
‘Sad to see him go' – GAA fans emotional seeing Michael D Higgins attend last men's All-Ireland final as President
Viewers nationwide reacted to him being escorted out to shake the hand of every starting player
2
He was accompanied onto the Croke Park pitch by GAA President Jarlath Burns
Credit: @TheSundayGame
2
Captain Gavin White was outstanding from start to finish for Kerry
The 84-year-old has served in the role since 2011 so he's become part of the furniture on big sporting occasions such as All-Ireland final matchdays.
Whomever succeeds him in November will have big shoes to fill in spite of his diminutive stature.
The former Labour TD's enjoyed widespread popularity despite being arguably the most outspoken President in the history of the state.
The broad sense that he's been an excellent representative for the country on the national and international stage was reflected in the replies to RTE clipping his last walk-out before a men's decider.
Read More On GAA
Aón labelled him: "A national treasure." Similarly, Karen hailed: "Sorry to see him go. A great President of Ireland."
Rosemary added: "Brilliant President, he has represented our country brilliantly." Lastly, another Karen commented: "Well done true great president Michael D Higgins great president of Ireland.
"A true leader he was and we will sadly miss him as he steps down. Our Irish president well done for everything you've done for our country."
His last men's showpiece was the first one played under the new rules that have revitalised Gaelic football as a spectacle across the 2025 inter-county season.
Most read in GAA Football
The full-time scoreline demonstrated that this another match where attacking play was encouraged and allowed to flourish as the Kingdom
It was the FIFTH time manager Jack O'Connor has led his county to the promised land.
Cork hurlers catch strays during Jack O'Connor's triumphant RTE interview after Kerry outclass Donegal
Afterwards he gave a passionate interview reflecting on their year as a whole - and inadvertently
The 64-year-old branded it a "tough ole year" as he cited
But the veteran boss noted that he sensed a good feeling off his players throughout the morning in the lead-up to
He also pinpointed
CORK CALL-OUT
It was when recalling something he said during the interval that the inadvertent jibe at
O'Connor said bluntly: "I think that two-pointer was a massive score by David. That was a massive fill-up at half-time to put us up by seven.
"Then we said to each other in the dressing room that what happened to Cork last weekend wasn't going to happen to us.
"We were going to come out and play and try to win the second half. And we did win the second half by three points so overall two good halves."
O'Connor's was the only eye-catching post-match interview either as a pumped-up Paudie Clifford

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Daily Mirror
23 minutes ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Former Mayo star Oisín Mullin hails Kerry duo after signing new AFL contract
Oisín Mullin says that the Irish connection is key to his progress at Geelong Cats after signing a new contract with the AFL giants. The former Mayo star has been at the club since 2022 and has committed his future to them until 2027 having become a mainstay this season in particular. After making six AFL appearances in 2023 followed by 12 last year, Mullin has featured in 18 of their 19 games so far this season as the Cats sit in fourth place in the Premiership table with four games to go, leaving them in a strong position to contest the finals series. Laois native Zach Tuohy, who retired last year, was at the club when Mullin first joined, along with Kerry's Mark O'Connor, whose fellow countyman Cillian Burke is now on the books. 'Obviously the Cats have been known for having a great culture and when I was coming over there was Zach and Mark here as well so having that Irish connection was a big pull and a big factor in coming over here,' Mullin told the club's website. 'The two of them were very important in the journey from the get-go so yeah, it definitely had a big influence.' He continued: 'Zach, from the beginning, I worked with him a lot. Done a lot of kicking and stuff, his kick was obviously unbelievable. Mark as well, just nailing the skills and stuff like that, just chatting me through what it takes to keep developing. 'It takes a lot of patience as well, things aren't going to click from the get-go but obviously the off-field transition as well, Mark especially has been at the club… this is his ninth season and he's just been through that whole transition period just for tips, not just on the field but off the field as well and obviously getting Cillian to join this year has been great. 'He's a great personality to have around the club so I've been loving it with them.' Mullin has been handed greater responsibility in the side this year having been handed a key 'tagging' role. He added: 'It's an enjoyable role, it's a very cool experience getting to match up with some of the best in the game. Not something I thought I'd be doing this early in my career but it's definitely been very helpful, helping me to develop and it's nice to know the coaches have the confidence to back me in that role and attack the game.'


Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Who is Justin Kelly, the Garda commissioner in waiting?
Having joined An Garda Síochána as a recruit at the Garda College, Templemore, Co Tipperary, in 1992, Deputy Commissioner Justin Kelly will now be responsible for leading the force when Garda Commissioner Drew Harris retires on September 1st. The Government on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of Kelly, a 53-year-old from Dublin 6 , as Garda commissioner. The contract is for five years, on a current salary of €314,512. Kelly is relatively young to take on the top policing post in the Republic. And as the retirement age in the force was increased from 60 to 62 years, he could serve as commissioner for the next nine years. That is assuming he would want to, and that he would be offered contract extensions by the Government, though extensions are common for senior officers. An athlete who still runs the marathon in under four hours, Kelly emerged as the preferred candidate from a recruitment competition, which attracted 14 applications for the job, that began in May. It concluded last week when the final interviews were conducted. While he has no public profile to speak of – something that will now change quickly – he is well known and popular across the Garda. News of his appointment was well received across the ranks, especially in the context of concerns that a foreign police officer, or even a civilian, could be parachuted into the Garda commissioner's role. 'He'd be seen as 'one of our own', if you like,' said one source. 'He's come up through the ranks and I suppose he'd be someone who knows the experience of the average [garda] member because he's lived that experience.' Other sources said he was regarded as a 'real police man' and someone who had a track record in crime investigation rather than 'gimmick police work'. Kelly is a married man with children and cut his teeth as a rank-and-file garda in some of Dublin's busiest stations. He is best known for his involvement in policing operations to combat serious organised crime. Last year, in an attempt to strengthen ties between the Garda and international law enforcement, Kelly went to Colombia . He ventured into the jungle with police commandos to view coca crops and just-discovered cocaine production facilities. He has also been to Dubai to build relationships with its police there, as the force continues to pursue the Kinahan cartel 's leaders and other Irish drug dealers. He began his career policing the streets of Dublin while attached to Garda stations in Clondalkin, Blanchardstown and Tallaght. Once he was promoted for the first time – from the rank of garda to sergeant – his ascent up the ranks was rapid. He has also accrued diverse experience in policing and academia. Kelly's early years as a manager in the force were as an inspector, leading uniformed frontline gardaí in Clondalkin and Blanchardstown . He also spent time as a detective inspector at the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau which is a hands-on role where he would have managed investigations and on-the-ground operations involving surveillance, intelligence gathering, in addition to search–and-arrest operations. In 2001, he was seconded to work for the United Nations in Bosnia Herzegovina, where he helped build the capacity of local law enforcement in the aftermath of the Balkan War. As a detective superintendent, he managed the Garda National Protective Services Bureau which investigates crimes involving vulnerable victims, including sexual offences and domestic violence. At the rank of chief superintendent, both in uniform and as detective, he was leader of the Special Detective Unit, the force's counterterrorism squad. When appointed to the rank of assistant commissioner, he was in charge of the Garda's serious and organised crime branch – one of the most pressurised positions in operational policing. In that role, which he filled until last October, he was in charge of most of the Garda specialist units that tackle crimes as varied as drug trafficking, gang feuding, fraud, cybercrime and immigration, among others. He was appointed to the rank of deputy commissioner – in charge of security, strategy and governance – just nine months ago, but has now already left that rank behind and secured the top job for which he was seen as the clear favourite from the moment it was confirmed he had applied for the role. Kelly has a law degree from University College Dublin, a Master's of Criminal Justice from the John Jay College, New York, an MBA from Dublin City University and a Master's of Serious Crime Investigation from the University of Limerick.


Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Jeremy Duncan seals win for Ireland over Italy in EuroHockey Championship
The men in green began brightly, winning their first penalty corner after just two minutes. Lee Cole's effort was well saved, but Duncan was on hand to follow up and find the net. Chances were few and far between for the remainder of the first half, with Italy sitting deep and crowding their circle to make things difficult for the Irish attackers. The tactic served them well, with Ireland unable to add to their one-goal lead before half-time. Despite an energetic start and a number of early circle penetrations, efforts on goal remained elusive. Two late penalty corners proved the best chances for Ireland, the first of which was deflected wide, and the second initially resulting in a penalty stroke for Ireland, which was eventually overturned. The close scoreline set up a nervy final quarter for Ireland, with Italy winning a penalty corner that forced Jamie Carr into a good save. Italy continued to enjoy prolonged phases in the Irish half, but Ireland were alive to any efforts to manufacture a chance on goal. In a last-ditch effort to salvage a draw, Italy substituted their keeper in favour of an additional outfield player with three minutes remaining. Ireland, held out to secure the points and extend their lead at the top of Pool A. Ireland will play their third and final pool match against Portugal tomorrow at 6.0pm. A draw would be enough to see Ireland secure top spot and a place in the semi-finals.