Jack O'Connor on Kerry's injury misfortune and a ray of light on a dark day
Kerryman
As he heads into his eighth All-Ireland final as manager of the Kerry football team, Jack O'Connor has good reason to feel that the season has turned a positive corner as it enters the home straight.
The sick bay is all but empty, the queue for the treatment tables has shortened considerably, and Jack is in his happy place: Fitzgerald Stadium as the evenings are starting to draw in, balls, bibs, cones and the best of the best footballers in the Kingdom preparing for the denouement of the season and the chance to reclaim the Sam Maguire cup.
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Irish Examiner
15 minutes ago
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All-Ireland Camogie semi-final: Galway 1-18 Tipperary 1-11 Galway go again for Croker. Semi-final torture again for Tipperary. After coming off a marginal second best to Cork in last year's final classic, Galway will travel redemption road in a fortnight's time. For Tipp, the road again ends at the semi-final juncture. A seventh All-Ireland semi-final defeat in eight years. This latest semi-final rejection, mind, carried none of the one-point heartbreak they endured on this weekend for the past two years. They were a distance off Galway here. Tipp's 1-3 total from play spoke to that distance. For the women in maroon, it took them a little longer than they would have preferred to reflect that gap on the scoreboard. Level at the break, and momentum having swung to the Premier corner at the end of that opening half, Galway reassumed the lead and control right from the throw-in. Niamh Mallon was fouled, Carrie Dolan converted. Karen Kennedy did subsequently restore parity. It was the last time, though, Tipp stood level. From the 33rd minute to the finish, Galway dominated 1-8 to 0-4. The goal arrived on 38 minutes. It was cooked up by two of Galway's outstanding second half characters. Ailish O'Reilly played through Mallon. The finish was drenched in class. O'Reilly contributed three second-half points herself. The goal nudged the westerners four clear. 1-11 to 1-7. They gradually pulled out of sight. Along with O'Reilly, Aoife Donohue, Mairead Dillon, and Coaimhe Kelly rose white flags. Donohue, for a finish, was popping up everywhere. She, more than anyone else, typified the difference in physical conditioning between the two sides. Galway were more ferocious. They were fitter too. The opening half swung on a Tipp goal wrapped and generously handed over by Galway. There was 26 minutes run when Karen Kennedy charged from halfway. No obvious signs of danger, even if Kennedy in full flight always has the potential for danger. The Tipp captain shot for white from just inside the 45-metre line. Goalkeeper Sarah Healy put up the stick for what should have been a routine bat-down and control. Instead, the sliotar flew off her hurley and into the net. Caoimhe Kelly of Galway in action against Julieanne Bourke of Tipperary during the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Camogie Senior Championship semi-final match between Galway and Tipperary at UPMC Nowlan Park, Kilkenny. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile The chant started. They were the majority in the crowd. We hadn't known such because there'd been nothing at all to shout about for the previous 26 minutes. No score from play, only two Grace O'Brien frees, and full-back Karin Blair lost to injury. Kennedy's point attempt ends in the net all of a sudden the blue and gold flags are taken out from underneath the seat. 'Tipp, Tipp, Tipp, Tipp'. From 0-8 to 0-2 in arrears, Tipp outgunned their neighbours from there to half-time by 1-4 to 0-1. Galway's restarts were devoured. Deliveries to Aoife Donohue that had stuck so effectively for the opening 25 minutes were now being crowded out. Successive fouls on Roisin Howard, Eimear Heffernan, and Kennedy by Donohue, Emma Helebert, and Dervla Higgins enabled Grace O'Brien and Heffernan to bring Tipp level at 1-6 to 0-9 at the break. Not since the seventh minute had they enjoyed stalemate. They would only once more stand level with their opponents. Tipp never led from start to finish. Galway again stand on the cusp of glory. Scorers for Galway: C Dolan (0-6, 0-5 frees); N Mallon (1-2); A O'Reilly (0-5); M Dillon, C Kelly (0-2 each); A Donohue (0-1). Scorers for Tipperary: G O'Brien (0-7, 0-7 frees); K Kennedy (1-1); E Heffernan (free), C Hennessy, J Kelly (0-1 each). GALWAY: Sarah Healy; Shauna Healy, R Black, R Hannify; E Helebert, C Hickey, D Higgins; A Starr, O Rabbitte; N Mallon, M Dillon, A Donohue; C Dolan, A O'Reilly, C Kelly. SUBS: S Gardiner for Helebert (42); S Rabbitte for Dillon, A Hesnan for Healy (both 52); N Niland for Kelly, J Hughes for O Rabbitte (both 61). TIPPERARY: L Leeane; E Loughman, J Bourke, K Blair; C Maher, S Corcoran, C McCarthy; M Eviston, K Kennedy; C McIntyre, C Hennessy, E Heffernan; G O'Brien, R Howard, M Burke. SUBS: E Carey for Blair (20 mins, inj); J Kelly for Burke (44); A McGrath for Maher (60). REFEREE: J Heffernan (Wexford)
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
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FOR the second year running Cork returned from an All-Ireland hurling final without silverware. But the manner of this year's second-half shocking collapse against Tipperary has only added to the deep pain for their 2 Robert Downey of Cork showed up at a kid's hurling camp to help out after a heartbreaking loss in last Sunday's All-Ireland final 2 A post was shared of the Cork skipper on social media at the camp earlier this week Credit: INSTA @tomken81 The Rebel county boards also During the week, speculation swirled on WhatsApp, suggesting a significant dressing-room bust-up at half-time. Amid the noise and rumours, Rebels captain Robert Downey has earned praise for a classy gesture during what must be a difficult week. The skipper turned up to help coach at a local kids' Cúl Camp. read more on hurling A photo was posted to Instagram by former Cork star Tom Kenny from the Grenagh GAA Cúl Camp. The snap showed Downey chatting and coaching the next generation of hurlers - despite the heartbreak of the previous weekend. A caption on the "Thanks to Rob Downey for calling after a tough sporting week for him. Well done boys and girls. Thanks to all the coaches, assistants and volunteers." Most read in GAA Hurling One particularly touching image shows Downey in deep conversation with a group of children as they don hurleys in their hands. The post was later shared by O'Connor Hurleys – a company co-owned by two-time All-Ireland winner Ben O'Connor – who used the moment to condemn the unfounded dressing-room claims circulating online. Liam Cahill's BBC interview gatecrashed by Tipperary GAA stars after All-Ireland final A further post stated: "To anybody ignorant or stupid enough that helped spread a rumour this week, what have you done to promote the game this week?" "This is what Rob Downey did this week after the heartache of losing an All-Ireland final. "Shame on anyone that promoted those horrible stories about our young men this week. You're not supporters, nor are you good opponent. You're lower than low.' It's not clear who runs the O'Connor Hurleys social media page, but the message pulled no punches. Regardless, Downey's decision to attend the camp was a powerful and selfless gesture that hasn't gone unnoticed in many quarters after such a challenging week for the Cork skipper.
Irish Times
an hour ago
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Hugo Keenan savours ‘special moment' as his try clinches Lions series win
As long as he lives, Hugo Keenan will always have the MCG and his last minute to seal a Lions Test series win. It was so good, so historic and the picture of him being held shoulder high by team-mates so iconic, that the players had him re-enact his finish when they congregated on the pitch long after the final whistle. It was a better try than it even seemed at the time, beginning with Jamison Gibson-Park deciding and executing a sharp pass to his Leinster and Irish team-mate, and Keenan standing Len Ikitau up with his footwork to create the space on the outside – helped by Jack Conan holding is width – for the finish. This won't be the only night in his life Keenan will get to celebrate this try. 'It's a bit surreal,' he admitted afterwards. 'It was a class moment. It was off the back two minutes of phase attack, the lads digging deep. It meant the world to myself and everybody that was out there, the 23, the lads who weren't playing, the backroom staff, the 50,000 Lions supporters out there and everyone at home. It's a really special moment.' READ MORE HUGO KEENAN WINS IT FOR THE LIONS! 🦁 — Sky Sports (@SkySports) Andy Farrell had earlier admitted he had been imploring Keenan to pass to Conan. 'I was screaming: 'Pass it. Pass it. Pass it!' And knowing Hugo, he was never going to pass it! He was always going to back himself. I spoke to his dad [Paul] after the game and he was never going to pass it. He backs himself in those types of situations.' Keenan laughed when this was put to him. 'He [Farrell] mentioned it after. I think he backed me at the end. Jack was outside and I think he would have finished it himself, but where there is a will there is a way.' The high point of Keenan's highlights reel was all the more satisfying given he'd been laid low for 10 days and lost several kilos due to a stomach bug which also led to a delayed and off-colour Lions debut against the Waratahs three weeks ago. 'It's been a mad whole trip. It's not how I imagined it going, getting sick for two weeks and coming in to camp a bit injured. It's been a rollercoaster, but I suppose these things happen for a reason, and thankfully I was in full health come the last two Tests. 'I'm delighted to be involved and delighted that we got the result today. It's special moments having our family and friends out on the pitch with us at the end. It's those moments you play rugby for and you dream of.' Lions Hugo Keenan and Ellis Genge celebrate in the dressingroom after the match. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho Admittedly, there had been a few moments when it seemed Keenan's try might be over-ruled as the officials reviewed Jac Morgan's clearout on Carlo Tizzano, but the try-scorer maintained otherwise. 'To be honest, once I saw the clearout, I was pretty confident. I don't think there was any foul play in it and I was confident that the refs would make the right call. It was just relief, delighted and ecstatic that we got over the line. A cool moment.' Afterwards, before re-enacting his try, Keenan could also be seen jumping into a section of the crowd. 'I jumped in a few times! It was unbelievable walking around the stadium. My parents were there, my brother, my uncle and aunt, my girlfriend. I've about ten friends over from Ireland who have spent a bomb to be here but they are all saying it is absolutely worth it. Really cool moments which make it extra special.' As for it being the highlight of his career so far? 'It's definitely up there. How could it not be? The Lions is the pinnacle for a Britain and Ireland rugby player, and to win a series is incredibly special. It's there or thereabouts. I'm absolutely delighted and it is extra special to do it with such a good bunch and so many familiar faces in the crowd.' Talk of winning the series three-nil could wait, for 24 hours anyway. 'I think we'll enjoy tonight and celebrate what we have achieved so far. I'm sure come Monday morning, when we turn the page, it'll all be about finishing it the right way.'
