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The 42
5 hours ago
- Sport
- The 42
Jim McGuinness: 'We, the management and the players, had nothing to do with the statement'
JIM MCGUINNESS SAYS he, his management team and players were unaware of the Donegal GAA statement issued this week condemning the six-day turnaround before their All-Ireland quarter-final against Monaghan. Donegal won today's clash 1-26 to 1-20. They trailed by seven points at half time, 1-15 to 0-11, but booked their place in the semi-finals after a dominant second-half showing. On Monday, Donegal GAA expressed their disappointment that a request to have the game arranged for Sunday, rather than Saturday, was denied. As his post-match press conference came to an end this evening, McGuinness said: 'I just want to say one thing, there was a statement put out during the week. We, the management and the players, had nothing to do with the statement. 'We didn't know the statement was going to be put out. There was an awful lot of noise, an awful lot of articles and an awful lot of stories about that statement, that we weren't happy and we were disappointed and annoyed. Advertisement 'The management and the players knew that once we got beaten against Tyrone, that we were going to be facing into three games in three weeks, and that that was the way it is. 'The statement was released by the county board, on the back I think of people in Donegal and clubs in Donegal not being happy. But as a management team, we were okay with the game.' The 2012 All-Ireland winning boss continued: 'From my own point of view, you should never, ever make an excuse for a game before a game is played. I have never done that in my life and so I want to make sure that distance is there, because it's disrespectful to Monaghan. 'If we got beaten today and the first half followed through into the second half, people would say, 'Sure he was saying that during the week'. We had nothing to do with it. Nor did we know it was going to be put out into the ether until I read it myself on the phone. 'That's very important from a management point of view and the players point of view: we were happy to be here today because we got beaten against Tyrone and it was always going to be that way. It was always going to be three games in three weekends and suck it up and let's get on with it.' While Man of the Match Shane O'Donnell revealed McGuinness shared 'harsh words' in the dressing room after a 'big wake-up call,' the manager insisted the key to victory was changing nothing. They outscored the Farney county 1-15 to 0-5 in the second half, Michael Langan with the goal, and 0-11 to 0-0 from the 48th to 68th minutes. Monaghan's Kieran Duffy and Michael Murphy of Donegal. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO 'I would imagine from a Monaghan point of view, with the two-pointer they kicked just before the break, they'd be like, 'Right, this is it, we have the magic formula,'' said McGuinness. 'We didn't change anything, to be honest, because we had the work done, we had the plan going into the game done. We just doubled down on that. We didn't change any personnel, we just trusted the fellas to get it right themselves. 'Then it's over to the players. It's a moment then where you've gotta say, 'Listen, we're in a hole here and only the players can get themselves out of that hole'. 'So very, very happy they responded the way they did, and very happy with the bench as well. That was very important as well, everyone that came on made a massive contribution.' McGuinness hailed the character of his players as they await their semi-final opponents and face into a week off. 'They're great lads and they're great football players, and they've put a lot into it. You don't want to just limp out of an All-Ireland quarter-final, particularly when you're Ulster champions, and it's very important coming down and representing the province from that point of view. 'We wanted to step up, that's really the bottom line. We wanted to step up and show what we are capable of doing, and the manner of it is very encouraging.'
The 42
7 hours ago
- Sport
- The 42
Waterford crowned All-Ireland minor hurling champions for first time since 2013
Waterford 1-17 Clare 0-10 Páraic McMahon reports from FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles WATERFORD ARE ALL-IRELAND minor hurling champions for the fourth time after producing an impressive display to overcome Clare for the second time this year. A first All-Ireland minor title since 2013 is the reward for James O'Connor's Déise who emerged as deserving winners on Saturday evening. 12 years ago their side included Stephen Bennett, Tom Devine, Austin Gleeson, Patrick Curran and Shane Bennett but the class of 2025 were led by marksman Cormac Spain, Tommy Kennedy, Shane Power and Darragh Keane to ensure goalkeeper James Comerford received The Irish Press Cup from GAA President, Jarlath Burns. Burns in his presentation speech noted that victorious manager O'Connor was in the third year in charge, a tenure which began without recording a championship victory in year one, the journey included one win in year two but the destination arrived at is the promised land for his third year at the helm. Played in front of an attendance of 16,411, Waterford had the wind at their backs in the opening half of the Electric Ireland minor final. They had a dream start when wing forward Pierce Quann goaled inside the first minute as the Clare defence were caught napping. Points from Cormac Spain and Shane Power followed as they built up a five point advantage. By the 13th minute, Clare had made it a one score game with only three points between the sides. However, Waterford produced a very strong second quarter which included an unanswered tally of five points to close out the half and hold a 1-12 0-5 interval lead. Advertisement Waterford's Eanna McHugh with Clare's Evan Cleary and Dara Kennedy. Tom O'Hanlon / INPHO Tom O'Hanlon / INPHO / INPHO Ger O'Connell's Clare needed to start with a bang in the second half and they had three scores on the bounce via John Barry on the double and one from Ian O'Brien. That was as good as it got for the Banner who only hit two points for the remainder of the game. Ballygunner ace Cormac Spain continued to be the scorer in chief over the hour, finishing with eleven points to his name, he picked some off excellent efforts and it was made all the more impressive as he was visibly carrying a knee injury but persevered. Waterford stayed resolute despite holding a comfortable lead and through Spain and Shane Power they kept their account ticking over to run out as deserving winners by a margin of ten points, an increase on their six point victory when the sides met in the Munster championship at the beginning of May. Dara Kennedy and Zak Phelan impressed for Clare who found that their attacking threat was well nullified on the day. Spain was player of the game excelling at full forward with Shane Power effective in the air and when given the time to shoot. Tommy Kennedy, Gearoid O'Shea, Bradley Penkert and Darragh Keane also stood out for the All-Ireland champions. Scorers for Waterford: C Spain (0-11 6f), P Quann (1-0), S Power (0-3), G O'Shea (0-2), E McHugh (0-1), T Kennedy (0-1) Scorers for Clare: J Barry (0-3 3f), P Rodgers (0-2 1f 1SC), L Murphy (0-2), B Talty (0-1), I O'Brien (0-1), D Murrihy (0-1). Waterford 1. James Comerford (Ballygunner); 3. Darragh Murphy (St Mary's East), 4. Darragh Keane (De La Salle), 2. Conor Lynch (Geraldines) 5. Bradley Penkert (Mount Sion), 6. Hugo Quann (Lismore), 7. Tommy Kennedy (Mount Sion) 8. Éanna McHugh (Roanmore), 9. Gearóid O'Shea (St Molleran's) 12. Shane Power (De La Salle), 11. Jack Power (Ballygunner), 10. Pierce Quinn (Dungarvan) 13. Dylan Murphy (Roanmore), 14. Cormac Spain (Ballygunner), 15. Jamie Shanahan (Erins Own). Subs Clare 1. Leon Talty (St Joseph's Doora/Barefield) 3. Jack O'Halloran (Sixmilebridge), 2. Niall Doyle (Éire Óg), 4. Zak Phelan (Sixmilebridge); 5. Evan Crimmins (Newmarket-on-Fergus), 6. Dara Kennedy (Ballyea), 7. Colm Daly (St Joseph's Doora/Barefield); 8. Graham Ball (St Joseph's Doora/Barefield), 9. Evan Cleary (Ballyea); 13. Ian O'Brien (Cratloe), 10. Rory Ralph (Clarecastle), 11. James O'Donnell (Broadford); 14. Paul Rodgers (Scariff), 15. Liam Murphy (O'Callaghans Mills), 12. Ben Talty (St Joseph's Doora/Barefield). Subs 20. John Barry (Inagh/Kilnamona) for Ralph (28) 21. Gavin Marshall (Parteen/Meelick) for B Talty (45) 17. Darragh Murrihy (Inagh/Kilnamona) for Cleary (51) 24. Jake Gibbons (Whitegate) for O'Donnell (60) 22. Donncha Mahon (Clooney/Quin) for Murphy (63) Referee: Colm McDonald (Antrim)
The 42
7 hours ago
- Sport
- The 42
Donegal dominate in second half against Monaghan to reach All-Ireland last four
Donegal 1-26 (1-3-20) Monaghan 1-20 (1-5-10) DONEGAL'S SECOND-HALF brilliance has propelled them into the All-Ireland semi-final for the second successive season. Trailing by seven at the break against Monaghan in the opening tie of quarter-final weekend, 1-15 to 0-11, they turned the game around in the second half to win by six points. The Ulster champions outscored Monaghan by 0-11 to 0-2 across the last 25 minutes of the game to seal a passage into the last four. Michael Langan's bullet to the net in the 44th minute provided Donegal with a major boost as they set about overhauling Monaghan. Gabriel Bannigan's side exited after a limp second-half showing. They were excellent in the first half, Rory Beggan striking five points, Andrew Woods contributing a pair of two-pointers, and Mícheál Bannigan pounced for a goal in the 27th minute after a poor kickout from Shaun Patton. That moved them 1-9 to 0-8 in front, and they led 1-15 to 0-11 at half time after Beggan's booming two-pointer from play, following the buzzer. Donegal looked to be fading, the six-day turnaround and hectic schedule catching up with them, but Ciarán Thompson was one source of scoring inspiration with two-pointers. Donegal's Michael Langan and Monaghan's Stephen O'Hanlon. Tom Maher / INPHO Tom Maher / INPHO / INPHO Jim McGuinness shared some 'harsh words' in the dressing room after a 'big wake-up call,' as described by Man of the Match Shane O'Donnell. He finished with 0-3, while Langan top-scored with 1-3 on his 100th Donegal appearance. Michael Murphy hit 0-4, split evenly between play and frees. The Ulster champions outscored Monaghan 1-15 to 0-5 in the second half – and 0-11 to 0-0 from the 46th to 68th minutes. While Monaghan were wasteful, with 12 wides in all, and tried to force matters down the stretch, Donegal scored 1-26 from 26 scoring chances and hit just four wides. Three of those were from Murphy, the other courtesy of Roarty in their off-colour first half. There was an obvious swing around the 50th minute: Beggan's two-pointed free effort crashing off the post, Woods sending the follow-up shot wide, before Langan levelled matters at the other end. Donegal got joy from the bench too, Patrick McBrearty stepping up with two important points. They now march on to the All-Ireland semi-finals, and continue their winning streak over Monaghan in championship football – unbeaten since the 2015 Ulster final. Monaghan's Aaron Carey and Ryan McHugh of Donegal. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO Scorers for Donegal: Michael Langan 1-3 (1 2pt play), Michael Murphy 0-4 (0-2f), Conor O'Donnell 0-4, Ciarán Thompson 0-4 (2 2pt play), Oisín Gallen 0-3, Shane O'Donnell 0-3, Peadar Mogan 0-2, Patrick McBrearty 0-2, Ryan McHugh 0-1. Scorers for Monaghan: Rory Beggan 0-5 (1 2pt play, 1 2pt free, 0-1 '45), Micheál Bannigan 1-2 (0-1f), Andrew Woods 0-4 (2 2pt play), Stephen O'Hanlon 0-3, Conor McCarthy 0-2, David Garland 0-2 (1 2pt play), Ryan O'Toole 0-1, Ciarán McNulty 0-1. Advertisement Donegal 1. Shaun Patton (St. Eunan's) 2. Finnbarr Roarty (Naomh Conaill), 3. Brendan McCole (St. Naul's), 4. Peadar Mogan (St. Naul's) 5. Ryan McHugh (Kilcar), 6. Eoghan Bán Gallagher (Killybegs), 7. Ciarán Moore (St. Eunan's) 26. Hugh McFadden (Killybegs), 9. Michael Langan (St. Michael's) 25. Caolan McColgan (St Patrick's Muff), 11. Ciarán Thompson (Naomh Conaill), 12. Shane O'Donnell (St. Eunan's) 13. Conor O'Donnell (Carndonagh), 14. Michael Murphy (Glenswilly), 15. Oisín Gallen (Seán Mac Cumhaills) Subs 10. Daire Ó Baoill (Gaoth Dobhair) for McColgan (40) 8. Jason McGee (Corduff, Monaghan) for McFadden (45) 22. Patrick McBrearty (Kilcar) for Gallen (49) 19. Eoin McHugh (Kilcar) for Ryan McHugh (56) 24. Niall O'Donnell (St Eunan's) for Murphy (66) Monaghan 1. Rory Beggan (Scotstown) 2. Ryan Wylie (Ballybay), 3. Kieran Duffy (Latton), 4. Dylan Byrne (Magheracloone) 5. Ryan O'Toole (Scotstown), 6. Dessie Ward (Ballybay), 7. Conor McCarthy (Scotstown) 8. Mícheál McCarville (Scotstown), 20. Gary Mohan (Truagh Gaels) 10. Aaron Carey (Clontibret), 11. Mícheál Bannigan (Aughnamullen), 12. Ryan McAnespie (Emyvale) 21. Ciarán McNulty (Inniskeen), 14. Andrew Woods (Inniskeen), 15. Stephen O'Hanlon (Carrickmacross) Subs 13. Jack McCarron (Scotstown) for McAnespie (inj) (40) 18. Louis Kelly (Truagh Gaels) for McCarville (50) 25. David Garland (Donaghmoyne) for McNulty (50) 26. Karl O'Connell (Tyholland) for McCarthy (59) 19. Darren Hughes (Scotstown) for Mohan (59) 24. Stephen Mooney (Cremartin) for Garland (blood) (60) Garland for Mooney (62) Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon) - With reporting from Fintan O'Toole.
The 42
13 hours ago
- Sport
- The 42
Eight-try Lions dispatch Force to get up and running in Australia
Western Force 7 Lions 54 IT DIDN'T LOOK like Andy Farrell was a happy man at half time, but his Lions team ran out comfortable winners over the Western Force in their opening match on Australian soil. Finn Russell steered the ship superbly from out-half as he made a strong start in his claim to the Test number 10, the Scottish playmaker mixing delightful attacking touches and razor-sharp awareness with muscular defence and fine kicking. Ireland's Joe McCarthy was the pick of the forward pack in Perth, his aggressive, powerful, industrious work in the tight rewarded with a second-half try as the Lions opened up. Farrell will pick out lots for the Lions to improve upon – most notably their work at restarts, discipline errors in the first half, and consistency in defensive impact – yet he and his assistants enjoyed some of the freewheeling work that yielded eight tries. The first big injury concern on tour is Welsh scrum-half Tomos Williams, who hurt his hamstring in the act of scoring his second try of the night at Optus Stadium. Williams has started this Lions campaign well, and now must hope it's nothing serious. That second Williams try was perhaps the pick of the bunch from the Lions, with the busy Mack Hansen and James Lowe integrally involved in an 80-metre breakout effort sparked by a smart long pass by McCarthy in his own 22. Advertisement Tomos Williams is the big injury concern. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO That said, the first Lions score – in just the second minute – was also a beauty. Patient, composed phase-play attack led to Russell picking out captain Dan Sheehan with an accurate cross-field kick. Sheehan popped back inside to Lowe, who darted for the right corner but then had the presence of mind to slip a one-handed back inside to Sheehan, the hooker surging over the tryline. The highly talented 20-year-old Henry Pollock featured prominently in Williams' first score, combining well with fellow back row Josh van der Flier to take an offload from the Irishman and then surge towards the line before calmly offloading to the Welsh halfback. Pollock's classy chip and regather also laid the platform for McCarthy's second-half score, although a yellow card at the end of the first half was a frustration for the prodigious English back row. That yellow came after a rather sloppy opening half in which the Lions gave up too many easy penalties and struggled badly under the Force's restarts as Scottish lock Scott Cummings had something of a nightmare in that area. Farrell was highly animated while delivering his half-time words to the Lions and though the tourists then started the second half poorly, that breakout score finished by Williams soon had them up and running. Finn Russell impressed for the Lions. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO Ireland centre Garry Ringrose got his name on the scoresheet too, taking a classy inside ball from Hansen to finish after slick handling by midfielder Sione Tuipulotu and the impressively solid fullback Elliot Daly. However, it was Ringrose's defensive work that made the biggest impression as he left big physical marks on the Force with his thunderous tackling. The collective defensive effort wasn't perfect but Ringrose's intent and physicality were impossible to miss. Daly notched a first-half score after Russell made a clever decision to tap and run a penalty 40 metres out when the Force switched off in expectation of a line kick, while the third-time Lion finished another in the second half when replacement Marcus Smith sent him over. After the Lions bench made an impact, Jack Conan in particular, Farrell's men finished with a flourish at Optus Stadium as Tuipulotu and Hansen combined to tee up replacement scrum-half Alex Mitchell. The Force responded strongly to Sheehan's opening try, with skipper Nic White scoring just minutes later, but they were unable to do further damage despite enjoying their fair share of territory and possession. The Western Australians never had the attacking class they needed to truly hurt the Lions, who now move quickly onto Brisbane for Wednesday's second game against Les Kiss' Queenslands Reds. There is clearly lots hard work ahead for the Lions, but there were plenty of glimmers of Test potential in Perth. Western Force scorers: Tries: Nic White Conversions: Ben Donaldson [1 from 1] Lions scorers: Tries: Dan Sheehan, Tomos Williams [2], Elliot Daly [2], Garry Ringrose, Joe McCarthy, Alex Mitchell Conversions: Finn Russell [5 from 6], Marcus Smith [2 from 2]
The 42
18 hours ago
- Sport
- The 42
'Forefathers of the club' - the uncle-nephew duo driving Monaghan's All-Ireland charge
IN AUGHNAMULLEN CIRCLES, the Bannigan name is GAA royalty. Their association with the Monaghan club stretches back some 70 years. For local stalwart Brian McArdle, the Bannigan presence was there when he started playing and it was there again when he became a committee member. Everlasting. McArdle says it started with Packie Bannigan. A founding father who served the club dutifully and captained Aughnamullen to their first junior championship title in 1957. He cut the path for his sons to follow. And for their sons, too, deepening the imprint of the Bannigan legacy. 'They're steeped in tradition in the club . . . the forefathers of the club.' McArdle can remember brothers Eugene, Pádraig and Owen all representing the name with distinction. Gabriel Bannigan, another sibling, was just as influential. McArdle reckons he broke through to the senior ranks at around 16 and played for about a decade before his life diverted down to Dublin where he worked in banking for 30 years. Micheál, son of Owen, is the latest in the Bannigan line. He will captain Monaghan into an All-Ireland quarter-final against Donegal later today in Croke Park. His uncle Gabriel will be running the line, plotting Donegal's downfall. Monaghan boss Gabriel Bannigan. Leah Scholes / INPHO Leah Scholes / INPHO / INPHO But back to Gabriel for a moment and the road that took him away from home. The miles didn't matter in the end. He has spoken before about how his late brother Owen kept him informed of events happening at home. They spoke on the phone everyday. Gabriel never lost his link with Aughnamullen as a result, and he would have a major role to play as senior manager down the line. Advertisement 'He'd always be about,' says McArdle who worked under Bannigan during that stint. 'Even though he was living in Dublin, you'd always see him at matches there. You might have a beverage with him after the game. He always had the club at heart.' Bannigan built up an impressive CV on the road. He held the reins at the St Sylvester's club in Malahide for five years, and was the Kilmacud Crokes boss for three seasons. In between those two posts, he took over an U16 team in Aughnamullen for the 2014 campaign and managed them to double success. He felt the pull of home again in 2020 after Aughnamullen suffered relegation to the junior grade. The club 'wasn't in a great place', according to McArdle, and 'could go no lower'. Bannigan's intervention sparked a remarkable rise. 'The whole atmosphere changed and a lot of it was to do with Gabriel's positivity,' says McArdle who conducted the stats for Bannigan during that term. 'Gabriel's outlook is very positive. 'Five or six of that U16 team on the senior team in 2020. That team in 2014 is probably the backbone of the senior team today. Gabriel's input was second to none. 'He started from scratch. He approached some of the older guys that would have been in their mid-30s and were going to retire and they stayed on for that year. 'He said, 'Aughnamullen shouldn't be a junior club.' We had experience with the boys there, and with the juveniles coming through, we had the basis of a decent team. But we needed everybody on board. 'A lot of that hard work was to do with Gabriel. His man-management skills were second to none and he had everybody on side. He had the whole parish on side.' By the end of his first year in charge, Aughnamullen were junior champions. And with devastating efficiency too. They won the quarter-final against Aghabog by 11 points and were convincing 20-point winners against Oram in the semi-final (6-15 to 1-10). They went into the final with an overall tally of 10-80 and crushed Seán McDermotts by 4-21 to 1-11 in the final. Bannigan brought Aughnamullen to the intermediate final the following year where Donaghmoyne were the victors, but the rules at the time dictated that Aughnamullen would be promoted on account of reaching the decider. From junior to senior in less than three seasons. A swift recovery. So, when Bannigan was named as Vinny Corey's successor to take over the Monaghan footballers in 2024, McArdle didn't need to blink twice . He knew his former mentor had been working towards that goal since Corey brought him on board as a selector. 'Gabriel doesn't really apply to be a number two. Gabriel is number one. I knew Gabriel would be going for the job when Vinny stepped down. The club would have known that. Gabriel is very ambitious. 'I knew from day one. When Gabriel went in with Vinny, I knew that was only a stepping stone.' The way Monaghan are playing under Bannigan is familiar to McArdle too. They topped the scoring charts across all the divisions in the league with a colossal total of 193 before the league final. In their Division 2 showpiece, Monaghan chalked up 1-6 in the final quarter of their 1-26 to 0-19 win over Roscommon. Division 1 champions Kerry are next in line in the league scoring stakes on 170 points. Those are numbers that remind McArdle of the huge tallies Aughnamullen were churning out when Bannigan was in charge. 'That's the way the club plays,' says McArdle. 'It's all forward thinking. He's not defensive-minded. The two-points system is definitely one for us this year. It keeps a team in the game. Michéal Bannigan kicking a goal for Monaghan in their All-Ireland round-robin win over Down. James Lawlor / INPHO James Lawlor / INPHO / INPHO 'Once you have the armoury of Micheál and Rory Beggan, these two points have really took us on.' It was a brave call from Bannigan to name his nephew as the team captain in light of the nepotism allegations that might follow. But in McArdle's mind, there was no-one else who deserved it more. 'Micheál is a born leader. He's been a leader since he was U12. Related Reads Galway and Armagh announce sides for quarter-finals, O'Callaghan named on Dublin bench Mayo, God help them! They'll never learn 'I don't think there's someone in Croke Park trying to take Donegal down' 'He's the go-to man all the time. He got county player of the year last year. It's not that there isn't other candidates but Micheál was the standout choice. There was really nobody else in my opinion.' Gabriel and Michéal Bannigan will be Aughnamullen's representatives in Croke Park today. Micheál will wear the 11 jersey while Gabriel will try to outwit the tactical cunning of Jim McGuinness. Donegal had just two points to spare when Monaghan rallied from seven down in the Ulster quarter-final. But while Monaghan will come into this game well rested having won Group 3, Donegal must navigate a tricky six-day turnaround after their preliminary quarter-final win over Louth last Sunday. The memory of Gabriel's brother, and Micheál's father, will be there in the background of the all-Ulster showdown. Owen Bannigan sadly died in 2014 after suffering a brain haemorrhage. 'I know for a fact that if Owen was alive today, Owen definitely would be side by side [with them]. He'd be a very proud man today. I'm sure he would be,' says McArdle. Two generations of a local dynasty will hope to deliver for Monaghan today.
