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RTÉ News
28-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
The Saturday Game verdict on Meath v Galway and Armagh v Kerry
Conor McManus and Enda Smith were in agreement on which teams would progress to the All-Ireland SFC semi-finals when they previewed Sunday's action at Croke Park on The Saturday Game. Meath and Galway do battle in the first encounter in Sunday's double-header at headquarters. "It's hard to look past Galway," McManus opined. "They have been under the cosh in quite a few games, have been on the brink of exit. "Nobody has managed to put them out and I think that will make them stronger. "They have been in big games in the latter end of the All-Ireland series in recent years. "They are very hard to beat. The team that beats Galway will have a day's work over them. You would have to fancy Galway." Smith said "Meath have shown great signs of progression throughout the year. If they do lose, it's hard to know whether it will be a positive year for them. They beat Dublin and Kerry but they will look at the Leinster final as the one that got away. "Across the pitch you look at Ruairí Kinsella, James Conlon and Matthew Costello, they have been chipping in with huge scores all year. "They will be a test for Galway but I do see Galway pulling through." Conor McManus and Enda Smith give their verdicts on Meath v Galway and Armagh v Kerry. Follow the action from 1.15pm on Sunday on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player and listen to commentaries on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1. — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 28, 2025 Armagh v Kerry is the main event for most neutrals and the Roscommon player said: "It's hard to know where Kerry are at, even coming up to a quarter-final stage. "They had a comfortable win last weekend against Cavan, but Armagh so far this year have looked every inch All-Ireland champions. "They've worn that badge of honour throughout the year. They've looked strong and they've added more players to the strength in depth that they already had. "Even losing Rian O'Neill at the start of the year, and I know he's come back in, but they have looked really strong and it is hard to look beyond them with Kerry's injuries and the way Armagh are going at the moment." McManus, while wary of the Kingdom's attacking talent, also came down on the side of the Orchard County, saying: "You can't discount a team that have the two Cliffords and Seanie O'Shea; you simply can't. So, yes, they certainly have a chance. "But it's around midfield that you'd imagine they are going to struggle. "Diarmuid O'Connor is a huge loss and just the form that Armagh have been in all year probably edges them ahead of Kerry at the minute. "Stefan Campbell not being available to Armagh is definitely a loss. His impact off the bench is nearly guaranteed at this stage. Every day he comes on, he gives you one or two scores; he's setting up scores. "For them not to have him to call on in the last 20-25 minutes is definitely a loss to Armagh, but still, you'd imagine Armagh will shade this one." Watch two All-Ireland Football Championship quarter-finals, Meath v Galway and Armagh v Kerry, from 1.15pm on Sunday on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on and the RTÉ News app. Listen to commentaries on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Sunday Game at 10.15pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
The Irish Sun
02-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Mark Doran urges Roscommon to ‘go after' Cork showdown as Meath draw keeps All-Ireland hopes alive
ROSCOMMON selector Mark Doran encouraged his team's players to go after their do-or-die clash with Cork with 'everything they have' after their stalemate against Meath on Saturday. The 2 Roscommon selector Mark Doran has urged the team to kick on in the clash against Cork 2 Roscommon and Meath played out a thrilling draw at Dr hyde Park But with the wind at their backs and Enda Smith's return to form, they kicked five second-half two-pointers to Their final day opponents Cork have none but will be looking to leapfrog the Rossies on neutral ground to snatch an All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final place. Doran said after the 'We asked them to go out and turn up, go and play for your jersey, go and play for your family, go and play for your clubs. read more on football "They did that and I'm delighted with them because I know the work they've put in. 'Hopefully we'll have more games after it but we're going to have to go after the Cork game with everything we have. 'We'll review, knuckle down and prepare for Cork. But there are no more safety nets.' James Conlon hit 0-6 as Meath continued to put their recent Leinster final disappointment against Louth behind them by moving on to three points and ensuring knockout football ahead of their meeting with Kerry. Most read in GAA Football Manager Robbie Brennan was satisfied that his team showed character in not letting the game get away from them after shipping the two early goals. He said: 'Any day you concede two goals and come out with a draw, you probably just have to accept that.' Tipperary GAA star 'had to do live apology on RTE' the day after cursing during All-Ireland interview - ROSCOMMON 2-15 MEATH 0-21 SCORERS — Roscommon: D Murtagh 1-4, E Smith 0-6, 3tp; B O'Carroll 1-0; D Cregg 0-2; S Lambe 0-1; D Ruane 0-1, C Murtagh 0-1f. Meath: J Conlon 0-6, 1tp; R Kinsella 0-3; B Hogan 0-2, 1tpf, B Menton 0-2, 1tp, C Duke 0-2, 1tp; J Morris 0-2, E Frayne 0-2; S Coffey 0-1, M Costello
The 42
31-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Roscommon-Meath draw rollercoaster contest, Down edge Louth
All-Ireland SFC Results Roscommon 2-15 (2-5-5) Meath 0-21 (0-5-11) Down 0-25 (0-4-17) Louth 0-24 (0-6-12) THERE WERE two thrilling and high-scoring contests played in Páirc Esler and Dr Hyde Park this evening, and in both cases, it was defenders who came up with the big plays that made all the difference. In a roller-coaster of a contest in Roscommon, the Rossies started with two early goals but were outscored by a wind-assisted Meath team by 0-12 to 0-4 in the second quarter, meaning they had a five-point lead to chase at the interval. Thanks to five second-half two-pointers, three of them from the outstanding Enda Smith, they looked like the more likely winners with 10 minutes to play. But instead, Rúairi Kinsella hit an equaliser, Roscommon missed three excellent chances, and after the hooter sounded, Ben O'Carroll had the goal at his mercy, only for Seán Rafferty to spring out of nowhere to touch the ball away from the diminutive attacker, and prevent a certain winner. O'Carroll and Diarmuid Murtagh were on the mark with first-quarter goals for the Rossies, both brilliant finishes, but at the other end of the pitch, James Conlon was on fire. Meath, as they have done in several games this year, controlled a huge amount of possession, and they hit four first-half two-pointers of their own, with Conlon putting his name on one of them and adding three more white flags into the bargain. Meath started well after half-time with points from Seán Coffey and Eoghan Frayne, but two doubles from Enda Smith, either side of a meek penalty that was easily smothered by Billy Hogan, quickly ate into the lead. The Royals defended well for most of the second half and prevented Roscommon from raising any white flags, though there were several near misses. Ciarán Caulfield and Rúairí Kinsella were hugely influential in carrying the ball forward and winding down the clock, and even after Diarmuid Murtagh's free gave Roscommon the lead with 10 minutes to play, they kept their patience and drew level through a clever Kinsella finish, setting the stage for Rafferty to keep their fate in their own hands in advance of their final round clash with Kerry. In the local derby in Newry, Down had a one-point lead on the last attack, and it was Adam Crimmins who was their hero, blocking down Tommy Durning to preserve their win. Advertisement Pat Havern (0-6), Danny Magill (0-6) and Odhrán Murdock (0-5) all had big nights for the Mourne men, who led by 0-11 to 0-1 after making a sensational start. Conall McKeever, Conor Grimes and Ryan Burns got scores that left it a bit more manageable at the break, 0-16 to 0-7, and they leaned heavily on two-point kicks in the second period, landing six with the breeze. A run of them from Sam Mulroy, Craig Lennon and Durnin had it down to a one-score game with just under 10 minutes to play, but Shay Millar and Havern (two) got the points that Down needed to keep their noses in front and set the stage for Crimmins to deliver the match-winning play. ***** In the Christy Ring Cup final, London ran out 1-27 to 1-24 victors over Derry. David Devine scored 1-12 for the winners, while Cormac O'Doherty (0-9) and Thomas Brady (1-1) were the main scorers for Derry. The Nickey Rackard Cup final saw Roscommon defeat Mayo 3-16 to 1-21. Roscommon forward Brendan Mulry hit the match-winning point in this meeting of the Connacht rivals. Mulry, Sean Canning, and Robbie Fallon raised green flags for Roscommon, while Eoin Delaney scored Mayo's goal. In the Lory Meagher Cup final, New York triumphed 4-17 to 2-17 against Cavan. David Mangan, Dara Walsh, AJ Willis, and Tomas O'Connor all grabbed goals for New York, while Liam O'Brien and Nicky Kenny found the net for Cavan. In the Tailteann Cup today, Limerick defeated Westmeath by 0-19 to 0-18 in Portlaoise, while Wicklow saw off Waterford by 3-19 to 0-21 in Wexford. Laois took down Offaly this evening in Newbridge by 3-18 to 3-16.
Irish Times
31-05-2025
- General
- Irish Times
Second-half Roscommon revival salvages a draw against Meath
All-Ireland SFC: Roscommon 2-15 Meath 0-21 Enda Smith spearheaded Roscommon's revival as Davy Burke's men overturned a five-point interval deficit to keep their chances of progression from Group 2 alive. A pulsating game between two evenly-matched teams saw both sides spurn chances to win it after Ruairí Kinsella brought the sides level with six minutes remaining. All of Roscommon's five second-half scores with the wind at their backs came from two-pointers, with Smith kicking three of them, while top scorer Diarmuid Murtagh added another brace. James Conlon was superb for the visitors in the opening half with 0-6, including a two-pointer, but Smith was his side's hero after the break. READ MORE Ruairí Kinsella raised his side's first orange flag with the outside of his right boot in the fifth minute before Eoghan Frayne opened up a three-point gap after the visitors capitalised on a Roscommon turnover But Roscommon wiped out that deficit when Senan Lambe set up Diarmuid Murtagh for a well-taken goal after seven minutes. Dylan Ruane nudged his side in front after Roscommon worked the ball upfield from goalkeeper Conor Carroll but the excellent James Conlon – who scored 0-5 from play during a productive opening 35 minutes – got off the mark to bring the sides level. Meath's Jordan Morris and Roscommon's Senan Lambe. Photograph: Evan Logan/Inpho In the 15th minute, Roscommon struck for a second goal when Shane Cunnane found Ben O'Carroll raiding in behind the Meath rearguard, and the St Brigid's forward produced an assured finish past Billy Hogan. Meath began to win the midfield battle, and Roscommon's cause wasn't helped by the loss of Niall Higgins to injury. Conlon added a couple of rapid-fire points before Daire Cregg replied for the Rossies after Lambe grabbed primary possession in the middle of the park. But Meath began to flex their muscles, mostly off Roscommon turnovers and their dominance around the middle. Conlon and Conor Duke sent over a couple of two-pointers in jig time, while Jordan Morris also found the range to open up a 0-12 to 2-3 gap. Menton arced over the Royals' fourth two-pointer of the half, and Conlon soon added to his tally to stretch his side's buffer to six points. Cregg grabbed a much-needed score for Roscommon before Morris and Ciaráin Murtagh – a free on the hooter – left it 0-16 to 2-5 in favour of Meath at the change of ends. Meath's Bryan Menton and Roscommon's Pearse Frost. Photograph: Evan Logan/Inpho The second half was laden with drama as Smith put a missed 41st-minute penalty behind him to lead his side's charge. Billy Hogan's 46th-minute two-point free from 45 metres, following earlier points from Seán Coffey and Frayne, left Meath 0-20 to 2-9 ahead, but Robbie Brennan's side would only trouble the scoreboard once more. Diarmuid Murtagh kicked a couple of two-pointers, while Smith added another to leave the Rossies ahead by the bare minimum with nine minutes remaining. Kinsella restored parity, and it took a last-ditch block from Seán Rafferty to deny Ben O'Carroll after Mathew Costello had hit the post at the other end. ROSCOMMON: C Carroll, N Higgins, C Neary, D Murray; R Daly, B Stack, S Lambe (0-0-1); E Nolan, S Cunnane; D Ruane (0-0-1), C Murtagh (0-0-1, 1f), E Smith (0-3-0); D Murtagh (1-2-0), D Cregg (0-0-2), B O'Carroll (1-0-0). Subs: P Frost for Higgins (14), D Smith for C Murtagh (49), C McKeon for Ruane (49), K Doyle for Nolan (57), R Fallon for Lambe (64). MEATH: B Hogan (0-1-0, 1tpf); S Lavin, S Rafferty, B O'Halloran; D Keogan, S Coffey (0-0-1), C Caulfield; A O'Neill, B Menton (0-1-0); C Duke (0-1-0), R Kinsella (0-1-1), M Costello (0-0-1, 1f); J Morris (0-0-2), J Conlon (0-1-4), E Frayne (0-0-2). Subs: C Hickey for Duke (55), K Curtis for Frayne (59), C Gray for Menton (64), J McEntee for Lavin (65), E Harkin for O'Neill (67). Referee: P Faloon (Down).
