Nadine Doherty: All-Ireland race might be open but the quality is on a downward arc
Galway's 2004 team included the brilliance of Niamh Fahy, Annette Clarke, Lisa Cohill, Ruth Stephens and Niamh Duggan, between them it's unlikely they ever passed a ball backwards. Dublin 2023, the most impressive of Mick Bohan's six titles due to the loss of so much experience from previous years, their hunger and drive easily dispatched of Kerry in the final. Meath 2022, managed to achieve the unachievable by winning back-to-back titles and dispel the notion that they had been lucky to win one while playing a ferociously-paced brand of football.
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RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
Two-time All-Ireland winner Pat Fox hopeful Tipperary can put it up to Cork in the All-Ireland final
Pat Fox admits his native Tipperary are up against it in this Sunday's All-Ireland hurling final against Cork, but he expects a different type of game to the last meeting between the sides. Fox, who won two All-Irelands as a player with Tipp, was speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne as the countdown to the biggest game in the sport continues. "I didn't think we'd be in an All-Ireland final," Fox said on the programme. "We never thought that we'd be in the last three of the Munster Championship, to get through [to the All-Ireland series.] "It was out of our wildest dreams so we're thrilled that we got through. We've massive excitement here in Cashel." The sides have met three times in 2025, with Tipperary winning the regular Allianz League game by four points back February. Since then however, Cork have dominated the other two meetings, triumphing by a combined total of 25 points in the league final, and the Munster Championship round robin game. That game in the provincial championship had some of its edge taken off by the early sending off of Darragh McCarthy for an off-the-ball incident. But Fox is hopeful that lessons have been learned by the Premier County players since then, and that the lack of expectation on the team might see them throw the shackles off at Croke Park. "Tipp are in a great place at the moment to be going in as underdogs," the 1991 Hurler of the Year continued. "Cork are huge favourites for this, they beat us so badly in the last match - we should hardly be turning out at all! "We're in a far better state now. We had young Darragh sent off the last day against Cork and the game was null and void after that happening - this game is totally different. "They're fantastic forwards, serious goal threats. We'll really be up against it."
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Watch: Dalo live at Sarsfields. Part 1 of a special All-Ireland hurling final preview
It was a most enjoyable episode of Dalo's Hurling Show on Wednesday night, recorded live at Sarsfields Hurling Club, home club of Cork manager Pat Ryan. After paying homage at the magificent Teddy McCarthy statue, special guest Eamon O'Shea joined regular trio Dalo, TJ Ryan and Mark Landers to dissect all aspects of Sunday's historic Cork v Tipperary All-Ireland final. This is exclusive subscriber content. Already a subscriber? Sign in Take us with you this summer. Annual €130€65 Best value Monthly €12€6 / month
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
‘We're better equipped' – Ciaran Joyce and Cork are ‘fully ready' for final after last year's heartbreak
CIARÁN Joyce hopes the lessons learned in the 2024 All-Ireland hurling final will stand to Cork as they look to make amends. But with fans on Leeside desperate to see the end of the county's longest ever drought, Joyce feels they cannot afford to be distracted from the task at hand in Sunday's decider against 2 The Castlemartyr man hopes to complete the treble for Cork this season having won the NHL and Munster championship 2 The 23-year-old is a two-time Under-20 All-Ireland champion with the Rebels Rebels ace Joyce said: 'As young fellas, what you dream of is to play in an All-Ireland final. To be playing there then, it's unreal. 'But you also have to treat it like it's just another game. You can't let the occasion get to you. 'The whole parade and all the side pieces that are different for an All-Ireland final, you can't let these things get to you too. I suppose in the lead-up to Read more on GAA 'You're trying to keep a lid on it this year and just have laser focus. 'Even with tickets or all this type of stuff, it's just about trying to keep a lid on all of that now. We'll leave my parents to deal with that.' Last year's But despite dethroning the then-reigning champions, Cork came up short in their bid for a first Liam MacCarthy Cup since 2005. Most read in GAA Hurling Reflecting on the one-point extra-time defeat to Clare that followed, the Castlemartyr defender said: 'It was probably one of the most enjoyable matches that I have played in. 'Even though we did lose, just the game itself and the occasion and everything, it was just unreal. I suppose it was all a new experience for me too. 'Easiest interview I've ever had' jokes RTE GAA host after pundits go back and forth before Meath vs Donegal It was my second time only playing at Croke Park and playing in front of big crowds as well, so it was a little bit new to me. 'I suppose the Limerick game was kind of like an All-Ireland final as well. 'But of course as a young fella, you're always learning so the All-Ireland final was no different to that too. 'But I feel like this year we are definitely better equipped. We've been through it all and we're fully ready for it now.' Cork will look to benefit from their recent experience of contesting the All-Ireland final. And they come into the game off the back of a For the majority of the Tipp team that will be looking to deny them, this will be a first brush with the biggest day in the hurling calendar. But when asked if he subscribes to the theory that you must lose one in order to win one, Joyce insisted: 'Oh, no. Definitely not.'
