Donegal v Kerry, All-Ireland SFC final: Kingdom off to a flier in Croke Park
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Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
Mark English claims 800m title over Cian McPhillips at National Championships
Not since the heydays of middle-distance running at Morton Stadium has there been a more popular and proven winner than Mark English . Nor a victory so deeply and deservedly celebrated. In the standout performance of the 153rd consecutive staging of the National Track & Field Championships, English was imperious in defending his 800m title, the Donegal runner turning the expected two-lap showdown against Cian McPhillips into a tactical masterclass. Most in attendance suspected the 32-year-old would have a race on his hands, and it looked that way coming into the homestretch when 23-year-old McPhillips sat right on his shoulder. Without once glancing back, English shifted gear again and simply blew him away, winning in 1:48.76, McPhillips second in 1:49.26. It made for a 10th outdoor title for English, to sit alongside his nine indoor titles, only this was clearly one to relish – the Finn Valley athlete punching the air as he crossed the line before promptly jogging back down the track to embrace the adulation. READ MORE 'I felt great. I had a plan and it worked out,' said English after the final. 'I knew Cian is in brilliant shape, has run the second fastest (Irish) time of all-time. He's a quality athlete, so I knew I'd have to execute the perfect race to win, and thankfully I did. And for all the support that's here for me today, that gives you a great bit of confidence before the race starts, and very pleased.' The sheer class of English eclipsed the other anticipated middle-distance showdown that was the men's 1,500m, in which Clonliffe Harriers' Cathal Doyle won his fourth consecutive title. Also running tactically astute, Doyle kicked hard around the final bend to win in 3:53.60 – his 52-second last lap enough to hold off the fast-finishing Andrew Coscoran , who grabbed silver in 3:53.84, just ahead of Nick Griggs (3:53.90). Coscoran was back on the track just over 90 minutes later to win the 5,000m in 13:34.14, needing a fast finish to see off Brian Fay. Alex O'Neill holds off Sarah Healy to win the women's 800m final. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho Six weeks out from the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Sarah Healy moved down to the 800m to test her speed, and tactics too, but had to surrender to the strength of Alex O'Neill, the Clare athlete winning in 2:04.53 after leading the entire last lap. 'Delighted, it's huge to get my first senior title,' said O'Neill, who runs with Limerick Track AC. 'I've been feeling really strong lately, but I was bit shocked the last 50, because I knew there were all there.' Healy finished a close second in 2:04.57, unable to find the space to get past O'Neill in the last 50m. In the absence Rhasidat Adeleke, the title of Ireland's fastest woman for 2025 went to Emerald AC's Ciara Neville, winning the 100m in 11.44 seconds six years after she first claimed the title as a teenager. 'Honestly, since winning my first title in 2019, it's just been such a battle with injuries,' said Neville, who finished clear of Lauren Roy (11.49). 'So this year I knew I was really coming back into myself, and I'm delighted. I have to give such credit to my coaching team down in Limerick.' Sarah Lavin during the women's 100m hurdles final. Photograph: Morgan Treacy Neville's training partner Sarah Lavin , racing for the fourth time in two days, claimed her 10th title in the 100m hurdles, 24 hours after finishing second to Sharlene Mawdsley in the 200m, her time of 12.92 well clear of Molly Scott (13.61). 'I just focused on my job, hurdle by hurdle, so clean and solid,' said Lavin. 'The thinking behind two events was I'm going to need to have the run of my life in Tokyo, on September 13th and 14th, and you're not going to feel super fresh after just running a heat. That was important, so very happy with that.' The title of Ireland's fastest man has rested with Israel Olatunde for the last four years, but an injury sustained in his semi-final earlier on Sunday forced the Tallaght AC sprinter to withdraw from the final. Olatunde would have needed to be at his absolute best to beat Bori Akinola, the 23-year-old from UCD, who won his first 100m title 10.29, just off his lifetime best of 10.25, adding to his 60m indoor title. Sean Aigboboh of Tallaght AC was second in 10.41. In the absence of Mawdsley, Sophie Becker dominated the women's 400m, winning in 52.87, while Jack Raftery won the men's title in 45.71. In the field events, Nicola Tuthill won her fourth hammer title in a new Irish under-23 record of 71.75m, while Reece Ademola from Leevale was also a class apart in the long jump with 8.0m. National Track and Field Championships, Santry (selected results) MEN 100m 1 Bori Akinola U.C.D. A.C. 10.29 2 Sean Aigboboh Tallaght A.C. 10.41 3 Lorcan Murphy Dundrum South Dublin A.C. 10.57 200m 1 Marcus Lawler Clonliffe Harriers A.C. 20.66 2 Darragh McConville Dundrum South Dublin A.C. 21.41 3 Adam Murphy Tinryland A.C. 21.51 400m 1 Jack Raftery Donore Harriers 45.71 2 Christopher O'Donnell North Sligo AC 46.27 3 Ciaran Carthy Dundrum South Dublin 46.34 800m 1 Mark English Finn Valley A.C. 1:48.76 2 Cian Mc Phillips U.C.D. A.C. 1:49.26 3 Andrew Thompson North Belfast Harriers 1:49.93 1,500m 1 Cathal Doyle Clonliffe Harriers A.C. 3:53.60 2 Andrew Coscoran Star of the Sea A.C 3:53.84 3 Nick Griggs CNDR Track A.C. 3:53.90 5,000m 1 Andrew Coscoran Star of the Sea A.C. 13:34.14 2 Brian Fay Raheny Shamrock A.C. 13:34.92 3 Jack O'Leary Mullingar Harriers A.C. 13:41.47 110m hurdles 1 Adam Nolan St. Laurence O'Toole A.C. 14.24 2 Gerard O'Donnell Carrick-on-Shannon A.C. 14.40 3 Conor Penney Craughwell A.C. 14.70 400m hurdles 1 Niall Carney Clonliffe Harriers A.C. 54.87 2 Briain Cullinan Sligo A.C. 54.89 3 Jason O'Reilly Killarney Valley A.C. 55.33 Shot Put 1 Eric Favors Raheny Shamrock A.C. 19.58 2 John Kelly Finn Valley A.C. 17.85 3 Callum Keating North Cork A.C. 14.67 Hammer 1 Sean Mockler of Moycarkey Coolcroo A.C 65.62 2 Simon Galligan Clonliffe Harriers A.C. 60.79m 3 Cóil Ó Muirí Fr. Murphy A.C. 56.68m Long jump 1 Reece Ademola Leevale AC 8.00 2 Sam Healy Leevale AC 7.53 3 Luke O'Carroll Tralee Harriers 7.15 High Jump 1 Conor Penney Craughwell A.C. 2.10 2 Mohammed Ibrahim Halil Raheny Shamrock A.C. 1.95 3 Darragh Kelly Craughwell A.C. 1.90 WOMEN 100m 1 Ciara Neville Emerald A.C. 11.44 2 Lauren Roy Fast Twitch A.C. 11.49 3 Mollie O'Reilly Dundrum South Dublin A.C. 11.60 200m 1 Sharlene Mawdsley Newport A.C. 23.55 2 Sarah Lavin Emerald A.C. 23.80 3 Lauren Roy Fast Twitch A.C. 23.88 400m 1 Sophie Becker Raheny Shamrock 52.87 2 Rachel McCann North Down AC 53.19 3 Cliodhna Manning Kilkenny City Harriers 53.99 800m 1 Alex O'Neill Limerick Track A.C. 2:04.53 2 Sarah Healy U.C.D. A.C. 2:04.57 3 Maeve O'Neill Doheny A.C. 2:04.69 1,500m 1 Laura Nicholson Bandon A.C. 4:13.32 2 Zoe Toland CNDR Track A.C. 4:15.11 3 Niamh Carr Dublin City Harriers A.C. 4:16.08 5,000m 1 Niamh Allen Leevale A.C. 15:35.90 2 Anika Thompson Leevale A.C. 15:40.56 3 Fiona Everard Bandon A.C. 16:04.36 100m hurdles 1 Sarah Lavin Emerald A.C. 12.92 2 Molly Scott St. Laurence O'Toole A.C. 13.61 3 Sarah Quinn St. Colmans South Mayo A.C. 13.84 400m hurdles 1 Cara Murphy Dundrum South Dublin A.C. 59.85 2 Ellis McHugh Ferrybank A.C. 1:00.13 3 Lauren Kilduff Craughwell A.C. 1:00.39 Hammer 1 Nicola Tuthill UCD AC 71.75m NU23R 2 Margaret Hayden Tallaght A.C. 60.22 3 Caoimhe Gallen Lifford Strabane A.C. 52.27
The 42
3 hours ago
- The 42
Abbeydorney go back to back Kerry hurling titles after having waited five decades
AFTER WAITING FIFTY years for a county title before their win last year, Abbeydorney have now gone back to back in the Kerry senior hurling championship. In what is the first county final to be played anywhere in the country, the final was a repeat of last year's, with the black and amber of Abbeydorney facing Ballyduff again. Last year's decider was a 1-17 to 1-10 triumph, and this year's was 0-23 to 0-17 in Austin Stack Park, Tralee. Advertisement Abbeydorney hadn't won the Neilus Flynn Cup since 1974 before their win last year, and had only been to the final day in 2005 in the interim. Meanwhile, Ballyduff were bidding for their 26th title, which would have brought them level at the top of the leaderboard with Kilmoyley. Abbeydorney jumped into an early three point lead before Ballyduff got off thee mark with a Podge Boyle free. But with Oisín Maunsell in accurate form for Abbeydorney, Podge Boyle being the main scoring threat for Ballyduff, the champions brought a 0-13 to 0-8 lead into the break. A Jack Enright point on 41 minutes brought the margin back to two but Abbeydorney had Michael O'Leary to thank for a brilliant display of free-taking as they landed their sixth county title. They will now go on to represent Kerry in the Munster intermediate hurling club championship, against the eventual winners out of Clare, on 2, November. * Check out the latest episode of The42′s GAA Weekly podcast here
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Orlagh Nolan stars as Dublin storm to seventh All-Ireland crown with dominant win over Meath
Orlagh Nolan marked her long-awaited return to the starting line-up with a player-of-the-match display as Dublin blew away Meath to claim their seventh All-Ireland ladies senior football title Orlagh Nolan marked her long-awaited return to the starting line-up with a player-of-the-match display as Dublin blew away Meath to claim their seventh All-Ireland ladies senior football title TOO MUCH Orlagh Nolan stars as Dublin storm to seventh All-Ireland crown with dominant win over Meath ORLAGH NOLAN marked her first start in over a year by leading Dublin to seventh heaven. It has been a fairytale comeback for the Ballinteer St John's forward, who only returned from an ACL knee injury as a sub in the semi-final win over Galway. 2 Dublin players celebrate after their side's victory in the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship final match vs Meath at Croke Park 2 Meath players dejected after Dublin dashed their All-Ireland dreams at GAA HQ on Sunday But she was quick to deliver a reminder of her importance to the cause with a player-of-the-match display as the Dubs took their tally of All-Ireland ladies SFC titles to seven. In front of 48,089 spectators at Croke Park, the Sky Blues were utterly dominant as they atoned for the 2021 defeat to Meath that cost them a fifth Brendan Martin Cup on the spin. Aided by goals from Nicole Owens and Niamh Hetherton, they were 13 points ahead by the 24th minute. The gap was briefly cut to eight after the change of ends but Dublin's prospects of regaining a crown they last won in 2023 were never in jeopardy. It was the perfect climax to the first year of the dual reign of Paul Casey and Derek Murray, who had big shoes to fill when they succeeded five-time All-Ireland-winning gaffer Mick Bohan last December. On Nolan's performance, Casey beamed: "When we were up at Clonshaugh and Craobh Chiaráin in the dark and the muck, Orla was in the gym and she was working so hard to come back. She always did it with a smile on her face. "We would love to have had her back playing full games, maybe in the quarter-final, but our medical team were very strict in terms of just easing her back into it. "But it fell perfectly for her to have her first start today." Aiming to avoid being beaten by their neighbours for the fourth time this season, Meath were buoyed by dethroning 2024 champions Kerry in their semi-final. Their chances of claiming a third title in five seasons were hindered by the unavailability of Katie Newe, who was ruled out with a knee injury sustained against the Kingdom. 'Aged like milk on a windowsill in July' - Watch BBC's GAA pundits ALL predict Donegal to beat Kerry Nevertheless, there was no stopping the blue wave as Dublin produced a performance that Casey rated as their best of the season. The joint-manager said: "I thought they were just superb out there today. At times, their composure on the ball, the scores they got – their conversion rate must have been up around 80 per cent. It was excellent. "But I thought defensively, and when I talk about defensively, it's from number 15 back to Abby in goals. They were superb. "But it was all over the pitch. I think everybody played close to their best. To do it on this day of all days is very, very satisfying." Casey was thrilled with the contribution of his mean rearguard, who restricted Meath to just four points from play. At the other end of the pitch, the input was equally impressive as Hannah Tyrrell, Carla Rowe and Kate Sullivan combined for 0-13. With 8-38 to her name, Tyrrell ends 2025 as the Championship's leading scorer. But there was an unfortunate ending to her last act as an inter-county footballer. The Na Fianna woman, who turns 35 next week, limped off with what appeared to be a serious knee injury in the closing stages. Still, it is unlikely to tarnish her triumphant swansong. Dublin committed nine first-half fouls within scoring range, yet Meath had just 0-4 on the board by half-time. Emma Duggan frees were responsible for that entire tally as the Royals failed to score from play while attacking the Hill 16 end. A dismal first half, which they ended with a 40 per cent conversion rate, was epitomised when a relatively straightforward effort by Duggan's standards came back off the post. The pace and power of Vikki Wall always resembled Meath's most likely source of progress. She dragged an early goal chance wide, though the 2024 AFLW Premiership winner was unhappy that Leah Caffrey was not penalised for grabbing her jersey before she pulled the trigger. It did not take long for things to look ominous for Meath. After Tyrrell got Dublin up and running with a pair of points, their first goal arrived via Owens. Niamh Hetherton did well to keep the ball in play, before Rowe fended off Mary Kate Lynch. The Dublin skipper teed up Owens, who neatly tucked the ball away to leave her side 1-2 to 0-0 in front after six minutes. Hetherton had the ball in the net on 21 minutes, only for the score to be ruled out as ref Gus Chapman had already blown for a free that was converted by Tyrrell. But Hetherton did get her goal just a minute later. With the Dubs making inroads from their press on the Meath kickout, Hetherton was released by Éilish O'Dowd. The Clontarf powerhouse expertly turned inside Lynch and unleashed a ferocious shot that left Meath goalkeeper Robyn Murray with no chance. Sullivan followed up with the third of her four points, leaving Dublin in a 2-9 to 0-2 lead with six minutes remaining in the first half. A couple of Duggan frees put a slightly better complexion on the scoreboard for Meath at the interval. She added two more after the restart and Wall also chipped in as their outlook seemed somewhat more promising at 2-9 to 0-7. If the winds of change were blowing, Meath's resurgence was more of a moderate breeze than a storm. In any case, it was sufficiently weathered. A free from Rowe ended a 15-minute barren spell for Dublin. Tyrrell and Sullivan then added to their tallies and the 12-in-a-row Leinster champions remained in the driving seat down the stretch. Meath boss Shane McCormack said: "Dublin were a little bit hungrier, to be honest. In the first five or ten minutes, they hit the blocks running. "Dublin got ahead with the two goals and when any Dublin team get ahead, they're very hard to claw back. "But credit to Dublin today, they're a super team with multiple All-Stars and All-Ireland medal winners. "But we had 16 new girls onto the panel from last year and this year. I think nine girls got their first ever senior start in an All-Ireland final today, so there are a lot of positives. "It is healthy, even with the Under-20s winning the Leinster the other night as well. So it's very positive for Meath ladies football." Meath 0-10 - 2-16 Dublin DUBLIN: A Shiels; J Tobin, L Caffrey, N Donlon; S Goldrick, M Byrne, N Crowley 0-1; E O'Dowd, N Hetherton 1-1; N Owens 1-0, H McGinnis, O Nolan 0-1; H Tyrrell 0-5, 3f, C Rowe 0-4, 2f, K Sullivan 0-4. Subs: S McIntyre for Owens 49 mins, A Kane for McGinnis 51, H Leahy for Donlon 54, L Grendon for Tyrrell 55, C Darby for Sullivan 57. MEATH: R Murray; K Kealy, MK Lynch, A Sheridan; S Ennis, S Wall, A Cleary 0-1; O Sheehy, M Farrelly; M Thynne, N Gallogly, C Smyth 0-1; E Duggan 0-7, 6f, V Wall 0-1, K Cole. Subs: K Bermingham for Farrelly 25 mins, Farrelly for Ennis 42, E Moyles for Sheehy 42, N McEntee for Cole 49, C Lawlor for Kealy 51. REFEREE: G Chapman (Sligo)
