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RTÉ News
a day ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Darragh Kirwan inspires Kildare to Tailteann Cup glory
Kildare will return to the Sam Maguire Cup race in 2026 after a three-year break, turning in a powerful final quarter display at Croke Park to secure the Tailteann Cup title. Brian Flanagan's side have capped a strong season with a rare piece of national silverware having previously gained promotion to Division 2. But the Lilywhites had to battle all the way for this one and were grateful for the scoring contribution of man-of-the-match Darragh Kirwan who struck 0-08. Alex Beirne's 1-02 haul was hugely significant too while, just like in the semi-final, Brian McLoughlin had a huge impact when he came on, hitting 0-03. Trailing by two points after Limerick's second goal in the 48th minute, 1-16 to 2-15, Kildare fans wondered if more Croke Park heartache was coming their way after losing the Division 3 final there in March. But eight points in the next 15 minutes or so moved them four points clear and gave them a vital cushion at the death. Limerick, bidding to become the first Division 4 team to win the competition, battled all the way and got the gap down to just three points when the siren sounded. Kildare win the Tailteann Cup. In a pulsating finale, Limerick almost snatched a dramatic goal to force extra-time but the Lilywhites put their bodies on the line to survive. 📺 📻 💻 #RTEgaa — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 12, 2025 They had possession of the ball at that stage and chased a goal to level the game but when sub Darragh Murray's shot was saved, Rory O'Brien gathered the rebound and was only able to shoot over for a point - ending the game. Kildare were just about good value overall for the two-point win and can reflect on a solid first season under Flanagan who has guided them to 12 wins from 15 competitive games. All the talk beforehand was about the impact of the elements and the searing heat but a stiff wind which aided Kildare initially was even more influential. Kirwan used the wind advantage to drill two two-pointers in the opening 20 minutes and Callum Bolton notched another. Daniel Flynn tried for one too but his effort flew wide. Kildare were in a healthy position at the 20-minute stage with a 1-10 to 1-03 lead, bouncing back in powerful fashion after falling three points behind early on. Limerick captain Cillian Fahy scored their first goal in the seventh minute, pouncing on the follow up after Emmet Rigter's initial attempt was blocked. What a start for the Treaty men! Cillian Fahy reacts quickest to fire them into the lead in their Tailteann Cup final against Kildare. 📺 📻 💻 — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 12, 2025 Kildare reeled off 1-07 without response between the 11th and 19th minutes to take firm control of the game. The scores seemed to come easier for the Leinster semi-finalists who opened up with some terrific football and punished Limerick with a high press on Josh Ryan's kick-outs. Beirne's 14th minute goal, for example, came after Kildare won a Ryan kick-out and worked the ball back in at pace, Beirne playing a neat one-two before finishing smartly to the bottom corner. A strong reponse from Kildare - and they get their goal, a beautifully composed effort from Alex Beirne 📺 📻 💻 — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 12, 2025 But just as soon as Kildare had gained apparent control of the game, Limerick came roaring back into it, cutting the gap to just two points at one stage. Now it was their time to enjoy a scoring blitz, reeling off five points in a row. Danny Neville was excellent for them in this period and while Limerick wasted a couple of decent score chances, they still picked off enough scores to haul themselves right back into contention. Kildare finished the half stronger, opening up a 1-13 to 1-09 lead at the interval, but Limerick remained in a strong position with the wind advantage to come. And they seized the opportunity with both hands, dominating the third quarter of the game to turn that four-point deficit into a two-point lead with 20 minutes to go, 2-15 to 1-16. It's a second goal for Limerick who now lead in the Tailteann Cup final 📺 📻 💻 #RTEgaa — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 12, 2025 Wing-back Tony McCarthy pinched back-to-back points for Limerick before goalkeeper Ryan boomed a two-pointer. Veteran Iain Corbett and Nash added points to narrow the gap and when Killian Ryan netted with a shot that deflected in off Brian Byrne, Limerick supporters were in dreamland with that two-point advantage. But Kildare hit another purple patch just when it counted down the home stretch, wrestling back control of the game. A two-pointer for McLoughlin ignited them and there were timely points too from Kirwan, Tommy Gill, Kevin Feely and Colm Dalton before Limerick whipped up that late drama right at the death. Kildare: Cian Burke; Brian Byrne, Ryan Burke, Harry O'Neill; Tommy Gill (0-1), David Hyland, James McGrath; Kevin Feely (0-02, 0-01f), Brendan Gibbons; Callum Bolton (0-02, tp), Darragh Kirwan (0-08, 2 tp), Colm Dalton (0-02); Ryan Sinkey (0-03), Alex Beirne (1-02), Daniel Flynn (0-01). Subs: Jack McKevitt for McGrath 43, Brian McLoughlin (0-03, 1 tp) for Gibbons 43, Eoin Cully for Daniel Flynn 47, Mick O'Grady for Burke 66. Limerick: Josh Ryan (0-03, 1 tpf, 0-01 45); Jason Hassett, Darren O'Doherty, Mark McCarthy; Killian Ryan (1-01), Iain Corbett (0-01), Tony McCarthy (0-03); Tommie Childs (0-01), Darragh O'Hagan; Paul Maher, Cillian Fahy (1-01), Danny Neville (0-01); Emmet Rigter (0-02), James Naughton (0-02, 0-02f), Peter Nash (0-03, 0-01f). Subs: Barry Coleman for Childs 16-20, blood, Darragh Murray for O'Hagan 43, Coleman for Maher 47, Rob Childs for Rigter 55, Tadgh O Siochru for Corbett 61, Rory O'Brien (0-1) for Tommie Childs 66.


Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Limerick football captain on why Saturday's Tailteann Cup final means everything – ‘this is massive'
Support surges as Cillian Fahy says team is finally getting recognition it deserves Today at 07:00 There's a sense of pride in the air across Limerick this week as the county's senior footballers prepare for an historic appearance in their first-ever Tailteann Cup Final. The Treaty men will take on Kildare at Croke Park this Saturday, July 12, at 2.30pm, with a place in the 2026 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship group stage up for grabs. Related topics Jasmin Griffin


Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
TV time 'massive' for Limerick footballers in competition with other codes
The way Cillian Fahy sees it, Limerick sports people probably gravitate towards hurling first, then rugby, then soccer. Gaelic football? Fourth on the list at best. "I was only thinking the other day actually, this year's league final was probably the first time a lot of kids in Limerick actually saw us play, because it was on TV," said the Limerick football captain. "We don't have a big following so to actually get on TV for the Division 4 final, that was probably the first time a lot of people had seen us this year. "Now to get this far and to be preparing for the Tailteann Cup final, to stay in the shop window as long as we have, to be on RTÉ two weeks ago for the semi-finals and to do it again this weekend is massive. "It's really important for children to see, for kids to see that there's a competitive football team in Limerick and that there is a chance to get up to Croke Park and that there is a chance to be competing for silverware." For a county not used to being in the shop window, Saturday's Tailteann Cup final against Kildare will actually be Limerick's third Croke Park game this year. Prior to 2025, they hadn't played there since the 2022 Division 3 league final while, before that, it was 2013 when a Limerick football team had crossed the Croker whitewash. To put the most positive spin on it, this season's Division 4 league final win, and the Tailteann semi-final win, were the first Croke Park outings for a number of Limerick players who therefore boast a perfect record at GAA HQ. Opponents Kildare, meanwhile, have had a difficult time at Croke Park over the years, losing five games there in a row before labouring past Fermanagh in the recent semi-final. "I don't think Kildare have any fear coming up there," maintained Fahy. "They have a lot more experience playing there than we do as well." It helps Kildare too that they gained promotion from Division 3 this year, compared to Limerick winning Division 4. No Division 4 side has ever won the Tailteann Cup. "We're here now, we're both in the final," shrugged Fahy. "Look, Kildare will be coming in as favourites. But we think we have every opportunity to perform and to play well and we'll see what happens after that." The Dromcollogher/Broadford man is optimistic about it being a high-scoring, open and enjoyable game. Both sides are stacked with quality forwards with Limerick benefiting from the strong form of goal poacher Danny Neville, 2024 Tailteann Cup All-Star Emmett Rigter, Fahy himself and the prolific James Naughton. "He's in the form of his life," said Fahy of Naughton, who struck 4-12 in one league game alone this year. "He's playing unbelievable football. His free-taking is really something we rely on as well. He's very consistent with that. He's been incredible all year really. It's great to have him in that form and to have him as a weapon that we can rely on."


Irish Examiner
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
'Results will keep lads on the bus': Limerick football look to stop high turnover rate
A hurry on nobody. Forty minutes have passed since the final whistle. The Gaelic Grounds field is a framed picture of tranquil cheer. Players mingle in their own local pods. Danny Neville chats to six or seven Ballysteen mates, Cillian Fahy and an elderly gentleman are locked in conversation. Jimmy Lee drifts from group to group. Of no interest to the manager is ushering lads back to the dressing-room. Jimmy assumed the Limerick reins ahead of the 2024 season. Jimmy inherited a Limerick panel minus 19 of its members from the 2023 class. The results reflected this unhealthy level of player churn. Limerick lost all seven of their Division 3 League outings. Relegation to the basement floor. Successive relegations, in fact. Limerick were, at that point, winless in 15 consecutive League outings. The advancement achieved by his brother Billy across six years of steps back but bigger strides forward was in freefall. Progress unwound, Limerick football once more mired in gloom. Fast forward to early Sunday evening. A first four-in-a-row of championship wins in the one season since 1896. A ninth victory in 11 outings to celebrate. Of the 2,119 patrons that paid in, a healthy portion have packed out onto the field. Photos, hugs, kisses, and handshakes. Nobody in a hurry, everybody happy. Cillian Fahy wears the title of Limerick captain. He approaches the conversation as such. He sees the immediate picture and the long-term picture. He impressively articulates his vision for Limerick football. That vision goes beyond this Sunday and a potential first championship victory at Croke Park in 127 years. 'You could see with the crowd that there were a lot of kids here, a lot of people that wouldn't normally come to football games were here. That is all a result of the year so far. Winning helps everything. Hopefully we can keep building it, not just this year, but more so over the next couple of years,' says the half-forward. Year-on-year development, even year-on-year stability, as referenced above, has been a problem area. The wind comes in and out of their sails at far too frequent intervals. Promotion to Division 2, relegation to Division 4. Progression to the 2022 Munster final followed, two years later, by a 17-point Tailteann Cup quarter-final pummeling by Sligo. 'On that, a big thing for us is that we have lost 15, 16 players each year over the last three years. There's been a massive turnover of players. The biggest thing for us over the next three or four years is to keep as much of this panel together as we can. 'A lot of young lads have come in this year, and it is going to be their team over the next five years, so we just need to make sure the standards are there and people want to be part of the group and want to keep coming back. 'This year is important, but in terms of a long-term view, that is nearly more important. Results will keep lads on the bus. The stuff going on in the background, everything is being done right and is a massive help.' GREEN MISSION: Limerick captain Cillian Fahy speaks to his teammates during the team huddle before the Tailteann Cup quarter-final. Pic: Tom Beary/Sportsfile A primary school teacher by profession, Fahy is 11 seasons inside in the Limerick dressing-room. This present set-up, encompassing management and playing personnel, is the 'best' he's ever been involved in. Fellow forward Peter Nash was in the door a year before Fahy. They made their championship debut the same afternoon in May 2015 against Clare. It was four years later, in 2019, before the pair tasted a first Munster championship win. It was 2022 before they played in a League or Championship final. And it was March 29 this year before they tasted final success, that in the Division 4 League decider. That Division 4 campaign actually began with a draw against Longford and defeat at home to Wexford, stretching out to 17 games the county's winless League run. 'Even at that point, I personally felt we were one win away from catching fire because there were a lot of good things being done from a coaching standpoint from very early in the year, you could see a defined plan, you could see a road to improvement in every single session,' says Nash. 'I have to give credit to management; they've put real direction around what the group wants to be about and how we want to play. In the twilight of your career, to see that and to be benefiting from it, and to be still looking to get better and having somebody provide a pathway for you to get better has been special. 'With how things are being done and run, you can see the foundations are there for the next couple of years already. That is another real energy giver for players. You would really hope that this would be a continuous build, taking real inspiration from Clare, that spent seven years in Division 2, taking inspiration from Louth, who beat us in a Division 3 final and then won Leinster a few years later. "That is who you want to emulate. This coaching team and being part of this set-up is showing you those things are achievable.' They make for Croke Park this Sunday. Wicklow stand between them and a first Tailteann Cup final appearance, the same Wicklow team they rescued a point off in Aughrim in mid-March to all but seal their first trip of the year to GAA HQ. 'Before this year, I'd only played in Croke Park once, so to get there twice this year is beyond our wildest dreams,' Fahy continued. 'When you haven't played there that often, your focus can come away from the game and you can kind of be overawed by the whole occasion. But we have the experience now of getting there, knowing we can perform there, and are not just going up to take part.' There's history in their making Croker twice in the one campaign. 33-year-old Nash didn't need history to validate his 12-year existence in green. 'I know for a lot of the group, we'd be generally proud to be associated with Limerick football, even if that wasn't the case. But that does add a real feeling of self-satisfaction. 'It has been a rollercoaster [with Limerick] but loved every minute of it and every extra minute I get I am going to savour it because nothing can replace this for me.'


Irish Times
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Tailteann Cup: Limerick and Wicklow march on to join Kildare and Fermanagh in semi-finals
There is a first semi-final appearance in the Tailteann Cup for Limerick , Wicklow , Fermanagh and Kildare , who were all winners over the weekend. Next Sunday will see this quartet play the semi-finals at Croke Park. Limerick, thanks to two goals apiece from Cillian Fahy and Danny Neville pulled clear of Wexford on home soil. Despite goals from Mark Rossiter and Sean Nolan, Wexford were 4-21 to 2-19 in arrears at full-time having kicked six two-pointers. Key to Limerick's success were nine points from talisman James Naughton, while rising talent Emmet Rigter kicked three points from play. They had trailed by five, then led by six before being drawn back to level thanks to Nolan's shooting, but they stepped on the gas in the second half to pull comfortably clear. READ MORE In Aughrim, Wicklow had a most dramatic victory over Westmeath. Trailing by eight points, they prevailed on home soil on a 2-18 to 2-17 scoreline, as Dean Healy kicked a late, late winner. An early Shane Allen goal was soon cancelled out by Oisin McGraynor but Luke Loughlin, Ray Connellan and Ronan Wallace all pointed for Westmeath, with a 15th-minute goal from Sam McCartan really putting them in control. Indeed it got better in the second half as Robbie Forde and Loughlin both kicked two pointers, however, Mark Jackson matched this at the other end, from a free. Eoin Darcy and then a goal from a penalty – McGraynor again – ensured parity. There was plenty of more drama in the closing stages, with Loughlin and McCartan re-establishing the four point lead, only for the final five points to go to Oisin McConville's men. Conor Fee, Jackson (two-pointer) and Padraig O'Toole levelled the game allowing Healy the chance to win it at the death. On Saturday, Fermanagh edged by Sligo 0-21 to 1-16. The result marks a final game in charge of the Yeats County for Tony McEntee who stepped down after the loss. Fermanagh had ten different scorers with Garvan Hughes top scoring with 0-5. Sligo, who had 1-4 from Niall Murphy, looked well placed when they led by four at the end of the opening quarter, thanks to Murphy's goal. However Jones and his colleagues fought back and it was 0-14 to 1-6 by half-time. Fionan O'Brien and Declan McCusker kept the Ulster side ahead with Pat Spillane setting up a tense finish with a two-pointer, but there was to be no equaliser in Brewster Park. Favourites Kildare edged a derby with Offaly, which meant that all four home sides, who had a week off, prevailed in these quarter-finals. A tight 1-17 to 0-19 win at Cedral St. Conleth's Park in Newbridge keeps the Lillywhites in the title hunt, with Alex Beirne continuing his fine scoring form, totting up 0-7. Leading by two at half-time, James McGrath's goal the difference. Offaly stayed in the contest with Jordan Hayes' brace of two pointers but Beirne and Mick O'Grady answered at the other end. A late two-point effort, which could have seen Offaly prevail, drifted wide. Tailteann Cup quarter-final results: Fermanagh 0-21 Sligo 1-16 Kildare 1-17 Offaly 0-19 Wicklow 2-18 Westmeath 2-17 Limerick 4-21 Wexford 2-19