Latest news with #ConorBurke
BreakingNews.ie
20-07-2025
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Dublin hurler Conor Burke hopes county can learn from this season
It may have ended in a heavy defeat to Cork in a semi-final, but Dublin hurler Conor Burke looks back on the season positively. At the beginning of the year, not many fans and pundits would have put Dublin in the final four come July, but a remarkable quarter-final win over Limerick shocked the country. Advertisement In a first semi-final since 2013, it wasn't to be for the boys in blue, as Cork were ruthless 7-26 to 2-21 winners in Croke Park. A big part of Dublin's progress, Burke says Dublin must build from this season into the future, and could look to Cork for inspiration. "For us, what I think is important is we are at those big stages more regularly and more consistently, that we are playing in the business end against the best teams and bringing a level of performance that gives us a chance of beating them. "Last year, we were in the Leinster final and we had another poor, poor showing. Cork have gone through a lot of heartbreak over the last couple of years, and they have regrouped and taken their learnings from those big days. Advertisement "For us, it is about putting ourselves in that position as often as we can and taking our learnings as they come." When it comes ot hurling, Dublin has had the attention taking away, with much of the spotlight on the footballers over the years. In a rare year when they have gone further than the football side, it shows the progress made in Dublin hurling. Combined with All-Ireland wins for Na Fianna and Cuala, Dublin have shown how hard work is paying off. Advertisement Having been written off ahead of their quarter-final against Limerick, Dublin produced arguably the performance of the season to defeat Limerick, who have won four of the last five All-Ireland's. A game that will likely never be forgotten, the Dublin midfielder said they approached it like any other game. "You are just focused on the task at hand, there is enough motivation for ourselves to get to the later stages and the reward was big enough. I don't think there was any additional motivation. "Limerick are a brilliant team and have had huge success over the last couple of years. "It is only when you are walking over getting pulled aside. You are so engrossed in the game trying to do your job. "Just trying to enjoy the moment as well, it brought a lof of joy and to my family and friends as well."
Irish Daily Mirror
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Dublin star gives take on All-Ireland final after semi-final humbling from Cork
Dublin's Conor Burke says that Tipperary will 'fancy their chances' in the All-Ireland final against rampant Cork. Burke and Co were on the receiving end of Cork's awesome power in last Saturday's semi-final as Pat Ryan's side ran in seven goals in a comprehensive 20-point win to reach successive deciders for the first time since 2006. Tipp are back in the final for the first time in six years after edging Kilkenny out in the second semi-final on Sunday, but despite the significant strides they've made this year, will go into the game on July 21 as outsiders. Cork have been installed as 4/11 favourites but Burke stopped short of saying that it's theirs to lose. 'I wouldn't necessarily say that,' he said. 'I think Cork will wear the favourites tag by virtue of their performances this year. They're obviously Munster and League champions and had a huge performance in the semi. 'But Tipp will also fancy their chances there. They've been training the whole year for this day. They'll go into it with great confidence as well and look to take them down. 'It's a once-off game and an All-Ireland final so I wouldn't be writing anyone off. But yeah, Cork will wear the favourites tag.' Burke was named PwC Player of the Month for June, largely on the back of his man of the match performance in Dublin's shock quarter-final win over Limerick, though much of the shine from that win has faded given the nature of the Cork loss. The St Vincent's man acknowledged that it was 'definitely a step-up' on what they had been exposed to prior to that but, with it being Dublin's first semi-final in 11 years, he stressed how they can't afford such a lengthy gap before reaching the back of the season again. 'I think what's important is that we're at those big stages more regularly and more consistently and that we're playing in the business end against the best teams year in, year out and bringing a level of performance that gives us that fighting chance to go and beat them. 'I think last year we were in the Leinster final and another poor showing, I would say, same as Saturday just gone. 'I think Cork have gone through a lot of heartbreak over the last couple of years and they've obviously regrouped and taken their learnings from those big days so I think for us it's a case of putting ourselves in that position as often as we can and then taking your learnings as they come and then you're hopefully pushing on from there.'
RTÉ News
02-07-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
'We'll need to be better' - Conor Burke under no illusions as in-form Cork loom large
Dublin put in a performance for the ages when they knocked Limerick out of the All-Ireland Hurling Championship, however they will have to be even better to reach this year's final. That's the verdict of star midfielder Conor Burke, who is expecting a greater challenge in the semi-finals as the Dubs face Cork at Croke Park on Saturday. Burke proved instrumental as the 14-man Dublin side – who lost captain Chris Crummey early in the game due to a red card – upset the odds to beat John Kiely's outfit and progress to the penultimate round of the championship for the first time since 2013, and despite all the talk of a new era in the capital, the focus remains solely on the next game. "I think you don't look too far ahead, I suppose, is the honest answer," said Burke, when asked was this the beginning of a new journey for the county hurlers. "You just tackle each game as it comes, and I think as you knock off those kind of building blocks, then you can kind of look back and say that was probably the point where it was just the start of the journey. "But the honest answer is that you're just really focused on the next task at hand, and I think if you look beyond the next task at hand, you'll probably be left with egg on your face." That next task, of course, is a duel with the Munster champions, and a side that were tipped for All-Ireland success following their emphatic league campaign. Pat Ryan's side backed it up in the Munster round robin, albeit with the odd wobble en route to provincial success. But Burke is under no illusion that the Rebels are the in-form team and that it will take a monumental effort to knock them off their stride on Saturday. "Cork are obviously the in-form team," said Burke. "They're the league champions, Munster champions, so it's going to be a huge challenge. "I think what you'll see with really successful teams like that is that there's not just one way they can hurt you. If you focus too hard on one particular way, they'll find a way around that. "They're a really well-rounded team, and we're under no illusions that it's going to be a huge step up and task at hand, and we'll need to be better than we were on Saturday if we want to win." Burke appeared quietly confident that Dublin can, once again, rise to the occasion and put in a competitive performance in what should be a close-to sold out Croke Park, with over 70,000 expected at Headquarters. And the St Vincent's man emphasised the team spirit within Niall Ó Ceallacháin's squad, which has been evident on the pitch where Dublin's unity has been one of their strongest traits throughout. "These inter-county games, particularly at the knockout stages, are relentless in terms of the pace of the game and the amount of balls you have to deal with," said Burke. "You consistently have a role, whether it's affecting the play on the ball or whether it's offering support to a teammate. I think that was something that shone through across the entire team. Everybody has that mindset and collectively it is powerful. "To be involved in elite setup, you want to push yourself as far as you can go and you're constantly looking for that extra per cent. But I think it's a common mindset amongst the team and everybody has that mindset. "So everybody is open to do the extra gym session or recovery session. So with that comes lots of socialising with lads who are making the same sacrifices and put the same time in. "So there's a sense of togetherness there and obviously you get the kind of craic that goes with it too." One man who is instrumental in creating and maintaining that team bond is captain Crummey, who will miss the game on Saturday following his red card against Limerick. However, Burke believes that Crummey still has a big role to play throughout the build-up to the game and on matchday itself. "Chris is a brilliant character, a brilliant leader. He's obviously our captain. He's a huge presence and a brilliant leadership, and he brings that not just on matchdays, but every single day he's there," said Burke. "Beyond that, he's also just a brilliant fellow, a great lad to be around, so I think he brings a brilliant energy to the dressing room and to the game, along with obviously all of his hurling talents and leadership traits that everybody is obviously really familiar with." And as for the game on Saturday, Burke is hoping to show that this Dublin side can continue to mix it at the highest level and give the bumper home support something to shout about. "I think there's good excitement in the camp. It's been a long time since Dublin have been in the semi-finals, so you have to relish the occasion and appreciate that you're there," he said. "I would say there's great confidence amongst all the players, and we're obviously really looking forward to the game and hopefully putting our best foot forward. "I think that's coupled with belief as well. It's not blind. There's a lot of confidence in the group and everybody knows that there's lots of talent there and if we can perform and get that out of ourselves, any team can beat any team. "I think there's good excitement in Dublin hurling at the minute. Hopefully, we're not done at this stage, and we can progress." Watch the All-Ireland Hurling Championship semi-finals with RTÉ Sport. Cork v Dublin on Saturday from 4.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player and Kilkenny v Tipperary on Sunday from 3.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
BreakingNews.ie
01-07-2025
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
All-Ireland hurling semi-finals: Cork v Dublin, Kilkenny v Tipperary
This weekend will see the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship semi-finals. Cork will go up against Dublin at 5pm on Saturday in Croke Park, while Kilkenny will take on Tipperary at 4pm on Sunday on the same pitch. Advertisement Dublin caused the shock of the hurling championship when they defeated Limerick 2-24 to 0-28 in the quarter-finals. Dublin started strong, with Seán Currie, Conor Burke and Ronan Hayes leading the charge, as they never gave Limerick a bit of space in Croke Park. Tipperary defeated Galway 1-28 to 2-17 to reach the semi-final. The Munster side looked cofortable throughout the game, with scores from Jason Forde and Jake Morris helping them to a 0-13 to 0-7 lead after 25 minutes. Tipperary took a 0-16 to 0-11 lead at the interval, but a goal from Col Molloy just after half-time gave them hope. However, they could not build on this, with a goal from Oisin O Donoghue giving Tipperary a 1-26 to 1-14 lead after 58 minutes. Galway had a second goal from Declan McLoughlin, but it was too late, and it will be Tipperary who go up against Kilkenny.
Irish Daily Mirror
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
'We want silverware' the rally cry from ace Dublin hurler after downing Limerick
There was no one golden moment when Conor Burke felt Dublin would beat Limerick to set up their All-Ireland SHC semi-final with Cork on July 5. Such is the battleground of modern hurling. There wasn't a second to take stock in the dead heat of Croke Park last Saturday afternoon. "You don't have a chance to think out there, so you're definitely not a scoreboard watcher," explained Burke, the Dubs' man of the match. The midfielder was a driving force in a victory that was forged with a next moment, next play mentality and with a conviction that they heavy odds against the Blues would be upset. "We go into every game with the expectation that we're going to come out and win, that's what drives us and gets us to training on a Tuesday and a Thursday," said Burke. "I think we really attacked the game. We set the tone from an out of possession perspective and also controlled the game in possession. "We had a brilliant first half and that gave us a great kind of foothold into the game and just kind of kicked it on from there. You're just trying to affect the next play and the ball comes so quickly at you that you're just trying to focus on doing your job, play after play and doing it as much as possible. "And I thought when we went down to 14, everybody had that mindset and that's what kind of spurred us on together to really drive it on." There was no thought before the Limerick game that it was a free hit. Same applies now for the task ahead against Cork, the Munster champions and last year's losing All-Ireland finalists. "We're playing at inter-county level, you don't come into a campaign with the expectation that you're going to get knocked out at a quarter-final stage," he said. "So we want to win, we want silverware on our table, that's what gets us into the car to go training again on a Tuesday and Thursday. We had full belief that we'd win there and we pushed on to the semi-final as well."
