six goals that Kerry posted? How much value can be placed on it, with the summer examinations in mind?

Kerry knew that winning this league semi-final would not propel them towards a final, a strange quirk of the 2021 GAA schedule. But you wouldn’t have known that by the manner in which they started the game, sharp and enthusiastic, rampaging forward at will as they sliced apart the Tyrone defence.

Three goals registered by the first water break, five on the board by half-time and a sixth added for good measure towards the end by substitute Jack Barry. The identity of the goalscorers – Clifford, White, Moynihan and Geaney – reaffirmed again the attacking riches at Kerry’s disposal, while Sean O’Shea was outstanding in directing the forward line traffic.

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Further back, it was hard to digest much from Kerry’s performance. Beaufort’s Mike Breen does look another bright prospect off their All-Ireland minor winning productions. Kieran Fitzgibbon is in command of the number one jersey after another solid outing. Jason Foley took the man-of-the-match award for his full-back performance.

Kerry’s league campaign ends with them handing out another hammering on home soil. That speaks of a team playing with a temper and frustration, generated from the long and painful inquest they endured after their exit last winter.

Their brilliant scoring capacity up front, the element of uncertainty in defence, the question marks over where to fit all their pieces into the starting team, those areas of debate all remain around Kerry.

Kerry’s Mike Breen and Tyrone’s Conor Meyler.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

But yesterday they looked like a team who are stepping it up, two weeks out from their Munster quarter-final. They may be strong favourites for that game yet Clare are one of the most progressive sides in the country.

And if 2020 taught Kerry anything, it is the danger of not hitting full speed from the off in a knockout championship. Yesterday’s display reflected a necessary sharpness for their last run-out a fortnight before they take on Clare.

In contrast Tyrone have more time. It’s four weeks until they have their Ulster championship opener, playing in Omagh against the kingpins Cavan. The news of their relegation to Division 4 had filtered through before throw-in at Fitzgerald Stadium, Tyrone joint manager Brian Dooher dimissed the thought afterwards that Cavan will be damaged by that loss.

The lack of defensive resistance in this game was striking and begged the question as to where their interest levels truly lay. Leaking five goals in the first half was a glaring statistic but it was also instructive to reflect on the first-half openings Kerry did not convert. David Clifford fisted an early chance wide, O’Shea had to settle for a point on another occasion, Paudie Clifford was crowded out after a strong run and Stephen O’Brien saw a handpass close to goal just elude the intended target. Tyrone’s defending was surprisingly passive, which permitted Kerry to pour forward with such frequency.

They did pick off some nice scores, Kieran McGeary’s point-taking was excellent. But the costliest aspect of their long away trip, could be the extended loss of Darragh Canavan. The highly-promising forward was wheeled off with an ankle problem after ten minutes and he limped out of the stadium afterwards on crutches, his left footed covered in a protective boot. On a day where form was difficult to read, that may be the key outcome with the wider season picture in mind.

League done, get set for championship. The bigger tests and more significant days of judgement await. Kerry back out in two weeks, Tyrone return in four. We will see how they fare.

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CORA STAUNTON HAS been included in the 2021 AFLW Team of the year after another impressive campaign with the Greater Western Sydney [GWS] Giants.

The four-time All-Ireland winner is named among the forwards who made the shortlist, averaging 10.3 disposals, and kicking 10 goals for her club this year.

Staunton, 39, who first joined the Giants in 2017, has consistently been a standout performer since her move Down Under. She capped off her debut season by picking up the Giants’ Goal of the Year award.

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She then suffered a career-threatening triple-leg-break injury in 2019 but managed to make a full recovery the following season and has continued to make a vital contribution for the Giants.

The https://t.co/FJ7UMYhaFF Team of the Year has been settled 👏#AFLW

— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) April 6, 2021

Dublin 6-15
Waterford 2-12

HANNAH TYRRELL MARKED her return to inter-county football in style this afternoon as the Irish rugby international hit 1-5, as reigning All-Ireland champions Dublin convincingly defeated Waterford in Parnell Park.

In a game that was dubbed a dress rehearsal for the championship, Dublin welcomed back Olwen Carey, Siobhan Killeen, and fresh from their endeavours in Australia, Lauren Magee and Niamh McEvoy.

Waterford did get off to a quicker start and dominated early possession, Maria Delahunty hit one from play and converted a free. Early Dublin efforts skimmed wide of the post but they opened their account for 2021 with a Sinead Aherne free after Niamh Hetherton was fouled. 

As Dublin upped the intensity, Tyrrell proved her worth hitting four first-half points. The first was a beautiful effort after a long range exchange with Niamh Hetherton, and Tyrrell was again on the scoresheet twice more minutes later.

Aherne converted her second free from 30 yards before Lyndsey Davey opened up a six-point gap when she found the net after a sweeping team move involved Hetherton and Siobhan Killeen.

Hetherton’s first-half efforts were rewarded with with a point of her own, while returning Killeen and Tyrrell also pointed leaving nine points between the teams at the water break, 1-8 to 0-2. 

Michelle Davoren of Dublin in action against Laura Mulcahy, left, and Rebecca Casey of Waterford.

Making her senior debut, Abby Shiels was comfortable in goals while Orlagh Nolan and Leah Caffrey bolstered a Dublin defence that proved difficult to break. 

Dublin’s second goal began as a sweeping team move down field and with Aherne in an inch of space, the captain offloaded to Hetherton, the Clontarf player made no mistake finishing to the net to open up a 12-point lead. 

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Waterford steadied their ship and Eimear Fennell (2) and Delahunty brought the Munster side back into contention. The teams traded scores before the break, with Aileen Wall finding space and Delahunty firing over from short range. However, a brace of Aherne frees ensured Dublin took a nine-point lead into half time, 2-10 to 0-7.

The third quarter was a tighter affair, although Dublin did have to cope with two separate yellow cards, Aoife Kane just before half-time and Caoimhe O’Connor before the second water break but it had little impact on the champions.

Aherne raised a green flag of her own when Hetherton found her in space and as the substitutions rolled in, the scoreboard continued to tick over. Aherne (3) and Tyrrell raised white flags while Delahunty and Kellyann Hogan converted for Waterford.

The game finished in a goal frenzy with five goals inside eight minutes. Orlagh Nolan and Tyrrell found the net for Dublin inside a minute, Aileen Wall and substitute Kate McGrath raised green flags for the visitors. Caoimhe O’Connor signed off on the win for Dublin when she converted from the penalty spot.

Scorers for Dublin: S Aherne 1-7 (0-5f), H Tyrrell 1-5, N Hetherton 1-1, O Nolan 1-0, L Davey 1-0, C O’Connor 1-0 (1-0 pen), L Collins 0-1, S Killeen 0-1.

Scorers for Waterford: M Delahunty 0-7 (0-4f), A Wall 1-1, K McGrath 1-0, E Fennell 0-2, C Fennell 0-1, K Hogan 0-1.

DUBLIN: A Shiels; O Nolan, L Caffrey, O Carey; M Byrne, A Kane, L Collins; L McGinley, H Tyrrell; C O’Connor, S McGrath, L Davey; N Hetherton, S Killeen, S Aherne (captain).

Subs: H Leahy for M Byrne (28), M Davoren for N Hetherton (42), L Magee for S McGrath (45), H O’Neill for S Killeen (45), J Egan for S Aherne (48), N McEvoy for H Tyrell (52), L Kane for O Nolan (55), C McGuigan for L McGinley (55), S Loughran for L Davey (55).

WATERFORD: M Foran; A Mullaney, L Mulcahy, R Casey; C Fennell, K McGrath, M Wall (captain); C McGrath, M Dunford; R Tobin, A Wall, K Hogan; E Fennell, M Delahunty, K Murray.

Subs: K McGrath for R Tobin (39), A Murray for E Fennell (46), L Cusack for A Mullaney (49), B McMaugh for K Hogan (49), N Power for M Wall (56), C McCarthy for C Fennell (56), R Dunphy for A Wall (56). 

Referee: Kevin Phelan (Laois) 

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IN THE 50th minute of Sunday afternoon’s game, Páidí Fitzpatrick was summoned to the sideline at Semple Stadium.

The Clare defender gestured with his fist as he ran off, saluting David McInerney who was coming on as a replacement. The message was clear.

He had put in a huge shift to help establish a winning platform for his team as they were nine points clear.

Now the focus shifted to supporting the rest of the team as they attempted to finish the job.

Ultimately Clare were successful by four points. It was a victory to savour for their team to kick-start the 2021 ambitions but for Fitzpatrick it held a deeper meaning, this was an experience that he had waited some time to share in.

A first senior championship start for Clare at 30 years of age, seven weeks shy from his 31st birthday.

It was almost 13 years exactly, since he had previously started a championship game of any description for a Clare team.

On 25 June 2008 he featured in a Munster minor semi-final against Tipperary.

On 27 June 2021 he featured in a Munster senior quarter-final against Waterford.

It was a notable journey from one point to the other. His maiden competitive senior appearance for Clare arrived on Sunday 1 March last year. He acquitted himself well in a nine-point league win over Dublin in Ennis but any aspirations for channelling that momentum were soon wrecked. The country shut down 11 days later and the pandemic ripped up everyone’s plans.

Source: Bryan Keane/INPHO

Well done to Paidi Fitzpatrick who made his competitive debut for Clare in the National Hurling league versus Dublin in Ennis at the weekend. Joined by club mate Cathal Malone as the other wing back. #clareseniors #paidifitz #sixmilebridgegaa https://t.co/J9WwzPxMYT pic.twitter.com/CRAwWBSiRE

— Sixmilebridge (@SMBClare) March 2, 2020

When the 2020 inter-county programme of games resumed, Fitzpatrick made the bench for Clare’s four winter outings. He got pushed into the action in Portlaoise last November, a championship milestone arriving in the 60th minute of their triumph over Wexford.

2021 brought league starts against Wexford and Dublin before the big chance arrived on Sunday. He seized it, blotting out the threat of Waterford’s Jack Fagan to announce himself on the senior stage.

“It’s an amazing story,” admits Syl O’Connor, the Clare FM GAA commentator and Sixmilebridge club-mate of Fitzpatrick.

“Páidí would have been looked upon as one of the best man-markers in the county at club level. No question about that.

“Some of his greatest battles were marking Conor McGrath, when he was in his prime. The ‘Bridge and Cratloe were very prominent for a period, playing each other. Conor was one of the top players, Páidí always got the task of marking Conor.

“He probably has a unique style as well, he’s a real man-marker. He’d probably never run 100 yards and pop it over the bar. But the man that’s on him, won’t do that easily either.

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“He’s a massive player from the ‘Bridge point of view. Very influential and very well got with the team.”

Back in 2008 he moved from club underage ranks to fill the centre-back spot for the Clare minor hurlers in a team powered by the inside attacking duo of McGrath and Darach Honan. It was a campaign where they made a rousing start by beating Cork but were then knocked out by Tipperary.

Fitzpatrick was on the fringes of the county U21 squad in 2010 and 2011 without ever managing to break into the first fifteen.

Then followed a long spell away from the inter-county game yet his hurling never declined. He focused on his work with the club and prospered.

When Sixmilebridge lifted the Canon Hamilton Cup last September, it ensured Fitzpatrick would pick up his fifth Clare senior hurling medal since 2013. He had started in all five final wins, captaining them in 2017, while covering a range of positions including full-back, wing-back, midfield and centre-forward.

Source: Lorraine O’Sullivan/INPHO

In his homeplace they appreciated his worth as a golden age for the club was enjoyed.

“I’d often think of the example of Shane Prendergast in Kilkenny,” says O’Connor.

“Came in the first year and won the All-Ireland (in 2015), he was captain the next year for the All-Ireland and was gone the following year. He was 29 when he came in.

“Look, everybody would be surprised to see you make your senior championship debut at 30 years of age. There’s no doubt about that. But you’d have to look at it and say, how did that happen?

“I think he’s come into the scene now, based on the type of player that I believe Brian Lohan looks for. Big men and trying to get power into the team. Páidí has fallen into the category then of making his championship debut at 30 years of age.

“That half-back line is a massive unit with himself, John Conlon and Diarmuid Ryan. The size of Páidí is a big plus and his man-marking ability.”

Playing club hurling at an elite level gave him a strong grounding, to the fore for a dominant side in Clare, then testing himself in Munster against heavyweights like Na Piarsaigh and Ballygunner.

His older brother Stiofan was midfield on the Clare minor team that lifted the All-Ireland crown at the expense of Clare in 1997. His father PJ has been a club coach of renown in the county, a long-serving principal in Clonlara National School where he was one of the early influences in the hurling careers of current Clare stalwarts Colm Galvin and John Conlon.

Cathal McInerney and Páidí Fitzpatrick in the 2019 Clare county senior final.

Source: Lorraine O’Sullivan/INPHO

Fitzpatrick spent some time travelling as well, switching careers around 2016 from chartered accountancy to mobile and web development.

On the day of the 2019 All-Ireland hurling final, he was lining out at Treasure Island in San Francisco to help Na Fianna win the senior hurling final against the Tipperary club. Wolfe Tones player Rory Hayes was a team-mate that day, now they are both part of the Clare defensive unit.

And this week they’ve a Munster semi-final to prepare for.

Back in 2006, Munster’s U16 inter-divisional hurling tournament culminated with East Clare pipping Mid Tipperary by a point in the final. Páidí Fitzpatrick was on the winning side, Noel McGrath on the losing team. Given their general positioning, they’re likely to renew acquaintances on the pitch next Sunday.

McGrath’s inter-county career exploded to life after that game 15 years ago, Fitzpatrick’s has taken a bit longer to take flight.

“It’s unusual nowadays to be starting so late,” admits O’Connor.

“But then again there’s nothing unusual nowadays about a fella blazing a trail of glory at 18 or 19 and then he’s gone. Maybe for a change, it’ll go the other way for a while.

“He stuck at it. The worst thing you can do is stand beside Páid Fitzpatrick, you’d only be looking up at him. He’s a massive lad.

“And if there’s a job to be done on the hurling pitch, he’ll do it.”

– First published 06.00, 29 June

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MORE IRISH PLAYERS have earned new Australian Football League Women’s [AFLW] contracts as the focus switches to next season.

Mayo and Cavan stars Sarah Rowe and Aishling Sheridan have committed their immediate future to Collingwood, putting pen to paper in recent days.

Yesterday, Rowe was one of six players to have a new deal announced, signing on until 2023. The 25-year-old recently completed her third AFLW campaign, playing seven goals across an injury-hampered season, while kicking one goal.

Having undergone shoulder surgery as the curtain came down on the 2021 season, Rowe stayed on in Australia to rehabilitate, missing the Green and Red’s league campaign. The Kilmoremoy forward returned to home soil in recent days, though, so the race is now on for her championship involvement.

Her immediate focus will be on Gaelic games matters, though her new two-year deal will see her head back Down Under afterwards to continue to “live the best of both worlds,” as she so often says.

Sheridan’s status of being on a two-year deal was also confirmed this morning, as she officially penned a contract extension until 2023.

The Mullahoran ace lit up the AFLW last season, enjoying a stunning individual campaign with goals almost every week as she established herself as one of the Pies’ main forwards in her second year at the club.

24-year-old Sheridan has been back in Ireland for some time now, returning to inter-county duty with Cavan through their Division 2 league campaign, as they now prepare for an Ulster championship meeting with Donegal.

Elsewhere, Rowe’s Mayo countywoman Aileen Gilroy has re-signed for North Melbourne.

Gilroy in action for North Melbourne.

Source: AAP/PA Images

One of 24 players retained from the Kangaroos 30-strong 2021 AFLW list, Gilroy sparkled once again in her second season and has subsequently been rewarded with a longer stay.

The 28-year-old has excelled in Australia of late and has been touted as “one of the most exciting Irish talents” over there, though has opted out of the Mayo ladies football set-up for 2021. 

A former underage soccer international with Ireland, the Killala native missed most of the 2019 ladies football season with a devastating cruciate injury, before announcing her comeback with a stellar debut season Down Under.

She returned to line out in the Green and Red’s midfield last autumn, but has decided against it this time around.

“Aileen’s not one to half-arse anything,” as manager Michael Moyles recently said. “The last year or two, she’s struggled with it so she needs to take a year to get things around her. And that’s fine, no problem.”

• Tipp’s Premiership champion O’Dwyer among Irish stars returning to AFLW next season 

Tipperary’s Premiership champion Orla O’Dwyer, Melbourne’s Dublin duo Sinéad Goldrick and Lauren Magee, and Adelaide Crows’ Ailish Considine have all had their respective returns for the 2021/22 season confirmed in recent days, with further announcements expected.

The42 understands that several other Irish players — 14 were involved in the 2021 season — are on two-year contracts, and will return for another campaign. 

The league is set to expand over the coming seasons, with the 2022 edition — season six –  due to begin in December 2021 and the Grand Final to be held in mid-March, before the men’s season begins. The competition will increase from nine rounds to 10, plus three weeks of finals.

Over the past few years, the AFLW campaign opened in late January and ran until mid-April, allowing for the Irish contingent — much of whom play inter-county ladies football — to return to these shores for the tail end of the league and for the entire TG4 All-Ireland championship.

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Covid-hit 2020 aside, they normally travelled Down Under in October/November for pre-season, so it’s expected that will be earlier this coming autumn, throwing up the potential of code clashes.