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Sunday World
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Sharlene Mawdsley zooms past ex-hurler in hilarious All-Ireland celebration race
The Irish sprinter got her running shoes on as she soared past a former Tipperary hurler. Irish sprinter Sharlene Mawdsley has dipped into her day job as part of Tipperary's celebrations following their All-Ireland hurling triumph over Cork on Sunday. The Olympian, who hails from Newport, was in attendance at Croke Park to cheer on both her native county as well as her boyfriend Michael Breen. Her partner was part of a sturdy Tipp defence that held the Rebels to a paltry two points as part of a second-half demolition job at GAA HQ. Around the county, the newly-crowned champions have been soaking in the celebrations after lifting the Liam MacCarthy for the 29th time. Irish Olympian Sharlene Mawdsley and hurler Michael Breen. Photo: Instagram/Sharlene Mawdsley Sharlene appeared to get herself in on the action as the festivities roared on with a road race alongside former hurler Bryan 'Buggy' O'Meara. In a video that has surfaced on social media, the former Tipp star was given a sizeable head start but the 400m speedster absolutely soared past him to take the undisputed victory. Her lightning-fast speed down the unnamed housing estate was met with an uproar of laughter from those watching on and filming the one-on-one showdown. The 26-year-old was full of praise for her other half in the wake of the Croker triumph as she posted a picture of the happy couple on social media. "Proud of you every day, but that little bit prouder today', she posted alongside a pic of the two embracing and holding the iconic trophy. The pair 'hard launched' their romance on May 18 following Tipperary's win against Waterford in the Munster Championship. The Olympian athlete shared a photo of herself and Breen from the pitch in their matching county colours, captioning it 'Tippin' on'. The Tipperary woman enjoyed a sensational 2024 on the track as part of the mixed relay team that claimed gold at the European Championships last May. Her year ended on a low note as she was part of the 4x400 team that finished fourth at the Paris Olympics. Sharlene suffered heartache just last month following the sudden death of her father, Thomas 'Tucker' Mawdsley, at the age of 67.
Irish Independent
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Olympian Sharlene Mawdsley pays tribute to boyfriend Michael Breen after Tipperary win
The champion runner was among those wearing the blue and gold jersey cheering on Tipperary after the Premier County won the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship final at Croke Park in Dublin yesterday. In a post on social media, the sprinter from Newport in west Tipperary posted a picture of the couple holding the Liam MacCarthy Cup. "Proud of you every day, but that little bit prouder today,' she wrote on Instagram, also sharing a heartwarming photo of the pair hugging each other. The pair hit the headlines earlier this month when they were pictured kissing after Tipperary beat Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-finals. They did a 'hard launch' of their romance on May 18, following Tipperary's win against Waterford in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship. The Olympian athlete shared a photo of herself and Breen from the pitch in their matching county colours, captioning it 'Tippin' on'. Irish Olympian Sharlene Mawdsley and hurler Michael Breen celebrate Tipperary's win in Croke Park yesterday. Photo: Instagram/Sharlene Mawdsley Michael Breen of Tipperary celebrates with his girlfriend, Irish Olympian, Sharlene Mawdsley and the Liam MacCarthy Cup after his side's victory in the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship final match between Cork and Tipperary at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile Mawdsley was on the Ireland team that came fourth in the Paris Olympics last year in the 4x400m relay. She suffered heartache just last month following the sudden death of her father, Thomas 'Tucker' Mawdsley, on June 3, at the age of 67. The runner returned to the track just a few weeks later when a last-minute decision to compete saw her finishing third in the Women's 400m at the European Team Championships in Slovenia. Achieving a season's best, she dedicated her bronze medal win to her father. Tipperary's defender Michael Breen (31), also plays for Tipperary Senior Championships club Ballina. His hurling career started at his home town of Ballina on the Limerick border, where he joined his local club at an early age. Breen made his senior championship debut as a substitute in the 2015 Munster semi-final against Limerick. He was nominated for All-Star awards at midfield in 2016 and 2020 and won an InterProvincial hurling medal with Munster in 2016. The hurler also posted a picture on Instagram with his teammates holding a trophy after Tipperary's victory. "Liam is coming home,' he captioned the post. Tipperary claimed a 29th All-Ireland hurling title on Sunday, their first since 2019, defeating Cork with a 3-27 to 1-18. rs. Michael Breen (right), with Eoghan Connolly and Robert Doyle (left). Photo: Instagram/Michael Breen
Irish Times
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Nicky English: I believed anything could happen in a Cork-Tipp match but wasn't quite prepared for this
When I referred to the propensity of this fixture to throw up the unexpected and almost play into the hands of the outsider, I didn't for a second envisage something like this – an All-Ireland final that can hardly be explained such was the turnaround after half-time. To lose a second half of hurling by 3-14 to 0-2 in an All-Ireland final has to be unprecedented. It was simply a disaster for Cork , who were in a good position at half-time, leading by six points after Shane Barrett's goal. Tipperary will have been disappointed by that all the same. They had actually played quite well in the first half but for the amount of wides they had hit, which could have kept them closer in touch. Their forwards had been well contained by Cork but there was a strong breeze, which I don't think was fully taken into consideration. The ball was being held up in the breeze, typified by the disallowed goal for Jason Forde from Eoghan Connolly's free driven into the square. READ MORE In the second half, though, the Tipperary backs took complete control over the Cork full-forward line under the hanging ball. Michael Breen and Ronan Maher were just totally dominant. Tactically, Tipp got it superbly right. Bryan O'Mara stepped back as extra cover and they brought out Sam O'Farrell to the middle and Darragh McCarthy to float up front. Tipperary's Willie Connors celebrates after the final whistle. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho None of these changes should have been a surprise to Cork by the way. Everything that I thought would happen did happen, like Ronan Maher taking up Brian Hayes. Willie Connors moved to wing back, which was a strange move on paper but he played magnificently and had Declan Dalton in his pocket. At all stages Tipperary were able to get that flick in and tip the ball away from the Cork forwards and never let them settle into their running style. Also, there was never the quality of ball that Cork had managed against Dublin when it was hopping in front of Connolly and Hayes. They were just much smarter and more capable, and in the second half they just slowed Cork down relentlessly and worked unbelievably hard. I have said all year that there's no doubt that Tipp's touch is better than anyone else's in the championship, and they proved in the final that their touch was better than Cork's. In some respects, Cork getting the goal before half-time was actually the worst thing that could have happened to them. There was already a huge expectancy among Cork supporters that Barrett's goal may have turned it into a foregone conclusion. Tipperary's Rhys Shelly and Robert Doyle celebrate after the game. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho There was now huge pressure on Cork for the second half. Maybe it showed in Patrick Horgan's missed free at the start of the second half. Andrew Ormond kick-started Tipperary's comeback and Jake Morris got in on the act, as well as the outstanding Darragh McCarthy. John McGrath really showed his renewed form, having a role in all three goals. He's such a wily customer and just because he's quiet for a while shouldn't lead to assumptions. I was surprised in a way that Cork didn't replace Eoin Downey after he picked up a yellow at the end of the first half. Last year in their pivotal match against Limerick at Páirc Uí Chaoimh they replaced him in similar circumstances. I thought that first yellow was very harsh, but if you're on a card you're vulnerable and it would have been a good idea to get Damien Cahalane on earlier. It was a sobering afternoon for Cork. To score just two points in the second half was inexplicable. Last year, maybe they had excuses and only lost the final in extra time, but this year there was no such consolation. They were just crowded out and Tipp's defenders simply ate them up. Tipperary's Ronan Maher lifts the Liam MacCarthy Cup. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho Their half-forward line, which had started well, was completely obliterated in the second half, with both Healy and Dalton replaced and the midfield was bypassed. Of course, when a team hits the woodwork five times they probably suspect it's not their day. I think you have to hand it to Liam Cahill and the Tipperary management. Ultimately, their decision-making was very clear. They stuck with Darragh McCarthy to start him and left him on frees and they were vindicated. The final might have been their best of the year, which is a credit to any management, but they have also been improvers throughout the season. This was the culmination of that. Cahill brought in young players and took a chance by sticking with them and they all now look like they'll be around for years to come. I said on Saturday that Donie Nealon and Theo English always believed it was easier to win when you already had medals in the team. Tipp had eight this time while Cork had none. Now, Tipperary are going to have medals in the team for at least another 10 years.
The Irish Sun
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Sharlene Mawdsley ‘proud of you every day' as she pays emotional tribute to Tipperary GAA boyfriend Michael Breen
SHARLENE MAWDSLEY paid an emotional tribute to her boyfriend Michael Breen after he helped Tipperary win the All-Ireland. Liam Cahill's men produced a 4 Michael Breen celebrated winning the All-Ireland with girlfriend Sharlene Mawdsley Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile 4 Mawdsley paid tribute to him on Instagram Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile 4 John Delaney, Assistant Treasurer, Tipperary County Board, with Michael Breen and Sharlene Mawdsley Credit: Ray McManus/Sportsfile 4 Irish Olympian, Sharlene Mawdsley, partner of Tipperary's Michael Breen, and Ali Smith, right, celebrate with the Liam MacCarthy cup Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile After the game, Breen went over to the stands with the Liam MacCarthy trophy to And on Instagram, the Irish Olympian paid an emotional tribute to the Tipperary corner-back. Alongside photos of the happy couple after the game, she wrote: "Proud of you every day, but that little bit prouder today" Fans flooded the comment section to praise the sporting super couple, who were together at the Grand Hotel for the post-match celebrations. Read More on GAA One fan wrote: "I caaant with you two" while Mawdsley's fellow Olympian Sophie Becker posted: "Awhhh stop" A third follower commented: "Love this ❤️❤️ UP TIPP , What a match" and a fourth posted: "Ireland's sporting power couple confirmed" A sixth said: "Awww I was waiting on this photo all day, didn't disappoint xx" A seventh said: "Ireland's powerhouse couple" and an eighth said: "Two f***in' amazing SuperStars!!!" Most read in GAA Hurling The all-star couple have been an since shared a pic of themselves at . But they have known each other for a whole lot longer judging by a precious Liam Cahill speaks to RTE after Tipperary GAA win All-Ireland final The 26-year-old shared a photo collage of the couple, including a throwback photo. The pic is an eye-catching one, as it showed the 2024 Olympian with brown hair, with the Newport AC export best known as a blonde. Conveniently, the Ballina man's birthday also fell on Sharlene's grandmother's 90th birthday which yielded a similarly emotional post. The photograph which signalled that they had gone But that wasn't the first time she'd been in attendance to cheer on Liam Cahill's side this year. In the wake of the sprinter's relationship update, her previous matchday experience makes even more sense even leaving aside that she is a Tipperary native herself. She Since going official, Mawdsley and Breen have been on Instagram. He previously The Premier hurler has also been a And when she was Mawdsley After the semi-final victory, the corner-back posted a photo on Instagram of them all smiles. Breen captioned it: "First time in Croke Park is it?" To which the sprinter replied: "And not my last!"
The 42
20-07-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Hell's Kitchen is back for the digital age as Tipp produce Guerilla warfare
YOU START WITH THE most important part of it all. When Ronan Maher, captain of the Tipperary team stood on the steps of the Michael Hogan Stand, 100 years after it was named after the man who died during the violence and carnage of Bloody Sunday, he recalled another fallen Tipperary man. In another, fairer dimension, the red helmet of Dillon Quirke would have been on the pitch here, rather than gone after he collapsed and died in a club championship match in August 2022. Captured forever as a 24-year-old Tipperary hurler. 'You weren't just with us in your spirit today,' said Maher. 'You were with us in the dressing room. You were on the field of play. You were in our hearts. We hope we did you and your family proud today.' If the defining quality of Quirke was bravery, then that's what Tipperary were here. It couldn't be just all blood and snotters. They needed more and so their strategy set up bravery. The extra man at the back hardly came as a surprise. At times it was Craig Morgan but as soon as Shane Barrett picked off two early points it was left to Bryan O'Mara. Doing that, concedes the puckout. But then you can put pressure on the second ball. They were willing to do that because they trusted their half-back line to play out in front, with a safety net of a sweeper. They could also gum up the works when Cork attempted to run the ball with overlapping runs. The Tipperary backs ate Cork whole. As a unit, this is the Hell's Kitchen of the John Doyle – Michael Maher – Kieran Carey, reimagined for the digital age. 'We just attacked everything… We just let it flow…' said Michael Breen afterwards. Michael Breen afterwards with girlfriend, Sharlene Mawdsley. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO What's the opposite of flow? That's Cork. As soon as momentum started to shift, the ground beneath their feet went. The choice was there for them when Eoin Downey was booked on 32 minutes. Their gamble backfired with a second yellow and red. But even before that, they were baling water and holed beneath the waterline. Pat Ryan has been around the block and has a shrewd hurling brain. But you sense that although they could have predicted Tipperary would employ a sweeper, they appeared to give it as little thought as, oooohhhh, Neil Young gave to his outfit on stage at Glastonbury. Advertisement The Cork performance has already got the MemeLords busy. Welcome to Cork, twinned with Mayo. All the high brow stuff. But in terms of the embarrassment stakes, it was hard to see at the start of the week who could top the Coldplay Jumbotron extra-curricular couple. We aren't wondering now. Let's not let this moment pass without acknowledging that nobody was shouting this prediction. Even as we walked to the stadium and happened upon a father-son duo from Roscrea who eventually pumped me for my prediction, I felt miserable as I opted for Cork. 'But if we're in it with fifteen minutes to go…' they reasoned. And I let them have that crumb of comfort. It made me feel happy. For a while. You can parse and analyse all you want. Go intellectual and converse on strategies and approaches. Do what you want, but these games are decided by young divils such as Darragh McCarthy scoring 1-13 in an All-Ireland final as a teenager, hours after he put in a few hours playing video games on his phone, as revealed by Michael Breen. Time enough for checking up on children with temperatures, we suspect. There was a flavour of Tipp-ness from early on in the day. A tradition on All-Ireland final day has grown among their people whereby they meet at Talbot Street at noon, to honour the memory of Seán Treacy, a key figure in the War of Independence who died in a shoot-out at that very spot in October 1920. It used to be confined to west Tipperary people and Dublin folk of Tipperary extraction that attended. On Sunday there was a gathering of several hundred people. The difference this time was that the GAA President Jarlath Burns delivered an oration. Despite the scratchy amplification, the event was moving and profound. The hurling game to follow was guerilla warfare. An interesting diversion for the next few days around Thurles, Cashel and Tipperary and into the surrounding parishes will be a parlour game of your particular favourite ending to the game. Was it Liam Cahill, calm and measured all season finally exploding in emotion by chewing the linesman over a questionable line ball in the closing moments with the game long settled? Perhaps the twinkle in Liam Sheedy's eye as he made his way down the sideline, togged out in punditry gear and heading for a most enjoyable debriefing, being cheered by the Tipperary supporters. Liam Cahill meets Liam Sheedy with a third Liam. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO Eoghan Connolly's 'f*** it' clearance actually being met with the most delicate of touches by John McGrath and steered to the net on the hour? 'John McGrath won the county final, so hopefully John McGrath will win the All-Ireland for Tipperary next Sunday aswell' - Frankie McGrath — The GAA (@officialgaa) July 20, 2025 Related Reads Stunning Tipperary surge sees them take down Cork and claim All-Ireland hurling glory 'I'm very content as a supporter, enjoying the new players coming on' 28 years after the Cork and Tipperary managers faced off in dramatic Munster final How about Rhys Shelly and his primal scream of delight when he saved Conor Lehane's penalty in injury time. How about Rhys Shelly again, this time with a point from play? Perhaps it was Tipperary's defence going all free-form jazz experimentation with overhead flicks with the space to indulge themselves. Or Noel McGrath scoring the final point of the day? As Michael Breen said afterwards, 'It was a fun second half to play in.' That will hurt. But look at them on top now. Galtee mountain boys. Look at the view below. Two moments from last year jump out for us, seeing as we were there in the flesh; the league semi final against Clare in Portlaoise when Tipp burned through – I think – four different freetakers. And then the Gaelic Grounds in the Munster championship when Bonner Maher bowed out in front of a Tipp crowd that felt invisible. As Jake Morris said afterwards, 'We all live close to the big towns and that's where you would be meeting people. You'd have been ashamed to show your face in public.' Not your problem now, Jake.
