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RTÉ News
20-07-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Brian Hayes central to Cork's impressive goal rush in 2025
Brian Hayes has been directly involved in an average of two goals per game for Cork en route to this year's All-Ireland hurling final. Suddenly the fulcrum of the Cork attack, he is now the man to stop. The St Finbarr's inside forward has either scored, assisted, won the free for or provided the pass prior to the assist for over 70% of his team's total number of goals in the 2025 championship. That equates to 12 of Cork's 17 goals in their six games leading up to this afternoon's Liam MacCarthy Cup decider against Tipperary. To include the Rebels' successful league campaign, that would bring his 2025 tally of involvements to 24 goals in 13 games. Cork have scored 35 in all across league and championship. Focusing solely on the latter, he has been directly involved in a total of 12-25 as Cork have navigated their way through the provincial round-robin, the Munster final and then Dublin last time out in the All-Ireland semi-final.
Irish Examiner
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Eight hurling championship observations: How Brian Hayes has weaponised Cork's puckout
We once thought J. Jonah Jameson was harsh, ranting about overturned cars and bent railway tracks every time Spider-Man saved the city from certain doom. Then we heard Pat Ryan last weekend. Alan Connolly's 3-2 tally, an assist for another goal and man of the match award made him the Rebels' hero on Saturday, but Ryan wasn't fully content. 'Alan was carrying a couple of injuries at the start of the year, momentum has made a difference to him,' he said afterwards. 'He had a bit of a heel issue at the start of the year and was playing through that a small bit. But we could see a different Alan over the last while, he was hungry. Even in the Munster final, his work rate was top-class, his tackling from behind, his hunger today, he probably didn't work as hard tackling from behind because he was winning more ball, and that's where I'd be critical of him a small bit at times.' Read More Seánie McGrath: The GAA owe a serious debt of gratitude to the Cork hurlers Ryan is an awesome man-manager and evidently felt the necessary fuel for the Blackrock man was a challenge rather than applause. Connolly needed a big performance on the day, he stressed, because of the competition for starting spots. He delivered one. This manager has also transformed his outfit with his tactical intellect. Hurling is a game of mind-warping skill. To succeed you still need more. Limerick demonstrated that devastatingly. Their forwards are precise and prolific and above all else ravenous chasers. Forward pressure is a fundamental part of their gameplan, a KPI they build their team around. The fact that they failed to force a single turnover inside Dublin's 45 during their quarter-final exit would have flashed like a red warning light on the dashboard. Something deep in the engine was fatally wrong. In hurling and Gaelic football, a high turnover is a priceless commodity. It offers the chance to launch an attack close to the opposition's goal, with a defence that isn't set. Cork scored a jaw-dropping 5-11 from turnovers in Croke Park. Ryan wasn't content to congratulate his forwards for scoring seven goals. He was highlighting how they could create more of them. That balance isn't just a tactical philosophy, it's a taste. RTÉ's terrific panel had an engaging debate at half-time on Saturday as Henry Shefflin raised a quizzical eyebrow at Anthony Daly's wide-eyed tribute. 'Fantastic to watch, fantastic entertainment,' purred Daly. 'The skills on show, incredible. It is fantastic to watch.' Kilkenny tend to see things differently. 'I'm not quite sure on Anthony, brilliant game? Munster final, we had so much physicality. People said it wasn't a great game either. This is too open for my liking.' Daly was slightly taken aback: 'Are you not loving watching this like?' Suddenly, Shefflin sounded noticeably like his former manager Brian Cody after the 2014 draw when he couldn't fully embrace the showpiece shootout. Shefflin too, felt something was lacking. 'Anthony, to be honest with you, I am loving watching it. It is great. But here, the atmosphere is more ohhs and ahhs than 'Oh my god' kind of job.' They are, of course, both correct. What Cork produced last weekend was a wonder. The game was far too loose to turn the dial towards classic status. It needs class and contests and collisions. Niall Ó Ceallacháin offered an honest explanation of their approach in the tie. The thing is, the component that's kept Limerick in the fight with Cork in recent contests has been their relentless forward pressure. They harry and hassle around the middle third, allowing their defence to stay organised and set. For Tipperary, it was both a warning about the pressure on their defenders when they have possession and a lesson in the kind of intensity their forwards must have without it. Here are eight observations from the hurling championship How did Kilkenny not know? In inter-county GAA, analysts opt for a whole host of different approaches. We spent last week inside the Limerick football camp for a feature that will run in these pages later this week but during one particular presentation, it was noted with some surprise that an analyst from a county that they had recently beaten opted to post their entire kickout data on LinkedIn in the buildup to their Tailteann Cup final. In Croke Park, the stats box is located at the back of the lower tier of the Hogan Stand. That is where both teams' representatives would watch and tag the game live. Stadium regulations necessitate separation of supporters and the teams, so the group in that box can't walk down the steps to the sideline. They must go back into the concourse and take a lift down to the bottom floor. Unlike Liam Cahill, Derek Lyng wasn't mic'd up for Sunday's game. Several managers prefer clarity of thought, with radio communication channelled through a different member of the sideline team. Obviously, the primary issue with the scoreboard last weekend wasn't the fault of either side. Nevertheless, Kilkenny were unaware it was wrong during that crucial stretch. Lyng still believed they were three down, rather than two, when he gave his post-match press conference. Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng during the All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Tipperary. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile Did they simply go by the stadium scoreboard or the television broadcast? In the Croke Park press box, there was immediate discussion about the discrepancy. The now-viral footage of Marty Morrissey and John Mullane during the closing exchanges even shows Henry Shefflin and Shane McGrath in the background having an obvious debate about the scoreboard's accuracy. If Kilkenny's management team or squad had similar concerns, the only available course of action would have been to contact the sideline and seek clarification from the fourth official. In the endless efforts to control the controllables, knowing the score is a significant one. It will likely prove a valuable lesson for others: You can't always rely on the stadium or the screen. The most important numbers are the ones you check for yourself. The bat Brian Hayes' transformative impact on Cork can be measured in numerous ways, none more so than his incredible involvement in creating and scoring goals. He has weaponised their puckout too. What is noteworthy is how he has done it. Frequently, the Cork target man does not attempt to catch it. One of the standout features of Donegal's 2012 All-Ireland was Michael Murphy's ability to break kickouts to the oncoming runners. Cork and Hayes are on the same trajectory. He opts to bat to the breakers. Structure is as important as hunger when it comes to breaking ball. Their first goal on Saturday was a perfect example. Patrick Collins went long and down the centre with his restart. Hayes held off Paddy Smyth with one hand and batted the sliotar with the other. At the moment, every nearby Cork attacker was ball-side, in front of the defender and primed to win the break. Diarmuid Healy got there first, Declan Dalton offered support and Hayes brought down the hammer with the finish. Law of the jungle The view from behind the goal at the Munster final is borderline comical. Two jet powered full-forward lines posed enormous threats and each side set about containing them. As soon as the referee's version of acceptable contact became established, that meant a certain level of man-handling. The elite inside forwards are capable of taking care of themselves, too. As soon as Dublin's Andrew Dunphy extended his hurl under Patrick Horgan's armpit during Saturday's semi-final, it was only going to end one way. You can't reach into that cage and expect to emerge unscarred. Horgan drove hard, Dunphy couldn't free his arm and the end result was a yellow card. The defender was replaced before half-time. Hill 16 were enraged soon after when replacement David Lucey was penalised for a tap over Horgan free. 'I think the Hill 16 end of Dubs is right there,' said Brendan Cummins on co-commentary. 'It is just that bit of cuteness. When you leave your hurley in there, he is going to grab it. He is going to back into you a small bit and won the free really well.' Tipperary dig deep For Rhys Shelly, the early return was a worry. Tipperary failed to score from their first five puckouts. Kilkenny raced into a 0-3 lead while their challengers were only able to retain possession and get a shot off once in that opening eight minute spell. Kilkenny opted for a similar defensive puckout strategy to the Leinster final, standing off the Tipperary full-back line. Shelly opted to change tack and try to exploit that. He went short and received possession back in a quick one-two. The goalkeeper was able to carry outside the 21m line before a Kilkenny forward engaged. Then he launched. Tipperary goalkeeper Rhys Shelly celebrates after his side's third goal during All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Kilkenny. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile At the other end, the royal blue and gold forwards had clustered near the square. They flooded the break, John McGrath collected possession and buried it in the net. In the end, Tipperary scored 2-7 from their own puckout and only conceded 0-3. As an aside, this was a timely reminder of why a ban on back pass in hurling, similar to the recent Gaelic football introduction, would be a mistake. Kilkenny opted to drop off and were punished for it. A rematch It is true that Tipperary will play Cork in the decider for the very first time, but these players have met on a similar stage before. Tipperary won the 2019 U20 All-Ireland final on a 5-17 to 1-18 scoreline. A year previous, a late burst saw them overcome Cork in what was the U21 final. Eoghan Connolly, Craig Morgan, Jake Morris, Andrew Ormond, Bryan O'Mara, Robert Downey, Tommy O'Connell, Conor Stakelum, Mark Coleman, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Shane Kingston, Robbie O'Flynn, Declan Dalton, Tim O'Mahony, Jack O'Connor are just some of the players who were involved in at least one of those clashes. Dalton delivers again For the second successive last-four game, Declan Dalton had a decisive influence in an All-Ireland semi-final. The Fr O'Neill's man was crucial in Cork's plan to take Kyle Hayes out of the game in 2024 and he hit five points, three from play, last Saturday. His deep ability forces opposing wing-backs to follow, creating space in behind for their three-headed beast to thrive. And yet, this remarkable journey from a player dropped from the panel in 2022 to a certainty to start in 2025 could be set for an inspirational conclusion. The wing-forward was the first man replaced in last year's final. At the time, he smashed his hurl in frustration off the advertising hoarding in front of the bench. One more game to glory. The league leaving its own mark For the second time in three years, the All-Ireland final will feature the same teams who contested the National League decider. If Cork triumph, it will also be the third successive year that the league winners have gone on to climb the Hogan Stand steps. Praise be to sports social media Social media tends to get a bad rap these days. Almost all of that is justified. Sometimes sport cuts through the noise and delivers a wave of distilled joy. Last weekend was such a spell. From the recent rise of pitchside videographers capturing fresh perspectives of iconic moments to magnificent accounts like @GaelicGameStats producing glorious tidbits like this: 'The biggest gap between wins bridged in this year's AISHC was Dublin's 44,098 day wait vs Kildare. 'Regardless of the outcome in the final, that wait exceeded the total of all the other matches put together. 'It's the first time since 1993 that a single wait has exceeded the rest.' It makes you wonder if the GAA could one day build its own app, a central, curated hub of scores, news, stats, and video updates, where county boards, media outlets and clubs could feed in and contribute. A place for people to get what they need without the chaos that's often unavoidable elsewhere. All we are saying is that there is a market for the GAA's very own (clean) version of OnlyFans, full of gems such as this angle of Oisín O'Donoghue's wonder goal.
Irish Examiner
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Cork to Dublin trains on All-Ireland hurling final day sell out amid scramble for tickets
Tickets for several scheduled trains from Cork to Dublin on the day of the All-Ireland Hurling final have already sold out as Corkonians scramble to secure a way to get to the capital on the day. According to Iarnród Éireann, tickets for the 8.25am service from Cork Kent, which arrives in Dublin Heuston shortly before 11am on Sunday, July 20, are no longer available. A number of other services on the day are also now sold out: 09.20am Mallow to Heuston; 10am Cork to Heuston; 10.25am Cork to Heuston 11am Cork to Heuston; 12pm Cork to Heuston. At time of writing, there are still some seats available aboard the 12.25pm service, although that train gets into the capital just 30 minutes before the All-Ireland final in Croke Park throws in. Trains out of Dublin heading back to Cork are also at capacity, with the 8.15pm, 8.45pm, and 9.25pm Dublin Heuston to Cork Kent services all fully booked. However, people hoping to travel up to the capital for the match need not despair just yet. In a statement on Sunday afternoon, Iarnród Éireann said that its operations team are currently in the process of confirming additional train services out of Cork on All-Ireland Hurling final day. The company said that details of these services will be posted on its website and social media accounts as soon as possible. The Irish Examiner has contacted Iarnród Éireann for further details. Rebels' fanzone returns to Páirc Uí Chaoimh Meanwhile, Cork hurling fans who aren't travelling to Dublin for the match will have the option of watching the game live at the Rebels' fanzone at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Speaking just after Cork secured a spot in the final, Lord Mayor of Cork, councillor Fergal Dennehy, confirmed that Cork City Council and Cork GAA are working together to stage a free, family-friendly Rebels' fanzone event at the Páirc on Sunday, July 20. This event, he said, would allow fans unable to travel to Dublin "to come to the home of Cork GAA to watch their heroes play All-Ireland Hurling Championship final". Further details of the event, including ticket release date, will be confirmed tomorrow, Monday, July 14. Between now and the big day, Mr Dennehy encouraged the people of Cork to hoist their flags and banners in support of the squad. He said: We are so proud of our Cork hurlers and the hard work they've put in to take us back to an All-Ireland final for what will no doubt be a thrilling match. "I know the people of Cork will back their team to the hilt, as they always do. "Let's celebrate our heroes and show our support — hang up your flags and banners, light up your businesses and buildings, and show your Rebel colours — Corcaigh abú!"
Irish Examiner
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Seán Óg Ó hAilpín: 'Player-driven' Cork have enough to win 'ugly' Dublin contest
Seán Óg Ó hAilpín is the last Cork hurling captain to climb the steps of the Hogan and lift the Liam MacCarthy Cup. That was on September 11, 2005. Not far off 20 years ago. That was the Rebels' 30th All-Ireland title. Pat Ryan's modern-day Cork senior hurlers know the expectation at this juncture. Bridge that gap. Four teams remain: Cork, Dublin, Kilkenny and Tipperary. Cork's last-four pairing with Dublin was a surprising one, given Niall Ó Ceallacháin's men were forced to go toe-to-toe with Limerick with 14 men for the majority of that mad quarter-final two weeks ago. The underdogs on the day answered every question asked of them. Now, they head back to Croker, having given us the story of the championship thus far. But can they back it up? The suspended Chris Crummey is a huge loss, but for Ó hAilpín, there is a mammoth task awaiting Cork on Saturday evening at HQ. "I'm unbelievably wary about this game on Saturday," said Ó hAilpín, speaking at the All-Star Hurling Legends event at the Imperial Hotel, in the company of Tomás Mulcahy, Jimmy Barry-Murphy, Liam Sheedy and Eddie Brennan. "Everyone on the street thinks we're in the final already, that's the narrative going around (among the public). "But what gives me a bit of belief is, I think the culture is driven by the players, not the manager. "Yes, the manager helps drive it, but we have players now, the leaders like (Rob) Downey, Mark Coleman, Darragh Fitz, that (can tell) any young fella that has come in the last couple of years thinking that you can get to All-Ireland finals willy-nilly, semi-finals are hard won. "This game on Saturday is going to be won ugly; it's not going to be free-flowing." Na Piarsaigh stalwart Ó hAilpín weariness of Dublin surrounds their growth in certain aspects of play; their short-game, their scoring ability are two such points of improvement. "Dubin are going to ask questions of Cork from a management point of view. We're going to have to break down Dublin's resilience. "They could arguably play six backs, two guys floating inside, pack it inside and then, they have the skillset now when they're breaking out, their short-game is much better now. "They can score as well, you look at the scores they've clocked up in the Leinster championship." The mindset - and ability - within the Cork dressing room gives the three-time All-Ireland winner enough belief that Ryan and his players will get a chance to redeem last year's All-Ireland defeat to Clare. "Cork, but not without a struggle," Ó hAilpín concluded.
The Irish Sun
26-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘One full day' – Sharlene Mawdsley's Tipperary GAA star boyfriend shares first snap of them together
NEVER mind One Fine Day, Sharlene Mawdsley and Michael Breen were just content to share 'one full day' amid her globetrotting schedule. The sprinter was back in her native county for a full 24 hours after placing second in a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meet in Zagreb on Saturday. 2 'Lola's favourite is back (for one full day)' Credit: @MIKEYBREENO 2 The high-profile pair went Instagram official last weekend Credit: @sharlenem1 Breen and his teammates had the weekend off from the Munster Hurling Championship as it happened to be their bye week in the five-team competition. They were able to rest easy knowing that they'd already secured a spot in the top-three and with it, progression to the All-Ireland Series. Sunday's action ensured they won't be in the Munster final, however, as Cork leapfrogged them in the standings with Read More On Irish Sport June 7 will be the Rebels' first provincial final since 2018 where they will attempt to stop Limerick clinching a ridiculous SEVENTH crown in a row. Victorious manager Pat Ryan said: 'We left an awful lot of chances behind us. But it's knockout Championship, there's going to be a bit more trepidation in it, a bit more nervousness in it. 'Both ourselves and Waterford knew that if we didn't win, we'd be out of the Championship. We played a small bit like that, with a bit of nerves.' Ryan's side finished the game with their wides tally at 17. Most read in Athletics One of those was a glorious goal opportunity for Shane Barrett. Ryan added: 'That's something we'll work on, the efficiency side of it, but I thought our work-rate, our hitting the breaks, our hunger to get on the ball was an awful lot better than it was last week and that's the way it should be. That's the standard. RTE pundit Joe Canning urges GAA to make huge change for Leinster hurling final as fans 'totally agree' 'You're not always going to play as well or have great hurling at times and things might not come off in your game-plan. "But your work-rate, your attitude and your character has to be the standard. 'From our point of view, the attitude last week wasn't good enough. The effort wasn't good enough. I don't think we played brilliant hurling today but today was about attitude and character.' The 48-year-old also used his post-game platform to He insisted: 'It's hard not to get drawn into the hype. Some of it was stupid stuff altogether and a lot of it was coming from outside the county. 'You heard people writing off Limerick, some of our own people. Are they off their game or what? 'From my point of view, that was very annoying. I think sometimes fellas would be building you up, hoping that you'd get a kick in the ass.' Just five weeks since
