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RTÉ News
9 hours ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Kerry prepares to welcome home All-Ireland winners
The All-Ireland-winning Kerry team and management will make their way home this afternoon by train. Tens of thousands of people are expected at the homecoming celebrations in Tralee and Killarney. Their first stop will be in Rathmore, home of goalkeeper Shane Ryan and corner-back Paul Murphy. There will be a 20-minute stop in Rathmore before the train travels directly to Casement Station in Tralee. The team and management will be paraded through the town in an open-top bus to an outdoor reception at the Ashe Memorial Hall in Denny Street at 6.30pm. The team and management will then travel to Killarney, arriving at Fitzgerald Stadium at around 8.30pm. An open-top bus will take them on a parade through the town to a reception in the Glebe car park.
Irish Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Kerry player ratings: The Clifford brothers star as Kingdom lift Sam Maguire
1. Shane Ryan (Rathmore) Had some wobbles in the second half, unlucky to slip before his long-range free effort, but kept enough variety and accuracy in his kickouts to ensure Kerry won enough of the midfield battle. Rating: 7 2. Paul Murphy (Rathmore) Proved himself Kerry's Mr Dependable once again, helping to restrict Oisin Gallen to just two points. Not far off his man-of-the-match display against Donegal in 2014, ferocious in his tackling as always, excellent reading of play. Rating: 8 3. Jason Foley (Ballydonoghue) Stood up admirably against Michael Murphy, ensuring zero goal threat throughout. Brought his usual pace and energy to the position, never losing sight of his task at hand, fighting hard for every ball. Rating: 8 Donegal's Michael Murphy tackled by Jason Foley of Kerry. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho 4. Dylan Casey (Austin Stacks) Completed the full-back line of resistance with his ceaseless commitment, even if Conor O'Donnell caused him trouble at times. Displayed great energy and courage throughout, utterly committed to every ball. Rating: 7 READ MORE 5. Brian Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht) Once again brought his unlimited reserves of football ability, attacking with sheer intent with every chance he got. Sent one shot wide, but that just reflected his attacking mood. Helped keep the Donegal half backs quiet. Rating: 8 6. Mike Breen (Beaufort) Went about his business with all his trademark focus and sharpness, central to Kerry's running game, in both attack and retreat. Ran himself into the ground too, gave it his absolute all. Rating: 8 7. Gavin White (Dr Crokes) Played his captain's role to the glorious limit, leading from the start and playing wonderful football throughout. Finished with three points from play, a performance almost entirely without fault. Rating: 9 Donegal's Finnbarr Roarty and Gavin White of Kerry. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho 8. Seán O'Brien (Beaufort) Capped off his remarkable season in style, scoring two first half points in his first All-Ireland final debut, Battled hard for every kick out, superb particularly under the high ball. Rating: 7 9. Mark O'Shea (Dr Crokes) Brought all his club form to the county table when needed, once Diarmuid O'Connor was injured, and stuck to his job with now trademark coolness and courage, in his senior debut season. Rating: 8 10. Joe O'Connor (Austin Stacks) Rose to the challenge here with all his style and substance, repeatedly orchestrating and inspiring the Kerry attacks, and showing brilliant skill in possession. His blazing goal at the death, majestically finished, was utterly deserved. Rating: 9 Kerry's Joe O'Connor celebrates scoring a goal. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho 11. Seán O'Shea (Kenmare Shamrocks) Kerry needed another big game from him and he didn't disappoint, twice scoring two-point frees when Kerry needed them, his role in setting up scores equally critical. Donegal couldn't contain him. Rating: 8 12. Graham O'Sullivan (Dromid Pearses) A big influence around the middle third throughout, tracking back when needed, but also playing a central role going forward. Tactically outplayed the Donegal half backs too, cool and committed. Rating: 7 13. David Clifford (Fossa) Wow. Under all the pressure any All-Ireland final could bring, Clifford calmly did what he does best, his three two-pointers in the first half spreading confidence throughout the team. Finished with 0-9, adding to his 8-53 already scored in this championship. Rating: 9 Kerry's David Clifford. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho 14. Paudie Clifford (Fossa) Saved the best game of his season until last, running ceaselessly, scoring three points from play, winning frees when Kerry needed them. Plenty of sibling intuition with David too, a joy to watch. Rating: 9 15. Dylan Geaney (Dingle) Took on the game with aggression from the start, finishing with three points from play, always dangerous when running at goal, even if a little off target with one of his first efforts. Rating: 8 Substitutes: None of them were required to make anything like a match-turning impact, but Diarmuid O'Connor helped bring some added energy to midfield, Evan Looney also getting on some ball in his debut season. Tadhg Morley had the honour of setting up the icing on the cake, Joe O'Connor's late goal. Rating: 7 Management An eighth All-Ireland final for Jack O'Connor, this time flanked by Aodán Mac Gearailt, James Costello, Cian O'Neill, O'Connor steps away after one of his finest, his fifth win. After an emotionally draining season, the team were in absolute peak condition, dominant winners over a highly rated Donegal team. Rating: 9
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
House on fire for Kerry goalkeeper Shane Ryan as titanic battle with Donegal beckons
The nation will be gripped by a "titanic battle" in Sunday's All-Ireland Football Championship final, but Shane Ryan is not about to complain about the problems coming his way. In previous times a clash of the counties could be seen as a war of attrition with Kerry sacrificing some of their ideals to try to break down a defensive Donegal outfit. The new rules in the sport makes any repeat scenario unlikely, which Ryan acknowledges is good for the viewing audience, even if it makes his own 70 minutes much more difficult. Finals by their nature can be cagey, so there is something of unknown in Sunday's showpiece. It may produce fireworks or take time to warm up. All he can reference so far is how he has found championship matches so far this year? "It's kind of like your house on fire," he told RTÉ GAA analyst Tomás Ó Sé in an interview as part of Sunday's live television coverage. "[Your job is to] put out fires everywhere. Then it's 'right, we're attacking now'. "It's hard to sometimes actually read the flow of the game. "At times the game can just turn into madness, you have to toughen in those times. "It's definitely made it tougher because you know there were times last year and the last couple of years where teams dropped off. So you might get 30% of your kickouts uncontested and you kick it to the corner-back and away we go. "There's less controlled plays than there was in previous years, so therefore you actually don't have a chance to get your breath, even as a defensive unit." With the Kingdom usually cruising their way through the Munster Championship, Ryan is rarely tested until the latter stages of the Championship. That has not been the case this campaign with a tricky test in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh passed with the concession of 1-25. The Rathmore man has yet to concede two goals in a match with his proficiencies when facing a forward in a duel a major asset to Jack O'Connor's side. His impressive performances have been honed over the years in the knowledge he would be needed at times, likely in the latter stages of the season. The goalkeeper admitted he is still more active over the course of the year now, thanks to the FRC implementations. So has training moved to more attention on saving rather than kicking? "[Shot stopping] is definitely something we're focusing on. But would I say it's something we're focusing more than other years? No. "I suppose I'm probably getting more opportunities this year to kind of show off my shot-stopping. "It's 11 v 11, there's more one-on-one battles. Teams are getting opened up and the nature of the game this year is that it's just absolutely chaotic at times. You know there will be a man bearing down on top of you. "From a goalkeeper perspective it's a bit annoying that you're relinquishing control, but if I put my GAA hat on from a supporter's perspective, the entertainment value has gone through the roof because of it. As I said already the games are just, they're chaotic by nature now, but it's proven to give entertainment." The round-robin defeat to Meath was an eye-opener for Kerry. Many had expected them to cruise through their group and the loss in Tullamore led to something of a reflection. Ryan denies it led to totally changed their approach. "I thought we played a lot of good football leading up to Meath, even in the league as well, and we've played a lot of good football since. "There was definitely areas in the Meath game we were very disappointed with. I think it was more a case of trying to get back to basics a small bit. We are a united group and there's a lot of us on the road now for seven or eight years. "We've had a good few tests down through the years, plenty of success, plenty of disappointments, and all that stuff comes together, and it gels you together as a team. You don't want to let the man beside you down and that's something that we're going to try to harness again this weekend." After progressing against Cavan and Tyrone, one more Ulster county stands in the way of a 39th All-Ireland. The Tir Conaill men are looking to repeat Jim McGuinness's memorable success of 2012 and the Kerry goalkeeper feels it's going to be the hardest challenge of all. "Certainly. I think Donegal have so many threats from all over the field, and they're obviously hugely usually athletic. They were probably one of the favourites from the outset of the league this year. "We played them below in Killarney and they obviously beat us in our own backyard there in the first game. "We are just trying to back ourselves while knowing that Donegal have a lot of threats and you were just trying to get the balance there between playing your game and stopping them playing their game. "I think it's going to make for a titanic battle, and it's something that I'm looking forward to and the whole country is looking forward to as well."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ryan: U.S. making Ryder Cup 'as messy as possible'
Golf Digest's Shane Ryan reacts to a Ryder Cup rules addendum with Keegan Bradley implications and critiques the way the U.S. Ryder Cup Team has complicated the roster situation ever since choosing Bradley as captain.
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Kerry and Donegal player ratings suggest an outside bet for All-Ireland final
Ahead of the All-Ireland senior football final, our expert GAA writers have assessed the quality both counties possess. Kerry are favourites coming into the biggest day in the Gaelic football calendar but many have backed Donegal for glory since the start of the year under the stewardship of Jim McGuinness. Here, the probable starting players - and benches - are rated out of 10 with the combined tally giving us an indication as to who could take home the Sam Maguire. Or so we thought.. KERRY 1 Shane Ryan - 9 Ryan's greatest strength is nailing pressure short kickouts. Can kick short off both feet. Accuracy going long (and fast) is underrated. He's a serious shot stopper as he showed against Armagh with a superb save from Tieran Kelly. Very strong in the air. The one he dropped against Armagh last year was a rare blip. 2 Paul Murphy - 7 Mr Reliable. Kerry keep coming back to him and what a servant he's been. The only survivor from the 2014 All-Ireland win outside Paul Geaney. A Rathmore club mate of Shane Ryan. He's 33 now, but has all the football and won't give up. Can also get forward to score. 3 Jason Foley - 8 Pace to burn. He's had troubles at times with marquee forwards, but has the resilience and experience to stick at it and often comes out on top, or does enough. Kerry wouldn't start without him. Has the physique and power for full back and a very sticky marker. 4 Dylan Casey - 7 Casey has forced his way into the side this year. Had a first half to forget against Armagh, being stripped for a goal chance and backing off a kickout that led to a goal, but he's held his place. This is the Tralee man's fourth year on the squad. 5 Brian Ó BeaglaoÍch - 8 One of the most underrated Kerry players. Took a couple of hugely pressurised short kickout against Dublin in the 2022 All-Ireland semi-final win that showed his mettle. You don't lose that. Has defied ongoing injury issues to get himself right for Championship again. Well capable of scoring and now a proper hard nosed defender. 6 Mike Breen - 7 The fact he missed the emphatic Armagh win and was still brought straight back in to start the semi-final says a lot. Hugely athletic and quick enough to mark and drive forward. Plagued by injury in recent years, otherwise he would have been an established regular for a season or two now. 7 Gavin White - 8 Kerry's Gavin White ahead of the All-Ireland SFC semi-final (Image: ©INPHO/James Crombie) One of Kerry's very best. Has that relentlessness and pace to match anything Donegal have. His face has the cut of a serious athlete. His ability to pass and go makes him a serious goal threat. Often cuts the holes for the Cliffords and co to exploit. The skipper's hard runs have to be watched. 8 Seán O'Brien - 7 A relative unknown to most outside Kerry but they don't let many shrinking violets into the Kerry midfield. The Beaufort man, like Mark O'Shea, has taken full advantage of the absence of midfield duo Diarmuid O'Connor and Barry Dan O'Sullivan to claim a starting place. Gives that engine Kerry need to purr. 9 Mark O'Shea - 7 Only made his first Kerry Championship start in June, against Meath. His towering presence on kickouts has proven a weapon in the new game, breaking and catching ball. Will probably jump with Michael Langan. He's come out of nowhere, relatively speaking. A former basketball player, he is a nephew of coaching legend and former Kerry boss, Pat. 10 Joe O'Connor - 9 If there wasn't a David Clifford, O'Connor would be right in the hunt for Footballer of the Year. A nightmare to play against. Never stops, going box to box. It's clear how badly he wants it. All Star in waiting. Also a serious goal threat. Hit a stunning goal against Cork in the Munster semi-final. 11 Seán O'Shea - 9 Incredible attitude to go with his incredible accuracy from dead balls and play. Wasn't naturally physically, but brings that now - along with serious energy. Does the donkey work. His nine scores from nine shots against Armagh, for 0-12, was off the charts stuff. Jack O'Connor says he's the spiritual leader of the side. 12 Graham O'Sullivan - 7 O'Sullivan was outstanding in the 2022 All-Ireland Final victory over Galway so the occasion will hold no fears for him. You need a lot of football, brains and the right attitude to switch from wing back to wing forward, especially in a county like Kerry where this type of move is scrutinised heavily. Works all day and can score too. 13 David Clifford - 10 Kerry's David Clifford (Image: Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Tom O'Hanlon) The three-up rule means he has no real weakness now. Teams can't run him up and down. Occasionally has pot shots but his range and back catalogue means he's allowed them more than anyone else. Attracts attention for others to shine. A 6' 4' Gooch built like a brick outhouse with searing pace in tight areas. His sheer power is frightening. 14 Paudie Clifford - 9 What a footballer and he brings that ruthless competitive edge with it. Doesn't mind letting lads know about it either. The ultimate heads-up football. Always looking to kick forward, and as good a foot passer as there is in the country - quantity and quality. Coupled with huge mobility, pace and silky ball carrying it make him a nightmare to tag. 15 Dylan Geaney - 7 A clever footballer who has slotted in well to the Kerry attack and can score goals. He's in his third year on the panel. Conor Geaney, who started against Armagh, is his brother and Paul Geaney is his cousin. They all play for Dingle. Paul's injury has helped him start and he's taken full advantage. Kerry Bench - 8 Paul Geaney and Diarmuid O'Connor are two big guns to have on any bench, but how fit they are is another question. Donegal will be fully prepped for the entry of both. Micheál Burns is capable of a big impact. Killian Spillane remains a dangerous scorer and Tony Brosnan is a proven option. Total: 127 Donegal 1 Shaun Patton - 9 Endured a nightmare first half in the quarter-final against Monaghan and while that is very much an outlier, it may give Kerry encouragement to go after him. But Patton, with the speed at which he gets the ball on the tee and accuracy from there, is arguably the best in the business. 2 Finbarr Roarty - 8 Donegal's Finnbarr Roarty makes a superb block to deny Louth's Peter Lynch (Image: ©INPHO/Lorcan Doherty) The 19-year-old has taken to inter-county football seamlessly having only made his debut this year - and it would have come a year earlier if Jim McGuinness had his way. A strong tackler and hard runner, he has also chipped in at the other end, scoring 1-5 en route to the final. 3 Brendan McCole - 9 It's a virtual certainty that he will be assigned the man-marking job on David Clifford, and it's a duel that will likely be crucial to the outcome of the final. His task is so gargantuan that McCole will need cover from his defensive colleagues, but he is the best-equipped defender in the game to take it on. 4 Peadar Mogan - 8 An All Star last year as Donegal reached the semi-final but while he has arguably not scaled the same heights this year, his black card against Mayo being a low point, he is still performing to a high level and has got upfield to telling effect with 0-12 to his name in 10 Championship games. 5 Ryan McHugh - 7 He has been one of the greatest players across a very successful era for Donegal with five Ulster Championships to his name but, having arrived onto the scene in 2013, the All-Ireland is still elusive. Arguably no Donegal player deserves it more than the dashing wing-back, who may be asked to pick up Paudie Clifford. 6 Eoghan Ban Gallagher - 7 Has found his home on the half-back line at this stage having been employed at corner-back for much of his Donegal career, which has been hampered by injury episodes. Experienced player and a strong ball-carrier but may be vulnerable to being benched if McGuinness plumps for Caolan McGonagle. 7 Caolan McColgan - 7 Yet another speed merchant in a side teeming with them, McColgan broke into the side following the group stage loss to Tyrone, scoring a goal against Cavan. May have been down the pecking order after his club, Naomh Pádraig Uisce Chaoin (Muff), reached the All-Ireland junior final but kept hold of the jersey once he got his chance. 8 Hugh McFadden - 7 One of the survivors from Donegal's last All-Ireland final in 2014, his debut season, though he didn't see action in the defeat to Kerry. At 31, not quite the force he was but will be entrusted by Jim McGuinness to do a job before inevitably being hauled ashore midway through the second half. 9 Michael Langan - 9 Comes into the final on the crest of a wave after a series of big performances, not least in the semi-final win over Meath, when he notched 0-4 to bring his season's total to 1-25. A huge talent who has settled at midfield this year having played much of his football from wing-forward. 10 Shane O'Donnell - 8 Not a prolific scorer but his best attributes bring a nice blend to the Donegal attack as his fingerprints are on the scores of so many others, both in terms of giving the final pass and his ability to break defensive lines with his ball-carrying ability. A player who has blossomed under McGuinness. 11 Ciaran Thompson - 7 His huge left boot has proven a very useful weapon in the new game, with his ability to kick two-pointers augmenting a tally of 1-22 in this Championship campaign. The only player to have been on the field for every minute of Donegal's 10-game run to this final. 12 Ciaran Moore - 8 Scored a brilliant goal in the semi-final win over Meath to go with his crucial strike in the Ulster final win over Armagh, while he also came up with the dramatic late winner against Mayo which showcased his athleticism and accuracy, not to mention his ability to come up with big moments. 13 Conor O'Donnell - 8 If Donegal needed something more after last year's All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Galway, then O'Donnell has provided much of it having upped his game and become much more of a scoring threat with the 3-21 that he has notched across this campaign making him their top scorer from play. 14 Michael Murphy - 9 Donegal's Michael Murphy takes a free (Image: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne) Albeit he may have retired a bit too prematurely for most people's liking, not least McGuinness's, Murphy's legacy as an all-time great was already assured when he stepped aside in 2022. But now, given what he has brought to the team after two seasons away, he is embellishing it with one of the great comeback stories. 15 Oisin Gallen - 7 Looked poised for a big summer but made a slow start to the Championship and wasn't always on the starting team, though he is finding his best form as the Championship reaches its climax. The quality of his finish from a tight angle against Meath spoke of a man whose confidence is surging. Donegal bench - 9 McGuinness will keep us all guessing on what his starting team will be right up to the throw-in, and there's every chance that the likes of Caolan McGonagle will be in the first 15 yet. Whatever the combination, McGuinness will have strong options over his shoulder, led by captain Paddy McBrearty, Daire Ó Baoill and Jason McGee, with the bench contributing 0-28 across their 10 Championship games. Total: 127 The squads cannot be separated, even if the bookies have Kerry as marginal favourites. The draw is priced at 13/2 for those interested. Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.
