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IN A REPEAT of the 2014 Munster club final, Mourneabbey prevailed against the Banner of Clare to secure their third senior Munster title on the spin.

The Cork champions won the tie in emphatic fashion with Doireann O’Sullivan scoring seven of her side’s points while the goals came from Ciara O’Sullivan and substitute Laura Harrington. The reigning champions were hit with two sin bins during the tie but comfortably survived the setbacks.

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Congrats to @banner_ladies keeper Emma O'Driscoll on the player of the match award today. Well deserved! pic.twitter.com/sVflmeD6fX

— Mourneabbey LFC (@MourneabbeyLFC) November 5, 2016

Meanwhile, points from Louise Henchy and Grainne Nolan kept the Clare side in the chase and they were just five adrift of Mourneabbey at half-time. A Niamh Keane goal arrived late into the second half but the deficit was to big to bridge in the end.

Mourneabbey will now progress to the All-Ireland semi-final where they will meet Ulster champions Donaghmoyne in a repeat of the 2015 All-Ireland decider.

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St Vincent’s 0-15
Castleknock 0-10

Kevin O’Brien reports from Parnell Park

ST VINCENT’S ARE the kingpins in Dublin once again.

Mossy Quinn rolled back the years and Diarmuid Connolly played an instrumental role from centre-forward as the Vinnies were crowned county champions for the 28th time.

Their third SFC title in four years wasn’t quite the blow-out many people were predicting before the game but nonetheless there was an assuredness and confidence about the display of the winners.

Appearing in their first ever Dublin SFC in only their 18th year of existence, Castleknock gave a good account of themselves but ultimately they hadn’t the firepower to live with the Marino-based club.

After under-performing in last year’s final defeat to Ballyboden, St Vincent’s are back on the top of the tree in the Dublin championship.

It was a defensive affair with Castleknock dropping a lot of bodies back behind the ball, which in turn forced Vincent’s to adopt a similar approach.

Diarmuid Connolly had a quiet opening half by his lofty standards. He was well-marshalled by Tom Quinn early on but by the end of the game the two-time All-Star was pulling the strings all over the field.

His link play with Quinn was a joy to behold. Connolly picked out the 35-year-old corner forward with a few delightful passes to set-up a few key scores after the break.

Quinn and former Mayo attacker Enda Varley were extremely accurate up front.

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Vincent’s were leading by 0-11 to 0-7 after 45 minutes when Ger Brennan was dismissed for a second yellow card. That gave Castleknock a massive boost and they reeled off a couple of points to give them hope.

Ultimately though ‘Knock were relying on the placed balls of Des Carlos and Vincent’s had the experience and class to steer the ship home.

On a beautiful afternoon in a packed Parnell Park, Castleknock arrived into the game massive underdogs against the three-time All-Ireland champions St. Vincent’s.

With two 2016 All-Stars on show Castleknock played Kilkenny as the lone soldier in a one-man full-forward line, while Connolly lined out at 11 for Vincent’s.

St Vincent’s started the game firmly in control and eased into a three point lead inside the opening ten minutes with Quinn and Varley looking lively.

Castleknock, who were operating with Kilkenny in a one-man full-forward line, didn’t get on the score board until the 12th minute.

They visibly grew in confidence from that point and started to expose Vincent’s on the break. Kilkenny, Kevin Kindlon and Des Carlos found the target to leave the sides level at the break on 0-7 apiece.

Castleknock were slow starters to the second-half as two scores from Quinn and one from Shane Carthy sent Vincent’s into a three-point lead. The game was turned on its head by Brennan’s red card, for a high challenge on Kevin Kindlon.

That gave Castleknock hope and a couple of frees from Carlos left them trailing by 0-11 to 0-9 with 15 minutes left. James Sherry had a goal chance saved off the line and with that went Castleknock’s chance.

Varley, Trailor and Joe Feeney were on target at the far end as Vincent’s saw the game home.

Scorers for St Vincent’s: Tomas Quinn 0-5 (0-3f), Enda Varley 0-4 (0-1f), Gavin Burke 0-2, Cameron Diamond 0-1, Shane Carthy 0-1, Ruairi Trainor 0-1, Joe Feeney 0-1

Scorers for Castleknock: Des Carlos 0-5 (0-4f), Ciaran Kilkenny 0-2, Mikey Galvin 0-1, Kevin Kindlon 0-1, Eoin O’Brien 0-1.

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St Vincent’s

1. Michael Savage

2. Michael Concarr
3. Jarlath Curley
31. Craig Wilson

5. Brendan Egan
6. Ger Brennan
20. Cameron Diamond

8. Daithi Murphy
9. Shane Carthy

10. Gavin Burke
11. Diarmuid Connolly
12. Cormac Diamond

13. Ruairi Trainor
29. Enda Varley
15. Tomas Quinn

Subs:

Albert Martin for Murphy, 32 mins
Joe Feeney for Cormac Diamond, 40 mins
Adam Baxter for Varley, 60 mins

Castleknock

1. Morven Connolly

2. Paul Bourke
3. Peter Sherry
4. Eoin O’Brien

5. Graham Hannigan
6. Tom Shiels
7. Tom Quinn

8. Ciaran Kilkenny
9. Shane Boland

10. Des Carlos
11. Ben Galvin
12. Kevin Kindlon

13. Mikey Galvin
14. James Sherry
15. Colin Lynch

Subs:

Craig Brennan for M Galvin, 42 mins
John Kindlon for Lynch, 52 mins
Martin Brady for B Galvin

Referee: Darragh Sheppard

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WHEN THE MOURNEABBEY ladies football team reconvened for the 2016 season, they knew they had to park the hurt of the previous year before a new campaign could begin.

A second All-Ireland final had come and gone without the silverware coming back to Cork and thoughts about another shot at All-Ireland glory were understandably in their minds.

But they knew they couldn’t indulge those notions yet. And as they look towards a third consecutive Munster final today, team captain Bríd O’Sullivan assures The42 that their focus remains firmly on the provincial championship.

“We kind of spoke about it at the start of the year,” she begins, “and we knew that we were kidding ourselves if we weren’t concentrating on getting out of Cork first and getting out of Munster.”

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She added: “I suppose we’re one-third of the way there after getting past St Val’s (in the county final) and obviously it would be in the back of our minds after the heartache of the last two years, but we’re trying not to think about it because you can’t afford to be thinking too far ahead when you’re coming up against such experienced and good sides, so we’re just going to concentrate on today for now and see what happens.”

Today they face the Banner of Clare, a side who they previously defeated in the 2014 Munster final. But O’Sullivan insists that the outcome of that encounter means nothing ahead of their next meeting.

@MourneabbeyLFC aim to win 3 in a row this weekend in Munster senior titles pic.twitter.com/aCS13NDCLu

— COS Photography (@COS_Photography) November 3, 2016

“We did play them two years ago but we aren’t really reading anything into that because we’ve both become very different teams since then. There’s different personnel and things like that but they are an excellent team and they’ve a few girls who had success with Clare this year as well, so it will be interesting alright,” said O’Sullivan.

Since that maiden Munster achievement in 2014, Mourneabbey have collected two more provincial and county championships along with the All-Ireland final appearances. But prior to that, their trophy cabinet lay bare for a number of years.

O’Sullivan explains where the sudden burst of riches came from.

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“We won the Intermediate All-Ireland in 2007,” she says, “and I would have been about 14 then. And a lot of the girls who are playing now wouldn’t have been playing then, they would have been children, so after that a lot of the older players went travelling and things like that so it just took a few years basically for us to grow up and for those players who were children back then to be ready for the challenges of senior football.

“We changed our management as well in 2014 and, in fairness, Shane (Ronayne) and Dominic (Gallagher) have really helped turn things around for us.”

All support needed for @MunsterLGFA final v @BannerGAAEnnis in @carrigoon at 3pm on Saturday!! #hontheabbey #blackandamber pic.twitter.com/GPQSIVuEUd

— Mourneabbey LFC (@MourneabbeyLFC) November 2, 2016

A secondary school teacher in Kildare, O’Sullivan has a typically hectic schedule for someone who plays both football and camogie at club level, as well as playing with the Cork senior footballers.

During last year’s campaign, Mourneabbey played three fixtures in one week due to the county final requiring a replay and this year has been another long stretch on the road.

But O’Sullivan has no complaints about the toil involved and the rewards are all worthwhile. Today offers Mourneabbey the chance to secure another one with the ultimate goal tightly stored away elsewhere.

“It’s hard to balance it all but when you’re successful you don’t really mind because you’re enjoying it, so hopefully that’ll last for a little bit longer.”

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UNFANCIED NICE AND Mario Balotelli currently top France’s Ligue 1 table, and Robert Duggan White says it makes a nice change to the tragic stories coming out of the city after the Bastille Day attack earlier this year.

I was in Nice on holidays this year. Any sport shop I went into was all Marseilles and PSGg shirts. Couldn’t find a nice jersey at all. Love to see them win the league. A little lift after the shite the city went through recently.”

We did a (slightly belated) player ratings from the All-Priests Over 75s Challenge match this week, which gave Irishoversea the perfect opportunity to recall a Fr Ted classic.

One of favourite quotes from father was : Father Dougal:
Didn’t you tell me once that Father Jack had a trial for Liverpool?

Father Ted:
No… no, he was on trial, in Liverpool.”

Dick Clerkin, the longest-serving inter-county Gaelic footballer in the country, announced his retirement the other day. I think Jimmy Murphy spoke for a lot of us when he said:

Incredible servant to the game in all fairness. Best of luck with the retirement.”

Stephen McPhail was named Shamrock Rovers’ new sporting director on Tuesday, prompting Dave O’Hanlon to joke about his days Elland Road during Peter Risdale’s calamitous reign.

Well having been at Leeds at least he knows how not to run a football club.”
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Dundalk pair Daryl Horgan and Andy Boyle received their first call-ups to the Ireland squad this week after countless wonderful displays for the Lilywhites. Smithers says:

That’s amazing news they deserve it. Harder to find any other player who’s playing as well as they are. Although they probably won’t play it should be a good experience for them. Fair play.”

The Chicago Cubs have ended a 108-year wait to win the World Series. Ted Logan points out how close Back to the Future was when it revealed they’d end the drought in 2015:

Back to the Future 2 was only one year out with their prediction. Be on the look out for flying DeLorens guys!”

Four years on from London 2012, Rob Heffernan was presented with his bronze medal for the 50k walk at Cork City Hall on Thursday — a sight Ardmore02 is glad to see.

Great stuff, delighted for him. Hope he defends his title in London next year too.”

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FOR THE FIRST time in the county’s history, the Clare men’s football team reached the All-Ireland quarter-finals this year.

Indeed, they previously qualified for the All-Ireland semi-final as Munster champions in 1992 but this is the furthest the county has advanced since the introduction of the back-door system.

The Banner’s Niamh O’Dea had two brothers (Cian and Jack) involved in that impressive run and she also played a pivotal role in steering the Clare ladies to an All-Ireland Intermediate final against Kildare this year.

Later today, she’s back on club duty as the Banner converge on Mallow to battle it out for a senior Munster title. Standing in their way, however, are Mourneabbey of Cork, who are seeking their third consecutive title.

The last game for 2016 in @MunsterLGFA is going to be a good one! Tomorrow in Mallow at 3pm @banner_ladies take on @MourneabbeyLFC pic.twitter.com/wzAtxxgETH

— Munster LGFA (@MunsterLGFA) November 4, 2016

It’s a repeat of the 2014 provincial decider where the Clare side were defeated, and O’Dea says they’ve learned valuable lessons from that loss.

“There’s no getting around it,” she told The42, “they’re a good team and they’ve been in the last two All-Ireland finals. But, look, at the end of the day, we’ll worry about our own game. If we can perform on the day there’s nothing that can stop us. Obviously they’ve a few key players to look out for but it all comes down to ourselves and how we play and how we can get the best performance out of ourselves.

We went up for long stretches of the last game but, typical Cork team, they never give up. Their strong players really performed that day. But if we focus on ourselves, we know they have key players but we know we’ve a good panel and we’re all a year older and a year wiser so hopefully that’ll play into our hands.”

The Banner were crowned the Clare county champions for the sixth successive time earlier this year, and wins in the Munster B Championship against Southern Gaels (Kerry) and Ballymacarbry (Waterford) granted them the chance to atone for that loss two years ago.

O’Dea says that each fixture has brought more improvements to their game.

“The year has gone good so far,” she says, “no complaints. The game against Southern Gaels was probably the most open we’ve had in a long time, it really ebbed and flowed up and down. We’d a lot of goals and a lot of scores. It was a good game to come out on top of because they were a good strong team.

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What a great day for our seniors beating Ballymac 4-9 to 1-12 in the Munster B final. Well done girls. We are so proud @ClareFM @Clarelgfa pic.twitter.com/GaKq7j3LLc

— Banner Ladies (@banner_ladies) October 23, 2016

“Against Ballymacarbry, we’ve played them a lot over the last six years and it’s been back and forward all along. But they’ve all been tough games and very different games. It was ideal preparation because in every single game there were different tactics and that,” O’Dea added.

The UL student, who is currently doing a Masters in Sports Performance, turned 23 last week and a win today would be a birthday present worth waiting for. Her father, JJ, forms part of the Banner management team and her sister, Eva, would be lining out today but for an extensive injury she sustained while playing for Clare in their All-Ireland semi-final win over Tipperary.

And with brothers Cian and Jack also playing for Clare, there’s a good blend of rows and laughs whenever football is discussed in the O’Dea household.

“There’s a good bit of banter. Eva got injured there and she’d be a key player for us and the father is involved as well and he loves it. There’s a bit of everything but it’s been all positive so far in the household. This is a big year for football in Clare, the men’s and women’s team did very well. There’s a few rows but it’s all good.”

Cian and Jack even organised a supporters’ bus to travel to Croke Park and support their sister in the All-Ireland final.

“They had a group coming up from home and that and there was other Clare lads as well so there’s been good support this year and we can’t complain about that.”

Niamh O’Dea on the attack against Kildare in the 2016 All-Ireland Intermediate final

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

As for the wounds left by that threadbare defeat to Kildare, O’Dea admits that while the hurt still lingers, it also offers her motivation to ensure her club side make the most of the opportunity presented to them today.

“We had big expectations going into that game and then it didn’t happen on the day. It was disappointing for us because, looking back, we didn’t do ourselves justice. I suppose today is a chance to prove ourselves again. It would be a bit of redemption because we know we’re good enough, we know we’re capable so it’s just about going out and performing to our capabilities.”

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Home

Source: John Locher

  • Mayo’s Lee Keegan has been named GAA/GPA Footballer of the Year and Waterford’s Austin Gleeson Hurler of the Year at the All-Star awards.
  • Gleeson was also named Young Hurler of the Year and Mayo’s Diarmuid O’Connor Young Footballer of the Year at tonight’s ceremony.
  • Seven players from Tipperary’s All-Ireland winning team were named in the All-Star hurling team.
  • World football’s governing body, Fifa, has charged the FAI over wearing a political symbol to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising, during March’s friendly against Switzerland.
  • Ireland 7s captain and Lansdowne club man Tom Daly will make his debut for Leinster against Zebre tomorrow.
  • Former Dundalk midfielder Richie Towell looks set to play his first match of the season when he takes the field for Brighton’s U23 side.
  • A New Zealand journalist mistook Ireland prop Jack McGrath for Rory Best, in an awkward moment in the pre-match press conference.
  • Conor McGregor has promised to punish Eddie Alvarez for suggesting the Dubliner will make for an “easy fight” next week.

 Away

Source: Tim Goode

  • Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has welcomed Yaya Toure’s apology for agent Dimitri Seluk’s outbursts against the former Barcelona manager.
  • Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes thinks things will get worse, before they get better for his former club.
  • Former Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has replaced Sven-Goran Eriksson as the coach of Shanghai SIPG, earning a cool £11m a year.
  • Kevin Durant came back to haunt his former side by scoring 39 points in Golden State Warriors’ victory over Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Best Thing We Shared

Former German international goalkeeper Tim Wiese made a successful debut in WWE.

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Source: Watch News 2/YouTube

On The Record

New Zealand legend Dan Carter was left disappointed by his recent doping allegations:

It was as simple as that within the WADA [World Anti-Doping Agency] regulations. Unfortunately some details got leaked and a story was made of it. I obviously had done nothing wrong and it has been proven now. Just kind of all moved from all that really.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Where we were today

Murray Kinsella and Sean Farrell are in Chicago to get all the latest news on the eve of Ireland’s Test match against New Zealand.

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Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO

While Sinead Farrell attended Lynn Harvey’s weigh-in ahead of her fight against Mary Romero at the National Boxing Stadium.

The Fixture List

  •  The November internationals get underway with Ireland aiming to make history against New Zealand (kick-off at 8.00pm), while Wales entertain Australia earlier in the day (kick-off 2.30pm).
  • Not forgetting the Pro12 with Leinster in Italy to take on Zebre (kick-off 4.05pm).
  • There’s plenty of club GAA matches to keep us entertained with Castleknock looking to shock St Vincent’s in the Dublin SFC final (throw-in 3.00pm) on Saturday, with Ballyea against Thurles Sarsfields (throw-in 2.00pm) in the Munster SHC, the pick of Sunday’s action.
  • Two-time Olympic medalist Paddy Barnes will make his pro debut in Belfast at the Titanic Centre on Saturday evening, while Lynn Harvey fights her second pro fight in Dublin.
  • The showpiece footballing event of the year takes place on Sunday, with Dundalk aiming for a second consecutive double, when they face Cork City in the FAI Cup final (kick-off 3.40pm), while Wexford Youths face Shelbourne in the women’s final (kick-off 12:00pm).
  • The pick of the Premier League matches takes place at the Emirates when North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham go head-t0-head at noon on Sunday/
  • UFC Mexico takes place in the early hours of Sunday morning, while Jessie Vargas meets Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.

Showbiz, Baby!

The man himself, Eamon Dunphy, along with some familiar faces, are to launch a new football podcast.

Source: TheJournal.ie/YouTube

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Tipperary’s Seamus Callanan with Galway’s Daithi Burke

Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO

SEVEN PLAYERS FROM All-Ireland champions Tipperary and four from beaten finalists Kilkenny have been honoured in the 2016 GAA-GPA All-Star hurling team.

There are two winners apiece from beaten All-Ireland semi-finalists in Galway and Waterford.

Kingpins Tipperary have winners in Cathal Barrett, James Barry, Ronan, Padraic and Patrick Maher, Seamus Callanan and John McGrath.

Kilkenny’s recipients are Eoin Murphy, Padraig Walsh, Walter Walsh and Richie Hogan.

Daithi and David Burke are honoured from Galway while Jamie Barron and Austin Gleeson are the successful players from Waterford.

7 from Tipperary and 4 from Kilkenny – the 2016 All-Star hurling team
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  • Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny – Glenmore)
    Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO
  • Cathal Barrett (Tipperary – Holycross Ballycahill)
    Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO
  • James Barry (Tipperary – Upperchurch Drombane)
    Source: James Crombie/INPHO
  • Daithi Burke (Galway – Turloughmore)
    Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO
  • Padraig Walsh (Kilkenny – Tullaroan)
    Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO
  • Ronan Maher (Tipperary – Thurles Sarsfields)
    Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO
  • Padraic Maher (Tipperary – Thurles Sarsfields)
    Source: James Crombie/INPHO
  • Jamie Barron (Waterford – Fourmilewater)
    Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO
  • David Burke (Galway – St Thomas)
    Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO
  • Walter Walsh (Kilkenny – Tullogher Rosbercon)
    Source: James Crombie/INPHO
  • Austin Gleeson (Waterford – Mount Sion)
    Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO
  • Patrick Maher (Tipperary – Lorrha Dorrha)
    Source: James Crombie/INPHO
  • Richie Hogan (Kilkenny – Danesfrot)
    Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO
  • Seamus Callanan (Tipperary – Drom & Inch)
    Source: James Crombie/INPHO
  • John McGrath (Tipperary – Loughmore Castleiney)
    Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO
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  • Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO” title=””>
  • Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO” title=””>
  • Source: James Crombie/INPHO” title=””>
  • Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO” title=””>
  • Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO” title=””>
  • Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO” title=””>
  • Source: James Crombie/INPHO” title=””>
  • Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO” title=””>
  • Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO” title=””>
  • Source: James Crombie/INPHO” title=””>
  • Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO” title=””>
  • Source: James Crombie/INPHO” title=””>
  • Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO” title=””>
  • Source: James Crombie/INPHO” title=””>
  • Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO” title=””>

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There are nine first-time winners in Murphy, Barrett, Barry, Padraig Walsh, Ronan Maher, Barron, Walter Walsh, Gleeson and John McGrath.

Padraic Maher and Richie Hogan both collect their fourth All-Star while it’s a third award for Seamus Callanan and David Burke. Patrick Maher and Daithi Burke both previously won one award.

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There are four players from last year’s team again honoured in Hogan, Callanan and the Burke duo from Galway. Indeed it is the third successive year that sharphshooters Hogan and Callanan have claimed awards.

Ronan and Padraic Maher are the first Tipperary brothers to win All-Stars in the same year since Paul and Eoin Kelly achieved that feat in 2002.

Padraig Walsh follows in the footsteps of his older brother Tommy who won nine awards during his Kilkenny career, while John McGrath’s older brother is a two-time recipient.

2016 GAA/GPA All-Star Hurling Team of the Year

1. Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny) – First time winner

2. Cathal Barrett (Tipperary) – First time winner
3. James Barry (Tipperary) – First time winner
4. Daithi Burke (Galway) – Winner in 2015

5. Padraig Walsh (Kilkenny) – First time winner
6. Ronan Maher (Tipperary) – First time winner
7. Padraic Maher (Tipperary) – Winner in 2009, 2011 and 2014

8. Jamie Barron (Waterford) – First time winner
9. David Burke (Galway) – Winner in 2012 and 2015

10. Walter Walsh (Kilkenny) – First time winner
11. Austin Gleeson (Waterford) – First time winner
12. Patrick Maher (Tipperary) – Winner in 2014

13. Richie Hogan (Kilkenny) – Winner in 2011, 2014 and 2015
14. Seamus Callanan (Tipperary) – Winner in 2014 and 2015
15. John McGrath (Tipperary) – First time winner

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FOR THE FIRST time in the history of the All-Stars, both the Footballer of the Year and Hurler of the Year have come from counties who didn’t win the All-Ireland title the same year.

Mayo defender Lee Keegan and Waterford star Austin Gleeson picked up the highest individual honours in the game at the GAA/GPA All-Stars tonight at Dublin’s Convention Centre.

Only five times in the past did the hurling and football champions fail to produce the Player of the Year, but that figure now rises to seven as Keegan and Gleeson claim the big awards.

Keegan beat off competition from Brian Fenton and Ciaran Kilkenny, both of whom played for All-Ireland champions Dublin, for the accolade.

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Gleeson topped the list in the three-man hurling poll, seeing off Tipperary’s Seamus Callanan and Padraic Maher for the prize.

Players of the Year who didn’t win an All-Ireland the same year
Footballer of the Year
  • 2016 – Lee Keegan (Dublin are All-Ireland champions)
  • 2010 – Bernard Brogan (Cork were All-Ireland champions)
  • 2003 – Steven McDonnell (Tyrone were All-Ireland champions)
  • 1995 – Peter Canavan (Dublin were All-Ireland champions)

Hurler of the Year

  • 2016 – Austin Gleeson (Tipperary are All-Ireland champions)
  • 2007 – Dan Shanahan (Kilkenny were All-Ireland champions)
  • 1998 – Tony Browne (Offaly were All-Ireland champions)

The 27-year-old Keegan was a colossus in defence for Mayo on their route to the All-Ireland final, while he also provided plenty of moments of inspiration in attack.

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Elsewhere Gleeson enjoyed a phenomenal year, evolving into one of the finest hurlers in the land. Waterford were pipped by Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final replay, but Gleeson was outstanding in both games.

He also became the first hurler since Tony Kelly in 2013 to win both Hurler of the Year and Young Hurler of the Year in the same year.

Keegan picked up his fourth All-Star on the night, while Gleeson won his first.

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MAYO’S DIARMUID O’CONNOR and Deise star Austin Gleeson were honoured with the prestigious Young Player of the Year awards at tonight’s GAA/GPA Opel Allstar bash at the Convention Centre in the capital.

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21-year-old O’Connor picked up his second straight Young Footballer of the Year and now stands level with big brother Cillian as two-time winners of the award.

The year ultimately ended in defeat for O’Connor and Mayo after their narrow All-Ireland final replay loss to Dublin in October. However, O’Connor did lead the Mayo U21s to All-Ireland glory back in April.

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He enjoyed another fine year in the green and red of Mayo, scoring a wonderful goal against Kildare in the qualifiers.

Gleeson, meanwhile, enjoyed another outstanding season with Waterford. The Mount Sion youngster confirmed his status as one of the elite hurlers on the country and he also led his county to All-Ireland U21 honours.

Gleeson, also 21, played a starring role as Derek McGrath’s Waterford ran Kilkenny to an All-Ireland semi-final replay, where they fell short by a single point.

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NESTLED IN NORTH Cork, just off the Mallow-Cork road lies a close-knit rural ladies football team with a huge drive and hunger to succeed.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Mourneabbey is a club of many successes, but it’s the All-Ireland heartbreak that often overshadows them. A small community wounded by many other heartbreaking events over the past few years but bonded through sport.

The Clyda side have come out on the worst end of the past two All-Ireland senior finals, losing to Termon and Donaghmoyne respectively.

This year, the side are hoping it’s a case of third time’s a charm. Having beaten rival club St Vals by a single point in the county final, it’s onto the more serious end of business.

With two consecutive provincial titles under their belt, Mourneabbey will be hoping to claim their third against Clare side The Banner on Saturday.

The last time the teams met on the provincial stage was two years ago. Off the back of their first senior county final win, Mourneabbey lined out against the defending Munster champions as complete underdogs. This time, things are probably the opposite way around, with the Cork force as strong favourites.

A win on Saturday would also mean one step closer to a much sought after All-Ireland senior title.

“Looking back on it, it would be third time’s a charm but we can’t look beyond the Banner. That is a cliche but it’s so true,” team manager Dominic Gallagher tells The42.

“We haven’t looked beyond any game this year and we’re going to continue with that. We decided very early on that we were just going to go game by game.”

“Winning Cork is massive and that would have been our target at the start of the year. To go any further than that, we’re in bonus territory now.”

It’s been an outstanding story for the small club from the Rebel county. Their rise to where they find themselves today began in 2005 when they were crowned All-Ireland junior champions.

Two years later came the next big step on the ladder, winning the intermediate All-Ireland club championship and making the highly anticipated leap to senior level.

The high standard of ladies football in Cork meant that it took a few years to bridge the gap and settle into the rhythm of senior football.

Then came the management team, which includes Dominic Gallagher and Shane Ronayne, the men that have helped them get where they are today.

2014 brought the first of three consecutive county senior titles. That year, anything after that stage was a huge bonus. Little did they know they’d find themselves crowned Munster champions, never mind in an All-Ireland final weeks later, but this time at the highest grade.

A heartbreaking defeat to Donegal side Termon meant that Mourneabbey’s dream was over. Until it started again the following year.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Another county final win over St Vals and a provincial title victory at the hands of Waterford’s Ballymacarbry meant that Mourneabbey were within touching distance of another All-Ireland final just 12 months on.

The semi-final saw them paired with Connacht champions and Galway side Kilkerrin/Clonberne. They come out on the successful side of the tale by a single point.

And there they were again. Just 60 minutes away from getting their hands on the Dolores Tyrell Cup and banishing the memories and nightmares of the previous year.

Seven minutes on the clock. Eight points a piece. This could have been Mourneabbey’s time.

But despite having just 13 players on the field, Donaghmoyne pushed on to win by three and to crush the dreams of the Cork side yet again.

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

This is the point where most teams would crumble. But Mourneabbey are a different class. They’re on another level. And they’re back for more.

“They’re a seriously dedicated bunch of players. They work extremely hard, they’re very focused in what they do as well as being extremely talented,” Gallagher said.

“But not without the hard work of course, they put in the hours on the pitch — that’s it in a nutshell really.”

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On motivating his troops year in year out, team coach Shane Ronayne says that it’s not as hard as it may appear.

“The girls are very good that way. They’re very driven to succeed and self-motivated.

“We had two very long campaigns, they were successful up to a point. We were very disappointed with the way things were in the last two All-Ireland finals.

“I suppose we gave them a good break there after Christmas, we didn’t go back too early. We tried to change it up in training by doing different things and bringing a bit of fun in if we can.

Gallagher feels that a lot of it is down to the players themselves.

“It’s very reliant on the individuals making their individual sacrifices that make up your team ones.

“It’s down to individuals turning up on the wet nights at the start of the year and putting in the hard slog, even away from the training pitch. Doing the right thing in preparation — their food, their hydration, their lifestyle in general.

“They make big sacrifices there as well. They’re a strong unit, they talk to each other, they motivate each other and they decided at the start of the year they wanted to go again. It’s a credit to them.”

Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

You get the sense that one of the contributing factors of the club’s success is how close the girls themselves are.

“It’s a small club, they’re in one parish. They’ve all played with each other from a young age,” Gallagher continues. “They socialise together, they are quite tight.”

“We’ve had a few younger players coming in this year to freshen it up a bit, they’ve been welcomed in and they’re prepared to put in the hard shift as well. As long as you’re willing to do that, you’re welcomed in.”

Mourneabbey are not lying down until they get their senior All-Ireland title, until they’re the first club in the country to win titles at junior, intermediate and senior levels. Some of the players involved from 2005 are still on the panel.

“That’s a driving force for them (winning a senior title). They’d love to be able to have won the three but we had to kind of stop talking about All-Irelands and that early on,” Ronayne explains.

“The experience that they do have is fantastic. They’re very good to the younger players they’re great to give them advice.”

With regards training and the tactical end of things, what Ronayne is doing is obviously working.

“We do a fair bit of running at training at different times, but we wouldn’t do any stuff in the gym really, girls would be doing a bit themselves,” the coach told The42. “We do a lot of ball work and conditioning at the end (of training) and things like that.

“We try to stick to what we know, things we’ve done the past few years. We try to change it up a small bit to be sure that we have a presence up the field for attacking and things like that but we stick to basic stuff.

“It’s worked the last few years and the girls are happy with that. They know there’ll be no surprises.

“We’ve done a little bit of tweaking of things and hopefully those tweaks can get us onto that next step.”

When asked to describe their team in just a few words, the Cork native doesn’t hesitate.

“Highly-motivated, driven and a never-say-die attitude.”

“Driven, dedicated and extremely hard-working. Honest is probably a good word — dedicated, driven and honest” was Gallagher’s response on the other hand.

Turning their focus to Saturday’s clash in Mallow, Ronayne and Gallagher are confident in their side’s ability despite the strong challenge ahead of them.

“We’re happy with the way we’re going ourselves. If we play like we did in the first half and the start of the second half (of the county final), we’d be very happy with that performance, but we can’t afford to sit back like we did towards the end,” Ronayne said.

One thing’s for sure, they won’t be short of support. The entire parish will be out donning the black and amber of Mourneabbey.

“It worked out nicely for us that we haven’t got a far distance to travel but our supporters have travelled everywhere for us. Two years ago, we had to go to London to play a game and a massive crowd followed us over,” Gallagher recalls.

“Wherever we went, they supported us and it’ll be the same Saturday. Hopefully we have success and do the job for them.”

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