Stephen Cluxton shows his class after what could be his last game for Dublin
Fans hailed Stephen Cluxton for the class he showed following Dublin's All-Ireland Senior Football Championship quarter-final loss to Tyrone.
The Dubs exited the Championship at the same stage as they did 12 months ago, with Dessie Farrell stepping down as manager immediately after Saturday's game.
Speaking shortly after the full-time whistle, Farrell said: "I would have informed the county board at the start of this season that regardless of what happened, this was going to be my last season.
"The players were aware of that and I just informed them inside there to confirm it.
"It's been a privilege. As a player and as a coach, I've been involved with Dublin for the guts of 40 years. So it's been a long, long time.
"It's been very much part and parcel of my life. I've met some many amazing people along the way, all the backroom teams, all the coaching of the underage teams, minor teams, U21 teams, and the senior teams for the last couple of years. I've met some special people.
"I've had a ringside seat in many ways to some of the greatest warriors that ever played the sport. I've been involved with some of them from under 13 right the way through to today. I've seen them grow from young boys to young men to older men.
"That's a journey I'm so grateful for. I'm delighted to be involved for as long as I have. We've had some good days and bad days, but that's all a part of professional sport.
"Some special memories, and some special bonds and relationships."
As well as Saturday being Farrell's last game as manager, it might also have been Cluxton's final match in a Dublin jersey.
The 43-year-old made a shock return to the Dublin panel in 2023, having not played for them since 2020, but many believe he may now decide to step away from inter-county football for good.
The nine-time All-Ireland winner was commended for the way in which he congratulated a number of Tyrone players following Dublin's defeat to the Red Hands.
One person wrote: "He is one classy individual and a fantastic role model for any young player."
Another commented: "Well done Stephen,a gentleman how he respects the other team."
Someone else said: "The young lads that play the game now could learn a lot from this man , the respect he's always had throughout his career of GAA footballers."
"Fair play to him, it's not all about football, being nice costs nothing, well done Stephen," read another comment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
26 minutes ago
- Irish Times
Kerry blitz Armagh and again prove masters at confounding expectation
All-Ireland SFC quarter-final: Kerry 0-32 Armagh 1-21 If the Devil's greatest trick is convincing people that he doesn't exist, then Kerry's is the old, recurring impression that they are too weakened by injury or in such poor form that they can be written out of matches like this. In such a state, they arrived into Sunday's All-Ireland quarter-final. Riddled with injuries, exacerbated when Tom O'Sullivan had to be replaced in the 24th minute, they produced one of their best halves of football this century to overwhelm champions Armagh just as it looked as if Kieran McGeeney's men were going to pull away at the start of the second half. [ Meath advance to semi-finals at expense of Galway Opens in new window ] The winners tapped a major energy source off the bench with the introduction of Paudie Clifford at half-time. Manager Jack O'Connor said that they had been thrilled with how the player had turned a corner in his injury woes and spoke highly of his impact. Micheál Burns came in later and he too added to the forcefield of energy. David Clifford came alive with an exhibition of kicking for four second-half points, one a two-pointer. It was like a boxing fight where the apparently technically superior fighter suddenly loses rhythm and starts to get hit from every angle. Armagh just couldn't get back into the fight. READ MORE Their middle third disintegrated. Joe O'Connor, one of Kerry's players of the year, was specifically lined out in his most productive position on the wing before the start but as his manager mentioned, the switch back to centrefield after a subdued first half was like everything the team did after half-time, blessed with success. Tiernan Kelly of Armagh reacts to a missed goal chance. Photograph: James Lawlor/Inpho Part of the dynamic for the overwhelming change of fortune was the devastation of Armagh's kickout, which fell to a match total of 50 per cent after a reasonable first half, while Kerry were touching 70 per cent. They were the bullets and the team were firing them remorselessly. After David Clifford dropped one short in the 42nd minute, they hit 0-17 with no wides to bury the champions. Who knows how or why momentum shifts in matches but the clinical detail of this match was that after Rian O'Neill had kicked a point to put Armagh five ahead, 1-16 to 0-14 in the 40th minute, Kerry set about a demolition job. Fourteen unanswered points went over the bar to turn the contest on its head. Back in 2009 when a comparatively unfancied Kerry arrived in Croke Park for the quarter-finals to play an unusually fancied Dublin, it took seconds for Mike McCarthy to make a rapier thrust through the middle and set up Colm Cooper for a goal. From then on, Dublin disintegrated. This wasn't as clearcut as that precedent. Armagh led at half-time despite not playing brilliantly and when they began to extend the lead after the break, heads nodded wisely and muttered conversations more or less concluded that the champions now had a grip on the match that would be difficult to prise loose. Rory Grugan of Armagh fires home the only goal of the game. Photograph: James Lawlor/Inpho That first half was an entertaining back-and-forth affair but it was clear that Kerry had come to play. Jack O'Connor said afterwards that with the pressure of favouritism on Armagh, his team were able to play with some freedom and they certainly did that. Seán O'Shea was a deserved Man of the Match with an afternoon's total of 12, including three two-pointers. When Armagh clicked for the goal in the 29th minute – a turnover on Dylan Casey by Tiernan Kelly – Rory Grugan raced in for a finish to regain the initiative for the Ulster side, who now led 1-8 to 0-9. O'Shea launched a fierce riposte within a minute, kicking a point and a two-pointer to wipe out the goal. Dylan Geaney added a point and Armagh were on the back foot again. They rallied well with a two-point free from Ethan Rafferty and a carefully crafted score after the hooter had sounded to give them the lead. Kerry's Seán O'Shea delivered a man of the match performance against Armagh. Photograph: James Lawlor/Inpho There was no doubting Kerry's stomach for the fight, however, and if O'Shea's 0-8 was the most tangible manifestation, there were other signs. From the throw-in routine, which sent Gavin White (who would have a super game) flying through the middle – an unconsummated move but reminiscent of Kevin Moran's flinging down of the gauntlet in 1976 – Kerry brought energy and focus, which their opponents sometimes lacked, as when Jason Foley disrupted Rian O'Neill during an overly casual Armagh passing move in the 23rd minute. The resumption started promisingly for the champions as they outscored their opponents 0-5 to 0-1 to establish that watershed lead of five. O'Neill kicked a two-point free – as hard won an award as any with Jarly Óg Burns being fouled three times as referee Brendan Cawley followed with his hand out to signal advantage. Kerry's surge began with Joe O'Connor's second point and the barrage continued for 15 minutes of relentless ball winning, clever movement and assassin finishing. Armagh wilted and fell, their All-Ireland tenure at an end. For Kerry the road ahead is clear, a date with old foes Tyrone in the semi-finals in a fortnight. The blood is up and silverware on the horizon. KERRY: S Ryan; D Casey, J Foley, P Murphy; B Ó Beaglaoich (0-0-2), G White (capt; 0-0-2), T O'Sullivan; S O'Brien, M O'Shea; J O'Connor (0-0-2), S O'Shea (12: 0-3-6, 2f), G O'Sullivan (0-0-2); D Clifford (7: 0-2-3), C Geaney, D Geaney (0-0-1). Subs: E Looney for T O'Sullivan (24 mins), P Clifford (0-0-2) for C Geaney (half-time), M Burns (0-0-2) for O'Shea (50 mins), K Spillane for D Geaney (63 mins), T Kennedy for G O'Sullivan (69 mins), TL O'Sullivan for Casey (temporary, 69 mins, unreversed). ARMAGH: E Rafferty (0-1f-0); P Burns, P McGrane, B McCambridge; R McQuillan, T Kelly (0-0-1), J Óg Burns (0-1-0); N Grimley, B Crealey; R Grugan (1-0-0), J McElroy (0-0-2), O Conaty (0-1-4); D McMullan (0-0-1), A Murnin, R O'Neill (0-1f-4, 1 45). Subs: C Turbitt for McQuillan (50 mins), J Duffy for Grimley (50 mins), A Forker for Kelly (54 mins), C McConville (0-0-1) for Crealey (56 mins), S McPartlan for Grugan (66 mins), C O'Neill for Murnin (temporary 66 mins, unreversed). Referee: B Cawley (Kildare).
Irish Times
26 minutes ago
- Irish Times
Rory Townsend, Mia Griffin best in aggressive Irish road race championships
Three years after he first won the title, Rory Townsend recouped past glories when he took the men's national road race championships in Yellow Furze in Meath on Sunday. The 29-year-old Q36.5 Pro Cycling professional was best in the sprint to the line, beating Jamie Meehan (AVC Aix Provence Dole). Patrick Casey (Israel Premier Tech Academy) and defending champion Darren Rafferty (EF Education-EasyPost) were close by, finishing three and six seconds back respectively. 'It sounds crazy but this just means so much,' Townsend said. 'It's the biggest thing for me. It means everything. A national championship is something you always want to win as a kid, and it makes you feel like a kid when you come back here.' The day was full of aggressive racing, with Conn McDunphy (Team Skyline), Rafferty and his brother Adam (Hagens Berman Jayco) among the most active. The leading quartet were clear heading on to the final lap, with Townsend using his greater experience and sprinting power to triumph. READ MORE Meehan, who finished second overall in the Rás Tailteann in May, took the under-23 title. 'I knew if I could have went one more time, one more move, that that'd be the move,' the AVC Aix Provence Dole rider said. 'But I just didn't have it. I'm disappointed to lose out to Townsend in the sprint but still delighted to take home the U23 title.' Saturday's elite and under 23 women's road race featured a very aggressive performance from Lucy Benezét Minns (Lotto Ladies). The talented 19 year old, who took a superb fourth in the world championship junior time trial two years ago, attacked on the final lap and opened a gap of 17 seconds. However she was reeled in with two kilometres to go, with Mia Griffin (Roland) beating Caoimhe O'Brien (Cynicsa Cycling), Marine Lenehan (Dan Morrissey Pissei Cycling Team) and five others to the line. 'I've dreamed of winning a national championship for so long, it honestly just hasn't set in yet,' Griffin said afterwards. 'I know when Lucy gets a good lead she can really suffer and push through, so I was determined to make sure we worked together in the group to catch her.' Emma Jeffers (Liv AlUla Jayco) took fourth and the under 23 award. Aliyah Rafferty (Tofauti Everyone Active Majaco) won the junior women's road race on Saturday, while Conor Murphy shrugged off mechanical issues to take the junior men's title on Sunday. National road race championships, Meath Elite and under 23 men: 1 Rory Townsend (Q36.5 Procycling), 2 J Meehan (AVC Aix Provence Dole) at 1 sec, 3 P Casey (Israel Premier Tech Academy) at 3, 4 D Rafferty (EF Education Easypost) at 6, 5 S Dunwoody (Bahrain Victorious Development Team) at 29, 6 F Crockett (VolkerWessels Cycling Team), 7 G O'Neill (Athlete Nutrition Coach HD), 8 O Doogan (Team Caldwell Cycles), 9 C McDunphy (Team Skyline), 10 L O'Brien (Lidl-Trek Future Racing) at 32 Under 23: 1, Meehan, 2, Casey, 3, Dunwoody Elite and under 23 women (Saturday): 1 Mia Griffin (Roland) 3 hours 11'06, 2 C O'Brien (Cynicsa Cycling), 3 M Lenehan (Dan Morrissey Pissei Cycling Team), 4 E Jeffers (Liv Alula Jayco), 5 A O'Brien (DAS – Hutchinson), 6 F Mangan (Winspace Orange Seal), 7 A Conway (Westport Covey Wheelers Cycling Club), 8 L Kelly (Spin The Bean Power By Coffee) all same time, 9 A Doherty (Dan Morrissey Pissei Cycling Team) at 5 secs, 10 L Benezet Minns (Lotto Ladies) at 12 secs Under 23: 1, Jeffers, 2, A. O'Brien, 3, Conway Junior women's road race (Saturday): 1 Aliyah Rafferty (Tofauti Everyone Active Majaco) 1 hour 36'04, 2 G Lawless (Dawson Racing) at 2'41, 3 A O'Donovan (Dungarvan CC), 4 E Tandy (Tofauti Everyone Active Majaco) at 6'56, 5 F Dolan (TC Racing) same Junior men's road race (Sunday): 1 Conor Murphy (Team Caldwell Cycles) 2 hours 44'42, 2 R Condon (Zappi Racing Team) at 1'22, 3 D Byrne (Asvillemur Cyclisme) at 2'06, 4 M Walls (Lucan Cycling Road Club), 5 J Armstrong (VC Glendale) at 2'42
RTÉ News
30 minutes ago
- RTÉ News
2009 revisited as Jack O'Connor lays into Kerry critics
Kerry manager Jack O'Connor lashed out at critics inside and outside the county after his team delivered the finest performance of his third stint in taking out the All-Ireland champions at the quarter-final stage. O'Connor's side had entered the quarter-final as underdogs after an uneven campaign, which was shunted off-course after a shock nine-point loss to Meath in the final round of the group stage in Tullamore. Following that defeat, there had been an outbreak of doom-laden commentary, most notably from six-time All-Ireland winner Darragh Ó Sé in the Irish Times, who said there was an air of inevitability about Kerry exiting to Armagh at the quarter-final stage. The mood was unaltered by Kerry's nine-point win over Cavan last weekend and the Munster champions entered today's game as clear underdogs. But a devastating second half scoring burst of 14 unanswered points saw Kerry "flip the script", in O'Connor's words. While it had some echoes of the 2006 quarter-final win over the same opposition, when a snarling Kieran Donaghy had set them on their way, it was the demolition job against Pat Gilroy's Dublin three years later that came more readily to O'Connor's mind. "I thought it was a bit more like 2009, to be honest," O'Connor said, after being asked about the '06 quarter-final. "I don't think too many people outside the camp saw that performance there. But we were very, very determined. "There was ferocious determination in the camp that we weren't going to let the season fizzle out after the Meath game. "It may have been difficult for Armagh not to listen to the outside noise where we were being written off and they were being written up. "It's a big performance and a big Kerry support came up and backed the team, which is great. We love seeing that because a lot of people had us written off during the week. "But obviously the supporters felt there was another kick in the team. "They've seen it happen before. They saw it happen in 2006, they saw it happen in 2009. "Kerry is a proud county and we weren't going to fizzle out of the championship without a hell of a fight. We saw that fight out there today." O'Connor bluntly admitted that Kerry had been motivated by critical moments in the lead-up, citing a Sunday Independent article in which they were described as a one-man team, as well as negative commentary from within Kerry. "One of the great motivators in life is trying to prove people wrong. We were being portrayed as a one-man team. "I saw somebody writing this morning that said the only Kerry player worthy of being called a Kerry player was David Clifford. "Now, David is a great player but David will tell you that there was a fair supporting cast there today. "We think we have a lot of good footballers but I think sometimes we're being judged on different criteria to other teams. "For example, Dublin got beaten by Meath in the Leinster Championship and I didn't see any ex-Dublin players coming out slating the team or slating the management like we had down south in our county. "There's a sense of commitment to the team and a sense of loyalty to the team. "Unfortunately a few pundits down our way let themselves down in that regard. "I'm not giving out about it from my own point of view. "What's to be gained by slating people? It's the easiest thing in the world. I'm in the business of building people up. I'm not in the business of knocking people. "I spent all my life coaching underage school kids, minors, Under-21s, seniors, at every level. "I'd ask people who are knocking that group and knocking people involved with the group to look in the mirror and say, 'What have you contributed? "What have you contributed to Kerry football off the field?' "Go away and coach a team. Go away and coach a development squad. Go away and coach a minor team. That's how you help Kerry football, not knocking people." O'Connor was on the sideline in 2009, when Kerry appeared in disarray for much of the year, losing badly to Cork in Munster before labouring to deeply unconvincing qualifier victories over Longford, Sligo and Antrim - the middle of those being especially perilous. Ahead of this week, the four-time All-Ireland winning managers invoked those experiences with the players. "Look, when everybody even down in our own county was throwing in the towel with us, I said in the dressing room after the Cavan game, 'Lads, I've been here before where we've been completely written off.' "And a Kerry team written off in Croke Park are dangerous because it just takes a bit of the heat off. It allows them to play with a kind of freedom and abandon. That's what you saw there today. Maybe it was very tough for Armagh." Regarding the display, O'Connor said he could sense there was a big performance coming and questioned the narrative that Kerry hadn't been tested in the lead-up to the quarter-final, citing the Munster semi-final against Cork. "We were fairly sure that the performance above in Tullamore was not us," said O'Connor. "We were missing some key players that day and things just went awry on us and the game slipped away. Plus, Meath are a good team. They showed that out there today. "But we were fairly sure that wasn't the real Kerry. "We felt we were going to give a really big performance. We had no idea where that would take us. "You see the teams up in Ulster and they're knocking lumps out of each other and playing very high-calibre games. "People dismissed our games against Cork in the Munster Championship and in the round-robin series. "We thought Cork against Kerry in Páirc Uí Chaoimh are a right good team. They toughened us up, they hardened us and we lost a few players up there.
