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Irish Examiner
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Camogie: Kerry and Offaly through to intermediate final
Kerry and Offaly will play in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland intermediate camogie final after coming through two rip-roaring semi-finals at Cedral St Conleth's Park in Newbridge. Both sides were beaten at this stage of last year's championship and were up against it when attempting to clear the penultimate hurdle this time, playing the two teams relegated from the senior championship 12 months ago, Antrim and Down. A 36th minute goal from Mairéad Teehan helped Offaly turn a half-time lead of two points to a seven-point advantage and that was critical as the Faithful held off Antrim to prevail by 1-16 to 2-12 in the first leg of a mouth-watering double-header. Two goals in under a minute, also in the third quarter, turned the tide in Kerry's favour against Down, with the Patrice Diggin planting a penalty in the 40th minute on her way to scoring 1-7, before Jackie Horgan popped up with a brilliant score. Hard though they tried, there was no way back for Down and it was the green and gold booking a date to Croke Park on a 3-12 to 0-16 scoreline. Goals have been the key to Offaly's success this year but they showed they had other strings to their bow when outpointing Antrim in the battle of the Very League champions. The Ulster crew were marginal favourites, given that they had beaten three senior sides to win the Division 1B title. But Offaly had impressed in garnering the Division 2 crown and were only two points in arrears when the teams met in the group stages. Antrim scored their first goal in the 15th minute, starting with good defensive work to thwart a dangerous looking Offaly attack. They countered quickly and Róisín McCormick won the long delivery well, then popped the sliotar to the onrushing Annie Lynn. Lynn didn't have to break stride before in turn feeding Caitrin Dobbin, and while her shot was saved brilliantly by Emer Reynolds, the Loughgiel sniper managed to scramble the rebound over the line. David Sullivan's crew responded well with Grace Teehan leading the resistance. She took over freetaking duties and quickly brought her tally to four points, finishing with a wonderful score from play just before the break to send her side in leading 0-10 to 1-5. Antrim had the wind in the second half however, and the hope that they could get Róisín McCormick into the play even more, the Loughgiel ace scoring all of her team's points in that opening period. The sides shared four points early on in the second half but after Grace Teehan converted another free from a tight angle, Offaly made the definitive burst thanks to a sublime goal by her cousin Mairéad. The Moneygall maestro, denied by a tremendous Caitriona Graham save in the first half, executed a lightning quick pick-up and took the direct route, cutting back expertly inside to lose two defenders in a blink before blasting off her left to the roof of the net. That put six between the teams and the margin quickly became seven with all the momentum in the Faithful's direction. It was McCormick who provided the fuel injection Antrim needed six minutes after Teehan's major. Kate Molloy did the donkey work on this occasion, somehow emerging from a ruck with possession. She offloaded to McCormick and she did the rest, slaloming into space before unleashing an unstoppable shot from close range. It was nip and tuck from there to the end, Offaly wasting a few chances to extend their advantage and Antrim chipping away to reduce the deficit to the minimum with points from McCormick (free) and Dobbin. Offaly defended well in the last two minutes of injury time however and it was the midlanders progressing to HQ. There had been nothing between Down and Kerry in the group stages either – two points again – so no one was surprised that this also went down to the wire. Defences had held sway on that occasion and this was no scorefest either for a long while before the game really opened up as both outfits threw off the shackles with everything on the line. Playing with the breeze, Down started with real intent and had four points on the board in less than ten minutes. Paula O'Hagan, back from injury, had three of those and the Mourne women led by four after 13 minutes, Beth Fitzpatrick also landing a monster. The legendary Diggin drove Kerry forward and shot a fantastic point into the wind but a very lucky goal from Amy O'Sullivan seemed to knock Down for six, briefly at least. O'Sullivan twisted and turned to make space and let go for a point, but the sliotar dropped into the corner of the net and suddenly the teams were level at the end of the first quarter. The scoring rate dropped thereafter and Jackie Horgan showed her trademark strength to make space and point just before the break, sending Kerry in leading by 1-5 to 0-7. Down are a side with plenty of experience and they used the interval well to steady down. They resumed in similar fashion to how they started the first half, hitting four points to go one in front but the game was turned on its head by those two goals in under a minute. Diggin dispatched a penalty to the corner in the 40th minute, after Ann Marie Leen was fouled in the square and before Down knew what had happened, Horgan was rampaging in from the corner, having shown good pace to go with her strength to get away, shortening her grip and making enough of an angle to finish expertly. Down never gave up but they had given themselves too much to do and in the end it was Diggin who had the final say with a pointed free from distance to spark wild celebrations.
Irish Examiner
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Down book camogie semi with Kerry, Antrim set up Offaly clash
Antrim will play Offaly and Down will play Kerry in the semi-finals of the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Intermediate Championship after the Ulster sides came through their respective quarter-finals today. The Faithful overcame Carlow on a 3-18 to 2-9 scoreline while Down saw off Meath, 2-13 to 0-10. As that quartet battles to be promoted to the senior grade next year, whoever emerges will be replaced in the second tier by Derry, who were defeated by Wexford in the senior relegation final, with Ciara O'Connor scoring 3-5 for the winners in a 4-22 to 0-10 triumph at Protection & Prosperity Louth GAA Training Centre. Meanwhile, in the day's other action Westmeath were comfortable victors over Kildare in the intermediate relegation final, by 3-21 to 0-9. Wexford had the wind at their backs early on in the battle to retain senior status. They led 0-4 to 0-1 after 14 minutes when Ciara O'Connor and Anais Curran combined to pick out an unmarked Muireann Fitzpatrick in front of goal and she rattled the net. Spaces became more readily available as the half wore on and Chloe Cashe brought her tally six with two points from play and another brace via frees from inside her own half. O'Connor goaled from a penalty just before half-time and it was 2-12 to 0-2, with Derry's fate sealed. They did offer more than the points scored by Orlaith Hull and Rachel Keenan when backed by the elements but Wexford were never in danger of ceding control. O'Connor's second goal removed all doubt and after Aimee Lennon slotted a couple of nice points for Derry, the experienced attacker completed her hat-trick in definitive fashion. Goals were the key as Offaly secured Division 2 success in the Very League earlier this season and they were at it again when shaking the net twice in the opening two minutes to rattle Carlow and set sail for the last four of the intermediate championship with 12 points to spare at Glenisk O'Connor Park. Kate Pilkington raised the first green flag after just 27 seconds, having been set up by Mairéad Teehan and it was Teehan who grabbed the second, pouncing on a loose ball to finish from close range. Carlow replied positively well with an Aimie Nolan goal but the dismissal of Leah Ryan was a blow and Niamh Sheehy goaled to leave it 3-5 to 1-4 at the change of ends. The hosts had the wind in the second half and were happy to use it to keep the scoreboard ticking over as Ciara Maher, Mairead Teehan, Sheehy, Fianait Dooley and Grace Teehan split the posts. Eleanor Treacy slotted some nice points from frees for Carlow and Nolan scored her second goal with a powerful shot but there was no catching the Faithful, who now taken on group winners and Division 1B League champions Antrim for a place in the decider. Down were workmanlike at times but always held the upper hand as they accounted for Meath by nine points at Clonduff. They only led by five points at the end of a very cagey first half, despite having the better of proceedings, with Paula O'Hagan's injury enforced absence obviously keenly felt. Sara Louise Graffin stepped up with four points and with Dearbhla Magge notching up three, they were 0-8 to 0-3 ahead at the break, Grace Connolly and Isobel O'Connor raising white flags in injury time to keep the Royals in touch. Points from Graffin, Magee and Saoirse Sands (her second) increased the gap and goals from Sands and Graffin, with each also providing the final pass for the other's major, cemented the verdict. Aoife Carey shot five second half points for Meath but there was no way back for them and it is Domhnall Nugent's squad that advances to a semi-final battle with Kerry.
RTÉ News
05-07-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Clare's Hehir drawing on experience ahead of Déise test
There may be a perception that Waterford have the advantage of more familiarity with Croke Park than Clare, ahead of today's Glen Dimplex All-Ireland quarter-final, but enough of the Banner crew have played at the Broadway of Gaelic games for it not to be an issue. Sinéad O'Keeffe, Niamh Mulqueen, Caoimhe Cahill, Jennifer Daly, Ellen Casey, Cliodhna Queally and Grace Carmody were among those to be involved when the juniors won the All-Ireland just two years ago. Last December, Truagh Clonlara were the first Clare team to reach an All-Ireland senior club final and while Sarsfields were too strong, it was an invaluable experience for Áine O'Loughlin, Róisín Begley and Michelle Powell in the context of today's outing. Clare Hehir's memories are from further back. Thirteen years ago. "Myself and Andrea O'Keefe would have played in a Féile final there when we were 14," Hehir reveals. "We played De La Salle of Waterford. So it's funny to be meeting them again." She doesn't recall a whole lot from it, but remembers a little redhead named Beth Carton, who she is likely to encounter at close quarters again at HQ later on today. Brianna O'Regan would probably have been involved too. Funny indeed, the way the big wheel keeps on turnin'. While there isn't the big unknown people might think, there remains an acknowledgement of what it means to play in the country's premier stadium, with all its history and tradition. And to do so on TV, as part of a double-header with an All-Ireland hurling semi-final between Cork and Dublin, even if it means tickets are scarce down the south west. And the importance of managing that. "It's not like no one has ever kind of touched the grass there before and that's a help. At the end of the day, it's the same as any other field in terms of dimensions, but it does hold that special place. So it's just about not letting the occasion get to you, as much as you do want to enjoy it as well, because not everyone gets to play there. You definitely want to enjoy it." The Déise are favourites, regulars in the knockout stages now for a number of years, while John Carmody started a major rebuild in Clare last season that involved introducing almost a full panel of youngsters. Hehir is the longest serving member of the squad along with O'Loughlin she reckons, with a decade served at senior level in the saffron and blue having been introduced to the squad in 2015. Clare's last quarter-final, against Cork in 2020, took place at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Apart from Hehir and O'Loughlin, Ciara Grogan is the only other survivor from the 20 that got on the pitch during that game in today's squad. Having been relegated from Division 1A of the Very League last year – when Hehir was absent after taking a year out to go travelling - Clare showed the benefit of that steep learning curve and the return of their defensive bedrock by reaching this year's 1B final, which they lost to Antrim. Getting to the last six of the Championship is another indication of their gradual improvement. "The League was good, a lot of girls got a lot of game time. You're facing into competitive matches every week, which is good. And you can see the experience from last year. Two championship wins was great. You saw a lot of girls stepping up to the plate who would be leaders on the team this year. "I think there was a lot of learnings from the League final. There would have been a lot of us who wouldn't make finals too often with Clare camogie. And I think maybe that occasion might have got to us, or we didn't turn up on the day. So that's something that we definitely want to rectify and we want to put in a good performance." The 27-year-old is a bit envious of the neophytes. "You look back on your first years on the panel, you're kind of so young – I don't know was it naïve – but you're just taking it game by game. But when you're playing a few years, you nearly think about it too much! Sometimes you'd want to go back to those days where you're playing for the fun of it. So you try and remind yourself that while you're there to play and to win, you want to enjoy it too. And we're trying to do that now, because you're not going to be there forever." Watching the Inagh-Kilnamona stalwart play, you don't get the impression that she is short on joie de vivre. She may be full-back more often than not, tasked with shackling the opposition sharpshooter, but the swashbuckler comes out every now and then and she tears up the field to grab a score. "In the last few years I've just kind of had it as part of my game. I don't know, maybe I do it too much these days, but if it's on, it's something I like to do. As long as the legs can keep moving forward. Tracking back afterwards is different!" Hehir's long-distance freetaking is a huge advantage also and overall, it adds to a package that has produced player of the match performances go leoir over the years, including in the vital first round Championship win over Wexford, that set them up to qualify for the last six. Much and all as she gets a great kick from landing a bomb, or supplying a decent ball to a forward, it is the challenge of going toe-to-toe with the elite of the sport that really gets the juices flowing. "Definitely. We pride ourselves on playing from the front, going out and attacking the game, as opposed to sitting back and kind of letting the forwards dictate the play. So as much as we can do that, we like to take on that challenge." That speaks to an environment of proactiveness, positivity and empowerment, which is a credit to Carmody. Sometimes it will go wrong, but the philosophy of not playing with fear has been at the root of the Clare resurgence. The draw gave them a chance of getting this far but no one would have said with any firm degree of confidence that it would be Clare over Limerick or Wexford to emerge. That they took care of business, albeit on score difference over their Shannonside neighbours, was significant. Now Waterford stand in their way of an All-Ireland semi-final. "It's probably a few years since I've played Waterford myself. We would have only watched on at their success over the last few years, getting to an All-Ireland final (in 2023). They really kind of pushed on and drove those standards, which is something that we can say we admire, but we definitely won't be sitting back and admiring them come Saturday. "Their improvement over the last few years is something that we would obviously have liked to have done ourselves, but I suppose this could be the day to start that."
Irish Examiner
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Banner's Hehir ready for Croke Park Féile reunion with Carton and co
There may be a perception that Waterford have the advantage of more familiarity with Croke Park than Clare, ahead of today's Glen Dimplex All-Ireland quarter-final (2.30pm, live on RTÉ 2), but enough of the Banner crew have played at the Broadway of Gaelic games for it not to be an issue. Sinéad O'Keeffe, Niamh Mulqueen, Caoimhe Cahill, Jennifer Daly, Ellen Casey, Cliodhna Queally and Grace Carmody were involved when the juniors won the All-Ireland just two years ago. Last December, Truagh Clonlara were the first Clare team to reach an All-Ireland senior club final and while Sarsfields were too strong, it was an invaluable experience for Áine O'Loughlin, Róisín Begley and Michelle Powell in the context of today's outing. Clare Hehir's memories are from further back. Thirteen years ago. 'Myself and Andrea O'Keefe would have played in a Féile final there when we were 14,' Hehir reveals. 'We played De La Salle of Waterford. So it's funny to be meeting them again.' She doesn't recall a whole lot from it, but remembers a little redhead named Beth Carton, who she is likely to encounter at close quarters again at HQ later on today. Brianna O'Regan would probably have been involved too. Funny indeed, the way the big wheel keeps on turnin'. There remains an acknowledgement of what it means to play in the country's premier stadium, with all its history and tradition. And to do so on TV, as part of a double-header with an All-Ireland hurling semi-final between Cork and Dublin, even if it means tickets are scarce. And the importance of managing that. 'It's not like no one has ever kind of touched the grass there before and that's a help. At the end of the day, it's the same as any other field in terms of dimensions, but it does hold that special place. So it's just about not letting the occasion get to you, as much as you do want to enjoy it as well, because not everyone gets to play there. You definitely want to enjoy it.' The Déise are favourites, regulars in the knockout stages now, while John Carmody started a major rebuild in Clare last season that involved introducing almost a full panel of youngsters. Hehir is the longest serving member of the squad along with O'Loughlin, she reckons, having been introduced to the squad in 2015. Apart from Hehir and O'Loughlin, Ciara Grogan is the only other survivor from the 20 that got on the pitch during Clare's last quarter-final, against Cork in 2020. Having been relegated from Division 1A of the Very League last year – when Hehir was absent travelling - Clare reached this year's 1B final, which they lost to Antrim. Getting to the last six of the Championship is another indication of their gradual improvement. 'The League was good, a lot of girls got a lot of game time. You're facing into competitive matches every week, which is good. And you can see the experience from last year. Two championship wins was great. You saw a lot of girls stepping up to the plate who would be leaders on the team this year. 'I think there was a lot of learnings from the League final. There would have been a lot of us who wouldn't make finals too often with Clare camogie. And I think maybe that occasion might have got to us, or we didn't turn up on the day. So that's something that we definitely want to rectify and we want to put in a good performance.' The 27-year-old is a bit envious of the neophytes. 'You look back on your first years on the panel, you're kind of so young – I don't know was it naïve – but you're just taking it game by game. But when you're playing a few years, you nearly think about it too much! Sometimes you'd want to go back to those days where you're playing for the fun of it. So you try and remind yourself that while you're there to play and to win, you want to enjoy it too. And we're trying to do that now, because you're not going to be there forever.' Watching the Inagh-Kilnamona stalwart play, you don't get the impression that she is short on joie de vivre. She may be full-back more often than not, tasked with shackling the opposition sharpshooter, but the swashbuckler comes out every now and then and she tears up the field to grab a score. 'In the last few years I've just kind of had it as part of my game. I don't know, maybe I do it too much these days, but if it's on, it's something I like to do. As long as the legs can keep moving forward. Tracking back afterwards is different!' Hehir's long-distance freetaking is a huge advantage also and overall, it adds to a package that has produced player of the match performances go leoir over the years, including in the vital first round Championship win over Wexford, that set them up to qualify for the last six. Much and all as she gets a great kick from landing a bomb, or supplying a decent ball to a forward, it is the challenge of going toe-to-toe with the elite of the sport that really gets the juices flowing. 'Definitely. We pride ourselves on playing from the front, going out and attacking the game, as opposed to sitting back and kind of letting the forwards dictate the play. So as much as we can do that, we like to take on that challenge.' That speaks to an environment of proactiveness, positivity and empowerment, which is a credit to Carmody. Sometimes it will go wrong, but the philosophy of not playing with fear has been at the root of the Clare resurgence. The draw gave them a chance of getting this far but no one would have said with any firm degree of confidence that it would be Clare over Limerick or Wexford to emerge. That they took care of business, albeit on score difference over their Shannonside neighbours, was significant. Now Waterford stand in their way of an All-Ireland semi-final. 'It's probably a few years since I've played Waterford myself. We would have only watched on at their success over the last few years, getting to an All-Ireland final (in 2023). They really kind of pushed on and drove those standards, which is something that we can say we admire, but we definitely won't be sitting back and admiring them come Saturday. 'Their improvement over the last few years is something that we would obviously have liked to have done ourselves, but I suppose this could be the day to start that."
The Irish Sun
28-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Libby Coppinger warns rivals that Cork ‘building every game' as they continue pursuit of All-Ireland camogie title
LIBBY COPPINGER reckons Cork have yet to put in a perfect performance this year — but they are getting close. The Very League champions have hammered Advertisement A trip to next up for the Rebel camogie stars — and full-back Coppinger believes they are starting to click in their bid for a three-in-a-row triumph. The two-time All-Star said: 'Nothing's been perfect yet but we're kind of building every game and trying to get through it and get to that semi-final spot and then reassess after that. 'But we still have Wexford coming, so all eyes are on that. You're not looking further ahead. 'There's been a few injuries and stuff along the way for different players throughout our panel. But thankfully, we do have good depth there and everyone's kind of fighting for that jersey , which creates good competition. Advertisement Read More on Camogie 'We're really just trying to go after our own performances in games and you hope that the result will take care of itself then. 'You're trying to raise your standards all the time. You might win by a few scores or whatever but it might not have been the prettiest. 'So you're always trying to review the game and learn from it. And we've been doing that throughout the year.' Advertisement Most read in GAA Hurling She plays further up the field for the county's football team but she knows her job description when there is a hurl in her hand. Coppinger added: 'I think as a whole in camogie, the skill is gone phenomenal, and there's some excellent hurlers out there. GAA legend TJ Reid's wife Niamh and daughter wear shorts in support of camogie stars 'As a back, you're going out to mark your player and there's obviously times where there's sweepers and everything involved. 'But you just have to try win your battle with the forward. So that hasn't changed. Just make sure they don't score! Advertisement 'I think maybe there's a bit more licence to do a bit of 'We talk about the forwards being the first line of the defence so the same way, we're the first line of attack. 'You're trying to give the ball to the player in the best position out the field. So hurling-wise, everyone's kind of gone up a level. Possession has become such a big part of the game now, whereas before, both sides might just try and get the ball down the field and clear their lines. So, there are more of those runs inside. 'You're trying to track them everywhere. So you have to be concentrating the whole game, make sure you're not ball-watching. Advertisement 'You might not touch the ball as much and to be honest, it's nearly easier to be concentrating on the game when you're on the ball the whole time. So that mental part of it is always there.' MEDAL GEAR SOLID While winning another Championship is now the team's No 1 goal, securing a first Division 1A medal back in April was a priority too. Only the Mackey twins, Pamela and Katrina, and Ashling Thompson had been involved the last time Cork had won it, a dozen years ago. Coppinger said: 'We were disappointed after our showing when we played Advertisement 'So it was good to win it. I think we got a lot from the league, players-wise, building, people getting game-time and everything like that. 'We'd been going for the league the last few years so it was nice to actually get over the line this year. We're happy out to have the medal.' Coppinger, first called up in 2016, is back to her usual authoritative self — having missed the Leesiders' run to a second straight All-Ireland last year with a serious hamstring tear. And while it did make her think about the mileage she has built up over the years playing both codes for Cork, she could not bring herself to lighten her load just yet. Advertisement The defender added: 'I probably did think about playing the two more than ever before. I guess it was about getting the body back to the standard it was at but I felt this year, I kind of just had to give it a go. 'There's no point in throwing in the towel before you even try. 'Unfortunately, it's just getting that bit harder. I know it ended my season last year, and you just want to park it but it still carries over, unfortunately, to the following year more than you'd like it to. 'But I'm happy to go another year. The decision is closer than I'd like it to be but we're going to keep going for as long as we can anyway.' Advertisement 1 Jennifer Daly of Clare is tackled by Libby Coppinger of Cork during the Munster Senior Camogie Championship semi-final Credit: Ray McManus/Sportsfile
