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Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Tipperary All-Ireland homecoming: Oasis tribute entertains as fans await hurling heroes
Oasis tribute band Acquiesce are now on the main stage in Semple Stadium for the big homecoming, and the crowds are getting soaked with rain. Typical Irish weather – the umbrellas are out but the rain can't dampen this party. Next up is Thurles singer songwriter Una Healy of The Saturdays fame, but the line up may be changed due to weather and other factors. It's understood that the main speeches, from Tipperary captain Ronan Maher and manager Liam Cahill, currently scheduled at 8.01pm and 8.15pm respectively, may be later than advertised, and go ahead instead at around 8.30pm. Excitement was building in Semple Stadium throughout the day for the homecoming of Tipperary's triumphant senior hurling team which put Cork to the sword in Sunday's All-Ireland Hurling Final. The estimate is that around 30,000 fans from across the Premier County are flooding into the FBD Semple Stadium, with around 15,000 already on the pitch before the main stage at 6.30pm. Queues formed at the front gates from 4pm with Tipperary band Seskin Lane coming on stage to perform first. Seskin Lane bass guitarist and band member Shelly Martin is the granddaughter of Paddy Kenny, who won four hurling All Ireland finals with Tipperary. Paddy lived in Thurles, in Croke Street. Fans and families are around the main stage at present, listening to Tipperary trad band Cailíní Nua. The atmosphere is electric and the craic is ninety. Sport at its finest. We want to see your matchday and homecoming photos! Send them to us using the form below.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Cork hurlers ‘request' no homecoming after heartbreaking All-Ireland final defeat against Tipperary
CORK'S senior hurlers have decided against holding a homecoming event following their All-Ireland SHC final defeat to Tipperary on Sunday. It marks a second successive loss in the decider for the Rebels, having been narrowly beaten by Clare in 2024. 2 Cork will skip a homecoming after a heavy defeat in the All-Ireland final 2 Tipperary players and staff celebrate with the Liam MacCarthy cup after their side's victory in the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship final Last year, a crowd still gathered at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh to welcome the team home in defeat. But there will be no similar event this time around after their collapse against the Premier. Boss Pat Ryan Yet they capitulated in the second half of their bid to end the county's 20-year wait for a Liam MacCarthy Cup. read more on gaa A statement from Cork GAA confirmed the team did NOT want any sort of homecoming but they tanked their fans for the support throughout the season. It read: "At the request of the team and management, there is no event planned for the return of the Cork hurlers this evening. "They would again like to thank all the entire county for their unwavering support throughout the year." Cork led by six points at half-time in Croke Park but were outclassed in the second half. Most read in GAA Hurling Pat Ryan's side managed just two more points as they slumped to a 3-27 to 1-18 loss. Meanwhile, Tipperary supporters are set to welcome their All-Ireland champions home to Thurles later today. RTE GAA pundit embrace Tipperary captain Ronan Maher after his epic display toppled Cork in All-Ireland final Tipperary PRO Jonathan Cullen told RTÉ's Morning Ireland that celebrations will begin at Semple Stadium around 4.30pm. The team are expected to arrive – Liam MacCarthy Cup in hand – at approximately 7.30pm. A large crowd is anticipated is expected after their first All-Ireland triumph .
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
The hurling year in review: Ronan Maher leads the way for Tipperary's stunning triumph
Seán Moran Hurler of the year: Tipperary have a couple of candidates in the nuclear winter of Cork's All-Ireland fallout. Ronan Maher gets it here for leadership and his defensive performances, taking on and dismantling key opposition threats, in the team's gravity-defying phase, culminating in Sunday's final. Match of the year: Tipperary 3-27 Cork 1-18. More recency bias but this was the most extraordinary All-Ireland final. An underdog has never reared up with such ferocity, driven by such an abundance of outstanding performances. Devastatingly perfect timing. Memorable moment: The neutrino of 2025's universe, Croke Park on May 21st: The 34 seconds in which 14-man Dublin beat Limerick with goals by John Hetherton and Cian O'Sullivan. 'What is happening here?' cried Darragh Moloney. Answer: the reshaping of the whole championship. Biggest disappointment: The disparity between the provinces and not just in terms of All-Ireland domination. Leinster needs less predictability and better atmosphere. This year, even the reliable Wexford-Kilkenny fixture turned into a dead rubber. Despite a sixth title, Kilkenny ended the year in gloomy introspection. READ MORE In 2026 I would like to see... The end of the McDonagh Cup anomaly, which sees preliminary quarter-finals needlessly extending the season. Promotion should mean for the following year. Jarlath Burns is pushing the idea and the hope is that it will be implemented in time for next summer. Cork's Diarmuid Healy celebrates after the Munster final, which was filled with tension right through. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho Denis Walsh Hurler of the year: Ronan Maher 's performance in the final on Brian Hayes may have tilted it in his favour ahead of Jake Morris, who was good in the final without reaching the heights of other performances this season. Best game: Unlike recent seasons there were no stone cold classics but the Munster final was compelling and dramatic with a heady mix of brilliance and mistakes and razor like tension. Memorable moment: Sean Brennan's point blank save from Aaron Gillane was the pivotal moment in Dublin's sensational victory over Limerick. A goal for Limerick then and the jig was up. Biggest disappointment: The Leinster championship, with it's glut of Saturday afternoon/teatime fixtures, its small crowds and predictable results was downbeat from start to finish. In 2026 I would like to see… Just an extra week in the schedule to give the provincial championships more room to breathe and to avoid attractive fixtures crawling all over each other. Tipperary's John McGrath celebrates scoring his side's third goal - with his finishing Tipp would not be champions. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho Malachy Clerkin Hurler of the year: John McGrath . Scored 7-16 from play and did it in the biggest games – two goals against Limerick on the opening day, two against Clare in Munster, one in the All-Ireland semi-final, two in the final. Without his class, composure and deadly finishing, Tipp wouldn't be champions. Best game: Dublin v Limerick, All-Ireland quarter-final. Even now, a month later, it still seems so improbable. Dublin putting it up to Limerick wasn't on anyone's radar. Dublin doing so with such a key figure as Chris Crummey sent off in the first half is an outlandish notion. Yet they did it, in the shock of the summer. Memorable Moment: Darragh McCarthy standing his ground as Damien Cahalane bullocked towards him in the final, getting poleaxed by a frontal charge before bouncing to his feet and giving a double fist-pump when he knew he'd won his free. And then slotting said free. Summed up his defiance on the biggest day of his young life. Biggest disappointment: Clare's defence of the All-Ireland never got going. Unable to shake off a bad league, their only win came in the final game of Munster against a weakened Limerick team. It was all too late by then. In 2026 I would like to see... Dublin win Leinster. They have the players, they have the manager, the Limerick win shows they can keep pace with the big boys. So why should they have anything to fear from Kilkenny and Galway? Kilkenny's TJ Reid with his daughter Harper after the semi-final loss to Tipperary - hopefully we see him back in action for Kilkenny again next year. Photograph: Tom O'Hanlon/Inpho Gordon Manning Hurler of the year: Cork would have had more leading contenders for this award ahead of the final but Ronan Maher 's display of leadership in the decider capped off what had been a brilliant season by the Thurles man. His versatility to move between the full and half-back lines was key to keeping Tipp's defence organised, with the team captain providing a solid platform from which the Premier embarked on a six-game winning streak. Best game: The Munster final was a madcap, epic game of hurling at the Gaelic Grounds. Finishing level after extra time before Cork won out on penalties, it started in sunlight and it ended in twilight. As a sporting spectacle this contest had everything – skill, drama, excitement, controversy. Both teams were out on their feet at the end, but they had truly hoisted the game of hurling upon their shoulders that day. Memorable moment: It will be a long time before any poll of the top five hurling shocks doesn't include Dublin's 2025 All-Ireland quarter-final victory over Limerick. Dublin were reduced to 14 men when Chris Crummey was sent off after quarter of an hour but the Dubs still somehow managed to produce a stunning performance to beat one of the greatest hurling teams of all time. In terms of memorable moments, Kildare's Joe McDonagh Cup final win over Laois is a close second to Dublin's triumph over Limerick. Biggest disappointment: The All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals have become a needless blight on the championship. Kildare's season was so positive but nobody benefited from the Lilywhites losing to Dublin by 21 points. Tipp beat Laois 3-32 to 0-18 in the other prelim. It was, predictably, a wasted weekend for hurling. And only a tad more disappointing than Galway's lacklustre season. In 2026 I would like to see... TJ Reid in black and amber, Noel McGrath in blue and gold, Patrick Horgan in the blood and bandages. To paraphrase a popular advertisement phrase – when they're gone, they're gone. We have all been fortunate to watch three of the greats display their talents for well over a decade now but there are doubts as to whether any of the trio will remain intercounty hurlers in 2026. For all fans of hurling, let's hope they give it one more year. Dublin's Cian O'Sullivan wheels away celebrating his goal against Limerick in the quarter-final, a result that will stand as one of the great upsets of all time. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho Ian O'Riordan Hurler of the year: The seismic shift of second-half momentum in Sunday's final showdown had the last word on this, when Ronan Maher spear-headed Tipperary's ruthless surge for glory. At the same time as the Cork contenders dropped off, Maher's leadership only added to his already all-round superb season. Best game: For all the unease about the Munster hurling final being decided on penalties, who could forget the longest game of the summer as it seemed to stretch forever into the first Saturday evening in June? Countless times, both teams had their opportunity to win, but Cork held their nerve when it mattered most – in the penalty shoot-out. Memorable moment: Any one of John McGrath's goals for Tipperary over the course of the summer could lay claim on this one, but there was something about his movement on Sunday which will live long in the memory. The way he read the ball for his second goal was pure magic. Biggest disappointment: More of the colour and competitiveness appears to be going out of the Leinster hurling championship, and there is no quick or easy solution. Dublin's quarter-final revolution against Limerick offers some hope for next year, but the province needs Wexford to be shining more consistently again, and for Galway to start standing up again for real. In 2026 I would like to see... There has been mention (whisper it Jarlath Burns) of getting rid of the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals, which have become something of an annual mismatch. Either way, there is unquestionably a need and want to stretch out the championship summer by at least another week or two, to give us all more time to breathe. And finally At the start of the year, we asked a selection of pundits and writers to gaze into their crystal balls for the year ahead . Suffice to say, given the season they had endured in 2024 no one plumped for Tipperary getting their hands on the Liam MacCarthy, with Cork being tipped to finally end their drought while Limerick and Clare also featured prominently. What do we know, eh…
The Journal
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Journal
Tipperary's Jake Morris gets top honour in the Sunday Game panel's Team of the Year
NEWLY-CROWNED ALL-IRELAND champions Tipperary lead the way with seven representatives on The Sunday Game's Hurling Team of the Year, including the RTÉ panel's Hurler of the Year, Jake Morris. The Premier lifted the Liam MacCarthy Cup for the first time since 2019 this evening, after a sensational second-half surge saw them beat Cork 3-27 to 1-18. Runners-up Cork have four representatives on the team, while fellow provincial champions Kilkenny see two players selected. Dublin and Galway have one apiece. The Hurling Team of the Year is always sure to stoke some debate. What do you think of the 15 our panel - first argued over - and then settled on? #RTEgaa — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 20, 2025 Morris got the Hurler of the Year nod, with Ronan Maher and John McGrath the panel's other nominees. The Nenagh Éire Óg half forward clipped over two points this evening as he brought the curtain down on a memorable 2025. 'Jake Morris had a brilliant year,' said Kilkenny legend Henry Shefflin. 'Up top, he's been the spiritual leader for Tipp. When they look to someone to do something big, he's the man to turn to. 'I think Jake was in the conversation [for Hurler of the Year] this morning, and in the first half when Tipp weren't firing, he was still the one that looked to bring them forward. I thought he was brilliant.' 'I think Jake has become selfless in his game,' the former Galway manager continued. 'The amount of link-up play he does, the amount of dummy runs he does. He was a goalscorer up to now; he's now become a fulcrum of that Tipp team. 'And he's the new Tipp team. . . we spoke about the older and the younger lads, but he's in that middle category. We've identified he has serious potential for a number of years but I think we've seen, just like the Tipp team, he has grown to a stature that he is our Hurler of the Year.' Advertisement Dónal Óg Cusack, Joe Canning, Jackie Tyrrell, Ursula Jacob and Brendan Cummins joined Canning on The Sunday Game panel tonight. Tipperary's Jake Morris is The Sunday Game Hurler of the Year. Henry Shefflin explains how the Nenagh man stood out above the rest in 2025. #RTEgaa — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 20, 2025 The Sunday Game Hurling Team of the Year 2025 1. Rhys Shelly (Tipperary) 2. Robert Doyle (Tipperary), 3. Huw Lawlor (Kilkenny), 4. Seán O'Donoghue (Cork) 5. Eoghan Connolly (Tipperary), 6. Ronan Maher (Tipperary), 7. Ciarán Joyce (Cork) 8. Darragh Fitzgibbon (Cork), 9. Cathal Mannion (Galway) 10. Jake Morris (Tipperary), 11. Andrew Ormond (Tipperary), 12. Cian O'Sullivan (Dublin) 13. Martin Keoghan (Kilkenny), 14. John McGrath (Tipperary), 15. Brian Hayes (Cork). Hurler of the Year: Jake Morris. ***** Check out the latest episode of The42′s GAA Weekly podcast here Written by Emma Duffy and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here .
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘I'm the lucky one' – Ronan Maher shows true colours with classy gesture to Tipperary teammates after winning GAA award
RONAN MAHER was named Man of the Match following the All-Ireland final - and dedicated the gong to his Tipperary teammates. The towering Advertisement 2 Ronan Maher captained Tipperary to the All-Ireland hurling title Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile 2 He named Man of the Match on The Sunday Game It came after an Maher did more than his part in the comeback, keeping Brian Hayes - who had scored a hat-trick in Cork's semi-final win over Dublin - under wraps. But speaking from the winner's hotel on He said: "It is absolutely unbelievable. Advertisement Read More on GAA "It is what we all dream about, is coming up to Croke Park and putting in a good performance. "Someone asked me earlier on there what we done at half time but I think the group as a collective were really, really calm and we knew what we needed to do in the second-half. "It is an honour for me to captain this group of people. The players, the management, the backroom team. "I am the lucky one standing up here today. Everybody put in a savage shift today. Advertisement Most read in GAA Hurling Comment "Even the lads that didn't get onto the field today, everybody there was trememendous throughout the year. "It is a good honest bunch of people here and couldn't be happier or prouder standing in front of them." Ronan Maher pays tribute to Dillon Quirke after Tipperary GAA win All-Ireland final Maher got visibly emotional when host Joanne Cantwell revealed he had written himself into a special chapter of history . A proud Thurles Sarsfields man, the two-time All Star has dreamed of joining the club's Hall of Fame. Advertisement In an And now that he is part of that very exclusive club, Maher couldn't help but smile from ear-to-ear. He added: "It is a dream come true really. Advertisement "Liam Cahill spoke to me at the start of the year and I was absolutely privileged to get the job again. "I didn't think I would and I have him to thank for that. "The picture on that wall is my screensaver for the last two or three years. "It is something I have been looking forward to, getting up there and it is unbelievable. Advertisement "I couldn't be prouder as a Thurles Sarsfields man and as a Tipperary man to go up on the wall. "I couldn't do it without these lads down here so it is unbelievable."
