Meath hoping to give Dublin as good a game as Cork gave to Kerry
It was great to see some of that old fire back in the Cork bellies
,' he writes, having a notion that the team being written off helped put it there. The challenge now, though, is to kick on and prove that they don't need to see the Kerry jersey to keep that fire burning.
Another of football's great rivalries has been a wholly one-sided affair over the last 15 years, it being that long since Meath last beat Dublin. '
If it's not yet a dead rivalry, then it's certainly a dormant one
,' writes Gordon Manning in the build-up to Sunday's game in Portlaoise, which will be the first Dublin-Meath championship fixture outside Croke Park since 1980.
Seán Moran, meanwhile, has been reading through a discussion paper published last week, the subject the effect on Gaelic players' mental health when they're competing in
'an amateur sport in a professional context'
. The findings are stark, but Seán notes that the paper is based on data gathered in 2018 and wonders if matters have improved since then, particularly with the introduction of the split season.
In soccer, there is yet more upheaval at the FAI with the announcement on Tuesday that
Marc Canham is quitting his role as their chief football officer
. His three-year reign was an eventful and not altogether successful one, that 231-day search for a successor to Stephen Kenny especially shambolic.
READ MORE
In rugby,
Gordon D'Arcy wonders what impact Rieko Ioane will have for Leinster
when he arrives in November on a seven-month contract, attack coach
Tyler Bleyendaal looking forward to working with the New Zealander
. But his focus, he tells John O'Sullivan, is on this season's challenges, next up Scarlets in the URC on Saturday.
Connacht and Ulster both face South African opposition as they attempt to keep their top-eight hopes alive, Linley MacKenzie talking to Cullie Tucker ahead of
Connacht's game away to the Lions
, Michael Sadlier hearing from Richie Murphy whose
injury-ravaged Ulster
side host the Sharks.
And in golf, Philip Reid is
counting down to Royal Portrush hosting The Open
in July, when a record crowd of 278,000 spectators will attend the championship, but a lot of work needs to be done before Portmarnock gets the chance to become the first course outside the UK to host the sport's oldest Major.
TV Watch
: There's more coverage of snooker's world championships on BBC1, BBC Four and TNT Sports through the day and evening. At 8.0, Arsenal play Crystal Palace in the Premier League (Sky Sports) and Inter Milan meet AC Milan in the second leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final (Premier Sports 2).
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RTÉ News
2 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Cork come good to keep three-in-a-row hopes alive
Cork's three-in-a-row bid continued on Saturday as they came from behind to defeat Waterford 1-21 to 1-11 in UPMC Nowlan Park, setting up an All-Ireland final rematch with Galway. It was death by a thousand cuts for Waterford in the end, with substitute Orlaith Mullins' goal and two points in injury time providing a final flourish for Cork. If ten points feels a little harsh on the Déise, they did need Brianne O'Regan to make two phenomenal saves in the second half from Katrina Mackey, whose three early second-half points sent the Rebels on their way, and Orlaith Cahalane. But the Déise did so much right and no one could say they did not deserve to lead at half-time, by 1-07 to 0-09. Niamh Rockett was threatening but Beth Carton was near unmarkable, scoring a goal and three points from play. Orlaith Mullins put the icing on the cake for final-bound Cork with a goal 📱 📻 — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 26, 2025 They started really well, every pass sticking, winning a lot of the physical tussles, Vikki Falconer and Keely Corbett Barry dominant in defence, where Kate Lynch was an effective sweeper, and the forwards taking their chances. The goal came in the 15th minute, as Mairéad O'Brien shaped to shoot but placed the sliotar on the bas of her hurley and she was away. Suddenly, she had created a two-on-one. From there it was about the pass. It was perfect and Carton approached Amy Lee with menace, before rattling the net. That opened a four-point gap but in the final ten minutes, Cork began to work their patterns, in particular sending the pacey Saoirse McCarthy rattling down Waterford's right flank first and then the middle. The Courcey Rovers flier lofted some lovely scores from play and frees, and Sorcha McCartan had another as Ger Manley's squad drew level but Waterford had the last say via Abby Flynn. Beth Carton caps Waterford's excellent start against Cork with a goal 📱 📻 — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 26, 2025 Cork had the wind in the second half and while that really didn't have any impact on their possession and support style of play, it made it harder to hit Rockett, who cut a more isolated figure up top as the game wore on. Aoife Healy and Laura Hayes helped secure the upper hand around the middle third and by and large, Cork were happy to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Mackey brought her tally to four, Emma Murphy slotted her second after a lightning break, while McCarthy lofted over some scoring points from frees, and an absolute peach from play, a stand-and-deliver drive off the back foot from tight to the left touchline. It was still only a five-point game when Lorraine Bray pointed approaching the hour but then Mullins hit her purple patch, having only come into the game in the 57th minute. Cork: A Lee, P Mackey, L Coppinger, M Cahalane, A Healy, L Treacy, L Hayes (0-01), H Looney, A Thompson, E Murphy (0-02), S McCartan (0-02), S McCarthy (0-07, 0-04fs), O Cahalane, K Mackey (0-04), A O'Connor (0-03, 0-02fs, 0-01 45). Subs: C Healy for E Murphy (53); M Murphy for Thompson, O Mullins (1-02) for McCartan (57); A Fitzgerald for Hayes (60+2). Waterford: B O'Regan, A McNulty, K Corbett Barry, V Falconer, B Bowdren, R Walsh, O Hickey, L Bray (0-01), A Flynn (0-01), E O'Neill, B Carton (1-04), M O'Brien, A Fitzgerald, N Rockett (0-05, 0-03fs), Kate Lynch.
Irish Examiner
3 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Cork wear down battling Waterford to stay on track for camogie hat-trick
All-Ireland camogie semi-final: Cork 1-21 Waterford 1-11 A Saoirse McCarthy-inspired Cork eventually wore down Waterford in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior camogie semi-final at UPMC Nowlan Park on Saturday. The Rebels stellar championship run, which sees them unbeaten since Galway overcame them in the round-robin two years ago, ensures they stay on track for three-in-a-row All-Ireland titles. This feat was last achieved by Cork between 1970-1973. No doubt Galway will have something to say about that in two weeks time when these familiar foes meet for a second year running in what should be another fascinating showdown in Jones Road (5.15pm throw-in). Today's encounter was a far cry from when Cork totally outclassed Waterford in the 2023 final, the south-east side were in this game right up until the fourth quarter, only to be overrun in the closing stages. Twelve of that starting team lined out in this penultimate round. The finishing touches to the Cork victory were applied by substitute Orlaith Mullins who entered the fray three minutes from time and ended with a hefty 1-2. But it was McCarthy who shone the brightest, scoring seven wonderful points - three from play. There was one change to Ger Manley's side with Katrina Mackey replacing Clodagh Finn after the Fr O'Neill's forward picked up an injury during the week. Keeley Corbett Barry, left, and Orla Hickey of Waterford react after their side's defeat in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Camogie Senior Championship semi-final match between Cork and Waterford at UPMC Nowlan Park, Kilkenny. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile Being able to call on a player of that calibre tells how strong this panel is, and the Douglas forward ended with four points. In front of an attendance of 7,120 spectators, Cork won the toss and elected to play against the wind and while they were first on the scoreboard through an Amy O'Connor free, Waterford's response four minutes later from a Niamh Rockett placed ball was a significant reply. The teams traded points before Waterford, mainly through the brilliance of Beth Carton, moved into a 1-4 to 0-3 lead midway through the half. The De La Salle attacker's first point could well have been a green flag but her shot sailed over the bar. She made no mistake on the quarter hour mark when she moved into space and was set up by Mairead O'Brien and her finish was low to the far corner. Emma Murphy and Sorcha McCartan white flags were cancelled by Carton and a Rockett free - Waterford keeping their noses in front as the wind appeared to swirl, 1-6 to 0-5. Cork came more into the game through the next four points - three of these excellent returns from the speedster McCarthy to draw level. But with corner-forward Kate Lynch playing a deep role for Mick Boland's outfit, Abby Flynn pushed her side into the lead, 1-7 to 0-9 at the interval, after she capitalised from a long Rockett free. The first 10 minutes of the restart was frenetic. Cork obviously benefitted from a good half-time pep talk with Katrina Mackey showing the way with a trio of points, Cork were beginning to work their way back. The Rebels would outscore their opponents six points to two. Waterford did well to keep the ball out of the net in the 38th minute, as the scores at the other end started to dry up. This due to the Cork rearguard maintaining a strong defensive shape. The champions clearly had got any rustiness out of the system from their four week lay-off since competitive action. As the third quarter came to a conclusion, the lead had extended to 0-16 to 1-9. Rockett ended a 12 minute drought for Waterford with a 48th minute free. There was no let up from Cork, McCarthy landing another brace. The alertness of Brianna O'Regan in the Waterford goal denied Cliona Healy, but O'Connor split the posts from the '45. Mullins put the icing on the cake in the first minute of stoppage when she was picked out by Orlaith Cahalane. Scorers for Cork: S McCarthy (0-7, 0-4 frees), O Mullins (1-2), K Mackey (0-4), A O'Connor (0-3, 0-2 frees, 0-1 45), E Murphy and S McCartan (0-2 each), L Hayes (0-1). Scorers for Waterford: B Carton (1-4), Rockett (0-5, 0-3 frees), L Bray and A Flynn (0-1 each). CORK: A Lee; P Mackey, L Coppinger, M Cahalane (Capt); A Healy, L Treacy, L Hayes; H Looney, A Thompson; E Murphy, S McCartan, E Murphy; O Cahalane, K Mackey, A O'Connor. Subs: C Healy for E Murphy (53), M Murphy for A Thompson, O Mullins for S McCartan (both 57), A Fitzgerald for L Hayes (62). WATERFORD: B O'Regan; A McNulty, K Corbett Barry, V Falconer; B Bowdren, R Walsh, O Hickey; L Bray (Capt), A Flynn; E O'Neill; B Carton, E O'Neill, M O'Brien; A Fitzgerald, N Rockett, K Lynch. Subs: T Power for B Bowdren (40), M Gostl for M O'Brien (46), M Comerford for A Flynn (55), N Ahearne for A Fitzgerald (63). Referee: Gavin Donegan (Dublin).
Irish Examiner
3 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Galway ready to 'right the wrongs' of last year's final loss to Cork
Muted Galway celebrations. No shouting or jumping or roaring. The attitude was measured and spoke of this semi-final being a means to an end. The Saturday scenes at Nowlan Park were worlds apart from the same venue this weekend last year. On that occasion, Galway also bettered Tipp to reach the decider. The margin then was a single point. Here, it was seven. Read More Impressive Galway inflict more semi-final torture on Tipperary In last year's final, Galway delivered a performance that pushed Cork to almost breaking point. Maybe Galway didn't realise they were that close to standard-bearers Cork until they were level with them going down the stretch. The westerners, in the end, came up three points short. They are determined that the rematch in two weeks' time has a different outcome. This is a Galway group much further down the road than the crowd who shouted and jumped and roared when edging Tipp 12 months ago. 'Last year, we were never going well,' began Galway manager Cathal Murray. 'Cork beat us by double digits in the group. We had a week to prepare for the Waterford quarter-final. We were poor in that quarter-final. 'It was the first time we had come into a semi-final as underdogs in a while. Then the way we won it too, a point in the last minute. We were down for a lot of that game, four behind at the break, so it was a brilliant comeback. 'Today, we were on top for most of the game. It's a different feeling. It looked out there like we were the better team for a lot of the second-half. 'Also, we lost last year's All-Ireland final. It is huge for us to get back there. We are not going to celebrate getting back to an All-Ireland final, we have to go now and right the wrongs of last year. Whoever wins [that second semi-final], it is going to be a massive test, but one we are embracing.' Getting back there was no straightforward road. All-Star full-back Roisín Black, because of injury and travel, made her first start of the year in this semi-final. Niamh Hanniffy and the legendary Niamh Kilkenny are unavailable. 2024 centre-back Áine Keane and centre-forward Niamh McPeake both did their cruciate earlier in the campaign. Stepping up in their first semi-final appearance were Mairead Dillon and Caoimhe Kelly, both of whom sniped a pair from play. 'To be honest, we showed huge resilience. We were missing five all year, so this team has shown huge resilience to even get this far. To put in a performance like that with players who weren't on the team last year but have really, really stepped up to the plate, that is massive for the group. 'Losing a final last year was really hard. That was the goal all year to get back there. We are not being euphoric about getting there because we don't want to lose another one. We are there now so we want to win it.' While maybe unhappy with the concession of Tipp's first-half goal, which was the first dent in a six-point Galway lead being eradicated by half-time, Murray wasn't unhappy at being level at the break. 'They got a huge amount of oxygen from the goal. We always knew coming down today that the crowd would get behind Tipp if we allowed that to happen. We were doing really well in the game, and they got a big bounce from the goal. We limited the damage against the breeze to four points after the goal. 'That breeze, we talked about it before the start, we felt it was a four or five-point breeze, so we said we would be happy if we were within two or three at half-time, but instead we were level and we probably felt we should have been ahead. Things were going well, we felt we were doing the right things, and we were in a good spot. 'Took our scores really, really well in the third quarter. When the wind is behind you, you can take the wrong options, shoot from too far out, but we delivered good ball to our forwards, they were out in front, and really worked the scores well.' Cork, again, are the last stop on Galway's road to glory.
