
Colm Keys: How Gaelic football's new rules made it one of the best summers for years
This year's championship ended on a very familiar soundtrack as Kerry collected a 39th All-Ireland title, one that will rank right up there among the sweetest in their priceless collection.
That it has been delivered in a year when new rules have transformed Gaelic football, under the most radical set of proposals ever, will compound their pleasure and enshrine the belief that ultimately it is Kerry who will always adapt to the game's ways and means. History has shown that.
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Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Kerry FC new boy Ewan Lee strikes back to earn draw on road to Treaty United
Treaty United 1 Kerry FC 1 Ewan Lee's first Kerry FC goal six minutes from time was enough to earn Colin Healy's side a point against Treaty United in the Markets Field on Monday evening. Patrick Ferry had initially given the home side the lead just after the hour mark with a superbly taken header, but Healy's attacking substitutions turned the tide, and Kerry took advantage of Treaty trying to sit in and protect their lead. It means a total of four points from a possible six for Kerry on the Bank Holiday weekend, a much-needed boost in the league standings after a run of five without a win prior. The state of the playing surface dominated the pre-match discussion in the Markets Field. The Kerry players walked out for their usual pre-match walk an hour before kick-off and discovered several divots that, in all honesty, looked more akin to a driving range than a football pitch. As a result, the opening twenty minutes of the tie were lethargic, as both sets of players struggled to judge the weight of the pass, which was also hindered by a strong breeze. The away side, though, did have the majority of the possession, but created nothing of note. It took until the thirty-minute mark of the game for the first action in either final third, with the home side creating two chances in quick succession. Mark Byrne's looping header drifted wide of Matthew Connor's post; meanwhile, Lee Devitt's snapshot from the edge of the area sailed over the bar a minute later. Five minutes into the second half, Kerry created their first meaningful scoring attempt. Seán O'Connell's left-footed corner sailed towards the back post whilst Ronan Teahan peeled around the back of the attacking bunch, completely unmarked, but couldn't steer his header on target. Treaty United were almost gifted the opening goal of the game on the hour mark. Samuel Aladesnausi turned over the ball in his own box to Mark Byrne, whose subsequent shot from ten yards was well saved by Connor in the Kerry net. Just five minutes later, the home side broke the deadlock. With the game in a complete lull at the time, it felt like the opening goal needed to come from a moment of real quality, and full-back Evan O'Connor's assist was just that.. The right-footed cross from deep by O'Connor was pounced on by Patrick Ferry, who did well to head past Connor at the near post. After going behind, Kerry boss Colin Healy wasted no time changing the shape, introducing Brosnan, Amechi, and McGrath to try and get back level. Despite the attacking changes, their best chance of the game fell to centre-half Ewan Lee. Kerry once again used the drifting around the back tactic from a set piece, this time from an Oran Crowe free kick, but once again the resulting effort drifted just past the post. Just six minutes from time, Kerry found the equaliser. It was clear that set pieces would be their route back into the tie, and on the third major chance from dead-ball situations, they converted. A long throw from Samuel Aladesnausi caused chaos in the box, with Ewan Lee eventually managing to bundle the ball home for his first Kerry goal in front of the travelling support. Tensions began to spill over towards the end of the game, it was a Munster derby after all, but both sides committing tactical fouls to stop counterattacks within thirty seconds of each other saw the yellow cards fly in injury time. All in all, a fantastic weekend for Colin Healy's Kerry FC side, who return home to face Finn Harps in Mounthawk Park on Friday night. KERRY FC: Matthew Connor; Kevin Williams, Samuel Aladesanusi, Chris McQueen, Ewan Lee, Sean O'Connell; Oran Crowe, Carl Mujaguzi, Ronan Teahan; Daniel Okwute, Robert Cleary Subs: Joe Adams for Robbie Cleary (58), Kennedy Amechi for Carl Mujaguzi (66), Sean McGrath for Daniel Okwute (66), Finn Barrett for Kevin Williams (72), Cian Brosnan for Sean O'Connell (72)


Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Limerick's Colin Ryan regains All-Ireland Poc Fada title
Limerick's Colin Ryan hailed a sweet win after regaining the M. Donnelly All-Ireland Poc Fada title after three seasons of near misses. The 2021 winner braved high winds - which rendered almost half of the traditional 5km course unplayable - to make off with the silverware having finished second in each of the last three seasons. Two of the four sections on the Annaverna Mountain course were bypassed as a result of gale force gusting winds. But 2018 All-Ireland SHC medallist Ryan, who also lined out in the 2017 All-Ireland U-21 final win with Limerick, held his nerve for a sweet win. He shoved Offaly star Cillian Kiely into second place, defeating the 2018 and 2019 winner by just 13 metres overall. Colin Ryan of Limerick with his son Fionn. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile Kerry man and Kilkenny hurler Fionan Mackessy, chasing a three-in-a-row of titles after his 2023 and 2024 wins, could only finish third in County Louth. Ryan's win was all the more impressive as he played at centre-back for his club Pallasgreen in the Limerick IHC on Sunday afternoon. Asked where the win ranks in his career achievements, Ryan said it's close to the top. "It's right up there for me," he said. "You're on your own, compared to playing with the club or in a team. So it's that bit tougher mentally. You're striking by yourself and there's no-one to help you with that strike, or to dig you out of a hole. "So I put this win right up there in my career. The 2021 win was special but I'd say this was even more special having come second the last three years. "To get over the line was great because you'd wonder at times would it happen again." It was Ryan's first win with his young son, Fionn. His partner, Grace, along with family members and friends, were on hand for support. Ryan completed the course in 25 pucks, the same as Kiely and Mackessy. But the 60 metres he added on from the ball going beyond the first turning point, and the finish line, won it for him. Powerhouse Kiely could only add on 47 metres and Kerry native Mackessy 35 metres. Ryan's last puck helpfully hit a rock after crossing the finish line and bounced on several metres, a stroke of good fortune. "Every bit counts when it comes down to metres," said Ryan. "I knew coming up for my last shot, we'd heard that Cillian was going well so we knew that if we hit a good one, we could win it. Thankfully I hit a rock! It took a nice little bounce and, look, it's a game of inches. It was great to get that bit of luck." Cillian Kiely of Offaly competing in the Senior Hurling competition during the M. Donnelly GAA Poc Fada All-Ireland Finals at Annaverna Mountain in the Cooley Peninsula, Ravensdale, Louth. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile Tipperary great and 2025 All-Ireland U-20 winning manager Brendan Cummins came up short in his bid for a record 10th title, finishing seventh. But there was a huge ovation for Cork's Molly Lynch who completed a five-in-a-row of senior camogie wins. The goalkeeper required just 27 pucks, four ahead of the next competitor, to complete what was a full camogie course. Former champion Killian Phelan of Kilkenny won the Paul Ward Cup, awarded for the longest single puck on the day. Westmeath's Conor Raleigh won the U-16 boys title, narrowly edging out Galway's Oran Stratford while Offaly's Siofra Ginty was the outstanding U-16 camogie participant, taking the title with two pucks to spare.


Irish Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Dublin's lucky charm on what motivated her to come back and win All-Ireland
Dublin's lucky charm Eilish O'Dowd admits she felt like she was 'missing out' after parking her inter-county in 2024. The former Leitrim player, a long-time Dublin resident, was called up by her adopted county ahead of the 2023 season after impressing for Na Fianna at club level and slotted in at midfield as they went all way, beating Kerry in the All-Ireland final for their first Brendan Martin Cup success since their four-in-a-row run from 2017-20. But, like so many in the ladies game, her head was turned by the AFLW last year and she signed for the GWA Giants, with whom she made a notable impression, which included kicking the fastest goal in the competition's history some 15 seconds into her debut against the Western Bulldogs. Back home, Dublin relinquished their All-Ireland title at the quarter-final stage in O'Dowd's absence, suffering a surprise defeat to Galway at Parnell Park and with long-serving manager Mick Bohan stepping down in the aftermath, it seemed like the end of an era. However, with O'Dowd back on board after her Australian stint and Paul Casey and Derek Murray providing a seamless transition as they took over from Bohan in a joint capacity, Dublin are back on top after making light work of Meath, who sensationally halted their five-in-a-row bid in 2021, in Sunday's All-Ireland final. It means that, in terms of All-Ireland success, O'Dowd has a 100% record in her Dublin career with both of her two seasons having ended with the ultimate glory. 'It's great, fantastic, I can't complain!' she said. 'God, it's just so special to be back here. 'I think when I stepped away last year to go over to Australia and focus just on AFL, there definitely was a big part of me that felt like I was missing out, and even just watching the girls last year going in the group stages and even the League, you always feel like… you're just missing out, and you want to be a part of it all the time. 'It's very hard when you're over in Australia, the time difference and everything. That definitely gave me the motivation to want to come back and do it all again, because when you get the taste for that glory, you just want that success again. So, yeah, delighted to be able to get a second one. Two out of two!' The Dublin team maintained the tradition of taking the cup to the children's hospital in Crumlin this morning, while there will be a victory celebration staged in Smithfield Square tomorrow at 6pm.