
Leinster pales in comparison to spectacular Munster decider
his astounding comeback against Jannik Sinner
in the French Open final, the latter, the hurley-wielding Rebels, for their part in a Munster final that won't soon be forgotten.
'Everything about it was staggering,' writes Denis Walsh of the game at the Gaelic Grounds. '
The suffocating intensity, the twists, the spectacular scores
and the crazy misses.' It was, says Seán Moran in his match report,
'a smouldering, frantic affair'
, one that was decided by the first ever shoot-out in a provincial final.
As Ian O Riordan puts it in his
round-up of the weekend's hurling
, nothing Kilkenny and Galway could produce on Sunday was ever going to outdo what was served up the day before. Nicky English agrees. The Leinster decider was, he writes,
'a pale imitation of the Munster final'
, but while Kilkenny prevailed, he's not convinced they are contenders this year.
They did, though, survive a late Galway rally to win
their sixth successive Leinster title
, Ian in Croke Park to witness their triumph. Paul Keane heard from
Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng
after, and Paul was on hand too earlier in the day to see
Kildare produce a breathless second-half display
against Laois in the Joe McDonagh Cup.
READ MORE
There wasn't too much drama in the Tailteann Cup, the form guide holding as
Sligo, Wexford, Offaly and Westmeath all progressed
, but there was plenty of it on the opening weekend of the women's football All-Ireland championship, Dublin and Meath both needing last second equalisers against Waterford and Armagh, respectively. Kerry opened the defence of their crown with a win over Mayo in Tralee, while last year's runners-up Galway saw off Tipperary in Tuam.
Denis, meanwhile, previews
RTÉ's five-part series on the history and nature of Gaelic football
, the first episode of Hell for Leather airing tonight. Its timing, he says, 'couldn't have been more opportune because this has been the most spectacular football season in living memory' – thanks in no small part to the new rules.
In rugby, after enduring three straight URC semi-final defeats, Leinster finally broke the code,
comfortably beating Glasgow on Saturday
to set up a meeting with the Pretoria Bulls at Croke Park in next Saturday's final. Gerry Thornley reports on the game and hears from
Leo Cullen
and
Jack Conan
, while Johnny Watterson analyses
a performance that was far superior to Leinster's last outing
.
And in racing, Brian O'Connor looks back at
Lambourn's Epsom Derby success
, one that gave Aidan O'Brien a record-extending 11th win in the classic. Lambourn is now odds-on to become the 20th horse to complete the Epsom-Curragh Derby double at the end of this month.
TV Watch
: There are highlights from the GAA and rugby weekends on TG4 and RTÉ 2, respectively, at 8pm, while the pick of the night's football action is Wales' World Cup qualifier away to Belgium (Virgin Media Three, 7.45pm). And at 9.35pm, there's the first episode of Hell for Leather, a history of Gaelic football, on RTÉ One.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Examiner
14 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Paudie Clifford: Kerry felt disrespected by one-man-team talk
All-Ireland winners Kerry were driven by a feeling they had been disrespected, Paudie Clifford says. The older Clifford brother put in a fine performance as Kerry overcame Donegal by 10 points to claim a 39th title. And speaking to RTÉ afterwards, Clifford was content everything had clicked for the Kingdom on the big occasion. "This team has been together for a few years now but it's the first time we've put a 70-minute performance together and we're delighted. "I'm absolutely over the moon." Donegal had been tipped by many pundits ahead of the final and Clifford referenced some of the criticism his county has shipped this season. "We would have put a lot of pressure on ourselves. We are our own biggest critics but we did feel disrespected, we felt disrespected for a long time. "A team that has been in three of the last four All-Irelands and has won two of the last four. We felt very disrespected." In particular, Clifford objected to the idea that Kerry are a one-man team, reliant on his brother David. "To be called a one-man team, when you have fellas like Joe O'Connor, fellas like Jason Foley, who have worked all their lives to play for Kerry. And you're called a one-man team if you haven't won every All-Ireland. We felt disrespected." Kerry led by seven at the break and had largely controlled proceedings, despite occasional wayward shooting in search of two-pointers. "We knew what Donegal would bring, unbelievable workrate. We said we'd just pick around them and take the right shots, though we didn't really in the first half, we did in the second half. "We have to give massive credit to our midfielders and Shane Ryan. We had enough possession to be able to give a few balls away and kick a few wide."


The Irish Sun
14 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
‘We felt disrespected' – Kerry star Paudie Clifford slates critics after Kingdom win 39th All-Ireland title
KERRY star Paudie Clifford has hit back at critics who doubted the Kingdom. And he insisted the team finally put in a full shift when it mattered most. Advertisement 2 Paudie Clifford lashed out after the Kingdom claimed yet another All-Ireland title Credit: rte sport 2 They saw off a brave Donegal team that couldn't cope with their relentless attack He comments came directly after the The hard-working forward admitted they are also not a one-man team as He passionately slammed any doubters: 'We felt disrespected, to be honest. People were writing us off, saying we weren't the same since 2022. But we knew what we had in us.' Clifford also hailed Kerry's complete performance in the final: 'We hadn't really done the full 70 minutes in a while – not since the last time we won Sam. Advertisement read more on gaa "But today we did. We emptied the tank.' And Paudie also shut down talk that Kerry are a one-man team carried by his brother David. He said: 'Look, David is unbelievable, everyone knows that. "But we've 15 lads on that pitch and plenty more ready to go. This is a team – always has been.' Advertisement Most read in GAA Football The Kingdom produced a ruthless display at Croke Park to see off Donegal and claim their 39th All-Ireland football title. David and Paudie Clifford were outstanding, with Dylan Geaney and Joe O'Connor also starring as Kerry dictated the tempo from the outset. Matthew Broderick reveals connection to Donegal GAA during RTE interview Donegal battled bravely and got to within four points early in the second half, sparking hopes of a comeback - but Kerry responded like champions, pulling away again to seal a deserved victory. Jim McGuinness' men had their moments and converted well, but they simply couldn't cope with Kerry's pace, control, and firepower. Advertisement


The Irish Sun
44 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Kerry land 39th All-Ireland title as David Clifford stars and Donegal's punishing wait goes on
KERRY secured their 39th All-Ireland title on Sunday afternoon as they broke Donegal hearts once again. Jack O'Connor's side delivered a composed, ruthless performance at Croke Park. Advertisement 2 David Clifford was sublime for Kerry as the bagged their 39th Sam Maguire title 2 Michael Murphy and Donegal put up a brave show but they couldn't get in touch of Kerry throughout the contest The Kingdom pulled clear when it mattered most, and stamped their authority on the contest despite Donegal's repeated attempts to rally. Jim McGuinness' men put up a fight, but they simply couldn't cope with the Kingdom's clinical edge. From the off, the three-time All-Ireland winners were chasing the game, as David and Paudie Clifford dominated the tight spaces and dictated the tempo. Joe O'Connor was a powerhouse in midfield as he sealed the game with the only goal of the contest, while Dylan Geaney floated dangerously throughout. Advertisement read more on gaa But it was the Kingdom's day once again at GAA HQ. KERRY 1-26 DONEGAL 0-19 MORE TO FOLLOW...