Latest news with #UlsterTitle
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Roarty 'playing like a seasoned veteran'
Roarty has impressed in his first year in the Donegal senior panel [Getty Images] Former Monaghan forward Conor McManus said that 19-year-old Donegal defender Finbarr Roarty is "playing like a seasoned veteran". The teenager is enjoying an impressive first year with Jim McGuinness' senior panel, helping them to the Ulster title and again excelling in their All-Ireland semi-final thrashing of Meath. Advertisement He has firmly established himself as a starter and McManus praised the corner-back's ability to slot in seamlessly since his debut in April. "They tried to get him into the panel last year, but he was too young, and he's come in and is playing like a man who has been there for eight or nine years," McManus told the GAA Social podcast. "He's playing like a seasoned veteran, his physical shape, his energy and ability on the ball, he's excellent. He is a massive addition who has hit the ground running. "That is the strength of Donegal their team and their panel. They had 12 different scorers against Meath and you have so many things to try lock down to stop them." Advertisement Donegal will face Kerry in the All-Ireland final after the Kingdom dispatched Tyrone in Saturday's other semi-final. Armagh All-Ireland winner Oisin McConville believes the Red Hands need to develop squad depth to challenge for honours after suffering a 1-20 to 0-17 last four defeat. "They have to find one or two players but there is a pool of talent there. The profile of the player they're bringing in is important too," McConville said. "They have deadly forwards in Ruairi and Daragh Canavan, Darren McCurry and Eoin McElholm, but if you play the four of those are any of them really cut out for the middle eight? They're very same same and the direct ball is less of an option. "You can't play them all at the same time, so you need to find some more power. You compare Tyrone's team to what Donegal have, they have hard running and legs."
BBC News
5 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Roarty 'playing like a seasoned veteran'
Former Monaghan forward Conor McManus said that 19-year-old Donegal defender Finbarr Roarty is "playing like a seasoned veteran".The teenager is enjoying an impressive first year with Jim McGuinness' senior panel, helping them to the Ulster title and again excelling in their All-Ireland semi-final thrashing of has firmly established himself as a starter and McManus praised the corner-back's ability to slot in seamlessly since his debut in April."They tried to get him into the panel last year, but he was too young, and he's come in and is playing like a man who has been there for eight or nine years," McManus told the GAA Social podcast."He's playing like a seasoned veteran, his physical shape, his energy and ability on the ball, he's excellent. He is a massive addition who has hit the ground running. "That is the strength of Donegal their team and their panel. They had 12 different scorers against Meath and you have so many things to try lock down to stop them."Donegal will face Kerry in the All-Ireland final after the Kingdom dispatched Tyrone in Saturday's other All-Ireland winner Oisin McConville believes the Red Hands need to develop squad depth to challenge for honours after suffering a 1-20 to 0-17 last four defeat."They have to find one or two players but there is a pool of talent there. The profile of the player they're bringing in is important too," McConville said. "They have deadly forwards in Ruairi and Daragh Canavan, Darren McCurry and Eoin McElholm, but if you play the four of those are any of them really cut out for the middle eight? They're very same same and the direct ball is less of an option."You can't play them all at the same time, so you need to find some more power. You compare Tyrone's team to what Donegal have, they have hard running and legs."
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'I'm blessed they asked me back' - Murphy on Donegal return
Donegal legend Michael Murphy admitted he did not believe he would win another Ulster title with his county after returning to the panel this year. Murphy played his part with a few scores as Donegal retained the Anglo-Celt Cup with a 2-23 to 0-28 victory against Armagh after extra time in Clones. The 35-year-old has now won six provincial deciders with Donegal, but the thought of playing a part in a victory like this was a pipe dream a year ago after retiring in 2022. He worked as a pundit for BBC Sport NI during last year's final which Donegal won on penalties, but was delighted to be able to contribute this year after returning to the fold. "I didn't think it would happen again," he told BBC Sport NI. "It happened last year; I was a Donegal man supporting these boys last year and I was happy to watch them here last year. "Today was a really tough game, nothing but respect for Armagh they are the All-Ireland champions and they're a good side, but credit to these young lads and their character, it's an hour to share a pitch and a dressing room with them again, I'm very blessed that they asked me back." Murphy shared an emotional moment with his father on the pitch after the final whistle and said "bits of everything" were going through his mind as he fended off tears and exhaustion. The forward also hopes that another Ulster victory can spur Donegal on for a big summer as they chase a first All-Ireland title since 2012. They are in Group One for this year's round robin phase alongside Mayo, Tyrone and Cavan. "It's a stepping stone, but we need to go again," added Murphy. Meanwhile, Armagh keeper Ethan Rafferty described the county's third successive Ulster final defeat as "sickening". "Even if you take the three in a row [defeats] out of it, we sort of kicked ourselves out of it for 10 minutes, both in the first half and second half," admitted Rafferty. "Look we'll go back and look at it and be as critical as we can. That's all we can do."
