Latest news with #SeanieOShea
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Basic errors and decision-making cost Donegal
Jim McGuinness said he had "no qualms" about Donegal's All-Ireland defeat by Kerry as he admitted his team made too many "basic errors" against a dominant as a coin-flip decider between the two best teams around, Kerry proved far too strong for the back-to-back Ulster champions and ran out comfortable 1-26 to 0-19 winners. Kerry showed ferocious intent from the outset and led by seven points at the break, with McGuinness admitting his players struggled to match the Munster side's early intensity."Early doors in the game both teams were going at it on the scoreboard but Kerry were really laying down markers early in the game and dominated long parts of the game," McGuinness told BBC Sport NI. "We got it back at certain times to situations where you felt we had a bit of momentum, but ultimately we couldn't get to that two or three points (gap) where the game could really become interesting. "Hats off to Kerry, we're very disappointed for our players and for our supporters. It's a tough one to take." Going into the game, Kerry forwards David Clifford and Seanie O'Shea led the two-point scoring charts with 11 apiece and their accurate shots from outside of the arc again proved key for Jack O'Connor's raised three orange flags from play - including one with the last kick of the first half - while O'Shea scored a two-point free in the second half. "They definitely seemed to go after the twos today but David Clifford is an exceptional player," added McGuinness."We had a lot of work done on David and how we could close him down but the reality is some of the twos he kicked today were exceptional."We have no qualms. Sometimes in life, you have to take your medicine and this is one of those times." McGuinness was also uninterested in putting his side's performance down to the impact of a gruelling season which saw them play 11 championship games in 16 weeks. Instead, he insisted that his team's mistakes and uncharacteristic decision-making paved the way for a Kerry victory. "We had two weeks to come into the game," he said."We'd been able to bring them down [after the semi-final] and were able to bring them back up. They were fresh. We know from our own metrics when they're fresh and they were fresh, they were ready to play the game. "The game was very intensive early on and we struggled with elements of that and that cost us at times. "But look, we made too many mistakes, too many basic errors and made decisions that we normally never make so these are all the things we've to go away and reflect upon for another day." Finally, McGuinness expressed disappointment in the lack of scorers throughout the Donegal team on the day. They had 12 different scorers in the semi-final win over Meath, but only six against the Kingdom with Michael Murphy hitting 0-8. While Kerry had seven different scorers, they had a goal and a series of two-pointers."Michael is Michael and he will carry that attention [from opponents] and he's carried that attention all throughout his career."That's why it's so important to have your 10, 11 or 12 scorers. That's why it's so important to have that spread of scorers because any day like that can happen and pop up and it didn't happen for us today."But they've given it their absolute all from the beginning of the year. They're a very, very good group to work with. Very dedicated, very focused on what they want to do. "Today's not a good day for us and it's not a good day in terms of what we wanted to achieve."
BBC News
30-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Armagh out as 'dangerous animal' Tyrone eye Kerry semi-final
Being the hunted has often led to misery in Gaelic football's new era, but few could have predicted the astonishing manner in which Kerry flipped the script on Armagh in Sunday's All-Ireland quarter-final at Croke Park. Twenty four hours after Monaghan squandered a seven-point lead to lose by six to Donegal, Kerry turned a five-point deficit into a nine-point cushion during a second-half spell of unchecked power that prised Sam Maguire from Armagh's grip. The key to Kerry triggering Armagh's capitulation was the Orchardmen's kick-out, which many thought would be an integral platform for the during the third quarter, Kerry destroyed Armagh in the middle of the field. Time after time, Ethan Rafferty - whose kicking prowess has been a big weapon for Armagh this year - failed to find his team-mates, leading to a green and gold wave and by Paudie Clifford's half-time introduction, Kerry scored 14 unanswered points - including a couple of two-pointers - to effectively kill the contest with 15 minutes to spare. By the end, Kerry lost just six of their 27 kick-outs, while Armagh only won 20 of their 33. It opened the door for Kerry to score 30 points from terms of shot conversion, Kerry scored 27 times (32 points in total) from 36 shots, while Armagh scored 18 (24 points in total) from 34 efforts. Inspired by the irrepressible Seanie O'Shea, who struck 0-12, Kerry showcased a clinical edge while Armagh were left to reflect on chances not taken. McGeeney 'the best man' for Armagh Speaking on The GAA Social, Armagh legend Oisin McConville admitted Kerry's kick-out domination and superior scoring efficiency was central to the Ulster county's unravelling. "They were very well-coached," the 2002 All-Ireland winner said of Kerry."The press on the Armagh kick-out was excellent. If you had asked me before the game what way it would go, I'd have said we would obliterate Kerry's kick-out and they won't make a trick of ours and it worked in reverse."That's why they kicked 32 points."He added: "Ethan was spooked slightly, it was a heavy press, and if you're kicking it to certain places and not winning it, then you're in serious bother. Momentum is a serious thing in this game."Kerry's win also underscored two more truths about this competition: the Kingdom should never be written off and retaining the Sam Maguire remains a rarity (only Kerry and Dublin have done it in the 21st century). For Armagh boss Kieran McGeeney, it was a hugely deflating way to conclude his 11th season in charge. And while he was coy about his future - admitting he may be "addicted" to the game - McConville is certain he will remain in for the 2026 campaign."He's the best man to be there. He knows these players and has built this whole environment," said McConville, who played alongside McGeeney in the '02 team. "He's continuously freshened it up and I've no doubt he'll continue to do that personnel-wise. It'll 100% be his call and he'll be there next year, I've no doubt about that." While Donegal and Meath will square off for a place in the final, there will be much focus on Kerry and Tyrone renewing knockout championship hostilities. The counties have previously met in the All-Ireland semi-finals four times. They have two wins apiece (Tyrone in 2003 and 2021 and Kerry in 2015 and 2019). Their last meeting in knockout All-Ireland football was two years ago, in a quarter-final Kerry won 2-18 to while Jack O'Connor's side will lick their lips at another chance to put an Ulster county to the sword, the Red Hands will not fear another Croke Park tussle with the Kingdom after ending Dublin's involvement in the championship for another year."They're a dangerous animal now," McConville said of Tyrone, who are chasing an All-Ireland title in Malachy O'Rourke's first season at the helm. "The reason being I didn't think they played particularly well at the weekend and still found a way to win and looked as though if that game had kept going, they would have won a lot more convincingly." Were Tyrone to beat Kerry, it could lead to an all-Ulster All-Ireland final against Donegal. Jim McGuinness' side will welcome a two-week break after a gruelling period that has seen them play nine times in 12 weeks, with trips to Roscommon and Dublin in two of the past having started sluggishly against Monaghan, the Ulster champions - like Kerry - moved through the gears in the second half and issued their own statement of intent. "Donegal tweaked a few things and changed the personnel. If you look at the personnel they brought on, apart from [Jason] McGee in the middle, it was all pace," observed McConville. "When they started to run at Monaghan, Monaghan had serious problems."Having fallen to Galway in last year's semi-finals, Donegal will be desperate to atone when they face Meath in two weeks' time. Donegal may well start the game as favourites, but Meath have been a breath of a fresh air in this year's championship in their first year under Robbie Brennan, who has an All-Ireland Club title with Kilmacud Crokes on his CV. Their thrilling 2-16 to 2-15 defeat of Galway returns them to the last four for the first time since 2009, and having also claimed the scalps of Dublin and Kerry this year, they cannot be discounted.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Holders Armagh succumb to dominant Kerry in quarter-final
Armagh's dream of lifting back-to-back All-Ireland titles was shattered in spectacular fashion by Kerry, who raced clear in the second half to win Sunday's quarter-final at Croke Park 0-32 to 1-21. Trailing by five, Kerry devoured Armagh's kick-outs and blasted over 14 unanswered points in a devastating 13-minute spell to canter towards the finish line and join Donegal, Tyrone and Meath in the semi-finals. Advertisement Armagh - who beat Kerry in a semi-final thriller last year - led 1-11 to 0-13 at half-time, with Rory Grugan's finely-taken goal helping them nudge ahead before the break. But Kieran McGeeney's side simply had no answer to Kerry's power, precision and scoring appetite after the restart, and simply could not muster a sufficient response having fallen 0-28 to 1-16 behind at the end of their opponent's 14-point bolt. Kerry last won the All-Ireland title in 2022, but having taken out a fellow heavyweight in such clinical fashion, Jack O'Connor's side will be heavily favoured to succeed Armagh as champions. Seanie O'Shea was outstanding for Kerry, finishing the game with 0-12, while David Clifford hit 0-7. More to follow.
BBC News
29-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Holders Armagh succumb to dominant Kerry in quarter-final
Armagh's dream of lifting back-to-back All-Ireland titles was shattered in spectacular fashion by Kerry, who raced clear in the second half to win Sunday's quarter-final at Croke Park 0-32 to 1-21. Trailing by five, Kerry devoured Armagh's kick-outs and blasted over 14 unanswered points in a devastating 13-minute spell to canter towards the finish line and join Donegal, Tyrone and Meath in the semi-finals. Armagh - who beat Kerry in a semi-final thriller last year - led 1-11 to 0-13 at half-time, with Rory Grugan's finely-taken goal helping them nudge ahead before the Kieran McGeeney's side simply had no answer to Kerry's power, precision and scoring appetite after the restart, and simply could not muster a sufficient response having fallen 0-28 to 1-16 behind at the end of their opponent's 14-point last won the All-Ireland title in 2022, but having taken out a fellow heavyweight in such clinical fashion, Jack O'Connor's side will be heavily favoured to succeed Armagh as champions. Seanie O'Shea was outstanding for Kerry, finishing the game with 0-12, while David Clifford hit 0-7. More to follow.
