Latest news with #CraigMorgan
Irish Examiner
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Maurice Brosnan: The Rebel unravelling begins and ends with Premier poise
Wheeling away with both arms aloft, completely at ease. The long-awaited spark has ignited a red fire. There's a roar. Shane Barrett is still celebrating. Patrick Horgan is letting Rhys Shelly know all about it. Tipperary dash down the tunnel. Cork are cruising. They are six points up and strong favourites in a showpiece that has arguably only had one significant upset in the 21st century. League champions. Munster champions. One foot on the steps. Little do they know it, but the whole structure is about to collapse from beneath their feet. Yeats knew the score. 'Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold.' By holding their nerve, Liam Cahill's outfit manufactured Cork's comprehensive collapse. They scored two points in the second half and conceded 3-14. It was a capitulation of staggering scale. This is Tipperary's gift. To arrive in Croke Park on All-Ireland final day and know that they belong. To emerge after a sucker punch and stick to their gameplan. To understand that a league final and Munster round robin defeat are meaningless in a matchup like this. In this extraordinary arena, bursting with colour and gripped by a strange, simmering tension, there are only two roles. One side gets to be the hammer. The other must become the nail. Something was going to explode on this highly-charged Sunday. The cork couldn't stay in the bottle forever. All day long, the fermenting process held north Dublin in a fervour. The streets around Phibsborough became veins of red and blue, as cars with flags obscuring their rear number plates coiled through housing estates in search of that rarest prize, a parking space. Jones's Road was wedged three hours before throw-in. Never before had the avenues around the ground borne so many signs pleading for tickets. They came in all shapes and sizes, handwritten and heartfelt, each a testament to longing. Forget hallowed field. They were standing at the gates of ground zero. They just didn't know it yet. When Liam Gordon brought an end to an remarkable contest, what spilled across the turf was inevitable: golden confetti showers. Unimaginable joy. Absolute despair. A visceral outpour of it all. Long after the final whistle, three Tipperary players emerged from under the Hogan Stand and pleaded with the stadium groundskeepers to be allowed back out on the pitch. Conor Stakelum, Brian McGrath and Craig Morgan won an U21 All-Ireland in 2018 with Dillon Quirke by their side. The trio walked to the centre of the grass, laid the bib that honours the Dillon Quirke Foundation on the 'Iomáint 2025' emblazoned logo and embraced. How did they achieve this extraordinary feat? How did the second half slide so fast? Minutes before half-time, the volley of 'Rebels. Rebels. Rebels' was deafening. Minutes before the end, every Premier pass was being greeted by an Olé. This says everything about Tipperary. It also says so much about Cork. A MOMENT OF GLORY: Tipperary's Craig Morgan and Conor Stakelum celebrate after the game Hurling is a deeply emotional game. Hurling is also a numbers game. When you bring a player out of your full-forward line to create a sweeper at the other end, you accept being outnumbered at one end. This is a simple calculation. The opposition will win most of their puckouts as a result. Tipperary knew this. They could not have known, but would have hoped, they still retain more puckouts than Cork did. Outside of a superb Shane Barrett goal, Rhys Shelly was scarcely troubled. He looked unerringly comfortable. It was almost unnerving. Goalkeepers aren't supposed to take off up the wing as an outlet, to drive out and score, to save well-struck penalties with poise. Bryan O'Mara is coming off. To describe his facial expression as a grimace would be a grave injustice. It's a face contorted in torture. He can hardly open his eyes. This is the look a man bears when he is fully aware of how important his role is in a decider. So he pours everything into it. He hobbles over the line, having had a seismic impact on the shape of the game. There are 20 minutes left and Tipperary are two ahead. O'Mara was freed up from the off. Later Craig Morgan would assume sweeping duties but early on, it was the number seven choking off the space where Cork's three-headed inside line beast tends to feed. By doing that, Tipperary gained more than protection. They built a platform. Cork finished with a stunning 48 turnovers from which they conceded a crippling 3-15. Despite being six down, at half-time Cahill and co. would see that they had more shots than their opponents. Find their range, hope the same Hill 16 wind that impacted their shooting would also afflict Cork's and they had a serious chance. Now O'Mara is gone, Seamus Kennedy has come in and the Rebels are stressing. In the end, they will have 15 second-half shots. Seamus Harnedy hits the crossbar. Alan Connolly's handpass to an onrushing Brian Hayes is an inch off. They keep forcing it. Just look at how Tipperary sourced their second goal. Patrick Collins goes long with his puckout because this is what they do. Darragh Fitzgibbon wins the break and races for goal. This is their blueprint. When he tries to pick a pass across the square, there are six defenders inside the 21m line. Stock the zone that matters the most. They lose it and Tipperary counter. It's not a long ball for long ball's sake. They work it. They work it until it's on. Now Eoghan Connolly can go long, John McGrath can nudge the already booked Eoin Downey, catch the sliotar with his left and spin into the small square. The Loughmore/Castleiney man who now has 22 goals in 45 championship appearances is closing in. The fox is in the henhouse. Suddenly every red head in the big house is scrambling. Every single one. Damien Cahalane is being introduced, it takes some time for Diarmuid Healy to be informed he is the one being replaced and Liam Cahill is quick to remind Donal O'Rourke of their delay. Healy glances to the screen to take in the seven-point deficit. Alan Connolly clips a wide and turns to look as another substitution is being announced. It's not him. It's Patrick Horgan. Cahalane urges for calm yet storms out and is penalised for barging. The whole place is spinning. It's been 20 years of near misses and dashed dreams and heartbreak and sweet mother of mercy McGrath has just flicked another dropping Connolly ball over a charging Collins to make the gap 11 points. And Cork are going to boom the next puckout long again and Tipperary are going to capitalise again. This highly-anticipated journey has become a debacle. Fix the gaping leak in the hull while the engine is belching black smoke. Bail out water as torrential rain comes tumbling down. Quench the engine fire while the compass spins wild. Code red, the worst kind of chaos. Try to keep the ghosts of prior failed voyages and another long winter out of mind. Wait! Are you absolutely certain you didn't leave the oven on before you left? This is the headspace Cork found themselves in. This is how fast it all descended. This is how an All-Ireland defeat becomes a hammering. This is how Tipperary secure their biggest All-Ireland final win since 1989. This is how the 2025 decider will be remembered. One team's composure is another team's unravelling.
The 42
02-07-2025
- Sport
- The 42
'He's in our minds every time we take the field. It's a privilege to still play for him'
DILLON QUIRKE DID most of his hurling for Tipperary at number five. So when Craig Morgan took to the field wearing the same jersey against Galway, he felt Quirke alongside him. It's almost three years since the Clonoulty-Rossmore clubman tragically passed away during a match against Morgan's Kilruane MacDonaghs. Quirke was a central cog among this generation of Premier hurlers. He remains so to this day. A famous photo of his hurley and red helmet held aloft above a celebrating crowd takes pride of place in the Tipperary changing room. 'He's still there in the dressing room. He's still running out the tunnel with us. I know he'll be there next Sunday as well,' said Morgan. 'He's in our minds every time we take the field. It's a privilege to go out and still wear the jersey, and to still play for him. Advertisement 'Even the last day, I was wearing the number five jersey with him as well. It's nice to bring it back to earth, that he's there with you. He definitely is. He's still a huge part for us on this journey. 'You'd like to imagine him there being involved as much as we are. He's still part of that team we had at under-21. 'He was there when the lows were there as well. We don't forget that either. Dillon was there when we weren't winning matches, so he's definitely there with us when we're heading up to Croke Park.' Galway's Brian Concannon with Tipperary's Craig Morgan. Tom O'Hanlon / INPHO Tom O'Hanlon / INPHO / INPHO Like many of his teammates, Sunday's All-Ireland semi-final against Kilkenny will be Morgan's first outing at GAA HQ. It's not something they've felt the need to address within the camp. 'Maybe on a personal degree, you would, because it's Croke Park. It's something you look forward to as a young fella to play in. 'But at the end of the day, it doesn't change anything. It's the same size pitch as it is anywhere else.' Morgan has played between midfield, centre-back, and the wings this year, depending on the opposition. 'Every team now, you nearly have to approach it a different way. There are so many different personnel and different talents. 'There has to be a bit of instinct there too, when you're playing at this level. It's the fastest field sport in the world. You can't be thinking too long about what you're going to do with the next ball. 'You have to hurl off instinct as well. When you have the support of the boys around you, it definitely makes it easier.' Tipperary hurler Craig Morgan. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO Morgan is especially conscious that he's living the dream of children all over Tipperary. That's because he deals with them every day as a teacher at his old school, Kilruane NS. Working with third and fourth classes, there's no shortage of feedback when Tipp lose matches. 'Children are probably the most honest people out there. They'll tell you on a Monday morning how you went on a Sunday. 'There's no filter there. They'll ask you why didn't you do this or why did you do that. You'd be thinking about it yourself after. 'It brings me back to being that age and thinking that I am where I am now and I need to enjoy that as well. Related Reads Tippeary selector rejects suggestion that Liam Cahill 'flogs his teams' Harnedy ruled out of Cork's game against Dublin, Cody back available for Kilkenny 'There are going to be lows, but you need to take them and learn from them. 'It's things you dream of doing, so you need to just enjoy it when you're there. The kids are good to remind you of that. 'It's something they're looking forward to in life, and that's their dream as well, so you're living their dream really.' *****
Irish Independent
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
‘Dillon is in our minds every time we take to the field' – Tipperary's Craig Morgan fondly recalls much-missed teammate
Irish folk are known for taking people down a peg or two at any opportunity so there's no fear of Tipperary star Craig Morgan losing the run of himself.
RNZ News
13-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Do you really need a credit card history before applying for a home loan?
Credit card spending is unlikely to affect your home loan application, experts say. Photo: 123RF By Anna Chisholm, ABC Have you ever been told that you'll need good credit card history to successfully apply for a home loan? It's the kind of unsolicited advice that pops up at family lunches and catch-ups with friends. But, according to financial educator Natasha Janssens and independent mortgage broker Craig Morgan it is more complicated than that. Janssens is a former financial planner and mortgage broker who lives in Canberra on the land of the Ngunnnawal people. She says the idea that you need a credit card to secure a mortgage comes from the United States. "In Australia, we really don't need a credit card in order to get a home loan," she says. Morgan, who lives in regional New South Wales, on the land of the Birpai people, says it is "a bit of an urban myth" that you need a proven track record of borrowing and repaying via a credit card to be a successful home loan applicant. "If you've got a really good solid credit history it probably counts for you. It certainly doesn't count against you," he says. But he says: "Whether you have or haven't had a credit card in your history is still largely irrelevant". For other loan types, your credit history may be more of a factor, but when applying for a home loan, your employment status and spending patterns could have more sway. If you're planning to buy a home, Janssens says, "the first thing is to check whether or not you actually have a credit score". You may have one without knowing. You can check your credit score online for free by contacting an online credit score provider, she says. The MoneySmart website recommends avoiding any provider that has a charge or asks for payment details. "Typically, you agree to their privacy policy when you sign up. That lets them use your personal information for marketing. But you can opt out of this after you sign up," MoneySmart says. It also states that a copy of your credit report can be requested every three months for free and recommends getting a copy at least once a year. "(A credit report) includes things like your credit rating, the credit products you hold, and your repayment history." Morgan says credit reporting agencies are likely to have a report for you if "you've had some component of credit, that could be something as simple as a mobile phone". Morgan says having a "clean" credit history with a good saving record can mean more to lenders. In the absence of credit history, Janssens says, the lender (usually a bank) would assess someone's ability to repay a mortgage in other ways, such as a consistent savings, their rental history, and paying utility bills on time. She says lenders are looking for evidence of reliability and consistency, which goes to an applicant's character. If you don't have a credit score, Janssens recommends talking to a lender or mortgage broker directly before applying online. As you may get automatically declined online by some lenders. Morgan says credit cards are "always going to count against you" when it comes to your borrowing capacity. If you're preparing to buy a house and want to borrow as much as you can a mortgage broker would likely advise you to get rid of your credit cards anyway, he says. This is because lenders are required to assume any credit cards are "maxed out" and a lender has to consider the minimum monthly repayments required when calculating how much you will be able to pay back and how much you can borrow initially. Janssens says "reducing your borrowing capacity" is one of "a couple of downsides" that come with credit cards. Janssens suggests spending conservatively in the six months before applying for a mortgage. "We tend to spend more when we can afford to spend," she says, but "it's a good idea to practice spending assuming you have a mortgage." Also make all repayments on time, as lenders will "be on the lookout for things that might suggest that you could have difficulties repaying". This includes pay day loans, accounts with pay now buy later services, and gambling. Morgan says to expect lenders to go through your bank statements and credit card history (if you have any) and don't go on a spending spree in the months prior. Sometimes people who have been diligently saving "have that one last hurrah". "What we see is this really horrific spending history in the three months leading up to the loan application." It might not cost you the loan, but it's not putting yourself in the strongest position either, he says. This article contains general information only. You should consider obtaining independent professional advice in relation to your particular circumstances. - ABC
Irish Examiner
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Craig Morgan relieved to lift monkey off Tipp's back
Craig Morgan is talking about the road traveled to Ennis. The Tipperary midfielder remarks that they have had a 'few setbacks' over the past two years. He immediately corrects himself. 'A lot of setbacks,' he clarifies. Saturday evening in Ennis bridged a gap of two years, two weeks, and three days to the county's most recent Munster championship victory. The interim period, as Morgan hinted at, was not particularly kind. There were nine provincial outings and not one win. There was a 15-point hammering away to Limerick. There was an 18-point humiliation at home to Cork. There were another four goals conceded and another double-digit hammering at the hands of Cork this year. Throw in their brief involvement in the 2023 All-Ireland series and Tipp boasted a solitary win, over then Joe McDonagh-card holders Offaly, from 11 championship outings. It is despite all these results that Tipperary, winless in the province for 748 days, were able to go to the home of the All-Ireland champions and secure a victory that gives their own championship campaign a pulse. It is despite all these results that winless Tipperary were able to summon a winning four-point response, into the wind, when Clare successfully wiped out an earlier 12-point deficit to restore parity on 63 minutes. 'We have huge belief in ourselves and huge belief in the players in the team. We have had a few setbacks, a lot of setbacks, over the last two years, and we knew that we'd be in a tough situation against the All-Ireland champions in their home ground. 'We knew they'd come back at us in the second half, but we showed great character to dig deep in the last five minutes. Even the subs that came on really showed the character and belief that's in this team,' said Morgan, who started at centre-back at Cusack Park as Ronan Maher went to right half-back to stand beside Clare puckout target Peter Duggan. 'In the Munster championship, every team, on any given day, can beat any other team, so we knew that Clare were going to come back and that not to panic, stay brave, stay hurling the way we can, and execute our game-plan, and that's what we did.' Morgan made his championship debut in 2022. Started all four games of that year's Munster round-robin. Subsequent cruciate ligament rupture rendered him unavailable for the 2023 round-robin. Saturday was Morgan's 11th Munster championship start and first win. A box ticked for him personally and a monkey off the back collectively. 'Of course it is,' he says with regard to the latter. 'A draw or loss wouldn't do there today. We knew that was knockout hurling. It was only a win that was in our minds, that is what we went after, and that is what we achieved. We knew that win kept us in the championship and obviously we were showing emotion after the game. 'I wasn't playing that day in 2023, so this is my first win in Munster. To get that win there was great for me, personally. 100%, I'll remember that one. Probably is a monkey off the back.' The 4-18 to 2-21 triumph in the backyard of the champions returns Tipp to the championship conversation. A first championship win over Waterford in six years this Sunday will secure them a top three spot ahead of the final round of games the weekend after. A draw could also prove sufficient, but that would leave their fate in the hands of others on that final weekend. And after wrestling back control of their own narrative in Ennis, they're of no mind to let it go again. 'This doesn't matter if we don't reproduce next week, that's all we are focused on now.'
