Latest news with #all-Ulster
Irish Examiner
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Niall McCoy: All-Ulster decider can provide demonstration of province's continued surge
THIS weekend's All-Ireland SFC semi-finals have left open the very real possibility of a second-ever all-Ulster final with Donegal and Tyrone hoping to make it through to the July 27 showpiece. The first, famously, came back in 2003 when the Red Hands won Sam Maguire for the first time, snatching it away from bitter rivals Armagh in a game noted for Conor Gormley's late block to deny Stevie McDonnell what appeared a certain goal late on. It's also remembered for Diarmaid Marsden's controversial sending off after an incident with Philly Jordan. Coincidentally, there's a legends tour of Croke Park taking place before Tyrone's meeting with Kerry on Saturday and it just happens that Marsden will be delivering it, so the pair will be in the same vicinity anyway. 'Everyone from Armagh, 99 per cent of them anyway, will have one opinion on what happened, and that will be that I dived to get Diarmaid sent off,' said Jordan in a book three years ago. 'There's no guilt in my part in terms of what happened. When you have a camera angle that doesn't show what actually happened then it's very easy for people to say what happened.' 'I know in my own heart what happened,' Marsden, who was eventually cleared on a technicality, said in the same book, confirming that the pair hadn't crossed paths since. In terms of animosity, that Armagh-Tyrone rivalry was easily one of the most bitter in GAA history – reaching a peak in the 2005 Ulster final replay when poison seeped through the stands and onto the pitch – but Donegal and Tyrone won't exactly share the love should they be the final two standing in the battle for Sam. It was Jim McGuinness's side that brought the Tyrone team of the noughties' dominance to an end with abrasive provincial wins in 2011 and 2012. Prior to this season's round-robin clash, McGuinness had never lost a championship match in Ballybofey and he had also won every previous clash with Tyrone, but Malachy O'Rourke's side won 2-17 to 0-20 in May with Seanie O'Donnell grabbing both goals. There is no shortage of incident when the sides meet, and the fall-out from an 1973 Ulster clash could have had massive consequences. On the same weekend that Éamon de Valera officially left Áras an Uachtaráin - Erskine Hamilton Childers moving in the next day – the national press declared that it was a 'miracle' that game concluded with Donegal's Nealy Gallagher requiring a hospital visit and the crowd showering the pitch with missiles. Fights broke out everywhere. Donegal discussed the prospect of aligning with the Connacht Council as a result, but their name never made it onto the Nestor Cup in the end. The 2024 season was the year of Ulster with the province providing winners of the All-Ireland senior, U20 and minor championships, Tailteann Cup, Sigerson Cup, Hogan Cup plus the senior, intermediate and junior club championships. The 2025 season could never follow that act, but it can still provide a game to demonstrate the province's continued surge. Of course, Kerry and Meath will have a lot to say about that this weekend. STAT ATTACK Whoever Derry have on the sideline for their Division Two opener next season will be their fifth manager in just four years. Rory Gallagher, Ciarán Meenagh (interim), Mickey Harte and Paddy Tally have all been in charge in that spell and after the latter's shock dismissal this week, a new voice is required in the Oakleaf County once again as they try and get back to the highs of 2022 and '23 when they claimed back-to-back Ulster titles and successive All-Ireland semi-finals. Derry manager Paddy Tally was relieved of his duties this week. File picture: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile DEBATING POINT Armagh club Carrickcruppen have appealed their one-point Division 1B league loss to Dromintee. Although there was no video footage, they say a point kicked from outside the arc during the first half and bouncing over should have been given as two points. An appeal is expected to be heard next Wednesday and could be crucial to Cruppen's attempts to remain a senior side in 2026. Even in defeat – if it ultimately stands – Armagh number two goalkeeper Blaine Hughes, the man between the sticks for last year's All-Ireland triumph, delivered an exhibition. He stroked over seven points off the deck, delivered some extraordinary kick-outs and made a brilliant late save from Gareth Kilgallon. JOINED-UP THINKING Ulster hurling is always trying to find ways to bridge the gap on Munster and Leinster, and sometimes that takes an inventive approach. Step forward MacNean hurling club – an amalgamation of two clubs but with the unusual rider that Belcoo come from Fermanagh and Shannon Gaels hail from Cavan. Anita Maguire is chairing the new venture with a jersey design competition underway to select their new kit for the cross-border operation. RUMOUR MILL Former Tyrone player Gavin Devlin remains heavily linked with the vacant Louth position, possibly in a joint ticket deal with Peter Dooley. The pair worked together previously in the Wee County during Mickey Harte's spell in charge and are well received in the Leinster county. ULSTER SPAKE 'I'm not going to insult you by trying to state that Donegal see this as a tough fixture because the hard facts are that if you were given the scenario at the start of the season then Jim McGuinness and his players would have taken the hand off you.' - former Donegal footballer Kevin Cassidy on his county's upcoming All-Ireland semi-final with Meath.
RTÉ News
30-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
RTÉ GAA Podcast: Kerry haven't gone away, you know
Éamonn Fitzmaurice and Lee Keegan join special guest presenter Marty Morrissey and Rory O'Neill to look back on the weekend when eight became four in the All-Ireland football championship. Kerry looked incredibly impressive as they dethroned Armagh, while Meath surprised everyone but themselves as they saw off Galway. Donegal and Tyrone kept up hopes of an all-Ulster final as they saw off Monaghan and Dublin respectively, with the latter defeat spelling the end of the Dessie Farrell era. Watch the All-Ireland Camogie Championship quarter-finals with RTÉ Sport. Waterford v Clare on Saturday from 2.15pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player and Tipperary v Kilkenny on Sunday from 1.15pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player Watch the All-Ireland Hurling Championship semi-finals with RTÉ Sport. Cork v Dublin on Saturday from 4.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player and Kilkenny v Tipperary on Sunday from 3.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow live blogs on and the RTÉ News app. Listen to commentaries on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Sunday Game at 10.15pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
RTÉ News
28-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Jim McGuinness credits Donegal players for finding a way past Monaghan
Jim McGuinness was delighted to see the decision not to make a raft of half-time changes against Monaghan pay off handsomly as his Donegal side wiped away a seven-point deficit at Croke Park to book their place in the All-Ireland SFC semi-finals. At half-time in Saturday's all-Ulster quarter-final, Donegal trailed by seven points after a lacklustre first-half display. However, McGuinness avoided the temptation to make any changes to personnel and saw his side take charge of the second '35 en route to a six-point victory. Speaking to RTÉ Sport after the 1-26 to 1-20 triumph, McGuinness said he had trusted the starting side selected to turn Donegal's fortunes around. "It's something we spoke about at half-time. It's one of those situations where you can do all the planning in the world and all the coaching but at the end of the day, you do end up in these moments in championship runs where everything is on the line and the players have to find a way," he said. "And for that reason, we didn't make any changes. We left the same 15 go out there again and in fairness to them, to a man, they turned it around very, very well." The way his players tackled the second half was particularly pleasing for the Donegal manager. "The energy they brought to it as well was absolutely fantastic. Our decision-making was way better and we used the ball really well, and supported each other really well and we got in and we were dangerous," he said. "There were a lot of positives. Obviously, there are a lot of things we need to look at in terms of the game overall in the first half, but listen, at this level of competition now, teams are going to ask serious questions of you and it's probably a situation where we were trying to stay in the game in those moments and then when your own moments come then, try and be clinical." Michael Langan (above) came in for special praise having contributed the crucial second-half goal that helped swing the momentum further in Donegal's direction, and the impact of the midfield as a whole impressed McGuinness. "He's a great player, he's a very stylish midfielder and he's very honest. He can do it both ways and brave," he said of Langan. "He's very skilful on the ball so we're delighted to have him. Hughie (McFadden) has been immense for us all season and thankfully today Jason McGee went in there and had a big contribution in the second half. "So that's very positive. It's very important around the middle of the park to try and keep your big men healthy and hopefully we will have Caolan McGonagle back for the next day." McGuinness's counterpart Gabriel Bannigan was at a loss to explain Monaghan's capitulation. although losing the influential Ryan McAnespie to a hamstring injury after 40 minutes was a major blow. "I'm bitterly disappointed and it certainly was a game of two halves from a Monaghan perspective," Bannigan said. "We were brilliant in the first half and we were in a great position at half-time. We did talk at half-time about making sure we kept doing the things that got us into that position. "But for some reason, in the second half things started to go against us. The momentum swung with Donegal and they got oxygen from that and we just couldn't stem the tide. "When we did get opportunities, we were taking the wrong options or we were missing them."
The 42
28-06-2025
- Sport
- The 42
LIVE: Donegal v Monaghan, All-Ireland SFC quarter-final
Here we go, all set for a blockbuster weekend of All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals. First up at Croke Park is Donegal versus Monaghan. The all-Ulster affair throws in at 4pm, with the action live on GAA+. Emma Duffy here with you from GAA HQ, where Fintan O'Toole is also on duty.
RTÉ News
28-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Monaghan's quality of play not matched by their belief
Monaghan need to make a statement win in Croke Park this weekend and prove they fully believe they are genuine All-Ireland contenders. That's the view of former Tyrone player Enda McGinley, who isn't convinced the Farney men truly believe they will be part of the shake-up for Sam Maguire ahead of their quarter-final this weekend with Donegal. The all-Ulster clash on Saturday afternoon will kick-start the series of last-eight encounters at GAA HQ, with Donegal dominating the headlines in the build-up. The Ulster champions will be action for a third week on the trot with Jim McGuinness' side set for a ninth championship outing in 13 weeks. In a statement released on Monday, the county said that the welfare of their players has not be considered, with Saturday's 4pm throw-in coming six days after the preliminary quarter-final defeat of Louth. The Farney men have enjoyed a fine season under Gabriel Bannigan – promotion to Division 1 and having last weekend off courtesy of topping a round-robin group that didn't contain any side from the top tier. Micheál Bannigan and Stephen O'Hanlon have been causing havoc up front, but speaking on the RTÉ GAA podcast, McGinley questions whether Monaghan, who put it up to the Tir Chonaill men in Ulster before falling short by two points, have the confidence required to take out a contender. "Monaghan have to make that statement win," he said. "They have to show that they come to Croke Park as equals and are capable of winning the whole thing. "Do Monaghan truly believe they are capable of winning the whole thing? I don't know. I would genuinely would doubt that. "That's a critical weakness." McGinley feels Donegal's ceiling is higher, and has been surprised that with the personnel available to McGuinness, they remain so reliant on the evergreen Michael Murphy. "Donegal have the tools to spread the big men right across (the pitch), yet when they need a kickout, there is only one man they continually and repeatedly go to, that's Michael Murphy. "Tyrone sort of cancelled that out (All-Ireland series) and that was the winning of the game for them. "Monaghan, as an Ulster team, will know well how to target that. Donegal have to play better, but Monaghan have to have a belief, not just that they can win this game, but the whole thing. "They have played some of the best football all year, probably more consistent than some of the other top teams. "I'd imagine the messaging in the Monaghan camp is, 'we've been playing good stuff, primarily against tier two sides, but we now have to show up against the big boys and take down a Division 1 team. Are we ready for that or not?'" Follow a live blog on the All-Ireland Football Championship quarter-finals on Saturday on and the RTÉ News app. Listen to commentaries on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Saturday Game at 9.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Watch two All-Ireland Football Championship quarter-finals, Meath v Galway and Armagh v Kerry, from 1.15pm on Sunday on RTÉ 2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on and the RTÉ News app. Listen to commentaries on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Sunday Game at 10.15pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
