Latest news with #Donaghy
Irish Daily Mirror
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Former Kerry star believes Armagh clash is 'perfect scenario' for Kingdom
In both 2006 and 2009, Kerry were in various states of apparent disarray heading into All-Ireland football quarter-finals that they weren't expected to win. The form of the team wasn't good, there were issues within the camp and county, and they were drawn against a side that seemed to be in much better shape. Sound familiar? Sean O'Sullivan was in the Kingdom side at the time and, as he will be on Sunday at 4pm, Jack O'Connor was patrolling the Croke Park sidelines as Kerry boss. 'In 2006, we were obviously hurting from the previous year after losing the All-Ireland to Tyrone, but we thought we were going in the right direction,' said O'Sullivan. 'It just wasn't happening for us though and, particularly up front, we weren't scoring a lot. The Kerry faithful weren't happy with us and the defeat up in Páirc Uí Chaoimh was a tough one to take.' Losing by six points, 1-12 to 0-9, in that Munster final replay, on a day where captain Declan O'Sullivan received boos from a section of the Kerry support, there was a real sense of crisis. However, a qualifier win over Longford, the switch of a certain Kieran Donaghy to full-forward, the buzz of a last-eight tie against Armagh and everything changed. 'Things started to turn and we drew Longford in the qualifiers in Killarney. Jack either had the brainwave, or wasit the last throw of the dice, to peg Donaghy in at the edge of the square,' he added. 'Eoin Brosnan got a hat-trick that day and I'm nearly certain Donaghy had a hand in two of those goals, if not all three of them. It was the spark that ignited the season. 'I only watched the Armagh game back recently enough and we were in serious trouble in the first half at times. 'We stayed in the game up until half-time, I think we were 1-7 to 1-5 down, and we levelled it up fairly quickly in the second half. Then there was broken play around the middle, I just made a run and it might have been Tommy Griffin who played it to me, and I don't know if I was going for a point or was going for a pass, but I'll take that to the grave. 'I put it into the danger zone, let's put it like that, and the big man from Austin Stacks did the rest. It really turned the game, we were in control from then, and it turned our season. We went on to win the All-Ireland.' That famous goal from Donaghy, and the subsequent celebration in front of Armagh goalkeeper Paul Hearty, became an iconic Championship moment. Kerry won by eight points, 3-15 to 1-13, and lifted Sam after beating Cork and Mayo. Three years later, Kerry weren't in a good place either. Beaten by Cork in a Munster replay, 1-17 to 0-12, they didn't play well against Longford, Sligo or Antrim in the qualifiers either. Indeed, the Sligo game in Tralee saw Diarmuid Murphy make a stunning penalty stop to save Kingdom bacon. Tomás Ó Sé and Colm Cooper were dropped, in the aftermath, for a disciplinary issue. 'We were on the road together a lot, we had had a great run, we were getting to final after final, and maybe we were a little sick of each other. Jack was cranky with us and we were cranky with each other,' remembered O'Sullivan. 'Then you had the Gooch and Tomás going offside a little bit, so it was just one of those seasons. We were doing the right things in training, we were working hard, but we were forcing things in games. 'Then we got the draw of Dublin up in Croke Park, on the August Bank Holiday Monday. We were coming down from Tullamore after playing Antrim and you could already feel the change in the mood on the train.' With Cooper and Ó Sé back in the side, and Mike McCarthy coaxed out of retirement to anchor the centre-half-back spot, Kerry went out and eviscerated Dublin by a 17-point margin, 1-24 to 1-17. The Kingdom were back on track. Meath and Cork were then dispatched, and the 'canister' was returning to what the Kerry natives consider its rightful home. All was well again. On Sunday, Kerry are underdogs once more. The Royals stunned them by nine points, they are ravaged with injuries and seemingly ready to be put out of their misery. Or are they? O'Sullivan added: 'Forget what's gone before, forget the favourites' tag that's hanging over Armagh, and just really go for it, with the intention that if we lose today, we're gone, and our year is over. 'I feel that can get a real performance out of Kerry. If we get a performance, we're more than a match for Armagh. We're more than a match for anyone left in the Championship 'It's just getting that performance out of us on the big day. If we can do that, I feel we'll win. I genuinely believe that this is the perfect scenario for us. 'We're either good enough, and we'll win, and be through to an All-Ireland semi-final with a great scalp under our belts, or we're just not good enough, and we're beaten, and we're on the way home. 'Jack is a really good man-manager and he thrives on these types of situations. He's got good guys around him as well. At the same time, it has to be a two-way street. Jack will back them to the hilt, he'll take all the criticism on his chin and he'll protect the players, but the players need to give something back now. 'They need to step up, starting on Sunday – and I certainly believe they will.'
Irish Examiner
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Thickness and conviction? Can Kerry lean on parallels with 2006?
'I find myself in an unfamiliar position today as I've never tipped anything other than a Kerry victory,' wrote Kerry great John O'Keeffe in his Irish Times column the morning of their 2006 All-Ireland quarter-final against Armagh. 'I can't remember a time when they arrived at this stage of the championship as outsiders. Yet, on merit alone, I must be true to the evidence in front of us all.' Save for his great mentor Mick O'Dwyer in this newspaper and one or two other hardy annuals who predicted Kerry would come good, O'Keeffe wasn't alone. Jack O'Connor's side were being written off as they were ahead of the same stage three years later against Dublin. Didn't anybody learn? Up to a point, the parallels between this All-Ireland quarter-final and their previous one against Armagh 19 years ago are tantalising for Kerry: unfancied, Division 1 champions, O'Connor at the helm, and coming off a goal-drenched win in Killarney the previous weekend. The disparities are the current yawning injury list, which is hardly comparable to Declan O'Sullivan's middling form which was of chief concern to Kerry in 2006, and the fact that Kieran Donaghy, the pearl they shucked in that victorious championship, is now a charm for the opposition. In Fitzgerald Stadium last weekend, there was no lightning in a bottle moment as there was there in 2006 when Donaghy was stationed at the edge of the square against Longford and laid off two of Eoin Brosnan's three goals. 'Jack's eyes lit up,' recalled Seán O'Sullivan, who started against Armagh the next day with the intention of maintaining the supply to Donaghy. 'I came on late in the Longford game and in training the following Tuesday, Jack called me and Galvin over. 'Seánín, I want you on that side there, Galvin, or Galavin as he used to call him, you go over to that side. I want you to start sending every second ball as a floater into Donaghy.' 'I didn't read anything into it but after training he called me over and said they were going to give me a shot on Saturday. They wanted that type of ball going into Donaghy, not all the time but that type. We didn't have much time to practice it; it was just like 'this is it, we're going with it.' But we did have a good feeling about it. 'It came at a time when we were being a little dismissed, not only by the rest of the country but our own gang as well because we were just not going well. Even though we'd won the league, very similar to this year, and in the championship we just couldn't get going.' Close to the end of the first half against Armagh, Donaghy touched down O'Sullivan's delivery to Colm Cooper whose shot was saved by Paul Hearty. However, a goal came from his 39th-minute kick into Donaghy when the Austin Stacks man rounded Francie Bellew, blasted to the net and then asked Hearty what did he think of that. O'Sullivan recognises the similarities between then and now. There was a thickness and a conviction among his crew even when the chips were down. He wonders if the same exists in the camp now. 'The only worry I have at the moment for this current group is that as iffy as we were going, you could look around the dressing room and Jesus, you just felt, 'Fuck, there's a big one in us today.' Seamo [Moynihan] and Darragh [Ó Sé], Galvin, Donaghy, Mike Frank, Gooch… there had to be a big performance in us somewhere and it came out. There were huge leaders in there. 'Are the leaders in this group? I really believe they are. Is there a big performance in the group? I think there is. You just hope it comes out Sunday. The worry I have is off the pitch. I think 15 against 15, we go toe-to-toe with anyone left. That's including Armagh. But I just feel from 15 to 20, 21, they have the edge. And you've got to give great credit to [Kieran] McGeeney for that. He's really built a panel.' As for Donaghy, O'Sullivan reckons he will be forgiven whatever happens. 'Kieran is a Kerry legend and always will be. The guy was given an opportunity and it's just so happened he's gone in with a county who beat us last year, and will fancy themselves to do it again and that's not Kieran Donaghy's fault. 'I certainly think that if they were to beat Kerry, it's another little feather in his cap and he would definitely be on the radar for a role in Kerry football and I think he'd jump at it. 'Last year, I think I left it to the Monday or Tuesday, and I sent him a text congratulating him. If he beats us again Sunday, I'll be doing the same because look he went to further his coaching career. He knew at some stage he was probably going to meet Kerry and I think Kerry people will recognise that he's doing a good job up there.'
Powys County Times
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Former Mid and East Antrim chief faces prosecution over alleged deleted emails
The former head of Mid and East Antrim Council is facing prosecution in a probe into the alleged deletion of emails. Anne Donaghy has 'denied any wrongdoing during her time in office'. A solicitor of Ms Donaghy added she will 'vehemently contest these three technical offences'. Northern Ireland's Public Prosecution Service (PPS) on Friday confirmed that it has taken a decision to prosecute two people following a police probe into the alleged deletion of emails related to a freedom of information (FOI) request at the council in 2021. It comes after a BBC Spotlight programme reported police searches of the council offices in October 2021 and April 2022 were connected to an alleged attempt to delete correspondence around a decision to withdraw council staff involved in post-Brexit trade agreement checks at Larne Port. During a time of political tension over the introduction of an 'Irish Sea border', a number of staff were temporarily removed from the posts for their safety following alleged threats from loyalist paramilitaries. Department of Agriculture staff were also withdrawn from the port on February 1 2021 amid security concerns. However police later said they were not aware of any credible threats. A PPS spokesperson said one individual is being prosecuted for three offences under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, and a second individual is being prosecuted for one offence under the same Act. 'The charges relate to offences allegedly committed in April 2021 and June 2021,' they said. In total four individuals were reported on a police investigation file submitted to the PPS for consideration. The PPS said a senior prosecutor carefully considered all the available evidence and applied the test for prosecution before taking decisions in relation to the four reported individuals. 'It has been determined that the available evidence in relation to the other two reported individuals is insufficient in order to provide a reasonable prospect of conviction and therefore the test for prosecution is not met in relation to them,' they said. Solicitor Kevin Winters said Ms Donaghy has an outstanding High Court legal action against the council alleging discrimination. 'Today we received notification that she will be prosecuted on three counts of allegedly concealing records, aiding and abetting another person to erase or conceal a record and attempting to erase or conceal a record contrary to FOIA and other legislation,' he said. 'Our client denies any wrongdoing during her time in office and will vehemently contest these three technical offences. 'Central to her defence will be very strong allegations of investigative bias over the manner in which this inquiry has been conducted. 'Those same allegations have been the subject of a long-running complaint to PONI, the out workings of which will feature in any trial, if one is ever directed.' He added: 'Anne Donaghy has an impeccable record and service working for the council. 'She wants to put on record her sincere thanks for the all the support she has received from former colleagues in council and beyond in the wider community. 'Our client takes a lot of strength from this and knows it will serve her well going forward when confronting what are essentially contrived politically motivated allegations.'
North Wales Chronicle
a day ago
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
Former Mid and East Antrim chief faces prosecution over alleged deleted emails
Anne Donaghy has 'denied any wrongdoing during her time in office'. A solicitor of Ms Donaghy added she will 'vehemently contest these three technical offences'. Northern Ireland's Public Prosecution Service (PPS) on Friday confirmed that it has taken a decision to prosecute two people following a police probe into the alleged deletion of emails related to a freedom of information (FOI) request at the council in 2021. It comes after a BBC Spotlight programme reported police searches of the council offices in October 2021 and April 2022 were connected to an alleged attempt to delete correspondence around a decision to withdraw council staff involved in post-Brexit trade agreement checks at Larne Port. During a time of political tension over the introduction of an 'Irish Sea border', a number of staff were temporarily removed from the posts for their safety following alleged threats from loyalist paramilitaries. Department of Agriculture staff were also withdrawn from the port on February 1 2021 amid security concerns. However police later said they were not aware of any credible threats. A PPS spokesperson said one individual is being prosecuted for three offences under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, and a second individual is being prosecuted for one offence under the same Act. 'The charges relate to offences allegedly committed in April 2021 and June 2021,' they said. In total four individuals were reported on a police investigation file submitted to the PPS for consideration. The PPS said a senior prosecutor carefully considered all the available evidence and applied the test for prosecution before taking decisions in relation to the four reported individuals. 'It has been determined that the available evidence in relation to the other two reported individuals is insufficient in order to provide a reasonable prospect of conviction and therefore the test for prosecution is not met in relation to them,' they said. Solicitor Kevin Winters said Ms Donaghy has an outstanding High Court legal action against the council alleging discrimination. 'Today we received notification that she will be prosecuted on three counts of allegedly concealing records, aiding and abetting another person to erase or conceal a record and attempting to erase or conceal a record contrary to FOIA and other legislation,' he said. 'Our client denies any wrongdoing during her time in office and will vehemently contest these three technical offences. 'Central to her defence will be very strong allegations of investigative bias over the manner in which this inquiry has been conducted. 'Those same allegations have been the subject of a long-running complaint to PONI, the out workings of which will feature in any trial, if one is ever directed.' He added: 'Anne Donaghy has an impeccable record and service working for the council. 'She wants to put on record her sincere thanks for the all the support she has received from former colleagues in council and beyond in the wider community. 'Our client takes a lot of strength from this and knows it will serve her well going forward when confronting what are essentially contrived politically motivated allegations.'
Glasgow Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Former Mid and East Antrim chief faces prosecution over alleged deleted emails
Anne Donaghy has 'denied any wrongdoing during her time in office'. A solicitor of Ms Donaghy added she will 'vehemently contest these three technical offences'. Northern Ireland's Public Prosecution Service (PPS) on Friday confirmed that it has taken a decision to prosecute two people following a police probe into the alleged deletion of emails related to a freedom of information (FOI) request at the council in 2021. An anti-Northern Ireland Protocol sign close to Larne Port (Liam McBurney/PA) It comes after a BBC Spotlight programme reported police searches of the council offices in October 2021 and April 2022 were connected to an alleged attempt to delete correspondence around a decision to withdraw council staff involved in post-Brexit trade agreement checks at Larne Port. During a time of political tension over the introduction of an 'Irish Sea border', a number of staff were temporarily removed from the posts for their safety following alleged threats from loyalist paramilitaries. Department of Agriculture staff were also withdrawn from the port on February 1 2021 amid security concerns. However police later said they were not aware of any credible threats. A PPS spokesperson said one individual is being prosecuted for three offences under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, and a second individual is being prosecuted for one offence under the same Act. 'The charges relate to offences allegedly committed in April 2021 and June 2021,' they said. In total four individuals were reported on a police investigation file submitted to the PPS for consideration. The PPS said a senior prosecutor carefully considered all the available evidence and applied the test for prosecution before taking decisions in relation to the four reported individuals. 'It has been determined that the available evidence in relation to the other two reported individuals is insufficient in order to provide a reasonable prospect of conviction and therefore the test for prosecution is not met in relation to them,' they said. Belfast solicitor Kevin Winters of KRW Law (Liam McBurney/PA) Solicitor Kevin Winters said Ms Donaghy has an outstanding High Court legal action against the council alleging discrimination. 'Today we received notification that she will be prosecuted on three counts of allegedly concealing records, aiding and abetting another person to erase or conceal a record and attempting to erase or conceal a record contrary to FOIA and other legislation,' he said. 'Our client denies any wrongdoing during her time in office and will vehemently contest these three technical offences. 'Central to her defence will be very strong allegations of investigative bias over the manner in which this inquiry has been conducted. 'Those same allegations have been the subject of a long-running complaint to PONI, the out workings of which will feature in any trial, if one is ever directed.' He added: 'Anne Donaghy has an impeccable record and service working for the council. 'She wants to put on record her sincere thanks for the all the support she has received from former colleagues in council and beyond in the wider community. 'Our client takes a lot of strength from this and knows it will serve her well going forward when confronting what are essentially contrived politically motivated allegations.'
