logo
Cian Lynch: ‘Hurling is so instinctive, it's an art form, it's an expression'

Cian Lynch: ‘Hurling is so instinctive, it's an art form, it's an expression'

Irish Times10-06-2025
Cian Lynch still carries the scars of battle, stitches across his left eye and several grazes down his legs.
But compared to the hurt
of losing Saturday's epic Munster final to Cork
, those scuffs don't cut quite as deep.
The manner of the defeat, after a penalty shoot-out, is something that has animated many hurling fans over the last five days.
Lynch was not even aware there would be a penalty shoot-out until after extra-time and while he praises Cork for getting over the line, the Limerick captain would prefer to see provincial finals decided by a replay.
READ MORE
'I suppose it's not for me to make a point or make a comment on what's the right thing to do but you'd love to have another crack at it. Any team would,' says Lynch.
'But for us, it's just about accepting that that's in the past now. We unfortunately didn't win and Cork did.
'It's great credit to Cork. They got the victory in penalties. The game could have gone either way.
'Look, it's something to obviously review. Hurling is so instinctive, it's an art form, it's an expression. Why do people play it? It's because it's a 15-man game, it's a chance to have a man on the shoulder to support.
'But when it comes to penalties, other than the five guys and the goalie, I suppose you're helpless standing on the sideline watching. It's tough for guys, but it is what it is.'
Limerick's Cian Lynch dejected after the game. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Lynch did not take a penalty last Saturday night at the Gaelic Grounds but had nothing but respect for those who were prepared to stand over a sliotar in those pressure-cooker moments.
'If you were asked to take one, I'm sure 100 per cent you'd do anything you can to help the team but I wouldn't be someone that's known to stand over a free or a penalty, to be honest with you,' he says.
'But the five guys, obviously our guys, the same as Cork obviously and Nickie [Quaid], to step up, that takes some courage.
'After playing 70 to 90 minutes of hurling, to have it based on standing over a penalty, that is tough. That is some responsibility, but great credit to the guys, great credit to Nickie and so on. Just the way it is.'
Galway defender Fintan Burke watched Saturday night's drama unfold and is also of the belief that a replay would be a fairer way to produce a winner.
'If you win great and if you lose it's the worst thing in the world,' says Burke.
'I'd be of the opinion of a replay. That's just personal, I don't think penalties are a fair reflection on where a team is at, as in you could have five great penalty takers and maybe the other team only has three, and it's not really reflecting on hurling throughout the team. So personally I'd be going for a replay, but that's just again personal preference.
'People just think you're standing up hitting a shot, but you've to put so much energy in and it's probably a lot more mentally you're exhausted and you have to walk the 60 yards then on your own and there's a lot going through your mind.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Sharlene Mawdsley responds to viral street sprint video after All-Ireland win
Sharlene Mawdsley responds to viral street sprint video after All-Ireland win

Irish Daily Mirror

time2 hours ago

  • Irish Daily Mirror

Sharlene Mawdsley responds to viral street sprint video after All-Ireland win

Sharlene Mawdsley has joked that she is happy to return to the track after racing on the streets of Thurles while enjoying the All-Ireland Hurling celebrations. Mawdsley's partner, Michael Breen, was part of the Tipperary team that beat Cork in Sunday's All-Ireland final, and the Irish Olympian enjoyed the celebrations with the panel and their friends. And as the celebrations rolled on, a video circulated of sprinter Mawdsley racing on the streets of Thurles where she won comfortably, despite giving her competitor a head start. After a couple of days of well-deserved celebrations, Mawdsley shared a snap back on the track and poked fun at herself, saying: "Swapping the streets of Thurles for the track today" Sharlene appeared on stage with her partner, Tipperary defender Mikey Breen, and the pair were captured in a lovely photograph showing the two of them holding the Liam MacCarthy Cup. Tipperary player Michael Breen celebrates with his partner, Olympic athlete Sharlene Mawdsley (Image: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy) Mawdsley and Breen have formed something of a sporting power couple in recent times, with the sprinter going 'Instagram official' with the Tipp defender at the beginning of the Summer. Mawdsley took to Instagram in the wake of Tipp's win, sharing a photo of herself with Breen on the Croke Park pitch along with the caption: "Proud of you every day, but that little bit prouder today." For Breen, it is his third All-Ireland title win, and has been a mainstay for the Premier County throughout his intercounty career. For the latest headlines and top stories from the Irish Mirror, visit our homepage

GAA apologise to Kilkenny for scoreboard error in All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Tipperary
GAA apologise to Kilkenny for scoreboard error in All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Tipperary

Irish Examiner

time3 hours ago

  • Irish Examiner

GAA apologise to Kilkenny for scoreboard error in All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Tipperary

Kilkenny have received an apology from the GAA for the scoreboard error in the closing stages of their All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Tipperary earlier this month. Various stakeholders in the county have been informed of the correspondence from Croke Park, which expresses regret for the mistake that impacted the conclusion of the game that Tipperary won by two points. Kilkenny and Tipperary were of the understanding that the latter were four points ahead after Noel McGrath's 70th minute point attempt. The shot was waved wide but the scoreboard counted it as a point. Following a Jordan Molloy point in the second minute of additional time, Kilkenny went in search of what they thought was a required goal to force extra-time when they were in fact only two points behind. Kilkenny, it is understood, wrote to Croke Park seeking clarification about the matter although a replay was never in question. The county's officials have refused to comment publicly on the matter and Tipperary manager Liam Cahill complimented the county's dignified stance. 'Like ourselves, if Kilkenny don't win it on the field, they ain't going to bring it to the boardroom, that's for sure.' On the evening of the game, the GAA released a statement acknowledging the error. "The GAA can confirm that the official score at the end of the Tipperary v Kilkenny GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Semi-Final was 4-20 to 0-30. 'The GAA acknowledges there was confusion over the final score. The CCCC (Central Competitions Control Committee) is awaiting the full referee's report in order to establish how the initial mistake occurred." Speaking last week, the GAA's national match officials manager Donal Smyth said the error was down to a combination of factors. "It was a mixture of stuff. The time of the game probably didn't help. So at 69 minutes we had a Kilkenny sub, at 70 minutes the ball went wide, we had a Tipperary sub at the same time. "We didn't notice the scoreboard had changed in relation to that (McGrath's wide). Then the difficulty is we didn't get a break in play to stop the game to check the thing. "We've changed our processes last week and our protocols around that, so it's something we just have to work on." In the aftermath of the game, former GAA president Nickey Brennan said his native Kilkenny as well as Tipperary were due an apology. This past weekend, Kilkenny great Henry Shefflin spoke on The Sunday Game about how 'baffling' the communication was around the controversy. He added: "There hasn't been much noise about it and it seems it's just moved on'.

Irish women's basketball team consider ‘next steps' after being drawn against Israel once again in Euros qualifiers
Irish women's basketball team consider ‘next steps' after being drawn against Israel once again in Euros qualifiers

Irish Independent

time3 hours ago

  • Irish Independent

Irish women's basketball team consider ‘next steps' after being drawn against Israel once again in Euros qualifiers

Basketball Ireland said it was 'extremely alarmed by the ongoing humanitarian situation in Gaza' after the draw as the IDF's blockade and on-going military offensive continues in the Palestinian territory. Ireland are due to begin their European campaign against Luxembourg on November 12 at home before also facing Bosnia and Herzegovina (November 15) in Dublin and Israel away (November 18). However they may reluctant to play the Israelis again, given the Irish women's team found themselves in the middle of a diplomatic storm last year when they faced them in the previous European qualifying campaign. 'Basketball Ireland have spoken to FIBA Europe subsequently and are awaiting clarifications on a number of matters,' the governing body said in a statement this evening. 'Basketball Ireland will also be liaising with players, coaching staff, Sport Ireland, the Government, and other stakeholders over the coming days and we will provide an update next week.' While Ireland fulfilled last year's games citing fines and expulsion from competition, the worsening conditions in Gaza may change things with the World Health Organisation warning of famine conditions there.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store