Ballyea 4-18
Thurles Sarsfields 2-22

SEVEN DAYS ON from a first ever Clare hurling title, Ballyea are only 60 minutes away from a provincial crown after a truly inspirational fightback in Cusack Park this afternoon.

Seven points in arrears nearing the final ten minutes, the hosts would somehow reel in the three-in-a-row Tipperary champions thanks to the leadership of Tony Kelly and a last gasp equalising goal from Gary Brennan to force extra-time.

And with momentum firmly behind them, Ballyea would complete the dramatic recovery as Damien Burke and Padraic Maher traded goals before county final hero Niall Deasy fired the last two points to maintain their historic run.

It was also a blistering start, lit up by Ballyea’s route one deliveries that yielded goals through Kelly from a penalty and Pearse Lillis by the sixth minute.

It forced Thurles Sarsfields to move Ronan Maher back to full-back to curb target man Brennan and along with the growing influence of his brother Padraic, the Tipperary champions began to settle.

Source: Lorraine O’Sullivan/INPHO

They fired two warning shots before Aidan McCormack’s delivery traveled directly to the net in the 13th minute after Lar Corbett had done enough to put off goalkeeper Kevin Sheehan at 2-2 to 1-3.

And it was the spark Sars required as led by the elusive McCormack, they would add a further six points without reply to ease four clear, a margin that they would hold until the break at 1-11 to 2-04.

The second period wasn’t as free-flowing, with a brace of placed balls for either side finally broken with three-in-a-row for the visitors, two from Pa Bourke, to extend their cushion to seven by the 49th minute.

However, Ballyea refused to yield and inevitably it was Kelly who seized control in a superb show of defiance as he raided for four points to slash the deficit to just three by the hour mark.

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The best was yet to come however as a last gasp Jack Browne line ball from defence was caught by Brennan who took on Thurles’ last line before roofing to the net to ensure an additional 20 minutes of action at 1-18 to 3-12.

Source: Lorraine O’Sullivan/INPHO

Kelly added three points to take his tally to 1-10 while substitute Burke’s 67th minute goal handed the Clare winners a four point lead by the midway point.

And while Padraic Maher, now at wing-forward, would gain parity with a 75th minute goal, a resilient Ballyea never faltered as Deasy grabbed the last two points to rapturous celebrations from an almost incredulous home support.

Scorers for Thurles Sarsfields: Pa Bourke 0-9 (6f); Aidan McCormack 1-4; Tommy Doyle 0-3; Padraic Maher 1-0; Conor Lanigan 0-2; Ronan Maher, John Maher, Michael O’Brien, Stephen Cahill 0-1 each.

Scorers for Ballyea: Tony Kelly 1-10 (1-0 Pen, 3f, 1’65); Niall Deasy 0-5 (3f, 1’65); Pearse Lillis, Damien Burke 1-1 each; Gary Brennan 1-0; ; Pat Joe Connolly 0-1.

Thurles Sarsfields:

1. Patrick McCormack

2. Stephen Maher
5. Stephen Lillis
4. Rory Dwan

7. Denis Maher
6. Padraic Maher (Captain)
3. Ronan Maher

8. John Maher
9. Stephen Cahill

10. Billy McCarthy
11. Aidan McCormack
15. Tommy Doyle

14. Lar Corbett
12. Pa Bourke
13. Conor Lanigan

Subs:

20. Michael O’Brien for Lanigan (49)
21. Kevin Dunne for Doyle (58)
19. David Kennedy for Lillis (60 + 1)
26. Cathal Moloney for Corbett (60 + 2)
14. Corbett for Moloney (60)
5. Lillis for Dunne (60)
13. Lanigan for J. Maher (60)
8. J. Maher for Lanigan (70)
26. Moloney for Kennedy (73)
17. Michael Cahill for Corbett (75)

Source: Lorraine O’Sullivan/INPHO

Ballyea:

1. Kevin Sheehan

2. Joe Neylon
3. Jack Browne
4. Brian Carrigg

5. Gearoid O’Connell
6. Paul Flanagan
7. James Murphy

8. Tony Kelly
9. Stan Lineen (captain)

10. Niall Deasy
11. Gary Brennan
12. Cathal Doohan

13. Pat Joe Connolly
14. Martin O’Leary
15. Pearse Lillis

Subs

18. Damien Burke for O’Leary (5, inj)
19. David Egan for Carrigg (11, in)
23. Aonghus Keane for Connolly (47)
22. Francie Neylon for Egan (60 + 4)

Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork)

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Cuala (Dublin) 4-16
Borris/Kilcotton (Laois) 1-14

RISING DUBLIN FOOTBALL star Con O’Callaghan steered Cuala to the semi-finals of the AIB Leinster club SHC with a whopping 4-3 haul at Parnell Park.

The speedy attacker featured in this year’s Championship for back to back title winners Dublin though is a quality hurler too as he displayed again.

A dual Leinster finalist at minor level in 2014, O’Callaghan racked up 3-3 in the first-half alone to all but kill off Borris-Kilcotton.

It was a tough first foray into their province for the Laois representatives who only won their first county title recently after amalgamating in 2011.

O’Callaghan, the only sub used by Cuala in the county final, was a late addition to the lineup and wasted no time in getting on the score trail.

He hit goals after eight and 10 minutes and added a third before the break to put Mattie Kenny’s men 14 clear at that stage, 3-11 to 0-6.

Cuala were favourites to win and a clear path has opened up for them to return to the provincial decider after losing there to Oulart-The Ballagh last year.

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Free-taker David Treacy and Cian Waldron contributed 10 points between them before substituted while O’Callaghan was also withdrawn late on.

O’Callaghan after the game.

Source: Colm O’Neill/INPHO

But not before the man who hit 1-7 for Dublin in this year’s Leinster U-21 football final win over Kildare added his fourth goal.

That came in the 41st minute and knocked the stuffing out of the Laois men who had raised a mini-rally with three points on the trot before that.

Borris-Kilcotton did at least hold O’Callaghan scoreless after that fourth goal and actually won the second-half in scoring terms, adding a late goal from Patrick Whelan who finished with 1-2.

But Cuala advance to the last four of the provincial competition and will face St Mullins of Carlow on November 20 in Carlow.

Scorers for Cuala: Con O’Callaghan 4-3, David Treacy 0-6 (0-5f), Cian Waldron 0-4, Colm Cronin, John Sheanon and Darragh O’Connell 0-1 each.

Scorers for Borris/Kilcotton: ​PJ Scully 0-6 (0-5f, 1 s/l), Patrick Whelan 1-2, Aaron Dunphy and Danny Fitzpatrick 0-2 each, Neil Foyle and Joseph Campion 0-1 each.

Cuala

1. Sean Brennan

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

7. John Sheanon
6. Paul Schutte
8. Sean Moran

5. Jake Malone
9. Darragh O’Connell

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

15. Sean Treacy
24. Con O’Callaghan
14. Mark Schutte

Subs:

18. Shane Stapleton for D Treacy (46)
19. Colum Sheanon for Waldron (50)
20. Brian Fitzgerald for O’Callaghan (55)
17. Ross Tierney for Timlin (55)
22. Naoise Waldron for S Treacy (59)

Borris/Kilcotton

1. Eoin Fleming

3. Steven Finan
4. Brian Stapleton
2. Noel Delaney

9. Colm Stapleton
6. Matthew Whelan
5. Jim Fitzpatrick

7. Patrick Whelan
8. Danny Fitzpatrick

15. Daire Quinlan
11. Joseph Campion
17. Stephen Dunphy

14. PJ Scully
10. Aaron Dunphy
12. Neil Foyle

Subs:
21. Conor Kilbane for Delaney (24)
18. Stephen Phelan for Quinlan (h.t.)
13. Eoin Fitzpatrick for S Dunphy (44)
19. Bill Meade for Finan (44)

Referee: Paud O’Dwyer (Carlow).

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Kilmoyley (Kerry) 4-12
Monaleen (Limerick) 0-13

Jackie Cahill at the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick

HISTORY FOR KILMOYLEY at the Gaelic Grounds this afternoon as the Kerry senior hurling kingpins won a game in the AIB Munster club hurling championship for the very first time.

Kilmoyley, managed by former Clare star Ger ‘Sparrow’ O’Loughlin’s brother Fergie, saw off Limerick representatives Monaleen by 11 points in the provincial intermediate semi-final.

Kerry senior captain Daniel Collins led the charge as Kilmoyley set up a final clash with Dan and Maurice Shanahan’s Lismore in a fortnight.

And Kilmoyley will now aim to go one step further than Kingdom counterparts Ballyduff, who lost Munster intermediate finals in 2011 and 2012.

Collins was superb in attack, landing 1-7 (including 1-3 from play) while also registering three wides.

Collins scored 1-7.

Source: Colm O’Neill/INPHO

There was also a two-goal haul from corner forward Maurice O’Connor – one in each half – as Adrian Royle registered Kilmoyley’s other goal.

Monaleen suffered with the absences of Brian Geary, recently-appointed to the Limerick senior hurling management team, and injured county star Andrew La Touche Cosgrave.

But Kilmoyley were worthy winners nonetheless and after staving off a mini Monaleen fightback in the second half, they pushed on for a comfortable win.

Kilmoyley led by 2-6 to 0-7 at half-time on a bitterly cold afternoon, first half goals from inside forwards Royle and O’Connor boosting their challenge.

Royle struck the opening goal of the game in the fifth minute, pouncing from close range to get the final touch in a goalmouth scramble.

And after Monaleen had enjoyed a profitable spell – with former county senior footballer Ger Collins clipping over a couple of nice points – Kilmoyley had their second goal in the 14^th minute, Collins supplying the pass for O’Connor to finish.

Kilmoyley, despite playing against the breeze, were moving well as Monaleen’s cause wasn’t helped by seven first half wides.

Their biggest lead of the half was seven points – 2-5 to 0-4 – before Monaleen cut the interval deficit to five.

The Limerick men were reliant on Mark O’Dwyer’s free-taking to stay in touch, with Collins adding those brace of scores from play.

A run of three points after half-time had Monaleen back in contention but they were rocked back on their heels by a fourth Kilmoyley goal, scored by Collins after a sniping run.

And a fourth goal put the icing on the cake with ten minutes remaining, O’Connor collecting his second to put the seal on a memorable afternoon.

Scorers for Kilmoyley: Daniel Collins 1-7 (0-4f), Maurice O’Connor 2-1, Adrian Royle 1-0, Joseph McGelligott 0-2, Robert Collins & James Godley 0-1 each.

Scorers for Monaleen: Mark O’Dwyer 0-8 (7f), Ger Gollins & Shane Mullane 0-2 each, John Nicholas 0-1.

Kilmoyley

1. Aidan McCabe (c)

2. Seanie Murnane
3. Colman Savage
4. Robert Collins

5. Seán Dowling
6. Tom Murnane
7. Dougie Fitzell

8. Paudie O’Connor
9. James Godley

21. Kieran McCarthy
11. Daniel Collins
12. Sean Maunsell

14. Jordan Brick
15. Adrian Royle
13. Maurice O’Connor

Subs:

19. Joseph McGelligott for Brick (38).

Monaleen

1. Cian O’Dwyer

4. Darragh Madden
3. Damien Cosgrave
2. Jamie Porter

5. Lorcan Lyons
7. Cian O’Brien
20. Darren Golden

8. Michael Doyle
9. Simon Griffin

10. Shane Mullane
11. Edward Doyle
12. John O’Dwyer

13. Peter Russell (c)
14. Ger Collins
24. Mark O’Dwyer

Subs:

17. John Nicholas for Doyle (h.t.)
21. Daniel Power for Porter (52)
19. Conor Sherlock for Mullane (53)
18. Diarmaid Lehane for O’Brien (59)

Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)

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ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONS Kilkenny and finalists Cork dominated the 2016 Camogie All-Stars team as this year’s top performers were recognised at the annual awards dinner last night.

Kilkenny’s Denise Gaule was rewarded for her individual performances by collecting the Camogie Camogie Association/WGPA Players’ Player of the Year award.

Gaule also picked up her first All-Star award and was one of eight Kilkenny players included in the side.

Team-mate Emma Kavanagh was selected in goal while Collette Dormer, Anne Dalton, Meighan Farrell, Mirian Walsh and Jule Ann Malone were all recognised.

Cork were represented by three players, as were beaten semi-finalists Galway.

Wexford’s Kate Kelly collected an incredible ninth All-Stars Award to equal Gemma O’Connor at the top of the All-Stars Roll of Honour. The Wexford legend took the full-forward spot after an outstanding year which saw her finish as the Championship’s top scorer with an amazing tally of 5-49.

Denise Gaule receives her award.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Kilkenny manager Ann Downey was named as Manager of the Year after guiding the Cats to their first senior title in 22 years, having played in all of Kilkenny’s previous 12 All-Ireland successes.

2016 All-Stars team:

Emma Kavanagh (Kilkenny), Pamela Mackey (Cork), Sarah Dervan (Galway), Collette Dormer (Kilkenny), Rebecca Hennelly (Galway), Anne Dalton (Kilkenny), Meighan Farrell (Kilkenny), Orla Cotter (Cork), Miriam Walsh (Kilkenny), Denise Gaule (Kilkenny), Julie Ann Malone (Kilkenny), Aoife Donohue (Galway), Michelle Quilty (Kilkenny), Kate Kelly (Wexford), Katrina Mackey (Cork).

2016 Intermediate Soaring Stars:

• Linda Collins (Cork)
• Chloe Sigerson (Cork)
• Jenny Clifford (Kilkenny)
• Ciara Holden (Kilkenny)
• Aisling Burke (Laois)
• Jane Dolan (Meath) r

2016 Junior Soaring Stars:

• Ciara Donnelly (Armagh)
• Bernie Murray (Armagh)
• Eleanor Treacy (Carlow)
• Ciara Quirke (Carlow)
• Kelley Hopkins (Roscommon)
• Dinah Loughlin (Westmeath)

2016 Manager of the Year

• Ann Downey, Kilkenny

2016 Camogie Association/WGPA Players’ Player of the Year:

• Senior Players’ Player of the Year: Denise Gaule (Kilkenny)
• Intermediate Players’ Player of the Year: Ciara Holden (Kilkenny)
• Junior Players’ Player of the Year: Eleanor Treacy (Carlow)

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1. Wexford Youths

2. Graham Reilly

3. Darren Hughes

4. Brian Gartland

5. Ronan O’Gara

6. Chicago Cubs

7. Shane McGrath

8. Kenneth Egan

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9. Bernard Brogan

10. Per Mertesacker

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FOR JUST THE second time in the club’s history, Foxrock Cabinteely ladies are gearing up for another Leinster final appearance.

They took the honours last year at the expense of Sarsfields Mountmellick (Laois) and this year’s challengers come from the St. Laurence’s club in Kildare.

But while they’re full value for their spot in today’s final, Cabinteely’s campaign almost came to a halt before the provincial stages even began. The county final against their rivals St Brigid’s produced a frantic finish with Cabinteely clutching to a two point lead.

With seconds remaining, a scramble ensued in Cabinteely’s goalmouth. Brigid’s forward Elaine Kelly emerged with the ball and her resultant shot was greeted with relief from the reigning champions, as it sailed over the bar.

Can @OFFICIALFoxCab do the double on Sun & retain their provincial crown. They face St Laurence's, Kildare 1:30pm in Kinnegad #ClubisFamily pic.twitter.com/pTquvTfdOc

— DublinLGFA (@dublinladiesg) November 4, 2016

Their hold of the Dublin senior championship was just millimetres away from being severed, but a one point cushion allowed Cabinteely to prevail. Sinéad Goldrick knows that her side were fortunate to survive that scare, but in the same breath, she says the preceding rounds were no breezy walk either.

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“We’re always really appreciative,” she tells The42, ”we’re making club history for the second year-in-a-row and it’s always so tough to get out of the Dublin championship. We won by a point and got out of there by the skin of our teeth. We had a very tough game against Crokes in our semis too and we were lucky to get through that game also, so to get out of Dublin for the second year-in-a-row is something that we’re very proud of.”

The management team co-ordinating the Foxrock Cabinteely ladies boasts an impressive line-up of Peter Clarke, Angie McNally, Pat Ring and Colm Kearney. Clarke is a well established inter-county manager in Ladies football while Angie McNally led a decorated career in the Dublin jersey.

Goldrick says their arrival has been a blessing for the club.

“They’ve all coached Dublin and have been involved with Mayo. When they take a team they take it together so they have brought a huge wealth of experience, they know football inside out and they don’t leave a stone unturned.”

Peter (Clarke) has a notebook and any team that we’re playing, he puts so much work in ahead of it. He’d be going down to games and picking their target players for us, he gives us a game plan and match-ups and stuff like that. As players we have a huge amount of respect for that and there’s a huge amount of unity within our team.”

Clarke’s research is clearly rubbing off his players. Goldrick is well versed on the strengths of the St. Laurence’s team and the range of players who pose a threat to Cabinteely’s title.

“They came out the right side against Confey in the Kildare championship. Emer Fogarty scored 1-06 and Maggie O’Neill I think scored 1-02 so they’ve really good forwards and we’re looking at that. We know they have a solid defence system so we just need to be patient. We’ll be putting in the same thought and preparation into this game as any other game.”

Goldrick in action for Dublin.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Fixture congestion continues to provoke ire in men’s GAA with club teams repeatedly calling for better treatment and for gaps between their games to be reduced. The recently formed Club Players Association (CPA) is the culmination of that hostility.

This issue however, seems to be less prominent in Ladies GAA. The Dublin ladies county board made some adjustments last year to ensure the championship schedule is fairer on clubs.

“There’s always room for improvement,” says Goldrick, “but our county board and the Dublin senior team worked ahead of the season and Gregory McGonagle (Dublin ladies manager) spoke to the county board and saw gaps where club games could go ahead.”

She adds:

“Before our All-Ireland Final we had played our Dublin county final so it’s great because for club players, you want to playing championship football over the summer. We have that in ladies (football) so it’s really good and it gives you a break from county too.”

Foxrock Cabinteely have three representatives on the Dublin senior panel which made a third consecutive All-Ireland final appearance this year. Both Goldrick and Niamh Collins started in defence that day while Niamh Ryan was among the substitutes.

It’s always great to be playing county,” Goldrick explains, “because you’re playing with the best players in Dublin so you’re going to be improving. Within our club, we’ve a lot of players who could be playing for Dublin but they really want to focus on club for different personal reasons.”

But while playing inter-county football is a personal honour, and new friendships inevitably follow, it’s impossible to replicate the bonding enjoyed in a club team’s dressing room. Cabinteely are hungry to chase down more history today, and they’re grateful to be doing it together.

“There’s a group of us that have been playing since we were seven and playing football with players since you started football, there’s something special about that. And we’ve had players who have come in from different counties and I played with them in UCD and have been friends with them through college as well so again, it’s that sense of unity that you have.”

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Source: David J. Phillip

1. “What would you have done to see this happen? Chicago Cubs, World Series champions. Would you have sold your house? Taken a pay cut? Would you have sworn off chocolate or beer, red meat or golf? Would you endure a summer full of winter? Would you have traded a few Bulls’ championships or erased the memories of the Blackhawks’ Stanley Cups?

“Julianna Zobrist handed over her baby. She did not plan to do it. But plans changed throughout Game 7 of this World Series one of the most memorable games in the sport’s history.”

A lot has been written about the Chicago Cubs‘ historic World Series win but this piece by Michael Rosenberg for Sports Illustrated was particularly enjoyable.

2. “Now, after last Sunday, we can lay claim to something else. As much as the likes of Griffin, Kelly and Brennan have done for the place in terms of geography, putting it on the GAA map, they and a bunch of team-mates, neighbours and friends have now written it into history. Ballyea is not just our home but the home of the 2016 Clare senior hurling county champions.”

Kieran Shannon explains what winning a county title means to the town of Ballyea in the Irish Examiner.

3. “How do I sum up nearly two decades in the NBA? What do you really need to know? What’s truly important? You’ll get to play against your heroes: Michael Jordan and Clyde Drexler.

You’ll play alongside Hall of Famers: Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade. Sometimes you’ll be afraid. Sometimes you’ll think you’re out of your league. But you’ll keep showing up every day, putting in the work.

You’ll put up more than 26,000 shots in your career. Almost six out of 10 won’t even go in. I told you this game was a sonofabitch. Don’t worry, though. A successful man is built of 1,000 failures. Or in your case, 14,000 misses. You’ll win a championship in Boston. You’ll win another in Miami.”

Shooting guard Ray Allen announced his retirement from basketball this week at the age of 41. And his ‘letter’ to his 13-year-old self for the Players Tribune is quite a read.

4. “In many ways, football has become the Weimar Republic of commemorations. Acts of public solidarity can have huge power, but the currency has been debased. Stadiums have become like wheelbarrows stuffed not with worthless cash, but with increasingly worthless displays. Fans are often unsure what they are applauding.”

In an interesting piece for The Times, Matthew Syed argues that football is remembering so many causes that the gestures have lost all meaning.

5. “‘You know that crisp sound where you’re watching an Olympic diver hit the water, where it’s like a blade slicing through the water? Well, you have that smooth, clean sound, and at the same time it’s like someone has a sawed-off shotgun — pow! It’s amazing.’

“I nod again, wondering whether he has the best insights into football I’ve heard, or just the best weed I’ve smoked. ‘Do you see things out there that, like, you can’t explain? Things that, like, defy gravity?’”

Retired lineman Eugene Monroe uses cannabis as he claims it helps him to deal with his addiction to American football, he tells Tom Junod of ESPN The Magazine.

Eugene Monroe.

6. “I had no support from anybody in football, and in fact a few people made it worse. Suddenly I became the non-gay, gay spokesman in the sport. In some ways, it would have been easier if I had been gay. I could have just stood up and said: ‘Yes I am, what’s your problem?’ Instead there was a weird situation of denying it, but at the same time saying there would be nothing wrong if I was.”

Former Chelsea and England defender Graeme Le Saux wrote an excellent column in the Guardian on the treatment of gay footballers and why it’s important to drive homophobia out of the game.

7. “There was a dirty river at the end of the field and it was absolutely disgusting-looking — as well as very cold. So, Allen pulls us over and goes ‘if you’re going to swim it, swim it’ — as if to say, ‘if you’re going to win it, win it; if you’re going to do it, do it’.

“Then, he just strips off, jumps in and swims it, gets out on the other side in his soaking boxers and then runs about 200 metres in the Baltic cold. I didn’t know at the time that he was a bit of a lunatic anyway – he’s known as ‘Mad Dog’ for a reason – but it did take the focus off losing.”

In his column for the Sunday Independent, former Ireland footballer Stephen Hunt explains the depths some managers will go to in the hope their team will snap out of a losing streak.

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“IT WASN’T GOING to be very open and we knew it wasn’t going to be too high-scoring.”

If Tomas Quinn’s assessment of yesterday’s Dublin senior football final is true, then it’s just as well St Vincent’s had himself and Diarmuid Connolly in their ranks to unlock the Castleknock rearguard.

The Dublin stars, past and present, shook off the cobwebs after a slow start and combined with devastating effect in the second-half.

St Vincent’s landed a 28th county title, while Connolly and Quinn picked up their fourth Dublin SFC medal.

The team’s high profile duo linked up wonderfully in attack for St Vincent’s, with their fingerprints all over good play from the Marino club in the final 30 minutes. Both men had a quite opening, but they were instrumental as Vincent’s turned the screw on Castleknock after half-time and eventually sealed the victory.

Much of this game was a slugfest, as a defensively-minded but tactically aware Castleknock made the game difficult for their more illustrious opponents.

This 0-15 tally by the Vinnies, including outscoring the west-Dublin outfit by 0-8 to 0-3 after the interval, required all the brain power and knowhow of Quinn and Connolly – the scorer and supplier.

“It was a bit of a blur to be honest,” Quinn added after the game.

“It was tough going out there and it was very competitive. We knew they would be. We probably dipped the last 10 minutes if the first-half and you could see they were getting more and more belief.

“We knew the second half was going to be tight and it was just important for us to keep clipping scores.

“Just a couple of opportunities came. [I was] kind of in two minds whether to go for goal with the first one.

“[I] probably could have gone for goal but a point was good in the end. I was just trying to get on ball and Diarmuid got a couple of good balls into me and thankfully it worked out.”

It’s a third title in four years for Quinn as his side reassert their vice-like grip on the Dublin championship.

Despite losing key defenders Hugh Gill and Nathan Mullins to injuries at a key stage in this campaign, St Vincent’s had the depth to comfortably deal with the threat posed by Castleknock.

“It might sound like a cliché when teams win but we are really relying on it,” continued Quinn. “Hugh Gill and Nathan Mullins have been two of our most important players all year and they didn’t play in the semi-final and the final.

“They are two of our back six and guys have come in and its been pretty seamless. Guys came in early in the game today and guys are just stepping up like Albert Martin kicking a winner against Ballymun and we have relied on that.

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“We are the same squad that have been going for the last couple of years, we don’t have 18 or 19 year-olds coming in to kind of freshen us up. The guys that are there coming in have been there for two or three years and they are very hungry.

“They want to come in, they have a point to prove and thankfully they’ve been doing that.”

Ger Brennan’s red card looked like it might spark a Castleknock fightback as they immediately reeled off two scores after the two-time All-Ireland winner was dismissed.

Quinn felt that going down to 14 men might have actually worked in their favour.

“It’s one of those things that didn’t change a huge amount for us the way they play the game because they were leaving a lot of space inside.

“It didn’t really change a lot for us, it probably focussed a little bit for the last 10 minutes which probably wasn’t a bad thing.”

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Tipperary’s Padraic Maher and Cork’s Patrick Horgan will be chasing club glory.

Source: Ken Sutton/INPHO

WE’RE DOWN TO the final four in the Munster senior club hurling championship today with places in the decider up for grabs.

In Ennis, Clare’s Ballyea take on Tipperary’s Thurles Sarsfields while at the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick’s Patrickswell meet Cork’s Glen Rovers.

For Ballyea this is unchartered territory after winning their first Clare senior hurling crown last Sunday. In contrast Thurles Sarsfields are seasoned campaigners after this year winning their sixth Tipperary senior hurling championship in eight years.

Patrickswell ended a 13-year drought in Limerick recently but the club have 19 county senior titles to their name. Similarly Glen Rovers ended a barren spell of their own in 2015 by claiming a first Cork crown in 26 years and then last month they retained that title.

1. A 28th title for brilliant St Vincent’s

ST VINCENT’S ARE back on top of the Dublin football tree. Their 28th senior football title leaves them 17 clear of their nearest challengers O’Tooles, who last lifted the trophy in 1946.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

Having gone from 1984 to 2006 without a championship title, Vincent’s are starting to replicated the sort of dominance they enjoyed in the 1950s, ’60s, ’70s and ’80s.

Tommy Conroy, who took over as manager in 2012, has steered the Marino club to county titles in three of the last four years. 35-year-old Tomas Quinn, who made his Vincent’s debut back in 2000, picked up his fourth county medal.

2. Bright lights don’t blind Castleknock

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

The fear for Castleknock heading into this game was that they might be overawed by the occasion. But this well-coached outfit didn’t let the bright lights affect them. They crowded the middle and filtered bodies back into defence, frustrating the red-hot favourites.

After a slow start, Castleknock came roaring back into the contest and deservedly found themselves level at the break. After half-time, the Vinnies were a little more controlled in possession and Castleknock found scores from play hard to come by.

Although they were defeated, they must take solace in the fact they performed well for long-spells against a classy, battle-hardened team. Appearing in their first senior county final, this young Castleknock group equipped themselves quite well. The challenge for the west-Dublin club in 2017 is to prove they’re not one-hit wonders.

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3. Ger Brennan’s red card

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Already carrying a yellow card, Ger Brennan’s clumsy high challenge on Kevin Kindlon in the 45th minute. It threatened to unhinge Vincent’s. Castleknock peeled off two quick-fire scores to get to within two.

Fortunately for Brennan his recklessness didn’t cost Vincent’s, although James Sherry came close to finding the net shortly after his dismissal. Had Brennan been on the field he likely would have snuffed out that chance.

They say the mark of true champions is how they react in the face of adversity and Vincent’s did so admirably. The 14 men left on the field had enough about them to see out the game.

4. Castleknock’s defensive game

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

As we mentioned earlier, this was a well-drilled Castleknock side and they managed to clog up the main channels of attack for the first three quarters and drag their opponents into a street fight.

The ‘Knock played the first-half with Ciaran Kilkenny as a lone gunslinger in the full-forward line with the rest of the team withdrawing deep. He reverted outfield after half-time.

The first-time finalists commonly had as many as 14 men behind the ball as Vincent’s attacked, which really slowed the pace of the game.

The majority of Castleknock’s seven first-half points came from quick breakaways. After the opening 30 minutes, Vincent’s changed tack. Rather than pressing high, in the second-half Vincent’s allowed Castleknock bring out possession to their 45m line before they put pressure on the ball carrier.

That switch in styles Castleknock to just 0-3 after the break – all Des Carlos frees. That was the game’s turning point.

5. Another bumper year for Connolly

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

Connolly has enjoyed another bumper year. He hasn’t lost a championship game on the football field in 2016 – a remarkable achievement. With a Leinster club campaign still to come, the 29-year-old has a county medal to put with the medals (National League Division 1, Leinster SFC and All-Ireland SFC) and All-Star he’s already picked up this season.

Connolly is a serial winner and at this stage his medal cabinet must be bursting with silverware. He didn’t score today, but some of the passes he produced were out of this world. Simply a sublime footballer.

6. Leinster campaign next weekend

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

The celebrations in the capital will be short-lived. Tommy Conroy’s men are straight into Leinster club action next weekend where they’ll face Carlow champions Palatine at Netwatch Cullen Park next Sunday, November 13.

The newly crowned Dublin champions are 9/4 favourites to lift the club All-Ireland on St Patrick’s Day. Offaly holders Rhode look like their biggest threat in the province, while Corofin, Dr Crokes, Slaughtneil, Castlebar or Kilcoo are all genuine contenders for the ultimate prize in club football.

Vincent’s have the know-how and talent to go all the way once again and back up their All-Ireland victories in 2008 and 2014. Another win in March would leave them level with Crossmaglen on three All-Irelands victories each in the last decade.

While Cross are in decline, having suffered a rare defeat in Armagh this year, Vincent’s are still flying the flag in Dublin. They’ll take some stopping.

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