Latest news with #DerekLyng
Irish Times
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Kilkenny GAA expected to respond over decision not to replay SHC semi-final
There will be no replay of last Sunday's All-Ireland SHC semi-final but Kilkenny GAA are expected to make a public response to outline their disappointment at the circumstances around the Croke Park scoreboard carrying the incorrect score during injury time. The scoreboard mistakenly awarded Noel McGrath's 70th-minute effort as a point – even though one of the umpires signalled it had drifted wide of the Hill 16 posts. That error gave Tipperary a four-point lead in the game and forced Kilkenny to immediately try force goalscoring opportunities. The score at the final whistle was initially given as 4-21 to 0-30 but just before 8pm on Sunday night the GAA amended the result with referee James Owens confirming the final score as Tipperary 4-20 Kilkenny 0-30. The referee's report trumps all else. Derek Lyng did not make a big deal of the error when speaking immediately after the game and there does not appear to be an appetite in Kilkenny to enter the appeal trenches on the matter. READ MORE However, several county officers believe it is important for the board to construct an official response and show support for their players, so a Kilkenny GAA statement is expected. Meanwhile, Raymond Galligan has stepped down as Cavan senior football manager after two years in charge. The former county goalkeeper, who in September 2023 was appointed on a three-year term, has brought his spell at the helm to an end citing work and family commitments as the reasons for his decision. 'Raymond has been a wonderful servant to Cavan GAA over the years as a footballer, team captain, manager and a positive role model for all. Raymond always had time for all the younger fans which did not go unnoticed,' stated Cavan GAA. Cavan retained their Division Two status during both of Galligan's seasons in charge. They chalked up a famous victory over Mayo in this year's championship but exited the competition after a heavy defeat to Kerry in the preliminary quarter-finals. As a player Galligan made 114 appearances scoring an impressive 1-122 despite being a goalkeeper for the majority of his Cavan career. He captained the team from 2019 -2023 and lifted the Anglo Celt Cup in 2020. He also won an All Star that year. 'Cavan GAA would like to put on record their appreciation and gratitude for the huge commitment and effort Raymond and his management have given to Cavan football. We wish Raymond, his wife Niamh and their two young children the best in the future and thank you again from all in Cavan GAA.'
Irish Examiner
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Kilkenny and Tipperary due an apology by the GAA
Former GAA president Nickey Brennan believes his native Kilkenny and Tipperary are both due an apology following the scoreline controversy arising from the counties's All-Ireland SHC semi-final. Brennan, a former Kilkenny player, manager and county chairman, is in no way calling for the game to be replayed, insisting Tipperary were the better team and deserve to progress to the final where they are due to face Cork on July 20. Both teams were of the understanding Tipperary had gone four points up in the last minute of normal time when Noel McGrath's scoring attempt was marked as a point on the scoreboards yet waved wide by the umpire. The score was later subtracted from Tipperary's total and they won the game by two points. However, Kilkenny finished the game as if they had to score a goal to force extra-time. Brennan believes both teams deserve some recourse from the GAA authorities. 'I think both teams are owed an apology for what happened. It was human error, I absolutely accept that and human error will happen in games. But get out and make the apology and just move on. 'There's no question here of a game being replayed or anything. It's neither in rule nor it's not relevant in this case. But had John Donnelly scored a goal and Kilkenny won by a point and everyone in the stadium had taken it as a draw, then there would have been hell to pay.' Brennan found it unusual that neither manager, Derek Lyng nor Liam Cahill, were made aware of the discrepancy during the game. 'It was a mess, it was an absolute mess. 'I was in the room with the media people afterwards, I was aware that both team managements did not know about it,' said Brennan, a contributor to Kilkenny Community Radio. 'And of course the big surprise to me was that neither backroom team, whoever they might be, had informed each sideline of the position that was and that they could have tactically altered the way they were playing in the end. 'This has nothing to do with the result per se, it has nothing to do with Tipperary, they did nothing wrong, they are deserving winners at the end of the day. "It probably prompts questions as to what exactly your backroom team was doing if a thing like this, which had a major potential bearing on the result, was not flagged.' Brennan has great sympathy for Kilkenny manager Lyng. 'I feel very much for Derek Lyng in this particular instance because he and the lads were working a particular way at the end as the players were to do something. "So they will feel absolutely utterly let down because given the extra man they will at least feel, whether it would have happened or not I don't know, they might have engineered a draw and gone to extra-time. "And let's not forget Tipp would still have only had 14 players in extra time."
Irish Times
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Kilkenny must evolve to keep pace with competitors if they're to end Liam MacCarthy drought
It will be a long winter of introspection for Kilkenny hurling, mulling over the county's longest wait. Kilkenny are now officially going through their most protracted Liam MacCarthy Cup drought since they first won an All-Ireland senior hurling title in 1904. They had decade-long gaps without major silverware between 1922-32 and 1947-57, but Sunday's defeat to Tipperary ensures Kilkenny's current barren period will continue until at least 2026. They were last crowned All-Ireland champions in 2015. In the 10 years before that the Cats owned hurling, winning eight All-Ireland titles between 2006 and 2015. A shot of Brian Cody briefly flashed up on the screen during Sunday's semi-final. Cody, the most successful manager in the history of the game, stepped down as Kilkenny boss three years ago. READ MORE Several of his former players were dotted around Croke Park on Sunday – Henry Shefflin was in the press box on duty for RTÉ, Aidan 'Taggy' Fogarty was working for KCLR, David Herity was on the sideline as part of Liam Cahill's management team. Derek Lyng, who had been one of Cody's most trusted lieutenants both as a player and later as a selector, was also on the sideline, trying to manage the Cats to a second All-Ireland final appearance on his watch. At one stage that looked on the cards, until Tipp decided otherwise. When Tipperary were reduced to 14 men and Kilkenny flicked over a couple of points to lead by two with seven minutes remaining, you would have forgiven the PA spin-master if they decided to prepare The Rose of Mooncoin for an airing. Kilkenny, you see, don't lose from there. Or didn't used to. But they do now. Some of Kilkenny's defending on Sunday was careless, bordering on sloppy. They conceded 3-11 in the first half, all from play, and coughed up possession needlessly at times, including a turnover which led to Oisín O'Donoghue's goal. Oisín O'Donoghue scores Tipperary's fourth goal. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho How O'Donoghue was able to get his shot away from within a tangle of Kilkenny defenders is a mystery. Lyng had tried to plug the defensive holes by moving Paddy Deegan into the full-back line during the first half, and at the interval he hauled ashore Shane Murphy to introduce David Blanchfield. But Blanchfield would be one of just three subs used by Kilkenny. The other two – Stephen Donnelly (66 minutes) and Killian Doyle (70) were brought on in the closing stages. With everything on the line, it suggests Lyng didn't quite trust the depth of his squad much beyond those already on the field. Still, for Kilkenny to only manage four points from the moment of Darragh McCarthy's sending off until the final whistle is a stat that will haunt the Cats over the winter. There is no dressing it up – this was a bad defeat for Kilkenny. While there's a sense that Tipperary are coming, nobody seems quite sure where Kilkenny are going. That might sound odd given Kilkenny are six in-a-row Leinster champions. They also won the provincial title at minor and under-20 level this year. So they're still very much the princes of Leinster, but beyond that these are lean times for a county celebrated until recently as the kings of hurling. Their last All-Ireland senior triumph was in 2015. Their last All-Ireland minor triumph was in 2014. Their last All-Ireland under-20/21 triumph was in 2022, before that it was 2008. Of the 18 players who featured in the under-20 decider against Limerick three years ago, none started for the seniors against Tipperary on Sunday. Just one (Doyle) came off the bench. As of now, they haven't kicked on. In this year's final Kilkenny's under-20s were beaten 3-19 to 1-16 by Tipperary at Nowlan Park and the manner of that loss generated plenty of criticism around the county. There does not appear to be a conveyor belt of talent about to whizz off the production line in Kilkenny to bolster the senior team. Kilkenny's TJ Reid with his daughter Harper after Sunday's game. Photograph: Tom O'Hanlon/Inpho So, what happens when they lose the leadership and brilliance of players like TJ Reid and Eoin Murphy? Cork, bolstered by three All-Ireland under-20/21 titles over the last five years, have been threatening a senior breakthrough for several seasons. The Rebels might well realise that ambition in a fortnight. Chances are they'll be around for a while. Limerick have way too much talent to disappear, while Tipp now seem to have rediscovered their mojo. In Leinster, there are promising signs of progress emerging in Dublin and Offaly, and Kilkenny's status as best in the province is likely to be properly stress-tested over the coming seasons. The recriminations for Sunday's championship exit will continue for many weeks in Kilkenny, albeit among most hurling folk in the county there is a belief Lyng has done a decent job with the squad at his disposal. Of Kilkenny's 2015 Liam MacCarthy winning team, Reid and Murphy are the only survivors who played in the All-Ireland final against Galway a decade ago. Richie Reid was an unused sub goalkeeper. It seems probable now that in the near future a Kilkenny team will take to the field without a single remaining All-Ireland senior hurling winner.
BreakingNews.ie
07-07-2025
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Kilkenny considering their options after confusion over final score
Kilkenny were discussing their options on Sunday night after the GAA clarified the final scoreline in Croke Park and RTÉ was incorrect. Croke Park clarified the correct scoreline as Tipperary 4-20 Kilkenny 0-30 in the second of the All-Ireland SHC semi-finals. Advertisement After Oisín O'Donoghue's 69th-minute goal put Tipperary three points ahead, 4-20 to 0-29, a Noel McGrath point effort was waved wide by an umpire. However, it was recorded as a point on the scoreboard. Following Jordan Molloy's point in the second minute of additional time to bring Kilkenny's total to 30, both managers Derek Lyng and Liam Cahill were of the understanding that the margin was three points when it was in fact two. 'I had three, I thought it was three,' said Lyng afterwards. Kilkenny chased a goal in the dying stages when in fact they could have aimed for points to force extra-time — John Donnelly had a goal attempt denied by Robert Doyle on the goal-line. In the immediate aftermath of the game, GAA sources stated afterwards that the scoreline was 4-21 to 0-30 in Tipperary's favour. However, the GAA later corrected it and gave one point fewer to the winning side. Advertisement The Association said they are waiting on referee James Owens' report to ascertain exactly where the confusion arose. A statement on the GAA website read: "The GAA can confirm that the official score at the end of the Tipperary v Kilkenny GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Semi-Final was 4-20 to 0-30. 'The GAA acknowledges there was confusion over the final score. The CCCC (Central Competitions Control Committee) is awaiting the full referee's report in order to establish how the initial mistake occurred." This is the second time in two years that a scoreline error has been made in Croke Park. In the 2023 Joe McDonagh Cup final, Carlow beat Offaly after extra-time by a point. Referee Thomas Walsh reported the score as 2-29 to 1-31 as did the stadium scoreboards when in fact it was 2-30 to 1-32. The incorrect score was adopted into the records. Broadcasters RTÉ updated their totals to reflect the right scoreline. Advertisement In 2016, a re-match was ordered for the Christy Ring Cup final between Meath and Antrim in Croke Park after it was miscalculated that Meath had won the game by a point (2-18 to 1-20). It materialised soon after that the actual scoreline was 2-17 to 1-20 yet Meath were awarded the trophy. Antrim requested a second game, which was granted, but Meath won it by a point, 4-21 to 5-17.
Irish Times
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Liam Cahill's Tipperary rebuild comes to fruition against Kilkenny
The elephant in the room didn't go unaddressed. Both Liam Cahill and Derek Lyng were asked about their understanding of the margin of victory and each replied, three points. At that point, the official score was still a three-point win for Tipperary , 4-21 to 0-30. By the time it was officially revised, the managers had long departed and speculation about what Kilkenny thought they had to do in those closing minutes – chase a goal or take their points – intensified. The fact remains that Tipperary had qualified for a first All-Ireland final in six years and a first Liam MacCarthy climax between them and ancient rivals, Cork . [ GAA clarify full-time score in Tipperary-Kilkenny semi-final after confusion over scoreboard error Opens in new window ] It was a resounding success for Cahill, who became the first manager in 17 years to take a second county to the All-Ireland hurling final, having brought Waterford there in the ghostly surrounds of the winter championship in the Covid-impacted 2020 season. READ MORE The past 12 months have been a time of recovery for Cahill and Tipperary. An ignominious exit from the Munster championship a year ago, including annihilation by Cork in Thurles, convinced the Tipp manager that he needed to rebuild. 'It's been difficult to navigate over the last year from my perspective. I won't deny that – huge change required and it's starting to come through now and like I said, it's all down to the players and to be fair, the alignment with our county board off the field as well. 'When you're trying to create a high-performance environment for players to excel, both [the team and administrators] have to be working together and I think it's starting to happen now.' Tipperary had to recover from a dire opening when they scored just once in the opening 14 minutes while conceding 0-8 from a confident and fluid Kilkenny. Fortunately, the one score was a goal by John McGrath. By half-time they had scored three goals – one for each of the full forwards – and led by four, 3-11 to 0-16. There was still adversity to negotiate and they had to play out the last 15 minutes with 14 men after Darragh McCarthy was yellow-carded for the second time. 'Look, it's misfortune, the second yellow,' said Cahill. 'By the rule book it's there, as a second yellow. We had no complaints with it at all. Just disappointed for Darragh. He commits to everything. Tipperary manager Liam Cahill with Darragh McCarthy after his sending off. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho 'I suppose just before that we probably had really discussed getting Oisín [O'Donoghue] in at that time. Lo and behold, Darragh was coming off all right, but we can't get Oisín in to replace him. It was a bit of a blow at the time but look, I think it really ignited the rest of the players on the field.' It was the second successive All-Ireland semi-final that Tipperary had to cope a man short, having lost John McGrath against Wexford in 2019. Michael Breen, a survivor of that afternoon, reflected on the challenge. 'When it went to 14 men, you just have to be that bit smarter and you have to be a little bit braver because you are down a man and your use of the ball has to be a bit better.' Lyng was in downbeat form after a second successive All-Ireland semi-final defeat. The bright start had promised more and although there was never very much in it, they couldn't close the gap, even with the man advantage. 'Look, we didn't use it well enough,' he said. 'Simple as that. We weren't urgent enough in using the spare man better.' He also acknowledged that the concession of four goals had done the ultimate damage. 'I think when you concede three before half-time, you're always going to be under pressure. We started the game very well. We were managing the game pretty well to that point and maybe a sense of panic when the first goal went in. I'm not sure. 'Credit to our players. I thought they responded really well, particularly in the second half. It looked like we got control of the game again. But conceding the fourth goal, you're going to have to do an awful lot to win a semi-final when you concede four.'
